*** PLEASE READ: This will be the LAST chapter I am posting under Chinese Food and a Movie. The chapters I wrote for Season 4 already have been copied to my new story, NEVER GIVE UP and this one will be posted there as well. Going forward, all Season 4 related one-shots/drabbles/whatever will be there.

I'd absolutely love it if any of you would come on over and follow NEVER GIVE UP as well. :)

In other news, tonight is the Captain Swan date! OMG we're going to die, aren't we? Here's my take on how the evening might go, based off spoilers and the like.

Quiet moments. Good moments. She repeats over and over in her head as she drives to Granny's. A flurry of butterflies has inhabited her stomach. Her heart is pounding and at this rate, she's going to have spots on her jeans from wiping her sweaty palms on them.

She finds him where she expected, at the counter. "Here to ask me to accompany you on another hunt for this Snow Queen, Swan? Let me just return to my room to retrieve the talking device." He stands and turns abruptly, already past her before her brain processes what he said.

Do it Emma! Her brain screams. "I'm here to ask you on a date." She blurts out.

He turns slowly to face her, mouth slightly open, lips trying not to curve into a smile. "You are?"

Does he have to sound that shocked? She wonders. "Yeah." The confidence has returned to her voice.

"What are we doing on this date?" He asks, shock gone and full pirate swagger including that cocky grin, in its place.

He watches the previously found confidence slip off her face. "Uh...I hadn't planned that far ahead." She admits.

"Thought I might turn you down?" He teases.

"Please. We both know that is not going to happen. I'll come up with something." She pauses and he can tell she's clearly trying to think of something they can do, somewhere they can go. "I know how to plan a date."

He snorts, politely. "You know how to chase a monster. I know how to plan a evening out." He's doing that thing where he's swaying into her, luring her closer and she knows if she doesn't get away from him soon the patrons of Granny's are going to get a show.

"Fine. Meet me at the loft at seven?"

He nods. "Until then."

-/-

"I might need to borrow something from your closet." She whispers, as her mother has just put Neal down for a nap.

"What for?" Snow whispers back.

"I may have asked Hook on a date." She confesses.

"Ah, yes. A date. Makes total sense when there is clearly no 'you and hook'." Snow says, complete with air quotes.

Emma blushes. "I'm trying, okay?"

"You're more than welcome to anything in my closet. You know that. What time? Do you know where you're going?" Snow asks, smiling.

"Seven and no, he said he was going to plan it." Emma answers.

"Impressive." Snow says with a smile.

-/-

At five she begins looking through her mother's closet to see if anything jumps out at her. She has her wardrobe from New York but those dresses were worn on dates with Walsh or trying to catch bad guys and she wants something new, something untainted for this date.

Her eyes land on a pale pink dress. Embroidery flowers of the same pale pink decorate the bodice. The neckline is a deep v, a matching colored belt at the waist but the skirt of the dress is a different material, a gauzy flowing one that would flip up and out perfectly should the wearer decide to twirl.

Not that I would twirl...okay, maybe one small twirl. No need to go Marilyn Monroe over the street grate. The dress was not her usual style. She didn't even think she owned anything pink aside from a fuchsia colored bra but something about this dress, it's overly feminine features attracted her. Maybe it was just the fact that it was the complete opposite of anything she'd worn in at least the last two and a half decades but her fingers gently slipped the dress from its hanger.

It fit. It displayed more cleavage than she usually bared, but after their time travel adventure she had a feeling Killian wouldn't mind.

She stood in front of the mirror, admiring herself in the dress when the realization that Killian had only ever seen her with her hair down struck her. Not like it was that big of a difference, but if she was already going all out in this uncharacteristic dress, she might as well makes it the full package.

Hair secured in a high pony tail, she can't stop her mind from wondering if he's going to be tugging on her hair tonight since he can't really fun his fingers through it in this style. She takes another look in the mirror and pauses. Without thinking about it too much, she carefully unwinds the shoelace that has adorned her wrist for some time. Almost feeling lighter after its removal, her fingers reach behind her neck and unhook the necklaces that have hung there for as long as she can remember. She forces herself not to dwell on the obvious symbolism, that she's letting go of the past and moving toward without those particular pieces of baggage.

She'll wear them again, she knows, but for tonight she needs to be free of their weights their reminders. She needs to be open.

-/-

At ten of seven she makes her way downstairs. Her parents and Elsa are standing at the dining room table.

"So how do I look?" She asks.

Her parents simply stare at her. Elsa finally speaks, "You look simply beautiful. I'm sure he will be even more enamored with you."

She smiles. "Thanks...Dad are you okay?"

David nods and opens his mouth to reply but is cut off by the knock on the door.

She quickly opens the door and feels her jaw drop. It appears she is not the only one who went for a different look. Gone is the heavy leather jacket, replaced with a much more fitted modern one. His shirt and vest have been updated to their modern counterparts as well. Her eyes dip lower. Oh dear god are those really extremely fitted leather pants? She drags her eyes back to his and finds his teeth pulling in his lower lip, somehow managing to look bashful and sinful at the same time. She blinks, almost expecting him to disappear.

He had been standing with his left arm behind his back and in one fluid motion, he's bringing it forward and presenting her a single red rose in his left hand. Wait, what?

"For you. You are quite the vision in that dress." He says, taking a step into the loft.

She just stares him for a moment, a million questions, mainly how and why, running through her mind. Finally her sarcastic nature catches up with her brain, "What do I call you now, Captain Hand?"

"I believe 'Killian' would be an acceptable alternative, love." He says. "Shall we?"

