Author's note: Sorry for the long wait! Just got back from vacation last night (it was super fun but wayyyy too hot so I'm happy to be home) and hurried to post this ch, so I apologize in advance for any errors.

Chapter 23

She wanted to be just friends, huh? Hook thought to himself as he scrubbed his hair in the shower the next morning. "I don't think so." He muttered aloud. She had no idea who she was dealing with. He would get her to see that they couldn't be just friends.

Emma awoke with a start, momentarily confused. Where in the hell was she? Not in her bed, that's for sure. She took in the high ceiling and the leather beneath her. And then she remembered: she was on the couch, where she'd fallen asleep while Killian had been reading aloud to her.

She sat up, causing the blanket she normally kept on the back of the couch to slide off onto the ground. Huh. Looked like he'd placed the blanket over her before going to bed.

The shower was running, so Emma headed back to her room to gather her stuff before taking a shower and heading out for the day. She yawned widely; despite it being morning she was wide awake, something that hadn't happened in a while. Huh. She'd slept better last night than she'd had in a while. Emma briefly thought about how sweet it was that he'd covered her with a blanket, but immediately pushed it out of her mind. Friends did not think about each other like that.

Just then, the shower stopped; Emma grabbed her clothes and started towards the bathroom, engrossed by her phone. Mary Margaret had texted again, responding to Emma's text asking about how Henry was doing.

Tell him I miss him too. She typed while pushing open the bathroom door, releasing a torrent of steam. And then stopped short, for when she was greeted by the sight of Killian, clad in only a towel knotted around his waist, a toothbrush in hand.

"Oh!" She dropped her phone in surprise "I-I'm sorry. I thought you were done." She immediately averted her eyes, face burning.

"No matter, love." He replied. A lazy smirk was already beginning to cross his face, as if he knew the effect he was having on her.

"I-I'm gonna go now." She said, trying to resist the urge to peek at his toned chest. "Sorry." She practically raced back into her room, slamming the door and throwing herself against it. Her heart was pounding so hard she was afraid it'd bruise her chest. God. She hadn't been so flustered around a guy since she was a teenager.

There was a knock on the door, causing her to jump. "Bathroom's all yours." Killian called.

"Okay!" She replied, her voice strangely high. "Thanks!" The image of his torso was burned into her eyes; as she started the shower she wondered what she was thinking when she'd decided just to be friends.

A slow grin crept across Hook's face as he heard a key turn in the lock. Finally, Emma was home, and it was time to put Operation Swan into action. He'd taken a page from Henry's book and named his little plan.

"Hey." Emma slammed the door.

"Hello." He replied, trying to appear casual from his spot on the couch, where was poring over a newspaper. A bunch of apartment listings were circled; Emma had offered him the use of her laptop to search for apartments but he preferred to stick to paper. As confusing as this world's newspapers were, they had nothing on the complexities of the internet. Emma and Henry had tried explaining it to him long ago, but their talk of "websites" and "email" and "links" had confused the hell out of him.

"How's the searching going?" Emma asked as she set her keys down and pulled off her boots.

"Fine." He responded. "I have found several apartments that might do. No worries, I'll be out of your hair soon."

"Oh ok cool. Where's Ava?"

"Taking a nap." He set down the newspaper he'd been pretending to read. "Speaking of which, I need to ask you a favor."

"Yeah?"

"Would you mind watching her Friday night?"

"Yeah, should be fine. Why?"

"Oh, no reason. Just going out." He said breezily.

"Oh really?" She narrowed her eyes at him. "Who with?"

"Some lovely girl I met at the diner today." Taking in her thunderstruck expression, he smirked. "What's the matter, Swan? Jealous?"

"What?" She immediately snapped to attention. "No. Of course not. Why would you think that?"

"Close your mouth then. You're letting flies in."

Emma rolled her eyes.

"You said you just wanted to be friends and that's what I'm doing."

"Yeah. I know. And it's cool. Totally fine with it. Go have fun on your little date. I'll keep Ava company."

Hook smiled. She was jealous, practically seething, he knew it. "Fine."

A date! He was going on a date! Emma nearly hurled her phone against the wall as she changed into sweats. God, he really moves fast.

