Chapter 15

Hook was halfway back to the car when he realized how much trouble he was in. He'd invited Emma out for dinner. In a strange city where he knew no one.

Maybe he really should've thought this whole plan out a little bit more. Damn his impulsiveness.

But what was he supposed to do? Just let Emma walk away from him (again)? In this large city, he hadn't even been sure that he would even see her. He'd had to take what was possibly his one and only chance.

Except what was he to do now? They'd exchanged numbers (or rather they entered each other's numbers in their phones all over again) and he'd promised to call to set up a date. And then he'd left, Ava happily waving goodbye.

Huffing in frustration, he settled Ava in her car seat with her bear while he pulled out his phone and started dialing.

"Hello, Sheriff's station." Came the cheerful voice of David.

"Its me." Hook said.

"Hook!" David said, surprise evident in his voice. "What's up? Have you found Emma yet?"

"I have a problem."

"What is it?" David immediately grew concerned. "Is it Ava?"

"No." He responded. "I...ah." He paused. Never before had he had this problem. Back in the Enchanted Forest he only had to show up at a tavern for about a minute before multiple women nearly threw themselves at him. And his (first) courtship with Emma, well it wasn't traditional in any sense.

In other words he'd never been on a date.

"Did you find Emma?" David pressed.

"Yes...thats the problem. I may have inadvertently, how do you people from this land call it, invited her out for dinner."

"Well thats great! What's wrong with that?"

"I have no bloody idea what to do. Where to take her, what to wear...? This was a lot easier back in our land." He said, a note of panic creeping into his voice.

There was a long pause.

"Hello?" Hook called. "Are you still there, mate?"

"Yeah." David said, his voice sounding a bit odd.

It took Hook a moment to realize that he was laughing. "What do you find so amusing about this?"

David only continued to laugh. "Nothing...oh I'm sorry Hook. It's just...you're coming to me for dating advice?"

"Aye." Hook said, feeling uncharacteristically defensive.

"Haven't you ever been on a date?"

"No. Most of my dalliances began in a tavern and ended up back on my ship. Pirate, remember?"

"But wait. You have been on a date with Emma before."

"Aye, but that was when I already knew how she felt about me. This time I'm starting over. Need to make her fall for my devilishly handsome self all over again."

"True." David agreed. "Didn't consider that."

"So what am I to do?"

"Well, what did you do last time?"

Hook paused briefly, trying to remember. "A picnic on my ship and stargazing." What he didn't add was followed by a very intense makeout session.

David whistled. "You really pulled out all the stops, didn't you?"

"That I did." Hook agreed. "But it's not like I can do that again. I need to find some place to take her out to dinner. Someplace special but also suitable for Ava to come along."

"Yeah. Hmm. What about the Rainforest Cafe? I've never been, but David Nolan apparently had some memories of that place even though there wasn't one in Storybrooke."

"Rainforest Cafe." Hook repeated. "Is that in an actual bloody forest?

"Not exactly. It's fake. Seems pretty real but it's not. I think Emma would like it."

"Ok." Hook said uncertainly. "Guess I can try that."

Hook fiddled awkwardly with the collar of his shirt, before realizing how nervous that made him seem and forced his hand back down. He didn't remember the last time he'd been this anxious. This was weird, he never had trouble coming up with things to say before.

"So are you new around here?" Emma asked as she took a sip of her drink. "I don't think I've ever seen you, either of you, around here before." What she didn't add was that she thought she'd remember a pair of eyes like that if she'd seen them before.

"It's a big city, love." Hook teased but inside he was flustered; could she somehow sense who he really was?

"Yes true, but you don't seem like the city type. Seemed a little panicked today." She commented breezily.

"Aye, but I suppose that losing one's child will have that effect." He responded.

"Hmm. I suppose so, yeah. Never experienced that or anything…" She shrugged.

"You seemed like a natural with Ava."

Emma turned and smiled at Ava, who is doodling with a pink crayon firmly gripped in her wrist. "I don't normally do that."

"Do what?"

"Talk to children. Reminds me too much of…" She stopped, slightly horrified at her slip. Normally she was very good at hiding herself and giving breezy, superficial answers, but there was something about Killian that made her feel like she could trust him.

"Of what?" He pressed.

"Nothing."

There was a long pause. To his credit he didn't pry. Something not many men could claim to do.

"So what made you decide to move here?" She asked. "I'd say school but Ava doesn't seem old enough. New job?"

"Nope. Just needed a...change of scenery."

"A change of scenery." Emma nodded. "I can understand that."

"I take it by your tone you've moved around a lot?"

"Yeah. I've pretty much been all over the place. Never really stayed anywhere too long."

Hook nodded as though interested, although of course he already knew this. "Aye. I'm the same way; I've been everywhere on my ship."

Emma raised an eyebrow. "You have a ship?" For a moment she pictured Killian dressed in all leather, standing aboard an impressive looking ship that resembled something straight out of Pirates of the Caribbean, holding a spyglass to his eye. It was not a bad vision.