She nods, reaching out for her coat when her parents finally find their voices again. "Wait, let me take a picture of you too." Snow says as David says "You'll be home by midnight, right?" Although it's more of a statement than a question.

Emma turns to look at them incredulously, Killian mirroring her expression with a hint of confusion. "Mom, this isn't prom and I don't know what time I'll be home." She says as gently as possible.

-/-

He catches her staring at his left hand repeatedly as they walk up to the restaurant. "The Crocodile owed me a favor." He said wiggling his fingers on his left hand.

"Was that really the wisest decision?' She asks warily.

Taking her hand in his, he silently leads her over to the bench overlooking the water. His left hands moves to cup her face, his right gently tugging on her ponytail. "If it means I can do this," both hands move to her face as he leans in to kiss her "and this" his lips brush against hers. His fingers entwine with hers on both hands "and this, then yes it was one of the wisest decisions I've made in some time."

"But it's Gold..." She starts, worry apparent in her voice.

"Love," he interrupts, "I would much rather enjoy dinner with you then discuss the Crocodile."

She nods. This conversation can wait for another time.

The Italian restaurant he chose is gorgeous, dimly light inside with quite the array of twinkle lights outside creating an almost majestic quality to it. The wine is delicious and she finds they are not the only couple there opting to share a dish of pasta. She has to stop herself from giggling when the couple a few tables over has a Lady and the Tramp moment.

She forgot to eat all day, the first glass of wine going right to her head, and she's lost in the low timbre of his voice. She knows she should be paying more attention to the story he's telling her but she can't stop watching his facial and hand expressions as he speaks, particularly his left hand and his lips.

He catches her, giving her a wry grin before placing his hand over hers on the table. His thumb is running back and forth over her knuckles. It's an innocent gesture but she can't stop from thinking about him touching her everywhere else. We really need to be alone she thinks and begins plotting how they can quickly get out of the restaurant when all her grand illusions of alone time with him are shattered.

The damn thief she met in the forest is running up to them, saying something about the Snow Queen and in the flurry of hand motions, Emma's wine glass goes flying, splattering the red liquid on her. Of course I couldn't have drank white tonight she sighs. He's apologizing but Killians is already in his feet, hands on the lapels of Will's jacket, giving him a hard shake.

Her hand is on his arm, stopping it from escalating any further. People are already being to look at the commotion. She sees a flicker of fear cross over his face, the way he eyes he's left hand warily before his emotions are masked again. "Will, go outside. I'll meet you out there." Her tone is firm and thankfully the thief opts to cooperate instead of questioning her.

She sighs and frowns at Killian. "As usual, duty calls."

"Tis the life of the savior, however love, we did get in quite the string of moments there." He says.

"I'm sorry." She's apologizing for more than just this current interruption.

He doesn't want to hear it, pulling her around the side of the building, "Pretend. Pretend this is the end of the date and were standing in front of the door to your parents loft." He's smiling at her softly, eyes full of adoration as his fingers move to tuck a stray piece of hair behind her ear.

She can't stop her head from tilting, capturing his hand between his ear and shoulder. He reacts immediately, thumb brushing over her cheek, making her eyes flutter closed. "Thank you." She almost whispers. "This was a really nice date." She moves her head freeing his hand.

"Yes, it was." His fingers are lightly trailing down her neck, her arm. "Perhaps you would be so kind as to accompany me for a similar outing again?" He's doing that sway thing again, luring her into him.

She doesn't fight it, stepping in closer. "I'd like that." Her eyes flicker to his lips. "A lot."

"Hmmm. I mustn't disappoint the lady then." He says, fingers trailing back up her arm to cup around her neck, pulling her lips to his and finally closing the distance between them. His other arm goes around her, holding her flush to him, fingers running the length of her spine.

She does something she's wanted to do for an incredibly long time, running her fingers through his incredibly soft hair, scratching his scalp with her nails. Her other hand is caught between them and she can't stop her fingers from uncurling, her palm from flexing against the hard planes of his chest. In these new clothes, she can actually feel him, no longer hindered by layers of heavy leather.

His nose is brushing across hers, head tilting in the other direction to deepen the kiss. Her toes are curling in her shoes, inappropriate thoughts fluttering through her mind, he's kissing her senseless just like he did in the middle of the road the other night and she can tell he's still holding back. Whenever he finally lets go and gives her everything, she's not positive she's going to survive it. Emotionally, at least. She, on the other hand, has all but melted into him, grip on his chest tightening to keep her upright.

"Bloody hell, really?" A sarcastic voice cuts in. "We don't have all night."

Reluctantly she breaks the kiss, pressing her forehead to his, but refusing to open her eyes and face the man who has messed up the best date she's been on in...well, forever. Killian doesn't move either, but cannot refrain from speaking. "Some privacy, mate?" He all but bites out.

"Can you go tell my dad Will wants to show me something about the Snow Queen and to meet me at the station in thirty minutes?" She whispers against his lips.

"Of course, love." He presses his lips quickly to hers again before stepping back.

Glaring at Will, she gestures to him to start walking. "Killian?" She calls, causing him to stop walking and turn to look at her. She's grinning. "This isn't over."

He returns her grin. "I didn't expect it to be."

I just wanted to say thank you again to all of my lovely readers who have followed, favorited and reviewed. When I started Chinese Food and a Movie, I intended a one-shot to amuse myself during the season break. Thirty-five wonderful chapters later, a lot prompted by all of you, and I'm just amazed. I never expected the response I received at all and I really, really can't thank you enough.

I'm guessing there are at least some of you who like my writing, so come on over to NEVER GIVE UP and keep reading. :)