Emma didn't think it was possible for four hours with a stranger to pass so quickly. Sooner than she expected, Killian was looking at his phone and announcing that it was time to return Norman to the shelter. It may have been her imagination, but it sounded like there was a note of wistfulness in his voice.
Henry took control of the dog on the walk back, giving the adults an opportunity to resume the conversation that had been ongoing throughout most of their time together. Emma watched her son handling Norman as he wandered from one side of the path to the other to explore in the tall grass and she commented, "Henry is gonna sleep good tonight."
"I don't doubt that. He told me he had his last game of the season this morning."
"That, in addition to playing fetch and 'keep away' with Norman, and all of the running around he did with you, will have him zonking out early." They walked on a few paces, before she added, "I want to thank you, Killian, for spending so much time with him. Since he doesn't have a father, he doesn't get a lot of one-on-one time with a man, so I really appreciate it."
"It was my pleasure. He's a good listener and a fast learner."
"Yeah, I kinda wish he had more games left, so he could apply what you taught him. I'm afraid he'll forget it by next season. You're wonderful at teaching, and very patient."
"Thank you, Emma. I truly did enjoy it."
"The youth league is always begging for people to coach. Maybe you could do that next year."
Killian looked thoughtful. "Perhaps I could, if I'm still here."
"Any idea where would you go if you decide to leave?"
"Not really, but it wouldn't be terribly far away. I want to stay close to Liam."
When the shelter came into sight, Henry turned around and dragged Norman back to Emma and Killian. "I had fun today. Can we do this again?"
"I'll have to check our schedule to see when we'll have another chance to rent Norman," Emma answered.
Henry shook his head. "No, I mean with Norman and Killian."
"Oh, uh," Emma stammered, glancing at Killian, who was scratching behind his ear. "I don't know about that, kid. This was just an accident and Killian was nice enough to make the best of the situation."
"But Mom, he had fun, too, didn't you, Killian?"
"What did I tell you about putting him on the spot?"
"Sorry, Killian," Henry apologized. "But it did seem like you were having fun."
Killian reached forward to ruffle the boy's hair. "It's quite alright, lad, and you're right - I had a very good time with you and your mother today. And Winston, of course."
"You mean Norman," Emma remarked.
"He still seems more like a Winston to me. Don't you see the resemblance between him and England's former Prime Minister?"
Emma took in the dog's jutting lower jaw, drooping jowls and prominent forehead, and had to admit he did share some physical traits with Winston Churchill. "Yeah, now that you mention it, I do see it."
"Anyway, at the risk of being too forward, it would be nice to have another day with you and your boy, if you're amenable to that, Swan."
Emma thought for a moment, then said, "Henry, why don't you take Norman to the end of the path and give us a minute, okay?"
He started to protest, but seemed to think better of it. "Come on, Norman. Mom doesn't want me to hear what she's gonna say."
Emma watched him go, her mouth agape over his comment. She heard Killian chuckle and turned to look at him.
"He's quite a bright young man," he laughed.
"Yeah, he's getting too smart for his own good," she agreed. "But he's still a little boy and I'm a protective mom. I don't want to promise him something that's not going to happen, so if you're not serious about doing this again…"
"I assure you, Emma," he interrupted. "I wouldn't dream of letting him down. If you're willing to give me your contact information, I'll send you some options and we can figure out a day that works."
She eyed him critically for a few seconds, seeing nothing but sincerity in his expression. "I know Henry would really like that."
"Only Henry?" he asked, quirking a brow.
She couldn't help but smile. "I have to admit, I had a really good time today, too. So, um, to answer your question, I am, how did you say it, amenable to doing it again."
His grin made her heart do a pleasant little flip. She made sure Henry and Norman were okay while waiting for Killian to pull out his phone and start a new contact. Once he did, he handed it to her so she could add her information.
After handing it back, they began walking again. Out of the corner of her eye, she saw him checking the phone screen. "It's not a fake number, by the way," she said.
