So this is my first ever uploaded work on this site. This collection I'm beginning here is inspired by different songs that catch my fancy and give me all the feels. To get the mood of this little bitty, Listen to Home Alone Tonight by Luke Bryan.

Home Alone Tonight

He finds her sitting up by the bar, a bottle of beer in one hand and 2 empty shot glasses in from of her. She was a vision of beauty as always, but tonight something was off. He knew something must have happened. She normally steers clear of taking shots.

"Swan," he greets as he slides into the bar stool next to her. "What matter of melancholy has me dragging my arse out in the snow, 3 days before Christmas?" She doesn't look at him, just picks up her phone, unlocks the screen, opens a conversation and slides the phone back to him before taking another sip of beer. Raising an eyebrow, he picks up the phone. He groans when he sees who it was with. Neal fucking Cassidy

Hey Ems

What do you want

I was thinking about you. Wondering how you are.

I'm great, amazing even

What do you want

I miss you

….

You've got to be fucking kidding me

Come on Ems. I love you, and miss you. When are you coming home?

This is not ok. You can't just message me out of the blue like this.

Look, I know I messed up, but don't you think two years is punishment enough?

Stop this foolishness and just come home already

It's not punishment! Our relationship is OVER! I caught you in our bed with another woman!

It was an accident, a mistake!

NO, an ACCIDENT is slipping and falling on ice. You did not slip and fall into a woman's vagina!

I still love you

That's your issue to deal with. I am under no obligation to return your love. We are over, forever

I know you miss me.

You're just not going to let this go are you? How do you figure I miss you?

You haven't been in a relationship since us. You obviously still have feelings for me.

….

…no

… just no

Please take your delusions back to Tamale or whatever the hell her name is

Tamara, her name is Tamara.

Don't care, have a nice life Neal

I'm not going to give up on us

Will you stop already? Roll over, kiss your girlfriend and leave me the hell alone

Tamara's sleeping

OMFG you are pathetic! LEAVE ME ALONE!

Killian slid the phone back to Emma and sat in shocked silence. A shot of whiskey appeared before him and he quickly downed it, letting the burn in his throat be a good distraction from the sudden onslaught of homicidal rage he was feeling. He had always believed that Neal was a bloody wanker, but now he had added manipulative bastard to the mix. He had never truly liked nor trusted the guy, but for a time, he made Emma happy, so he kept his opinions to himself. He took a sip from the bottle of beer that also appeared before him and sat in silent contemplation when Emma's sigh pulled his attention back to her.

"I think the part that bothers me the most," she started slowly, "is that he believes I need to be in a relationship to be over him. Like I can't be happy on my own."

"You're not exactly alone, love." He began. "You do have Henry." She gave him a deadpan look; he just shrugged with a grin and took another pull from his beer.

"I don't need anyone besides Henry. I'm perfectly content not being in a relationship. I don't really have time to go look either. Not many guys are lining up for a date with a single mother of a 14 month old."

"Who has the lad tonight anyway?"

"Mary Margaret, she's taking the boys to see Santa tomorrow. Lots of pictures, I promise."

They fell into a comfortable silence, sipping from their beer. It wasn't like Emma to be so rattled by her ex nightmare. She was strong, beautiful, and wildly independent. She had a very successful job as a social worker, helping kids in rough situations find peace and happy homes, and she was amazing at it. Giving the children the opportunities she never had growing up until David "adopted" her as a freshman in high school. Ruth, the amazing woman that she was, took one look at Emma and hadn't let her leave.

Emma was the strongest person he knew.

"So, aside from Sir Douchface wreaking havoc on your mind, what brings us out her tonight?"

"I need you to help me get some perspective." She took a deep breath and faced him. "I need you to play Devil's advocate for me."

"Aye?" He quirked an eyebrow.

"Yeah, MM says that I should hear him out and possibly give him another chance. That he might truly be sorry and we can work things out. That maybe it's not worth throwing away 5 years of relationship."

Does she know that he was texting you while in bed with the woman that he cheated on you with? Was the first thought that ran through Killian's head. He felt his heart constrict in his chest. The last thing he personally wanted was for Emma to give Neal the time of day.

"The thing is that, I just don't want to? I know she means well, but I feel like she is trying to force or guilt me into it. And for her 'I don't want to' isn't a good enough reason, but it should be right?" She continued on before he had the chance to comment. "The idea of being in the same room as him makes my skin crawl. And the fact that he was trying to reconcile with me while in bed with her makes me want to vomit, or take a shower. Two years later and the whole things still makes me feel dirty. I shouldn't need to justify why I don't want to be in a relationship with my cheating ex fiancé. Or any relationship for that reason."

