"That arrogant, conceited jerk!" Detective Emma Swan complained as she stormed into the office she shared with her partner, David Nolan.
"What did Killian do now?" he asked, trying to stifle a chuckle at her flustered state.
Emma sat down at her desk before she frustratedly answered, "He knows I order the same thing every day, yet he had the nerve to serve me chamomile tea. When I went back in the shop, he said it was because I seemed tense."
David then interjected, "Well, if your mood now is any indication, I can see his point."
The blonde leveled him with a glare before she continued, "He then obnoxiously flirted with me while he corrected my order. It was ridiculous," with a roll of her eyes.
David couldn't hold back his chuckle this time, and Emma annoyingly asked, "What the hell is so funny?"
"I'm sorry, Emma. But it's kind of funny watching how much he gets under your skin," David replied.
He does not get under my skin," Emma defended.
David gave her a knowing look that she ignored. He then told her, "It's hard to feel sympathy because you continue to go in his shop even though you know you can't stand the guy."
She took a deep breath before she spoke, "The Cove is on my way to work – it's convenient. And maybe, you know, he'll have a sick day."
David rolled his eyes this time before he told her, "Considering that he hasn't had one in the entire year since he opened the coffee shop, that isn't very likely to happen."
"You are not helping, David," Emma stated matter-of-factly, and he only shrugged his shoulders in response.
They then received a call about a tense situation at one of the banks. A couple of men had robbed it, and they were now holding everyone hostage because the cops had been notified.
David and Emma secured their guns in their holsters before they quickly made way out of the station and to the bank.
Resolving the hostage situation took until after lunch. They finally managed to arrest the robbers and took them back to the police department.
David and Emma grabbed a quick bite to eat before they started on the paperwork. However, they were almost immediately called in on a car accident where foul play was suspected. So, they set off once more.
As it turns out, the battery wires had been purposefully cut by the victim's ex-husband. When they tracked him down, he admitted to it, and he was arrested with a charge of malicious intent.
The two detectives had just finished both sets of paperwork. The blonde had filed it away before she faced her partner and spoke, "Today has been rather interesting and exhausting."
"But you wouldn't have it any other way," David told her with a grin.
Emma smiled at him as she simply answered, "Nope." She then added, "Neither would you, Detective."
David smiled back at her in response. Both of them then began preparing to head home for the day.
When they had made it to their vehicles, David offered, "You're welcome to join Mary Margaret and I for dinner."
"Thanks, David, but it's movie night for Belle and I," Emma responded.
The blonde man smiled before he told her, "Alright. I'll see you later, Emma."
"See you later," she responded with a smile before she climbed in her yellow bug.
The blonde made her way through the New York traffic before stopping at a convenient store that was close to her apartment. She planned to grab some snacks to go with the Chinese take-out that she and Belle were having. The brunette was taking care of the drinks.
Just as she had picked up the popcorn, she heard a familiar, yet irritating British accent behind her.
"Swan, what a pleasure to see you twice in one day."
Emma rolled her eyes before she turned to face him. She then annoyingly asked him, "Are you stalking me, now?"
"Well, love, considering that you are the one who comes into my coffee shop every morning, I believe that qualifies you as the stalker," Killian replied with a smirk.
Emma rolled her eyes as she told him, "You're insufferable."
Killian grinned as he responded, "I believe the word you're looking for is charming."
"Not a chance, Killian," Emma responded matter-of-factly before she walked away from him. Killian smiled as he watched her before he went back to shopping.
The blonde had gathered all of the items and was heading toward the car with the bags when she heard, "Swan!"
"What is it, Killian?" Emma asked, annoyance in her tone, as he moved to stand in front of her.
The dark-haired man rolled his eyes before he told her, "You left one of your bags, love."
"So, now, you're going to be a gentleman?" Emma remarked, as she took the bag from him.
"I'm always a gentleman," Killian told her with a grin as he stepped a bit closer to her.
"Oh, is that what you call flirting with your customers?" she rhetorically questioned.
"Not all of my customers are quite as beautiful as you," he responded with a smile as he moved a piece of hair off her shoulder.
"I bet you say that to all your attractive female customers," Emma quipped.
"And that mere thought makes you jealous, eh, Swan?" Killian told her with a smirk. He then winked at her before he headed toward his own vehicle.
Emma rolled her eyes before she placed the bags in the trunk of her car. She then got in the bug and began driving to her apartment.
When she arrived at her door, she made a move to unlock it, but she then saw that it already had been. She smiled when she realized her best friend was already here.
As Emma walked inside, she saw that Belle's back was turned as she prepared the food and drinks.
The blonde smiled once more as she thought about how she and Belle's movie night became tradition.
It was eight years ago, and Emma had just started at the police station three months before. The first report that she had to type up had hit a little too close to home – a couple had committed a robbery of a jewelry store, and the girl was taking the fall. Her boyfriend had taken off.
