Disclaimer: I don't own OUAT even though I wish I did.

Okay now here we get Ruby and Belle.

I hope you guys enjoy. Please review! And questions are welcome!

Chapter 2: Serendipity or Fate?

Two weeks had passed since his one night stand, and still Killian couldn't get her out of his head. It didn't help that he found her panties later that morning, a physical reminder that proved it wasn't a dream and that she was real.

He wished that he had a way to find her. He'd gone back to the bar the first three nights after their rendezvous, but he had no such luck, getting the feeling that she was too spooked to return to the bar. Maybe if he had a name…but she had been so insistent on no names. It had to be a one time thing for her.

Killian wished it could've been a one time thing for him too. As it was, she had haunted his dreams and his thoughts. He hadn't been so cut up over a woman since Milah.

He winced at the thought. That had ended badly, enough so that he exiled himself from his hometown and hadn't spoken to his brother or friends in five years. He hadn't had a relationship either. One night stands were all he was willing to take.

Five years of dealing with heartbreak, and for the first time, a one night stand didn't sit well with him. He wanted to find the woman and get to know her.

"Okay, so this box is done." Belle's voice brought him out of his thoughts.

Belle had been his friend for close to two years now. They met when he was living in New York and she was getting her degree in English Literature. Last year Belle had gotten into graduate school in Boston, so they decided to move together. It helped that Killian's high school friend Ruby, the only person from Storybrooke he'd had contact with in recent years, already lived in Boston with her roommate.

A roommate that would now be Killian's. He hadn't met this Emma Swan, mostly due to work, but also because Ruby and Belle had wanted to set him up with her. But he knew Ruby's schemes and how she worked, so he'd been highly successful at avoiding meeting the lass, much to Ruby's chagrin.

Then Ruby and Belle decided to move in together, and Ruby convinced Killian to move in with Emma. Killian was half convinced that Ruby and Belle moving in together was yet another ploy to shove him and Emma Swan together. Well he had news for Ruby, he had another woman on his mind, and he was never going to go out with this Swan girl.

"You okay?" Belle asked.

"Aye." Killian nodded, absently tossing something into his suitcase.

"You just seem out of it." Belle looked concerned. "You're not mad that we sprung this on you, are you?"

Killian shook his head. "No, lass. You and Ruby deserve happiness, and I couldn't be happier for you."

Belle smiled. "Then what's going on in that head of yours?"

"Nothing to worry about." Killian said. "So, is this Emma girl going to be at the apartment?"

"No." Belle said. "She's at work today."

Killian eyed her. "She does know about the roommate switch, right?"

Belle chuckled. "Of course she does. Ruby's been easing her into it, but Emma isn't….well, she's a bit prickly. Like you."

He huffed as he zipped up his suitcase. "So she already doesn't like me?"

"I wouldn't say that." Belle shrugged. "Emma's not good with change."

Killian sighed, rubbing at his temple. "Fantastic."

Belle placed a hand on his shoulder. "Hey, look, it'll be all right. Emma might stonewall you at first, but you're a charming and nice guy."

If he was, why couldn't his one night stand see that? Still, for Belle's sake, Killian put on a smile. "Too right, lass." He looked around his room, making sure that nothing was forgotten. "I think that's everything. Ready to go?"

Belle nodded, grabbing a box.

Killian sighed.

He hoped things wouldn't be too rocky with him and Emma Swan.

Chinese takeout would be her peace offering. It was the best thing Emma could come up with for this roommate that she never met before. Ruby swore up and down that this Killian Jones was one of the good ones though.

Hence Ruby and Belle trying to set Emma up with the guy for the last few months. But Emma being Emma wormed her way out of every scheme Ruby concocted. Emma Swan did not do relationships. She tried once, her stupid teenage desperation for love clouding her judgement, and it failed spectacularly.

She blocked out the memories that tried to creep in. She was not going to think about that at all.

Unfortunately, that only brought forth fresher memories. Of blue eyes and a comforting, accented voice in her ear. God, her one night stand was still stuck with her, even after two weeks. She never gave a second thought to her one night stands. Never. So why was this guy different? It was just sex. Really amazing sex. The best sex she'd ever had in her life and that was it. There was not supposed to be a connection there.

There wasn't a connection there. Nope.

She was determined to forget him. Hell, she had to. Besides, she didn't know him from Adam. That's why she insisted on no names. She didn't want to risk him finding her or her searching for him.

Because Emma Swan did not do relationships. Ever.

When her order was ready, she grabbed the bags and headed out to her bug. She hoped that this would make up for her not being there to help him move in. Ruby told her that she needed to try and be friendly, so she'd try. Not that she was happy about it.

Even though Ruby vouched for Jones, he was still a stranger as far as Emma was concerned. She sighed. Meeting the guy was no longer avoidable, and it's not as thought she couldn't go home ever again. Plus, if she waited any longer, her peace offering would end up seeing the inside of a microwave.

"Okay, Emma." She nodded. "Time to go meet this guy."

