A/N: Thank you for the lovely reviews. I hope you continue to enjoy the story!

Disclaimer: All aspects of Once Upon A Time belong to ABC and the shows creators.

"Swan!" Killian shouted, racing after her. Emma kept going, hurrying towards her car without looking back. She couldn't face Killian after leaving him without so much as a goodbye all those years ago.

It had broken her heart to do so but it was better that way, because the day before she left he told her he had feelings for her, the first boy to ever do so, to see her for anything other than the new foster kid. She had run then too, without so much as a huh. That night had been the first time Emma was glad she was moved around so quickly because she didn't need to face her own feelings, or even figure them out in a different town.

Killian caught her in the parking lot, grasping her wrist and pulling, his hand larger and rougher than she remembered. He was stronger too, enough to pull her up short. Emma whirled, still in his grasp.

"Did you know it was me?" she shouted. Killian didn't flinch. Not when he had expected her to blow. Anger had been her reaction to any uncomfortable or stressful situation nearly ten years ago as well.

"Did I know that one of my best friends as a kid, who disappeared one night without a trace, would be my blind date? Absolutely not." Emma watched him carefully. Killian's face was genuine and her internal lie detector didn't go off. Maybe this had been just some weird coincidence. Emma waited for him to continue, slightly mollified by the answer and his calm tone. "I had no idea you were even around here, Swan."

"How could you not?" Emma replied confused. "I'm a cop. This is a small town." Shouldn't he have come forward before?

Killian shrugged. "I spend eighty percent of the year either on a boat or in a lab in Boston. When I do come back to Storybrooke I keep a low profile, spend most of my time sleeping off the weeks of manual labour. It's not like I make it a habit to engage in activities with the police, lass. Those kinds of things are usually frowned upon and end up with me either having a ticket and a black eye or spending the night in jail. How was I supposed to know you would come back to some town you spent just three months in?"

Emma shook her head because she didn't have an answer for that really. At least not one she was willing to admit aloud, especially to Killian. Storybrooke had been the only place that had felt even the slightest bit like a home to her. It was the first place she had let someone become her friend; know about the kind of life she had. That person had been Killian. When she graduated she moved back to the small town to take the opening with Graham, not expecting to see the boy she left behind again but just searching for a place to call home, to belong. Mary Margaret and David followed her to Maine a few weeks later when a second position opened up for David on the force. Emma had never thought Killian, whose dreams seemed too big for such a small town, would stick around.

Killian looked down at where his fingers still circled her wrist and sighed, letting go. The loss of contact made Emma's skin go cold. She pushed away the sensation, annoyed. There was no reason for it. This was Killian Jones after all. Albeit a much more handsome Killian Jones than the one who had sat with
her at lunch.

"Look, Swan, please don't run. It's my only night on land for the past two weeks. I don't want to have to go back and see the crew just yet."

Killian's tone was just pleading enough to make Emma consider staying. "I can't do this," Emma replied, desperate, motioning between the two of them. How could she go on a date with the man she'd left as soon as he had revealed his feelings for her? She'd been bad at relationships then. Now everything was just cataclysmic for her when it came to romance. Killian didn't deserve that kind of treatment.

Killian smiled at her, understandingly. "I know, Swan. You don't want to date me. But can we still be friends? Because I missed you." Emma's heart thumped uncomfortably in her chest. Killian had missed her? Had actually thought about her after she left? Killian motioned toward the restaurant. "Can't two friends have a dinner together after being apart nearly ten years?"

Dinner with Killian? Yes, she could do that. Truth be told she had missed him too, often regretting the way she left the situation when she felt like indulging in her past mistakes, usually after a few beers. This wouldn't be anything more than friends, the understanding was there from the very beginning. She wouldn't have to worry about being anything other than a friend. She could be a friend. Emma gave a quick nod and started towards the restaurant again.

Killian followed her into the restaurant quietly. Emma slipped into the seat opposite from the one Killian had just vacated without speaking or looking at him. Killian slid into the bench across from her and set both his hands on the table before raising an eyebrow.

"Long time no see, Swan." Emma nodded, not sure what to say. She was still trying to reconcile that the man sitting in front of her was the same Killian Jones she had known in middle school. He certainly didn't look like it.