"Impressed?"

"Maybe." She replied. Was it just him or was her tone...flirty? Progress. He thought with a note of triumph.

Just then, the waiter came back, pen positioned over a pad. "Hi. Can I take your order?"

Ava looked up from her crayons and turned to her father. "Daddy me want gwilled cheese."

Hook quickly scanned the menu. "Sorry, princess. Looks like they don't have it. But you can have a hot dog instead." He suggested, remembering with a pang the first time he'd heard of a hot dog. He'd protested that it was barbaric eating dogs, until Emma explained what it really was. Not that the truth was any better though.

Ava's face began to crumple. "No! Me want gwilled cheese!" She began to bang her fists on the table, her face quickly reddening.

"Ava!" Hook hissed, looking frantically around. "That's not how we behave in public."

She ignored him, continuing to protest. People were beginning to stare and Hook was growing more and more flustered. Usually he had no problem calming her down.

Emma seemed to feel his pain and spoke up. "Hey, Ava." She said loudly, causing Ava to turn and look at her.

"You know, grilled cheese is one of my favorite foods too." She smiled down at the toddler, who was staring at Emma with wide eyes. "I eat it like all the time so I get how upset you are. But we don't want to disturb these nice people right?"

Ava shook her head.

"Yeah, that's right. So how bout this? I'll make you a deal. You be a good girl and try a hot dog, which is super yummy too, and I'll make you a grilled cheese for lunch tomorrow. How does that sound?" Emma suggested.

"Promise?"

"I promise." Emma held out her pinky.

To her surprise, Ava knew what to do and expertly looped her pinky around Emma's. Smart kid. And just like that, a wide smile crossed Ava's face. "Yay!"

Emma turned to the waiter in triumph. "So she'll have a hot dog and I'll have a burger."

"Same here." Hook said, feeling stunned as the waiter walked away. "How did you do that?" He turned to Emma.

Emma shrugged blithely. "What, that? Eh it was easy."

"No, really." He insisted. "That was impressive; I've never calmed her down so fast before." And then he realized it was because it was Emma who was usually the one to soothe Ava's tantrums.

"I'm just that good." She responded.

"She likes you." Hook commented. When Emma opened her mouth to protest, he immediately interrupted. "She's never taken to someone like that before."

"Well, Ava's adorable." Emma reached over to ruffle the little girl's curls. "I like her too."

The rest of the meal went by smoothly, Hook feeding Emma an abridged version of his life. Minus a few crucial details, of course. Emma, however, remained mostly mysterious about her life. Not that Hook was too worried. He'd been expecting her to not divulge too many details.

"Thanks for dinner." Emma said as they exited the restaurant.

"Like I said, small price to repay for retrieving Ava's bear." Hook responded, holding the door open with the prosthetic hand he'd been forced to wear in lieu of his hook.

Ava tugged on the hem of Emma's coat until she looked down. She held out a piece of paper, looking almost shy. "Here." She thrust the paper at Emma.

Emma bent down to Ava's height. "What's this?"

"For you."

She took the paper and unfolded it to reveal a crayon drawing. "Aww. For me? Did you draw this?" She asked, touched.

Ava nodded. "Yeah! That's me and you and daddy!" She said excitedly, pointing at the figures on the paper. And it was, in fact, her, Emma, and Killian.

Emma blinked as she took in the fact that the taller blonde stick figure who had to be her and the dark haired stick figure were holding hands. Kids. Always trying to be matchmakers. "Thanks." She said. "I'll treasure this forever."

Ava reached out and hugged her, Emma hugging her back, her hair pressed to the top of Ava's head. Suddenly she felt so happy she could burst. But why?

"Come on, Ava." Killian said as he took his daughter's hand. "It's getting late."

Ava nodded. "Bye Emma! See you tomorrow!"

Kilian blinked. "Why? What's tomorrow?"

"Oh!" Emma realized. "Right. I'd promised her I'd make her grilled cheese."

"Oh, you really don't…" He started to protest but Emma held up a hand.

"It's fine. I'd love to." She smiled, surprised to find that she actually meant it. "It'll be fun."

"All right. If the lady insists." He replied. "I'll see you tomorrow then."

"Bye!" Emma waved. As they walked away, gradually growing out of sight, she couldn't keep the huge grin off her face.

A part of her knew that this was probably a bad idea, that Killian could be some pervert using his adorable daughter to lure her in. She'd dealt with plenty of scumbags like this, after all. This was not unfamiliar territory.

Really, Emma? Inviting them over? A voice inside screamed. Are you insane? You don't even know him!

But there was this small nigging part that wanted Killian and Ava to come over, that wanted to see them again.

Eh. What's the harm? Emma told herself. I'll just make sure I have plenty of pepper spray on me.

Besides, she'd promised Ava. She couldn't break her promise.

Author's note: Awwwwwww