"I agree, you need to do whatever makes you happy." He whispered.

"Ugh," she groaned and dropped her head onto her arms. "That is less than helpful." She rolled her head on her arm to look up at him. "I know you are all about choices, and I respect that, but I really want your honest opinion."

"My honest opinion?"

"Yeah, what would you do?"

He downed the rest of his beer and took a deep breath. "Neal is the scum of the Earth. Cheating on your fiancé is the highest of insults. Something you should NEVER do. He doesn't and never did deserve you and he definitely doesn't deserve Henry. And for the record, I wholeheartedly agree in withholding Henry from Neal. I have never seen you happier in the last two years, even with the stress of being a single mother and a working woman, you are beautiful and an inspiration.

"If you don't want to be in or look for a relationship, more power to you, Swan. No person should be defined by their relationship status. When and if you are ready, you will find someone who is worthy of you. To be your partner in all things. For you to stand shoulder to shoulder and have the world at your feet. Someone who will treat you as the princess you deserve to be treated like."

A tear slid down Emma's cheek, and with a wry smile he wiped it away with the pad of his thumb. "Is that all?" She whispered.

"Not quite." He leaned in and gently pressed his lips to hers in a chaste kiss. She didn't move under him and when he caught the saltiness of a lingering tear, he pulled away, afraid that he had overstepped his boundaries.

"I'm so sorry, I just," he sighed and took a step back. He watched as her eyes fluttered open and she murmured his name. "I wanted to do that, just once, I'm so sorry." He turned to flee the situation, but was halted when she caught his arm. "Swan, please," but his plea was silenced by her finger over his mouth, which was soon replaced by her lips as she reached up to him.

The slid of her lips and the hint of her tongue had his head swimming. Fighting against the disbelief, he used one hand to bury in her hair as the other slid to her waist to pull her closer. He angled her head to deepen the kiss and was encouraged by the moan of appreciation that came from the back of her throat.

"Hey!" they were startled apart by the bartender setting two new beers down in front of them. "If you two are going to attempt to suck each other's faces off, I suggest you take it somewhere else"

Emma hid her blush in the crook of Killian's neck while he nodded at the bartender who left them to head to the other end to help a rather rude customer. Emma gently tangled their fingers together and looked shyly up at him. He grinned down at her in wonder and amazement.

"So what now love?"

"Oh I have a few ideas."

Killian woke up slowly and stretched. He was slightly disoriented from the amount of sunlight seeping in through his window. What startled him was the decidedly female groan of displeasure that sounded next to him.

"Pillows don't move," she grumbled. Looking down in surprise, he recognized the unmistakable cascade of blonde hair that belonged to Emma splayed out over his pillows and her clearly bare shoulder.
"Apologies love, I'm just trying to decided if I'm still dreaming or not." She gave him a sleepy grin and kissed his bare shoulder, before leaning up and placing a gentle kiss on his lips.

"Real enough for you?" she teased and snuggled back into his chest. He chuckled and pulled her closer to him.

"Oh aye," he murmured back and kissed the crown of her head. "Besides, if I'm dreaming, I never want to wake up."

"Me neither."

Last night

"Shots, you want to do shots? Swan, we both know I can drink you under the table." Killian laughed. Swan's mischievous grin was infectious.

"What's the matter Jones, think you can't handle it?" she taunted sliding the shot glass towards him. It was a murky brown with a tinge of green.

"What the bloody hell is in that glass?"

"A Dirty Girl scout. Just drink it and shut up." Emma taunted again. They threw them back together and Killian smacked his lips at the minty concoctions.

"That was kind of mild. Going easy on me Swan?"

She threw her head back and laughed. The sound was music to his ears. "Don't worry Jones, the night is still young." With a smile, she tugged him out onto the dance floor.

"I'm pretty sure there are laws against this."

"Stop being such a worry wart. You'll like this one!" She lit the top of the shot glass on fire and carefully sprinkled cinnamon on it. It crackled just like a campfire. "Now blow this out carefully and down it right away." He followed her instructions, the rim of the glass was warm, but the liquid was delicious. It tasted like the chocolate marshmallow mess her and David had introduced him to when they were on a camping trip in high school.

"That was delicious!"

"Aye that is was. More dancing?" he asked with his hand outstretched.

