She should have known, it was the bar all the pilots hung out at after all. Passing through or stationed, they all eventually found themselves at the same place. Emma herself had been a regular since she joined the Academy. And even now, in her last year, she still found herself here more nights than she'd like to admit. It was overrated - peanut shells littering the floor, pool tables in desperate need of refelting, and a beer selection selection that would make you wince - but the music was good, the drinks cheap, and it gave her the chance to scout the future competition.

From across the bar, she spotted him as he walked in. Even without a uniform or the standard jacket with patches, she'd know what he was. Everything about him screamed pilot, from his snug jeans and grey t-shirt to his black leather jacket and hair just a touch longer than regulation. He oozed speed, danger, and a little bit of recklessness. Emma's favorite brand of sex appeal. If she had to guess, she wouldn't peg him for a rookie. He seemed too old, not enough of that overeager puppy expression that the boys in their first year of training couldn't seem to shake. That and the lines on his face and the set of his jaw spoke of experience. Might be that he was one of the many who came to town between missions, give themselves a chance to let loose while they awaited further instructions. Maybe a chance for something else.

There was only one way to find out.

It didn't take long for his gaze to linger, mirroring the way hers had been fixated on him for the last few minutes. He seemed to take the hint when he raised an eyebrow at her and she smirked. He moved towards her with a swagger that drew the attention of more than one woman at the bar. However, his eyes remained on her, making her feel his heat long before he reached her side.

"Tell me something, love," he said as he placed his beer on the bar and leaned next to her. "What do the blokes who try to hit on you usually say?"

Emma twisted her lips and pretended to give the question some thought. "It would start with something like… I'm about to be shipped off on a secret mission, will only be in town for a few days..." She circled the rim of his beer with her finger before lifting her eyes to meet his. They were a deep blue and rimmed with tiny gold flecks and he had dark, thick eyelashes that were a perfect, tempting combination.

He cocked an eyebrow, the corner of his mouth twitching in a self-deprecating way. "Oh. I see." His hand hovered just out of reach of where hers had wrapped around the neck of his beer bottle. "So my own story has been told so many times before that you probably wouldn't believe me even if I swore by it."

She laughed and knew shouldn't let him go on. He was the worst kind of trouble. But she'd done nothing but deal with intensive training and detailed flying lessons for weeks now and she needed an excuse to unwind. If he truly wasn't going to be in town for long, it would be perfect. They could be like two ships passing in the night. Simple, uncomplicated, and from the self-confidence he was exuding, a lot of fun.

"You're a pilot." She didn't need to phrase it as a question.

"The best one you'll ever meet."

She brought his beer to her mouth, keeping her eyes steady on his as he zeroed in on the movement. "Cocky?" she asked and took a sip.

It took him a moment to find his voice, but when he did, it was a sultry whisper that hit parts of her she swore had been dormant for a long time. "Just honest."

His gaze traveled across her face before he scooted his stool closer to hers, his thigh brushing hers as he settled back into his seat.

"Killian Jones, codename Hook." He darted out his hand and waited for her.

She put down his beer and took his hand. "Emma Nolan, codename Swan." Instead of shaking her hand, though, he took it to his lips and pressed a soft kiss to her knuckles. His eyes lifted to meet hers and she was struck by the intensity of his gaze, the air surrounding them warming a few degrees.

"Pilot too, huh?"

"Just one more year at the academy before I graduate."

"Tell me, Swan," he asked as he slowly lowered their hands and leaned closer. "You already spend your days surrounded by all this testosterone, aren't you tired of it? Why come here and hook up with them?"

She tilted her head and gave him a slow smile. "What makes you think I come here to hook up with them? I come to see them crash and burn as they try to hit on me and come up short."

It could have been a direct cut. Several men - most of them - would have found her approach brash and off-putting. Several men had. But it seemed Killian Jones wasn't most men. He stared at her, one eyebrow arching playfully as he picked up the bottle she had just taken a drink out of. "So you mean to tell me you've never bedded a pilot?"

The way he said it, his voice low, raspy and plainly sinful, made Emma's knees buckle. She cleared her throat, her tongue darting out to wet her lips, forcing his eyes focus on her mouth. "What? Do you think I'm missing out?"

The way his tongue wrapped around the head of his beer bottle was probably illegal in most states. When he was done swallowing, he shrugged his shoulder in a movement that was clearly carefully planned and executed. "Maybe."

Emma knew all about pilots. Knew the adrenaline kick they lived for. She was one of them after all. There was that brief moment where a split-second decision could mean life or death. There was that thrill of living on the edge, knowing when to dive and when to pull back.

Right now felt like one of those moments. And in that split-second, she made her choice.

"Can I buy you another beer, Hook?"

His lips curved in the most wicked smile she'd ever seen up close. "Direct. I like it." His fingers brushed hers as he pressed himself against her. "How about some rum instead?"

