Two years ago

"Emma, you're up", Mary Margaret said after missing a cross table shot on the five ball.

"Hmm, what?" she asked, dragging her eyes away from the pair at the bar. The gorgeous brunette leaning seductively across it with her ample bosom practically shoved into the guy's face.

"It's your shot," David echoed.

"Oh, right!" she answered and grabbed her pool cue.Focusing on the game, she walked around the table to study the remaining balls. She lined up a shot on the eleven ball and bent over the table.

With a little more force than necessary, she sunk the eleven in the side pocket.

"Nice shot, partner," Killian told her, appearing at her arm with two fresh drinks in his hand. She looked at him questioningly and he shrugged adding, "You looked like you were ready for another," as he held one out to her.

She smiled tightly. "Thanks," she said, taking a quick drink and handing it back to him.

Killian nodded and retreated to a table along the wall, watching as she found her next shot. He tried not to look admiringly at her backside as she leaned low over the table - but he was only human. And the way her sweater rode up and her jeans rode down? Only a fool would pass up this opportunity. And Killian Jones was no fool –

Well, maybe he was – but he still wasn't going to pass up the opportunity to watch her, especially not tonight. It was their last night together for, possibly, a very long time.

Emma sank one more before missing a shot on the 9 ball. She joined him at the high-top table and picked up her drink, as David began studying the layout on the table.

It was a tradition, the four of them playing doubles eight-ball. It was always Mary Margaret and David against Killian and Emma. This was how they'd unwound from the stress of college and work for the past year - but tonight was different. Tonight the stress of college was over, they'd just graduated earlier in the day and tonight was a celebration –

Well, at least they were calling it a celebration. But they all knew what it really was.It was goodbye. Emma was leaving the next morning to take a job half way across the country and the impending separation was hanging over their heads.

Killian sighed softly to himself, his eyes looking toward the table but his attention focused on the woman beside him. By this time tomorrow she'd be gone. There would be no more stealing glances at her when she wasn't looking, no more light hearted banter and eye rolling, no more games of eight-ball or late night study sessions with her sitting across from him, her hair in a messy bun and pencil stuck between her teeth.

The thought was tearing up at his gut. And the forced joviality of the night was starting to wear his emotions thin. He didn't know how much more he could stand.

After taking his turn at the table, he noticed the drink he'd just brought her was already gone (her third in less than an hour). At this rate she'd be totally plowed over before long. Still, he nudged it with his hand asking, "Ready for another?"

"What?" she asked and looked to the glass in confusion, "Oh, uh, I guess so."

"I'll get it," he offered.

"No, that's okay, I'll go," she said quickly.

Killian nodded toward game and said, "No worries, lass, you're up next, anyway. I'll only be a moment."

Emma's jaw clenched slightly at his reply and he wondered what on earth he'd done to earn her annoyance this time.

Standing at the bar, he glanced back to her. She was a vision, with her hair falling loose around her shoulders as she threw her head back and laughed at something David said. He traced a finger on the bar in front of him and closed his eyes. Emma was leaving. The woman he'd been hopelessly in love with for the past two years was leaving and he'd never even plucked up the courage to ask her out.

In his defense, it's not like he hadn't tried. He'd tested the waters from time to time by flirting with her a bit. But she'd always looked at him like a friend, she'd always rebuffed his advances with a shake of her head and a smile. Sometimes she'd even add a pithy comment like, "Does that ever really work?" To which he would, of course, cockily reply, "All the time, love," with a waggle of his eyebrows.

Clenching his jaw, he took a deep breath, berating himself for never taking the chance. Liquid courage, he thought, maybe that would help. He got Ruby's attention and ordered a shot of rum for himself along with her rum and diet coke, gulping down the shot before returning to the table.

Tonight could be his last chance. And he was not going to pass it up.

K&EK&EK&E

Present Day

Killian awoke to the smell of bacon cooking and the sound of giggling coming from his kitchen. Slowly, he opened his eyes and took a deep breath, humming in his throat. He was in for a delicious breakfast this morning. The smell beckoning him from sleep, he carefully eased himself out of his bed, doing his best not to jostle the blonde that had her arm thrown across his middle. As quietly as he could, he put on a shirt and some sweatpants.

He meandered into the kitchen to find David, standing behind Mary Margaret who was leaning back into him, a spatula in one hand and the other wrapped around his neck. Killian couldn't help but grin and shake his head. His light chuckle broke them apart.

"G'morning, Killian," David said stepping back from his girlfriend, "You got in late last night."

Killian flushed and walked over and grabbed a piece of bacon off the plate which earned him a slap on the wrist.

"Hey," the raven haired beauty said, "use a plate."

Undeterred, Killian popped the bacon into his mouth anyway and grinned at her before turning toward the coffeepot to pour a mug of the steaming liquid and commented, "Yeah, I met up with some guys from work. We had a few drinks and I guess time got away from me."

David dug up some plates as Killian added exactly one spoon of hazelnut cream and one package of Splenda to the mug. Placing it beside the stove next to Mary Margaret he kissed her on the cheek and said, "Smells delicious, darling. When are you going to realize that you've made a critical error and leave my sorry flatmate and run away with me?"

"Funny," Mary Margaret said, chuckling and giving him a playful nip in the ribs, "I thought you only went for blondes."

"That's not true." Was it? "Any woman who can cook like you is a treasure."

David looked up from the table where he was setting out the plates and said good naturedly to Killian, "You know, if you'd find your own woman, you wouldn't need to hit on mine all the time."

