Emma moved from her place in front of the door to sit back on the couch. Just as she had gotten relaxed, she remembered her overflowing laundry hamper.
She sighed as she supposed that her day off was also the day to tackle her clothes.
So, she walked into her laundry room and filled up the washing machine. When she grabbed the bottle of detergent, she groaned when she realized it was empty.
She threw it into the garbage can before she walked back into the living room. She grabbed her keys, phone, and wallet before she shrugged on her red leather jacket and headed out of the apartment.
As she was walking outside of her building, she was grateful when she remembered that a small store had opened up that was just across the street. This eliminated her need to fight the New York traffic.
When the blonde had made it onto the sidewalk, she approached the crosswalk. She waited for a few minutes before it was safe to cross the street. She then walked the ten blocks to the store.
Emma was able to quickly find what she needed from the store and was heading back to her apartment. However, as soon as she reached the crosswalk, the sky opened up with a sudden and fierce downpour.
"Are you serious?" she complained.
She then glanced around and realized that Killian's building was a couple of blocks away. So, she turned around and rushed over to it.
She was already soaked when she reached the building, and by the time she reached his door, she was shivering.
She knocked, and a moment later, he opened the door. He looked at her with widened eyes before he wordlessly ushered her inside the apartment.
Emma then took off her jacket and set everything on the counter before she told him, "I probably should have called first."
"Nonsense, love. I should hate to think that you had to walk all the back to your apartment in the pouring rain," Killian assured her. She smiled slightly before he continued, "Let's get you dry, shall we?"
Emma nodded before she followed him to his bedroom. He walked over to his chest of drawers and grabbed a pair of pajama pants and a sweatshirt.
As he handed them to her, he spoke, "These may be a little big on you, but I think they'll work."
"They will. Thank you, Killian," Emma told him.
"You're welcome, Swan. Killian stated. He then motioned behind her and said, "The bathroom's right over there. The towels are under the sink."
Emma thanked him once more before she headed for the restroom while Killian went back into the kitchen.
After putting her clothes and the towel in the dryer, the blonde joined Killian. He then handed her a mug of hot chocolate as he told her, "I'm afraid I'm not really a fan of cinnamon, love."
"That's alright, Killian. Thank you, again – I feel like I'm wearing those two words out," Emma responded.
The dark-haired man smiled as he sincerely told her, "Your thanks isn't necessary, love."
Emma smiled back at him before she nodded at him. She then took a sip of her drink. When she moved it from her lips, she complimented, "You really do make amazing hot chocolate."
He grinned as he told her, "Only the best for my favorite customer." Emma grinned back as she shook her head at him in response.
His expression then turned to one of concern as he noticed she was still slightly shivering. He then asked, "Care to move to the sofa, Swan? I'd wager that it's a lot warmer."
"I'm warm enough," Emma told him, still not entirely comfortable with him worrying over her.
Killian rolled his eyes before he told her, "I know you're still a bit cold, Swan. So, please, do us both a favor and wrap up in a blanket."
The blonde narrowed her eyes at him before she replied, "You know, Jones, you can be as every bit as stubborn as I am."
"So, I take it that it worked," Killian smugly responded.
Emma only rolled her eyes and shook her head before she walked over to the couch, with Killian right behind her.
As soon as Emma sat down, she placed her mug on the table before grabbing the blanket that was thrown over the back of the couch.
When she had wrapped up in the wool fabric, with only one of her hands sticking out from the blanket, Killian smugly told her, "See, Swan, I knew that you were a bit chilly."
The blonde glared at him as she observed, "You're never going to let me live this down, are you?"
"Hmm… the fact that I was able to get the better of your stubbornness? I think not, love," Killian replied with a smirk. Emma swatted his arm in response.
She then asked, "Are you just gonna annoy me or find us something on TV to watch?" as she motioned to the black rectangular box in front of them.
Killian chuckled before he told her, "As you wish," resulting in an eye roll from the blonde. He then flipped on the television, and began skimming on the guide.
He then stopped and told her, "Ah, Swan, here's one I'm sure that you're a fan of: Pirates of the Caribbean."
Emma grinned and nodded as an answer. She then teased, "Let me guess – you've watched this so much that you can quote it."
"I won't deny it. But I dare say that you are much the same with the Princess Bride," Killian told her as he returned her grin.
Though she knew that he was right, the blonde still rolled her eyes and shook her head in response while the dark-haired man chuckled once more.
When he selected the channel, Emma instantly complained, "Killian, this isn't Pirates of the Caribbean. It's the Notebook."
