A couple hours later, the last of the guests had left, and Emma and Killian cleaned up the last of the snacks.
Belle and August - as well as Brennan, who continued to stand a little off to the side - all attempted to help but were quickly shot down.
With her hands planted on her hips, Emma told them, "No - this was your party, Belle. You shouldn't have to help clean anything up. And neither should the rest of you."
She smiled and shook her head. "And you - with my brother's help - put all of this together. The least I can do is help."
"But you don't need to," the blonde refuted as she eyed her best friend.
Killian then interjected, "You might want to quit, sis - she's dreadfully stubborn."
Emma elbowed him while Belle - along with August and Brennan - let out a chuckle. The brunette then offered, "Perhaps. But I don't think she can turn down her best friend on her birthday?" a grin spreading across her features.
"Really? A guilt trip?" Emma posed as she crossed her arms.
Belle giggled. With a wave of her hand, she then spoke, "I'm just kidding, Emma."
"Mm-hmm," she began with a grin of her own, "I think you've been spending too much time with Killian."
"Hey!" he protested as he closed the refrigerator. He then leaned against it and teased, "Is that any way to treat me after I've just made sure your punch wouldn't go to waste?"
Emma rolled her eyes. "You are so ridiculous." "I know," he playfully responded before he pecked her cheek.
She wore the same annoyed expression - until a smile broke out across her features.
She then finished tying up the garbage bag and presented it to her boyfriend. "Take this out?"
"Allow me," Brennan interjected as he stepped forward, "It's just a small token of my thanks for inviting me."
"Oh, ah, of course," Killian responded as he scratched behind his ear. Emma squeezed his shoulder before she handed over the bag.
Brennan offered a nod before he headed out of the apartment.
A tense and slightly awkward silence ensued. After a few moments, August then asked, "So, Belle, how much of this cake did you want to take?"
She jerked up her head at the sound of her name. She then replied, "Oh! A couple pieces should be fine."
She then tilted her head and questioned, "Will one of those be for you?"
With a shrug, he answered, "I'm not too much on sweets, but it would be nice to have some cake when I come over."
She giggled before she turned her attention to the cake - only to see Emma already covering it with saran wrap.
Belle shook her head. She then offered, "You know, Emma, I really think you should just relax when we're all finished."
The blonde ran her fingers through her hair. She then shrugged and spoke, "You're my best friend, and I wanted your party to be perfect."
"And it was," she replied before she pulled her in for a hug. Emma smiled as she returned it.
When they pulled away, Emma's gaze shifted over to the table. She grunted as she complained, "I forgot the empty snack trays - I should've gotten Brennan to take them."
"I'm sure he will when he gets back - or I can just take them myself," Killian offered with a gesture toward the table.
She peered at him for a moment - and tilted her head. He raised an eyebrow as he asked, "What is it, love?"
"Nothing. It's just that I half expected that first part to be sarcastic."
He let out a deep breath. "He deserves some credit for trying to connect with Belle and myself."
With a sigh, he added, "Even if the awkwardness is akin to bloody fingernails on a chalkboard."
"Even for someone whose heart of gold wants her to see the best in everyone and every situation," August surmised as he kissed Belle's head and ran his hands up and down her arms.
She leaned her head back against his chest. She then admitted, "It hasn't been easy - it's actually been rather difficult."
"At least you haven't lost your temper nearly every time you saw him," Killian chagrined as he raked his fingers through his dark hair.
Emma squeezed his hand before she offered, "I think you guys are doing the best you can. And just inviting him here was a huge step."
She then shot her boyfriend a proud smile. He caught her stare and smiled in return before he kissed her forehead.
Brennan then walked back inside. He wrung his hands together as he questioned, "Is there anything else I can do?"
"Well," Emma began as she looked toward the trays, "I did forget about these empty snack trays - but you don't have to take them."
"I really don't mind," he told her. Emma opened her mouth to reply when August interjected, "Sorry to interrupt, Emma, but I just remembered I need to work on an answer key for an upcoming exam, so I'll take the trays and head out."
"And since I rode with you, I'll be going too," Belle spoke. With a kiss to her boyfriend's cheek, she then said, "Let me just gather my gifts."
Just as she began walking toward the living room, Brennan relayed, "Actually, I had an idea that I wanted to offer."
He earned four sets of curious gazes. He took a deep breath before he elaborated, "I hoped the three of us," casting his blue eyes between his son and his daughter, "Could go out for coffee? As a way for us to celebrate?"
His voice shook as he spoke and his knuckles grew white as he clasped his hands tighter and tighter.
A bit apprehensive, Killian and Belle exchanged a look. After a few contemplative moments, she slowly nodded.
