A/N: Hi everyone! I know it's been a while - and I can't promise that I'll get better about giving y'all new stories (or if you're reading Unity, which I am so, so sorry if you're waiting for an update). As much as I love writing, it's only one small facet of my life, and I just can't devote every free moment to it.

But you guys should know that I still have lots of ideas in the works, and I'm excited to share them all with you. And I hope you enjoy this latest story based on one of my favorite country songs :)

P.S. And this a SPOILER ALERT for those of you who may not have caught season 7: Sara (who you'll actually meet in the latter part of the chapter) and her brother, Jack, are Gretel and Hansel. While I do reference the fairytale in the next part, I didn't want you guys to be confused when the names first popped up - with Sara being the name of the actress who played Gretel. And now, onto the story! :)

There's a rumor going 'round about me and you

Stirring up our little town the last week or two

So tell me why we even trying to deny this feeling

I feel it, don't you feel it too?

There's a rumor going 'round, and 'round, and 'round

What d'you say we make it true?

We make it true.

~Lee Brice~

Emma Swan sat cross-legged on a bench as she watched the sun set over the water.

She smiled as the red, orange, and pink melded together. She then ran her fingers through her blonde hair and glanced further down the docks.

"What's taking him so long?"

Her phone rang in the pocket of her jeans. She tilted her head before she reached for it and read the name of her sister-in-law.

She answered and greeted, "Hey, Mary Margaret. What's up?"

"I know it's Friday night - and that you're waiting on Killian to finish up with work - but I hoped you could do me a favor?"

Emma opened her mouth to argue - but she shook her head. "Yeah, sure, what do you need?"

Mary Margaret sighed in relief. "Thanks, Emma, I appreciate it."

She took a deep breath before she continued, "Can you drop by the bakery and pick up the cookies for Open House?"

"Sure thing. I'll see you soon."

"Thank you again. Just drop by the school when you're finished - see you in a little bit."

Emma hummed before she hung up the phone. As she slid it back in her pocket, she heard a familiar British accent.

"Making other plans without me, Swan?"

She rolled her eyes as her best friend sat down beside her.

He only hummed - a grin spreading across his face. He then reached over and played with the ends of her hair.

"So, love, where are we heading?"

"The bakery. I'm picking up something for Mary Margaret."

Killian nodded before he rose to his feet. He held out his hand. "Shall we?"

She smiled and shook her head. She then grabbed his hand and let him pull her to her feet.

She then adjusted her cross-body bag before she crossed her arms and peered at him.

"Don't you need a shower after working in the sun all day?"

He let out a laugh before he pushed her hair behind her ear.

"Already did. It's the perk of my brother having a spare room above the office."

Emma offered him a grin. "And the perk of being partners with said brother."

Killian grinned back at her. "Well, love, what can I say? The Jones Brothers' Sailing Tours and Shipbuilding has been very successful."

She shook her head - a chuckle escaped soon after. She then grabbed his elbow and pulled him along.

"Come on, I think the bakery closes soon."

He hummed before the two of them started to walk. She placed her hands in her pockets.

She then shot him a sideways glance. He quirked an eyebrow at her.

He then rolled his eyes. "You believe I should have told you I was in the shower, hmm, Swan?"

She shrugged her shoulders. "You knew I was waiting on you - it would have been nice to have a head's up."

"Yes, love, I do owe you a play by play."

She smacked his arm. "You know what I meant, Jones."

Killian chuckled and shook his head. "You only use my last name when you're annoyed with me."

He leaned in a little closer. "Perhaps I can make it up to you by buying our first round?"

Emma pushed her hair behind her ear. A smile made its way across her face.

"You're lucky you're my best friend."

He only grinned as they reached his truck. He raised an eyebrow as he glanced down the row of parking spaces.

"Where's your yellow bug, darling?"

"At my apartment. Neither of us will be driving home from the Rabbit Hole later."

He tilted his head. "Fair point." She hummed as he unlocked his truck.

