Chapter 3: It's late in the evening
New York; Tuesday; two years earlier; midnight
He walked through the busy streets of New York, it was cold. It was always cold in New York. Well, at least at this time of the year. His leather jacket was slightly open so his scarf peeped out. It was already dark, what time was it? Oh yeah, midnight.
"Good evening K." a young woman in a black leather outfit said, as she stood on the corner of a side street, where it was even darker than in the large billboard lit streets. At the end of the side street was where all the parties happened, and the pubs were open. He turned into his favourite pub "The Jolly Roger" and was greeted by the bartender at entrance. He didn't even have to ask for his usual order as he had already been handed a beer by one of the ladies who was sat at a table near to the bar.
"Let's begin." He said as he took his place on a seat which was settled by a round table, in the middle of the pub. Killian came to this pub to play poker, as always. And he always seemed to win.
"Hello there, Mr. Jones." A woman greeted as she sat down beside him. Tall, dark hair and big brown eyes. He gave her a grin but she was not so special, not like the girl who was sat in front of him. Elegant, long brown hair and light blue eyes. She laughed, but did not speak.
After a few hours playing poker, he had beaten the girl sitting opposite him. Katherine was her name. He took her by her hand and walked her to the backdoor of the pub, usually this would be the moment that he told a woman to leave, thank her for the good evening and tell her a good method on how to nurse an hung-over head the next day. He wouldn't want to take advantage of a woman who had had one too many pints. And usually the woman would oblige. But this girl was different, she wasn't over inebriated. She pulled Killian into the door next to the pub, which lead to her house and Killian followed.
They stood in a small living room, facing each other. After a beat, Katherine pulled Killian to her and pressed her mouth to his soft lips. He slid his hand into her hair and they fell backwards onto the couch where she pulled his scarf loose and threw his jacket to the side. Killian didn't hesitate and kissed her as if his life depended on it. She opened the buttons of his shirt and put both her hands on his chest. His heart almost jumped out as realisation hit him. What was he doing? He shouldn't have followed her in. And before Katherine could pull off his belt, he jumped up, put his shirt back on without closing the buttons and retreated out of the door without an explanation, holding the scarf and coat in his hand.
He had to leave town, to begin again in a new city. A city where stories were kept more secret and he could start fresh, build a new reputation... Boston. He took the first flight to Boston.
Boston; Tuesday; present; 9 PM
"Ah come on miss, one last beer."
"Listen, you have one minute to pay and then fuck off. Understood?"
Emma was at work, and the evening was very unpleasant. The drunk man perched opposite her asked once again for another beer, but he was smashed. He had to leave, or else he would meet the largely bitchy side of Emma.
"You heard the lady, pay the bill and go." Killian was standing behind the drunken man, he had just walked in and saw right away that something wasn't right. And after a few glances between Killian and the blonde, the man did leave. The money left lying on the bar.
"I didn't need your help."
"A thank you would be nice, miss Swan." Killian winked and then asked for a glass of water.
"I am so done with this job, all the whining and bullshit."
"Then stop. Look for something new. Emma, we both know you're a little too smart for this job and that this is a piece of cake for you. But even though you need to care for Henry..." Killian was interrupted by Emma.
"You're right, and you know what, I'll quit straight away." she put her apron on the counter and pulled the hair elastic from her hair making her blonde curls fall down past her shoulders. Killian could only think of one thing, and that was how stunning she was.
Emma grabbed her bag and headed towards the exit, where she stopped "Are you coming or are you gonna stay there?" she asked and waited until Killian stood up and walked over to her so they could walked together, he didn't actually know how fast he had darted to be by her side. He met Emma with a smile, held the door open for her, and together they walked away.
"Didn't you come by car?" Killian asked as he looked around, he couldn't spot the yellow car.
"I didn't have time to fill up so I took the subway..."
"I'll take you home." he took her hand and held it tight to Emma couldn't turn down his request. He opened the door of his car for her and he drove her home. And once again they took the stairs. Killian hated those goddamn stairs.
"Thank you for everything, I guess." Emma smiled at him as she put the hot chocolate with whipped cream and cinnamon in front of him after she had invited him in, something she normally drank in the morning.
"It was my pleasure." he winked at her, "So, Henry is staying with his friends?"
Emma sat down beside him on the couch, "Yes, he's going with his friends to school tomorrow, and I'll pick him up after." She paused slightly before adding, "Would you like to come with me? To pick him up from school."
"Oh, I don't think..."
"He would love it." Emma interrupted him, perhaps Killian was something Henry needed. A man who could do "men things" with her son.
"Alright then, love."
"Thank you." Emma beamed as she thanked him.
They looked at each other for a moment, locking eyes before Killian leaned closer to her.
"I uh... I'm going to the bathroom." Emma said as she stood up and walked to the bathroom, locking the door and turning to look at herself in the mirror. She was frightened. Frightened That he would run away like Henry's father did... but she couldn't stay in the bathroom forever, and she couldn't keep herself from falling for a man forever.
"So, um, like I said. Henry isn't home until tomorrow." Emma said to Killian as she walked back into the living room.