Emma grabbed a nacho from the basket. She popped it in her mouth before she sipped her rum to wash it down.

She then sighed and pushed the basket toward Killian. "You want the rest of them?"

He grinned. "You mean since I paid?"

She rolled her eyes and shook her head. Killian then tilted his head and peered at her.

He then pointed to the corner of his mouth. "You have a bit of nacho cheese, love."

"Oh." She reached for a napkin and wiped her face. Killian couldn't help but laugh.

"That only made it worse."

Emma sighed and wiped her face once again. She then balled up the napkin.

"Did I get it all?"

"Not quite."

He then reached over and ran his thumb across her lip. His hand lingered as he caressed her cheek.

Their eyes locked. She leaned into his touch as the noise of the bar faded around them.

"Beep!" Emma and Killian both jumped, his hand falling to his side. She grabbed her phone.

"David's leaving the station. He'll be here soon."

Killian hummed before he offered, "I'm fairly certain that my brother and Robin are on their way as well."

She couldn't help but grin. "So, you're gonna ditch me for the guys?"

He grinned back at her. "Well, Swan, it is a rather difficult choice."

He then let out a laugh as she rolled her eyes. He moved her hair behind her shoulder.

"You're my best friend, Emma. You know there's no one I'd rather be here with than you."

She smiled at him, a faint blush appearing across her cheeks. She took a swig of rum as she tried to hide it.

When she found Killian smirking at her, she knew she had failed. She smacked his arm.

"Hey! I didn't even bloody say anything."

"You didn't even have to. I can spot that infuriating smirk of yours a mile away."

He sent another one her way. "Is that so, Swan? I'm quite flattered that you spend so much time looking in my direction."

She grabbed her drink and gestured toward him. "You're lucky I like you or this would be in your lap."

"Oh, I don't doubt it, Swan. And that's what makes it so much fun."

She shook her head before she took a sip of her drink. She then waved as she spotted David, Liam, and Robin walking through the door.

As they made their way over, Killian stuffed some of the chips in his mouth. He tilted his head and hummed.

"These are rather delicious."

Emma tilted her head. "Why are you acting like you've never had them before? We get them all the time."

"You get them all the time. You never share."

"Then you should say something."

"I have - all you do is change the subject until I forget about the nachos, and you've bloody well eaten them all."

"Name the last time I did that."

"Last Friday night - when you started going on and on about…"

"Well, mates, it appears we've interrupted a lover's spat," Robin interjected, his grin barely concealed. David and Liam held in chuckles.

The pair rolled their eyes. Emma then pointed out, "Killian was just being annoying as usual."

He scoffed. "Coming from someone who is far too bloody stubborn for her own good."

She swatted his chest. He clutched it and winched, "You wound me, Swan." A chuckle then escaped - she shook her head at him.

Liam ran his hand through his brown curly hair. "Do you two always have to be like this?"

With a shrug, David surmised, "At this point? I'm not sure they can help it."

Emma rolled her eyes once more. "Don't you guys have anything better to do?"

"It's not as though they're wrong, Swan." Killian played with the ends of her hair.

She side-eyed him. "You're not helping, Killian." He only shrugged and offered her a grin.

"And since you've proved our point, we'll just leave you guys to it." David couldn't help but smile as he gestured down the row of bar stools.

As he walked off, Liam added, "Don't drink too much, little brother." Robin chuckled as Killian corrected him, "Younger brother, you git."

Liam only hummed as he clapped his brother on the shoulder. Robin smiled and shook his head before they joined David.

Emma stopped them as she placed her drink on the bar and called out, "Wait - aren't you guys doing things for the Founder's Day Festival?"

Liam crossed his arms over his chest. Robin tilted his head. The former then questioned, "Isn't that more of Regina's territory?"

The blonde shrugged. "I mean, yeah - but she just sometimes starts to micromanage and becomes neurotic."

Robin cleared his throat while Emma ran her fingers through her hair. "Uh, sorry, Robin - I didn't mean that the way it sounded."

He chuckled. "It's alright - I know you and Regina are rather good friends. It's just that neither of you have much of a filter and have a tendency to be brutally honest."

"You probably shouldn't tell your wife that, mate. I'd wager that the Evil…"

Emma clapped her hand over Killian's mouth as she leveled him with a glare. "Don't even think about it, Jones. She already barely tolerates you."

Liam then interjected, "Indeed, little brother - you can sometimes be an acquired taste. I'm surprised that you and Emma even made it this far."

Robin grinned as he added, "I tend to agree, but you know what they say - there's a thin line between love and hate."

Emma and Killian rolled their eyes. He then said, "Which is even more true when your brother and your mate are bloody gits."

"And on that note, we'll leave you," Liam began. He nodded toward Emma and continued, "And to answer your question, we will be hosting sailing tours for the festival."

