A/N: Okay so finally after a little time away I am back with this story and I have to say I am so thrilled to be writing it again. It's just such a fun universe to play with, and this chapter in particular will have the benefit of some Emma and Killian time alone as well as all the Henry meddling I've put in place so far. I hope you all enjoy and thank you so much for reading!
If only my brother could see me now, Killian thought to himself as he took in the mass of food and ingredients that surrounded him and wondered how the devil he'd gotten himself into this.
Obviously he knew the answer; what he desired more than anything was to spend more time with Emma, and when he offered the invitation this morning this had seemed the best way to procure that. Yet now with the benefit of hindsight Killian could see just how much more he'd taken on than was probably wise. It was one thing to invite a woman and her young, rambunctious son to dinner. It was another thing to cook the meal himself and somehow learn a skill set he'd never really tried to dabble with over the first thirty years of his life.
In another situation, Killian would have considered getting food from somewhere else and bringing it here. He wouldn't masquerade and pretend it had been the work of his own hand, but he would potentially spare them all a rather unappetizing and poorly concocted meal. Unfortunately this town boasted very few dining establishments and the most notable one just so happened to belong to the woman he was (rather pathetically) trying to impress. And so it was that his only choice was to make the best of a self-inflicted, bad situation.
"'Use meat hammer, roller, thinner, or pounder to create uniform filets.' Bloody hell," Killian muttered to himself shaking his head as he tried to make heads or tails of these instructions. "Seems you need a whole arsenal to make a meal… who knew?"
That last question was largely personal but the little ball of fluff that had taken up residence with Killian as of late purred all the same. Luna had a habit of doing that, and though Killian hadn't been used to caring for a pet before arriving in Storybrooke he smiled at the tiny feline who had become a touchstone of his life here. It was nice to have the company, even if his current companion had no idea how to aid him in this mess he'd made for himself.
At that moment a knock sounded at the back door and though Killian was hardly in any shape to answer, he tried to get himself somewhat righted on the off chance that Emma and Henry had decided to come early. But when he opened the door, Killian found only the latter smiling eagerly and then biting back a laugh as he took in Killian's less than put together appearance.
"Henry, this is a surprise. Is everything all right?" Killian's immediate thought was that maybe there was something wrong with Emma. Perhaps she and Henry wouldn't be joining him for dinner after all, but Killian hoped that wasn't the case. The thought that he wouldn't get the chance to spend the evening with them was a sorry prospect indeed.
"I think I should be asking you that. Let me guess – you invited us over but you have no idea how to cook," Henry said as he popped into the house, not even waiting for an invitation. Killian meanwhile watched him go, finding that despite the intrusion he was happy for Henry's being here. Suddenly the house seemed a lot less empty, and he had a bit more hope about what the hell he was going to do when it came to this whole cooking thing.
"I have an idea," Killian professed as he followed Henry. "It's just vague and largely incorrect."
Henry laughed at the characterization as he walked into the kitchen. When he made it there, however, he abruptly halted, his jaw falling open in shock before he let out a low whistle and shook his head.
"Woah. We're in worse shape than I thought. It's like a tornado went off in here."
That was probably putting it mildly. In all those movie renditions or TV illustrations of cooking attempts gone wrong, Killian had always thought that the dustings of flour and the gratuitous messes that amounted were for show, but he was a living demonstration that some people really were that out of their depths.
"Aye. I think it's safe to say this kitchen has seen better days."
"That's okay. We can fix this. And if we can't there's always grilled cheese," Henry offered kindly as Killian chuckled thinking back to David's similar comment this afternoon. Clearly Emma must be rather vocal in her favoring of that particular delicacy if everyone was so mindful of it. "Looks like your making chicken parmesan. That's pretty easy. Mom and I have made that together loads of times. But I've never seen a recipe like this one. Where'd you get this?"
