Asking someone you barely know, to go to the beach with you is absolutely ridiculous. What possessed Killian to even think about asking her, was a mystery. Emma pulled awkwardly at the t-shirt she was wearing and started to speak. "Officer Jones-"
"Killian, call me Killian, remember?" He interrupted, lifting his eyebrows slightly. "Women, they must be reminded of things constantly before they finally sink in." He added under his breath.
"Killian." Emma said, the edge to her voice sharp enough to cut paper. She silently reminded herself to try harder to remember to call him by his first name. Having him interrupt her at every turn was getting quite annoying.
"I barely know you. And so, I think going with you to the beach is an awful idea." She turned away from him to look out the window. The skies were dark and a fog settled over the city, the red and green of the traffic lights blinking through the mist.
Killian sipped his coffee and looked at her over the rim of his glass. "Well, you've slept in my bed. I think we know each other well enough. After all, you feel comfortable enough to snoop through my things."
Emma felt her cheeks redden as she continued to stare out the window, pretending she hadn't heard his comment. Why was he so irritating? "I don't know... it doesn't seem like a good idea. Anyway, look out the window. Does that look like fair beach weather to you?"
Killian shrugged. "Eh."
Emma rolled her eyes and sighed. "And what about work? We have important things to worry about."
Killian leaned over the table, every ounce of humor gone from his face. "Listen to me, Emma Swan. I take my work very seriously, and if you think otherwise, I strongly suggest you rethink. But, I also take pleasure very seriously. It is my time off. Which to me, is a rare thing. And I will spend it at the beach, with or without you."
With that, he stood up and brought his dishes to the sink. "I need to call my parents first and let them know." She said. Killian brightened a bit. "Aha!" He exclaimed. "I knew you couldn't resist. The phone's over there." He tilted his head in the direction of the phone. Emma rolled her eyes and headed to the phone. She dialed her parents number and watched Killian start throwing towels and things into a bag. She sighed and turned away. Her mother answered the phone after four rings.
"Hello?" Her voice was tense, and Emma felt a heavy pit of guilt sinking in her abdomen. "Mom, it's Emma."
"Emma? Are you alright? Your father and I were worried sick. Where are you? Why didn't you come home?" Question after question flooded out of Mary Margaret, and Emma waited patiently for her to finish before responding. "I'm fine, I'm good. It was really stormy out yesterday, so I stayed with a friend. You don't have to worry, okay? I'll be home as soon as I can."
"How soon is that?" Emma closed her eyes. She new that tone. That was the I'm-disapproving-but-I-won't-say-anything voice. She had heard it her whole childhood. She was going to have to use a very calm voice when breaking the news about the beach. Just so Mary wouldn't become too upset with her. She definitely was not going to tell her that she was going to the beach with a man, or that it was he who she had spent the night with. She would tell her eventually, but over the phone it would just needlessly make her look bad. She would tell her parents in person, where she could fully explain the situation.
"Soon." She said finally. "I'm going to the beach for a bit, and after that I should be able to come home."
There was silence on the other line for a long time. "The beach? Why on earth are you going to the beach in this weather? And with who?"
"Uh. Who am I going to the beach with?" She sighed and bit her lip, looking over at Killian. "Someone's in trou-ble." He said in a sing-song voice. Emma glared daggers at him and tried to think of an appropriate answer.
"You haven't met them." She said finally. Which was true. David and Mary had never met Killian in person. So it wasn't exactly lying. At least, Emma tried to tell herself it wasn't.
"Listen Mom, I've got to go. I love you, and I'l be home soon."
She hung up before her mother could say anything else.
~()~
"How long until we're there?" Emma looked impatiently out the window of Killian's car, noticing the rain falling in sheets onto the ground outside.
"It'll be a bit. Have you never been to the beach before?" He glanced over at Emma who was resting her head on her hand, her fingers sliding through her blonde locks.
"No I haven't. My parents were never...beach-y people."
He smirked and focused his eyes back on the road. "Well you, my dear, are in for a treat."
