A/N: So I know that at the end of last week, I said we would be getting to the first date BUT I ended up splitting my chapter up into two chapters, because there was just no way I was going to be able to get all that I wanted done by combining them. Instead we will see Killian house hunting with Liam and Graham, and Emma at her girl's night. There will be some CS interaction at the end, and then next week, I promise we get to the real fluffy stuff. Thanks for reading and I hope you guys all enjoy!

Since deciding that Storybrooke was the place that held his future a few hours before, Killian was now beginning to feel restless. It wasn't that he regretted his decision by any means, he knew that this town was exactly where he needed to be, but he was a bit uncomfortable that despite his momentum today he was still lodging with Liam and Elsa and no closer to finding his own place. It made no matter to him that he'd been in town for little more than a day, once Killian committed to something, he never faltered. He'd see it through until the end, and right now that meant finding a place to truly call home.

"You've got a look about you brother. What's the matter? Sick to death of the absurd amount of quiet?" Killian cracked a smile at Liam's inquiry. His brother leaned against the island in the kitchen, arms crossed to face Killian who'd been grabbing himself a glass of water.

"Not quite. I'm thinking of all the things I'll be needing to do now, not the least of which is find my own place." Liam grinned at that, reaching for the phone in his pocket. It struck Killian as odd that in the middle of a conversation, Liam would make a phone call, but Killian was slightly intrigued to see what would merit such behavior.

"Graham, yeah it's Liam. You got any time today? Killian's decided to stay on and rather than risk his leaving because he remained in close quarters with me too long, I need to see him find own place. Perfect, we'll be right there."

"Did you just call the local bar owner about getting me a house?" Even as he said it aloud, Killian realized it was entirely possible and by all accounts even likely. This quirky little town in Maine was filled with such interesting intersects, and it would take a bit of time for him to know and understand them all.

"He's a jack of all trades. Besides, what better place to get leads than a bar? Lucky for you, Graham's got this last bit of his day free."

"Just like that?" Killian asked, surprised. He'd anticipated that since the town was so small, he'd have to get used to waiting, but looking back he didn't know why he had presumed such a thing. Surely everything was going incredibly quickly when he really thought about it.

"Aye, just like that. Now let's go, I've been needing to get ideas for a bigger place for Elsa and me. Can't be trying to fit the kids in here with us."

"Elsa's pregnant?" Liam shook his head, and the look of regret in his brother's eyes was substantial. Clearly the man was very distressed that she wasn't with child. Still, it was nice to see his brother like this. Sure he was just as intense as he'd always been, but directed in such as a way as to love his fiancé with everything he had, that intensity was endearing. Before Elsa, when it had just been Liam and Killian, it had been slightly suffocating to have a brother with such high aspirations and such a firm sense of honor.

"Not for lack of trying on my part. But I'm marrying a woman who lives by the code 'patience is a virtue.' It may well be, but it's certainly not one of mine." Killian laughed at that, and moved with Liam from his house directly across the street to where Ruby and Graham lived. Only now did Killian realize that on the side of their abode was a sign that read H&L Real Estate.

"You guys made pretty good time," Graham said by way of greeting them. Before Killian could inquire what Graham meant with that statement, Liam filled him in. It was a joke, since they lived so ridiculously near each other and yet each time an event was held at one or the others house, the visiting party would show up late. Killian nodded, again registering the small tidbit away as a strange little fact about the town and its people.

From there, the mood shifted and Killian was pleased to find that Graham was more than competent. He asked detailed questions about what Killian wanted and was looking for. While Killian originally believed that he wasn't very interested in finding much more than a roof to put over his head, he found he had more opinions than he'd previously thought.

Space for one was critical, for Killian felt strongly that he wanted a big house despite its being only him for now. His mind was loud and clear on the subject; space would give him chance to grow into later. That the only person he could ever imagine taking such a step as moving in with was Emma was an inescapable truth, but he tampered it down, trying to keep this a productive session instead of one that deteriorated to him daydreaming about the woman by whom he was transfixed. It was a losing task, for Emma never truly left his thoughts, but he did make the attempt all the same.