Killian motioned to the cover of the book, which bore some pompous name about international classics in food. Henry just snorted and shook his head again, his brown hair flopping around as he did. It was clear from his expression and demeanor that he was hardly impressed and after spending the better part of thirty minutes being thrown for loop after loop, Killian wasn't impressed with the bloody thing either.
"Yeah this isn't going to work. Mom's recipe is way easier. You stay here, I'll go get it."
"Oh you don't have to do that lad-," Killian started but Henry was already gone, bounding out the door with Killian just staring after him. He ran a hand through his hair muttering to himself about how he was in so far over his head, but then Henry was back in under two minutes with a sheet of paper in hand and a grin that was infectious enough to drive away that remaining doubt.
"Operation Save Dinner is going great so far! Come on, we've only got a little time left and if I have to teach you everything this could take a while."
From there the going, though slow, was far steadier than it had been before, and with Henry at the helm of the ship, Killian began to believe they could actually get something done that would be edible in time for Emma's arrival. More than that though the hour that they spent cooking and tidying up proved to Killian something that he'd already learned this week and through the course of the morning gardening: Henry Swan was a special lad and bright as any child Killian had ever met. In fact, Killian hadn't a single other contender in mind for kids as impressive as Henry Swan. Henry was truly in a class all his own.
"You know you really aren't so bad at this," Henry said when they'd gotten all of the food in the oven and most of the counters cleaned up. "I'd say you're right between Anna and Elsa on the chef scale."
Killian had had some more interactions with Elsa since moving here and had met her sister Anna a few times as well, both at the café when he was making his morning visits to the shop (or really to Emma) and at other spots around town. They were both of them incredibly kind if a little quirky, but at the end of the day it was easy to see why Emma had chosen them as friends and why she trusted both women with the keeping of her son when the need arose. There was a goodness in both of them that was evident from the start, just as there were with so many other people Killian had met in Storybrooke so far.
"Ah, I take it the sisters aren't as well versed in cooking as your mother is."
Killian honestly doubted anyone was as good of a cook as Emma, especially given all the things he'd tried at Stay a Spell over the last few weeks. She was a natural talent, and if Ruby's claims that nearly all the food was Emma's recipe and made or prepped by her hand was true, then he didn't even think it possible for Emma to make a bad dish if she tried. It was astounding that anyone should have such a gift and that the gift was confined to so small a place as this sleepy town in Maine.
"Hardly. Anna's okay with a little time, and she makes real good mac and cheese as long as it's from the box, but Elsa's a disaster. Ruby and Mary Margaret say she's the only reason Storybrooke has a fire department. She could set water on fire."
"Luckily I haven't had that problem yet, but not to worry there's still time."
Henry laughed outright at the joke and his smile was so bright and cheery that Killian could practically feel that boyish happiness coursing through him too. It had been a long time since he'd felt this at peace, and even with the nerves of Emma's impending arrival and the fact that they weren't quite out of the woods with all this cooking, Killian did feel like this was good. Honestly it was probably one of the best days he'd ever had and it was all shaping up to get better and better.
"Well lad, I can safely say that this never would have been possible without your expert captaining. How can I ever repay you?" Killian asked, truly meaning his appreciation when he voiced it.
A light came to Henry's eyes as he pondered the possibility of Killian owing him a favor, and for a moment Killian wondered what exactly he'd just walked into offering an unlimited debt to be paid to a ten year old, but then Henry replied, surprising and delighting Killian at the same time.
"You can take me and Mom sailing sometime."
"Deal," Killian agreed before qualifying that with one amendment. "As long as your mother is amiable to the idea."
"Amiable?" Henry asked and Killian chuckled before offering a synonym. This was hardly the first time Henry had taken issue with some of Killian's wording choices and so he was well prepared for the moment.
"As long as she's in, I'm in."
"Great!" Henry said jumping up and giving Killian a high five in show of his approval. "Now, when she and I get here in twenty minutes I was never here, got it?"
