Chapter 4

He'd kissed her. Well, he hadn't kissed her kissed her, but still…and then he'd practically pushed her away. Gods, what have I done?! He smacked himself in the head and ran out of Emma's hotel room, expecting her to be downstairs already. Instead, he found her leaning against the wall across from her room.

"Are you ready or what?" she asked with a frown.

"I'm sorry Swan." Killian locked his gaze with hers. "I was stupid. I'm sorry." She laughed, but it was cold, devoid of any emotion except anger.

"You're sorry? For what exactly? Are you sorry at how completely humiliated I am for how I practically threw myself at you? Or are you sorry because for the first time in years, I've actually decided to trust someone with my feelings and then he proceeded to stamp on them like they were nothing? You told me to trust you, and I did…big mistake."

"Swan…" He reached out to her, but she pulled away quickly.

"No." She fumbled around in her clutch for her room key. "Enjoy your party because I think I'm staying here." The door beeped and opened. Before she could shut it, he shoved his foot in between the door and the frame.

"Swan, wait a minute, would you?" He pushed into her room and shut the door. She tossed her jacket on the bed and her clutch at his face. "Stop."

"What do you want Jones?"

"You're not the only one with issues! Did you for one minute think that maybe I was just nervous? You're the first woman I've felt this way about in a long time. I don't want to muck it up like I've done before." She was staring out the window at the water as he approached. "I want this to work, Emma. If you believe one thing, believe that." She turned to face him, arms crossed.

"Look me in the eye and answer this question and know that I can tell if you're lying, it's my thing: Do you, Killian Jones, like me more than a friend?"

"Very much so."

"Did you want to kiss me before?"

"You have no idea."

"You're not just messing with me because you're famous and you think you can do what you want with someone?"

"I'd jump of the Cliffs of Moher before I hurt you that way." She stared at him with furrowed eyebrows, a small wrinkle forming between them. All of a sudden her face became relaxed and she smiled at him.

"Okay then. Help me with my coat, would you?" He smirked and retrieved the coat from the bed, holding it open for her. "Killian?"

"Yes love?" He looked her in the eye as he did up the buttons of her jacket and tied the belt around her.

"We're going to be late."

"Right, let's go shall we?" He offered his right arm to her and she wrapped her left around it.

"Let's."

They made their way to the elevator in silence, but both had smiles on their respective faces. Emma dropped her hand from his arm as they stepped into the elevator and he pressed the button for the lobby and leaned against the far wall, her arms falling to her sides. Killian leaned back next to her and she felt his knuckles brush against hers. Suddenly, he took her hand in his, entwining his fingers with hers. He brought their hands up to his lips and kissed hers lightly as the doors of the elevator opened to the lobby. They walked hand in hand to the valet station outside and Emma stood patiently as Killian asked for a car, never once letting go of her hand.

"Would you like to go to dinner with me?" Killian asked as they waited.

"Aren't we doing that right now?"

"I mean like a proper date, Swan. How about tomorrow when we all arrive in Dublin?"

"August and I are taking the train since we have a few days off before we have to get back to work. Brother and sister bonding since we've been so busy."

"Then, the day after you arrive, yes?"

"Of course." The car arrived and Killian helped Emma in, then slid in after her. "How are we going to handle this once we get there?"

"What do you mean love?" he asked as he drew small circles in her palm.

"The party, in like, two minutes. Are we going to act like a thing or…?"

"I like you, Emma Swan, and I'd like to date you. I don't care what anyone else thinks." He brought her hand to his lips and kissed it again. "I'd like to have your hand in mine all night if I can or my arm around your waist, if that's okay with you." She leaned her head on his shoulder and sighed.

"I'd love that."

Before they knew it, they'd arrived at the party and it was complete with a small red carpet leading into the museum and Irish press lined the way in.

"Bloody hell", Killian said as they pulled up. "I didn't think Gold would call the press. I'm sorry Swan." She scoffed and straightened his bow tie.

"It comes with the territory. We can get through this", she said. "Is it scary for me? Yeah. Am I nervous? Duh. The thing is though, I've got you to hold on to. We'll be fine." He leaned in, putting his forehead to hers.