"Absolutely."

"A blow job, really? That's the name of this?"

"Awe, come on, it's fun!"

"And I can't use my hands?"

"That's the other part of the fun."

His voice dropped low as the alcohol in his system started to lower his inhibitions. "Oh, Love, you have no idea how much fun I can be."

"Mmm, promises, promises. Now quit stalling or the whipped cream will melt!"

Sighing, he clasped his hands behind his back as the leaned in and closed his whole mouth around the glass. The weight of the glass made it difficult to throw back but he managed. Using his hand to remove the glass from his mouth he had to admit it wasn't half bad.

"Oh Jones, you fail." She touched the side of his mouth where apparently some of the alcohol had dribbled out. She leaned in close and could feel the heat of desire start to flare in his body. "I can't believe you let such good alcohol go to waste. Let me help you with that." She teased and then licked the corner of his mouth. He couldn't resist the urge to kiss her proper and she laughed the whole way through it.

"Well, we've proven one thing."

"And what's that love?"

She leaned in close to his ear as she started walk away. "You're not gay," the last was word punctuated by her grabbing his ass. With a bark of laughter he followed her back to the dance floor.

"Killian, come here!" She pulled him up behind her.

"Time for another shot?"

"Nah, better." She held up her camera. "Smile!"

She snapped the pic just as he placed a kiss against her temple. She had her eyes closed in the picture and it was possibly the happiest he had ever seen her. Biting her lip with a smile, she sent the pic as a message to someone.

"Are you sure that was entirely wise?" He hated to put a damper on the mood, but he knew sober Emma would never have done that. She turned in his arms and smiled up at him.

"I've only had two beers and five shots in the past four hours. Between dancing, sweating, and kissing you, there's not much alcohol in my system. I switched to water an hour ago. It was the best idea."

"Creamy orgasm, I feel like you are trying to tell me something here Swan." She smirked at him as they picked up their glasses.

"Wouldn't you like to know?" They threw back their shots and set the glasses down. He reached for her hand and brought it to his lips.

"Perhaps I would," he whispered and placed a kiss against her finger tips causing her to giggle.

She shook her head at his silliness. "How are you still single?" She blurted out and his brow furrowed in confusion at her sudden question.

"Maybe I really like this woman and I'm just saving myself until she likes me back?"

"Well that's just silly." She says dismissively, but her eyes tell him that she is affected by his sudden confession. "If you never plan on telling her how you feel, she will probably never say anything, because her life is way complicated and she doesn't want to pull you into that chaos more than you already are. She's probably too afraid to upset the balance. The 'status quo' as it were."

"Oh Swan," he lifts his hand to caress her face. "I've loved this woman for over a decade now. I'll wait until she is ready. Even if that is forever." She raised her eyebrow and averted her gaze, looking towards the floor.

"It would be complicated. What if she had a toddler at home? A toddler that isn't his, but in all honesty you'd end up being the closest thing he has to a real father. She comes with baggage. Could you handle that?" He puts a finger gently under her jaw and lifts her head so she can look him in the eyes and know the truth of his words.

"Swan, her little man is not a deal breaker. He knows full well what he is getting himself into. And he wants it all. The chaos, the sleepless nights, the death glares before morning coffee." That causes a smile, everyone in their group of friends knows not to talk to Emma before her morning cup of coffee. The only one safe from death is Henry. "Besides, I have my own baggage. Maybe I'm scared she will reject me. I lost my wife in a freak snow storm. I didn't handle the loss well, and 5 years later, I still have issues getting on a city bus–" His words were cut off when she surged forward and caught his lips in a kiss. It wasn't as heated as her last kiss. This was gentle, showing emotion and caring.

She pulled away, but left her forehead pressed against his. "Killian, you know that accident wasn't your fault." She breathed against his lips. She felt him nod.

"I do, and I know she wouldn't want me to mourn her forever. She would want me to find love again. I love her, and I will always love her. She will always be a part of my past, but I can't live there." He pulled back and looked in her eyes. "When you are ready, Emma. Not before."

She blinded him with a dazzling smile and reached out for his hand to wrap around her waist before sinking into his chest. "Take me home, Killian." She whispers into his neck.

"Yeah?"

"Yeah, I don't want to go home alone for once."

"Oh, Swan, you never have to be alone again ever, if you wish."

Like I said up top, this is my first published little bitty. I have a few more lined up, but I'll see how this goes over first. Cheerio loves