Having a workout partner was supposed to be the encouragement anyone needed to push through the burn. Having a workout partner meant that there was a shared load.

Killian and Neal had had a solid routine for over a year. And Killian had appreciated it for what it was. Neal may not have been totally invested- His routine was a bit lighter than that of Killian's and his diet a lot more laxed- but the point was that he had been there. They were partners.

And then Neal had met her…

Emma had changed the routine up a little bit. She hadn't distracted Neal to the point to where he could no longer make his morning workout. No, it had just equaled to this natural adoption of bringing her along. It had been Neal who had persuaded her to join the two. So now…

Killian could see Neal on the other side of the gym. He was sure that he wasn't making conversation with the guys down at the free weights in an attempt to get out of his own workout…

He smirked at that. Because he knew that was exactly what was happening down there.

A tap on his arm that didn't disturb his jog on the treadmill did make him turn his head. Emma had an all-knowing smirk on her face as well. The tap hadn't tripped him up, but it was all about conscious effort to not let the fact that he was seeing her accomplish the same issue.

It was probably the point that they both had in earbuds that she didn't say anything. She lifted her chin in the direction of where Neal stood across the room and then shook her head.

Okay, so they both knew that Neal wasn't as dedicated as either one of them. But it didn't matter. Coming to the gym together had other benefits for all of them other than getting physically fit. It was about spending time together and hanging out. It was about having fun.

The problem Killian sometimes found himself in was the same situation as now: Neal venturing off on his own- finding some lightweight exercise to entertain himself- while Emma stayed close to Killian as they usually hit it hard.

He liked her at his side. Emma was strong and she liked to push herself during workouts. And Killian liked watching that dedication. Like now.

She was looking at Neal from lowered lashes, her running pace never letting up. And it was annoyingly attractive.

Damn.

He found himself watching her as she turned her head to the opposite side. The amount of white smooth skin that was exposed looked tempting. A bit too tempting. Because it was one thing to notice the dripping of perspiration making its way over that skin. It was something else altogether to find that one drop, making its path quickly over that creaminess and disappearing in the crevasse that divided her body.

Damn it all.

Neal was his best friend. They were as close as brothers. So finding himself attracted to his girlfriend was just about beyond reproach. It was okay to admit that she was more than just attractive. It was okay to admit that she was gorgeous. And it was also okay to admit that even though she was more of Neal's type when it came to the physical, he couldn't help but be drawn to her more than any woman he could even think of.

Yeah, all that was okay. Neal knew how lucky he was to have found Emma. Getting to hear from his best friend that that fact was true always seemed to put a smug grin on his face.

It was the other thoughts that entered his mind that were not okay. It was the thoughts that he had always been good at tampering down deep and out of sight.

Killian's mind had wandered off somewhere away from his workout and his body was about to follow. There was a small hitch in his sprint, but he caught himself. Emma would probably be the first one to laugh at him if he suddenly found himself rolling off of the treadmill because of a missed step.

He brought his speed down significantly, coming from a jog to a nice and slow walk. And then he turned to look at her again.

Emma was his friend. Neal was his friend. Emma and Neal together were solid and good. So it was a hell of a situation to find himself in when it came to being more that a bit attracted to her.

How had his mind even gone there? He'd been having a nice and normal workout. And then suddenly he had to start getting the stirrings of how she affected him.

Killian yanked the earbuds out, letting them fall against his chest. He grabbed at his water bottle that was sitting in the cubby and popped the top. Annoyance was riddling his body, and he was ready for it to be over.

He steadied himself to look back at her, knowing exactly what he would see.

She was running at top speed, the blonde topknot beginning to loosen and pieces of hair falling down. Emma threw him a glance, noticing immediately that he was watching her. Her eyes widened and she playfully poked her tongue out at him before she turned her gaze back in front of her.

It took him by surprised for just a second. And then he could no longer contain his smile.

Emma Swan.

