Killian wiped the steam gathered on the bathroom mirror. A pair of haunted blue eyes stared back at him.
"My father's eyes," he thought, letting out a sigh.
Despite having just showered, he splashed cold water on his face.
He exhaled before he grabbed a towel and dried his face. He finished dressing before he brushed his teeth.
He then shuffled into the living room and plopped down on the couch. Just when he had gotten somewhat comfortable, a knock sounded at his door.
"Bloody hell," he cursed, "I don't want to be bloody bothered."
He rose with a huff before he headed over to the door. He yanked it open and barked, "What?"
Emma stared at him with wide eyes, her eyebrows going up.
Killian ran his fingers through his hair and apologized, "Sorry, love. I shouldn't have reacted like that."
"It's okay – I did just show up unannounced," Emma assured him, placing a hand on his arm.
She took a deep breath and told him, "But I haven't heard from you or seen you in a week. I'm worried about you."
He sighed as he leaned against the doorframe. He then ran his hand over his face and back through his hair.
He then moved aside and allowed Emma inside. She wordlessly wrapped her arms around him – he sank into her embrace.
When they finally pulled away, Killian closed the door before they shuffled over to the couch.
Once they were seated, Emma let out a deep breath. She then ventured, "Do you wanna talk about it? Or do you want me to just be here?"
He once more ran his fingers through his hair. He then bemused, "I don't bloody know, Swan."
"That's okay – you don't have to," she reassured him as she dragged her fingers through his dark hair.
She then pecked his cheek and laid her head on his shoulder. He wrapped an arm around her waist.
The two of them sat in silence. The humming of the ceiling fan provided the only release.
Killian then asked, "Is she okay?" his voice barely rising above a whisper.
With a sigh, Emma told him, "I think "okay" is probably a generous term. She's thrown herself into work."
"Bloody hell," he cursed himself, "I knew I shouldn't have lost my bloody temper."
"No, you shouldn't," she conceded. She then took his hand in hers and offered, "But with your father being back, it's been a lot to deal with – for you and Belle."
She then sighed and lamented, "And I'm not sure I exactly helped anything."
"Oh, love, don't blame yourself," Killian began as he squeezed her waist, "You did the best you could in a bloody difficult situation."
Emma only hummed. Another sigh escaped her lips.
"I can't believe I made this about me."
"It's truly alright, Swan," he assured her. He pinched the bridge of his nose as he said, "If anything, it distracts me from the bloody damn mess I made."
"Don't be so hard on yourself. I don't know that anyone would handle this well."
"Except my sister."
With a shake of her head, Emma pointed out, "This has been just as hard on her – she just handled it differently."
"Which is a nice way of saying that I bloody mucked it up."
"Killian. You know that isn't true."
He sighed. "This entire thing is a bloody nightmare. And I've managed to bloody alienate my girlfriend and my sister in the process."
Emma ran her hand up and down his arm. "We're not going anywhere, Killian – you still have us."
"And my father?" he posed, his blue eyes stormy and his jaw tight.
With a sigh, she told him, "Only you can answer that."
He stared at her. He then stood and paced around the apartment.
He quietly fumed until he broke it: "That's what everyone has been saying for bloody months. But I'm not any closer to making a damn decision."
Emma rose from the couch and stopped in front of him. She placed her hands on his arms and reassured him, "It's okay, Killian – you don't have to do…"
"Then what in the bloody hell have I been doing?"
His voice rang through the apartment. Emma jumped, though her hands remained on his arms.
He pulled away from her and paced once more.
"I can see he wants to be near us – I can see he's changed. But that doesn't mean I've grown to trust him."
"No one said you had to trust him."
"Oh, really, Swan? Then what do you call the bloody dinner, all the text messages, and bloody inviting him to Belle's party?"
"I don't know – trying to find a way to move forward? Putting the past behind you?"
"I put him in my past a long time ago – he had no right to show up."
"I know, Killian – and you're right. But…"
"But nothing. Don't bloody defend him – he's made everything so much harder."
"I know it has – I've been with you - and Belle - for all of it. And you're both scaring the hell out of me because you're both just…lost."
She then let out a deep breath and ran her fingers through her blonde hair. Killian let out a breath of his own and pressed his hands flat against the table.
"You shouldn't even be involved, Emma."
She furrowed her eyebrows. "Where is this coming from? You've always said you're glad I'm here to help you face this."
He faced her. "I am, love. But this isn't your problem – it shouldn't be yours."
"Belle is my best friend, and you're my boyfriend. You both mean so much to me – do you really think I wouldn't be there for you? Either of you?"
