I want to thank everyone for their interest in this little venture already. Like I said, it's my first attempt at a modern!AU so bear with me. Enjoy the first chapter!

Chapter 1

Emma had never seen so much green. Manhattan was a sea of black and grey and cement and smoke. Not that she didn't love it, there wasn't as much green-ness there except for Central Park. She and August stayed in Galway for a couple of days so Emma could get accustomed to the time change.

"So, where are we going from here?" she asked him as August drove them out of Galway.

"Liscannor", said August. Emma turned from the window to face her brother, who was looking straight ahead with a smile on his face.

"Huh?"

"We're on location this week, right outside the village are the Cliffs of Moher, where we're filming. They set up tents and trailers and all that for us to work in. We'll be there in a couple of hours."

Emma took pictures of anything and everything on the drive, even making August pull over twice.

"I swear, I haven't seen this much of the color green…ever", said Emma.

"It's beautiful out here. If I didn't have work or you, I'd think of staying here."

"I know what you mean." They were silent until Emma noticed the spire of the village church on the horizon. The village they drove through was something out of a book on medieval history. They stopped at a small bed and breakfast on the outer edge of the village to leave her bags and so that she could change. They were going to be working with fake blood and dirt that day and so Emma pulled on the jeans she wore when she helped her friend Aurora paint her apartment, her old black Converse high tops, and white tank top with a black long sleeve tee over it. She finished the look with her favorite red leather jacket, her favorite Navy blue beanie, and some black leather gloves.

When they arrived on set, August introduced her to the rest of his team. Most of them she knew, but there were a couple of new girls: a woman with long brown curly hair named Belle who loved to read and was a calm and demure soul. Then there was Ruby, with her long straight brown hair and that one red streak. Emma could see the mischief behind her eyes and knew that she was the 'fun' one.

"It's awesome to meet you Emma", said Ruby. "Your brother here hasn't stopped talking about you and how awesome you are!" Ruby was dragging Emma to a big white tent where they were going to mix the fake blood and dirty the costumes. Ruby showed Emma where to hang her jacket and the rest of her things and they got to work.

"So, I never figured they'd shoot a post-apocalyptic zombie movie in a location as beautiful as this", said Emma as she mixed a batch of blood.

"Same here", replied Ruby as she ripped holes into some shirts. "But when's the last time you saw a zombie movie set in Europe?"

"What about Shaun of the Dead?"

"I meant like, serious ones."

"What about 28-"

"I do hope you weren't about to say 28 Days Later, love." Emma looked up from where she was kneeling in front of a big white bucket she was mixing blood in to see man standing over her.

"Excuse me?"

"28 Days Later does not count", said the man. "Those were infected people, not zombies."

"Uh huh", she said and stood. It allowed her a better look at the guy: jet black hair, a few days of scruff along a strong jaw, and the bluest eyes she'd ever seen. She stood up and wiped the back of her hand across her forehead and cheek to get her hair out her face, then place her hands on her hips.

"Killian Jones", he said with a big grin and extended his hand to her. Emma had seen his movies (he was good) and like everyone else in the world, knew his reputation as a ladies' man and party guy who used his good looks and Irish accent to his advantage.

"Emma Swan. I've heard of you." Emma took his hand, but before she could shake it, he pulled her hand up and grazed her knuckles lightly with his lips…never taking his eyes off her.

"And where did you come from…Emma Swan?" he asked with a smirk.

"I'm August's sister."

"Who apparently knows how to make blood. My kind of lass."

"Yeah. Whatever buddy", replied Emma with an eye roll. "Look, Ruby and I have to work, so if you don't mind?"

"Of course love, I'll leave you it." He winked at her and walked off, but not before calling, "By the way Swan, you've got red on you!" He disappeared behind some curtains that led to make-up.

"What is wrong with you Emma?!" Ruby shrieked.

"Huh?"

"He's one of the biggest stars on the planet right now! You talked to him like he was nobody, when he's got people fawning over him all the time!"