"You were – what?!" Killian asked, only just realizing that perhaps all of this hadn't been entirely above board. Bloody hell! Why hadn't he checked with Henry or Emma that this had been approved by her? "Your mother doesn't know you're here?"
"Nope. But don't worry, I've got a fool proof system," Henry said waving the shell Killian had noticed he had in his pocket the whole time. He didn't know what that was to mean exactly, but it mattered not. He was still too stunned about having maybe been complicit in keeping something from Emma that he let that slide. "She'll never know the difference."
With that announcement, Henry looked ready to bound out of the house but before he could depart Killian grabbed his arm, not with too much force but enough for Henry to stop and take heed of what he was going to say. Killian couldn't quite describe the feeling he had but it wasn't wholly unfamiliar. In fact he'd had a bit of this kind of protectiveness when he thought Emma was in danger in the kitchen, but this time it was different. Henry was only a boy and though he and Emma might have found a lovely little safe haven in Storybrooke, danger could come to any corner of the world and it just wasn't right for Henry to be slipping away without telling his mother.
"I need you to promise me something Henry – no more of these visits without your mother's consent, all right?"
For a second Henry looked sad and it was the first time that Killian had ever seen that brightness in the lad's gaze dulled at all. Usually Henry was so vibrant and eager but right now he looked thoroughly distraught.
"You don't want me coming over here anymore?" Killian shook his head immediately to try and dispel that notion.
"Quite the opposite lad I assure you," Killian said and Henry's smile returned instantly setting Killian's own worries somewhat to right. "I merely want to be sure that you're not keeping secrets from your Mum. There's no one else who loves you more and the only way she can see you truly safe and happy is to know where you are."
"I guess you're right," Henry conceded, prompting Killian to expel a sigh of relief. "All right, from now on all operations will have me, you, and Mom."
Killian grinned and nodded watching Henry steal out the back door once more and only when the boy was gone did he realize the particular words Henry had chosen. Maybe Henry hadn't meant anything by it, but it made it seem like he was tying the three of them together always, not just in these little visits. It was probably foolish to hope that had been the lad's intentions but Killian held the idea close, letting the hope for a more permanent attachment between the three of them linger for just a while longer.
The twenty minutes that it took for Emma and Henry to arrive felt like it took forever despite all the things Killian still had to distract himself like showering and changing for the evening. He had to get all of the food out of the oven, the refreshments ready, and the table set too, but even with all that Killian's mind never wandered from Emma or the excitement he had about this evening. Sure there was the added complication of Henry's having been here without Emma knowing (and Killian did intend to tell her that since he'd never promised Henry not to and because it wouldn't be right to conceal it from her), but overall Killian was hoping the evening would still be pleasant and since he would be in the company of one Emma Swan, he didn't see how it could possibly be anything but.
Finally the doorbell rang some time later, and though he held himself back and didn't outwardly race towards the door, Killian did move swiftly and with purpose so as to get to this moment as fast as he could. It didn't disappoint at all either, for when he pulled back the wooden barrier that separated him from his two favorite people in this new town, the first thing he saw was Emma, looking just as stunning and enchanting as she did every time their paths crossed.
"You made it," Killian greeted, his gaze moving between Emma and Henry though it delayed a while longer on the former. Not that that surprised Killian. It seemed his natural reaction whenever Emma was near that his eyes should follow her and soak up all he could of the precious time he had with her.
"Sure did! And we brought dessert," Henry said, handing Killian a box with the Stay A Spell logo stamped on top. Killian took it from the boy gladly and then let them both in, allowing Henry to run in in search of Luna as Emma hung back, stepping closer to Killian as he closed the door and filling his senses with that sweet, rich scent of vanilla and flowers he'd noticed each time they were this near.
"Clearly Henry's very excited to be here," Emma said and Killian chuckled even as he begged a question that might be deemed overly flirtatious.
