A/N: So, my promised AU one shot turned into a short story, (2-3 chapters probably) and even though I'm not satisfied with it, I still decided to post it for you all.

This story was based off of Keith Urban's new song, Cop Car, which you should go check out even if you're not a country fan. (I wasn't either until my brother converted me about a year ago.)

Disclaimer: I do not own Once or any or its characters

Enjoy!

~Earial

Cop Car

"I take it you've heading out?" Mary Margaret asked with raised eyebrows at Emma's nice attire and high heels.

"It's just a date, one that won't be going anywhere." Emma replied to her friend's numerous spoken and unspoken questions, self-consciously tugging at the hem of the blue knee-length dress.

"Uh-huh. That's exactly what you said with Neal, remember?"

"Don't remind me."

Mary Margaret's eyes darkened in concern as she walked over to give her friend a warm hug. "I'm sorry, Emma, but I am glad you're going on this date."

"Lost all hope for me?"

"No, no... I'm happy that you're giving yourself a chance to open up and find someone again. Just don't let those walls of yours get in the way and you'll be fine."

Emma sighed, blowing blonde curls out of her face as she walked towards the apartment door. "I'll be back by 10, please make sure Henry's in bed by 9."

"Have fun and keep those walls down!"

"I'll try."

It had almost been six months since the two best friends and Emma's son had moved from their home town of Storybrooke, Maine, to Boston. Despite growing up in the small town their entire lives, both felt they needed a change and better prospects for their careers.

"If only it were as easy to land a job at the Boston Police Department as it was in Storybrooke..." Emma thought to herself as she drove her bright yellow bug through the busy 7 'o clock traffic.

Once sheriff of Storybrooke, the now unemployed police women was having a tough time even getting an interview with the group of highly trained officers that represented the city's law enforcement crew.

"I've been so strung up about this job; maybe it is time to move on." She mused as she pulled up to the fancy French restaurant. Walking into the eatery, she looked around for a head of dark hair and pair of blue eyes that she'd met a week ago through mutual friend Tiffany "Tink" Belle.

"Emma! Over here!" Said female smiled and walked over to the table at which sat Captain Killian Jones of the U.S.S Jolly Roger, United States Navy.

"I'm glad you made it." Killian said in a deep Irish accent that sent slight chills down Emma's spine.

"Yeah well, don't want to disappoint a captain, right?" Killian laughed in agreement, the light glinting off his black hair as the waiter brought them their menus. Emma released a deep breath as she slowly let her barriers wash away in the presence of the charming sailor.

"So, you've always wanted to be a sailor, huh?" She commented causally as she cut the piece of pork loin in front of her.

"Always. My uncle was an admiral in the British Navy, and it was through him my love for the sea started." Killian said, smiling fondly as he recalled past memories. "We used to lie on the ship deck and count the night stars for hours."

Emma smiled wistfully as the familiar pang of loneliness shot through her, making her long to revive her temporarily disabled defenses. "That sounds awesome, I've... I've never had an uncle."

"Blimey, you're lucky; he could be quite the pain, always making me 'toe the line'." Killian chuckled. "So what about your family?"

"I have a son, Henry, and my best friend, Mary Margaret." Emma said carefully, not particularly desirous that he should know about her being an orphan, which was a subject she rarely talked about and to few people at that.

The captain seemed unperturbed by her hesitation, and kept up the suddenly lagging conversation with cheery remarks and general questions about her job, Storybrooke, Henry, etc.

Emma tried to participate in the discussion, but the lack of emotional protection was testing her nerves, and she didn't know how much longer she could keep the walls down without completely falling apart in front of him.

The dinner finished reasonably well, granted Killian was at this point doing most of the talking, when the bomb dropped.

"Oh, it's already 9:30," Emma noted, glancing at her watch as the pair headed towards the door.

"Wouldn't want you to get home 20 minutes late; what would your daddy do to me?" The dark-haired sailor joked as he held open the door for the lady.

Emma inhaled sharply and hoped he hadn't seen her pathetic attempt at a smile as they walked out, the innocent words ripping any semblance of control away from her features. She swallowed hard, but the stark reminder of her own lack of a family was a hard bullet to recover from, especially couched in those terms. "Yeah…Thanks for the evening and good-night, Killian." She commented quickly as she headed to her car, struggling to return order to her upset emotions.

"Wait a minute love, where do you think you're going?" He asked in surprise, hastily following her to the parking lot behind the building.

"Um, home? Do you have something else planned?" She said shortly, turning her face from the revealing light of the streetlamp.

Her evasion methods, however, were no match for the stubborn man. "You're crying," Killian gently noted, grasping her face in tender fingers as he wiped the salty tear-tracks off her cheeks with the pads of his thumbs. "What did I say?"

