"Hello again, Swan," he said cheerily as he caught Emma walking up the stairwell as he was walking down it. "Guess someone had a late night?"

"You could call it that," she grumbled not feeling even half the amount of cheeriness that he was exuding. It had been just over a week since the dress incident and she'd only seen him briefly- her sharing an acknowledging nod and him sharing a smile.

"Been out with your friends?"

"I wish," she answered with a sigh. He cocked an eyebrow in question and then took in note the rest of her appearance; he noticed the dirt marks on the knees of her jeans and the scuffs on her boots and then the sore bloody gashes on her knuckles.

"Bloody hell! What the hell happened to you Swan?" he took her hand and looked more closely at her knuckles but she quickly pulled them away.

"It's nothing, just work,"

"Well, um" he scratched behind his ear, "I have some antiseptic and bandages back in my flat, if you want,"

"I'll be fine,"

"Your hand looks pretty sore, love,"

"Don't worry yourself, I'm fine, I can take care of myself" Emma assured him, then she side-stepped past him and continued her assent up "See you later Jones."

A couple hours there was a knock at Emma's door. She pushed herself regretfully off her sofa where she'd been lounging with her right hand in a bucket of cold water and ice to try and soothe her aching hand to try and prevent the swelling.

She opened the door to see her neighbour and mentally wished that she'd never knocked on his door a week ago because she felt like she was never going to get rid of him now. He looked down at her dripping wet hand and then looked back up at her with her messy ponytail and oversized jumped on. He smiled.

"Can I help you?"

"You know I'm not only good at undressing women," Killian grinned as he lifted up his right hand which was holding a little medical kit. "I thought you know, just encase you wanted it,"

Emma lifted up her hand and took in the rather painful appearance of it; she smacked her lips together in thought then nodded. "Okay, fine, thanks" she said holding out her left hand to take the medical box off of him,

"Surely it'd be easier if someone with the use of both their hands bandaged that up for you?"

"Come on, Jones, I am capable "

"I don't doubt that you are love. I'm merely just suggesting it might be easier with some help,"

"Fine," she sighed resignedly "Come on in"

"Don't mind if I do," he followed her into her flat and shut the door behind himself. Emma moved the bowl out of the way so it didn't get spilt and then sat down on her sofa and turned the TV off. Killian placed his belongings on her coffee table and gestured to the plastic bag. "I thought you might like this,"

"Um?"

"It's from my allotment," he answered her he rolled the bag down to reveal a potted Orchid, "It's from one of my clippings and I already have too many in my flat and the florist I supply for didn't need any more at the moment. So I thought you might like one."

"Oh, that's, thank you,"

"No problem," he smiled. "Now let's see that hand of yours."

Emma placed her injured hand into his outstretched hands as he inspected it. "Can I ask how you did it?" he said as gently left Emma's hand on his leg as he opened his medical kit. He took out some cotton wool and doused it lightly with antiseptic then began to gently dap at the broken skin on her hand.

"If you must," she said as she winced slightly at the stinging, surely after a couple hours she thought they wouldn't be so tender, perhaps having her hand submerged in water hadn't been the best idea.

"So...?"

"I was going after this perp, there was a chase, as there usually is. I caught up to him, I didn't appreciate the way he was talking to me, went to punch him, he ducked, I punched a wall," she shrugged,

"Ouch,"

"I've had worse. Though you would think I'd be better at catering to my battle wounds,"

"Well, I'm sure that bowl of ice and water has prevented your hand from swelling. So I'd say you haven't done too bad of a job," Killian made sure Emma's hand was dry before he put some dressing over her knuckles and the side of her hand which she'd also managed to slice open, then carefully he began to wind up the bandage around her hand.

"Ta da!" he declared once he was done. Emma shook her head at this man that she hardly knew and smiled softly. "Now I just want to check, do you need me to kiss it, just to ensure that it is completely better?"

"You know what? I think I'm good,"

"Are you sure, my lips have been said they have healing properties,"

"They're more likely to be cursed," she retorted, "So I'll say I'm all good. Thank you, for the offer though, and for," she lifted up her bandaged hand to fill in the blank, "Oh and for the Orchid, it's lovely."

"I'd advise you watering her every five to twelve days, and place her in a spot where she can get some sun, but not too much, we don't want to kill her,"

"Her?"

"I mean, the Orchid," he blushed. "If you have any doubts about Orchid care, you know where I am,"

"I sure do,"

"I grow other flowers as well," he quickly exclaimed and she could almost see him mentally kick himself, he rubbed his hand over his face in embarrassment. "I think, I'm just going to go. I should get back to work and let you rest. I'm sure you want nothing more than to get some, after what sounds like another bad night. At least this time your dress wasn't in jeopardy."

"That is true," Emma nodded. They sat in silence for a moment before Killian quickly jumped up onto his feet.

"Right. I've got deliveries to make."

Emma followed him to the door of her flat and thanked him again before he left. As she closed her door she looked at the Orchid and smiled to herself, "Emma he's just your neighbour, albeit your very attractive neighbour, pull yourself together," she told herself, though her smile still didn't falter.

Killian was kicking himself as he got into his truck. "I grow other flowers too?" he scoffed at himself, "What is wrong with you? You were being perfectly fine, you were being smooth, gentlemanly, then you act like a complete idiot."

When he got home after making all his deliveries he notices something in front of his door. It was his medical kit. He bent down and lifted the folded piece of paper on top:

To the knight in plaid pyjamas,
You left this round my flat, thought I should return it to you.
Thanks again.
Emma Swan.

He smiled to himself as he re-folded the note, then picked up his medical kit. He was still smiling as he put his key into the lock and went into his flat.