"Exactly. Why should I help to inflate his already huge ego?" said Emma. "Besides, he's a cocky bastard. I'm sure he's used to getting his way, and I wouldn't be me if I didn't act like those blue eyes and that accent had no hold over me."

"Ah HA! Knew it!"

"Well, I'm only human", she replied with a shrug of her shoulders. "By the way, do I have something on my face?"

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Killian practically sprinted from the make-up chair once Alice was done with him. He was hoping to see the fiery blonde again. He was so used to everyone throwing themselves at him and treating him like a god because of an accent and a pretty face. She-Who-Must-Be-Named told him in no uncertain terms that was the only reason she'd ever been with him and she'd never leave her husband for him. You're just a pretty face and one day, it won't work for you anymore. But he wasn't going to think about her anymore.

He was more intrigued by Emma Swan. He liked a woman who didn't mind getting dirty, and in that moment where she wiped her hand across her face and smeared that stuff on her, she looked beautiful to him. Killian made his way through the curtains back out to where he'd seen the two women working and was disappointed to see they were gone.

"William!" he called. "Smee!" A pudgy and shorter man ran up to him and handed over a coffee cup.

"Yes sir?" his assistant asked.

"When do I go to wardrobe?"

"After lunch. Alice wanted me to remind you to please eat carefully because and I quote, I just did his bleedin' his make-up and I ain't doin' it again…end quote." Killian simply rolled his eyes.

"Come Smee", he said. "Suddenly I'm rather hungry."

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Emma was content to have a quiet lunch. Ruby and Belle were going into town and August had some costumes to take care of. After cleaning up as best she could, she made her way to the craft services tent and got in line for her lunch. She met a very nice older lady who was head of catering.

"Hello dear. I haven't seen you before", she said. "You can call me Granny, everybody does."

"I'm Emma, August's sister", Emma replied as they shook hands. "One of his assistants had to leave and so he called me in to help…and now I'm here."

"Well, welcome to the family dear." Emma took her plate and gave Granny a small smile and walked off to find somewhere to sit. She found an empty table away from everyone and sat down to eat. She opened her dilapidated paperback copy of Peter Pan and started reading as she ate. So engrossed in her meal and book, she didn't notice someone drop into the seat across from her. It wasn't until she heard someone give a short cough that she looked over the top of her book and was faced with a pair of bright blue eyes.

"Hi there lass."

"Jones." She lifted the book back up and was intent to keep on reading until he hooked a long index finger over the top and brought it down, taking it from her and putting it aside.

"Something more interesting than me, love?"

"Don't flatter yourself buddy", she said. "I'm trying to eat Jones."

"Doesn't mean you can't talk."

"Why do you want to talk to me?" she asked and twirled her fork into her spaghetti and stuffed it in her mouth. A piece of noodle hung out of her mouth and as Jones watched, she formed her lips into a perfect 'O' and drew it into her mouth. No one she'd met since him ever really wanted to talk to her. The men she'd met before were only ever after one thing and she was not going to be stupid again…it didn't matter how insanely attractive he was.

"Uh, you've got a little something there on your chin lass", he said and touched his own chin, trying to show her where. Emma wiped her hand on the side of her chin.

"Better?" Jones shook his head so Emma wiped the other side. "How about now?" Killian rolled his bright blues at her.

"Bloody hell, let me then." He reached across the table and took her face in his hand, carefully running his thumb across her chin. The instant his skin touched hers, she felt a shock run up her cheeks. "All better." He licked the sauce off his thumb with a smile in Emma's direction. "Hmm. Maybe I should've gotten the spaghetti." Emma hoped he didn't notice the blush that was sure to be running up her neck and into her cheeks.

"Yeah, well…you never answered my question", said Emma. "Why are you talking to me? Shouldn't you go sit with the other movie stars?"

"Bit defensive aren't we?"

"Just realistic."

"You intrigue me lass. I've never met anyone quite like you", said Jones. "And I've decided that we should be friends." Emma raised an eyebrow at him.