"That's good to know," he returned with a smirk, while typing out a text to her so she would have his info. "Is that something you've done before?"
"Maybe," she replied cryptically.
"In that case, I feel honored that you gave me the real thing."
She giggled in response, giving him a slight nudge with her elbow as they reached the end of the path.
"What did you say, Mom?" Henry asked, bouncing on the balls of his feet.
"Killian and I are going to look at our schedules to find a day that works."
"Yay!" Henry shouted. "How about next Saturday?"
"Calm down, kid. I told you we're going to figure it out."
They arrived at the shelter and Killian opened the door and held it for them. David was sitting at a desk behind the counter, tapping away at the computer keyboard. He looked up with a broad smile when they entered. "How did it go?"
"Good," Emma replied. "Thank you for allowing us to borrow Norman for the day."
David looked between the two adults standing before him, obviously wanting more details. "Did you…all of you…get along okay?"
"Yes we did, Dave," Killian said smugly.
There were several seconds when all they could hear was the barking of some of the dogs in the back. Finally, David sighed. "Alright, I guess I'll just take Norman back to his cage, then."
"Oh, uh," Emma said, giving Killian a wink, "one of us will be in touch to schedule another day for us…all of us…to rent Norman again."
David's grin told them he knew exactly what that meant.
XXXXXXXXX
"I hear you met my future brother-in-law," Belle said. It was Monday, and Emma had stopped at the library to return a couple of books and choose some more before her shift at the sheriff's station.
"News travels fast."
"Killian always eats lunch with us after church. He told us about the mix-up at the animal shelter and said he had a great time with you and Henry."
"He seems like a nice guy," Emma said, moving to a shelf and studying the books more closely than necessary.
"He thinks very highly of you, too."
Emma shot her a brief glance. "Oh, yeah? What did he say?"
"Well," Belle began, clearly struggling to be non-chalant, "he said you were very easy to talk to and he enjoyed your sense of humor. He also said he had fun helping Henry with his soccer skills."
"He was really good with Henry and I, um, I liked talking to him, too. He's supposed to contact me to figure out another time to rent Norman together. Henry asked if we could."
"I don't suppose you protested too much, did you?"
Emma chose a book off of the shelf and studiously perused the summary on the back. "You know I want my kid to be happy."
Belle crossed the space between them and laid her hand over the book, garnering Emma's full attention. "To the best of my knowledge, you've never once introduced your son to a man you may be interested in dating in all the years I've known you."
"Wait a second…first of all, I didn't introduce him to Henry - we met accidentally, and secondly, who says I'm interested in dating him? We're simply planning to rent Norman together again. It's really not a big deal, Belle."
"If you say so, but I have to tell you that I've never seen Killian so animated while talking about someone. You certainly made an impression on him."
"I'm sure I did. Dressed in old sweatpants and a hoodie, no makeup, hair a complete disaster - I was a mess."
"He didn't mention that. He just talked about how he enjoyed the time he spent with you and how much he's looking forward to seeing you again."
Emma could feel her face heating and knew she must be as red as the leather jacket she was wearing. She wasn't ready to admit that she was just as eager to see him again, too.
XXXXXXXXX
That evening, Emma had just finished checking over Henry's homework and shooed him off to the shower, when her phone dinged with an incoming text. Picking it up from the kitchen counter, she couldn't help the smile that crossed her face upon seeing Killian's name.
K: I'm hoping this message reaches Emma Swan. If I've reached someone else, you can blame it on her. It was followed by a smirking emoji.
She shook her head at his ridiculousness, and decided to play along.
E: I'm afraid you've been misled. This Emma Swan must be a horrible person. She added a winking emoji.
It took a few seconds for the three bubbles to pop up, then she laughed out loud when she read his reply.
K: Oh, she is a terrible, awful person to give me a fake number.
E: She's probably not used to giving out her number to random men who just happened to rent the same dog she did.
K: That seems to be a plausible excuse. Perhaps I should forgive her.
E: Oh, you most definitely should.
