Disclaimer: All aspects of Once Upon A Time belong to ABC and the show's creators.
Ruby was the first to arrive at Emma's place for brunch, marching in after unlocking the door with her own key. She tossed a bag of pineapple and grapes onto the counter and went for the plates without a word. They were so comfortable with each other that it was commonplace for Emma to arrive home from work and find Ruby watching TV or stretched out on her floor doing yoga because she insisted that her apartment just wasn't big enough for a proper workout. Neither needed words. Emma sat on the counter next to the percolating coffee machine and watched as she moved, cutting the fruit with restaurant precision. Once finished, Ruby turned to her, popping a chunk of pineapple into her mouth.
"Morning, Sunshine," she grinned moving towards the coffee maker. She stopped mid reach for a mug and studied Emma's face. "What's got you looking like you're about to blow a gasket?" Emma reached into the cupboard handed Ruby a mug before responding.
"I might have invited someone to brunch," Emma said worrying at her bottom lip. What if her friends didn't like Killian? What if Killian didn't like them? What if seeing Emma with the friends that she hadn't run from turned him off? Made him feel bad? The more she thought about all that could go wrong the more worried she became.
"As in?" Ruby asked, raising a brow and sipping her coffee.
"Jones." Emma tried to play it off by shrugging casually.
Ruby choked on her coffee, nearly spitting it all over Emma. After a few coughs she darted closer, grinning widely as she set the mug on the counter. "You can't be serious? Killian Jones is coming to brunch?" Her voice grew louder with each word.
"He said he would bring donuts."
"Ah! This is so exciting, Emma. I'm so happy for you." Ruby was practically jumping up and down in her excitement, her voice a shrill ring. Emma cringed, wishing she would just calm down. Why was she happy for her? Ruby hadn't gotten excited the few times Emma had invited Graham over. Killian coming wasn't a big deal.
"What's going on?" Mary Margaret asked, having arrived mid commotion with David. She set down a warming dish filled with scrambled eggs and bacon and stood in front of Emma, hands on her hips.
"Emma invited Killian to breakfast," Ruby squealed. David's jaw dropped and Mary Margaret grinned widely. What was the big deal? Emma didn't get it. This was a friend brunch so she had invited a friend- though she was beginning to regret it now. It's not like she admitted that she was going to marry the guy. Wait? Did she just think about marrying Killian. Emma definitely needed to go back to bed.
Before Mary Margaret could respond or Emma could go bury herself under the covers of her bed there was a knock on the front door. Everyone froze, staring at Emma. There was only one person the knock could be. She shut her eyes, took a deep breath then slid off the counter.
Emma swung the front door open, trying not to freak out. She felt herself relax immediately when she saw Killian smirking at her, eyebrow raised. The spot on her forehead warmed under his ice blue gaze. Killian wore dark jeans and a black t-shirt, a sweater tucked under his arm, casual but still handsome enough to make Emma squirm uncomfortably. His other arm was busy balancing a box of donuts from a local bakery.
"Morning, Swan."
"Hey," Emma replied, cursing her breathless voice. Get it together, Emma. This is just brunch.
"You going to let me in or make me stand out here the whole time?" Killian asked, raising his brow further, clearly entertained by Emma's behaviour.
"Oh, right," Emma replied, flustered. She moved from her position in the middle of the doorway, feeling her cheeks heat. Before she could make any bigger of a fool out of herself she turned and walked into the kitchen, hoping Killian would know to follow.
A chorus of hellos greeted Killian when he walked in moments after Emma. Her friends were all grinning goofily as they looked between Emma and Killian, who had moved to stand beside her. Ruby appraised Killian, looking him up and down. "He is hot," she said in a stage whisper, leaning towards Emma. Emma resisted the urge to run and instead did her duty as hostess.
"Everyone, this is Killian Jones. Jones, these are my friends, Ruby, Mary Margaret and her husband David."
"And her partner," David put in moving the shake Killian's hand. Killian shifted his sweater so he was able to meet David with a firm grasp. David was looking him over as well, but while Ruby had been appreciating his good looks, David seemed to be checking for something else. Big brother mode had clearly been engaged as he squeezed Killian's hand tightly, waiting to see if Killian would return the pressure. He did. David let go with a satisfied nod.
"So you keep Swan safe?" Killian asked as he handed the box of donuts to Mary Margaret.
The group scoffed at his question. "Couldn't if I tried. No one saves Emma, but Emma." Emma felt her cheeks burn as Killian glanced back at her, eyes worried. She tried for a nonchalant shrug but ended up looking more like she was being given an electric shock.
"Brunch, anyone?" Emma called loudly, moving towards the table before anyone could answer. She sat down at her regular spot and Killian chose the seat next to her. Emma tried not to groan at his choice. The groan wasn't exactly about where he chose to sit though, Emma didn't mind his proximity. What she minded was the pointed glances her other friends were exchanging as Killian settled into his chair.
"So, Killian, you know Emma from school?" Mary Margaret started, her tone one of small talk, though Emma knew it was curiosity at this person from Emma's past that drove the questioning.
"Yeah, we were fourteen," Killian answered, scooping some eggs onto his plate. Emma reached into the box of donuts and pulled out a bear claw.