"And you love? What are your thoughts on sharing dinner with me?"
Emma's eyes widened at the question as if she hadn't expected it, but she didn't back away. Instead she actually took a half a step closer to him and then let her voice drop just a bit lower than it's already existent silkiness.
"I'm here, aren't I?" Emma asked and Killian nodded, his blood humming with pleasure at the reminder.
"Aye Swan you are, and I'm more than glad for it."
The once playful back and forth took on deeper meaning then, and there was a swirling tension around them that was far from unpleasant. It felt almost like this crackling kind of energy and Killian was tantalized by it even as he knew it wouldn't evolve to anything more right now. This was a strictly PG kind of evening given Henry's presence, and though Killian had thought about what it would be like to pull Emma close and press a kiss to those lush lips of hers before, now was hardly the time. He still allowed his eyes to flick down to her mouth though and when she bit one in reply he barely restrained a groan.
"Henry told me what happened earlier," Emma said, pulling Killian from the trance and back into the moment. He might have begun to worry at the mention of it too, if it weren't for the undeniable warmth in Emma's green eyes. "And he told me what you said about how he should come to me first every time instead of just sneaking off."
"It seemed only right," Killian replied but Emma wasn't willing to let this discussion fall away between them. Instead she reached out her hand and found Killian's free one, bringing back that all too alluring current of heat and rightness that Killian was beginning to think would be common place with a woman like Emma.
"It was, and I just needed to say thank you. Henry's always been… crafty you could say. He has all those secret missions of his, but as his Mom nothing scares me more than him running off and getting into real trouble."
Killian could see the truth of that claim as Emma said the words and he hated the thought of Emma facing anything like fear at all. But though he might not know all the particulars of who Emma Swan was or what she'd been through in the past, he did know that it hadn't all been the colors and warmth and brightness of a town like Storybrooke. This was a woman who had cause to be wary, and though she'd provided a very different world for Henry, her need to protect him from harsher realities would never fade.
"There's no thanks needed, love. It's clear to see how much you love him, and as long as I have any influence I'll always implore Henry to do the right thing," Killian replied, squeezing Emma's hand lightly before leading her back over the kitchen. Their hands stayed intertwined too right up until the moment that Henry bounded back in with Luna hot on his trail.
"Hey Killian, after dinner we should make a fire outside. Then you can see the fireflies!"
"Fireflies?" Killian asked. "This time of year?"
"Henry I don't know about that, buddy. There's no guarantees -," Emma began, but her son interrupted as if he couldn't possibly hold back.
"Trust me their coming," Henry replied completely assured of himself and while Emma seemed a bit uncomfortable, Killian sought to ease the tensions. Perhaps she though Henry was putting him out, but honestly all Killian could think was that it would give him an excuse to spend more time with both of them.
"Well in that case I think a fire's well in order. What do you think, Swan?"
Emma hesitated a moment, and Killian could see the thoughts floating through her head. He didn't know exactly what they were, but he was happy for the moment when she seemed to cling to one that was light and appeasing. The teasing lilt in her voice returned once more and easiness was back between the three of them again.
"You sure you won't get sick of us? Maybe we'll finish dinner and you'll be desperate for a way out…" As if that would ever happen.
"Not a chance, love," Killian affirmed, hoping that she understood how much he meant that.
"Yeah Mom, 'not a chance.'"
Both Emma and Killian shared a laugh at the attempt Henry made at emulating Killian's accent, but Killian could feel diversion was still in order and so he maneuvered them all to the kitchen so as to get all that they'd need for dinner. And in a not so shocking twist, it turned out that the easiness between the three of them remained at that dinner spent together was the most natural, enjoyable, and delightful way to have spent an evening that Killian could ever remember indulging in.
…..