The Killian Jones she remembered was gawky and stuck in the middle of puberty. At fourteen his voice had finally dropped to a reliably steady timbre and his first patches of facial hair were just starting to grow. In the past ten years he had grown half a foot, not that he was that tall now either. But he was
taller than Emma with tanned skin and strong arms from time spent working on the water. The biggest difference was that Killian seemed comfortable in his own skin now, a bit of swagger changing his fourteen year old posture, giving smoothness to his actions, as if he knew what kind of effect he had on women. Killian was incredibly handsome, a thought which turned Emma's stomach into an uncomfortable series of knots. She had never thought of Killian as handsome before.

"So, what's it been? Ten years?"

"About that," Emma replied as casually as she could, finally finding her voice. She tried not to stare. This was Killian, the same guy who had watched the first Harry Potter movie with her and not mentioned anything about Emma being an orphan like Harry as some others had during the movie release frenzy, the same friend who had snuck her extra food on the bus ride home, not that she ever kept the snacks for herself with so many other mouths to feed after the fridge was padlocked shut for the night. She had to remember who Killian was to her, an old friend, her first real friend, instead of letting her hormones make stupid lust-filled decisions for her.

Wait, had she just thought about lust and Killian? Together? Come on, Emma, get
your shit together.

"So what have you been up to for the past decade?" Killian asked after ordering two beers for them.

Emma shrugged. She'd been up to a lot but everything she went through wasn't exactly reunion topics, even if this was Killian asking. "Went to college and got a degree in law and corrections. Now I'm a Sargent at the Storybrooke police detachment."

Killian listened intently as she spoke, eyes going large and brows moving upwards. "You went into law enforcement?"

"Surprise you?" Emma asked, raising her own eyebrow. She wasn't as good at the movement as Killian was but she made it work.

"Kind of. I always figured you'd go into social work. Help kids who needed someone to take care of them."

Emma cringed at the table and waited for the waitress to drop off their beers before speaking. Of course Killian would remember what she went through, how he arrived at her house unexpected one evening and caught Emma being hit by the belt of her carer as she put herself between her foster mother and a ten year old who had broken a dish. Emma felt her cheeks blush at the memory, at the image of Killian's face when he stepped into the kitchen that day.

Killian tapped the table in front of her and she glanced up from where she was drawing on the condensation on her glass. "Sorry, Swan. I overstepped. That wasn't good form." Killian truly looked apologetic.

Emma sighed. This dinner was off to a wonderful start. Emma shook her head and swallowed before speaking. She decided to tell him the truth.

"It's alright, Jones. That was a good guess. But a social worker can't throw abusive carers in jail. A cop can."

Killian nodded. "And do you?"

"Whenever I can," she heard her voice harden. Emma took a sip of her beer and glanced through the menu. "What have you been doing?" she asked, flicking through the pages of options in front of her.

"I went to the University of Massachusetts and took a degree in biology. Now I work for a lab at Boston University that's looking at species proliferation on trawler grounds, hence why I'm on a boat so much. I'm technically just supposed to be collecting data and samples but the Captain has a rule- if you're on it,
you're in it so I also work as a deckhand."

They paused the conversation to order, each asking for fish and chips. Emma tried to ignore the way the waitress leaned forward a bit too much for the cut of her shirt when Killian spoke.

"So do you like it?" Emma asked, shaking her head at the retreating waitress.

"Love it, lass." The passion in Killian's voice made her smile. Even at fourteen he had told her he belonged on the ocean. She was glad he'd succeeded in reaching that dream. "There's no place that I'd rather be. Though it does make meeting people difficult," he added wryly.

"Hence the online dating profile?"

Killian shrugged, unembarrassed. "Not many ladies floating around the ocean."

"And they all have tails anyways. Not good for long walks on the beach," Emma replied. Killian laughed, blue eyes twinkling with mirth.

"So why were you on there?" he asked, turning the question on her.

"Some friends of mine signed me up without telling me. They were who you were talking to."

"So glad you wanted to go out with me," Killian replied, mock pouting. Emma rolled her eyes. "Why did they sign you up? I mean, I don't want to alarm you but you're beautiful, lass. Shouldn't the men be drooling over you wherever you go?"