"What would I do without you?" Before she could answer, the door was opened and Killian stepped out. "Ready?" Emma nodded and stepped out after him. Another guy was taking coats, so Killian helped her out of it and handed it to the man, sliding the coat check ticket in the inside pocket of his tux. That was when they were noticed. Flashbulbs went off and questions were thrown at him from left and right. All he did was smile and wave, holding Emma to him, his right arm around her waist. He watched Emma out of the corner of his eye as she did her best to pose with him and not look super nervous. One of the photographers called out to them,

"Give us a pose you two!" Killian pulled Emma close but she faced the photographer as she placed her left arm on Killian's right shoulder and left her right hand hang at her side. Killian wrapped his right arm around her waist and simply stared at her. After what seemed like thousands of flashbulbs went off, he waved at the crowd.

"Okay, good night everyone!" he called to the press and led Emma inside. "Okay there darling?"

"Yeah, not as bad as I thought it'd be."

"This is small time. Wait until I take you as my date to the Oscars."

"Wha-" Killian laughed as two more people opened the front doors for them and they walked into the museum. Black curtained partitions were set up that blocked the rest of the museum from view. They were directed up the stairs to the second floor.

"Relax Swan, we'll cross that bridge when we get to it."

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When she and Killian made it to the 'party' floor, the first thing she noticed was the bar…and Ruby, whose jaw was practically on the floor.

"Killian, would you mind getting me a drink?" He hesitated a little.

"Are you sure? Do you remember what happened last time?" He smiled at her. "I got several misspelled text messages and a loud call-" He stopped when she smacked him on the shoulder.

"Oh relax. I'll let you cut me off if it makes you feel any better."

"Ok then. Rum?" She laughed at him.

"Is rum your solution to everything?" She couldn't keep track of all the stories he'd told her when he'd done crazy and stupid stuff because he'd gotten drunk on rum with his 'mates' in 'uni'.

"It certainly doesn't hurt." He wiggled his eyebrows at her. "I'm sure you want to find August and Ruby. I'll find you." He kissed her hand and disappeared in the crowd towards the bar. Emma made her way to where she saw Ruby chatting with Will, August, and Graham.

"Well, well, well", she said as Emma walked up. "Don't you look super happy?"

"You look beautiful little sister", said August.

"Younger sister." Emma gave him a Look.

"Emma, you look perfect. I did say that dress was the only thing you should ever wear", said Graham as he pulled her into a hug and placed big kiss on her cheek.

"Oh stop." Emma felt her cheeks burn, "Hey Will."

"All right?"

"How are you feeling?" He still looked pretty bad: red nose and blood shot eyes, and dark circles under them like he hadn't slept properly.

"Like I said before, bleedin' knackered I am. Hopefully I'll manage to kick this before we start work in Dublin." He turned his head and sneezed into the hankie he'd been holding and shoved it in his pocket.

"Maybe you should go back to the hotel Will, you don't look so good." Emma got a better look and he was covered in a sheen of sweat.

"I'll go with him, make sure he makes it", said Ruby. "I'm starting to feel not so hot either."

"Thanks Ruby. I think that's a good idea." He said bye to everyone, shook Emma's hand and left as Killian walked up with two tumblers in his hands. Emma gave Ruby a hug and hoped she felt better as she trailed behind Will.

"What's wrong with Ruby and Scarlett?"

"He's sick and she's going to make sure he makes it to the hotel." Emma took one of the tumblers from him and sipped at the rum. She felt Killian set his left arm at the small of her back.

"So, Booth, Emma tells me you two are taking the train to Dublin", Killian said to August.

"Yeah. She's never been to this part of the world so I thought we'd take a detour", August replied. Then, looking straight in Emma's eyes, he added, "There's so much for us to catch up on." Emma just smiled and sipped her drink some more.

"What station will you be arriving at?"

"Connor Railway." Music started up in the background as Killian and her brother continued talking.

"Emma, would you like to dance and leave these two handsome men to talk?" asked Graham as he suddenly cut in to the conversation.