To say that dinner had been fantastic didn't do tonight justice. It wasn't because the food itself was spectacular (though in all fairness, Emma usually loved any meal that someone made for her with thoughtfulness and effort), but thanks entirely to the company. Sitting here there Killian's house listening to Killian's stories and interactions with Henry was amazing, and it left this feeling in Emma's chest of warmth and total comfort. This should have been scaring her, but instead there was no room for fear. All Emma could think was that this had been a pretty perfect night and that she really didn't want it to end.
For Emma this evening had also been a demonstration in just how lovely things might be if she actually let Killian in for real. If she were to let her guard down and give him a real chance there were just so many potential upsides, not the least of which was the easy dynamic between the two of them and Henry. There was never a moment in the whole course of the evening when Killian questioned Emma's authority or when he encroached in on her bond with her son, but all through the meal Emma sat there and thought about how after years of denying it was needed, she might actually want someone to step in and be a father figure for Henry. Wouldn't it be wonderful to actually have a partner in all of this and someone to make this little duo she had going with Henry grow into a more traditional kind of family.
"You've gone quiet, Swan. I assume you're eagerly awaiting those lightening bugs of yours," Killian said as he came back from starting the fire and took a seat just beside her on the deck, their bodies only inches apart and that same electricity stirring inside her again at Killian's being so near.
The mention of the fireflies caused Emma's stomach to flip suddenly and some of her anxieties reared their ugly heads once more. She had been so nervous in that moment where Henry mentioned them because it was kind of a suspicious thing. Fireflies never stayed this late in a season in this corner of the world, and their reason for being in Storybrooke had nothing to do with climate and everything to do with magic. They were a manifestation of peace and calm here but they weren't exactly normal and Emma had been worried Killian would pry about why they were here or ask more questions, but even in this moment Emma knew he didn't really care about the fireflies. What he cared about was filling the space between them with a comfortable feeling and keeping the flow of conversation they'd carved out for themselves going.
"I was just thinking you must have been a boy scout or something. How does a guy from New York City know how to start a fire that fast?"
"Research and a fair amount of luck," Killian responded, causing Emma to laugh unabashedly. "Truth be told I googled it this afternoon on the off chance I could persuade you and Henry to stay longer. Your boy just happened to beat me to the invitation."
The mention of Henry had Emma looking back out into the yard where her little boy was standing and waiting for the fireflies to appear. They were just at the perfect moment when the twilight was in full force and the sun was gone but light still lingered, slipping away a little more with each passing minute. Any second now Emma knew the first one would appear and the show would begin, and as if she'd willed them into coming out, Emma watched as the first yellow blip appeared at the far edge of the yard. Another joined just behind and soon the whole backyard was filled with the intriguing, swirling dots.
"It's amazing," Killian whispered, his mouth now close enough to Emma's ear that she could feel the warmth of his breath on her skin. It caused a shiver to course through her and she wanted so badly to look back at Killian but she resisted, loving the feeling of this building anticipation too much to let it go. "And he knew they'd come. You have to appreciate faith like that. It's an admirable thing."
"Sometimes as his Mom I worry about that, but once Henry sets his heart on something, he never shakes his belief."
That wasn't something Emma had ever told anyone before, at least not in so many words. Everyone in Storybrooke knew that Henry was a believer. Some of the older ladies actually called him 'the truest believer' which according to Belle had some old magical connotations of good luck and good fortune, but Emma's friends always wrote Henry's dreaming and belief off as some unexplained ability that would further reveal itself in time.
Emma, meanwhile, knew there had to be a line. At some point, she feared, Henry's giving so much of himself to these often fantastical hopes would come back to hurt him, and as his mother Emma wanted nothing in the world to ever cause her child harm. She just didn't know how to teach him to channel all his enthusiasm. She never wanted to diminish that childlike wonder Henry had in spades, but for someone who'd lost her faith from a very early age, there were just no clear-cut answers.
