A/N: Thanks for all of the support on this story, guys! I'm absolutely in love with this one, if we're being honest. I really am glad you all enjoy it so far!

Listen to: 'Suddenly I See' by KT Tunstall and 'Rather Be' by Clean Bandit.

Enjoy!

Emma woke in the morning with a start, groaning as she hit the alarm clock that the hotel had provided. The noise finally subsided, so she rolled herself out of bed to start her day right-with a nice, hot shower.

She walked into the bathroom, stifling a yawn as she closed the door and started the shower. She took a quick look in the mirror, jumping at her appearance.

"I must have slept hard." She mumbled to herself, setting her hand on her reddened cheek that was creased by the sheets or the pillow.

She shook the thoughts from her head and stripped of her clothes before getting into the warm water.

Emma purposefully took a long shower, letting the hot water run over her skin for almost twenty minutes.

Once she got out, she dressed in her usual outfit-a white tank, dark jeans, knee-high boots, and her favorite red leather jacket. She smiled to herself in the mirror and turned a little to see the full outfit before going into the bathroom once more and taking out her makeup.

She put on her usual eyeliner and mascara before looking in the mirror with a smile.

The last thing to do was dry her hair, so she grabbed the small hair dryer off the wall and got to work. Her hair, being as long as it was, took much longer than she intended to dry it, but when she looked to her phone for the time, she was just on time.

Emma was quick to toss her phone and wallet into her purse before hurrying out the door, flicking the lights off as she did.

As she hurried down the stairs, she got a text from Killian.

I may be a little late.

Emma smiled before responding.

E: No worries, I think I will be too.

K: That makes me feel better.

K: I'll see you in a bit, Swan.

E: See you soon.

She walked at a quick pace through the hotel lobby, weaving in and out of people. When she finally made it outside, her phone rang.

"Jesus, everyone's trying to talk to me today." She grumbled, grabbing her phone and answering it, "Hello?"

"Hey, it's just me." Neal answered.

"Neal, I'm meeting someone for breakfast-what do you need?"

"I just-wait, you're meeting someone?"

"Stop acting surprised when I say that." Emma spoke in an annoyed tone, raising her hand to hail a cab.

"Is it the same guy as last night?"

"Why the hell does it matter to you?" Emma asked, "You and I? We aren't a thing anymore."

"I know, I just-"

"What did you call for, Neal?" Emma interrupted, hurrying to get into a cab.

"I just wanted to make sure you were picking up Henry at ten."

"Yes, I am. Bye." Emma rolled her eyes, looking up to the cab driver, "Sorry. Could you go to that deli around here? I can't remember the name of it."

"I think I know what you're talking about, miss." He smiled, starting off in the right direction.

Emma only waited at the deli for a few minutes before Killian strolled in.

"Look at you." He grinned as she stood up to meet him, "You look just as beautiful as you did last night."

She quickly evaluated his outfit as well, smiling at what he picked.

He was wearing a blue tee with black jeans and a black leather jacket.

"You look a lot darker than you did last night." She teased, "But, I have to say, it suits you."

"Aye?" He grinned, "Well, what do you say I but you some breakfast?"

"I can get my own-"

"It's on me, love." He grinned, leaning forward to press his lips to her cheek before walking away towards the counter.

"You don't even know what I like."

"May I take a guess?" He smiled, making Emma huff out a laugh.

"Sure." She grinned, sitting back down at the small table and fiddling with her phone as she waited.

Killian came back a few moments later, sitting across from her with a smile and a tray of food.

"I guessed hot coca with whispered cream." He grinned, "And a croissant."

"You got it mostly right." Emma grinned smugly.

"What did I miss?"

"Extra cinnamon on the cocoa." Emma smiled, taking a sip of it regardless.

"Damn."

"I'm still impressed." Emma smiled, licking away the whipped cream from her lip, "How'd you know that?"

"You see, I'm quite perceptive." Killian reminded her with a cheeky grin, pointing to his head, "And, I happen to be very good at guessing."

Emma giggled at that, unwrapping her croissant and taking a bite of it.

"What do you get?"

"A coffee with just a little cream and sugar, and usually some biscotti." Killian smiled.

"Mm." Emma giggled.

"So, there was one thing we were supposed to talk about last night, but we didn't." Killian grinned.

Emma racked her brain for what he could possibly be talking about.

"Baseball, love." Killian chuckled, "I didn't want you holding your breath too long."

Right. Baseball.

"Oh, right. Duh." She giggled, cupping the mug in her hand, "So, favorite team?"

"Red Sox." Killian smiled.

Damn it.

"That just ruined all of this." Emma giggled.

"What?" Killian asked, nearly spitting out his coffee.

"I like the Yankees. We can't keep this up." Emma teased.

"Wait, you don't like the Red Sox? You're from Boston!" Killian exclaimed.

"Yeah, well, my first baseball game was the Yankees, so I got attached!"

"Who were they playing?"

"The Red Sox."

Killian threw his hands up in frustration.

"But, but-" Emma defended, "-Derek Jeter signed my ball!"

"Wait, you have a baseball signed by Derek Jeter?" Killian asked, his eyes blown wide.

"Yep." Emma grinned proudly before taking another sip of her cocoa.

"I'm impressed." Killian chuckled, "Well, lucky for you, I won't hold your Yankees against you."

"Because I have a signed ball?"

"Because you have a signed ball." Killian smiled.

"Of course." Emma grinned, shaking her head.

"Oh, I forgot to tell you-I brought you a book to read, since you let me borrow one."

