Sorry I've been gone so long guys! Here's the next chapter!

He trudged out to her car, present in hand, luckily he had the day off. He was nervous, his first meeting with Miss Nolan would be today.

"Hey, thanks for coming with me. I still need to get a few things." Ruby greeted him with a smile.

"You never did specify exactly what things you needed over the phone." He said as he buckled his seat belt.

"Booze, of course!" she grinned a Cheshire's grin.

"How drunk are you planning on getting all of us?" asked Killian with an arched brow.

"Very." was her blunt reply.

"Okay then, to the corner store it is."

"You're apartment is very nice, Victor." Emma said, glancing around as she entered.

"Yes, very nice!" Belle added.

"Please, call me Whale, everybody does. Except for my wife, but she'd the exception. Please, ladies, sit. Make yourselves at home."

"Okay, Whale it is, then. Thank you for doing this, you guys really didn't have to." Emma replied as she and Belle sat.

"Of course we did. Ruby can't shut up about you and I wouldn't have heard the end of it!" Whale said, laughing as he sat in his recliner.

"Emma can't shut up about Ruby, either. All good things, of course!" Belle laughed along with him. "Seems like our little group is expanding!"

"Well any friends of my girl are friends of mine, especially when one of them is going to be so important to Killian." At that, Emma's eyebrows drew together in confusion and Whale gave her a knowing look. "Trust me, when you find them you can try to fight it, but only for so long."

"Too right. It's ridiculous to even try, really. Nearly impossible to not give in eventually. It's what I've been trying to tell this one. Huh, Swan?" Belle shoved her thumb in Emma's direction.

Emma blushed. "It's not me I'm worried about, it's Henry, I've got to look out for his best interests, first! And don't call me that!"

"Oh, Killian loves kids, you really don't have to worry about that Emma."

"That's what I thought, how could she not end up with someone who adored her son? And how could anyone not love Henry? Even Regina loves him and Regina hates everyone!"

Emma had to chuckle at that. It was a complete exaggeration, although their friend was rather prickly at times. It was really too bad that the weekends were when Regina and Robin were their busiest. Suddenly the door opened and in came Red and Killian carrying several bags, presents, and a cake.

"Sorry we're late! We had to grab a few things." Ruby chirped.

"Yeah, half the bloody liquor store." grumbled Killian.

Whale's eyes went wide as saucers. "Honey, how drunk are you planning on getting us?"

"I asked her that too, mate. Apparently we're all going to get sloshed."

"Where are your friends Regina and Robin?" Ruby asked the two ladies sitting on the couch.

"They had club business to attend to, unfortunately. They're always so busy on the weekends!" Belle answered as she and Emma stood. "Here, let us help you with those." she said as she rounded the couch.

"Oh, no, I've got it, love." Killian replied, blushing.

"C'mon Kill, let's get these to the kitchen." Ruby bounced to the kitchen, carrying her fair share of booze, Killian following her.

Whale scurried into the kitchen to help get things sorted.

"Well, your Killian certainly is cute." Belle told Emma cheekily.

"I suppose..." Emma murmured, eyes having followed after her true love.

Meanwhile, Killian, Ruby and Whale were taking the alcohol out of the plastic bags and organizing them on the counter. "I made sure I got her favorite!" Ruby said cheerily. "And quite being so nervous, Killian, she's going to love you!"

"I certainly hope so." he replied hesitantly. Were his nerves that obvious?

"If everything Ruby's told me is true, I'm sure you guys'll get along great." Whale said, adding in his two cents.

Ruby put a comforting hand on Killian's shoulder. "Just trust me on this, Killian, you're going to love each other."

All Killian could do was nod.

"Alright, what do you want to do first, Emma?" Ruby asked, waltzing into the living room.

"Uh, whatever you want to do is fine."

"Well, we could open presents, do cake and ice cream-"

"Bitches love ice cream!" Whale snickered, coming up behind Ruby.

They all giggled. "What are we laughing at?" Killian asked, the kitchen door left swinging behind him.

Whale looked at the girls. "Bitches love ice cream." Causing the laughter to get worse. Killian looked very confused, to say the least.

"O… Kay then. What are we doing now?"

"Well, we were just discussing that, actually." Ruby said as she turned to face him. "But introductions, first! Girls, this is Killian, Killian, this is Belle and our birthday girl Emma." She said, pointing to each individual.

Killian nodded to each, "Nice to meet you both. Happy birthday, Emma."

Emma tried her hardest not to blush. "Thank you."

The three slowly made their way to the sitting area, Ruby and Whale taking the loveseat and Killian taking the recliner. "Now like I was saying, we can do presents, cake and ice cream-"

"Bitches love ice cream."

"-we could play a game." Ruby said, not even phased by her husband's jokes.

"How about presents first?" suggested Belle, knowing Emma was hesitant and nervous.

"Sure! Why don't I-"

"I'll get them." Killian offered, cutting Ruby off and scurrying out of the room before anyone could say anything.

Ruby sighed, addressing Emma she said, "Don't worry, he's just really nervous. As I'm sure you are."

Emma nodded. She was nervous. For all she knew this could be the start of something either very special. Or a train wreck. She would bet money on train wreck.