Emma sniffed, blinking in the light as she avoided his bright blue gaze, desperate to escape the situation, but too broken to hold it in any longer. "I...I've never had a family or a father...just my son and Mary Margaret. I was...am...an orphan and...and I'm sorry," She breathed, searching the ground shamefacedly. "I shouldn't be bothering you with all this..."

"Oh Emma..." Killian whispered softly as he pulled her into his arms. Emma stiffened at first, struggling to put up the shattered remnants of her defenses, but sensing the genuine concern in his embrace, eventually relaxed and allowed him hold her as the first stars started to shine in the night sky. It was the first time in a long time Emma had let herself cry, and on the shoulder of a Navy captain, no less.

"I did have other plans: I wanted to show you the stars." He murmured into her hair after a pause. "There's a park nearby, if you'd like..."

"I...I don-"

"Emma." Killian said firmly, pulling away enough to look into her eyes. "I can't give you a happy past or parents, but I can give you memories to cherish in the future. Will you go with me?"

Emma opened her mouth to say no, before Mary Margaret's words flashed through her brain. "Don't let those walls of yours get in the way..."

"Okay." She said, smiling tentatively up at the tall tanned sailor.

He grinned in response. "Great, let's take my car."

Arriving at the park, they drove through the iron gate, clearly adorned with a large No Trespassing Due To Remodeling sign.

"Um, I don't think we're suppos-"

"See, what you need Emma, is someone to liven your life up and add some spice." Killian interrupted, ignoring his companion's protests as he drove through the restricted park. "Just enjoy it, love." He added, climbing out of his Ford and helping her into the truck bed on a slight hill beneath a clear sky.

Emma swallowed her hesitations as the pair leaned against the car to gaze at the heavens. Killian pointed out various constellations, unconsciously working to remove the lady's walls, as Emma gradually opened up more and more. The unplanned breakdown at the restaurant had shown a side she hadn't meant to reveal to this man, but now that she had, her trust in him incrementally grew at his understanding demeanor.

"Must be hard moving to the likes of Boston after growing up in a small town."

"It was, is." Emma admitted, rubbing her hands over her arms. "I was hoping to move up career-wise, but Boston's chief of police is pretty frugal when it comes to handing out interviews, or even accepting applications."

She paused a moment, noticing a colorful tattoo on his arm. "Who's Milah?"

Killian was silent for a moment as he pulled his jacket around her bare shoulders, eliciting a smile and a 'thank you'.

"She was my...girlfriend." He said slowly, as if debating how much to share. "We'd known each other since we were children," He explained as his tones became laced with sorrow. "We'd loved each other for years, and I, fool that I was, thought it would last forever."

Emma cautiously placed a comforting hand on his arm at the raw agony that still festered even after years of attempts at healing. "What happened?" She asked softly.

"She died. Leukemia." Killian said briefly, swiping at his eyes with a shirt sleeve.

Emma was quiet, knowing from experience that such grief was too deep for a mere 'I'm sorry'. It was one of the first times she'd connected with someone who'd gone through what she had, perhaps even more. Compassion welled in her heart, driving away the fear of weakness and vulnerability. She slipped her hand into his sea-roughened one, letting the pressure of her fingers speak the words tongue could not.

Killian took a deep breath before turning to her. "And you? You've seen some hard times and heartbreak, I could see it in your eyes the moment you walked in."

Emma paused for a minute before saying in a subdued voice, "Neal...Henry's father...he left me." The pain of the past collided with the reality of the present, sending a tremor to her voice and tears to her eyes before she could stop it.

Killian gently squeezed her hand, pity written in his face while the two sat in silence above the star-spangled sky that glittered like precious stones.

After a significant pause, Emma breathed and straightening up, turned to the handsome captain. "Thank you for being so understanding, Killian."

"Right back at'cha and don't mention it." He replied, waving it off as he reached into his pocket to pull out a small box. "Like a cig?"

"No thanks, I don't smoke."

"Neither do I, these are my brother's that I was supposed to buy for him. Just thought I'd ask." He grinned, replacing the cigarettes.

Emma laughed and joined in his mirth, enjoying the free feeling of the inactive emotional barriers that had almost magically disintegrated. "You know, I can't remember the last date I've enjoyed this much."

"High praise." Killian teased, making as good a mock bow as can be expected in the back of a pickup. "Honestly though," He added, leaning a little closer to her. "You deserve a lifetime of wonderful days, not just one date."

Emma smiled and shifted closer, about to kiss him.

That's when the lights started flashing and the cops came pulling up.

So that's chapter one... Chapter two will be posted soon. Review please!