Captain Swan One-Shots

Truce, Part 6a

A little over a week later, Emma walked into the Cove and was greeted by a smiling (and surprised) Killian, who was wiping down tables.

"Swan, it's so lovely to see you. I've missed seeing you in here," he told her when he had turned to face her, praying she couldn't hear the slight desperation in his voice. When she pushed a piece of blonde hair behind her ear and then proceeded to run her fingers through it, he knew that she had.

She cleared her throat before she responded, "Yeah, well, I've been really busy this week," though she couldn't bring herself to look at him.

"I know you better than that, Emma," Killian said, causing her to look up at him. Emma took a deep breath before she admitted, "Okay, fine. I just didn't want to talk about, you know, it."

"I figured as much - you've been avoiding me, Swan," he stated matter-of-factly.

She only looked down at her boots before she looked back up and told him, "I know. But I came here because I'm ready to talk."

Killian's blue eyes lit up and a blinding smile erupted on his face - both in a way that Emma hadn't seen before. The sight almost made her rethink the decision she had made.

However, she channeled her determination and motioned to one of the tables. She sat down and Killian sat down across from her.

"So, love, what's on your mind?" he asked her as he reached over and pushed the hair off her shoulder.

Emma took a deep breath before she answered, "We need to talk about what happened between us."

"You mean the kiss," Killian stated. His eyes then moved down to her lips, but he quickly looked back into her eyes before he was caught.

The blonde nodded before she elaborated, "I wanted to apologize for that. I think we just got caught up in the moment, and we, well, kissed."

Killian's heart began to sink in his chest, but he wouldn't dare show it. He instead turned on the façade and told her, "Well, Swan, even though it was a one-time thing, I wouldn't dare complain about a kiss from a woman as beautiful as you," with a smirk.

Emma rolled her eyes and shook her head before she observed, "So, you agree with me - it was just a kiss. One that shouldn't have happened."

"Aye, Swan," the dark-haired man simply replied, and she nodded at him in response. She then asked, "So, can we go back to being friends?"

"Alas, love, you are the one who was avoiding me," Killian pointed out. He then teased her, "I'm surprised you haven't gone through hot chocolate withdrawals."

The blonde couldn't help but giggle before she told him, "I am capable of making my own hot chocolate, you know."

He grinned as he replied, "Perhaps, but you are not a professional barista such as myself, and you miss out on my charming company."

"Well, I suppose it is hard to argue with that logic," Emma agreed, earning a smile from Killian. She then got up from her chair, and he followed her movement before the blonde continued, "Well, I've got to get going. I have some errands to run."

"Errands? But don't you have work?" Killian questioned confusedly.

"Well, you see, I've been covering some for David so that he could stay with Mary Margaret and the baby, and he decided to return the favor," Emma explained.

Killian nodded before he questioned, "So, I'll see you later, Swan?" "Yeah, you will," she answered with a smile.

He smiled back before he watched her walk out of the coffee shop. When he could no longer see her, he sank down in the chair and ran his hands through his hair. "Bloody hell," he then cursed as he looked back toward the door.

Friends. Just friends. The past week he hadn't seen her only amplified the feelings that he had for her. There hadn't been a day he hadn't thought about her - she was only thing that filled his mind. He knew that friends wouldn't be enough for him.

He sighed as he began to think about how great their friendship was before that kiss - and his heart - made things a bit more complicated. He couldn't lose her in any capacity; his heart wouldn't be able to heal this time around.

He could read her well enough to know that his feelings were far from one-sided, but she was too afraid to let him into her heart. She had convinced herself that love wasn't even in the cards for her - he couldn't blame her because he used to feel the same way.

He was quite literally caught in a crossroads - he wanted to fight for her and show her that love was worth the risk. But that would most likely scare her away, and that wall of hers would go up even higher. In truth, the only thing that mattered to him was her happiness, and if that meant pushing his feelings aside for her sake, he wouldn't even hesitate.

With that thought in mind, he got up and continued wiping down tables.

As soon as Emma left the Cove, she drove to the library to meet Belle for lunch. She was a few minutes early, and the brunette was finishing up the children's reading.

She read the last page before closing the book. She bid goodbye to the boys and girls, and they did the same before leaving with their parents.

Emma then made her over to her friend, who immediately asked, "How did it go with Killian?"

"I know what you're implying, and no, I didn't break his heart. He handled it fine, and he agreed with me," the blonde defended with crossed arms.

Belle shook her head at her friend's words before she responded, "I'm glad you two worked it out."

The blonde then planted her hands on her hips before she pointedly spoke, "I know what you think about all of this, so just say it."

The brunette sighed before she said, "I just believe that Killian can give you the love that you're too scared to admit that you want. I wish you would give him a chance."

"Yeah, well, he is your brother," Emma retorted.

Belle couldn't help but shake her head before she pointed out, "Shortly after the Cove first opened, I suggested that there was another reason that Killian got under your skin. Was that also because he's my brother?"

Emma opened her mouth to protest, but she promptly shut it. After a few moments, she spoke, "You dropped the subject because you knew it would never happen, and it was a ridiculous idea. Things haven't changed."

"You're running, Emma," Belle stated matter-of-factly. "Well, it's better than having my heart broken again," the blonde admitted.

The brunette's expression softened, and she reassuringly spoke, "He won't break your heart, and you know that. But your heart is stopping you."

Emma ran her fingers through her hair before she changed the subject, "Let's go to Granny's. I'm starving."

"Alright," Belle answered with a cheerful smile, knowing that her friend needed to see it. The blonde smiled back before they headed out of the library.

When both women settled in the yellow bug, Emma made her way on the New York streets. Belle then spoke, "Oh! I almost forgot - August got four tickets to the Yankees game this weekend."

"August likes sports?" Emma surprisingly asked.

The brunette shook her head before she pointed out, "Just because he's a literature professor and author doesn't necessarily mean that he spends all of his time reading, Emma." She then teased, "I'm sure that some people would be shocked to know that your favorite movie is the Princess Bride."

The blonde rolled her eyes before she questioned, "So, which one of us is asking Killian to go?"

"Well, you do see him every day," Belle stated matter-of-factly.

"At his coffee shop," the blonde reminded her friend, and the brunette responded, "That is what I meant," with a grin.

Emma nervously tapped her fingers on the steering wheel before she said, "Obviously. There is no other meaning to be inferred."

Belle only shook her head as Emma pulled into Granny's. They then got out and made their way into the diner.