Captain Swan One-Shots

Rumor: Part Seven

Killian buried his face in his hands. "Bloody hell." His eyes then caught sight of the door - still slightly ajar.

He sighed. "Why do I always end up chasing this woman?"

He hopped off the stool and ran across the bar, leaving confused expressions in his wake.

He rushed out the door and called out, "Swan! Swan, where are you!"

His heart rate sped up at her reply: "You don't have to yell. I'm right here."

He spun on his heel and found her leaned on the wall next to the alley.

He furrowed his eyebrows and tilted his head. He opened his mouth when she interrupted.

"I know you'd probably come after me, and I didn't want to make you run very far."

He couldn't help but smile and shake his head. He then took a deep breath and closed the distance between them.

"Look, we can just forget any of this ever happened. We can go back to just being friends."

She sighed. "I'm not even surprised you're trying to take the noble, chivalrous way."

A small smile played across his lips. "You know I'd do anything to make you happy."

Emma sighed once more and ran her fingers through her hair. "Don't you get it? That's part of the problem."

He furrowed his eyebrows. "How is me being a good friend to you a problem?"

She ducked her head and shook it. "It's...nothing. Never mind. Let's just go back inside."

She pushed herself off the wall and walked back toward the door. Killian grabbed her arm.

"Swan - Emma - don't you think we should talk about this?"

"No. Because then I'd have to admit...admit..."

"Admit what? What are you so afraid of?"

She ran her fingers back through her hair, her gaze lingering on his hand, which still held her arm.

She pulled away and held her head in her hands. She didn't have to look at Killian to see the worry in his blue eyes.

She then took a deep breath and gestured between them. "This is what I'm afraid of. Of us."

He ran his fingers through his hair. "Then we don't have to take the plunge and be together."

"It's not being together, Killian. It's about everything - it's about the good morning texts and you bringing me lunch and you staying with me when I'm sick and how I do the exact same thing for you."

He sighed. "I guess it's worse than I thought. You're so afraid that you don't want any kind of us in the future."

Emma shook her head. "That's not it. Don't you get it? I'm afraid because I do want a future with you."

Her eyes widened, and her hand flew over her mouth. Killian tried his hardest not to smile.

He then took a deep breath and took her hands in his. When she didn't let go, he offered her another smile.

"The future is nothing to be afraid of, darling."

She got lost in his eyes before she snatched her hands away.

She crossed her arms over her chest and let out a sigh. "Don't you think, I don't know, that you deserve better than me?"

Killian tilted his head. "Are you daft? Why in the bloody hell would you say a thing like that?"