A/N: So, this was supposed to be up a few days ago. But, I landed myself in the ER, which made it impossible to post this chapter. I'm fine now, so please don't worry!

Anyways, I think you all will enjoy this chapter. Really, really enjoy it.

As I wrote this one, I listened to 'Won't Say I'm In Love' from Hercules, 'Find You' by Zedd, and 'Armor' by Landon Austin. Enjoy!

Killian had asked her if she would go to the dance with him. She turned him down.

She ended up somehow agreeing to go with Neal, and Killian went with some girl from their History class. Neither lasted long.

As soon as Killian saw her blonde hair, his heart stopped. She was wearing a beautiful, scarlet red dress that had was tighter than Killian would have pinned her to wear. It fit her perfectly, and as soon as he saw her, he knew he had to go ask her to dance.

"Emma, you look... Wow." Killian smiled, staring at her.

"You look pretty good yourself." Emma replied, allowing herself to smile.

"Give me one dance?" Killian asked, holding his hand out.

"I'll humor you." Emma smiled, taking his hand. Something in her chest suddenly felt warm, but it wasn't an unpleasant feeling. It was comforting.

Killian stopped in the center of the dance floor, offering his hand to Emma.

"May I?"

"Yes." Emma caught herself giggle as Killian pulled her close, setting his hand on her waist. She closed her eyes and followed his simple turns, hoping that maybe they wouldn't ever have to stop.

"I can't believe you turned me down, but allowed that Neanderthal to take you." Killian teased.

"You didn't ask the right way."

"What the hell does that mean?" Killian chuckled, tugging away enough to see her confused expression. Emma wasn't expecting that question.

"I don't know. You just didn't ask the right way."

"And the thief did?" Killian asked.

"If it'll make you sleep better at night, yes, he did."

"I find that hard to believe, love," Killian smiled, "Because look where you are."

Emma glanced down to his arms around her, her mind telling her, urging her to get away. But, she couldn't. It felt right to be there.

"This doesn't mean anything." Emma replied.

"Oh, really?" Killian asked with a raised brow, "I think it does. Emma, you may be able to lie to others, but not me. I see right through your lies."

"You think you know me so well, don't you?" Emma snapped.

"I do. I think I might know you better than you know yourself, Swan."

"Oh, that's hilarious." Emma replied.

"Why? Because it's true?" Killian asked, "I told you-we're more alike than you seem to believe, love."

"No, we're not."

"Do you have any evidence to support it?"

"Do you?"

"Ah, see, I asked you first." Killian smiled, "Just promise me one thing."

Emma looked away for a moment before refocusing on Killian's ocean eyes.

"Promise me you'll try to see yourself for who you are, instead of what others think. The more you think about them, the more you lose yourself. I think we'd both be upset to see that happen."

Emma was quiet as she studied his expression, thinking about what he said.

"Do you want to keep dancing with me, or would you like me to turn you back over to the thief?" Killian asked, and Emma rolled her eyes before closing the gap between them again, "That's what I thought."

The two turned in circles for only a few songs before they picked up in tempo.

"Still want to dance?" Killian asked, "I can teach you how."

"I know how to, believe me." Emma replied with what seemed to Killian like a smirk.

"Show me then, Swan." Killian smiled, watching Emma started swinging her hips to the beat. After a moment of watching her, he couldn't help but jump in himself. Emma laughed at his attempt, continuing to dance with him. For once, she felt like she could finally be free. And that was a feeling that couldn't be matched.

Emma eventually had to start dancing with Neal to appease him, but it was nothing like dancing with Killian. It didn't feel the same. It hurt to look across the ballroom to see Killian laughing and smiling with the girl he had brought to the dance. She should have said yes to him in the first place, she thought.

Later in the night, when they were getting ready to leave, Killian couldn't help but talk to her once more.

"Emma, you seriously look beautiful tonight. I... I had a really good time." He offered with a smile.

"Thanks." Emma blushed, "I had a good time, too."

"Need a ride home? I stole Liam's car." Killian smiled.

"I thought you were against stealing?" Emma teased with a raised brow.

"I am, but this is my brother we're talking about. He doesn't care."

"Fine, you can drive me home." Emma replied with a smaller smile.

"Follow me, then." Killian grinned, holding his hand out for Emma to take. She took it with flushed cheeks, following him out into the chilly air.

"God, it got really cold." She grumbled, walking beside Killian. He let go of her hand and shrugged off his jacket, then set it on Emma's shoulders. She smiled a little at the act, wrapping her arms around herself to keep warm.

"Thank you."

"Of course." Killian smiled. He led her to the car and opened the door for her.

"Now, you're overdoing it."

"No, I'm being kind." Killian replied, shutting the door and getting in on the driver's side. He started the car and turned the heat up a little, watching Emma settle in.

"Let's get you home, then." Killian smiled, shifting gears and pulling out of the parking lot.

As he started driving down the road, Emma noticed that he passed her house.

"Killian, you passed my house."

"I know. I'm taking you somewhere special." Killian replied, glancing over to her, "I'm not going to hurt you, I promise."

"Why are we at your house?" She demanded. Killian sighed, then rolled his eyes as he pulled into his driveway.

"Close your eyes."

"What?"

"Please?" He asked. Emma sighed and did as he told.

"I'll lead you in the right direction, okay?"

"Fine."