Killian also felt strongly that he wanted to be closer to the sea than Liam was, while remaining near enough to town that he could walk with ease. He wanted a big yard, with room for a garden, where he silently intended to plant some rose bushes and a collection of other flowers to keep the place bright three seasons out of the year. A big porch would be preferable too, since he'd noticed the mildness of the air here at night and liked the idea of spending evenings in such a way.

From these opinions, Graham was able to narrow down the available homes in town to three real contenders. With those possibilities in hand, the three men set out into the world to make the most of the remaining day light and see the three properties.

The first two houses had a lot of charm, and many a good thing going for them. Liam himself noted that the second was particularly pleasing, thanks to its recent renovation that had completely revamped the interior of the colonial style home, but in both places, Killian felt something was missing. He couldn't describe it except to say that he knew there was something else out there. Graham was more than understanding, probably dealing with the fickleness of people's tastes and wants all the time, as he led them to the third house.

Stepping before the elegant white Victorian home, Killian instantly knew he'd found it. Even if everything inside was a wreck (which of course it wouldn't be), Killian was confident that he'd found the place. It had everything he'd wanted and so much more, and his love for it was only amplified when he moved inside. Everything about this house felt good and right, and everywhere he looked he saw Emma. She would fit here so seamlessly, and the thought made Killian all the more desirous to have this house be his home. As if the man could sense Killian's line of thinking, Graham mentioned Emma as they walked through the kitchen.

"You know, Emma is a great cook. She'd love a kitchen like this." Killian didn't really know what to say in the face of a practical stranger who had so much insight into his feelings. He was usually a pretty guarded person, but apparently everyone could tell that despite just meeting her, Killian couldn't get enough of Emma. Before Killian could respond, Liam butted in.

"If you think my brother hasn't been tracking through every place we've seen today considering if Emma would like it, you're daft Huntsman." Graham grinned while Killian put a hand up in protest.

"Let's not go there. It would be bloody ridiculous for me to choose a home because of a woman I've just met." Graham and Liam looked at him like he was the crazy one, and maybe he was, since this was exactly what he'd been doing. He couldn't help it, Emma was constantly on his mind, and the change in his thinking from what worked for him to what could work for them had not been a subtle one.

It just felt… bizarre, to cave into one's emotions and wants so easily, since it was so different a way of living than he'd been used to the past eight years. If anyone had told him even a week ago he'd be acting like this, Killian would have called them mad. He hadn't even gotten the courage up to ask her out yet, and he was considering if she'd like the natural light in the living room or if she'd find it too much. How could anyone see that as being normal?

"Crazier things have happened man. Ruby and I got married after knowing each other three weeks, and the day I met Liam, he told me he was going to marry Elsa one day. He'd known her all of forty eight hours." Both factoids were new to Killian, and he had to admit, rather comforting. It was good to know at least that he wasn't making a bloody fool of himself in front of everyone. It felt that way last night, but if people were so willing to move past it, maybe he should be too. Killian hesitated to believe it could truly be done though.

"Trust me, mate, Emma will be better off if she decides to just steer clear of me all together." Liam scoffed at Killian's comment.

"That's a load of shit and you know it." Killian stayed silent, not wanting to argue with his brother about things the man couldn't possibly understand.

"I doubt she'll be staying away, when the intent of this whole girls night is to get the truth out of Emma and push her to action. You're both caught man. The women have sniffed out the possible love connection and now you and Emma are just along for the ride." Killian ran a hand through his hair, trying to keep his growing frustration in.

"Unless you're saying there's something wrong with Emma..." Liam only said the words to get a rise out of Killian but it worked. Just the slight implication that Emma could somehow be the problem set him off.