"Uh, sure." She handed August her glass and took Graham's hand as they made their way over to a dance floor set up alongside a wall of floor-to-ceiling windows looking out over the water. They were silent, at first, as Graham twirled them around the dance floor. She could see him sneaking looks back at August and Killian. "Hey! Eyes over here buddy, that Irishman's mine."

"I know, I know. Don't worry, August is more my type you know."

"You make him happy."

"Aye, he makes me happy as well." Graham looked down at Emma. "Speaking of 'happy', Miss Swan, do tell. In the time I've known you, I haven't seen you like this. It's like something swooped in and took the weight that right bastard left you with right off your shoulders." She had never intended for her brother's boyfriend to know about Neal, but a few martinis at her birthday dinner had let everything spill out.

"We've only known each other a month and yet…"

"It feels perfect? Like he fits into the mess that is your life?"

"Yeah. Exactly that." Emma looked over at Killian, who was laughing at something August had said and clapping him on the back, and smiled. "We're not 'official' or anything. He did ask me out to dinner and we're going to go when we relocate to Dublin."

Graham, who was from Dublin, was telling her about all the wonderful places Killian might take her when he felt a tap on his shoulder.

"May I cut in?" Killian asked.

"Of course." Graham placed Emma's hand in Killian's, who pulled her into his arms. "You be good to our girl Jones. I'm watching you."

"Graham!" She tried to smack him upside the head, but he hurried away to where August was.

"Don't worry love, he's just looking out for you."

"Yeah, but still." The song changed into what Emma thought sounded like a waltz. "Oh geez. I don't know how to dance to this kinda thing."

"It's not that hard Swan."

"Wait, are you saying you know how to do whatever this is?"

"It's called a waltz." Killian repositioned Emma's hands and his. He looked into her eyes (were here knees suddenly feeling a little weak?) and smiled a swoon worthy grin at her. "There's only on rule: pick a partner who knows what he's doing."

They twirled around the dance floor and after a while, Emma realized she hadn't had that much fun dancing since…ever. When the dance was over, he offered his arm and they went to where food was being served and got a couple plates. They sat down at a table with August and Graham and spent the rest of the night chatting away or dancing. At one point, she pulled out her phone and snapped a selfie of her and Killian. When she went to look at it, she felt like her heart might exploded with giddiness because of the way he was looking at her: he'd leaned his forehead against her temple and smiled at her with utter devotion that Emma had never seen from any man she'd ever dated (which were very few, thanks to Neal). He stole her phone away when he saw it and texted the picture to himself.

By the time they made their way back downstairs, Emma felt exhausted because her feet were killing her. (Should've never worn those shoes. Yeah, well…beauty is pain.) Killian was getting her coat from the coat check and she was doing all she could to not fall over or show a single grimace. Unfortunately for her, Killian knew something was up.

"Are you okay lass?" Emma noted a look of deep concern on his face.

"Psh…totally fine."

"Remember when you told me about your superpower?"

("I'm going to let you in on a little secret: I'm pretty good at knowing when someone is lying to me. August calls it my 'superpower'."

"I'll have to be careful to around you then, won't I?"

"Yes you will.")

"Yeah. What's the point?" Killian held her jacket open for her and she slid her arms in.

"It's my turn to let you in on a little secret", he said as he buttoned up the jacket. "You may be able to spot a liar, but you aren't very good at lying yourself."

"Hmph." She rolled her eyes at him but he just looked at her expectantly. "Okay, fine. My feet are killing me. I didn't want to say anything because I didn't want to look like a fragile, weak little girl."

"Swan, you're anything but."

"Don't you even dare carry me out of here Killian Jones, I can see that look in your eyes."

"Wouldn't dream of it. Just lean on me when we're walking out." She nodded and they went out to where the cars were pulling up to take them. Killian insisted she get in first and he slid in after her. As soon as the door was shut, he pulled her feet up into his lap and pulled off her shoes.

"I curse the day I bought these shoes." Emma flexed her toes to get feeling back in them once more. "Next time there's a party, I'm wearing Converse."

