Kristen

Disclaimers: I don't own Once Upon a Time. Also this is a spin – off of the original "Thicker than Water" written by La Lisboa.

Happy Easter and/or Happy Spring.

Kristen was happy the new guy, Killian was at the club tonight. She was even happier that he wasn't bartending. She couldn't wait to talk to him. He was funny, and he had the sexiest Irish accent. Maybe he'd even play the guitar again. He was pretty good.

Kristen still remembered the first day she saw him at the club. She'd come with her friends, Emily and Doug. But as soon as she saw the new bartender, she decided she'd rather talk to him instead of dancing. So Emily and Doug danced and Kristen talked to the bartender. "So, you're the new bartender" she asked the man as he handed her the drink she asked for, a screwdriver. "I'm Kristen", she added, introducing herself.

"Aye. At your service," he replied as he grinned at her. He had a beautiful smile and an even better accent. Yep, she was definitely going to stay here and keep talking to this guy.

"You're from Ireland, right? I can tell from the way you talk. When did you come here?"

"Last year," he said simply.

Kristen hoped he would elaborate, but he didn't. "Are you enjoying Maine?" she asked him.

He shrugged. "The sea is bloody wonderful," he admitted forcefully.

Kristen grinned back at him. "Then I think you're in the right place." They talked for the rest of the night. He made her laugh. It was only when Kristen got home that she realized he'd never told her his name. It was rather surprising, considering they'd talked all night. Especially considering she'd told him hers. But maybe he was one of those mysterious guys that you have to take time to figure out. Kristen was up to the challenge.

OOOOOOOOOOO

Kristen came to the club again and again to talk to the new bartender. Unfortunately, it seemed she wasn't the only woman who had her eye on him. At least he didn't seem to be favoring one of the others over Kristen. That meant Kristen could still hope, right? Eventually, she asked him his name point – blank.

"Killian Jones," he told her, like the name meant the world to him. What did that imply?

OOOOOOOOOOOOO

Another night Kristen came in and Killian was there, too, even though he wasn't working. "Hi Killian!" she called to him cheerfully. "What are you up to tonight?"

He flashed his famous grin at her. "Just enjoying a drink," he held up a glass of some kind of rum.

"Are you on a break?"

"Not working, lass." Gosh, that accent was wonderful. "Came because I was looking for company."

Kristen's eyes lit up. He was looking for company? She was company! "Great! Maybe you'd like to dance, once the band gets here that is…" Where was music when you needed it?

Killian looked over at the stage and noticed someone had left a guitar there. He looked at the instrument longingly for a second before he flashed another charming grin at her. "Maybe, lass."

Kristen wondered what that look was about. Did he like the guitar? "Of course, since the musicians aren't here, you could look at the guitar over there if you wanted." She gently touched his shoulder. He didn't really respond to her touch, but Kristen would keep trying.

But Killian looked at the guitar again and chuckled. "Well, I used to play a little bit. Why don't you tell me what you think, lass?" So Killian picked up the extra guitar. What was really surprising was when he picked it up, it turned out he only had one hand. Kristen stared at his hook for a second. But Kilian didn't let it stop him. He played a song. It was a song Kristen had never even heard of. But the music was wonderful.

"Tell me that wasn't bloody wonderful?" he asked as he grinned smugly at her and two other women who had also stopped to listen.

Kristen smiled. Killian could be egotistical about some things, but that was okay. He had a right to be. "Definitely."

"Totally," agreed another woman in a mini – skirt. "You should totally join a band."

"I'd love to hear it again," added the second woman as she sipped a drink.

Kristen sighed. Too bad Killian attracted so much attention with other women. But at least he wasn't favoring one over the rest. Kristen could get him interested in her yet. She looked at the woman's mini – skirt. Maybe it wouldn't hurt to buy something like that. He might notice her a little more. Especially if he danced with her.

OOOOOOOOOOOO

Tonight was Kristen's first time wearing the mini – skirt she'd bought. It was a bright green color that went perfect with her blonde hair. She was sure Killian would love it. This time she would not only hear him play, she'd dance with him as well. "Hi Killian!" she greeted him right away, as she ran up to him. Her mini – skirt swished a little. Perfect. "Good to see you again. I'm so glad you're not bartending tonight!"

"Hi Kristen," Killian greeted her, smiling. This was perfect.

"The band isn't here yet," she commented. "Could you play the guitar again for me?" It was wonderful to hear him play. And it was an ideal thing for him to do before the band came. (After the band came Kristen still planned on convincing Killian to dance with her.)

"Course I can. That one's free over there." Kristen could never get over what a wonderful musician Killian was, especially considering he only had one hand.

"Thoughts?" he asked when he finished.

"I loved it!" Kristen replied eagerly. "Do another one." Especially considering the band wasn't here yet.

But to Kristen's disappointment, Killian shook his head. "The real band will be coming in soon. Actually there they are," he added pointing to a group of people starting to sit down. "And I wasn't talking to you." Then Killian looked directly at a blonde who was sitting across the room. "What did you think, Swan?" Wait a minute. Killian hadn't been talking to her? He was talking to some other woman Kristen had never seen before? A woman Killian obviously already knew, considering he called her "Swan." What was going on here?

The Swan woman walked over to where Killian was standing. "I loved it," she told Killian, smiling. Kristen wished she could wipe that smile right off her face. "Where did you learn to play like that?"

"Here and there," Killian replied.

Kristen looked at Killian and the Swan woman a second before she finally had enough. "Killian, who is this?" And how do you know her? she wanted to add.

Killian smiled again. Not his typical charming grin. But a deeper smile that seemed more…real somehow. "This is Emma. She's my guest for tonight."

Kristen's eyes widened. In the last month and a half, she'd gotten to know Killian relatively well. And in all that time, he'd never favored one woman over another. Ever. Sometimes Kristen thought he might even be favoring her. Kristen was sure, she could convince him to go on a date or two eventually. Maybe even be his girlfriend. But now…Killian was favoring this Emma…this Swan woman, whatever. For a whole night! Kristen wasn't sure what to do with that information, it was so unexpected. Finally she huffed and ran out of the club.

This is the first time I've written anything involving Killian without the help of my beta. I did the best I could to make him sound/act in character, but I really don't know if I succeeded.

So I'd really appreciate a review on what you thought of his character in this chapter especially if you are a Captain Swan fan and have read a lot of Hook/Killian.

Thanks to Fangirl (as always) for the review from my last chapter.

Here's the response: Okay, as you probably noticed, I'm not a Frankenwolf shipper. That being said, I don't want to offend any of my readers who are Frankenwolf shippers, so the name "Victor" was used by accident. Second of all, my view of Red's fairytale persona is that she's a strong, independent woman who has a lot of pride in her natural defenses (once she learned to control them). That's why I've made such a big deal about how much she misses transforming.

But. I also think all of the Cursed personas come from a part of their natural personas that they don't like to acknowledge. Snow's timid personality came from massive guilt over everything she did. And Snow's fairytale persona did feel guilty about her role in ruining Regina's life. David's dishonesty/weakness was because he didn't want to hurt anyone with the truth. And David's fairytale persona wanted to make everyone happy as well. So I think Ruby's lustiness/boy – craziness was because she was lonely for male companionship, even though her fairytale persona was too independent to admit that. So in my story, when she starts receiving male attention from Mr. Jenison, she responds to it, even though her friends told her he was probably up to no good.