Killian still wasn't sure what to do with Emma's apology. Did she just feel guilty but still believed it. Did she think that she was wrong, or right but shouldn't have said it? But at least she was on speaking terms with him. But what should he do. Part of him wanted to try to prove that at least in part that she was wrong, but another part just didn't want to anger her again and possibly get kicked out.

He finished his lunch and threw out his trash. Then he saw Granny walking towards him with two fresh baked cookies in her hand. He smiled at the older lady, it looked like the universe had a funny way of telling him which part of his thoughts to follow. He walked over to her.

"I had a feeling snickerdoodles would be perfect today."

He smiled at the woman, "Thank you, Granny."

She grinned, and turned to back into the kitchen with a parting, "Good Luck."

His head quickly turned to look at the retreating woman, and then laughed as he walked back towards the offices.

Her door was open, but he could see her sitting at her computer typing. His knuckles lightly rapped at the door, and her head turned to see him. Her face showing shock at first, and then a small smile, "Hi."

He took a breath. "This didn't go so well last time, but since they are snickerdoodles, maybe that will help?" He slowly walked into the room and reached out to her with a cookie.

Emma swallowed, gathered her wits and accepted the cookie. "Thank you, Killian."

"You are welcome, Emma." He took a bite of his own cookie, it was still warm, and really, really good. But the awkwardness continued. His left hand scratched behind his ear, and then he took a breath. He moved the rest of the cookie into his left hand and held out his right. "Hello, I'm Killian Jones. Nice to meet you."

Emma blinked a couple times, looked at his hand and then back to him. She then got it, and smiled, she took his hand and shook it. "Nice to meet you Killian. I'm Emma Swan."

He took another bite of the cookie. "Bloody hell these are good."

She laughed, "Right?"

He grinned and looked down a second. "I know you aren't interested in me, love. And I promise I won't try anything." His eyes looked back up at hers, and the look on her face was almost like she was disappointed. But he let it go, she had already made her choice very clear. "But I was hoping we could at least be civil, maybe even friends for the rest of the time I am here."

Emma nodded quickly, "Yes. Of course, that would be best." Her heart felt like it was constricting. Why did she want to correct him, tell him that he was wrong. That she did want… him. She shook the thoughts away. He was just here until his hours were done, and then he would be gone from the shelter and her if things were to continue.

Knowing so much about him, and his background, meant he could not be a one night stand with her, not anymore. But knowing he was going to leave, he couldn't be anything else either. Her heart couldn't take the chance.

He could see that she was torn about something, and part of him hoped it was him. He wondered what could have happened to make her so untrusting. He had his own reasons not to start relationships, that was until her saw her. For some reason, she made him want to try again. But that shot was ruined. "I need to get back to wrapping the presents." He pointed at her cases, "and it looks like you have work to do." He walked to the door, and gave her a small smile. "See you around love."

She watched him leave, she looked down at her desk, and closed her eyes. She tried to tell herself this was a good thing. Just stay civil. Don't get hurt. But why did her heart tell her that she was going to regret it.
===∞∞∞∞∞===

The rest of the week continued much the same. He bought her a coffee with one cream and one sugar and left it on her desk for her in the mornings. In the afternoon she would grab an extra cookie and bring it to him while he was stacking the latest food donations, wrapping more gifts, or putting together some new furniture for the place.

Neither allowed anything else. Fear of what could go wrong was too much of a motivator to make them want to follow any other thoughts or feelings. Before they knew it, Friday was there, and everyone left early to get ready for the Event.

The Event was a big to-do which Emma hated. Okay, she didn't hate them. She just hated going to them alone. Going alone meant at least one of the guests was going to hit on her. And of course she had to be nice to them because they were donating large sums of money to the shelter.

She pulled into the hotel parking lot and pulled up to the Valet. The man opened her door, and she took the ticket he offered and then walked inside. She followed the signs to the event in the main ballroom. Only a few guests had already arrived. But Archie and Tink were there and standing by the bar. Perfect, exactly what she needed to get through the night. "Glass of whatever white wine you have open." She told the bartender.

Tink sidled in next to her, "You will need these." She handed her two blue raffle tickets.

She smiled back at her friend and took them, "Only two free drinks this year?" She then handed one to the bartender and took the glass from the bar.

The two blondes started the short walk back to Archie. "We are low on money, so we can't waste it on the drinks."

Emma nodded, boy did she know that. She was hoping the donations tonight would help out through next year. She looked over at Tink in a knee length Christmas green velvet dress. "You look nice."

They stood next to Archie, and Tink gave a tiny curtsey with a laugh, "You know green is my signature color." Tink then gave a look at Emma, "You decided not to get in the spirit."

"What is wrong with black? Isn't a little black dress all a girl needs?" Emma asked looking down at her long chiffon black off the shoulder dress. "Okay maybe little long black dress. But it's cold outside." The girls laughed and Archie started to join in their conversation.

