Emma practically ran back to her apartment. When she walked through the door, she immediately sank down against it and buried her face in her hands.

"What have I done?" she groaned out loud.

She and Killian were just friends. A friendship she probably just ruined because of her stupid impulse – one that she wished she could take back.

When she rose from the floor, she walked into her laundry room to finally wash clothes.

As she was pouring the blue liquid in the cap, she found herself distracted. She thought about how his hand felt in her hair and how his lips…

She shook her head from those thoughts and poured the detergent over her clothes. She then started the washing machine before going back in the living room.

Emma sat down on the couch and ran a hand through her hair. She then told herself, "It was just a kiss. It didn't mean anything."

She then grabbed the remote from the coffee table. As soon as she had flipped on the TV, there was a knock at her door.

She sighed as she got up. As she opened the door, she spoke, "Look, it was only a kiss."

"You kissed someone?" Belle surprisingly asked.

Emma's eyes widened at the sight of her best friend. The blonde then tried to defend, "Uh…um…no. Who would I kiss?"

The brunette grinned as she responded, "I think I have an idea."

The blonde panicked for a moment before she gathered her wits. She the narrowed her eyes and pointed out, "That's ridiculous. Whatever you think you know is wrong," as she crossed her arms.

She then changed the subject and continued, "So, what brings you here?"

Belle as she decided to drop it for now. She then answered, "I came to return your jacket," as she handed her friend the brown leather coat.

"Oh, I forgot you even had it," Emma observed with a light chuckle.

"Well, that makes two of us," the brunette agreed, as she chuckled as well.

The blonde then excused herself to hang up the coat. When she returned, she asked, "Care for some lemonade?"

"I'd love some," Belle answered with a smile. Emma smiled back before she began fixing their drinks.

As Emma poured the lemonade, Belle noticed that her best friend was a bit out of sorts.

So, the brunette carefully perceived, "Emma, I know that something is bothering you."

Emma sighed as she ran her fingers through her blonde hair. She then turned to face Belle. She took a deep breath and admitted, "I think you've already figured it out."

Belle simply offered a sympathetic smile before pulling Emma in for a hug, one in which the blonde was grateful.

When they pulled away, Belle questioned, "Do you want to talk about it?"

"I mean, there's nothing to really talk about – it was just a kiss," Emma tried to defend.

"Give me some credit, Emma – we're practically sisters. I know you better than anyone," Belle pointed out.

The blonde sighed before she refuted, "It didn't mean anything. I – we were just caught in the moment."

"If that were true, you wouldn't be a bundle of nerves."

"I'm not…" Emma tried to defend, but she knew that it was pointless. She then took a deep breath and started again, "That kiss was a mistake – it shouldn't have happened. Killian and I can just move past it and go back to being friends."

"Are you so sure about that?" Belle questioned.

"Of course I'm sure. Why wouldn't I be?"

The brunette gave her friend a knowing look, and Emma disbelievingly asked, "Are you actually suggesting that I have feelings for Killian?"

"The idea isn't as far-fetched as you think," Belle began. At her friend's raised eyebrows, the brunette continued, "He flirts with you…"

She was interrupted by Emma, "He has always flirted with me. That doesn't prove anything."

The brunette only shook her head before she started again, "And, now, you flirt back. And I also see how you two look at each other."

Emma eye's widened slightly before she told her, "I don't look at him in any way except with friendship."

"I think you know there's more to it than that. I believe you're scared," Belle perceived.

The blonde then argued, "You know my track record when it comes to relationships, and you also know it love isn't for me. I have nothing to be scared of because I don't feel anything for Killian."

The brunette took a deep breath before she reached over to squeeze Emma's hand. She then spoke, "I know you haven't had real feelings for anyone since Neal, and you're scared because of it. I do understand – you know how hard it was for me to give August a chance, but it was so worth it. I know you would feel the same if you only gave Killian a chance."

Emma slowly let go of Belle's hand as she thought over her friend's words. Even if – if – Belle was right, the blonde didn't know if she could take the chance. And she wasn't about to stake her heart on a kiss that may not have even meant anything.

Belle could read Emma's mind and spoke, "I'm not suggesting that you do anything until you are sure how you – and Killian – feel. Both of you deserve that."

The blonde did not look convinced, so Belle offered one last piece of advice, "Emma, I know you've let down that wall of yours and that you've let people in. You've let them – us – love you. But that wall is still very much intact when it comes to relationships. And it may keep out pain, but it will also keep out love."

She then drank down her lemonade before giving her friend another hug. Belle then left the apartment, leaving Emma alone with her thoughts.