She was the one who'd insisted they remain friends. So why did she feel like kicking a tree?

I'm probably just tired. Emma reassured herself. It's been a long day, which is why I'm in a bad mood.

Anything to keep herself from admitting that she was, in fact, jealous.

Much too soon, Friday night came rolling around. As the day progressed Emma found her mood growing more and more sour, though she chalked it up to the long week, of course.

When she came home she was greeted by the sight of Killian checking his reflection in the toaster. "What're you doing?" She asked, amused.

He immediately shot up. "Nothing."

"Getting ready for your big date?" She teased.

"Perhaps. Jealous? Wish you were the one going out with this dashing rapscallion?"

Yes. She forced a laugh."Jealous? I think not."

He gave her a look as if to say, if you say so.

"So where are you taking her?"

"The park. I was thinking a picnic. Women like that, right?"

She shrugged. "If she's the sappy, romantic type." On the inside she was thinking about how much fun a picnic with him would be.

He checked his watch. "I should be going now. Ava should be up from her nap soon

"All right, bye. Have fun. Don't get into too much trouble."

He smirked. "I won't. Have fun with Ava."

"I will." She said, closing the door and leaning against it. It was going to be a long night.

Just then, she heard little feet bounding down the hallway. "Hi Emma." Said Ava.

"Hey. So. Your dad's out tonight so it's just you and me."

"Ok."

"So what do you wanna do first? Are you hungry? I can make you a grilled cheese if you are."

At the prospect of grilled cheese Ava's face immediately lit up. "I'm hungry!"

Of course she was.

Three hours later, Emma and Ava were settled on the carpet in front of the couch. Their grilled cheeses had been long finished, along with Barbecue Lays of course. They'd built a large castle with Ava's blocks, watched some kiddie movie, and had a tea party with her dolls. Now they were playing dress up.

Ava hummed to herself as she dressed one of her dolls in a blue ball gown. She seemed perfectly content and hadn't thrown a single tantrum all night.

Emma, on the other hand, was growing more and more agitated. She looked up at the clock again; it was nearly 9. What in the hell had Killian and his blonde bitch bimbo (at least that's what she imagined the date would look like) been doing for almost four hours? Were they making out in the park? At a movie? Still at their picnic? Was she laughing at his jokes? Was he holding her hand?

God. Emma sighed. She had to stop thinking like this; it would only drive her crazy. But she couldn't stop imagining all of the scenarios.

"Emma…" Ava tugged on her hand. "You haven't dressed your doll yet."

"Hmm?" Emma looked down. "Sorry. I was distracted." She selected a purple shirt. And then had an idea. "Hey, Ava. I know it's probably past your bedtime but want to go for a walk and maybe get some ice cream?"

As expected, Ava nodded. "Yes!"

Emma smiled. "Good. Come on, lets go get your coat."

The park. Killian had said that he and his date were going to be at the park. They might not still be there, but surely it wouldn't hurt to check. Emma pushed aside all thoughts about how ridiculous this was and continued walking, Ava's hand clutched in her own.

"How's your ice cream?"

"Good."

"Great." Emma replied absently as she scanned the park for Killian's familiar black hair. "Hey. What do you say to walking around in the park for bit? It's pretty warm out."

"Mmkay." Ava said in between licks. Luckily kids were quite easily distracted once you gave them sugar.

There! Emma spotted him and a brunette who was clutching his hand. They were walking along the path. Her fists clenched as the brunette turned and laughed at something Killian said. As she watched Killian and the brunette flirt, she couldn't ignore the hot jealousy clawing at her insides any longer.

What did that brunette think she was doing with her guy? Oh wait. Killian wasn't hers. She's given up that right when she'd insisted that they stay friends.

But there was no denying it any longer. She couldn't stand the thought of him dating anyone. They couldn't just be friends.

Without a single thought to what she was doing, she marched over towards them. Shoved the brunette aside despite her protests.

"Swan…" He stammered. "What're you…" He never got to finish his sentence, for she effectively silenced him by planting her lips onto his.

Author's note: All I have to say is...it's about bloody time