"Oh, you didn't have to do that."

"It's fine," Killian chuckled, digging around in his messenger bag until he found it, sliding it across the table to her, "If you want to understand me as a person, read it."

"'The Good Soldier'?" Emma smiled.

"Aye. It's an incredibly fast read, and it's a great book. Teaches you a lot about yourself." Killian mused as Emma looked at the back flap of the book, reading the description.

"I'll be sure to give it a shot." Emma grinned, before gasping at the time, "Shit, I have to go pick Henry up. I'm so sorry-"

"Don't worry, love. I understand." Killian spoke with a sweet smile.

"No, I feel terrible-we basically just got here."

"It's fine, I promise."

"God, Neal is going to kill me." She grumbled to herself, slipping the book into her bag.

"Neal? Is that Henry's father?"

"Yep, and he's a total asshole. I'm going to be so late." Emma sighed, hastily getting up and taking her croissant with her.

"Emma!" Killian called after her, and she heard his footsteps behind her.

"I'll text you later, okay-"

His hand pulled her to a stop by her wrist, before pulling her close.

Before Emma knew it, their lips were crashing against each other with an odd hunger Emma hadn't felt in years. She lifted her hand to cup the back of his head, her fingers gently mussing his soft hair.

His hand moved from her wrist to her side, pulling her closer into his warmth. She didn't want him to ever stop kissing her-it was invigorating, new-

"I'm sorry." Killian whispered as he tugged away, "I had to do that before you left. I know you aren't leaving for another few days, but, I didn't want to miss the opportunity while I had it."

Emma smiled and shook her head, setting her hands on the sides of his face before leaning up to kiss him once more.

"Thank you." Emma whispered, "I'll text you later, when things are less crazy."

"I'll be waiting by the phone." Killian smiled, hailing a cab for her, "Have a lovely afternoon, Swan."

"You, too." Emma smiled, "Say 'hi' to Liam for me?"

"Of course." Killian grinned, pressing a final kiss to her cheek before helping her into a cab.

Her heart was pounding in her chest as she got in, closing the door and telling the driver Neal's address. She waved to Killian as he smiled to her, waving back.

This was bad. So very bad.

But, something in her heart told her it was so very right.

She read on the way to Neal's finding herself giggling at a few parts in the novel. As soon as she arrived, she hurried to the door and buzzed up to him.

"Come up." Neal's crackly voice spoke over the intercom.

Shit, he was not happy.

Emma opened the door cautiously, slipping in and hurrying up the stairs, ignoring the lift entirely. She shook her head as she glanced to her watch, knowing he'd be mad she was late.

Once she made it to his door, she was out of breath. She rapped on it and waited, pressing her hand to her forehead.

Neal opened it shortly after, an unamused expression drawn into his features.

"Thanks for watching him a little longer-I was going to be here-"

"But, you were out with that guy." Neal deadpanned.

"Neal, he's just... He's someone I met."

"On an airplane!" Neal spoke in a hushed yell, stepping out into the hallway and closing the door, "Emma, doesn't that seem weird to you?"

"He's a good man, Neal. And, I'm an adult-I can make my own opinions of people." Emma retorted.

"I'm just worried about Henry's safety."

"Henry's a big kid now-he can understand that I date, just like you did."

"Has he kissed you?"

"Why the hell is that important?" Emma snapped, "That is absolutely none of your business."

"Emma, if he-"

"I don't need you to baby me, Neal. I'm not attached to you, you don't govern who I see and don't see. So, don't make this about Henry." Emma snapped, pointing her finger at him, "Now, let me see Henry, please."

"You aren't going to see him when you're with Henry today, right?" Neal asked.

"Henry and I are taking the subway to the American Museum of Natural History, Neal." Emma spoke with finality, "Let me see my son."

Neal sighed and opened the door, and Emma sauntered in, walking to where Henry was doodling at the table.

"Hey, kid, what are you drawing?" Emma smiled.

"I'm drawing me as a baseball player!" Henry beamed, showing her the picture of what looked like scribbles. Emma smiled regardless.

"Looks great, kid." Emma smiled, "Want to go to the game tomorrow?"

"Yes, please!" Henry beamed.

"I'll have Uncle David get us tickets, okay?" Emma grinned.

"Really? Thanks, Mom!" Henry beamed, throwing his arms around her. She giggled and hugged him back before gently pulling away.

"Still up to go to the museum today?"

"Yes please! Can I bring my drawing book? I want to draw the elephants!"

"Of course." Emma smiled, "Why don't you pack all of your things up and we can go?"

"Okay!" Henry exclaimed, scurrying into Neal's room to grab his things.

Emma smiled at the picture, carefully adding the Yankees' 'NY' to what she assumed to be his hat.

Emma and Henry spent their whole afternoon at the museum, and Emma was able to read quite a bit while she was there, and on the subway both ways as Henry slept on her shoulder.

That night, she took Henry out for dinner, thinking of Killian for most of the evening. She'd gotten a response back from David, saying they had three tickets to the game the next day. Emma knew Killian would like to come, but was she ready to introduce him to Henry? She wasn't sure.

She thought of him all night, especially when she was reading. The book had one passage in particular that made her think of Killian-a passage that spoke of how it isn't the large gestures that make love possible, but the small idiosyncrasies. She started picking Killian's out as she read, noting the way his eyebrow quirked at her, or the scars on his marred arm, or the way his accent dragged out certain words-she started realizing that it was highly possible that she was falling for him.

He was going to be hard to shake.