Captain Swan One-Shots

Love in the First Degree, Part 10a

Once inside, they walked over to the reception desk. Killian paid for their game while Emma picked out their clubs and balls.

When she handed the equipment to him, she teased, "Get ready to lose, Jones." He smirked at her as he replied, "Perhaps you're the one who should get ready."

Soon after, they both began laughing. The blonde then spoke, "Come on, mini-golf is this way," motioning with her head.

He nodded before the two of them headed toward the back of the establishment as they walked side-by-side.

They walked through a black door and were immediately assaulted by a bright array of glow-in-the-dark lights.

"Well, it's certainly got style. I'll give them that," Killian surmised as he looked around the room.

He titled his head when she didn't respond. He looked over and found her entranced by her surroundings. He couldn't help but smile at her.

He then leaned a bit closer and told her, "It does look rather adventurous, doesn't it?"

She jumped at his voice, and he apologized, "Sorry, love, I didn't mean to startle you."

"Oh, it's okay. I wasn't paying attention," Emma assured him with a wave of her hand.

Killian nodded before he asked, "What were you thinking about, Swan?" "Just about mini-golf," she answered with a shrug, earning a raised eyebrow from him.

He then questioned, "Is that all you're going to tell me?"

She couldn't help but tease, "Wouldn't you like to know?" grinning at him.

He shook his head as he told her, "You do vex me at times, Emma." Yet, he grinned a moment later, which made her giggle.

When she finished, she said, "I was only joking. I'll tell you about it." She then nodded toward the first hole and spoke, "But it'll have to be while we're playing."

"I can live with that," Killian replied as he smiled at her. He then asked, "You going first, love?"

"I think I'll leave that to you," Emma began as she smiled back at him. She paused before she continued, "And I'll keep score."

"I don't know if I can allow that," Killian told her, a hint of a smile on his face. He then rested his hands on the handle of his club and added, "How do I know you won't cheat?"

She offered him a playful smile as she told him, "I guess you'll just have to trust me."

He shook his head as she let out a chuckle. He then said, "And you say I'm incorrigible."

Emma only shrugged before she spoke, "Maybe - but it's still your turn."

Killian couldn't help but roll his eyes. Even still, he set his golf ball down on the neon matting. As he lined up the shot, he spoke, "Alright, Swan, it's story time."

She chuckled before she began, "I was 15 and living in a group home. The couple fostering all of us took us to an outdoor course in the next town over - it was also a birthday celebration of sorts because four of the kids had birthdays that month. I had only been there a couple weeks, so I was still settling in - the home was pretty nice, but I still didn't know what to really expect from this outing."

A sympathetic look crossed over Killian's features as he listened. He knew enough of her time in the foster system to know what she wasn't saying - she had felt unsure for way more than just the outing.

He was pulled away from his thoughts when he heard Emma perceive, "I'm okay, Killian. Really. It was a long time ago, and this group home did give me a really good memory."