Emma could have sworn that Milah said this man in front of them was her husband. But that was impossible, because Killian wouldn't be interested in a married woman. That wasn't good form, and Killian was always a gentleman before anything else. Milah surely would have mentioned a husband by now to Killian if she was married, but she hadn't. So this was impossible, right?
For all the trouble Emma was having processing this new information, Killian was completely bewildered and shocked. His eyes were wider than Emma had ever seen and he kept looking from the man, Rumple, over to Milah, then back. Color was blossoming on his neck and creeping up his face and Emma could see his chest rising and falling very quickly. He was panicking and Milah just kept droning on, completely oblivious to Killian's reaction to this introduction. Emma saw that it was time to get Killian away from here before he completely broke down.
"Uh, I have to use bathroom. Killian, show me where it is," Emma interjected, completely cutting off Milah, before she grabbed Killian's arm and effectively towed him away. She didn't stop to listen to Milah's attempt to intervene, but just kept going past the bar and into the back stockroom. Graham attempted to reprimand her for going into a staff-only space but he took one glance at Killian's face before nodding permission at Emma.
She steered Killian over to some crates and sat him down. His face was completely red now, and his eyes stared unseeingly ahead. Emma rummaged around until she found a bottle of water. She opened it and pressed it against Killian's lips, hoping it would calm him down a bit. He sputtered at first when the water hit his mouth but recovered quickly enough to avoid spilling it all down his chin and chest. His eyes snapped to Emma and he grabbed her wrists.
"How does she have a husband? Why did she not tell me she was married? She just sprung that on me, like it was nothing. How does she have a husband?" Killian's voice was rising and reaching near hysteria. Emma wanted to step back, unsure of how to help Killian. She looked around the stock room, looking for something, anything that would help. Her eyes landed on the seemingly endless boxes of alcohol. Maybe something stronger than water would snap Killian out of this panic attack.
She pulled one arm out of Killian's tight hold and reached into the nearest crate and pulled out a bottle of rum. That wouldn't have been her first choice in any situation but desperate times called for desperate measures. She pulled away her second arm from Killian to open the bottle and Killian's head dropped down into his hands. Emma tugged his chin up and then pressed the bottle against his lips once again. Had his eyes always been this blue?
Whatever Killian's subconscious had been expecting it was not the sudden burn of liquor and he promptly spat it out, covering Emma in the sticky liquid. She recoiled instantly and that, more than anything, snapped Killian out of his reverie and back to the present.
He stood up and grabbed her shoulders. "Oh, Emma, love, shit. I'm so sorry. Is there a towel back here?" He scanned the top shelves behind and above Emma's hand and pulled down a small black towel. "Shit, I'm so sorry. You surprised me is all." He went to dab the towel against Emma's dress but stopped when he realized the rum was concentrated on her chest. The tips of his ears, the last part of him that had been a normal flesh color, blazed instantly bright red.
Emma could feel herself blushing too as she took the towel from Killian's hand and patted herself dry. The stock room suddenly felt much too small and Killian felt much too close for the first time in their friendship. She cleared her throat and stepped back, trying to distance herself from whatever had just sparked between them. "So, uh do we want to talk about what just happened with Milah or pretend everything is normal and fine?"
Killian was staring at Emma and she wondered if he had heard her question. She was trying to think of how best to handle this situation, but she didn't really have a precedent for what to say to your best friend when his current love interest revealed she was married.
"I don't know how long we can stay in here before someone comes to check on us. Do we go back out there?"
Killian reached up to scratch his neck and looked up at the ceiling. His voice was soft, "I really don't know what do now." He looked down back at her and Emma realized she needed to take charge here.
"Let's go back to Storybrooke. I think its time for us to leave." Killian gave her a small smile and reached out to squeeze her hand. Emma kept going, "Okay, here's the plan. I'll go out and let David and Ruby know we're leaving while you head outside to the car and I'll meet you out there in five minutes. Ready?"
"Ready." Killian squeezed Emma's hand again then went to the door. Emma peered out the small round, galley window, searching for any sign of Milah but only saw the back of Graham's head.
Emma pushed the door open and pulled Killian after her. She sent him towards the entrance, then headed towards Ruby, who was still flirting her way into Graham's heart.
"Hey, so Killian and I need to leave. We're going to head back to Storybrooke." Emma quickly explained the situation to both of them and told Ruby that they were leaving as soon as they could get outside.
Graham looked at Ruby and offered a ride back to Storybrooke after his shift behind the bar. Ruby was delighted at this prospect and hugged Emma goodnight and promised to talk to her tomorrow.
Emma looked around the club for David and saw him still hanging around near Mary Margaret, who was talking to Milah. And her husband.
Emma turned back to Ruby and opened her mouth, but Ruby beat her to it, "We can make sure David has a ride. You go ahead and head out." Emma smiled at her and turned around towards the entrance.
She walked out of the main doors and saw Killian idling on the curb. She grinned and headed in towards him, when Neal stepped right in front of her, blocking her path. She faltered for a second and stepped back. Emma had completely forgotten that Neal was meeting her here.
"Babe! You didn't have to wait outside for me!" He moved in for a hug and kissed her quickly. "Should we go in? We're not paying the cover, though, right because your friend knows somebody here?"
"Uh, actually. I was just leaving. Killian needs to go back to Storybrooke."
"Oh, okay! So where are we going instead?"
"No, I'm going with Killian. He needs me right now, so we'll make plans for another night, okay?" She went to kiss his cheek and walk away, but he grabbed her arm and held her in place.
"Wait, you're ditching me? To be with him?"
"Well, I'm not ditching you on purpose. Killian is my best friend and he needs me right now. Our plans are going to have to be put on hold is all."
"No, thats not what's happening here. You're choosing to go with him, rather than stay here with me."
"Neal, this isn't a you versus Killian moment. If I'm choosing anything its to take care of a friend."
"No. You have to make a choice. Me or him? Are you going to stay with me or run away with Killian?"
"You're giving me an ultimatum? Seriously?" Emma yanked away from Neal's hold and she heard a car door open.
"Swan, is everything okay?" Emma turned towards his voice and saw that Killian had gotten out of the car, concern written all over his face.
"Emma, who are you going to choose? Me or him?"