K: Very well. If I'm ever fortunate enough to see her again, I shall grant her my forgiveness.
E: That's very gentlemanly of you.
K: I'm always a gentleman.
Emma heard the clothes hamper lid slam in the bathroom, signifying that Henry was finished with his shower.
E: I need to get Henry into bed. I'll be back in twenty minutes or so, depending on how resistant he decides to be tonight.
K: Tell him I said goodnight.
E: That will probably get him all excited and it may be longer than twenty minutes.
K: I'm willing to wait.
Emma left her phone on the sofa and went to Henry's bedroom, where he was getting settled under the covers. Sitting on the edge of his bed, she brushed his damp bangs away from his forehead.
"Did you brush your teeth?"
"You ask me that every night."
"Yes, and half the time you've neglected to do it."
"I just have to brush them again in the morning."
Emma raised an eyebrow at him. "Did you, or didn't you?"
He sighed dramatically. "I did. Wanna smell my breath to make sure?"
"Not particularly. I believe you. Ready to say your prayers?"
"Yeah."
"Okay. Name three things of thanks," she said, initiating their nightly tradition.
Henry tapped his chin in thought. "I scored two goals at recess."
"That's cool."
"Yeah, I used what Killian taught me. Oh! That's my second thing - meeting Killian."
"Actually, he texted me while you were in the shower."
"He did? Did he say when we can rent Norman together again?"
"We haven't had a chance to discuss it yet. He did say to tell you goodnight."
"Tell him I said goodnight to him, too."
"I will. What's your third thing?"
"Umm…we changed seats in class and now I'm sitting beside Avery."
"Just make sure the two of you don't get into trouble for talking too much."
"We won't."
"Good. Now, what three things do you want to ask of God?"
"To help me do good on my math test tomorrow, to send me another dog, and to let us see Killian again soon."
They both folded their hands and closed their eyes while Henry said his prayers. When he finished, Emma read him a chapter of Fantastic Mr. Fox, kissed him goodnight and left his room, turning off the light on her way out.
Picking her phone up from her couch, she scrolled through the text conversation with Killian, smiling at the light banter they shared.
E: I'm back.
When a response didn't come through for a couple of minutes, she went to her bedroom to change into her pajamas. Then she brushed her teeth, washed her face, and applied moisturizer.
When she went back into the living room, she saw a new message on her phone.
K: Is it okay if I call you? I'm not fond of texting.
She noticed that the time stamp was right after she put her phone down, over ten minutes ago. Instead of answering, she brought up his contact and hit the call button.
"Hello, Swan."
"Hey, sorry if I kept you waiting."
"I was hoping I didn't upset you by asking to call."
"No, nothing like that. I just decided to do my nighttime routine," Emma explained. "Henry said to tell you goodnight, by the way. I always ask him to tell me three things he's thankful for from his day, and you were involved in two of them."
"Oh, really?"
"Yeah. He scored two goals playing soccer today at recess, because of what you taught him, and he was thankful for meeting you. That's the third night in a row he's said that one."
"That's very kind of him to say."
"Well, you made quite an impression on him and he's eager to see you again. Speaking of which, what does your schedule look like for the next few weeks?"
"It's wide open, actually. Do Saturdays work best for you?"
"Yeah, because Henry is in school during the week and I work until five every day. I also work one Saturday a month. This coming Saturday is the one I work this month."
"How about the following week?"
She switched him to speaker and pulled up her calendar app. "That looks good. Henry gets a haircut that morning at nine, but we could meet after that. The weather is going to start getting too cold if we wait much longer."
"Liam has been telling me to be prepared for a cold winter. He says Maine is quite a bit colder than England during the winter months," he stated. "Shall we make plans for that day, then?"
"Sounds good to me. Want to meet at the shelter at ten-thirty?"
"Actually," Killian began, then paused for a few moments before clearing his throat and continuing. "I was wondering if you would agree to me picking up the two of you to go to the shelter together."