"Well love, some things you just know," Killian replied and Emma turned from where she'd been watching her son to look back at Killian. His eyes were already on her as if he'd been watching her the whole time, and their deep blue color was livened up by the flickers of firelight that danced in them. "And I gather that though he might be inclined to be almost overly hopeful, Henry is smart enough and gifted with a sensible enough mother to weather any storms that may come from such belief."
"Have you always been this insightful?" Emma asked and Killian smiled, not in that cocky way he sometimes did but with a touch more bashfulness.
"I've always had a lot of opinions, yes. Whether they amount to valuable insight I couldn't say."
"Are those opinions what got you on the path to writing?" Emma asked, finding that now that they were alone for more than a minute or two at a time she actually had the chance to ask Killian some more details about his life besides the few things she'd picked up in their more organic, spur of the moment meetings.
"In a way. But I'm particular. I liked the puzzles of the crime beat just as much as I liked finessing my thoughts onto the page. You could say I have a flair for unraveling mysteries."
Emma's throat tightened at the mention of mysteries, and she wondered if Killian had started adding up the clues of the little things that were off about Storybrooke. She worried that he had, but before those worries could flourish into something more, Killian moved his hand over hers and that contact erased the darker thoughts that had wormed into Emma's mind. It was amazing, but every time this man got close it was as if there simply wasn't room in her world for malice or fear of any kind.
"You must be bored then," Emma said, playing it off like there was nothing afoot in her small town.
"On the contrary love. I've never felt more invigorated or more interested in my life," Killian whispered, and Emma knew they weren't talking about his dealings with Storybrooke. Killian was talking about her and the look on his face said all the words that he hadn't. He found her to be intriguing and all of the feelings Emma had been grappling with about how there was something more here between them to be uncovered were clearly displayed in Killian's expression.
"Why?"
Emma didn't even realized she posed the question aloud until it was too late, and for half a second she was mortified, but as soon as that ugly feeling appeared it was replaced by appreciation for Killian's responding grin. His other hand moved up then to push back a strand of her hair that was blowing in the nighttime breeze and Emma tracked the motion, feeling her body come alive even more so at the gentle touch.
"Because for the first time in my life I finally feel like I've found something I truly want to be a part of. I've a purpose here and a sense that there's more when for so long that was never the case."
Emma considered his answer, and beyond the obvious implications he was laying down here of caring about her and Henry and this town, there was something familiar in Killian's way of thinking. She could relate whole-heartedly to that idea of being directionless. For so long Emma had felt unmoored like that as well, and all she'd wanted was roots and that sense of assurance you got when you ended up right where you were supposed to be. Now she'd found that in Storybrooke, but Emma was starting to see that her world hadn't been totally full. It was still missing something, something that tonight had provided so effortlessly.
"Killian, I-,"
"Woah!" Henry's yell from across the yard pulled Emma and Killian from the little trance they'd both been in and after she blinked back that sort of haze of attraction, Emma saw what her son was on about. The yard was jam packed with fireflies, so many of them in fact that there wasn't a single space around that didn't have their telltale flickering lights illuminating the evening sky. "This is so awesome! You guys have to see this from right here, come on!"
Emma and Killian both moved to follow Henry's instruction, and though Emma did feel a sense of loss at having had their personal moment broken, it was easily made up for when she not only got to watch the back and forth between Henry and Killian, but when Killian took her hand and held it in his as they looked up at the night sky. And in the end Henry was right, because from this angle they could see the stars that were just appearing and the lightening bugs twinkling between them in a totally ethereal way.
"Everybody has to make a wish," Henry instructed as he took Emma's other hand in his, closing his eyes and clearly hoping for something with all his might. Emma meanwhile looked back at Killian who shared a smile with her before replying.
"You heard the captain, love. Wishes are a must."
Emma chuckled at that and at the moment when Killian closed his eyes, appearing to play along, and though she took a moment to take in her son and this man who was starting to mean so much to her, Emma eventually caved too, deciding to actually send up a silent prayer that tonight wouldn't be an end to such experiences, but a beginning of them. When she opened her eyes again, Killian was looking at her again with that same look like even in this wondrous moment she was the most magnificent part of all.