He grabbed his black leather jacket and shrugged it on before he nodded toward town.

"The bakery awaits."

Emma rolled her eyes before they headed for the sidewalk. They settled into a comfortable silence.

Killian then started to hum. Emma smiled as he began to sing.

"Baby, you're all that I want when you're lyin' here in my arms. I'm findin' hard to believe we're in Heaven."

He trailed off and ran his fingers through his dark hair. She nudged his arm with hers.

"Hey - why'd you stop?"

He grinned at her. "You wish to be serenaded, Swan?"

With an eye roll, she deadpanned, "Very funny, Killian." He let out a chuckle.

His blue eyes then widened as Emma stumbled. She grabbed his shoulder as his arms slipped around her waist.

"Emma, are you alright?"

She nodded before she looked down. "I tripped over this damn crack that still hasn't been fixed."

He bit his lip and stroked his stubbled chin.

He then took a deep breath and offered, "I'm sure it's on their to-do list, love."

Emma waved her hands and chided, "Yeah, yeah." She then resumed playing with the collar of his jacket.

She then furrowed her eyebrows. "Where were we going again?"

Killian chuckled. "That's rather simple, Swan. We were headed toward…"

He trailed off as he cocked his head to the side. He moved the hand that still lingered on her waist and then scratched behind his ear.

Emma's brother, David, then waved as he came out of the police station. As he neared them, she exclaimed, "Mary Margaret! The cookies!"

Killian nodded as he surmised, "Ah, that's right." David joined them with furrowed eyebrows.

"What are you two talking about?"

Emma ran her fingers through her hair as she explained, "Me and Killian were on an errand - but we were talking and got, uh, distracted."

David barely concealed his grin as he hummed, "Mm-hmm." The pair glanced away before he held up a pair of keys.

"You left these on your desk."

Emma knitted her eyebrows together. "I have my keys. They're in my bag."

Killian tilted his head as he eyed the keys.

"Swan, those are the keys to your apartment - you always leave them."

"What? No, I don't - I would never be able to get in."

"That's exactly what happens. You're lucky I have a spare key."

"I'm not even that bad, Jones."

He smiled and shook his head. David did the same as a chuckle escaped.

He then handed her the keys. "These are yours, Emma. You'll be needing them later."

Her green eyes locked on the keys in her hand. She sighed.

"Ugh - these are mine."

She waved a hand at her best friend. "Don't you dare say 'I told you so.'"

"I wouldn't dream of it, Swan."

With an eye roll, she threw the keys in her bag. David grabbed his from his pocket and spun them around his finger.

"Alright, I'm off to train the new deputy on night patrol."

Emma hummed. "I don't think you'll have any problems - Nicholas is a good kid."

David nodded. He then offered, "I might stop by the bar after my shift. So, I'll probably see you guys a little later."

Killian furrowed his eyebrows before he spoke, "Ah, that's right. Leo and Ruth have sleepovers tonight."

David tilted his head. He then shook it and grinned.

"She tells you everything, so I'm not really surprised."

"Hey! I just told him because I said something about you probably joining us at the Rabbit Hole."

David only hummed - his grin growing even wider. He then twirled his keys once more.

"Nicholas is waiting on me, so I'll catch you guys later."

They waved him off before he rounded the building. He called out over his shoulder: "Better hurry up with those cookies. You know how Mary Margaret is during Open House."

Emma and Killian smiled and shook their heads.

As they continued further down the sidewalk, Killian tugged at the strap on her bag.

"Love, you really need to have all your keys on the same keyring so you don't keep losing them."

Emma rolled her eyes. "You sound like David. He's always doing and saying this sort of thing."

He laughed. "Well, Swan, older brothers do tend to be the overprotective sort."

She couldn't help but laugh. She then tilted her head.

"Who do you think is more overprotective? Liam or David?"

Killian rubbed his chin before he let out a chuckle. "Truthfully, love, I believe that's a bit of a toss-up."

Emma chuckled as well. "I guess you're right." They continued in silence until they reached the bakery.