Emma was halfway through her glass of wine, when Tink elbowed her lightly in the side. Her eyes looked to her friend and then turned her head in the direction of the doors. She willed her mouth not to hang open as she watched Killian walk into the room. He was dressed in what was obviously a tailored black suit to perfectly fit his frame, along with a crisp white shirt and black tie. His hair still slightly disheveled, which she was now positive it was done on purpose.

She looked back at her friend, and Tink smiled. "Oh that reminds me, I need to get to the door so I can hand out tickets now that everyone is starting to show up." Tink waved goodbye to Archie and Emma and headed towards the door, and gave Killian two drink tickets along the way.

Emma watched him put them into an inner coat pocket as he walked towards them. She swallowed and took a large drink of her wine, hoping it would bring back her courage.

"Dr. Hopper." He nodded at Archie, then turned to her. "Miss Swan, you look… stunning."

Emma smiled, "You look…"

He gave a rare smirk that she had missed all week, "I know."

She rolled her eyes but the smile stayed on her face. She then took another drink of her wine.

Killian noticed that her wine was almost gone. "Would you like another glass of wine, Emma? I'm headed to the bar myself."

"That would be great. Thank you." She went to give him the last ticket she had.

He waved her away, "What are you having?"

"Whatever white they have will do."

He nodded and headed over to the bar. He tried to refrain from looking back at her. He had almost stumbled walking in when his eyes had landed on her. Stunning was an understatement. The dress hugged her beautiful curves. The off the shoulder number and the simple necklace accentuated her graceful neck, and perfect cleavage. She was certainly living up to her last name tonight.

Killian got the attention of the bartender, "The best rum you have, straight. Also what whites wines do you have?" The man gave him a list to look at while he poured the rum. "I'll take this one." He said pointing to one of the better wines on the list. The man poured the drink and sat it on the bar. Killian took out two twenties and gave them to man and told him to keep the change.

He picked up the drink and turned to find Emma standing alone. "Your wine, love."

She took the glass, "Thank you."

"Where did Archie go?"

She motioned around the room with her other hand, "To greet the guests. Which I should be doing." She sighed.

"Which it sounds like you hate." He took a sip of rum.

"Hate is too strong of word. Just… don't… want… too." She said almost like a petulant child. He tried to a stifle a laugh poorly and she took a drink of wine. She blinked twice as the taste registered, and then looked over at him. Something she was trying to avoid doing. "This is just not any white wine. This is way too expensive…"

"Nonsense. Besides you said whatever white will do, and I chose." He then gave her a brilliant smile, "But it's good, is it not?"

Emma grinned and tilted her head with a small shake in agreement, "It IS good." She took another sip, then looked back at him again. With a loud sigh, "I guess I better mingle."

He smiled back, "Good luck."

"Thanks," she said and walked over to a group in the corner. Introducing herself.

Killian started to make the rounds at the party as well. They moved back and forth between the various party goers. He would look for her to see how she was doing, occasionally he would hear her laugh, making him smile. A few times he would look up and see her eyes were on him only to quickly move back to the people she was talking to. Every time it happened he began to wonder maybe, just maybe… no way, he was deluding himself.

She had tried to stick to large groups, or married couples while she was talking. But she slipped up when she went to the bar. Now she was partially cornered against it, talking to a very flirty, large donor to the shelter. She looked around the ballroom. It was now very crowded, which was a very good sign for the shelter. In fact almost half the people she had never seen before. But now, she was trying to find Tink, or Archie, or… him. For some reason she knew if she could find him in the crowd, that he would come rescue her.

If was a funny thought, but she just knew. So she scanned the room. Servers with trays of hors d'oeuvres weaving through the expensively dressed. She found Tink slow dancing with a man Emma had never seen in her life out on the dance floor with a crowd of other people. Her friend would be no help. She smiled politely again at the man in front of her, gave a few nods, tried to excuse her to the ladies room. He begged another minute from her for the fifth time.

"There you are, love." She heard from behind her as an arm wrapped around her waist. Shockingly she didn't jump, but leaned into it. "I was wondering where you went." She tried not to smile at the look on the other man's face. He turned to the older man, and reached out to shake his hand. "Killian Jones, nice to meet you."

The man swallowed and looked between the two of them, shook Killian's hand, and introduced himself as well.

"I hate to interrupt the two of you," he then turned to Emma with the most flirtatious smile she had seen from him, "But love, I was hoping you would join me for a dance."

Emma smiled back at him, and reached out for his hand, interlacing their fingers, "I've been waiting for you to ask me all night, babe." She added the last with a small smirk, and enjoyed the way his blue eyes darkened.

He removed his arm from around her, and held out her hand. "Lead the way." He then turned to look at the man, "Excuse us."

She walked out into the middle of the crowd, and instantly his hand was back on her hip, his other extended but she kept there fingers laced together. With a quick step she was pulled close to him, and her eyes looked up at him in shock as he started to dance.

"I…" she looked around and tried to look at her feet, "I don't know how to dance or do whatever this is." She motioned with her hand and then put it back on his shoulder.