As she heard the washing machine ding and went to go check her clothes, she realized that she wouldn't get any sleep tonight.

CSCSCSCSCSCSCS

The next day, Emma was standing in front of the Cove. She took a deep breath before she went on her way. She couldn't face him.

Killian, however, had other ideas. She hadn't gotten too far away from the coffee shop when she heard, "Swan!"

Emma turned to face him and spoke, "Hey, Killian," with cheerfulness she prayed he couldn't tell was fake.

His raised eyebrow was all the answer she needed. He then took a deep breath and began, "Look, love, I know this is difficult for you – it is for me as well. But I think you know that we need to talk about the…"

"Game," the blonde interrupted.

Killian furrowed his eyebrows as he questioned, "Pardon, love?"

"Oh, you know. The famous baseball rival between the Yankees and the Mets. It was a great game," Emma responded.

He tilted his head at her for a moment before he replied, "Uh, no, I didn't watch it. I was rather, uh, busy."

"Too bad," Emma told him. She then continued, "Well, I have to get to work."

She then turned away from him and began walking away. She had walked a few blocks when she felt a hand on her elbow.

She slowly turned to see Killian holding a to-go cup and a brown paper bag. Emma instantly reached into her wallet, but he stopped her: "It's on me, love."

The blonde offered him a small smile as she said, "Thank you, Killian."

He nodded in response before he watched her walk away. He then ran his fingers through his black hair.

When he walked back into the shop and behind the counter, his long-time friend and assistant manager, Robin, told him, "You know, mate, it wouldn't be such a terrible idea for you to take off today."

"That's bloody ridiculous. I'm perfectly fine," Killian argued.

"So, running after that Swan lass only to run back to fix her hot chocolate and get her a bear claw is fine? Not to mention that you gave them to her," Robin pointed out.

The dark-haired man scratched behind his ear before he defended, "It means nothing."

"I know you better than that, mate," Robin began. At Killian's crossed arms, he continued, "You have always been – what's the word? Ah – friendly with the female customers. But all that has stopped recently – except with a certain blonde detective."

"Your point?" Killian questioned with his arms still crossed.

"Something has got you distracted, and I have a feeling it's to do with the Swan girl. And I'm thinking it's something you need to figure out," Robin told him.

Killian sighed and ran his fingers through his hair once more. He then asked, "You sure you can handle the shop?"

"Of course I can," Robin assured him with a smile.

Killian offered a grateful smile in return before grabbing his black leather jacket and heading out of the shop.

He stood outside for a moment as he thought about what to do and where to go. It then hit him: the docks.

It didn't take Killian very long to reach the harbor. Once he did, he made a bee line for his boat – the boat that once belonged to his brother.

He stepped foot on the deck before he made his way down to the cabin. Once he had, a flood of memories entered his mind. While he had, of course, been on the boat as of late, recent events made him long for his older brother's advice.

Finding out that he had had a sister for his entire life that he didn't even know about was overwhelming to say the least. His father had made a new life for himself after he had gotten out of prison, but his new start with another wife and child wasn't enough to erase the guilt, so he did what he had gotten good at – running.

In truth, Killian hadn't been entirely sure he wanted to revisit the pain his father had caused him when Belle had come to him. But his younger sister shared his pain and more importantly, she was family. That was more than enough for him to let her into his life, and he couldn't be happier that he did. Though Belle certainly wasn't a replacement for Liam, Killian couldn't explain the comfort he felt at having a sibling to be there for him.

As he sat down at the desk, he caught sight of a hand-drawn portrait on the desk. Years ago, Milah had sat in front of a mirror and painstakingly drew herself as a present for him. While the picture still meant something to him, it was no longer a reminder of someone he never wanted to forget. It – and Milah – was now a past chapter in his life in which he had fond memories.

He was ready to move on, and it was all thanks to an intriguing, independent, beautiful, and bloody stubborn woman. One that seemed keen on avoiding him if today's interaction was any indication.

He knew she was scared of her feelings – it was why she ran from him after the kiss and why she avoided the subject earlier. It's not as though he could blame her with her history, especially since part of him was terrified as well.

He never dreamed of falling for anyone again – he truthfully didn't believe it to be possible. It was part of the reason he had the flirtatious, playboy façade – he was protecting himself from his heart being broken again like it was when he lost Milah. But Emma made him want to take the risk; he knew she was worth it – even if she didn't believe that love was something she could have.

As his blue eyes roamed to a picture of Liam, his brother's words echoed in his mind: "A man unwilling to fight for what he wants deserves what he gets."

Well, this is not the ending I had planned for this chapter, but I really love where it ended up. I hope you guys enjoyed it! Until part six, my lovelies!