"Believe me, love, I would never suggest otherwise – but you shouldn't be trying to solve anything."
"I just want to help, Killian. Can't you just let me do that?"
He stared at her – his blue eyes boring into her green ones. His shoulders deflated.
"I don't even know how to help myself."
Emma hugged him, squeezing him tight. He hugged her back.
When they pulled away, she asked him, "What can I do? Do-do you want me to l-leave?"
"No, I don't want you to leave," he began. He took a deep breath and continued, "But can we talk about anything else?"
She nodded. A concerned expression then crossed her features.
"Just don't leave it for too long, okay? I hate seeing you like this."
"I know, love," he told her before he kissed her forehead. He then asked her, "What shall we do?"
With a shrug, she suggested, "I don't know – we could grab dinner?"
He bit his lip to keep from laughing. He gestured toward himself and said, "I've already changed for the night – and I ate a few hours ago."
His eyes widened as he asked, "Unless you didn't? Did you skip dinner?"
"What? Oh, no, I didn't skip dinner," she clarified with a wave of her hand.
With a deep breath, she then said, "I was just worried about you, and was…distracted. I still am, actually."
"Oh, Emma," Killian began as he ran his fingers through her hair, "I'm so sorry, love."
"Sorry for what?" she questioned as she tilted her head, "You can't blame yourself for what you're going through."
"That much I know," he stated. He paused before he told her, "But I should have talked to you - reached out to you. I'm sorry that I didn't."
With a smile, Emma replied, "I forgive you." He offered a small smile and a nod.
The blonde then continued, "And we're together now. What should we do?"
Killian only scratched behind his ear, making his girlfriend furrow her eyebrows.
"What is it?"
He continued to scratch behind his ear. He then let out a deep breath.
"I hadn't quite talked myself into it, but I had thought about playing my guitar."
Emma beamed. "I'd love to hear you play!" She then quickly added, "Unless you're not up to it?"
"It's not that, love," he began. He paused and considered his words before he elaborated, "The song I, uh, wanted to play is one I learned for you."
Emma's heart skipped a beat. "For me?" she repeated.
"Aye," he simply answered, his eyes boring into hers once more.
He then took another deep breath. He ran his fingers through his hair and placated, "But, please don't feel pressured, Emma. I know you know how I feel – but the song actually helps put it into words."
Emma couldn't help blush as she ducked her head. With a deep breath, she asked, "What song is it?"
He locked eyes with her. He took a deep breath before he answered, ""Faithfully"."
Even though her blush deepened, she couldn't help but smile.
"That's the song we danced to on the beach – our first dance."
A smile then crossed his features. Emma's only grew before she pressed her lips to his.
He brought his hand to her cheek, running his thumb over it.
When they pulled away, they rested their foreheads together. A comfortable silence settled between them as they savored the moment.
Killian then ran his fingers through her hair. "You deserve more, Emma. More than a…distraction."
"So do you," she told him as she buried her face in his neck. She then looked up at him and suggested, "But we could still dance."
Killian couldn't help but grin as he teased, "At this point, love, you can admit that being in my arms made me quite irresistible."
Emma rolled her eyes and shook her head. "At least your sense of humor is intact – even the annoying parts."
His grin only grew. "You know you find it endearing."
"Yeah, yeah," she said, feigning annoyance. A grin then appeared, and she let out a giggle.
Killian chuckled before he kissed her forehead. He then asked her, "What shall we dance to, love?"
With a tilt of her head, she suggested, "How about a little Bryan Adams?"
"As you wish," he replied with a smile. He then walked toward his bedroom.
Emma shrugged out of her jacket and tossed it on the couch. She ran her fingers through her hair before she heard footsteps.
When Killian returned, a grin spread across his features.
"Now, Swan, you know I like the red leather jacket."
She smiled and shook her head. She then nudged his shoulder with hers and said, "Just play the song Casanova."
His grin only grew before he kissed her forehead. He then looked down at the phone in his hand.
"Let's see, where is it," he mumbled as he scrolled. "Ah-ha," he finished as he stopped. He tapped the screen, and music filled the apartment.
Emma smiled as she recognized "Heaven". With a peck to her boyfriend's cheek, she said, "Good choice."
"Mm-hmm," he hummed as he placed his phone aside. He then encircled her waist and pulled her close as he wrapped her arms around his neck – they swayed along to the lyrics.
"Oh, thinkin' about our younger years – there was only you and me, we were young and wild and free.
"Now, nothing can take you away from me. We've been down that road before, but that's over now – you keep me comin' back for more.