"Emma Swan is heaven itself! It's me. I'm not worthy of her." Killian didn't know where the outburst came from. He couldn't remember the last time he'd lashed out like that at anyone. But Liam and Graham just shrugged in the face of his anger.

"So be worthy. There's nothing to say you can't be better – so do it."

Graham's words were so matter of fact, as if it wasn't a difficult task. What they didn't understand was that even at his best, even before all of these demons had carved their way into his life, Killian wouldn't have been worthy of Emma Swan. She was more than he could ever hope to have, but he was starting to realize he might be too selfish to walk away. At this point if she gave him any indication of wanting to be more than his friend and a shoulder to lean on, he'd throw away his hesitations and dive in headfirst, stopping at nothing to give her everything she wanted. In the mean time, Graham was right, maybe he'd never truly deserve her, but there was nothing keeping him from bettering himself as much as he could. Killian gave a slight nod, and both Graham and Liam looked relieved.

"So, about the house…" Graham said as they walked from the kitchen back to the front entryway. Killian had been sold on this place since first seeing it, but he'd yet to tell Graham that.

"I'll take it. But I want the sale to go quick. Whatever it takes to get me here." To get us here, his internal thoughts corrected. Graham grinned, texting Ruby who was more in touch with the owners.

"You got it." Not yet, Killian thought, but soon.

…

As a kid, Emma always wanted friends. Not the kind of friends you hung out with because there was nothing else to do and you were bored, but the kind who cared about you and loved you. She'd wanted 'the family you choose' because for so long she had no family, and it wasn't until Storybrooke that she'd found her best friendships. Emma's little bubble of her, Elsa, and Anna had grown to include three other great women, Ruby, Mary Margaret, and their good friend Belle who was busy the night before and unable to attend the dinner at Elsa's. They were all here now though, and they were all well on their way to a bit of old fashioned tipsy fun.

"Is it a wine or a margarita kind of night?" Ruby asked the group, eager to get their orders in to her staff working the bar. Everyone chorused exactly how Emma expected, which was to say that they all wanted wine. "Why do I even ask anymore?" Ruby joked as she waved down a bartender and ordered them what would no doubt be an excellent selection. There was a reason Ruby's place was such a huge success in Storybrooke, and it wasn't just that it was the only bar in town. The woman had a way with these things.

One glass turned to two, two to three and soon enough, all the friends were pleasantly buzzed as they enjoyed the dinner spread Ruby had set out for them. Emma was incredibly relaxed, considering how hesitant she'd been to agree to this. She knew the interrogation was coming, but until one of her sisters or friends brought it up, she planned to enjoy the music and the laughter and the fun.

Killian was never far from her thoughts though, something she'd gotten a little more used to as the day had gone on. Certain songs, and stories from Elsa, sparked the same flutter of emotion low in her belly and she wondered what he was doing tonight. She hoped he was having fun, and not isolating himself, but she was eager to know for sure. Emma decided to find out the only way she knew how – roundabout questions to Elsa about what Liam was doing.

"So, how did you convince Liam to let you out tonight? Usually he tries to advocate to me that girls night should be everyone night." Elsa smiled and blushed a little at Emma's comments. She was in love with a guy who loved her so fully that there was never a moment Elsa wasn't sure she was his whole world. Emma was happy for her sister in that respect, but also slightly frustrated because at three drinks, Elsa's responses were slightly delayed and Emma wanted information fast.

"He's hanging out with Killian. Last I heard they were looking at houses with Graham." Emma choked a bit on her wine as it went down the wrong pipe. Killian was looking for a house?

"Are you and Liam planning on moving?" Emma asked, another means of getting the dish without flat out asking about Killian. Elsa shook her head.

"Well I mean someday, yeah, but this was for Killian. He's staying in Storybrooke." Mary Margaret nodded happily.