"Love, it's coming on right after this movie is over – it only has about ten minutes left," he pointed out. She sighed before nodding her head in response.
As the movie played, Killian couldn't help but notice but notice the rather annoyed look on Emma's face.
He then told her, "I'm not sure the movie deserves that look you're wearing, love. It's not that bloody awful."
"You've actually watched this?" Emma asked with surprise in her tone.
"Milah was a fan of romance as well. Perhaps not as much as my sister, but she still rather enjoyed them. This particular film was one of her favorites," Killian explained.
"Yeah, well, she didn't have her heart broken. At least not by you, anyhow," the blonde pointed out.
"Ah, I see. This is about Neal," he observed. She simply nodded in response before she took a deep breath and looked as though she was about to speak.
However, she was stopped by Killian. "You don't have to tell me the details of your heartbreak if you don't wish to, Swan. I understand completely."
Emma took another deep breath before she honestly told him, "No, Killian, I want to. I…trust you."
"You do?" Killian questioned, trying and failing to hide his surprise.
"Yeah, I mean, it's just that I meant what I said at lunch earlier. I really did find a great friend in you, Killian. You continue to surprise me with how supportive and caring you are, and I know that I can count on you," Emma honestly told him.
He genuinely smiled at her before he observed, "Well, Swan, I say that it's story time," with playfulness in his tone.
The blonde returned his smile with one that was grateful for him wanting to lighten the mood. She took a deep breath once more before she began, "After I got out of the foster care system, I had to do what I needed to in order to survive, which meant that I became a thief. Shortly after, I had stolen a car, which actually turned out to belong to someone else that had stolen it. That someone was Neal. I fell in love with him, and I thought he felt the same way," pausing for a moment.
"I take it that he didn't," Killian keenly observed.
Emma shook her head before she continued, "I was convinced that he did love me. But as it turns out, I was nothing more than someone he could use to take the fall for his crimes. Before he moved to New York, he had lived in Phoenix, where he worked as a janitor for a jewelry store. He had stolen a couple cases of Rolex watches and hidden them in a locker at a train station once he arrived in New York. He knew it was only a matter of time before he was caught, and I was the perfect scape goat. He had told me that he wanted to settle down, but we couldn't do that while he was wanted for stealing. So, I suggested that I take the watches from the train station, and we could sell them to make money to go toward our new lives. When I gave them back to him, he assured me that we would meet up later."
Killian then interjected, "But the bastard never showed, and he tipped off the police. So, he got away with the crime and got off with the money. And you spent time in prison thanks to that git."
Emma was taken aback by the anger in his tone. She placed a calming hand on his arm before she told him, "I've long since forgiven him – it was a long time ago."
"And I've long forgiven my father for abandoning me, but the scar that he left runs deep, and it didn't heal easily," he responded.
She offered a sympathetic smile before she observed, "You and I understand each other." He returned her smile before he nodded in agreement before she removed her hand from his arm.
He then turned his attention back to the TV and told Emma, "Well, love, it seems that the Notebook has ended."
The blonde breathed a sigh of relief, and Killian couldn't help but laugh at her reaction. He then spoke, "You know, love, I find interesting that you detest romance, yet you adore the Princess Bride."
"It's not that I hate romance. I'm truly happy for those that find love – like David and Mary Margaret. And though it's a bit early to call it that where Belle and August are concerned, I'm glad that she found someone. But love like that isn't for me, and that's perfectly alright with me," Emma admitted, taking a deep breath when she finished.
She then added, "And as far as movies go, they're all sappy and unrealistic."
"Except for the Princess Bride," Killian supplied. He could tell she seemed uncomfortable, so he reached over and reassuringly squeezed her hand.
The gesture should have scared her, but it didn't. She chalked it up to them being good friends now, and the fact that she trusted him.
She then took another deep breath and told him, "Well, it's partly for nostalgic reasons. I used to always watch it as a kid." He offered a small smile, and she continued, "And the rest is completely cheesy."
Killian grinned before observed, "Cheesier than some of the things I've told you?"
"So, you finally admit that they're lines," Emma declared, and he only shook his head in response.
The blonde couldn't help but laugh. She then sighed and spoke, "When I would watch it, it gave me hope that one day, my parents would come back for me just like Wesley came back for Buttercup. As I got a little older, I hoped for my own true love," though she couldn't bring herself to look in his eyes.
"And you thought that was Neal," Killian perceived. She simply nodded before she admitted, "And I thought I had found my second chance at real love a couple of times, but it didn't work out."
He took a few moments to absorb all of her words before he carefully asked, "And now?"