Emma bit her lip, considering his offer. Her gut instinct was to decline because it would seem too much like a date, but her practical side said it was logical for them to make the twenty minute drive together.
She knew he was waiting for her answer and was probably having second thoughts about asking, since she was taking so long. "Um, sure, that would be fine," she finally said. "I'll text my address to you."
"Okay, good. Shall we say ten o'clock? Will that give you enough time for Henry's haircut?"
"Yeah. It only takes about twenty minutes, if that long. His barber is Jefferson and he's pretty fast."
"Liam recommended him and I had an appointment there a couple of weeks ago. He is fast, if a little…quirky."
"Oh, you mean because he wears the top hat? I guess he's trying to live up to the name of his shop."
"Just naming his shop the Mad Hatter of Hair makes him sound a bit eccentric."
Emma laughed. "He's harmless, though. His daughter Grace is in Henry's class and she's very sweet. Jefferson is raising her by himself. His wife passed away before Grace started kindergarten."
"How sad. Now I feel bad for judging him."
"I wouldn't say you were judging him, just making an accurate observation. I knew him before his wife died and he was every bit as quirky as he is now."
They continued talking for another twenty minutes. Just like the day they met, the conversation didn't lag at all as they transitioned easily from one subject to another. Before they ended the call, Killian asked if it would be alright to call her again later in the week and she agreed without hesitation.
Lying in bed that night, Emma smiled dreamily as she replayed their conversation in her mind. She may be venturing into self-imposed forbidden territory ever since Henry's father abandoned her, but Killian Jones intrigued her and she couldn't find it within herself to care.
XXXXXXXXX
Killian called Emma four more times over the next two weeks. Their conversations lasted longer each time, until they spent over an hour talking and laughing on Thursday, before their scheduled outing.
He suggested that they take Norman back to Storybrooke's nature preserve after picking him up, which she thought was a great idea. She mentioned that she and Henry spent quite a bit of time there during the summer, hiking the trails and wading in the creek. Despite intending to visit, Killian hadn't been able to get there yet and was happy to know his first time would be with Emma, Henry and Norman.
Saturday morning found him taking more time than usual to get ready. He chided himself for being a bit vain, but wanted to make the extra effort for the lovely lady Swan. If things went well, he was planning to ask her out on a proper date.
He had confided his intention to Belle, hoping she would give him advice about where to take Emma, should she agree. Not only did his future sister-in-law present him with recommendations, she also mentioned that she would be happy to watch Henry, and was sure Liam would, too.
Once Killian was satisfied with his appearance, he tried to occupy himself until it was time to drive to Emma and Henry's house. After going online and paying some bills, washing the few dishes in the sink and sorting his laundry, he still had about twenty minutes left.
His heart sank when he heard the notification for an incoming text, thinking it might be Emma cancelling their plans. He was relieved, then a little apprehensive to see it was from his brother. Belle promised she wouldn't say anything to Liam about his plans to ask Emma on a date, but they were an engaged couple and couples weren't supposed to keep secrets from each other. Unfortunately, his former girlfriend hadn't abided by that rule, since she kept one whopper of a secret from him.
L: Any plans for this afternoon, little brother?
Killian dropped his head back with a sigh. Not only did Liam insist on calling him that irritating moniker, now he had to explain that he did indeed have plans. He was sure he would have to answer questions about what they were and with whom, since he rarely did anything on the weekends.
K: Actually, I do.
L: Oh, really? What are you doing?
K: I'm renting Winston from the shelter again.
L: Great! Belle is working today. Would you mind if I came over to see the little guy?
Killian's thumbs hovered over his screen, trying to decide how to tell his brother no without sounding rude. Even though Liam was acquainted with Emma, he tended to be over protective, and Killian didn't want him giving her the third degree or making her feel uncomfortable. Plus, he selfishly wanted to spend time alone with her and Henry.
Glancing at the clock, he saw it was almost time for him to leave. Quickly, he typed a message he was hoping would appease Liam.