Killian cracked his neck as he entered his new apartment. Ruby's stuff was now officially in the truck downstairs, and she and Belle would be driving it all back to their place soon.

As for his things, he made sure to put everything in his new room, completely uncertain as to his status here. He didn't want to get on his new roommate's bad side before they even introduced themselves.

His phone pinged.

We're heading out. Ruby's text read.

"What the hell?" He huffed.

They were supposed to stay and introduce him and Emma properly. He texted as much to Ruby.

Blame your very sexy friend and her dirty little mind.

Killian shook his head. He had a feeling that without Ruby and Belle as a buffer, meeting Emma wasn't going to go over smoothly. Sighing, he went back to his new room and began unpacking. While he took out his clothes and sorted them, he worked through various scenarios of how he'd introduce himself to Emma, and hoped that it wouldn't be too terribly awkward.

An image of blonde hair came to his mind.

There she was again. Killian longed to know who she was, and to see her again. His heart ached to know. He wish he knew why. Why was that one night so life altering? Why had she been the first person in a long time to make his heart race? It couldn't have just been the sex. The sex had been fantastic. The best he'd ever had, but there was something else. There was a connection there.

He heard the door to the apartment open and shut, followed by the sound of plastic bags rustling.

Time to face the music.

Taking a breath, he left the room and walked towards the little kitchenette.

He froze when he saw blonde hair through the opening over the bar. His heart quickened it's pace. It couldn't be…could it? There was no way that it was possible. He cleared his throat, unable to really find his voice.

"Sorry Ruby bailed." A very familiar voice spoke.

Killian suddenly found it hard to breathe.

"And sorry I had to work." She continued. "I hope that you like Chinese." The blonde turned around. "This place has the best…" Her eyes widened as she took him in.

They stared at each other, taking each other in.

Killian swallowed when their eyes met.

"You." Her voice was quiet.

He had no idea how to respond to that. His new roommate was the woman who hadn't given his mind any peace for the last two weeks. "Hello." He said feeling painfully awkward. What the hell else was he supposed to say?

Emma didn't have a clue as to what the hell she should say. Her one night that wouldn't leave her alone was standing in her apartment looking at her as if he was seeing the sun for the first time in his life. Panicked, Emma said the words before she could register them. "What the hell are you doing here?"

He flinched at the harshness of her tone.

Emma grimaced.

Blue eyes looked at her hesitantly, almost as if she were a skittish animal. He cleared his throat. "I'm Killian Jones." He introduced quietly, uncertainty coming off of him in waves.

Her walls slammed shut, pushing away her shock. "Obviously." She growled. "Did you know who I was?" She snapped. Anger was something that she could work with.

Killian blinked. "What?"

"Two weeks ago." Emma said. "Did you know who I was?"

"No." He said. "I didn't. I swear." Killian wasn't sure why she was so angry, but in a way he could understand. They both were shocked right now. If anger was her way of dealing with it, he could take it.

Emma knew he was telling the truth thanks to her "superpower" as Ruby had dubbed her ability to know when someone was lying. Guilt crept up in her stomach. The poor guy was just as surprised to be in this situation as she was. "Okay."

The awkwardness between them was practically suffocating.

Killian scratched behind his ear. "Um…I…"

Emma felt bad at how lost he looked. "So…okay, we might as well talk about it." They needed to get the elephant out of the room quickly, especially if they were going to be living together.

He looked down at his boots, stuffing his hands into his pockets. "Yeah."

"We had sex." Emma might as well rip off the bandaid. "It was great sex, but that's all it was."

His eyes flicked back up to hers, and Emma was surprised to see hurt in his eyes. His jaw clenched. "Aye."

Emma swallowed. "Okay, so we had sex, now we're roommates. So that's it. End of story."

"So just like that?" He stepped forward slowly. "That's all it was."

"Yes." Emma lied.

Killian certainly didn't look convinced. "Are you sure about that?"

Emma huffed turning back to the now lukewarm Chinese food. "Look, we had a one night stand. It happens. Ruby and Belle don't have to know. It can stay between us."

Killian felt at a loss. Did she not feel what he had that night? No, that couldn't be it. He remembered how she looked when they made love that second time, how panicked she looked when she left. "Is there a reason you don't want them to know?" It was the only thing he could think to ask, but he was also curious. Did she regret their night?

Emma shrugged, busying herself by plating some of the food and putting it in the microwave. "They just don't need to know. It's not their business."

He sighed. What else was there to say? She was stonewalling him, just as Belle predicted, but for totally different reasons than either of them had expected. "Okay. Just between us then."

Emma was surprised that he accepted it so quickly. "Okay."

Killian ran a hand through his hair. What else was there to say? "Perhaps, we can start over."

She turned to face him.

Carefully, Killian stepped forward, holding out his hand. "I'm Killian Jones, you're new roommate."

Emma took his hand, ignoring the electricity that shot between them. "Emma Swan."

Killian smiled and Emma successfully stopped herself from swooning. "It's lovely to meet you, Swan."

