Hi, everyone! I have a new Modern AU multi-shot for y'all, and I hope you guys are looking forward to it :) It has seven parts in total, and I will be posting it over the course of the next few days. Happy reading! :)

Emma Swan hopped up on the kitchen counter. She sat cross-legged before she grabbed her hot chocolate and took a sip. She smiled as the liquid warmed her throat.

The mug dropped from her hand - and the hot chocolate spilled down her shirt - when keys jingled in the door.

She nearly fell sliding off the counter. She cursed when the door swung wide. "Damn it, Killian! You scared the hell out of me."

Her best friend raised an eyebrow. "Why all the fuss, Swan? You knew I was coming over."

"I just thought I would have a few minutes to prepare."

"Prepare for what?"

Emma turned around to grab a kitchen towel - and to hide the blush that stained her cheeks.

"To prepare to be in the same room as you."

She shook her head from those thoughts. She then took a breath and turned back around.

She shrugged. "To work our shift at the bar. I just wanted a few minutes to myself."

"Oh." He picked up the mug and handed it to her.

He then ran his fingers through his dark hair. "Bloody hell, love, I'm sorry. I can always leave and come back a little later."

Emma smiled at him. "Thank you for that, but you're already here. You might as well stay."

He tilted his head. "Are you sure you don't mind?"

"Nope. Not at all."

She placed the mug in the sink and then wiped down the front of her shirt - only to let out a sigh.

"I'm gonna have to wash this thing. I don't even know if I have another clean one."

"You can just borrow one of mine. It might be a little big on you, but it'll work for tonight."

The tips of her ears turned pink. She shuffled between one foot and the other.

"That's…okay. I'll…just wear something else."

"It may just be a t-shirt, but it's still our uniform. I'll just go grab it."

Before she could protest further, he hurried out of her door and down the hall to his own apartment.

Emma groaned and buried her face in her hands. "That's just what I need - to wear his bloody shirt."

Her head jerked up. "Did I just…"

She buried her face back in her hands. "I don't know how long I can keep this up."

When she looked back up, her green eyes landed on a picture that hung on her refrigerator.

Killian had taken one of the two of them on her birthday a couple years back. She still remembered the way his hand lingered on her waist and gave her goosebumps.

And his present - she still teared up every time she saw that special edition of The Ugly Duckling.

She then took a deep breath and wiped her eyes. A tear rolled down her cheek - just as Killian walked back through the door.

Her eyes widened before she spun around. "Ow!" she yelled as her knee slammed into the counter.

Killian rushed over. He ran his hand along her back. "Swan! Are you alright?"

She massaged her knee. "I'm sure it'll leave a mark, but I'll be fine."

He brushed away the tears with his thumb. "Are you quite certain of that, Swan? You're rather shaken up, darling."

She waved her hand. "Yeah, I'm fine. Really. It just…uh, hurt a little more than I expected."

He tilted his head. He then nodded and glanced down at the black t-shirt in his hand.

"Here you go, love. Try not to get anything on it, hmm?"

He offered her a grin, and she couldn't help but chuckle. She then took the shirt from him and hurried off to her bedroom.

Killian leaned against the counter and crossed his arms over his chest. He glanced around the kitchen - his blue eyes landed on Emma's mug.

He picked it up from the sink and read the black writing.

"As you wish."

Killian couldn't help but smile. "She'd never admit it - but she's quite the romantic."

He then washed the mug and placed it on a dish towel near the sink.

"I'm not entirely sure how it didn't shatter. Must be made of tough stuff, like my Swan."

When he turned back around, he spotted a spill on the floor. He grabbed another dish towel and wiped up the hot chocolate.

As he stood, Emma traipsed back in the room. She finished tying up the shirt with a ponytail holder.

She opened her mouth to speak - but tilted her head instead. "Did you clean up, Killian?"

"Aye, love. Just thought I'd help you out."

He then winked at her. "Especially since I'm the reason you were so utterly distracted, darling."

She rolled her eyes - and yet, a light blush stained her cheeks. She shuffled over to the door to grab her Converse sneakers.

"You ready to head over?"

"It's a little early yet, Swan."

She planted her hands on her hips before she ran her fingers through her blonde hair. "I guess you're right. I'll just make more hot chocolate. You want any?"

Killian scrunched his face, causing Emma to giggle. He then questioned, "Surely you ask in jest?"

She let out another giggle. "Well, I did think about putting rum in it. Would that help?"

"Not very likely."

She only shook her head before she joined Killian in the kitchen. He hopped on the counter to give her some room.

She grabbed her Princess Bride mug and then prepared another cup of her favorite. Killian rested his chin in his hand and watched her work. He couldn't help but smile.

Once she finished, she hopped on the counter next to him. He nudged her shoulder with his.

"Trust you don't spill it this time, hmm?"

She held the mug with both hands. "You do realize you've already told me that, don't you?"

He tilted his head. "So, I did. I dare say I must have been distracted as well - you do look quite beautiful in my shirt, love."

She shook her head. "It's a t-shirt, Killian. Not a ball gown."

He only hummed as he played with the ends of her hair. She rubbed her arms to cover the goosebumps.

She then took a deep breath and changed the subject.

"So, how's your brother?"