K: Sorry, not this time. Emma, Henry and I made plans to spend another day together with him.
As he pulled on his jacket, he heard another notification. Closing his eyes momentarily, he opened them to read Liam's message, then released a relieved breath.
L: I hope the four of you have a good time, so I can see that look of happiness on your face again.
XXXXXXXXX
"Henry, Killian's here!" Emma announced, dropping the curtain after seeing his car pull up to the curb.
"Coming!" she heard him yell in response.
She quickly ducked into the bathroom and inspected her appearance in the mirror one more time. She hoped to make a better impression on Killian by applying light makeup and pulling her hair back into a neat ponytail. Her outfit was simple - jeans, sneakers, her favorite light blue blouse, and red leather jacket.
The doorbell rang as she re-entered the living room, but before she could get to the door, Henry sped past her to pull it open. "Hey, Killian!" he said excitedly.
"Hello, lad," Killian answered, then shifted his eyes from Henry to Emma. She saw him swallow before giving her one of his winning smiles. "Good morning, Emma."
"Hi, Killian. You're right on time."
"Not being prompt is bad form, Swan." Looking at Henry again, he stated, "Your haircut makes you look a bit older."
Henry reached up to run both hands along the sides of his head. "Do you really think so?"
"Aye, at least a year or two."
"Please don't say that," Emma said, handing Henry his jacket. "He's growing up way too fast as it is."
During the drive to the shelter, Henry talked about one thing after another. Emma wondered if Killian would tire of her son's constant chatter, but his questions at regular intervals proved he was fully engaged in what Henry had to say.
Meanwhile, she spent the time admiring the man beside her. He was dressed in dark, stonewashed jeans, an army green button-down shirt, and the same black leather jacket he wore the first time they met. His scruff was neatly trimmed and his dark hair artfully combed. His rich laugh at some of Henry's comments was a sound she was sure she would never get tired of hearing.
When they entered the shelter, David gave them a smug smile that Emma tried to ignore. She knew he was probably patting himself on the back for his matchmaking, but she really didn't mind, because meeting Killian was, so far, a positive experience.
Norman was extremely excited to see them again, and after everyone got into the car, they were on their way back to Storybrooke. Henry was preoccupied with Norman in the back seat, so the adults finally had a chance to chat with each other. Their conversation was as free-flowing as it had been every other time they spoke in the past two weeks. Emma had never met anyone so easy to talk to, and wondered if it was because their backgrounds were so similar.
During their earlier phone conversations, she learned his father had abandoned his family when Killian and Liam were little, leaving their mother to raise them alone. She shared how she was abandoned at a fire station baby box when she was less than a week old, and had never been adopted. They both had been in situations where they were deceived and misled by the person they loved. Emma came to realize that being able to empathize with someone else made it easier to connect with them, just as she had with Killian.
The crisp autumn weather was perfect for hiking at the nature preserve. They explored all of the available paths and walked along the shores of the creek. The water was too chilly for wading, but Norman enjoyed splashing in now and then when he spotted a particularly intriguing leaf, bug or stick.
After hiking for a couple of hours, they took a break to drink Gatorade and snack on protein bars, thoughtfully packed by Killian. He also had treats for Norman, which Henry used to try and teach the dog again how to sit on command.
They stayed until the last possible minute before getting into the car for the drive back to the shelter. No one spoke for several miles, until Henry finally said, "I really wish we didn't have to take Norman back there. He's always so sad. Why can't we just adopt him, Mom?"
Emma glanced over at Killian, who met her eyes for a second before directing his back to the road. "I wish we could, but it wouldn't really be fair to Norman. We're both gone all day and he would have to be penned up that whole time."
"But he loves us and we love him!" Henry exclaimed. "Ernie didn't have to be penned up and he was fine during the day."
Emma turned to look at her son. "I know, kid, but it was easy with Ernie. He was with us for several years and was older. Norman is young and full of energy, so he's going to need a lot more attention and training. I wouldn't trust him being in the house all day by himself."