"And now, I do have people who love me – Belle, David, and Mary Margaret. It's not exactly what I dreamed of, but it's even better. My family didn't find me – I found them," she honestly spoke, finally managing to look up at him.
He smiled at her – a smile that she would never admit gave her goosebumps that she was eternally grateful he couldn't see – before she looked down again and continued, "And you are now one of those people. A great friend."
"And you, Emma, are a great friend to me," Killian genuinely told her. Emma looked up at the sound of her given name and offered him a smile, one that he happily returned.
She then glanced back at the TV and told him, "Alright, we're gonna miss the movie – it's already started."
"You really are quite the fan of Captain Jack Sparrow, aren't you, Swan?" Killian teased her as he smirked.
Emma rolled her eyes at him before she swatted his arm once more, though this time was a bit harder than she intended.
As she turned her focus to the movie, he simply grinned at her and shook his head before following her lead.
When the movie had ended, Emma observed, "Okay, I really have to get back to my apartment. My clothes should be done by now."
"I'm fairly certain that they were finished well over an hour ago, Swan," Killian told her with a grin.
She rolled her eyes before she stated matter-of-factly, "I had to watch the rest of the movie." She then moved the blanket aside and got up to head to the laundry room.
Killian only chuckled before he grabbed her mug, as well as his own glass, from the coffee table and headed into the kitchen.
As he was drying the dishes, Emma came back into the room and put on her red leather jacket.
When Killian finished, he turned to face her and told her, "Going so soon, Swan?" with disappointment that wasn't quite fake.
She picked up the laundry detergent and pointed out, "My clothes aren't going to wash themselves."
The dark-haired man nodded at her before he spoke, "I'll see you in the morning, love." Emma nodded and smiled at him before she grabbed her phone, keys, and wallet.
As she began walking toward the door, she stopped and faced Killian once more. She then sincerely told him, "I wanted to thank you."
He then interjected, "As I've told you, Swan, it truly isn't necessary. You were caught in a bloody rainstorm – I'm sure you would have done the same for me."
"I would have, but that isn't what I was talking about," Emma began as she placed everything back on the counter. Killian tilted his head at her, and she continued, "I meant that you were truly understanding about Neal and my past. You didn't pity me, and you actually listened. It meant – means – a lot to me."
Killian smiled at her as he told her, "Well, Swan, we do rather have a lot in common – I'd say that we're kindred spirits."
The blonde returned his smile as she agreed, "Yeah – I'd say that we are." He nodded at her in response.
He then scratched behind his ear and spoke, "Just so you know, Emma, Neal was a bloody idiot for never giving you a chance."
She looked down so that he couldn't see the blush on her face. Emma Swan did not blush. When she looked back up, she playfully replied, "So, I take it you wouldn't have done the same?"
"Oh, believe me, Swan, if I had the chance to make you mine, there's no question that you would be. And I would never let you go," Killian replied. His sincerity surprised even him.
There he was again – the guy wearing his heart on his sleeve. Emma still wasn't sure how to deal with it. So, she grinned and reverted to humor: "And what makes think I'm some possession to be had?"
He returned her grin as he teased, "Trust me, love, I'm well aware that you are not a possession, but rather a strong-willed, stubborn, and independent woman."
"Are you aware, now?" the blonde teased back.
"Quite, Swan. I was merely suggesting that you are a hell of a woman. One that I would consider myself as lucky to be on the receiving end of her truest affections," he told her with a smile.
Emma smiled back before she continued the banter, "You couldn't handle it," as she planted her hands on her hips.
"Perhaps you're the one who couldn't handle it," Killian stated as he stepped closer to her, invading her personal space.
Their eyes were locked on each other's, the blue and green swirling with the chemistry that was between them.
Emma then grabbed Killian by the collar of his shirt and pulled him toward her for a passionate kiss. He was caught off guard only for a moment before he kissed her back with just as much passion. Both of them tilted their heads in order to deepen the kiss while Killian wound one of his hands in Emma's blonde locks. As his free hand moved to her hip, and he tightened his grip there, her grip tightened on his collar. Neither one of them were quite sure how long the kiss lasted, but they pulled away for lack of oxygen.
Their foreheads rested against each other's, and Killian breathed out, "That was…"
"A one-time thing," Emma interrupted as she let go of his shirt. Before he even time to react, she had grabbed her stuff and was headed out the door.
When she was gone, he leaned against the counter and looked down as he brought his fingers to his lips. He then looked back up and sighed deeply – he was in so much deeper than he realized. He felt something that he was sure he would never feel again, and he would be the idiot if he let her slip through his fingers.