Captain Swan One-Shots

Second Chance, Part 12b

A little later, the three of them arrived at the coffee shop. Killian stepped out of his truck and placed his sunglasses on his shirt.

He then surmised, "I suppose this will work well enough," a grin playing across his features.

Brennan shook his head while Belle rolled her eyes. She then told him, "You are absolutely incorrigible."

"I know," he replied, his grin only growing. She shook her head before he spoke, "In all seriousness, love, how did you find this place?"

"Emma actually found it," she began as she leaned against the tailgate, "It was the perfect spot to grab her morning hot chocolate - even if it was a little out of the way."

"Until you opened your shop, right, Killian? That's how you two met?" Brennan interjected as he clasped his hands together.

"Aye, we did," he confirmed. He then started to laugh, throwing his head back.

Brennan - and even Belle - wore confused expressions. Killian waved a hand as he explained, "I was just thinking about how Emma was very much a firecracker then - of course, she's still strong-willed and stubborn, but she no longer sees me as an annoyance."

Belle giggled while Brennan let out a chuckle. He then said, "Your sister told me that you two didn't always get along, but I must confess it's rather hard to believe."

Killian couldn't help but smile. He ran his fingers through his hair as he told him, "Emma was a little too jaded while I was a little too flirtatious - we agreed to call a truce when Belle and I discovered we were siblings."

Brennan nodded. He couldn't help but grin as he supposed, "I gather that you two falling in..." He cut himself off as his eyes widened ever so slightly.

He cleared his throat before he corrected, "That is, you two growing as close as you are, must have been quite the interesting journey."

Killian smiled as he agreed, "Indeed it was." He then nodded toward the shop and spoke, "And it involved quite a bit of hot chocolate. I think perhaps we should go get our fill."

The pair of them nodded before they all headed inside. Once they ordered, they found a corner table.

A silence that hinged on awkward ensued, the three of them looking all around the shop. Killian began rubbing the back of his head.

After a few moments, he asked, "Ah, Belle, did you finish Alice in Wonderland with the children?"

She couldn't help but smile as she answered, "I did! They adored hearing about Alice's adventures with the White Rabbit, the Mad Hatter, the Red Queen, and the rest of the characters."

She then giggled and added, "And I tried to do the voices, and I believe they enjoyed the story even more."

He grinned as he surmised, "Well, love, I doubt it was that much of a stretch because you're already English."

Belle shook her head as she told him, "You are so incorrigible."

With another grin, Killian offered, "I'm fairly certain you've already called me that today."

Belle rested her chin in her hand as she spoke, "Are you surprised? You do rather have a sarcastic sense of humor - no wonder you got under Emma's skin."

He shook his head. "I think I have rubbed off on you - maybe too much." He then grinned and offered, "Be that as it may, Emma is still rather fond of me."

"Mm-hmm," she teased before she let out a chuckle. He shook his head before the server brought their coffee and tea. A brief silence ensued as they sipped on their beverages.