"There is something that I fancy when I see you wear those." Emma laughed as she looked out the window. "Something funny?"

"You like the way I look in a pair of dirty old sneakers?"

"You could wear a potato sack for all I care." Emma was at a loss for words, but the car suddenly pulled up at the hotel (it was literally a two to three minute drive). He quietly slipped her shoes on her again and stepped out, extending his hand to help her. Once in the elevator, she gladly slipped the shoes off again and let them hang in her hand. When the elevator signaled it was on the eighth floor and before Emma could even take a step, Killian swept her up in his arms.

"Now you're a gentleman?" she asked jokingly.

"I'm always a gentleman," he said. "Just let me okay? I'm trying to help." Emma just wrapped her arms around his neck and let him carry her down the hall to room 815. She took out her room key and he bent down a little to allow her to stick the key in the electronic lock. Emma tossed her shoes into her suitcase which sat open in the closet as they walked in. Killian didn't put her down until he heard the door click and without her heels she now only reached just below his chin.

"I had a wonderful time", Emma said when he stepped away from her. She undid the buttons and belt of her coat slowly and tossed it over the desk chair. She did an internal victory dance when she saw how he gulped at her actions. "I'm sorry about earlier."

"It's-" He cleared his throat. "It's no problem Swan. We've got it all sorted."

"That we do." She stood up on the tips of her toes and placed a kiss on his cheek. "I hate to kick you out, but August and I are leaving early. I have to be up at six and it's almost one right now."

"Right, right. I'll just go then." He turned to leave, but as soon as his hand was on the handle, Emma stopped him.

"Killian?"

"Yes love?" Her cheeks flushed pink and he smiled.

"Would you give me a hand again?" she asked and turned her back to him. "Please?"

"Oh, of course." He slid the zipper down as slow as he could (this is one of those moments where the gentleman in him had left the building). He leaned forward (like Emma felt him do earlier that night), but before she felt kisses on her shoulder, he asked permission. "May I?"

She didn't trust her voice not to sound breathy or husky, so she simply nodded her head. When she felt his lips trailing small and slow kisses along her shoulder and up her neck (for the second time that day), she had to do everything in her power to hold on to her dress or this was going to happen. She was, however, completely powerless to stop the small moan escape her and she felt him smile against her skin. He pulled her to him with his left arm around her waist and his right trailing sinfully along her right shoulder and arm. Emma thanked her lucky stars that he was holding her because she was sure she'd be a pile of melted goo at his feet in seconds.

"Killian...as…as much as I'm…uh…enjoying this, because I totally am, I need to get to sleep." She could almost hear the pout on his face. "If you keep going..."

"I know." He stepped back and made his way to door again. "I'll see you for our date. Let me know when you get in to Dublin, okay?"

"I promise." She kissed him on the cheek again and he left with a click of the door. She leaned against the door for a minute, to catch her breath, then hung up her dress and strode into the bathroom to get rid of her make-up and let down her hair. She was pulling her brush through her hair when her phone buzzed with a text.

Rubezz: I hate Will Scarlett.

Swan Princess: How is Will? How are you?

Rubezz: He's safely sleeping in his room but my head and throat hurt like a bitch. I don't think this is an allergies thing. Will has something that I'm pretty sure I now have.

Swan Princess: Do you need anything? Want me to come stay with you?

Rubezz: Don't worry about me. It's probably the flu or a cold. You just relax and dream about that gorgeous boyfriend of yours princess.

Swan Princess: ….

Swan Princess: We haven't even been on a date! He's not my boyfriend!

Rubezz: But you want him to be!

Swan Princess: Good night Ruby.

Rubezz: Good night Emma.

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She dreamt that she was a princess and he was a princess and that they were dancing the night away at a royal ball. He wore a long brown coat with a white shirt, black waistcoat, and black pants looking ever the gorgeous prince. She had worn a beautiful red ball gown with black strappy heels with crocodile clasps. He was leaning in to kiss her as they stood on the battlements of a golden castle when she was jerked from her dream by the alarm on her phone.

