Emma took a deep breath before placing her hand on the door handle of Liam's house. Henry was bounding up and down excitedly next to her, unable to contain his glee at seeing Uncle Liam. Emma frowned, feeling guilty. It wasn't that she had been avoiding her best friend. No, she'd just been avoiding his brother. His ridiculously attractive brother. Emma tried to think of an excuse to offer to Liam for her absence the last week but she knew he wouldn't buy any of them. She hadn't even realised that she had dropped her hand from the door until Henry sighed loudly, opening the door himself and sprinting into the house shouting for Liam. Emma steeled herself before entering and made her way to the kitchen where she could hear Henry's sweet voice talking a mile a minute at his makeshift uncle.
Liam quirked an eyebrow at her as she entered, letting Emma know that she wasn't getting away without explaining why she hadn't been around for a whole week when she was normally there almost every day. Liam turned his attention back to Henry, nodding along to whatever he was saying but Emma had tuned them out, sneaking glances around the parts of the house she could see to try and figure out if Killian was home. She was so lost in her investigation that she hadn't noticed Henry calling her name before he was grabbing her hand and tugging her towards the living room.
"Come on, Mom, Uncle Liam says I can play video games!" Henry's voice was high pitched in his excitement. Emma laughed when Liam grumbled something about 'the lad caring more for video games than his own bloody uncle'. She flopped down on to the sofa and kicked her shoes off before curling her feet up under herself. Liam settled himself next to her with a loud huff and Emma scooted over to rest her head on his shoulder while they both watched Henry setting up his game and sitting cross legged on the floor in front of the tv. Once the game had started, Liam turned his head towards Emma, causing her to sit up straight, knowing the question that he was about to ask.
"So. Where've you been, Emma?" Liam pursed his lips and narrowed his eyes at her accusingly.
"Oh. You know…" Emma coughed, trying to keep her voice light. "I've just been busy."
"Emma." Liam looked at her in disbelief. "I've known you work 80 hour weeks and still find the time to come and eat all my food."
"That's not fair! I don't eat all your food." Emma cried indignantly. "And besides, you had my son while I worked my 80 hour week, mister!"
"Point to Swan. But I know you, you haven't been busy. You've been avoiding me. And why on earth you would deprive yourself at looking at this beautiful specimen is beyond me, Emma." Liam raised a teasing eyebrow at her, his lips curved up into a smirk and Emma couldn't stop herself from laughing out loud and smacking him lightly on the arm.
"You're an idiot, Jones." Emma recovered from her laughing fit as the perfect excuse for keeping away came into her head. "I wasn't avoiding you. I just figured that you and Killian haven't seen each other for a while. Thought I'd give you some time to reconnect with your little brother."
"Come now, Swan. I'll have you know there's nothing little about me." Emma's head whipped around to the door to find Killian leaning casually against the frame, arms folded across his chest, classic Jones eyebrow raised. Emma blushed as she looked away from him quickly. "I'd be morethan happy to show you sometime."
Emma's cheeks flamed as she looked back at Killian to see him running his tongue along his teeth. Her eyes followed the movement and she was only broken out of the trance by Henry's loud whoop from in front of her. Killian's eyes widened as they flicked towards Henry and Emma watched in fascination as the tips of his ears turned pink and he ducked his head in embarrassment.
"Apologies, Master Swan." He tipped his head in Henry's direction before stepping into the room. "I wasn't aware there were sensitive ears around. Mind if I join you?" Killian didn't wait for an answer before he plopped himself down next to Henry and connected the controller to the game, aiding Henry in shooting villains.
"Alright, cool it, Casanova." Liam laughed. "Don't you have a date tonight?"
Emma felt her stomach plummet as she awaited Killian's answer, feigning disinterest.
"I don't have a date, brother." Emma released the breath she had been holding. "I'm simply meeting a lady friend for drinks."
Emma felt her stomach drop down again and she plastered on her best nonchalant look as Liam turned his head to her.
"Anyway, Princess Emma," Emma scoffed at the nickname from when they were children, "to what to do I owe the pleasure of your company?"
Emma stalled for a second too long, giving Henry the ample time to answer for her.
"Sheriff Graham asked her on a date," he turned his head to Killian, "a real one," before continuing his answer to Liam while facing the screen, "and she didn't tell him yes or no so now she is hiding."
"A date?" Liam and Killian asked at the same time, Killian's head whipping around, focus on the video game lost, to look at Emma causing an indignant "Killian!" from Henry as his character took a shot that Killian should have blocked for him.
"Sorry, lad." Killian mumbled before turning his head back to the game, although leaving his head slightly tilted toward Emma and Liam, as if to better hear their conversation.
"Um, yeah. But I'm not hiding from him. I just, I'm not sure. Is it a good idea? I mean, we work together, Liam. What if it doesn't work out?"
"And what if it does?" Liam countered. "Graham's a good guy, Ems. It wouldn't hurt you to give him a chance. Not everyone will be like… well… you know."
"Yeah, Mom," Henry piped up. "Not every guy is a wanker like my dad."
"Henry Swan!" Emma scolded but Henry just shrugged.
"What? Uncle Liam says it!" Emma turned her glare on Liam as Killian guffawed next to Henry. Liam looked unapologetic as he shrugged his shoulders.
"While I don't condone the language that our young Swan here is using. Despite," he added, silencing Henry's sputtered protest, "where he heard it. He does have a point. Not everyone is Neal. Your kid is smart. Take his advice sometimes, instead of just mine."
Emma nodded as she took in Liam's words.
"So you think I should go?" She asked tentatively.
Henry and Liam shouted a resounding "Yes!" at the same Killian voiced his equally as loud "No!".
All heads turned to him as Henry paused the game and levelled Killian with a suspicious look.
"Don't you want my mom to be happy, Killian?" Henry asked him in a quiet voice.
"Of course, I do, lad," Killian's voice was just as quiet as he answered and Emma and Liam watched them both in amusement. "It's just, well, who is this Sheriff Graham? There's gotta be someone who she knows so much better, who she's known longer…" He trailed off as Henry started speaking.
"Oh, please, Killian. Even I gave up hope years ago that Mom would marry Uncle Liam. And besides, she's worked with Graham for years." Liam laughed loudly as Emma pulled a face at the idea of marrying Liam.
"Well, I suppose that's settled then. Emma, you're going on a date with Humbert."
"Yeah, I suppose I am." Emma answered, still gazing at the back of Killian's head as he rose from his spot on the floor.
"Aye, I suppose you are," he mumbled. "Now, if you'll excuse me, I have my own evening to prepare for."
Emma watched as Killian left the room and she didn't know if it was just wishful thinking that he didn't look as enthusiastic as he sounded. She didn't let herself think twice about it as she pulled her phone from her pocket to text her answer to Graham.