"Seriously?" she asked. "Because I 'intrigue' you, you want to be friends with me?"

"Yup", he replied as he popped the 'p' at the end. Emma rolled her eyes yet again.

"What are you, 12?"

"No, 27." Emma just rolled her eyes and went back to her lunch. "Anyways Swan, tell me about yourself. After all, it's what friends do."

"It's not really any of your business and I don't remember saying yes to being your friend."

"Try something new darling, it's called trust." He popped a fry into his mouth and stared her down as he chewed.

"There is only one person I trust and that's my brother", said Emma. "Ask me to trust someone I just met when you've been abandoned on the side of the road just hours after being born, when the only family you've known returns you to the orphanage after three years because they end up having their own kid, and when you give everything to someone and they leave you high and dry to take a fall for something they did...So yeah, forgive me for not trusting you."

"Emma, I-"

"Don't." Emma pushed her seat away from the table and stood up. "Enjoy your lunch."

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He'd seen the look of a lost one when he'd first laid eyes on her. He should've kept his bloody idiot mouth shut. She was right, he ruined everything he touched. He barely knew this girl and he ruined whatever chance he had at being even just friends. Killian threw his arm over his face as he lay on the couch in his trailer and groaned.

"SMEE!"

"Yes sir?"

"Get me the number of a florist."

"Of course sir."

That's what he was going to do: send her flowers every day until she agreed to talk to him so that he could apologize, so that he could tell her that she wasn't the only one who'd been abandoned.

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It started the next day. When she stepped into the costume tent that morning, there were a dozen red roses waiting. All Emma could do was roll her eyes and scoff.

"Excuse me, Miss Swan?" Emma whirled around to find a short and slightly pudgy man in a red knit cap shuffling his feet.

"Who are you?"

"William Smee, but you can call me Smee", he said. "Personal assistant of Killian Jones."

"Oh, you are huh? Well, do me a favor then Smee", Emma said. She went over to the table where the roses were, grabbed the vase and shoved it into Smee's hands. "Give this back to your boss and tell him I don't like roses."

"Of course ma'am. He wanted me to give you this as well." He handed her a small envelope with Swan written on the front. Smee left as Emma opened it and began to read:

Swan: I apologize for yesterday. That was bad form on my part. I was being honest when I said that you intrigue me and that I wanted to be friends. You'd be the first real friend I've ever had since most people just want to be around me because of who I am. Smee doesn't count because he's a little afraid of me…I think. I hope you enjoyed the flowers. KJ

"What's with that smile on your face?" Emma's head snapped up and away from the letter to see Ruby staring at her.

"I'm not smiling."

"Girl, please", retorted Ruby. "You had a Cheshire Cat grin on your face until I pointed it out. And did I see William Smee scurrying away with a vase of roses?" Emma stayed quiet and shoved the paper in her pocket.

"We've got work to do." Ruby held up her hands in acquiescence and went about her routine. Emma pulled her iPod from her purse and popped her earbuds in starting up 'Paradise City' by Guns 'n Roses. Singing along quietly as she danced over to a rack where several coats hung and pulled a long black duster and sat down to do her work.

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Killian was going over the day's script when Smee returned to the trailer with the roses. Killian looked over the top of his script and raised an eyebrow.

"Why are those here Mr. Smee?" he asked.

"Miss Swan says she doesn't like roses sir."

"Oh does she now?" Killian stroked his chin in thought. "Well then, I'll just have to try again."

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The next day it was a dozen orchids and they were yellow. Nestled in the bouquet was a small note that read: Orchids? She pocketed the note and rolled her eyes. She was distressing a black waistcoat when someone cleared their throat behind her.

"Miss Swan?" It was Smee again.

"Morning Smee." Emma put her work down at her station and picked up the new bouquet. "Tell him not orchids either."

"Of course Miss Swan", replied Smee as he took the flowers from her.

"Hey Smee!" called Ruby. "What are you doing here?"