"He and David are going to be working together, which is really a god send since David's schedule with everything at work has been crazy. I thought it was kind of soon to know if they would be a good fit, but David said he has a feeling, and I know better than to argue with him on those at this point. Then Killian expressed a similar concern, about needing time even if it seems like a good idea, and I knew it would all be okay." Emma's whole body was surging with excitement and a profound need to know more. She was slowly losing the cool, collected demeanor that she was known for, but everyone else seemed so wrapped up in gossiping about the updates on Killian that she was largely forgotten. Or so she thought, until Anna opened her mouth.

"Alright sis, we've eased our way into it, you have a drink in hand, and a group of people who love you, so spill." All the other women went quiet and all eyes were on Emma. She could feel the blush spreading over her cheeks and before she'd even said a word, there was a chorus of 'aww' that made her groan aloud.

"What do you want to know?" Emma knew it was best to just let them tire themselves out with all of their detailed questions, and if she was honest, she hoped answering them would give her some more insight into how to go about all of this. She was in uncharted waters here, living a scenario she had yet to ever face, and she could really use some advice.

"What did it feel like the first time you saw him?" Elsa asked, and Emma bit back another groan. They were really going there, right off the bat, demanding her to be open and honest.

"I don't even know how to describe it without sounding cheesy, but it was the first time I ever felt a spark right off the bat. It was like I recognized him, like I knew him even though we'd never met." Belle let out a dreamy sigh at that.

"Sounds a lot like love at first sight." A few days ago, Emma would have rolled her eyes or told Belle that love at first sight was nothing but a figment of imagination people wrote about in romance novels, but her heart was damn near pounding out of her chest right now. Killian brought out this reaction that didn't make rational sense to her. Who was she to say all of this wasn't love?

"Why did you give him your compass?" Anna asked, prompting a gasp from Elsa.

"You gave him the compass?!" Her sister asked, quickly filling in their friends when they asked what the compass was. Emma gathered her courage and confessed her reasons.

"I trust him, and I wanted to show him that on some level I know what he's going through. I think I also wanted to see how he'd react. That compass means a lot to me, and so to see him accept it like he did, and to really thank me for it, I don't know it felt like he passed a test, like the both of us did." Mary Margaret's eyes got wider.

"Wow, so you must really like him. He's getting behind those walls, and you never let men in like that." What could Emma say to that other than it was true? For as long as she'd been dating she'd had trust issues, and the guys she chose to let into her life were more tools to get what she needed sexually than people she'd ever consider partners. She didn't do commitment, or sleepovers, or cuddling, but the thought of last night and holding Killian's hand brought a smile to her face.

"That, right there! What were you thinking? You totally kissed him. I knew you did!" Emma shook her head.

"No it's worse than that." When Emma told them all about the hand holding, the outcry was deafening. None of them could believe that she had done such a thing, and they had a point, because it truly was so unlike her. It felt like she'd changed since meeting him. Or maybe that wasn't the right way to put it – for the first time in her life Emma felt ready, ready to be brave and take the next step. She usually hated to be vulnerable, but she wanted that with Killian.

"So what's next?" Emma thought about Elsa's question for a beat. She honestly had no idea. The only thing she was certain of was that she really liked him. He made her laugh and smile, and she could see a future with him, a happy one.

"I don't know."

"What's next is you go home with him. I mean look at the house he just put an offer on, it's gorgeous." In a second the women were swarming around Ruby's phone and Emma felt the world stop for a second. Killian had bought her favorite house in all of Storybrooke. It had to be a sign.

"Oh my God, Emma!" Anna was holding onto Emma's arm like a vice, but Emma could hardly feel it, wrapped up as she still was in the revelation.

"Graham said he was thinking of you when he bought it." Now Emma's jaw was nearly touching the floor.

"He was! Liam just responded to my text. Says Killian 'got dreamy over it all,'" Emma didn't laugh at Elsa's terrible fake British accent, she just shook her head, trying to rid herself of the haziness in her eyes. How was all of this real and happening?