When they finally arrived at the beach, it had stopped raining. The sand was a dark, wet gray, and waves were crashing against the shore. Emma felt a little stupid, because she had never been at the beach. But she thought surely you weren't supposed to park on it. Yet that's exactly what Killian did. he pulled his car right into the wet sand and parked it right there.
"Well." Emma sighed. "Lets get this over with." Killian looked up from the bags he was unloading and stared at Emma. "You didn't have to come you know."
Now she felt a little guilty. All he had been was nice to her. Letting her stay at his home, in his bed. Inviting her to the beach. And all she had done is whine and complain like a small child. She straightened her shoulders and reached out to Killian. She placed her hand over his, which was cold from sitting atop the cooler.
"I'm sorry. I've been rude to you all this time. I promise to try and not be a wet blanket anymore."
Killian looked surprised. "Oh. Well thank you." He then seemed to regain his composure. He took his bag of towels in one hand, and the cooler in another and started toward the beach.
"Come on, blanket. Lets go."
He walked until he found a spot he was satisfied with, and dropped the bags there and started towards the water. When he noticed Emma wasn't beside him he turned around."What are you waiting for?"
"I'm not going swimming Killian. I don't have any dry clothes." Killian wore a mischievous smile. "Yes you do, Love." Emma raised her eyebrows. "I do?"
"Mmhmm. I packed you some of my old pajama bottoms and a sweater. It'll be nice and comfortable for the ride home."
Why did he have to think of everything? She sighed and reluctantly caught up with him at the shore.
The waves hit the shore, splashing both Emma and Killian. The water was cold but Emma promised herself she wouldn't complain about it.
"Here, take my hand." Killian said, extending it toward Emma. "Since you've never been to the beach, I shall teach you a child hood game you missed out on. We're going to jump the waves."
He took her hand and led her a little farther into the water. "When I say jump, you jump, and then let your feet out from under you. It'll carry you back to the beach."
She was scared. Drowning was one of her biggest fears. But she wouldn't say anything. This seemed like a harmless enough game. She took Killians hand and he held it tightly. "Don't let go until we're both ashore, okay?"
She nodded. "Okay." The stood there, watching the waves swell and roll toward them. "Jump!" Killian yelled. They both jumped, and Emma felt herself sinking under the water. A wave crashed over her, and she inhaled the salt water. When they washed ashore- still tightly holding hands, she coughed and sputtered.
"You alright?" Killian asked, kneeling in front of her. She nodded. "Yeah. That was fun. Until I inhaled the sea water. Let's go again."
Killian smiled. "This time try and remember you're not a mermaid."
The jumped the waves, rode them, and swam for hours until they were both exhausted.
Killian spread a blanket across the beach and handed Emma a towel. They both toweled off before reclining on the blanket.
"Want something to drink?" He asked, sitting up and reaching for the cooler. "Sure." Emma replied.
He reached in and took out two cold bottles of Coca Cola. He handed Emma hers and then stood up. "Be right back."
He headed to the car and Emma laid back closing her eyes. A soft sound, like music came from behind her. She sat up and looked back at Killian who had propped open the drivers door of the car and flipped on the radio. A soft tune started playing through the speakers.
"Love me tender,
Love me sweet,
Never let me go.
You have made my life complete,
And I love you so."
He trudged through the sand and laid back down beside Emma.
They both laid there, eyes closed, listening to the music, when Emma felt Killian reach over and take her hand. He ran his fingers across her knuckles, sending a shiver down her spine.
"Love me tender,
Love me true,
All my dreams fulfilled.
For my darlin I love you,
And I always will."
"Can I tell you something?" He said, his voice quiet and raspy. "Sure." She kept her eyes closed.
"I've known you for only a few days, and yet I care more about you than anyone else in my life."
She was quite and she felt him tense up. "I. Is that. Is that weird?" He said, the insecurity prominent in his voice.
"No." Emma replied. She moved closer to him until she was resting her head on his chest. She could feel the steady beat of his heart through his wet shirt, and even though it was freezing and they both wore sopping wet clothes, she was warm.