In Flames • Captain Swan

3. Was It Love At First Sight?

NEW YORK CITY HOSPITAL

Emma didn't know. She didn't know who Killian was, but she decided to let him into her house, like she was her old friend. And even she was surprised by what she did.

The truth is, she did trust him. Maybe it was because he had a daughter who he loved so much. Maybe it was because she cared about Abby, since kids were her soft spot. That doesn't erase the fact that it was weird that she would let them stay in her house, which she was about to leave before she found them.

Emma had started to believe in fate. Maybe the universe didn't want her to leave this place, which didn't feel like home. Maybe it wanted her to make New York her home.

But what was the purpose? She had no job. She would soon lose her house (which, to be exact, wasn't hers, she rented it). Where would she and they stay after that?

Or maybe it wasn't even a coincidence. Maybe her subconscious didn't want her to go through this alone. Yes, she had Mary-Margaret, that's for sure, but, sometimes, she couldn't understand her. And it wasn't her fault, not at all. They were just not the same person.

What Emma didn't know, was that what Killian and her had was more than just a connection. To be honest, she believed that she started developing some feelings for him from the moment they met — the weird thing was that these feelings felt familiar.

Was it love at first sight?

No. This was not Emma. Emma needed to spend a long time with the other person to start developing this kind of feelings for him.

But this wasn't why she opened up to him and trusted him. It was something deeper. Their pasts weren't the same, but they were connected in a special kind of way, they understood each other. Both lost, both tortured, heartbroken.

Killian smiled at her. “You alright?” he asked when he saw her staring at the ceiling.

“What?” she turned to him. “Yeah, I'm fine.”

She was sitting at Killian's room almost all the time to supposedly check on him, but the truth is she really enjoyed his company. She enjoyed spending time with him.

“Look...” he started. “I know you didn't have to say all of this, but... Thanks for trusting me. Really.” he grabbed her wrist and rubbed it.

“It... It was easy. I guess.” she answered and smiled softly at him.

“Why?”

Emma shrugged. “I-I don't know.” she hesitated. “I don't do it often.”

Killian stayed silent for a couple minutes and then sighed, looking away from her. His expression suddenly became sad. “You-you know... You may have never had someone but... I've lost everybody since I was young.” he teared up. “My mother died when I was a kid, my father abandoned us shortly after... My brother was all I have left, and he... he left when I was 15 w-with the navy and h-hasn't returned... I d-don't know i-if he's still a-alive.” he was already sobbing and he hadn't even reached half of it.

Emma interrupted him. “Hey, you don't have to say it if you can't.” she said and touched his arm.

“No, I owe you one.” he insisted.