"I think your sibling tradition of falling hard and fast is sticking with you for your third and final sister." Belle's words were a wake up call for Emma, because that was what this was. She was falling for Killian, and if everyone else's intel could be trusted, he was falling for her to.

"So what do I do?" Emma asked.

"Ask him out, and then get it girl. He is hot, and you've waited long enough to find yourself a good man." Everyone murmured their agreement and Emma couldn't help but laugh.

"It all sounds so straight forward when you put it like that." Ruby waved her hand around as if to say that of course it was.

"It never is when you're dealing with love, but it's worth it all the same. Ruby's right, there's no time like the present to go after what you want." Elsa's words were the final piece to the puzzle, the glue that made everything seem to finally stick. All of them were right, she wanted Killian and pretending otherwise or avoiding that attraction would waste valuable time. Why wonder what-if and stress out about every little thing, when she could just try and have what she wanted.

"You're right. The next time I see him, I'll say something." Emma finished off her glass of wine, grounded in her intended next step but noticed Elsa grinning wildly. That couldn't be a good sign. "What did you do?"

"He might actually be on his way right now." Elsa broke down into giggles, and in her slight drunkenness probably didn't realize the seriousness of what she'd just said.

"What?!" Emma wasn't alone in the exclamation. Everyone was shocked at Elsa's revelation.

"Well Liam wasn't going to just let me walk home like this, and when I told him you might be in a similar boat he said Killian invited himself along to see us home safe." Emma ran a hand through her hair, an anxious habit that coupled nicely with her sudden spike of nerves. Apparently there really was no time like the present.

"Backing out already, Emma?" Mary Margaret teased but Emma had no time to respond, for at that moment Liam and Killian walked in and all she could see was him.

"No, she's got this. Look at that face, she's liable to jump him right here right now." Emma smacked Ruby's arm because her whisper was loud enough to hear from a mile away. If he'd heard though, Liam gave nothing away when he approached.

"Ladies, I think you've all had just about enough fun. I'll be taking my fiancé back, and your own escorts are in route to see you all home safely." Emma knew what was coming before it did, but that knowledge didn't do anything to make it less awkward.

"But Emma doesn't have an escort!" Anna was so going to get it for that comment later.

"She's got me… if she'll have me." Killian's words made Emma's heart skip almost painfully and she watched him scratch behind his ear, looking a bit embarrassed at how definitively he'd said the first part. She tried to remain cool though, pretending to size him up before nodding.

"I can live with that." Everyone laughed, but the only reaction that mattered was Killian's whose grin had tipped up to one side as he offered her his arm.

"Shall we?" At the moment their skin touched, Emma felt that same flare of fire within her. The attraction between them was undeniable, but whether it was the little bit of wine she'd had, or all of the confessions she'd just made, it felt even more potent than it had last night. She stumbled just a bit, and his hand came around to her hip to steady her. He probably thought she'd had too much to drink, but this was all him. "You alright, Swan?"

"Yeah, just take me home." There was no missing the darkening of his eyes at her words, and yeah, Ruby was right, she was definitely thinking about things on the racier end of the spectrum when he held her this way, but the moment passed, and their mutual desire was put on hold as he walked her out of the bar and into the night.

"Emma, I trust you're sober enough to tell Killian where you live." Liam gave her a nod, knowing her disposition to be the most in control even on girls night. Emma never had as much as the others, always trying to keep a level head in case something were to happen.

"I know the way." Killian's words made Emma blush, even if it was innocent.

"Does he now? Do tell!" Elsa said giddily but without another word, Liam had swept her up and was carrying her away. Emma could hear him chastising her as they headed home.

"Leave them, alone, love. They can figure it all out themselves." Emma heard Elsa's voice, and knew if she'd seen her face there'd be a pout there.

"But what's the fun in that?" Looking back at Killian, Emma found he was already watching her, not even paying attention to Liam or Elsa.

"So that was great." Killian smiled at her teasing tone.