"And baby, you're all that I want when you're lyin' here in my arms. I'm findin' it hard to believe we're in Heaven. And love is all that I need, and I found it there in your heart. It isn't too hard to see – we're in Heaven."
Emma snuggled into Killian's chest as he rested his head on top of hers. Smiles spread across their faces.
She hummed as they continued to dance, her eyes falling shut. He kissed the top of her head as he stroked her hair.
As the song neared its end, Killian's hands fell limp as he furrowed his eyebrows.
Emma stopped and looked up at him. She cupped his face before she fretted, "What's the matter, Killian?"
He sighed and ran his hand over his face. "I didn't mean to worry you or ruin the moment, love."
"It's really okay," she reassured him as she rubbed his arm. She then offered, "Just tell me what's wrong."
He sighed once more. He then said, "I don't remember much - if anything - about my mother, but I know she and my father loved each other. They had a life and a family together before she was taken from us."
He paused before he added, "And it's the same with Belle and her mum. He did love them - really loved them."
Emma hummed before she wrapped her arms around him. She then surmised, "He just made some bad decisions."
"Aye, love," he conceded. He then let out a deep breath.
When they pulled away, he said, "I've made a few of those in my life. I'd spend days in a-a stupor and not even bloody remember how I got there."
"I know," she sympathized as she caressed his cheek. She took a breath and spoke, "I've made some of those, too. If it hadn't been for Belle - and David - I'm not sure where I would have ended up."
Killian hummed. He then sank down on a barstool and dragged his fingers through his hair.
Emma joined him and wrapped her arms around him from behind. She rested her head on his shoulder.
"What are you thinking?"
"That I've been more hot-headed than necessary." He then gestured and continued, "I know it's not entirely unwarranted – but I think I only managed to make things worse."
Emma hugged him, squeezing tight. He ran his hands over her arms. She then walked around and faced him.
She took his hands in hers. "You tried – and that's what matters. And now, maybe you can figure out what you really want."
She kissed his forehead and added, "And you don't have to be in a hurry to know what that is."
Killian surged forward and pressed his lips to hers. Momentarily caught off guard, Emma then sank into the kiss and tangled her fingers in his hair.
When they pulled away, they both breathed heavily. He then told her, "I know I've said it, but, love, I really don't know what I would have done without you. Just…thank you."
"You're welcome, Killian," she replied with a smile. He returned it.
He then let out a deep breath, his eyebrows furrowing once more. At his girlfriend's questioning look, he clarified, "I was just thinking – I need to fix things with my sister before I do anything else."
Emma nodded. She then told him, "She had plans with August after his night class. Think you can wait until tomorrow?"
She sighed and added, "I know this is important to you."
"It's truly alright, love – I understand." A half-smile crossed his features as he said, "Besides, I'll likely have a clearer head after a good night's sleep."
"Yeah, I think you will," she agreed as she rested her head against his. A comfortable silence settled between them.
The last of "Heaven" played out before "Back in Black" began. Emma giggled.
"I'm not sure AC/DC counts as romantic."
Killian chuckled. "I'm not quite sure it does either, Swan."
He then reached for his phone and paused the music. He then asked, "Shall I pick another song for us?"
He couldn't but smile as he suggested, "Perhaps "(Everything I Do) I Do It for You"."
Emma smiled back at him. She then spoke, "Not to dismiss the idea, but I had something else in mind."
Killian cocked an eyebrow. "You do?"
She nodded. She then told him, "How about a game of Monopoly?"
A grin appeared on his face as he teased, "Feeling competitive are we, Swan?"
"Only because I know I can beat you," she threw back with a grin of her own.
"We'll see about that."
He trekked back to his room as Emma cleared off the kitchen table. When Killian returned, he slid behind her and kissed her cheek.
She only chuckled before she said, "Distracting me won't help you win, Jones."
He rolled his eyes and shook his head. "You've spent entirely too much time with me."
She let out a giggle as he set up the game. The pair then took a seat.
Killian then brandished his finger and told her, "Now, Swan, I believe I should be the banker so you won't cheat."
She rolled her eyes. "If either of us was going to cheat, it'd be you."
He laughed. He then offered, "You may have a point there, love." Emma shook her head.
A grin then appeared. She rested her chin in her hand and said, "In that case, I should be the banker."
Killian hummed, the corners of his mouth quirked upwards. He then pushed the money toward her.
As Emma counted out the starting cash, her eyes drifted over to her boyfriend.
She could still see the worry - the hurt - the confusion - in those blue eyes. But - she also knew he'd be okay.