/-/

It wasn't long before she found herself in his hotel room, her back pressed against the wall as he kissed down her neck and rutted his hips against hers. His hands roaming up the sides of her thighs and the expanse of her stomach before he tucked his thumb behind each of the buttons of her shirt, dragging it open and down her arms. She tilted her head back, trying to take a breath as his fingers traced along the sides of her bra, teasing at the skin beneath the clasp before he opened it. All she managed to do was let out a soft moan when he pushed the fabric aside and wrapped his lips around her nipple, his tongue circling her before he bit down.

One hand gripped his shoulder and she pressed the other against the wall as he made his way down her ribcage and to her navel, his tongue swirling and teeth nipping. She could feel his smile again the skin above the waist of her jeans as his fingers worked her zipper open and he lowered her jeans and panties. He drew one leg over his shoulder as he had her step out of her jeans, drawing her closer to him.

His tongue on her, his fingers worked her until she came screaming his name, her body shivering as he stroked her through her high. When she was able to open her eyes again, he was looking at her through hooded eyes.

"Bed?" he asked, his voice thick with desire.

She pulled him back to his feet, crashing her mouth to his in a fierce kiss, her hands undoing the fly of his jeans and cupping him through his briefs. "I can't wait that long…"

He chuckled, reaching for his wallet and removing a condom. "Maybe for round two then?"

"Definitely for round two."

/-/

At some point in the night, somewhere after round two, Killian drifted to sleep, pulling her towards him. Feeling her eyelids grow heavy as she dozed herself, Emma contemplated leaving the bed, making good in her rule of never staying the night. But the weight of his arm across her belly and the warmth of his chest pressed to her back felt too good. Emma sighed with contentment. She wasn't ready to leave this bed yet.

She woke up a few hours later, with the first rays of light on her skin and his nose nuzzling the back of her neck while his hand trailed a path down her leg. She wiggled against him and smiled at his groan.

"How long are you in town?" she asked as she turned, her lips seeking his.

He brushed his lips against hers. "Through the weekend and then I'm shipping off to Top Gun." His hand found the spot that made her see stars the previous night and he slowly stroked her, "Do you have plans for the weekend, love?"

"I'm thinking we can make the best of this."

He smirked, his blue eyes staring intently at her. "I like the sound of that."

/-/

The weekend came to an end much too soon. The hours split between his hotel room and roaming the different attractions the city had to offer until finally, Emma found herself driving Killian to the airport. She stared at him as they stood at the terminal's entrance, his duffel bag resting at his feet.

"Perhaps we can stay in touch? Meet on my next leave?" he asked, his hand reaching out to tuck a strand of her hair behind her ear. A big part of Emma wanted to scream yes, but her more practical side knew it wasn't feasible, knew she'd only get hurt

She frowned. "It would only create complications and you know it. Better keep this as a good memory instead of trying to force it into something else."

She could sense his hesitation, and for a moment she thought he might fight what she said. But she saw the moment his eyes dimmed, giving her a little shrug and a small, lopsided grin. He lifted his duffel bag and Emma knew this was the end.

But Killian Jones seemed to be one hell of a strategist, because then he reached out, his fingers tentatively caressing her face as his next words took her breath away. "Permission to think of you once in a while, Lt. Nolan?"

She wasn't a lieutenant yet, but she let it slide. Her lips curved into a smile. "Permission granted, Lt. Jones."

He pulled her to him, his lips crashing hers into a searing kiss that she knew was meant to leave her thinking of him as well. Killian rested his forehead against hers. "I'll be doing that then."

"Good"

/-/

Three years later

The news reached her while she was on a mission in the Indian Ocean. Lt. Killian Jones had been severely injured while on a top secret mission, an accident causing his aircraft to crash on the ocean. His RIO had died on the scene while Lt Jones had sustained grave wounds. He was listed in critical condition and the military refused to provide further information to anyone other than kin relatives..

Emma had to sit as the news sank in, her heart beating frantically in her chest as her brain replayed images of their time together.

From the last time she'd seen him.

While they weren't close, they had kept tabs on each other for the first year after their tryst, postcards from the world reaching her as he went into Top Gun and then onto several missions. After the first year, though, Emma had received her own assignments and their communication had been more sporadic. Being out of the Academy, Emma had thought about suggesting meeting up again, and it seemed that fate was on her side when she spotted him outside the base she was stationed. She was about to call out to him when she noticed the brunette at his side, leaning against him. It was clear she was more than just a fellow officer and something that felt a lot like regret passed through Emma before she turned and walked away.

That had been a year ago and a part of Emma always wondered what would have happened if she'd simply agreed to meet him on his next leave when he'd asked her.

Shaking the memories from her mind, Emma spent the next few days trying to reach Killian. She called the hospital, the base where he was stationed, and the base he was being transferred to after the hospital.

But she heard nothing.

Silence.