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barzzal · 4 years

Text

when the ball drops

summary: out of all the times you wanted to bail, for once you were certainly glad you didn’t ditch this year’s new year’s eve party.

↳ pairing: mathew barzal x you

↳ warnings: language, parties, drinking, flirty banters + a smitten mat (set in a pandemic free au)

↳ genre: fluff, meeting a total stranger, early 2000’s romantic/comedy typa thing (what i think at least)

↳ length: imagine; 5.9k

↳ masterlist: the barn

note: this is an entry for @hockeynetwork’s winter fic exchange and i was matched as @bqstqnbruin’s secret santa! i genuinely hope you get to enjoy this, boo!! i wanna thank a few mutuals, @tkachukme @calgarycanuck @pizzarandomness (esp @thirteenisles !!) for helping me out so i could get thru with writing this imagine! you guys are so nice i truly appreciate all of you. happy holidays & happy new year, everyone! 💕 (gif used: mine)

Every year you swear to yourself that you would spend the New Year’s at home, eating a peaceful dinner by yourself and maybe enjoy a good bottle of wine whilst you spend the whole night watching The Holiday. But just like all the other years you have spent alone since you’ve moved to New York, you end up breaking that same promise, pretty much with the help of your two best friends Emma and Katie.

Now, instead of being curled up in your living room, wearing your favourite knitted sweater and away from all the New Year chaos happening all at once in the very best place to celebrate such a festive occasion, here you are, getting your second glass of vodka tonic as you wait for the goddamn ball to drop.

The local bar has always been crowded especially during this time of the year. You and your friends already made it an annual thing which is probably the reason why despite the yearning you have for the idea of spending it all alone, you couldn’t find enough courage to ditch them and disappear even just for one night.

“Where are the girls?” Gavin, the owner of the bar whom you’ve already befriended due to the amount of times you and the girls spent helping him close up was busily wiping the counter when you sat in your usual seat.

You casually motioned your hand to where you left Emma and Katie, dancing with men they’d most certainly end up kissing once the clock strikes twelve.

“Alone again? You’ve got to blow off some steam, y/n.” He greets you with a concerned look exuding from his virile exterior. You idly shake your head, giving him a tight smile to reassure him that you were doing okay.

“It’s not that big a deal.” is the usual thing you say to people when your being ‘alone’ on the holidays becomes in question. “Besides, I’m a big girl, Gavs.” You proudly announce, leaning against the bar with your palm resting underneath your chin.

“I know you’re a ‘big girl’.” He rolls his eyes before his gaze trails off to your friends and then landing onto a couple of young lads from across the room. “I’m just saying, loosen up. Meet people. It feels nice to have someone holding you close at night so don’t be too hard on yourself.”

A snort bursts from you as soon as you hear the words leave Gavin’s mouth. Who would have known a guy as tough-looking as him would be too much of a softy underneath?

“What?” He holds his guard as he continues making your drink. The liquid swirling around a few ice cubes and a shot of liquor.

“Nothing, nothing. I just– I didn’t think you were one of those people.” You say, clearing your voice once you’ve finally gathered yourself. “You know, the sappy romantics.”

Gavin looks at you, giving you an ‘Oh, please.’ look. “No, ‘cause that’s where you’re wrong.” He protests. “I’ve always been this soft, “sappy romantic” kinda guy. You just choose to see me the way you see me; a typical macho man who hands you good drinks.” He pauses, finishing off with the last touches of your drink. “But you know what? That’s fine. ‘Cause that’s how I know you’re just like me.” He then slides the cold drink towards you.

“What do you mean?” You were intrigued to be fair. You already had your head tilted to the side trying to piece something that could justify what he just said.

“That.” He looks at you, index finger circling before your eyes to make his argument even more compelling. “You act like a strong independent woman, which by the way you still are,– but you have to admit that you do want someone who’s gonna want to spend his New Year’s watching that dumb old movie of yours.” He says with a grin before he pours another customer a shot of tequila.

You were sure you wanted to just shrug it off, but somehow, you can’t help but think of how his words hit you in the subtlest way. Each word bearing an insane amount of possibilities of him being right all along.

But what’d he know anyway? It’s not like he knew you better than anyone else. Maybe it’s just his way with words. Or maybe he’s just that good. After all, that’s basically the reason why he’s running a goddamn bar, right?

𖥸

It wasn’t Mat’s first time spending New Year’s away from his family but if he only had a choice, he’d certainly take the next plane with no question. However, given how the team’s fight for the Cup is going stronger than the last season, he couldn’t bring himself to risk going away and missing out on his usual routines. So, for the past couple of weeks he’d let himself be stuck with Beauvillier throughout the holidays.

Now, for the sake of festivities, the two decided it’d be best to come out to the city and have fun welcoming the New Year along with some good friends that were surprisingly available at the last minute. That being said, the local bar was already the third one they’ve gone to having started the drinking binge earlier than intended.

“Happy New Fucking Year, Motherfuckers!” The loudest and perhaps, the drunkest man cheered at the center of the dance floor, holding up his drink carelessly as he danced to the mind numbing EDM coming off from the DJ’s booth.

