"So, you wanted to see me?" asked Emma.

David was hitting golf balls trying to get a hole in one on the island that was a little ways out in the water.

"Your mother was upset with me. Apparently I wasn't very charming last night. Although it was a shock to find out that my little girl is getting married. No one even knew that you were dating. Anyway, I'm sorry. You're grown up enough to make your own choices about your love life."

"Thanks, dad," said Emma.

"That's not all though, I have been looking at my retirement plan and it got me thinking. I've done a lot of things in my life, including practically building an empire with your mother from the ground up, but it doesn't mean anything unless," said David.

"Unless you have someone to leave it to. Dad, we've discussed this. I want to be a writer. I don't want to move out here and take over the family business."

"Emma, you have responsibilities here. I've been very patient about your wishes to be a writer, but you've been away fro five years and it's gotten you nowhere. You're wasting your life and I've always wanted more for you."

"Killian is going to publish my book," argued Emma. "My career is finally starting to go somewhere."

"Then let it take you here, Emma. You can write anywhere. You don't need to be in New York. You're needed here. I'm still a few years from retirement. You can learn the business from the ground up and write in your free time."

Emma shook her head. "That's not what I want. I'm sorry dad. I wish you had another child. I wish you had someone that wanted to stay here and take over the family business and even marry someone you approve of, but clearly that someone isn't me. Now, I have to go get ready, and Dad, you had better be kind to Killian today."

Emma stomped off in the direction of the house.

-/-

Emma was in a red dress that her mother had given her. Her hair was curled and swept to the side with a sparkly clip. Killian had already left when she emerged from the bathroom. Which was good, she though, because she wasn't sure that she could have handled a flirtatious comment. Not with the way she was feeling. She hated fighting with her dad, but sometimes he just didn't understand her.

Now Emma was sitting on the couch between Ruby and Wendy.

Ruby grinned at her. "You're going to love this, Emma," promised Ruby.

"This is one of Sitka's greatest treasures," promised Mary Margaret. "He arrived shortly after you left, Emma."

Emma had a bad feeling about this. What was a bachelorette part without a stripper?

The ladies had pushed aside the furniture and set up a small stage in the center of the room. They had even gone through the trouble of hanging a curtain. Emma knew she was in for a show.

"Emma, you're going to love this," said Gammy enthusiastically as she motioned for Tinker bell to dim the lights, save for the ones above the stage.

Mary Margaret pressed play on the stereo.

Relax, don't do it, when you want to go to it.

The curtain was thrown back to reveal a handsome man with curly brown hair dressed nothing but black slacks and a vest.

"Graham's the only exotic dancer on the island, and we are so lucky to have him," said Gammy.

Graham was gyrating in time to the music, and then he ripped off the vest, twirled it above his head and threw it at Emma.

"Work it, Graham," said Gammy, "Come over here and show Emma what she is going to be missing."

Emma frowned. She did not like this one bit. She'd always had issues with people invading her personal space.

Graham danced over to her, as Ruby put a veil on her head.

He held out a hand for her, gesturing for her to come join him on the stage.

"No," said Emma.

"It's your bachelorette party, and you're only surrounded by close friends," said Ruby.

Emma rolled her eyes and took Graham's hand. He pulled her up on stage and ran his hands along her curved, sitting her down in a chair.

Then he tore off his pants and was only standing in a black Speedo. Her friends catcalled and wolf-whistled as Graham wiggled his rear in front of her.

Mary Margaret turned the music up louder as Graham got on the floor, and placed a leg on either side of the chair and began thrusting his hips up at her.

Emma looked down and tried to think of anything else, and suddenly the curly brown hair and brown eyes were replaced with messy black hair and bright blue eyes. Her heart skipped a beat as she thought of Killian. Why the hell would she be thinking of him in this kind of situation? Sure, he was handsome, but she wasn't attracted to him, at least not really.

As Graham continued to dance crudely around her, he took her hand in his and kissed it lightly before attempting to but her fingers in his mouth. Emma pulled away and suddenly remembered the sensation of Killian's lips on hers. A blush spread across her face.