Killian grinned, "You are doing just fine. There is only one rule." He took another step forward and she instinctively followed his movements, "Pick a partner who knows what he's doing."

A few steps in she seemed to catch her rhythm, and started to enjoy herself. She turned her head to look up at him, those sparkling eyes making her heart rate increase. "Thank you." He tilted his head in question. She smiled, "For… well… saving me."

"You looked really uncomfortable." Killians thumb absently stroked against her hip. "If you only were looking for a way to get away. I can maneuver us to the other side of the dance floor." He swallowed lightly, hoping that she wanted to stay. So he could hold her against him, just a little bit longer. She smelled like honey, vanilla and her beloved cinnamon.

Her heart beat a little faster, it was time to make a decision. Part of her told her to get off the damn dance floor. The other part wanted to stay in his arms and dance the night away, the only question was vertically or horizontally. At the thought her spine went rigid.

The moment her body stiffened in his arms, he took a small step back and his eyes hit the floor. He started to glide them to the edge of the dance floor. He knew he shouldn't have hoped.

His actions made her decision very clear, and she couldn't believe she was doing this. "Stop now? I was just getting the hang of it." His eyes instantly met hers, and his smile almost blinded her.

Killian pulled her close once more, only to spin her out and twirl her back in. She was giggling as she crashed back into his chest, her hand instantly finding his shoulder and his her waist. "You appear to be a natural, love."

They moved together across the dance floor, both enjoying themselves. She looked up at him to ask, "Where did a race car driver learn to dance?"

He laughed, "What is it love, you don't believe that NASCAR drivers can dance, or did you only see them able to line dance?"

She laughed, "I'm a horrible person."

"No, no you aren't." He twirled her out and then back in again, he loved the giggle she gave as he did so. "And you are pretty accurate about most of them." He leaned in and said the rest quietly into her ear, "Just not about me."

She gave a small shudder and then looked back up at him, "I seem to keep being wrong about you."

"Well Swan, instead of assuming something, how about you pose the question to me?"

"Okay then, how did you learn to dance?"

"Prior to turning a teenager…" he turned to look around the room for a second, and her brain automatically translated, before his mother died. But she didn't say anything, she didn't want him to know she already knew. He looked back at her, as he continued to lead her across the dance floor. "I was in a public school back home, and part of the mandatory curriculum for boys to become proper gentleman was dance."

"They taught you that in public school? Public schools have basically pulled art and music here."

Killian shook his head, "British term. Public schools would equate to private schools here in the states. State schools would be what you consider public." He gave a soft smile, "Forgive me love? I've only been in the states for four years."

Emma grinned, "Nothing to forgive." She looked around and sighed, "I should get back out there and mingle with the donors."

"I guess I have already been too greedy with your attention," he said as the song ended and he started to guide her off the floor.

The next song came on, Emma wasn't sure if she even heard it before, "Wait." He stopped and looked down at her. "I love this song. One more dance?"

With a small nod and a smile he pulled her back into his arms and they started to dance one more time. This song was a little slower, both her hands went to his shoulders, his wrapped around her waist as they mimicked everyone else on the dance floor swaying slowly to the music as if at a high school dance.

Blue eyes stared down into green, as they continued to sway. Neither seemed willing to take their eyes off each other. He slowly moved them around the floor and moved closer and closer to the edge at the back of the room, and near an exit door to the back hall. When the song ended, he took her hand and whispered in her ear, "Follow me."

She didn't even question it and followed him out the door. As soon as the door was shut she was pushed back gently against the wall. His hands rested lightly on her hips. His eyes stared into hers, "Emma…" she saw him swallow. One of his hands lifted from her hip and slowly reached out for the side of her face.

She took a breath, knowing he would stop with one word from her. But she didn't want to. Her eyes moved to his lips, saw his teeth biting at his bottom one. They then moved back to his eyes.

His fingers lightly stroked the side of her face, then slid back into her hair. Fingers tangling into it at the nape of her neck, as he slowly leaned down to her. His lips brushing gently at hers, both their eyes closing. He deepened the kiss, and then he felt her arms move around his neck, into his own hair, pulling him closer. Her tongue teased his lip and he opened instantly, a moan escaped when her tongue brushed with his. The kiss, her lips, her tongue, her body against his, felt perfect, felt right.

Emma wanted him closer, and as if he heard her thoughts he pressed his body into hers against the wall. She let out a whimper at feeling his warm, toned body pressed against her. Her mind thinking of everything that she wanted to do with him and to him. Their tongues danced, their bodies rubbed against each other. His hand not in her hair was at her lower back, trying to pull her closer.

She wanted him, she wanted this. She wanted him too much. Her brain started to surface from the passion and her thoughts started to take over. Fear swept through her, and her hands slipped between them and she lightly pressed at his chest and broke the kiss. "We have to stop. I can't… I can't do this…" She then broke away from him without meeting his eyes and turned to walk down the hallway, leaving him standing there alone.