She wanted nothing more than to throw it against a wall so she could go back to sleep, but she just groaned a pulled herself from her bed and into the bathroom. After a quick rinse in the shower, she finished packing away everything still strewn about the room except her clothes for the day: yellow skinny jeans, blue tee, favorite pair of black Converse, and her red leather jacket. She decided to forgo her contacts and left her glasses on and she did up her hair in a messy bun, escaped strands of hair hanging down all over the place.

After making sure she wasn't forgetting anything, Emma grabbed her suitcase and rolled it out of the room. What she didn't expect was to run over someone's foot with it.

"Bloody hell Swan! What've you got in there? Bricks?" Emma looked up to find Killian leaning against the wall holding his foot. His hair stuck up in bunch of different places and his scruff was a little more…scruffy. He seemed disheveled, the way his clothes appeared to be hastily thrown on: grey Converse, jeans, a green t-shirt, and black leather jacket. Emma believed it should be a crime to look that good so early in the morning.

"What are you doing here so early?"

"I wanted to see you before you left." His revelation stunned Emma because she hadn't had anyone to care for her that way in a long time. She wanted him and wanted to try and be with him. She wasn't any good at relationships, but Killian made her want to try.

"Good", was all she replied but threw in a small smile.

"Come on", he said and took hold of her suitcase. "I'm going with you to the station to see you and August off."

"Okay." He takes her suitcase in one hand and entwines his fingers with hers with his other hand. Emma pressed the button to call the elevator and leaned her head against his shoulder as they waited.

"Swan?"

"Hm?" she answered without looking up at him.

"You look even more beautiful than you did last night." She lets out a very unladylike snort. "Have I said something funny?"

"No. But seriously? Look at me! Jeans and a t-shirt now and last night I was wearing a dress by Alexander freakin' McQueen." Killian sighed and dropped his chin to his chest before turning to look at her with his lips in a tight line. "What?"

"Potato sack love, we've been through this. To me, you are beautiful in Alexander McQueen or in whatever you're wearing now."

"Old Navy."

"Right. You could choose to wear things like these for the rest of your life and I would still have to fight the urge to kiss you senseless every time I saw you." Emma just blinked at him. This was not a conversation to be having so early in the morning.

"Wha-uh-huh?" Emma couldn't seem to form a full sentence. "How long have you been thinking that?" she asked quietly. She looked over at Killian and he shrugged his shoulders.

"Since the day I met you." Just then, the elevator announced its arrival and Emma grabbed her suitcase and pulled it in after her. Killian stepped in after Emma and pressed the button for the lobby. He balled up fists and stared at her, "Oh sod it!" He stepped forward like a man on a mission and pulled her to him, cradling the back of her head with one hand and the other around her waist, and crashed his lips to hers.

It took Emma about a millisecond to register what was happening before she simply dropped her purse on the ground and brought her arms around Killian's neck, and ran her fingers in his dark, unruly hair. She sighed as his lips moved against hers and he angled his head to deepen the kiss, at the same time backing them both up until Emma felt her back hit the wall of the elevator.

That's how the kiss went, for seven floors (uninterrupted, thank goodness), one fighting for dominance with the other and full of passion. When the doors slid open at the lobby level, Killian jumped away from her and Emma could see that he looked just as utterly wrecked as she felt. She readjusted her glasses that had gone askew and took her purse when he handed it to her.

"Shall we go?"

"Uh…" Killian chuckled and entwined his fingers with hers and pulled her after him. They spotted August waiting by a shiny black limo and Killian gave him a nod.

"Good morning Booth." Killian relinquished his hold over Emma's suitcase to shake August's hand, but never let go of Emma's hand. "I'm just going to see you two off if that's okay."

"Fine with me. Emma?" asked August.

"Cool." August gave her a look that said We're going to talk about this later and got in the car followed by Emma then Killian. Emma didn't join in the conversation as the car pulled away from the hotel, she just stared out the window and thought about what just happened. She'd seen fireworks, stars bursting, and whatever other clichés she'd heard about behind her closed eyelids when Killian had kissed her. So much was poured into that kiss that she felt like her head hadn't floated back down to join her body. She'd never in her life been kissed like that…and God help her, she wanted more.