"And you had feelings for her?" Ruby asked, leaning forwards. Well that was subtle.
Emma reached over and smacked her. "Stop it, Ruby." Ruby gave her an injured look. "Don't bother him."
Killian chuckled. "No bother, Swan." He turned back to Ruby. "Aye, I did."
"And now?"
Killian glanced at Emma. Emma was caught between wanting to know the answer and not. She settled on not. Much safer that way.
"How about you tell them about your job, Jones," she cut in quickly. Killian looked over her face, studying her reaction. He gave a quick nod of understanding and began to talk about his life on The Northern Osprey.
Emma steered the conversation away from herself for the rest of the morning. Killian seemed content to talk about his adventures and the others were happy enough to listen. They were fascinated by this old friend of Emma's, someone who had known her during her foster system days. She knew they were burning to ask him about her back then but they respectfully didn't, understanding that things would not be good afterwards.
Killian was the last to leave after brunch ended, insisting that he help Emma clean up. She had argued that she was fine- she had a dishwasher after all- but he wouldn't listen. Which was how Emma found herself sitting at the now clean table, Killian across from her.
"You're friends are nice," Killian started.
"I'm sorry if they made you uncomfortable."
"I know they made you uncomfortable," Killian answered pointedly. He was right. Emma had spent the whole brunch fearing that something about the abuse she suffered as a teenager would come up, because Killian knew about that, had seen it. And that topic would lead to Neal.
"There's a lot they don't know." Emma ducked her head and used her nail to scrape at a bit of donut glaze stuck on the table top.
"Why are you hiding it from them? You have nothing to be ashamed of," Killian said gently.
Emma shook her head. "Look, they already feel bad enough for me because of Ne-" she froze, hand clapping over her mouth. She squeezed her eyes shut, unwilling to look at Killian and see the worried look she knew he was giving her.
"I take it this Ne- fellow is what happened to you?"
"I don't want to talk about it, Jones. Not now."
"Not ever, right?" His tone was hurt. Killian wanted Emma to trust him and she wouldn't even give him the slightest bit of insight on why she was more protected, more cautious, angrier and more scared than when she was fourteen and at the mercy of a bad placement.
Emma glanced up at him and swallowed thickly. "I don't want to talk about Neal, Jones. But know, I'm not doing it to hurt you."
Killian nodded. "Thank you for telling me his name at least."
"I wish I could tell you more." The words tumbled from Emma's lips before she could stop them. But they were the truth. She wanted to tell Killian about Neal in a way because she knew he would listen, understand. Killian knew about her past, could understand why she felt she deserved Neal in a way that Mary Margaret never could. But she wasn't ready to tell him yet. She shot a look at Killian to measure his reaction to her confession. A small smile pulled up the corners of his lips. Emma let out a sigh of relief.
"Maybe someday," he coaxed gently.
"Maybe," Emma echoed, thoughts whirling, threatening to open up to memories of her ex.
"Until then," Killian said quickly, his tone lightening, sensing Emma needed a distraction. "Shall we split the last bear claw?"
Emma grinned at him, thankful. "I cut, you pick?" she suggested, reaching back and grabbing a knife off the counter. She sliced the bear claw as evenly as she could, pushing both halves towards Killian.
"So fair," he laughed, glancing at the halves. He grabbed one, taking a bite of it.
"That's just 'cause I know you'd pick the bigger half if I didn't and I'd be shorted donut." Emma sent him a grin as she pulled her own donut apart, popping a chunk into her mouth.
"Should I be offended?"
Emma shrugged easily. She liked these kinds of exchanges better. "It's a known fact you eat more than me."
"I think you're going to have to quote some credible sources there, Miss. I-ate-two-bear-claws-with-breakfast-and-now-I'm-worried-about-getting-shorted-a-third."
Emma reached over and smacked his arm. Killian's hand shot up, trapping her against his skin. He was warm and firm under her hand, the soft downy hair on his arm tickling her fingertips. Neither withdrew after the contact, hands still resting on top of one another on his arm, as if neither could believe they had gotten themselves into such a situation. Killian's thumb moved, stroking a long path across the back of Emma's hand and back. She suppressed a shudder along with the urge to flip her hand over and intertwine their fingers.
Emma glanced up from their hands. Killian was watching her carefully, worrying slightly at his bottom lip. The desire to move didn't seem to be happening to him either. Finally, after what seemed like an eternity but was probably less than a minute, he drew a shaky breath before moving his hand, grabbing the donut half that had fallen from Emma's fingers, unnoticed, and shoving it in his mouth.
Emma pulled back and rolled her eyes, relieved that he had made the move, saving her from having to. Because she wasn't sure she would have.
"You're such a hog," she shot at him.
Killian stood, checking his watch. "But at least I'm not a hungry one." His eyelid flashed in a quick wink. "I have to go meet Robin. Maybe I'll see you again this weekend?"
Emma shrugged, as casually as she could. She didn't want him to go. "You know where to find me."
"That I do, lass. Thanks for the breakfast."
"Thanks for the donuts," Emma replied, watching him walk out of the kitchen.
She set her head against the table after the front door shut with a thud, plunging her house into silence. Emma couldn't help but feel that door shutting was the loneliest sound she'd heard in a while.