He opened the door for her, and she walked inside. One of the owners, Sara, waved at them.

"Hey, you guys. Mary Margaret's order is all ready to go."

"How'd you know…" Emma trailed off and planted her hands on her hips.

"She called you, didn't she?"

With a shrug, Sara surmised, "Can't say I blame her. You and Killian live in your own little world."

Emma crossed her arms over her chest. "We do not. And what does that have to do with Mary Margaret calling? She'd do that anyway."

Sara raised an eyebrow. "Do you seriously not get it? And I thought my brother spent too much time in his own head."

She opened her mouth to reply when the phone rang. Sara walked over to answer it while Emma still stood with her arms crossed.

She shook her head before she slid over next to Killian, who eyed the display case.

"Thinking about indulging your sweet tooth?"

She giggled and nudged his shoulder while he shook his head and rolled his eyes.

"Out of the two of us, you're the one with the sweet tooth."

She quirked an eyebrow. "You're the one who always gets desserts at Granny's."

He stepped closer to her. "You're the one who orders hot chocolate at every meal."

She only shrugged. "I love hot chocolate - it's my favorite."

"And I can't order dessert?"

"Only when you decide to annoy me about the hot chocolate."

Before he could respond, Sara cleared her throat. The two of them jumped apart before a light blush spread across Emma's face while Killian scratched behind his ear.

He took a deep breath before he surmised, "I suppose you have Mary Margaret's cookies, love?"

Sara nodded as she tapped the box. "Yeah - you guys are all set." A mischievous glint appeared in her eyes as she gestured toward Emma.

"And you wonder why Mary Margaret had to call to keep you two on track."

Killian furrowed his eyebrows. "Pardon? What's all this?"

Emma planted her hands on her hips. "Oh, the usual - Sara having a bit of fun at everyone else's expense."

The blonde in question only shrugged. "It is fun - and you guys know you'll laugh about it later."

Killian folded his hands behind his back. "I can easily guess what fun you meant, Swan, and it's safe to assume that we will have a laugh about it later."

She swatted his arm. "You're not helping the situation - and you're only giving her more ammo."

Sara leaned over the counter. "Now you really do sound like my brother - he says the same thing to me all the time."

She couldn't help but chuckle - and Emma and Killian couldn't help but join her. He then played with the ends of his best friend's hair.

"See, love? You're laughing already."

She rolled her eyes and swatted his arm again. He only shrugged before she reached for the box. Killian grabbed it instead.

"I got it, Swan. Just grab a couple of those hot chocolate donuts, will you?"

She couldn't help but smile as her green eyes wandered back to the display case. Sara walked over and placed the donuts in a paper bag.

"Here you go. I just knew you'd have to have some of those."

"Well, if everything else you make is any indication, I'll be eating lots of these."

Sara couldn't help but chuckle as she walked back over to the register. Once she rang it up, Killian grabbed his wallet.

Emma crossed her arms. "Killian, I can get the donuts. It isn't a big deal."

"I know, love. I just wanted to treat my best friend."

She pushed her hair behind her ear as he paid for the donuts. He then grabbed the box and nodded toward the door.

"Ready, Swan?"

She nodded before she offered Sara a wave. "See you later - and I'll let you know what I think about the donuts."

"I'm pretty sure I know what you'll think, but thanks anyway," the blonde offered with a smile. She then glanced downward as her phone beeped.

She slid it from her pocket and read over the text before she slipped it back. She grabbed a lollipop from the bowl and walked backwards from the counter.

"That's Jack. Gotta go give him the next round of deliveries."

She called for one of the employees to work the front before she bounded out the back. "I'll catch you guys later - don't get in too much trouble."

"I'm pretty sure we could say the same for you and Jack," Emma threw back as a grin crossed her face. She then told her, "Make sure to tell him we stopped by and said hey."

Sara offered a thumbs up as she popped the lollipop in her mouth.

The three of them offered waves before she disappeared. Emma grabbed the donuts before she and Killian headed out the door.