Prompt: Captain Swan + Librarian/Reader AU

100 Books to Read Before You Die

Emma finds being a librarian to be dull work, but she needs the job. She only moved to Storybrooke a couple of months earlier, to be near her foster brother and his family, and the only requirement she had for any job was that it paid enough for her to pay the bills and allowed her to be flexible and change shifts with little warning. Luckily, the manager of the library, Belle, understands that Emma has a two-year old at home and despite being one of the only babysitters in Storybrooke, Ruby Lucas is surprisingly unreliable.

So yeah, if asked, Emma might even say she likes her job.

Besides, Storybrooke library is quiet and has a very good children's section, and Emma likes the opportunity to scour the shelves for books to read to Henry. He loves 'The Very Hungry Caterpillar', the first book she brought him back when she found the job, but Emma wants to read him lots of different books because now, here, she can finally do that.

She's been a librarian for a few weeks when Killian Jones first visits. Not that he tells her his name, but it's on the ID he gives her when she signs him up for a library card. He borrows Lord of the Rings and tells her that his brother sent him an article about a hundred novels to read before you die.

He leaves and she daydreams about his voice for the rest of her shift.

The next time he shows up - a week later and with the book looking slightly dog-eared - she asks him if he's dying as she takes the book and drops it in the crate with the other returned books.

"Uh, no." He answers, frowning at her, and Emma feels like kicking herself because what if he was? "I just thought I'd set myself a challenge. I used to read a lot, back in England, but it's been a while."

Killian smiles at her, and then he glances from her to the open book she has in front of her ('Hairy McClary from Donaldson's Dairy') and she just blushes. Here he is, handing back 'Lord of the Rings' after reading the whole thing in a week, and she's looking at pictures of a small dog.

It's for Henry, but he doesn't know that.

He borrows 'To Kill A Mockingbird' and he leaves her with a wave and a wink.

Killian returns at least once a week. There's been no one she's been so attracted to since Neal, she thinks she's possibly more attracted to Killian. Except he may be cute, but the books he reads look pretty daunting - Emma's not much of a reader - and they are the only things they discuss. His standard question seems to be if she's seen the movie and she wonders if her disinterest in literature is that obvious, but that doesn't stop him from him trying to start a conversation.

Emma steers their discussions away from books. Soon, it becomes habit for him to lean against the counter as they talk about whatever springs to mind. She learns that his brother is an English teacher back in London, he learns about Henry (and recommends a book called 'Where the Wild Things Are', which she reads to Henry later that week and then, when she thanks him for recommending it because Henry has finally moved on from 'The Very Hungry Caterpillar', he smiles at her and her heart beats far too fast).

It's been almost a year when he comes in one week, this time to return 'The Cairo Trilogy', and tells her he's finally read 'The Very Hungry Caterpillar' and engages her in a very silly, in-depth discussion about it and Emma beams at him. She leans closer, lets their fingers brush together, just for a second, and his blue gaze darts up to her.

She corners him behind a stall when he's finally started searching for the next book on his list, and she kisses him.

When he leaves, a copy of 'The Strange Case of Dr Jekyll and Mr Hyde' tucked under his arm, Emma finds another copy and borrows it as well. She's a slow reader, but it's not too long, and with a bit less sleep than usual, she manages to get it finished within three days.

He takes her hand in his when she starts to talk about with him, admitting honestly that it was alright, but Emma hasn't really enjoyed a book since she read Harry Potter so many years before. Killian tells her he's never read it. That he'd tried but found it difficult to get into the first book. Emma understands because she thinks that, for the people who didn't start reading the series when they were younger and then grew with the books, it's trickier to get into.

This time, although she doesn't find him and kiss him, he kisses her cheek in goodbye once he's borrowed 'Gulliver's Travels' and gives her a small, nervous smile. He stops just before leaving, pausing in the exit and turning to look at her.

"If I asked you out, Emma, what would you say?"

She blinks at him. "I'd say yes." She stammers, surprised by the question but suddenly feeling so, so happy. "Just give me the details far enough in advance so I can find a babysitter."

He nods, but doesn't say anything more and Emma stares after him because why didn't he ask her out?

Emma takes Gulliver's Travels home with her but she doesn't get a chance to read it because Henry gets sick. She spends days at home with her son, reading him 'Where the Wild Things Are' over and over again.

Killian looks surprisingly nervous when she finally sees him again. "Is everything alright?"

"It's fine. Henry wasn't well, so I took time off." She answers and he visibly relaxes. "How are you?"

"I have to admit that part of me wondered if you'd only said yes to my question last time we spoke to be polite." He mumbles. "I… well, I read the first Harry Potter book. It's not on my list, but I thought that it was worth taking a break from the hundred novels to finally read your favourite book. Although, I now fear my challenge will be delayed for a few more weeks as I read the other Harry Potter books."

"You liked it, then?" she asks, moving from her seat behind the counter to join him on the other side. She rests her hip against the counter and lets her fingers run lightly up and down his forearm as they talk. "And you really want to read Chamber of Secrets?"

He nods and that's it for Emma. She can't wait anymore (and she's been waiting, although until now she hasn't realised it).

"We should have dinner." She says suddenly, laughing at the way his eyes widen. "Whenever you're free."

Killians grin widens and he nods enthusiastically. "I'd say tonight but I know you need someone to look after Henry, so tomorrow?"

And Emma nods and then her heart pounds and she can't stop smiling because they're having dinner. They're not exchanging small talk over the library counter, they're having a date.

He leaves the library with 'Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets', kiss-bruised lips, clothes askew (because, maybe, when Emma found him behind the stalls this time, neither of them had exercised any self-control) and her number.