Emma would have continued day dreaming had it not been for August changing the topic of conversation.

"So, Jones, I may have been approving in the beginning, but I need to know. What are your intentions toward my sister?"

"That's a bit old fashioned isn't it, mate?"

"Remember, I know your reputation. My sister isn't just some-"

"August! Would you please just…not right now?!" Emma could do nothing but bury her reddening face in her hands.

"Emma, love, he's right." Killian took Emma's hand in his and looked August in the eyes. "I intend to court your sister."

"Oh my God, seriously? What are you, a pirate from a fairytale book?" scoffed Emma.

"Maybe next year? I don't know. Regina is negotiating a deal with Universal because they want to do a big sweeping epic of a movie where all fairytale characters actually exist and live in some other realm or something. She says that the studio wants me for Captain Hook."

"I was joking!"

"I wasn't."

"Can we get back to what I was asking?" August stared at the two of them.

"Continue, Booth."

"Right well…she's been hurt in the past and she doesn't-"

"August!" Emma hissed.

"You haven't told him about Neal?"

"We haven't even been on a real date! Unless you count the party last night?" She looked over at Killian.

"Unofficial first, I'd say."

"Point is, we were going to go out for dinner tomorrow and talk. Geez."

"Fine. Sorry", said August. The rest of the 10 minute drive was silent. Killian helped the driver with the suitcases when they pulled up to Galway Station, allowing Emma a few minutes alone with August.

"What the hell was that?"

"I just wanted to make sure that he wasn't being his normal self!"

"You are the one who let his assistant into our workspace to leave flowers! You are the one whole told me to be friends with him!"

"Yeah, friends! I didn't mean for you to date him!"

"We. Haven't. Been. On. A. Date!" Emma accentuated her point by poking August in the shoulder after each word.

"Just be careful Emma."

"I will, but if we start dating you need to let me do this on my own. Neal may have left me messed up but I can't just block out all possibilities of a future 'cause of that idiot."

"You need to tell him, you know."

"I will. I'm just afraid that once I do he'll leave. Like everyone else in my life. Except for you."

"That man is smitten with you. I highly doubt he'd do that…and if he leaves, it's to find Neal and beat to within an inch of his life. If he does, please let him know to take me along because I want to do that too. He's lucky I haven't been able to find him."

"Who's lucky you haven't been able to find him?" Killian walked up to catch the last bit of their conversation.

"Uh, nothing." August just smiled. "Right. I'm going to get on the train, leave you to it. Here's your ticket Emma. We're leaving in a few minutes." August handed over a ticket to Emma and she took it, tucking it into a front pocket of her jacket.

"See you in a couple of days Booth", said Killian and shook hands with August. When August disappeared on the train, Killian sighed dramatically. "I thought he'd never leave."

"Oh shut up." Emma smacked him on the arm and Killian caught her hand in his, lacing their fingers together and bringing them up to his lips.

"I'll miss you", he said as he ran his thumb over her knuckles.

"We'll see each other tomorrow! And then just about every day on set."

"Still." Emma reached up and placed her free hand on his cheek, running her thumb on a small scar he had there. Killian shut his eyes and leaned into her touch.

"I hope my brother didn't scare you off."

"Not that anything would scare me away from you, but it would take a lot more than the overprotective brother speech to do so."

"Good." A whistle blew somewhere on the platform. She wrapped her arms around his neck and pulling him towards her, and he placed his hands on her hips. Emma stood on her tip toes and leaned her forehead against his. They were so close, all either of them had to do was move an inch and their lips would be touching.

"Have fun Swan. Take lots of pictures."

"I'll miss you too, Killian." He pulled her flush to him and kissed her. It was different from the elevator. Their lips moved slowly against each other until the whistle blew again and the broke apart. "Be good. I'll see you tomorrow." She slung her purse over her shoulder and ran to the train before they shut the doors.

"Bye Swan!" Emma waved from a window until the station disappeared behind them and she couldn't see Killian anymore. In that moment, when she could no longer see him, she understood how he felt. She already missed him so much.