Killian grinned and crossed back to the coffeepot to pour two more mugs, black this time, and handed one over to David. Killian loved mornings like this. It was so… domestic. He and two of his oldest friends going through this simple morning routine. "You make it sound like that's so easy. Not everyone meets their soulmate in college, mate."

"Maybe not, but if you would ju - "

"David, could you grab some utensils?" Mary Margaret asked, quickly cutting him off.

He looked like he wanted to say more, but instead he sighed, turned away from his friend and let the subject drop.

The three of them had just settled at the table to eat when a door opened down the hall and the sound of footsteps could be heard.

Mary Margaret's and David's eyes shot up to Killian and, bloody hell, he'd forgotten all about her.

All three turned to the door as the woman entered the kitchen wearing a barely-there dress and holding her shoes in one hand and her bag in the other.

"Smells fantastic," the girl said as Killian shot out of his chair and crossed to her.

"Ah, yes, well, Mary Margaret is one of the best chefs around," Killian said as he approached her, quickly scratching the back of his neck. "Would you care for some? I can, uh, get you a plate."

"Oh, no, that's okay," the girl replied as she placed one hand on Killian's arm to steady herself and slipped on her shoes, "I should really be going." With a small wave toward David and Mary Margaret, she turned and walked toward the door.

Killian followed behind her, his hands stuffed deep in his pockets and a flush staining his cheeks saying, "Right, of course, well… it was, uh, really nice to meet you."

Stopping at the door to slip on her jacket, she turned to him, smiled, and said, "Yeah, it was fun," then, hesitated, glancing down to the floor and back up saying, "Look, we don't have to do this," vaguely motioning between them with her hand, "It was fun, but I think we both know that's all it was. You seem like a nice guy, Killian, and if you're ever interested in, well, more than just fun, call me."

With that she kissed him on the cheek and laid a piece of paper on the table next to the door. He smiled gratefully at her and chuckled lightly, hands still in his pockets, "Was I that obvious?" he asked, looking up at her with his head bent and rocking back on his heels.

"Not that obvious, really, it's just, well, kindred spirits and all, I guess," she said and smiled at him again as she opened the door, "Goodbye Killian."

"Goodbye," he told her as the shut door behind her, then he leaned his forehead against it for a moment and sighed.

When he returned to the kitchen and saw the looks he was getting from his friends, he didn't know if he should be embarrassed, insulted or amused. Both were still holding their forks up as though they'd just been interrupted in the middle of a bite. David's expression showed complete shock and a touch of amusement while Mary Margaret just looked worried.

Choosing to act as though this were nothing out of the ordinary, Killian returned to his seat and started eating again, waiting for the barrage of comments that were coming.

Mary Margaret recovered first. She dropped her fork to her plate with a clatter, cleared her throat as though it had gone dry and asked, "What's going on, Killian?"

Killian felt his cheeks go red. "Nothing," he replied. "I met her last night. Like I said, I went out with a couple of the guys I work with and, well…"

"So you… I mean, she…" Mary Margaret couldn't even form the question it seemed, "She slept here last night?"

"What's the big deal?" Killian asked, "It's not like I make a habit of - "

"That's exactly why it's a big deal," David cut him off, the amusement clear in his voice. "You haven't, well, you know, with anyone in… a while."

Mary Margaret shot daggers across the table at her boyfriend, clearly unamused.

"What?" David asked, "I think it's good. You need to get out more. You've gone on, what? Two dates in the past year?"

Killian didn't answer and just stared down at his plate. He knew his friends worried about him. His personal life had been lacking for a while now but he couldn't bring himself to tell them why.

He felt the silence in the room grow thick and looked up to see Mary Margaret and David having another of their silent conversations across the table. He'd been hanging around with them so long that, occasionally, he was able to follow them. Mary Margaret's look was definitely the "drop it, now" look and he was grateful when David did.

Their normal conversation resumed as they finished their meal. Then, as he and David were clearing the table and cleaning the dishes, his friend spoke up, "Oh! I forgot to tell you: I talked to Emma last week. She's coming to town for a job interview. There's an opening for a detective at the station and I talked her into submitting her resume."

Killian froze at the words, his body going stiff as electricity crackled through his system.

"I hope you don't mind, but I told her she could stay with us for a couple of days..."

Killian didn't hear the rest of what David said. His ears were buzzing and he suddenly felt light headed as he gripped at the counter for support. Emma Swan was coming for a visit and, more than that, she was going to be sleeping under the same roof? His last memory of her flashed into his mind, waking up alone after what he'd thought was –

Dammit, it didn't matter what he'd thought. He'd been wrong. She obviously hadn't felt for him what he had for her. He drew a deep breath and pushed the memory down, down, down. The feel of hair, her skin, the way her eyes had gone a deeper shade of green –

No, he had to stop.

"Killian?" Mary Margaret's voice and the soft touch of her hand on his arm cut through the pounding in his ears.

When he looked up, he noted that David was no longer in the room. He'd completely missed the rest of the conversation.

"Are you okay?" she asked, concern etching her features.

"What? Yeah, of course," he immediately replied, "Just tired. I guess I'm not as young as I used to be. I should leave the late nights to the younger lads and, bloody hell, is that the time? I've got to get moving. I'll see you tonight."

He could tell that Mary Margaret wanted to say something more but he didn't give her the chance. He rushed from the room to change for work.