"And Little John and myself will be handling the archery competition," Robin added with a smile.

Killian arched an eyebrow. "Just "handling" it, mate? No doubt you'll be looking for a chance to show off."

Emma scoffed. "Like you wouldn't do the same, Captain. Except you have no idea how to be modest."

He only shrugged as a grin crossed his features. He then took a sip of his rum.

Liam and Robin shook their heads. The former then said, "I'll leave you to that argument, Emma. I've been trying for years."

She laughed while Killian rolled his eyes. Liam and Robin chuckled before they bid their "see you later"'s and headed over to join David.

Killian then took another sip. He then gestured with the glass. "L.J. doesn't annoy me this much. Must be an older brother thing."

Emma shook her head. "You just found out L.J. was your half-brother a few years ago - just give him more time. I mean, Liam's been dealing with you for 34 years, and he raised you for over half of them. Between your temper and impulsiveness, he's practically a saint."

"Hey, I have you know that I'm far more level-headed these days."

"Uh-huh," Emma teased before she sipped on her rum. She then tilted her head and smiled.

Killian tilted his in return. "What is it, love?"

She rested her chin in her hand and leaned forward. "I just love this song."

He turned his head and listened. He then offered her a smile.

"Aerosmith - good choice, Swan."

He then leaned forward and played with her hair. "Would you care to dance?"

She pushed the dark hair away from his forehead. "I think you'll have to convince me."

He ran his thumb across her pink-tinted cheeks. "I think I already have, darling."

Her blush deepened as her eyes locked with his. The speed of her heartbeat matched his racing pulse.

He then slid off the stool and held out his hand. "Shall we?" She placed her hand in his. "I would love to, Killian."

He smiled before she hopped off the stool. She entwined their fingers and gave him a sweet smile.

He squeezed her hand and led her across the bar. They weaved their way around the tables and through the crowd before they found the dance floor.

Killian released her hand and wrapped his arms around her waist. Emma draped her hands along his shoulders.

He hummed along to the music. He couldn't help but smile as Steven Tyler launched into the chorus.

"Don't want to close my eyes. I don't want to fall asleep 'cause I'd miss you, baby, and I don't want to miss a thing. 'Cause even when I dream of you, the sweetest dream will never do. I'd still miss you, baby, and I don't want to miss a thing."

Emma peered up at Killian and tilted her head. He furrowed his eyebrows.

"What is it, love?"

She shrugged. "I just, I don't know, thought maybe you'd sing?"

He smiled. "If you want to be serenaded, Swan, all you had to do was ask - again." He then reached up and ran his fingers through her hair.

Her cheeks reddened. She then took a deep breath and offered, "Well, I do like to hear you sing."

He slid his hand back down to her waist and squeezed it. "Then I shall be very happy to always sing to you, love."

A smile broke out across her face. She curled her hands around his shoulders as he hummed along to the music. His blue gaze locked onto hers as he started to sing. They swayed along as Killian spun them around the dance floor.

"Lying close to you, feeling your heart beating. And I'm wondering what you're dreaming - wondering if it's me you're seeing. Then I kiss your eyes and thank God we're together. And I just want to stay with you in this moment forever. Forever and ever."

Emma closed her eyes as she rested her head on his shoulder, her arms wrapping around his neck. He pulled her closer as he rested his hands on the small of her back.

He crooned the lyrics in her ear. She couldn't help but smile as she dragged her fingers through his dark hair.

He rubbed circles into her back as the lyrics faded into humming. As he felt her steady heartbeat next to his, he found himself wholly focused on the woman in his arms.

A contented sigh escaped her lips as she curled even further into him. She ran her fingers back through his hair before she rested her hands at the nape of his neck.

Their movements slowed as they simply held each other close. The rest of the background faded into the night as they became the only two people in the room.

The song came to an end. The couples made their way back to the tables and the bar as a fast song began to play.

Emma and Killian still held each other close. The closeness - the connection - they felt was so right.

Killian then pressed his forehead against hers. "Emma, I have to tell you that there's no one I'd rather share a dance with than you."

She smiled. "I don't think I could ask for a better partner." She slowly opened her eyes and brushed the hair from his.

As her gaze wandered around them, she furrowed her eyebrows.

"Uh, Killian?"

"Hmm?"

"Uh, I think the song ended without us."

His head shot up as he looked around them. He scratched behind his ear.

"It appears so, love. Shall we go finish our drinks?"

She nodded before she caught sight of her arms still wrapped around him. Her face flushed as she moved them. He let go of her before he cleared his throat.

He then saw David wave him over. He offered a nod in his direction before he turned back to Emma.

"It seems your brother has summoned me. I'll be back in two shakes."

A grin slowly made its way across her face. "Don't take too long - I might just leave without you."

He rolled his eyes while she chuckled. He then walked over to their friends while she went back to their pair of barstools.