"Your friends been giving you a hard time, love?" Emma groaned.

"You can't even imagine. It's been a day." Instinctively she took his hand, and his fingers intertwined with hers immediately. They walked towards Emma's house and were quiet for a while before Emma got together her courage once more.

"So, I heard you bought a house today."

"I made an offer, yes."

"You have good taste. Ruby showed us the one you chose, and it's my favorite one in the whole town." Killian looked surprised but pleased.

"Every other house I saw today had something missing, but that one, I don't know it felt like it could be a real home." Emma's heart tugged at the way he'd put it. She'd always wanted one of those, and someday she hoped she could have her own big family to fill up a house like that with. Who was she kidding, any fantasy she had of such a life had now been hijacked by Killian. The faceless stranger, who had once resided in any imaginings of weddings or babies, was now replaced by him.

"I'm glad to hear it, just like I was happy to hear about you and David working together. You deserve to be happy, Killian." He squeezed her hand a little tighter as they walked on, getting closer and closer to her house.

"Your compass has come in handy twice already love, first with the job, and then with the house. I'm indebted to you." Emma shook her head, not wanting him to think that was true. They were equals in this, at least she hoped they were.

"You don't owe me anything, Killian. Kindness doesn't come with a price. I gave it to you without any strings attached." Emma turned to look at him. They had arrived at the front door of her house, but she didn't want to leave things like this. Actually, she didn't want to leave him at all.

"Aye, love I know. Your kindness is only one of the things about you I find so remarkable." Killian reached out to brush a strand of hair from her face just as he had the night before, but this time Emma didn't pull back. Instead she stepped closer, pulling him down by the collar of his jacket for a kiss.

This was unlike any other first kiss she'd ever had. It was sweet and passionate all at once, with no awkwardness or uncertainty. Emma felt completely free to tell him with this kiss all that she was feeling, even if the words themselves were harder to come by. It set her body aflame with wanting, while also calming all the doubt she'd had inside, for Killian was right there with her, demanding and hungry and longing for just as much as she was. When he pulled back, she instantly missed him, but the look in his eyes, the one that said he was so in awe of her he could barely speak, made that sense of loss lessen.

"I think it's best I bid you goodnight, Swan." She smirked at his honorable intentions.

"What, afraid you couldn't handle it?" She asked and he chuckled lightly.

"More like afraid I won't be able to stop at kisses, and a woman like you, beautiful and wonderful as you are, deserves better." From anyone else, all of the flattery would have seemed like a line, but Emma could tell that Killian meant it. It made everything he said all the more powerful.

"You mean you can do better than that kiss? I find that hard to believe." He grinned, placing his lips this time to the top of her hand as he lifted it up.

"One thing you'll come to learn about me, Swan, is that I love a challenge. I intend to show you just how much better things can be between us." Emma really liked the sound of that, even if she wished more would come tonight. "But maybe just one now more to give you a proper goodbye."

In seconds, his lips were on hers again, the same rush of warmth flooding through her at the contact. It was briefer than the first, but no less life altering, and Emma was left speechless when he pulled away and bid her goodnight. She watched him walk back into the darkness to return to Elsa and Liam's once more, and only after he rounded the corner, did Emma realize Killian hadn't actually asked her out. Maybe it was for the best though, because Emma suddenly had the urge to ask him out herself and see how he'd react. She hoped he'd look at her in that way he tended towards, the one that made her feel like the light in the darkness, or like some kind of miracle. It was swiftly becoming one of her favorite things, just as he was becoming one of her favorite people.

Post-Note: Okay, so there we have it. Another installment of 'In Your Light.' Next chapter will bring us Emma asking Killian out, and the date itself (I'm thinking I will parallel it to the show, where Emma asks, but Killian insists on planning). As such next chapter will be almost entirely fluff, so get ready for that. I also just want to thank you guys again for all of the wonderful support and lovely reviews. You are all wonderful and I appreciate you!