Killian was happy it wasn't all the physical. She was a cutie and she was sexy. She was also smart and funny and challenging in the best way.

And she belonged to his best friend…

He watched as she gave him a quick shake of her head. Then she began moved to lower the speed of her own treadmill.

Emma was breathless when she turned to him again. There was a smile on her lips as she looked him over.

"What?" she asked in a huff, pulling out the earbud. Her hands went to rest on her hips as she tried to steady her breathing.

Killian shook his head, not having an answer for her.

Damn, if Neal didn't already realize what he had with Emma then Killian would have been happy to remind him on a regular basis.

"What?" Emma asked again. And then there was something behind that look she was giving him. It had gone from playful annoyance to something he couldn't define. It was something soft and curious.

He shook his head again. "Nothing."

She stared at him, her steps on the treadmill having to be somewhere in the two miles an hour range. It felt like a long and intense quiet moment.

Emma. She was a friend. She was the girlfriend of his best friend. She was beauty personified. That was both inside as well as outside.

Killian couldn't put a name to what else he felt about her. He liked her. He liked her a lot. It was a good friendship. All three of them had this wonderful friendship.

So he left those feelings undefined. He'd chalk it up to envy of his friend for having it so good. He'd chalk it up to Neal being one lucky man. He'd leave the fact that Emma was a great woman there on the floor.

Killian watched as she blinked her eyes at him. Her smile was tiny as she looked over at the control panel of his treadmill.

"How much longer do we have?"

He looked to see the pedometer to see just what he'd done so far.

"I have another mile or so to go," he confessed.

"Hmm, slacker." Emma grinned then. "Well let's get this over and done with." She turned back to her own machine and cranked the speed back up.

And it was adorable. Emma Swan was adorable. She was a hell of a workout partner and motivator.

With his own smile, Killian followed her lead to speed up his treadmill.

Okay. She was all of those things and so much more.

Most importantly, Emma Swan was in a relationship with his best friend. So whatever other thought that might have entered his mind at any given time, that fact overrode them all.

****

"I'm done." It was a little strained, but Emma smiled up at him from her place on the bench. Her eyes remained closed as she waited for him to lift the bar back onto the rack.

Killian looked her body to access the truth behind that statement.

"You can do one more set," he murmured. And then he smiled down at her.

Emma's groan was slight. "I guess I could, but I think I'm good for the day." Her eyes popped open then.

He thought he would have gotten another protest from her, but instead her gazed locked onto his. She was staring intently into his eyes. It made Killian wonder just what she was trying to convey. What was she trying to say to him.

"Come on, Emma," he pushed her with a smile.

He watched as her tongue poked out of her mouth to wet her lips. There was perspiration dotting her forehead. And strands of hair sticking to her wet skin.

"Just a set of five."

It was the unwavering of her green eyes on him. Killian only felt the tiniest bit apprehensive about it.

"Killian." His name came out her mouth as a soft whisper.

She was laying there on that bench directly beneath him. The way that she was looking up at him was…

Nothing…

"Yeah?"

"A set of five," Emma finally conceded.

And he nodded. Lifting the bar back off the rack, he helped position back in place for her.

"Your arms will thank me for it," he assured her with a smile.

"I doubt it," Emma said with a sigh. "Due to great genes I don't really need the extra set." She smiled then. "This is just for you."

The whispered acknowledgement shouldn't have done a thing to him. Not one goddamn thing. So he ignored whatever that internal thing was at the moment.

"I'll take that." Killian grinned down at her. "No more talking, Emma."

Her eyes burned into his again. But he ignored it. She wouldn't distract him in any way.

"Let's go."

When those eyes shut tight, it didn't break the spell. But it did help.

Emma Swan.

Neal was nowhere in sight. It made Killian question it. He had this woman, and yet he didn't take advantage of the moments like this.

It should have been Neal and not Killian. And then maybe he wouldn't have to dig in deep to bury something that was best laid to rest.

"One… two…"