"Hi Ruby. I was just seeing if Miss Swan liked the flowers-" Emma grabbed him by the shoulders and turned him around, pushing him out.

"Thanks for coming Smee! Not orchids."

"What was that?" cried Ruby as soon as he was gone. "And don't you say nothing."

"Ruby, it wasn't anything."

"Why is Killian Jones sending you flowers?"

"It's not important Ruby."

"Come on Emma! Tell me what's up!" Emma sighed loudly and pinched the bridge of her nose.

"Fine." Emma was surprised how easily she found it to open up and talk to Ruby since she'd only known her a week. She told her about the conversation she and Jones had at lunch a few days before and why she didn't trust him.

"Maybe give the guy a chance, he seems genuine. I know you said you don't trust easily, but look at how easily we're getting along", said Ruby.

"It's surprising me too", replied Emma. "Thanks for listening."

"Just remember, Emma: not everyone is going to be like him."

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The same routine went on for over a week. He sent her Daisies, Alstroemerias, Sunflowers, Lilies, Plumerias, and yellow and white Irises. Every day the routine was the same: Smee would come by and Emma would simply shake her head and then he'd take the bouquet back. She did not get butterflies in her belly every morning she saw a new vase, she did not. But she couldn't ignore how it made her feel that someone was trying to get to know her. It was all in vain however, because he'd leave…they always did.

The day he'd sent her Irises, August invited her for lunch in the village. Emma was excited because they'd barely had a chance to talk that first week; she'd come back to the B&B every night dead tired and August would be just as tired, if he even went back to his room that night.

"So what's going on with you and Jones?" August asked as they sat outside at the Guinness Café. Emma choked on the water she'd just drank.

"What?" she asked. "What are you talking about?"

"You think because I've been busy all week that I have no idea what's going on?" August ran his hand over his scruff smiled at her. "Come on Emma, you don't have to hide it. He's been sending you flowers every day for the last week and a half."

"How do you know about that?"

"Who do you think let's Smee in every morning to leave the flowers at your station?"

"Seriously?!"

"Emma, I love you, but you need to let other people in. Not everyone is going to be like Neal, not everyone is going to leave you behind."

"You did!"

"I asked you to come with me! That's on you little sister, you left me."

"You're lucky I love you Auggie."

"All I'm saying is give the man a chance. He's a pretty nice guy. I got to know him when we were doing costume fittings before filming started. You could do with some more friends you know."

Emma was pretty quiet the rest of lunch. Would it really hurt to be friends with the guy? She wasn't going to be around him forever and after filming was done, she'd never have to see him again.

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The next morning, Emma walked into the costume tent and found the day's flowers at her station: one dozen bright yellow Buttercups sat in teal green vase. She tossed her bag and coat on the chair and went to pick up the vase. That's how Smee found her: her nose deep in the flowers, inhaling their delicious scent.

"Good Morning Emma."

"Hey Smee." She put the vase down and grabbed a paper and pen, hastily scribbling a note and handing it over. "Give him this, would you?"

"Of course. He'll be happy you liked them this time", said Smee.

"I'm sure he will."

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Killian was used to the routine by now. He'd be finishing up his morning coffee when Smee would inevitably return with the flowers of the day. Today, however, when Smee entered his trailer he was flower-less.

"Where are they?" he asked his assistant.

"She kept them and asked me to give you this." Smee handed him a piece of paper. "You're needed on location in 10 minutes sir."

"Thank you William", replied Killian. "I'll be right there." With a nod, Smee left the trailer and Killian looked down to the note.

Jones: Buttercups, how'd you know? After some thinking, I realized I'd been too hasty. I'm pretty busy this week, but how about lunch next week where we first had lunch? See you around…Swan

Below the note, she'd scrawled her phone number (Don't read too much into this buddy.) with a small not saying it was okay to text her.

That day, Killian Jones had to do a lot of takes because he kept getting distracted because all he could think of was a beautiful blonde with bright, emerald green eyes.