Graham continued top thrust in her direction.

"Smack his ass!" cried Gammy, everyone else seconded this notion.

Emma did so only to shut them up.

Graham made a face and waggled his finger at her.

The music stopped a moment later.

"Can we stop now?" asked Emma.

"Okay, okay," said Mary Margaret, "Thank you, Graham." Graham grinned at Emma, pulling on his pants and a shirt, and said, "Congratulations on your engagement, Miss Swan."

Of course Graham had an accent. And of course it brought her thoughts right back to Killian. "Thanks," she murmured.

The rest of the bachelorette party was spent drinking and sharing stories. Emma tried to have fun with her friends. She tried not to think of Killian, but every so often her thoughts would stray and there was nothing she could do about it.

Maybe she was starting to feel something for him.

-/-

Meanwhile Killian was with the men at the local bar, ordering his third round of Guinness.

He had extricated himself from Emma's friends and family for a moment to ordered another drink. His thoughts kept going to Emma. It was strange, but he missed her, a lot. Especially since she continued to be brought up in various stories told by Robin and Victor and Neal and David.

They had known Emma all her life, and he couldn't help but feel jealous of that. He'd known her for five years, and yet he knew little about her. The surprising thing was that he wanted very much to get to know her, and to learn everything about her. He'd never wanted that before.

Being in Alaska with her was doing strange things to him.

"So, Emma's family can be a bit overwhelming," said Neal, coming to sit by him.

"Yes they can," said Killian.

"This is a little different than New York isn't it?"

"Yes," said Killian. "Have you ever been?"

"No. I've never left Sitka. That was Emma's dream, not mine."

Killian's jaw tensed. "You two were pretty serious weren't you?"

"We dated all through High School and College," said Neal, "but we were kids."

"Why did you call it off?"

"Well, the day before graduation, I proposed. I wanted to marry Emma and start a family. But she said no. She didn't want that life, so she ran away to New York." Neal looked over at Killian. "You're a lucky man, you know. Emma chose you, and she rarely lets anyone in."

He did know that, but he also knew that Emma hadn't really chosen him. He didn't deserve her. "She's an amazing woman," was all Killian could think of to say, and he truly meant it.

Neal nodded and then went back to join the others.

Killian wanted nothing more than to return to the house, just so he could see Emma again.

When had he started to fall for her? During those late nights at the office, or was it more recent?

-/-

David and Killian stepped off the boat. "You know, Killian, my daughter is a very special girl."

"I know that," said Killian.

"She has a future, and she has a home and a family. Would you seriously keep her from that by keeping her as your assistant and breaking promises to her?"

"I don't know what you're talking about," said Killian.

"Emma told me you were going to publish her book, and that she was getting a promotion. Is that true?"

"Yes," said Killian.

"She trusts you," said David, "I don't understand why, but she does. You had better not break your promises to her or else she will have thrown away her life for nothing."

Killian turned to David. "Has it ever occurred to you that writing and working for a publishing company is what makes Emma truly happy? You're her father, shouldn't you support her choices as long as she is doing what makes her happy, regardless of whether or not you agree?"

David narrowed his eyes. "You think you know my daughter better than I know her?"

Killian shook his head. "Of course not, but at the very least I understand what makes her happy. Thank you for today, sir, it's been a pleasure." Then Killian stalked off hoping that Emma would be in their room when he got back.

-/-

"Emma," said Mary Margaret, sitting beside her daughter after they'd cleaned up "You haven't been yourself today."

"Dad and I fought this morning, before he left with Killian."

"About?"

"The usual," said Emma.

"Emma, I'm sorry," said Mary Margaret. "I told him not to bring it up."

"Well, he did," said Emma. "I don't really want to talk about it. I'm going to go do some yoga on the balcony. I just need to be alone for a bit. Thank you for the party."

"You're welcome, sweetie," said Mary Margaret, hugging her daughter.