Killian cocked an eyebrow. He then took a breath and told her, "Still traipsing around the world. He's in Greece at the moment."

"Greece? Isn't he coming down for your birthday in a couple weeks?"

"Aye, love, he'll be here. LJ's a bit restless - but he'll stop by to see his favorite brother."

She rolled her eyes. "You're his only brother."

Her expression then turned somber. "The only one he got to meet."

Killian sighed. Emma reached over and squeezed his hand.

"Gods, Killian, I'm sorry. I know how much you still miss him."

"Don't apologize, love. I'll always miss Liam - but he would want me to remember him."

A smile crossed her features. "Yeah, I think he would." He hummed in reply.

He played with her hair once more. "I often wondered if he'd be as hard on LJ as he was on me."

"I doubt it. You may be more subdued these days - but you had that impulsive, reckless streak."

"Is that so? Well, you darling, are dreadfully stubborn."

She smacked his arm. "I am not." He only shook his head as she sipped on her hot chocolate.

Killian then hummed. "And speaking of brothers, will we be seeing David and Mary Margaret tonight?"

Emma shrugged. "It's the middle of the week, so probably not. And I'm pretty sure the kids have some sort of practice."

"Ah." A knock then sounded at the door. He raised an eyebrow while Emma tilted her head.

Killian then hopped down. "I'll get it, love." He then walked over to the door and opened it.

"David, mate, it's good to see you. Emma's just having some hot chocolate."

As David made his way inside, he told him, "I actually came to see you. I knew you'd probably be here - you're here almost as much as Emma is."

Killian scratched behind his ear before he closed the door. He took a breath before he asked him, "So what is it you needed?"

"Just an extra set of hands for Leo's baseball game. Robin and I handle the snacks once a month, but he and Regina will be taking Roland on a trip. Would you mind helping?"

"Not at all. I suppose I am Leo's honorary uncle."

He then winked at Emma, who hid her blush behind her hot chocolate.

She then cleared her throat and asked, "Is that really the only reason you came over, David? You could have just called him."

He chuckled. "I got called out here, so I thought I'd drop by before I head back to the station."

Emma raised an eyebrow. "Anything to worry about?"

David waved his hand. "No, no, nothing like that. Everything's fine."

He then nodded toward the door. "I really should get going. And I know you two have to be at work soon."

"Aye, mate, that we do. But we shall see you at Leo's game, if not sooner," Killian offered - only for Emma to interrupt.

"We? You're just gonna volunteer me to go?"

"As if you'd miss your nephew's game."

"You already know I wouldn't."

"Then why the argument, Swan?"

"Because you can't just decide things for me, Jones."

"You only pull out the last name when you're quite annoyed with me."

Emma opened her mouth to refute when David spoke, "And I'll just leave you guys to it. I'll see you guys later."

He couldn't help but smile and shake his head as he waved them off. They bid their goodbyes as well before Killian closed the door behind him.

When he turned back around, he found Emma glaring at him. He asked her, "Love, why are you so vexed?"

She sighed. "I…don't know. I…guess maybe it just threw me off a little."

"But why? We do everything together."

"Which makes this that much harder." Emma took a deep breath before she shrugged. "I know we do - but I guess I just want to make up my own mind."

Killian smiled. "As you wish." He then questioned, "Would you like to accompany me to Leo's game?"

Emma returned his smile - and shook her head. "Yeah, Killian, I would."

"Perfect. It's a date."

She only hummed before she brought the mug back to her lips. An alarm then beeped from her phone.

She hopped down from the counter. She downed the rest of her hot chocolate before she placed the mug in the sink.

She sprinted over to the door and slipped on her sneakers and then grabbed her backpack purse. She then planted her hands on her hips.

"Why do I feel like I'm missing something?"

Killian then walked over to her and handed her a jacket.

"Come now, love, you know you can't go anywhere without that."

She chuckled. "Yeah, I guess you're right."

He hummed before he told her, "Which I happen to count myself lucky because I like the red leather jacket."

When he winked at her, she spun around and opened the door. "Why does he do that to me?"

She slipped on her jacket before she headed out into the hallway. Killian shut off the lights before he followed her.

He then pulled the door closed and locked it. He turned to her.

"Shall we set sail?"

She rolled her eyes. She then grabbed her hair and moved it from her jacket.

"Ow!"

"Emma? Are you alright?"

She tugged at her hair. "Ugh, no. My hair's caught in my necklace. Can you help?"

"Sure thing."

She turned around and placed her hands back on her hips. Killian scratched behind his ear and took a deep breath.

He then reached for her blonde hair. He carded his fingers through it until he found the strands that were tangled.

He unwound as much as he could - and then let out a sigh. "That's all I can do, Swan. I'll just have to pull the rest out - unless you'd rather do it."

She sighed. "Just go ahead." "Very well."

He took the necklace in one hand and her hair in the other. And he yanked them apart.

"Ow!" she cried out again. He rubbed her shoulders. "I'm sorry about that, love. It is rather like ripping off a Band-Aid."

"Yeah, it is." She then faced him. "And I know you are - and it's okay."

He offered her a smile. He then gestured down the hallway. "Shall we?" She returned his smile before she nodded. The pair then made their way down the hall and out of the building.