Emma glanced down and traced the wood grain on the table. She didn't want to talk about Neal. Not when she was enjoying dinner with an old friend. Killian reached over and touched her fingers. Emma tried not to jump at the pressure. Her shock was not out of fear but because the contact actually felt good.

"What happened, Swan? Do I need to beat someone up for hurting my favourite girl?"

Emma glanced up sharply at his words. "I'm your favourite girl?" Her voice was breathy and quiet.

Killian smirked, pleased at her surprise. "Have been for a while, Swan. I didn't forget about you. When you left I tried for months to find you. Whenever I got close you were moved again. I stopped searching due to extenuating circumstances but I never stopped hoping you would be transferred back sometime. Never forgot though. So, Swan, tell me who I need to teach a lesson."

Emma shook her head, too overwhelmed by his admission to speak. Killian had looked for her? Even though she ran and left him without a proper answer? She had tried to forget about him, because it hurt too much to realize what she lost with her best friend, especially after Neal. But she never could.

Killian leaned back when the waitress brought their dinners and Emma felt herself wanting to follow his movements and close the gap again. But she didn't. Because Killian being her friend was safe. Feeling any different was not.

"So how's your brother?" Emma asked as they ate. She immediately regretted it when she saw Killian's face twist in pain and his eyes darken. What had happened to the brother Killian absolutely adored?"

"Liam was killed in a car accident the year after you left."

"I'm so sorry, Jones," Emma replied wanting to crawl under the table. Leave it to her to ruin the evening. This was why they could never be anything other than friends. She was a professional ruiner of good things.

"It's fine. It's been years." Emma knew it wasn't fine but didn't push it because he hadn't pushed the Neal issue.

Emma felt a sudden urge of guilt at Liam's death. She should have stayed in contact with Killian, been there for him during his grieving. She had only moved an hour away and her pretending he didn't exist after his confession ashamed her. If she was in fact Killain's favourite girl then she should have been there. She should have helped, she shouldn't have run for so long.

The dinner continued with safer conversation topics. Emma talked about David and Mary Margaret and Killian told her stories of his sea faring adventures, which made her worry for his safety. She didn't want to let him go back on the boat and the image of the two of them together, in her apartment, making pancakes before running out to the local market to restock flashed across her mind. Emma
shook her head to rid herself of the image. Killian's job was no more dangerous than hers and Emma was certain that he wasn't planning breakfasts together. They had agreed to be friends, only. She needed to remember that deal, uphold her end.

Despite Emma's arguments Killian paid for dinner, even though they weren't on a date, and then walked her to her car like a proper gentleman.

"Can I have your number, Swan?" Killian asked, leaning against Emma's car door.

"Why?" The word slipped out before she could stop her lips from opening.

"So we can stay in touch," he replied casually, as if she hadn't just asked such a stupid question. Killian searched her face intently before pulling her into a hug. His arms encircled her small frame, holding on as if for dear life. "I lost you for ten years, Swan. Don't make me wait another ten to share a second beer with you." Killian spoke his desperate words into her shoulder, his breath warm against the exposed skin above her collar.

Emma gave him a quick hug back, because it was Killian, before wriggling out of his grasp to hide the shiver the warm breath sent down her spine. "Only if I pay for the next beer," Emma replied cheekily. She covertly scanned his face for a lie as she spoke. Could he really feel that strongly about her after all these years?

"Deal." She grabbed Killian's phone and typed in her number. When Killian took the phone back he snapped her picture with a grin.

"Hey!" Emma cried in surprise, flinching at the sudden flash. There was no way that picture was flattering. Killian shrugged then checked the time flashing on the screen, mischievous grin twisting into a scowl. It was after nine.

"I'm afraid I must bid you good night, Swan," Killian told her sadly, tapping the car door. "Captain has a curfew for nights before we ship out. Talk soon."

Emma got in the car as Killian walked away, a feeling of contentment sitting in her bones. She couldn't keep the smile from her lips, realizing how much she had missed him and enjoyed her night.

A feeling of displeasure from sitting in her car alone grew as Killian walked farther away. She wanted her friend to turn around and rush back to her side. She wasn't sure what she wanted if Killian was to come back but she didn't have to figure that out because he kept walking towards the docks. Emma didn't back out of her parking space until Killian rounded the corner and disappeared from
sight.

She really hoped Killian would keep his word because she didn't want to wait ten years to see him again either.