"Best night ever," Henry said then, filling the space between them with his same sort of glowing happiness and Emma smiled at him, pulling him in close for a hug and dropping a kiss at the crown of his head to try and hide her own overwhelming emotion.
Eventually, however, the time did come for the fireflies to drift away, and when the fire burned low and the hour grew late Emma made the decision that it was time to tuck in and call it a night. Henry was good about it too, not even trying to fight her but instead proving just how great a kid he was by thanking Killian for all he'd done and heading back inside without argument or delay. This left Emma and Killian alone again just the two of them, and though their window of togetherness would be brief, Emma was thrilled when Killian made the most of it, walking with her to the steps of her back porch in a very gentlemanly move.
"We should do this again sometime," Killian said with his usual charm and touch of swagger. But underneath the vibrato, Emma could tell that he really wanted this. It wasn't a game or a line or an empty promise; Killian was genuinely desirous for more and Emma so badly wanted to give it to him. For the first time in her life she actually felt ready to give in to hope and to just say yes.
"Maybe next time I'll get a babysitter," Emma replied taking the plunge and watching with delight as Killian caught her meaning. God, how could he even be handsome when flustered? It was enough to drive her crazy, and yet Emma wouldn't trade that look of surprise and awe he was giving her for anything.
"Is that your way of asking me on a date, Swan?" Killian inquired, collecting himself a bit more as he did.
"I thought that was obvious," Emma countered, playing up the flirtation but feeling the moment when the tides shifted again. Killian took the chance to step closer to her so they were only a whisper apart. But the only place they touched was their hands as Killian slipped her fingers back in his grasp and intertwined the two of them together in that familiar yet intimate way.
"Just making sure," Killian replied as an almost roguish smile graced his lips. "And I accept. I only beg one request – that you let me plan the evening."
Emma tilted her head at the plea and she took him in, her eyes searching his before tracing his face and landing on his lips. Visions of kissing him flooded her mind, and without thought she wet her own lips, swearing she could feel his heated response coursing through her like a low vibration. Then she looked back up at him and smiled, feeling in that moment that she could trust her gut and trust this man who held her close.
"Seems fair. After all I was the one who had to ask. The least you can do is plan," Emma replied as she moved even closer. She purposefully brought her body as near as it could be without their being fully flush against each other and from the spark of piercing need that came to Killian's blue eyes, she knew she was affecting him just as much as he affected her.
"I promise to make my slow going tendencies up to you with a date worthy of a woman such as yourself, Swan," Killian whispered, his lips an inch from hers but right when she thought he'd give in and kiss her he stopped, keeping them from the embrace they both wanted for the sake of more delicious and oh so frustrating anticipation. "How's Tuesday work for you?"
Emma blinked up at him and though her mind was a little foggy from the swirling mix of lust and like and a whole lot of other more complicated feelings, she came too once more and smiled. Then she countered with a move of her own, running her free hand along his chest lightly enough that it would feel like a feather's touch against his skin. She watched his reaction to the feint contact and saw that his control was just on the verse of giving way but before it could she pulled back out of his embrace, leaving him with just as much unresolved need as she had.
"Tuesday it is. Goodnight, Killian."
"Goodnight, Emma," he said, his words wrapping around Emma like a favorite blanket as she walked up the stairs and through the doorway into her house once more.
Post-Note: So as you guys can probably guess from where we are ending tonight, the next chapter will bring about the first date for Emma and for Killian. You can all safely expect that I'll make it as light and fluffy as I make all of the dates I write, but since this AU is a little different than many of my others, I'm sure there will be some interesting twists come the next installment. Anyway, I hope that you guys enjoyed the chapter, and again I appreciate your patience in waiting for the update. Let me know what you thought, and I hope you have a great rest of your day!