Henry heaved a huge sigh. "Okay."
They were all silent for the rest of the drive. Emma saw Killian look at her out of the corner of his eye once in a while, but they didn't carry on a conversation. She spent the time thinking about the practicality of adopting Norman, but knew she would have to stick to her guns, because it just wouldn't be fair to the rambunctious dog to be cooped up all day.
When they reached the shelter and exited the car, Killian slowed Emma down by placing a hand on her arm, while Henry entered the building with Norman. "Emma, I've been giving it some thought and I have an idea, if you're open to it."
She shrugged slightly. "Sure, let's hear it."
"Perhaps, if you adopted Win-, er, Norman, I could keep him during the day while you're at work and school. I could pick him up in the morning before you leave and drop him off after you get home."
"Sort of like shared custody or dog sitting?" she asked, turning to face him.
He chuckled. "Aye, something like that, I suppose."
"I don't know, Killian. That seems like a pretty big commitment between people who barely know each other. You're not even sure you're going to stay in Storybrooke."
He scratched behind his ear. "If I move, it won't be for a while, since I signed a six month lease on my apartment. That would give us time to train the dog. I know we've just met, but I…I've enjoyed getting to know you and your boy. I'm hoping this is just the beginning of our friendship."
Emma stuck her hands in the back pocket of her jeans and rocked back on her heels. "I hope so, too, but I'm still not sure about the arrangement you're suggesting."
"I completely understand," he said, then paused before asking, "Are you counting it out altogether, or will you consider it?"
She pulled her lip between her teeth in thought for a few seconds. "I'll consider it," she finally answered.
He gave her a small smile, then moved to open the door for her.
They went inside to see Henry sitting cross-legged on the floor with Norman, the dog's head resting on his leg. David was listening to the boy give him a detailed description of their day at the nature preserve and looked up to give them a big grin. "Sounds like you had quite the adventure today."
"Aye, we all had quite a workout," Killian responded. "It's quite a lovely place."
"Yeah, we're lucky to have it in Storybrooke," David said. "Mary Margaret takes her class there on a field trip every year."
Henry's head whipped around. "Mrs. Nolan didn't take our class!"
"It's early in the school year," Emma said. "I'm sure she'll take you sometime."
"They usually go in the spring," David explained, as he walked around the end of the counter. "Are you ready for me to take Norman?"
"No," Henry said, his voice muffled as he buried his face in the dog's neck.
The three adults exchanged understanding looks. They gave the boy a couple more minutes, before Emma picked up the end of the leash and put her hand on Henry's head. "It's time to say goodbye to him, kid."
Henry drew back to look at Norman. "Goodbye, boy. I'm gonna miss you." He kissed the dog on top of the head and rubbed his ears.
Emma reached down to pet the dog, then handed the leash to David. Killian stood beside her to pat Norman, too, telling him to be a good boy.
David bid them all goodbye, then headed to the back with the dog reluctantly following him. Henry looked up at Emma from where he still sat on the floor. "Mom…"
"Henry, don't say it. I already told you why it's not a good idea to adopt him right now."
"Right now? Does that mean we can adopt him later?"
"That's not what I meant," Emma replied, giving him her patented 'don't push it' look. "Let's go, kid."
With a long-suffering sigh, Henry pushed himself to his feet and followed her out the door Killian was holding open. Once they were in the car and on their way to Storybrooke, Killian asked, "Would you, um, would the two of you like to get a late lunch at Granny's, when we get back?"
"What do you think, Henry?" Emma threw over her shoulder.
He turned from where he had been glumly staring out the window. "Can I get a cheeseburger and fries?"
"Sure."
"And a chocolate milkshake?" When his mom didn't answer immediately, he added, "Please? It'll make me less sad about Norman."
Killian chuckled lowly as Emma rolled her eyes, muttering, "I'm raising a con artist."