Ruby dug two cartons of Ben & Jerry's out of the freezer. Cherry Garcia for her and Chunky Monkey for Belle. "So, how do you think it went down after we left?" Ruby asked, passing her girlfriend her pint of ice cream.

"Knowing Emma, it was probably awkward." Belle said. "We really shouldn't have bailed on them."

"It was totally worth it though." Ruby winked.

"You don't think Emma scared him off, do you?" Belle was concerned.

Ruby snorted. "I've known Killian for ten years. He's only ever run from a fight once."

"Yes, but Emma puts up a hell of a fight." Belle said.

"Look, this is what we wanted." Ruby shrugged. "Them to meet. They're two peas in a pod, they just don't know it yet."

"Wait, did you suggest moving in together just to get them to meet?" Belle narrowed her eyes at her girlfriend.

"No, I did want to move in with you." Ruby chuckled. "It's the right time. I suggested that Killian move in with Emma so that they couldn't avoid meeting each other. If they fall in love, well that's just a bonus."

"You're a devious woman, Ruby Lucas." Belle shook her head. "They might not you know."

"Maybe not." Ruby said over a mouthful of ice cream. "But a girl can hope."

Belle wasn't as certain about Emma and Killian as Ruby was. Both of them had their walls and struggled to let people in, so Belle doubted that either Emma or Killian would hit it off right away. It would even surprise her if they became friends.

"You look worried." Ruby commented.

"I hope they become friends at the very least." Belle told her. "But you know how they both are."

Ruby sighed, polishing off her pint. "I know. We'll just have to wait and see."

"Okay." Belle said. "I still don't think you should get your hopes up."

"I'm not." Ruby promised. "We'll call them tomorrow? Check on things?"

"You really going to risk Emma chewing your head off?" Belle snorted.

Ruby shrugged. "I can handle it."

"You also work with Killian." Belle reminded her.

"No, I work for a magazine that Killian freelances for." Ruby corrected. "If he comes in tomorrow, well, then he comes in and I'll deal with him. Besides, I think he's got projects at other places right now."

Belle shook her head. "Emma's still going to kill you."

Ruby looked contemplative. "Well then, you'll just have to avenge me."

"Nope." Belle stood and tossed her empty pint in the trash. "You dug your grave."

An expression of mocked offense came upon her face. "You would just let Emma kill me, and not take revenge?"

Belle chuckled. "I will make sure you have a beautiful funeral."

"I thought you loved me." Ruby pouted. "If they hit it off, I'm going to get you back for that."

Belle hummed noncommittally as she walked back towards their bedroom.

Sleep was not coming easily, so Emma laid on her bed, staring up at the ceiling. After an awkward and silent dinner, where both of them tried and failed to talk to each other, they had both retired to their rooms. Emma turned her focus on to her skip, and she could only assume that Killian was unpacking. She didn't dare go and check.

How in the hell had they avoided meeting each other for over a year, only to meet at a bar by chance, and now end up where they were?

Emma wished now that she had let Killian tell her his name that night. If he had, maybe the night would've been different, and maybe they wouldn't have ended up having sex. God, Ruby could never find out about this. She would be maniacally gleeful over it and say something along the lines that Emma and Killian were meant to be together.

Unlike Emma, Ruby believed in love.

It was a luxury that Emma couldn't afford. Not after…not after everything that she'd been through in her life. Her walls protected her heart, even if Ruby insisted that said walls were only bad for Emma. But Ruby was a risk taker. Emma had been once upon a time.

Things changed.

Still, Emma couldn't help but wonder at the odds. Boston was a big city. Ruby and Belle never went to the bar Emma frequented. So she could assume that Killian hadn't been taken there. Unless he worked around there. It was still so odd. Of all of the people to randomly meet in the bar, it had to be Killian Jones.

Serendipity or fate?

Not that Emma believed in either concept.

Really, she should go ahead and tell Killian that being roommates won't work. They could go their separate ways and no one would get hurt. But then Killian would be homeless and Ruby and Belle would be highly suspicious. It was so frustrating.

It didn't help that every time she looked at him she felt a flutter in her stomach and her heart sped up. Even worse, she remembered quite vividly what those lips of his were capable of, and his hands, among other things. She felt herself flushing with desire thinking about that night and what he made her feel.

That was the problem though. He made her feel. Somehow, that one night, he slipped through a crack in her walls.

She hated that.

Sighing, she plopped onto her back. There was only one option. She had to squash her feelings into nothingness and ignore how he made her feel. That way she could tolerate his presence and also prevent him from having to look for a new apartment. She could do that. If there was one thing Emma Swan was good at, it was not feeling things, or well, pretending not to feel anything.

It might work.

The only problem was if Killian would go along with it or not. He seemed all right with not telling Ruby and Belle about their night, but he also looked like he really wanted to talk about it with her. Did he feel as she did?

No. Emma couldn't think like that. It didn't matter what he felt or what she felt, because she was not going to get involved with him at all. They were just roommates. That she could handle.

Now if only she could get some sleep.

Well that was awkward. Lol. I hope you guys liked it.

Please review!

Until next time!