He offered a nod as well before he addressed their father: "It sounds, uh, like a rather good idea."
Emma squeezed his hand before he said, "I can open up the shop and ready us some coffee - or tea."
Belle - and Brennan - grinned at him. He then suggested, "Or perhaps you could let someone serve you for once."
Killian couldn't help but smile. He then spoke, "Though I pretty much make coffee on autopilot now, it would be nice to just sit."
Emma and Belle couldn't help but laugh while Brennan and August smiled and shook their heads. The latter then offered, "I'm gonna head out and let you guys grab your coffee."
He then kissed Belle's cheek and told her, "I'll call you later, okay?"
With a nod, she then said, "I'll walk you out." He nodded as well before he grabbed the trays. With one final "see you later", the pair then walked hand in hand to his car.
When August closed the door behind them, Killian pushed Emma's hair behind her ear and asked, "So, Swan, is there anything else I can do?"
She smiled as she answered, "I think we've covered everything." She then squeezed his hand and said, "Thank you."
"Mm-hmm," he replied before he kissed her forehead. She gave him another sweet smile.
With a tilt of her head, she then surmised, "Do you even have a favorite coffee? You hardly ever drink it."
Killian - and Brennan - couldn't help but chuckle. He then quipped, "Well, darling, when you make it as much as I do, you don't really want any."
Emma shook her head before he continued, "I do actually prefer tea, but when I have a craving for coffee, I go with a caramel macchiato. I get it with quite a bit more espresso so it isn't too terribly sweet."
He then shot her a knowing grin. She blushed and ducked her head.
Brennan couldn't help but grin just before Belle returned. She closed the door behind her, wearing an apologetic expression.
Upon noticing it, Emma asked, "Hey, Belle, are you alright?"
The brunette focused her attention on her brother and answered, "I just realized that I assumed you would take me home later. That isn't fair of me."
With a wave of his hand, Killian assured her, "I really don't mind, love. It's not a problem," offering a smile.
She didn't smile back and instead questioned, "Are you sure, Killian? I mean, you only live across the street."
"Perhaps. But you know I always want to help how I can," he offered with another smile.
This time, she smiled back and offered a nod. She then grabbed her purse and asked, "Ready to head over to the coffee shop?" looking back and forth between her brother and her father.
They both nodded. Killian then teased, "It seems like you already have a line on the competition."
Emma then chimed in, "Because it's not like there aren't dozens and dozens of coffee shops in New York City," a grin blooming across her features.
He rolled his eyes while Brennan and Belle chuckled. She then clarified, "There is one a couple blocks from the library - Ariel and I sometimes stop by it."
Killian scratched his chin as he asked, "Is that the one called Sunny Days?"
"Mm-hmm," she hummed in reply. She then adjusted her bag on her shoulder as her eyes flitted over to the table.
"Oh! I need to gather all my gifts so I can go ahead and put them in Killian's truck."
She then glanced over at him and questioned, "If you don't mind?"
He shook his head before Brennan offered, "I can help you if you'd like, lass."
She nodded before the two of them set about grabbing the presents. When finished, they offered Emma their goodbyes.
Belle hugged her best friend. While still embraced, she spoke, "Thank you so much for the party. I absolutely loved it."
"You're welcome," Emma replied before she pulled away and smiled. The brunette smiled in return.
As she and Brennan prepared to leave, they gave Killian an expectant look. He told them, "You two go ahead. I'll be there in a moment."
With more nods - and one final wave - they headed out of the apartment.
Killian then faced Emma and wrapped his arms around her waist. He then reached up and ran his fingers through her hair.
"Now I can give you a proper goodbye kiss."
She giggled before she pointed out, "You do realize you'll be back in a couple hours for dinner, don't you?"
"Way to ruin the moment, Swan," he quipped as he eyed her and raised an eyebrow.
She giggled once again before she said, "I'm just kidding, Killian." She then grabbed his shirt and pulled his lips to hers.
He smiled into the kiss before he wound his fingers into her hair, pressing his free hand against the small of her back. He tilted his head to deepen the kiss. She did the same before she wrapped her arms around his neck.
When they pulled away - both a little breathless - they rested their foreheads against each other.
She then pulled back to look at him - and she cupped his face with her hands. With a deep breath, she told him, "Have fun, okay? I know it might be asking a lot, but I think you should try to make the most of it - or at least try to enjoy it."
He kissed her cheek and then smiled softly. He took a deep breath of his own before he assured her, "I believe I can manage that, love. After all, we are still celebrating my sister."
Emma offered him a sweet smile in reply. The couple exchanged one more kiss before he left the apartment.