He turned the car off and hurried around to help Emma out. He led her to the front door and unlocked it, flipping on a light as he walked in. He led Emma to the kitchen, and brought her to the counter.

"You can open them now." Killian said, waiting for her reaction.

Emma opened her eyes to see a single cupcake sitting on the counter with a candle in it.

"Happy Birthday, Emma."

Emma opened her mouth to speak, then closed it again.

"How did you know?"

"Facebook."

"Did I put it there?"

"Yeah." Killian smiled, "Well, make a wish, Emma."

Emma closed her eyes and made a quick wish before blowing out the candle.

"What'd you wish for?"

"I can't say." Emma smiled.

"Of course not." Killian chuckled, "Sorry I kind of sprung this on you. I just wanted you to be able to spend it with someone who cares about you."

"That was my wish last year." Emma spoke softly.

"Looks like it came true, then." Killian grinned, "Are you going to eat it? If not, I will."

Emma offered a quiet laugh before shoving his arm gently. She undid the wrapping and brought it to her lips. She smiled at the taste of rich chocolate, a taste she hadn't had in a long time.

"You chose well." Emma smiled, rubbing her thumb along her lips to get any excess chocolate icing off. She took a few more bites to finish the cupcake off with a smile.

"Yes, well, I'm kind of a mind reader." Killian grinned, "Glad you liked it."

"I loved it, really." Emma spoke softly, a smile tugging at her lips.

"Alright, let's get you home." Killian replied with a half-smile.

"Thank you, again."

"Of course."

Killian drove her back to her house, and walked her to the door.

"I know it's not much of a birthday present, but if you'd like to go to the movies with me tomorrow, I'm going to see some new action movie." Killian suggested with a smile.

"I'd like that a lot, actually." Emma smiled, tucking some hair behind her ear.

"Yeah?"

"Yeah. At least it'll get me out of this house." She replied.

"Right. Well, the movie's at three-thirty, so I'll pick you up at three?"

"I'll see you then," Emma smiled before leaning over and kissing his cheek, "Thank you, again."

"Of course." He smiled back, watching her go into the house. Killian rubbed his cheek where she kissed him as he walked back to his car, his smile growing wider.

As soon as he got home, Liam asked how the night went, and Killian told him everything. Liam couldn't help but smile at his brother's obvious happiness.

The next afternoon, Killian arrived to Emma's foster home to see her sitting on the curb.

"Need a ride?" He teased. She glanced up and offered a quick smile.

"Hey." She replied, rising to her feet.

"Everything okay?"

"Fine. I just, um, I was waiting."

"Alright," Killian replied, he had learned not to ask, "Let's go see that movie."

He drove them to the theatre and bought the tickets (Emma protested, but he didn't let her pay). The two sat in the very back row of the mostly empty theatre, away from anyone else.

"This is my favorite row." Killian spoke with a smile.

"And why is that?" Emma asked.

"Because you can see everything. Nothing's in the way. You can do whatever you want back here."

"I see your point." Emma replied with a quick smile, stretching out her legs in front of herself and leaning back in the chair.

The movie started, and Emma couldn't stay focused on what was on the screen. She could only think about Killian's gestures over the past two days, and how... free it felt to be truly cared for.

Apparently he couldn't stay focused either, because eventually, he leaned over and pulled her close. Their lips crashed together, and Emma didn't know what to do. She wasn't even sure if she liked him like that, but apparently, he did.

After a moment or two of slightly freaking out, she settled in, learning quickly. Killian's lips were softer than she had expected, with his usual ruggedness, and they tasted like mint, another surprise to Emma. She couldn't believe what she was doing-but, she didn't exactly want to stop it, either. She didn't want it to ever end.

Killian tilted his head a little, keeping Emma's lips firmly pressed to his. He couldn't help but smile into her lips, moving one hand to her hair, and the other to her waist. Emma didn't know where to put her hands, but instinctively moved them up his arms and into his thick, dark hair. She gently tugged at the surprisingly (lots of surprises, Emma noted) soft hair at the nape of his neck, not ever wanting to let go. Until she realized what she was doing and tugged away.

"I-I need to go." She sputtered, hurrying out of her seat and down the stairs. It took Killian a moment to realize what was going on before he took off after her. He burst out of the doors, only to see her sitting on a bench, her face in her hands.

"Emma?" Killian asked, walking to sit beside her.

"Killian, I—"

"That didn't mean anything if you don't want it to. I just… I had to know what it felt like." Killian said, "I'm sorry, Emma. I think I'd understand if you didn't want anything to do with me."

"That was a one-time thing, okay?" Emma asked, glancing up and meeting his bright blue eyes.

"Okay." Killian nodded, then smirked, "Did you enjoy it at least?"

Emma furrowed her brows and whacked his arm.

"Can I take that as a 'yes', love?" Killian smiled.

"No." Emma laughed.

"I love your laugh."

"I appreciate the sentiment, but that won't make me like you any better." Emma said, raising a brow at him.

"Ah, so you do like me, even just a little bit."

"If that'll make you sleep better at night."

"Well, c'mon, then. Let's go. The movie was a bust anyways."

"Yeah, no offense, but I'm picking the movie next time." Emma smiled.

"Oh, so there is a next time?" Killian smirked.

"We'll see." Emma replied, rising to her feet and sauntering away, leaving Killian sitting in awe.

Emma would always be a mystery, it seemed. And Killian liked that.