Though Emma hadn't been guilty of stealing those watches, the situation was too similar for her liking.
That evening, she and Belle met for dinner at a diner that was the halfway point between their apartments. They had become friends six months before when Belle helped Emma do some job research at the library. The blonde, however, didn't open up about her past, and Belle didn't push her friend.
However, that all changed when Belle inquired about her friend's day. The brunette could tell that something was bothering Emma. The blonde made the decision to completely trust Belle, and she proceeded to tell her everything: being abandoned on the side of the road as a baby, bouncing around between terrible foster homes, and giving her heart away at 17 only to have it – and her trust – completely shattered when he left her to take the fall for his crimes.
Belle understood better than Emma realized – her father had abandoned her as a baby, and she had her heart broken one too many times by the same man. The brunette then suggested that they have a movie night to relax after what had become a hard day for both of them. Emma happily agreed, and their tradition was born. Over the next several months, both women found what they had always wanted but never really had – a best friend and a sister.
Emma was pulled from her thoughts when she heard Belle asking her a question: "What snacks did you get?"
"Popcorn, Milk Duds, Doritos, and Oreos," the blonde answered with a smile.
Belle smiled back brightly before Emma headed into the kitchen.
A few minutes later, both of them had sat down on the couch, and the food, snacks, and drinks were on the coffee table.
The blonde then asked, "What movie are we watching?"
The brunette smiled as she held up The Princess Bride. She then spoke, "Your favorite."
Emma smiled at her friend widely before she said, "Great! I'll put it in," as she grabbed the movie.
"Uh, wait, Emma," Belle told her, and the blonde frowned as her friend's expression turned serious and contemplative.
"Hey, is everything alright?" Emma worriedly asked.
Belle took a deep breath before she said, "Well, I've had some news – some rather big news – and it's quite difficult to wrap my head around."
"What is it?" Emma asked. She was still worried, but now she was also curious.
"Well…" Belle began slowly, "I have an older brother."
Emma's brows knitted in confusion as she observed, "But you are your parents' only child. How can you have an older brother?"
"Forgive me – I should have been more clear. He's my half-brother. My father was married and had a family before my mother," Belle clarified.
"How did you find this out?" Emma questioned – still slightly perplexed.
"Well, you see, my father only took the essentials when he left – all of his personal possessions were left behind. When my mother was putting everything away, she found a picture of two young boys. She wasn't sure who they were until she began studying the picture, and she realized that both of them had his blue eyes – like I do," Belle began, pausing to take a breath.
Emma reached over and gave the brunette's hand a reassuring squeeze. Belle smiled gratefully before she continued, "She continued looking through his things, hoping to find out more about them. She didn't get much farther than their names, and the fact that their mother was dead. My mother always knew that something had driven my father to gambling, but she never knew what. She also knew that he carried around a lot of guilt, but she never knew why. She never got the chance to find out because he had abandoned us – just like he had abandoned his two sons, leaving them as orphans."
Belle couldn't help the tear that slipped down her cheek. Emma pulled her in for a comforting hug. They stayed like that for a few moments before pulling away.
The brunette then took out a folded piece of paper from her pocket before she explained, "Everything I told you is in this letter from my mother. She wanted to tell me in person, but she was looking for the right moment. She realized she would never get the chance when the cancer began taking over her body. She placed the letter in her favorite book – Pride and Prejudice. I found it two months ago."
"Why didn't you say anything?" Emma asked curiously.
"I wanted to do some research to see if I could find my brothers. I didn't want to say anything in case I hit a dead end," Belle admitted. She then took a deep breath and continued, "But I didn't. I found them."
"You did?" Emma asked surprisingly.
The brunette nodded before she elaborated, "One of them was killed in a horrific boating accident, but the other one is alive and well… and he lives in New York City."
The blonde's eyes widened as she spoke, "He lives here? Do you know anything about him?"
"He owns a coffee shop," Belle answered. She then told her friend, "And that's all I'm saying for now until after I meet him – if I meet him."
"You aren't sure," Emma stated.
"It's just that – that I'm afraid he'll want nothing to do with me. I'm not sure I could take any more pain. However, he is my family – my only family besides you – and I want him in my life," Belle responded, taking a deep breath as she finished.
Emma nodded and offered a sympathetic look before she told Belle, "Whatever you decide, you will not face it alone. I am here for you."
Belle smiled before pulling Emma in for another hug. When they pulled apart, Emma continued, "You are an amazing sister, and your brother would have to be absolutely insane to not want you to be part of his life."
The brunette offered a bright smile in response. She then held up the DVD that Emma had placed on the table and spoke, "I think that Wesley and Buttercup are waiting."
Emma smiled and nodded before she took the movie and went to go set it up.
Hello, my lovelies! Since the next scene takes place a couple of weeks later, I felt that it was best to split it up into different chapters. You all will see it soon. I'd love to know what you think of the story so far and about what is to come!