XXXXXXXXX
Killian mentally kicked himself the whole way back into town. What was he thinking, asking Emma to agree to what was basically a long term commitment? He probably ruined his chance for asking her out on a date, too. He was sure she would think he was coming on too strong, if he did.
At least she agreed to have lunch with him. Hopefully, she would also allow him to continue calling her. Those phone calls and the texts they shared were always the highlight of his week.
As much as he enjoyed his time with Emma, having Henry with them made it even better. Killian hadn't had a lot of interaction with children, but it was easy being around Emma's son. He was bright, articulate and funny - very much like his mother. He was also respectful and well-mannered.
On the day they met, Emma confided to him that she was afraid she was making a lot of mistakes as a single mom, who never had a mother of her own to set an example, but he strongly disagreed. She wasn't perfect - no parent was, but Henry seemed to be well-adjusted and confident, so she was obviously doing many things right.
Killian saw how much Henry loved the dog and wished he could help make the boy's desire to adopt him come true, which is why he made the offer. He had come to love the furry little rascal, too, and would seriously consider adopting Norman himself. He just didn't know if he could take the dog with him if he decided to move away from Storybrooke.
He pulled up in front of Granny's, cut the engine, unbuckled his seatbelt and opened the door, as he heard Emma and Henry do the same. Typical of a young boy, Henry took off running and was already skipping up the steps to the front door by the time Killian reached Emma's side.
"He's pretty excited," Emma explained. "Eating out is kind of a treat because we don't do it very often."
"I hope I wasn't out of line for asking," Killian said.
"No, not at all. It really perked him up."
Killian halted at the bottom of the steps, causing Emma to stop and look at him. "I also hope I didn't upset you by making the offer to watch Norman."
"You didn't," she assured him. "I'm definitely going to think about it. I really miss having a dog around, too. I just have to weigh all the pros and cons."
He smiled and nodded his understanding, then bounded up the steps to open the door. Henry was at the counter talking animatedly to Ruby, who looked up and gaped at Emma in surprise.
"Hey, girl! I didn't realize you knew the very handsome new guy in town!"
Killian could feel his ears turning red, when Emma glanced at him before replying. "Hi, Ruby. Actually, we met by accident a couple of weeks ago."
"By accident, huh? Did you hit him with your car or something?"
"Nothing like that. We were both renting the same dog at the animal shelter."
"Was seeing him today another accident?"
Emma put her hands on her hips. "Not that it's any of your business, but no. It was planned this time."
Killian wasn't sure he had ever seen such a wide grin on the waitress's face. They all gave Ruby their drink order, then Emma ushered Henry to a booth and Killian slid in across from them.
"Are you getting lasagna?" she asked.
"I think I'm going to try the grilled cheese and onion rings. Someone recommended them to me," he smirked.
"Very intelligent person," Emma grinned.
"Aye, that she is."
Ruby arrived at their table with their drinks and Henry's milkshake. She gave Emma and Killian another broad smile when she took down their identical orders. "His and hers grilled cheeses, huh? Maybe there's some truth to the saying that couples begin to eat alike."
Emma sighed and rolled her eyes. "I think the saying is that couples start to look alike, and we aren't a couple. We're just friends."
"I see," Ruby said, glancing at Henry, who was busy spooning the thick milkshake into his mouth. "Well, they do say there are benefits to being friends." She gave them an exaggerated wink, then turned and made her way to the kitchen.
"Ruby isn't exactly the epitome of subtlety," Emma said, a blush filling her cheeks with color.
XXXXXXXXX
"It was nice of Killian to take us to Granny's today," Henry said, as he was climbing into bed that night.
"Yes, it was. I was very proud of you for remembering to thank him without needing a reminder."
"Thanks for letting me get a milkshake, even if it didn't make me stop feeling sad about not being able to adopt Norman."
Emma tucked the covers around his shoulders. "I know, but try not to think about it."
"I can't," Henry pouted. "He's probably crying himself to sleep tonight."
"I think he's probably going to sleep remembering all of the fun we had today."
Henry stubbornly shook his head. "Nuh-uh. He's wondering why we didn't bring him home with us."
