Author's note: Hey guys! Finally on holidays and it feels so awesoooome!... Except the fact that we don't have Once 'til March and that sucks :'( The last episode was so intense! And the end I mean… What the holly hell was that? Can't wait! Hope I'll write enough chapters to make you guys wait until March 9th :P

Disclaimer: I unfortunately don't own anything, characters are the property of those two guys named Edward and Adam…

Chapter 7: Merry Christmas and Happy New Year

December had been here for a few weeks and snow was falling down outside while many families were finishing setting their tables, and last minutes Christmas decorations, preparing dinner for all in an overwhelming joy. And it was no exception for Emma's family. As Mary-Margaret and David had found a house they were all celebrating Christmas at theirs. Henry was overexcited as any kid who's eleven would be. Well, almost eleven. Even Emma was, because it was a way for her to see her family again. Her mother and grand-mother especially. Oh how she was craving for one of Granny's hot chocolate! For Christmas and only because it was Christmas, she had decided to put on a dress and wear heels. Her son was in his best attire and she couldn't stop thinking how cute and beautiful he was. He was growing up so fast. Soon he would be a rebellious teenager and have his first heartbreaks and then he'll become an adult.

"Mom? You ok?" Henry's voice brought her back to reality.

"Yes, of course, why?"

"You looked like you were about to cry" he said matter-of-factly.

"Just thinking about how fast you grow up" she smiled at him. Henry rolled his eyes and told Emma they had to go, otherwise they were going to be late.

The flight back to Ireland for the holidays had been calm. No fangirls screaming or freaking out or fainting at his sight. Well, just a few. He only had taken a bag with a bit of clothes, not planning to stay for long. He knew the way from the airport to his old house by heart, so he walked. The town hadn't changed that much. The same old houses with the same old inhabitants, the same old shops and the same old merchants he'd known all his childhood. Arrived in front of the door, he hesitated to knock. It's been almost two years since he had been here and a year since he had given proper news. But he did. Three light knocks on the door, and a voice coming from the inside. The door flew open and a face appeared.

"Yeah?" the woman said not looking.

"Hi mum" Killian said and the woman shot her head up in shock, before her eyes started to fill with tears.

"Killian" she breathed and pulled him in a hug.

They were about to serve dessert when midnight rang, along with the "Merry Christmas!" and the hugs from everyone. Henry ran to the Christmas tree, hurrying the others too come and open the presents. When they were all sitting around it, he delivered them to his family before opening his. Henry had gotten a book of Fairy tales and all of the Pirates of the Caribbean movies (tomorrow was for sure going to be a movie day) from Ruby and too many gifts for Emma's liking from everyone else. Emma too had received many gifts, but the best one (most funnily thought) was Ruby's. She had explained she had planned to buy her a cat, but she couldn't without being sure she was totally ok with it, so instead, she offered her a gift card at Starbucks. Her mother had given her a beautiful necklace with her name and a little swan hanging from one if the letters.

It was about three a.m. and Henry was beginning to fall asleep, so Emma decided to drive back home. She put her son to bed and collapsed on hers and checked her phone which had stayed on her nightstand. And she had a new message. From Jones. A nice one, with no innuendo "he must have drank" she thought.

Merry Christmas Swan

Merry Christmas to you too Jones

How was your evening?

Fine, what about yours?

Cool.– that was one hell of an answer.

Ok

Have you opened my present yet?

Your present?

Have you checked your mail today Swan?

Nope, why?

Do it and text me after.

Emma got up from her bed and went to check her mail as Killian told her. She, of course, could have waited till tomorrow, but she was too damn curious. She opened her mail box and found a little box, along with the letters. She hurried back to her room once in her flat again and she opened the package. She gasped at the sight of what it contained. A small silver ring with a message on it "Try something new, darling" on the inside and "Trust" on the outside. Why did he get her that? Why this message? She was blushing, she knew it. She was touched by the attention, even if perplex about it and she felt a tight knot in her stomach. And that was no good. It was so not good that there was only one thing she would do. Run.

Want the rumours to fire again, won't you Jones?

What do you mean?

A ring? Are you serious?

I thought you might like it

I do. But I'm never going to wear it. Never. Good night.

And she turned off her phone. Emma tried not to feel guilty, why would she? There were no reasons for her to be. Were they?

Waking up at six a.m. was hard for both of them. This morning, they did things in the exact same order, in the exact same routine and they arrived on set at the same time. They barely said hello to each other, prepared themselves and started filming, getting into their characters so well they only needed one take or two. That was it until the last scene they had to shoot today. The one they both apprehended. The kiss. Oh, they got it well. So well that when the director told them it was a wrap, Emma ran to her cabin and Killian stayed still.

Two days later they were in their manager's office.

"But, Emma, why?"

"It's not good for my son and I can't take it anymore. I already told you that."

"It's definite then?"

"Yes"

"Killian, is it ok with you?" the manager asked him.

"I have nothing to say. She knows best what to do for her son."

It was done then. No more fake couple. Emma left the office, not forgetting the fact she had omitted to say something she had a hard time admitting too herself. The main reason she had 'quitted' this was that she was falling in love with him. And she surely didn't want to. Never again.

Killian was wandering in the streets till he found a bench in Kensington Garden. He thought about his trip back to Ireland and about a special conversation with his mother.

"It's been a long time" his mother told him "How's been going?"

"Greatly. Movies and stuff…" he paused "I'm sorry I didn't say anything for a year"

"Don't worry my son" she smiled "Maybe your heart was keeping you busy" she winked and he chuckled. If only she knew that it had been the case for the past three months "I hit a thing didn't I?"

"You're too perceptive for your own good mother" Killian sighed.

"Is this about the girl you're filming with?" she pondered. "You two are dating aren't you?"

"No, she's doing that to save my butt from negative reviews"

"But you do have a soft spot for her?"

"No!" he answered, too fast, too loud, because Mrs Jones started to laugh.

"You've always been a terrible liar. You couldn't have done all this "fake relationship" thing of you hadn't one"

His mother really was perceptive and he really was a terrible liar. He loved her, more than anything. She was a beautiful woman, always had been. Dark ginger hair and blue eyes that matched his perfectly. Those kind of blue eyes that protected him from his nightmares when he was a kid. He just couldn't lie to her and he felt terribly guilty for leaving her alone.

"I do have one" he smiled sadly "Emma is… she's… different from her you know. She's special. She's all mysterious and I love messing around with her head"

"Her as you called the girl, was never… She had never gotten into my liking and you know it. However, Emma might. Have you seen yourself when you talk about her? She seems nice, along with everything."

"She is. And she has a sense of responsibilities like no woman of her age I know could possibly have"

"Why that?"

"Well, she has a son first of all. A very clever lad. Cheerful and always positive and optimistic above all."

"You're grinning my boy" his mother smiled "and your eyes are sparkling. You love her Killian"

"Like her and care about her a lot for sure, but love? Mum, it's been five months since I met her"

"Trust me. Mama always knows best" she said in a wink.

And it was there, sitting on a bench that Killian Jones realized Mama, indeed, always knew best.

Author's note: Hey guys! Sorry I'm terribly late posting this chapter, but I've been hell of busy today doing (late) Christmas shopping :/ I hope you enjoyed this chapter! Please leave me a review below! :)

MERRY CHRISTMAS EVERYONE, LOTS OF LOVE 3