“Way to get wasted. Am I right?” Dan says as he stands to gather everyone and clink their beer mugs for the nth time.

“Somebody’s definitely gonna miss the ball drop.” Tito snides, referring to the drunken man cheering tirelessly. Mat shakes his head and idly laughs. Their glasses meet halfway, causing some of the beer to spill over the table. The loud music and cheers echoed in Mathew’s ears, finding the whole scene a little too overwhelming despite how he liked to loosen up with bottomless drinks coming his way.

Somehow, he was thankful that he needed a second to breathe which only meant having to take his eyes off of the same guys he hangs with on and off the ice. Because if he didn’t, he wouldn’t have been able to see someone so beautiful yet seemingly out of place when his gaze landed onto that one girl sitting by the bar all by herself at what seems to be the loudest pub in the city.

“God, she’s pretty.” The words unknowingly slip off his tongue, making him realize he’s announced his thoughts out for the group just enough to make their brows quirk at the now out-of-reach Mathew.

“What?” Anthony leans closer to him so as to give himself a view of what Mat had his eyes peeled for.

“That girl by the bar, she’s— she’s really pretty.” Mathew says, completely sure that he has never said anything true in his life. Much to his surprise, the boys gathered around and turned their heads towards the girl sitting by the bar.

“So? Go and talk to her, man.” Anthony casually proposes with a nudge, urging him to go after her.

Mathew immediately lets out a foolish scoff and chooses to gulp a large amount of liquor from his mug.

“Yeah, just go for it. What’s the worst thing that could happen?” Tyson chides, looking at the girl who has utterly made their night a little more interesting. That being said, being stuck with the three biggest blokes wasn’t that too interesting to begin with.

“Oh, worst thing? She could hear me!” Mat runs a hand through his hair, incapable of taking his eyes off of her even just for a second.

“You know if you don’t, I will.” Tyson puts his beer down and acts as if to make the move Mathew was too hesitant to do himself in order to boost his mate.

“Fuck off. Fine. Hold my beer.” Mat rolls his eyes and shoves Tyson his mug before gathering himself by straightening creases off his suit along with a few sharp breaths to ease out the nervousness he’d been feeling.

You watch the teeny tiny leaf of mint swirl around the whirl of liquor you’ve successfully made, ignoring all the background noise, still evidently fixated on the words Gavin has left you with earlier. Has it really been that long since you allowed yourself to be fully vulnerable around someone?

A sad smile escapes your lips, one that made the man that was now towering all over you wonder what could have possibly caused such melancholy on the most beautiful girl he has seen all throughout the city. That’s a rather heavy way to put it but that doesn't mean he was lying. He did find you really pretty. Maybe even a little too much and too out of his league.

A tap on your shoulder pulls you from your thoughts.

“Hi.” He says, gray eyes illuminated by the strobe lights hitting your direction. You give him a tight smile, acknowledging his presence and frankly even the boldness he had to strike up a conversation.

“I just wanted to ask if what you’re drinking is any good.” Mat subconsciously reprimands himself for coming up with what is yet to be the lamest thing he’s ever told a girl.

Great. Now, you’re asking her if a vodka tonic is good? As if it could get any better? He thinks to himself. So, to compensate and reduce further damage, he plays it off by laughing quite sheepishly as he absent-mindedly massages his nape.

Noticing what the man was doing, you let out a shy laugh too, biting your lower lip as you find his foolish attempt of hitting on you quite adorable.

“Wow. You’re really good at this.” You tease, now giving away a playful smile, poking at his middle school pick up line.

Mathew chuckles. His doe eyes shy and alienated by the confidence he certainly knew he had not until a few seconds ago when he met yours. “I swear I’m better than this.” He tries again, this time earning himself a soft giggle from you.

Atta boy, Mat.

“I’m Mat by the way. Mathew Barzal.”

He reaches out his hand which you gladly took. It was calloused and rough around the edges whilst Mat found yours completely fitting in his. Your eyes meet halfway as you both shook each other’s hands. Fingers lingering quite longer than it should be.

“Y/N. Y/N Y/L/N.”

“So, you’re telling me you haven’t had a tonic before?” You ask him, hands now all to yourselves. Mat leans against the bar, his elbow resting on the counter, unable to suppress the embarrassment now dawning on him upon remembering his little set back.

“I’m sort of a vodka tonic connoisseur.” He kids in an attempt to redeem himself. “Come on, it wasn’t that bad.”

You look at him, shaking your head at how unbelievably gorgeous this man is. “Fine. It wasn’t. I’ll give you that.”

“So,” He takes a deep breath before taking one of the empty seats beside you. “I– I can’t help but wonder, I mean– if it’s not too forward of me, how come you’re drinking alone on New Year’s?”

You take a sip off of your drink and faintly shake your head, dismissing his query. “Hmm. Actually, no.”

Mathew muttered an “oh.” at the thought of hearing what he thinks you’re about to say next. To his surprise, and frankly feeling as if a weight had been lifted off his chest, you motion towards your best girls, Emma and Katie who were now obviously way too fond of the guys they just met.