"Henry," Emma sighed, "I know you're sad, but we just can't…"
"I know," he interrupted, "you keep saying it wouldn't be fair for him to be alone all day, but he's already alone at the shelter all day, except for Mr. Nolan, and at night, there's nobody there at all."
"There's other dogs and cats…"
"That's not the same. They're all in cages by themselves. If we adopted him, he could sleep on my bed, like Ernie did."
Knowing she was going around in circles with him, Emma reached over and picked up the book from his nightstand. "How about if you say your prayers after I read to you tonight?"
Heaving a dramatic sigh, he said, "Fine, but it's not gonna make me forget about Norman."
After reading to him for fifteen minutes, hearing his prayers - which mentioned Norman and Killian several times - and kissing him goodnight, she left his room. Heading into her own bedroom, she went through her nightly routine automatically, lost in thought.
Once she was in her pajamas, free of make-up and teeth brushed, she peeked in on her son to find him sound asleep. She made sure the front door was deadbolted, turned off the lights in the kitchen and living room and went back into her room. Sitting on the edge of the bed, she stared at the phone in her hand, mind racing.
Finally, she pulled up Killian's contact and hit the call button.
She was almost ready to hang up after it rang four times, not wanting it to go to voicemail, when he answered. "Hello, Swan. I wasn't expecting to talk to you again so soon."
"I hope I'm not calling too late."
"Not at all. What's on your mind?"
"Henry was still upset about Norman before he went to sleep. I feel like I'm being selfish by not allowing him to get a dog."
"Why do you feel that way?"
"Because one of my excuses is that a dog is a lot of work and would need training, which it would. I'm making it seem like all the work would fall on me. Now, I know Henry is only eight, but I think he's pretty responsible for his age."
"From what I've seen, I would agree with that," Killian cut in.
"Thank you. Anyway, I think he would be able to help train and take care of the dog, so that excuse is out the window. The other big concern I had is that the dog would have to be home by himself all day, which brings me to the reason I'm calling. I've been seriously considering your offer, if it's still on the table."
"It is."
"Are you sure that's not asking too much of you? I mean, you're home during the day, but you're working. How would you be able to take care of him?"
"I've had him here with me a few times already and he makes himself right at home. He's housebroken and doesn't demand too much attention. If he starts getting restless, I take him outside and play with him for a while. That works with my schedule because I have to take breaks now and then, when I've been staring at the computer screen for too long."
She blew out a long breath. "What if it turns out to be too big of a commitment? We've spent some time together and have done a lot of talking to get to know each other, but we're still basically strangers."
"Well actually…" Killian began, then paused for several moments before continuing, "I was hoping to have an opportunity to ask you something today, but the right moment never presented itself."
Emma's heart began to beat faster in anticipation of what she suspected he might ask. "What did you want to ask?"
"Would you, um…would you consider going out with me?"
Standing up to pace back and forth between her bed and dresser, she chewed her lip in contemplation. She could literally count how many dates she'd had since Henry's birth on one hand. She only went on those dates to appease Ruby, who was convinced Emma's Mr. Right was out there somewhere, but she hadn't been attracted to any of the men.
She couldn't say the same about Killian. From the time she laid eyes on him, she felt an attraction that only got stronger the more she got to know him. He seemed to be the total package - kind, intelligent, considerate, and insanely hot.
"What happens if we adopt Norman, then go out with each other and realize we're not compatible?"
"If you adopt him, I would keep my commitment to help take care of him, even if we decide dating doesn't work for us. You have my word, Emma."
She came to a halt at the end of her bed and turned to face the mirror above her dresser. For eight years, Henry had been her number one priority and always would be, but maybe it was time for her to do something for herself. Could that something be going out with Killian Jones?
She was so deep in thought, she didn't realize how long she had been standing there considering her answer. When Killian finally spoke, his quiet voice startled her. "What do you say, Swan?"
"Yes, Killian. I will go out with you."
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