K. Jones | Small Talk and Mediocre Coffee

Emergency Room

It's been a week since you've last seen Killian.

You've spent every morning watching the door to the diner, hoping the dark-haired, leather-clad man would walk in and sit at the corner booth. Although you hope he'd tell you what was troubling his mind for the past week, you'd settle for pretending everything was back to normal. You'd settle for small talk and a mediocre cup of coffee. Because, in reality, you miss him. Killian Jones has become a part of your life - an important part of your life. His sarcastic remarks, his charming personality, his dashing smile, and even his outwardly cold and brooding demeanor have grown on you. Killian Jones has grown on you - more than you ever would have guessed he would have the day he stepped foot into the diner.

Someone calling your name grabs your attention. You turn and see Emma leaning against the counter. You give her a forced smile and grab her order from the back.

"The usual, as always. Tell David I say hi."

"Will do. You should come by after your shift. Killian is bringing us lunch. I could send him –"

Emma stops as she spots the pained expression on your face. She places her order down and sits at one of the stools.

"Okay, spill. What did he do?"

"He didn't do anything, Emma."

Emma simply folds her hands and places them on the counter, waiting for you to continue. She obviously isn't going to leave until you speak to her. And maybe talking about it could be a good thing. You groan softly and set down the rag in your hands.

"I haven't seen him since Henry's birthday."

Emma's brow furrows at your comment.

"At all?"

You shake your head in response which only seems to deepen Emma's confusion.

"Well, that's weird."

"Yeah, I think I scared him off."

"Why do you say that?"

You hesitate for a moment and look to make sure Ashley isn't paying attention.

"We had a moment at Henry's party."

Emma's eyes light up at your words and you roll your eyes at her response.

"A moment?"

Emma's excitement is evident in her voice. You urge her to quiet down, making sure no one around overheard your conversation.

"Yes. I told him that I'm going to be staying in town for a little longer than I had previously thought because there were some things keeping me here. You know, like him. And now he wants nothing to do with me."

"I don't know if you've noticed this yet, but Killian is pretty oblivious. I doubt he even knows that you were talking about him. So, I don't think you scared him off."

"Are you sure? He left the diner the next morning before he even sat down. I was talking to Robin and Will, I heard the door open, and the next thing I know he's headed toward the docks. Sure seems like he doesn't want to see me."

Emma seems to consider your words for a moment before responding.

"How about I talk to him? I really doubt this has anything to do with you."

You nod at her words. Emma gives you a kind smile before grabbing her order once again. She says goodbye to you and then exits the diner, leaving you with just your thoughts and the breakfast rush.

On the other side of town, Killian is sitting uncomfortably stiff on the couch in Dr. Hopper's office. Every Friday morning, instead of another shift at the docks, he finds himself in this room, attending yet another court-ordered therapy session due to the conditions of his parole. And as much as Killian wants to believe that these sessions are just a waste of time, he knows that Dr. Hopper actually does know what he is talking about, and sometimes Killian actually enjoys having someone to talk to about the thoughts inside of his head. Whether or not they are a waste of time though, Killian doesn't have much of a choice in the matter. He has to be here.