“See those girls?”

Mathew nods, the answer to his question now becoming much clearer and put together. An answer that absolutely went along with his cards well.

“Those are two of the most important persons in my life going at it at a New Year’s Eve Party.”

“Would it be wrong to ask why aren’t you ‘going at it’ like how they’re doing it now?”

Is he always this formal? You think, lips curving to a grin.

“What?” He asks when he sees the expression (he can’t quite put a finger on) on your face.

“Nah. I’m all good. I mean, not that I don’t want to. I just–” You pause. Unsure of whether telling him the truth would do your case any better. What’s there to lose anyway? He’s just some guy you’re bound to meet at the bar. It’s not like you didn’t anticipate a scenario like this from happening, right?

“Just take me as someone who isn’t really fond of big parties,” he then cuts you off and finishes your sentence, “But still go anyways.”

“Exactly.”

Gavin pops in for a bit, handing Mathew a bottle of beer he was certain of not ordering. He looks at him puzzled. A silent question that Gavin answered with a wink before getting back to tending to his alcohol induced customers.

Apparently, it’s on the house.

“How come you’re here chatting with me when your friends are all the way there?” You motion towards a curly haired man and the other boys across the room. One was even smiling at you but you just opted on giving him a nod before turning your head back towards Mathew.

“Well, I didn’t like the idea of having you celebrate the New Year’s alone.” He honestly says. But since you were the kind of person who wasn’t the best at taking any type of compliment nor flirty exchanges like a normal person would, you roll your eyes and be the blunt person you were always known for. “Oh. I thought you saw a girl sitting alone at the bar and saw that as an opening.”

To be fair, Mat wasn’t really intimidated by your remark. In fact, he actually liked how straight forward you were with him. You didn’t look at him the way he’s gotten used to whenever he comes up and introduces himself to other girls; something that only made him more interested in you. He can’t help but want to know what exactly is going on in your mind. Not the creepy kind, of course. Just the one where he’d rather spend the New Year’s getting to know a total stranger than getting insanely pissed with the same men he’s spent most of his days with.

“That too.” He admits, taking a sip off his beer without breaking his eyes off you.

There was a sheer silence for a moment. The kind that Mat knew was much deafening than the booming sound of the usual dreadful New Year’s Eve Party. “So tell me,” Mat regains himself, catching your attention once again. “What would you rather be doing tonight? You know, if you hadn’t had to come out here.”

He watches your lips quirk thinking about what it was that you actually wanted to do tonight. Then again, you only had one thing in mind.

“I kinda wanted to spend it alone for the past three years.”

“That long? How come?”

“Well, you know, for some peace and quiet. Maybe watch a movie or two.”

Like what he has been doing since the moment he’d gone to talk to you, he watches you run your fingers around the rim of your cold drink. Evidently immersed in your own thoughts from trying to piece out the real reason behind your grave wanting to spend the occasion alone.

Turning the tables, you ask the same question back, “What about you? I mean, other than getting shit faced, what would you rather be doing?”

Mathew takes a deep breath trying to suppress the longing he’s felt for the past few weeks. He just misses his family so much that he couldn’t help but wonder how they’re doing even if he’s constantly kept in touch with them hours before he’d gone out with the boys.

“I’ll be with my folks. You know, all that usual family stuff.” He answers you shortly.

You didn’t think much of what he’s told you so you just tell him the very thing that crossed your mind. “You know, it’s amazing how two people who didn’t even want to be here find each other just so they could bitch about not wanting to be here a little bit more.”

The two of you share a good laugh, utterly and undeniably enjoying each other’s company. It didn’t feel weird having to talk to a total stranger, let alone let them have bits and pieces of yourself that only enables them to put together an image of you that isn’t even as close to who you really are. Regardless of that notion, there was something about how Mathew connected with you, and how you connected with him.

It was far from being the movie type of thing, but you have to admit, the remainder of the time you two have spent talking over a half empty bottle of beer and a glass of vodka tonic has definitely made the two of you feel this unexplainable wanting of having to learn more about each other. That being said, when all drinks were drunk till its last drop, Mathew couldn’t help himself from wanting to spend a bit more time with you. Maybe, even the whole night if you’d only let him.

“D’you want to get out of here?” He shoots his shot as quickly as he could, afraid that losing even just a second would mean losing a night of spontaneity with you.

You have long waited for a reason to miss the annual party. And if that meant having to wait three years just so you could stumble upon a tall and fairly handsome man that was going to save you from a dreadful evening, nothing would’ve felt as right as this if it weren’t for the push Mat had stored in his piercing eyes and mischievous grin.

You didn’t have to give it much thought. After spending a whole hour exchanging little trivias of yourselves, Mat finally had it easy in making a riveting case. You sigh in defeat as you fish out a few cash from your purse and slide it into your tab.

Excitement now exuding from Mathew, he bobs his brows up and down whilst he watches you roll your eyes once again for the hundredth time tonight. “I’m gonna hate you for this.” You tell him as you get off the bar stool.

Mat hurriedly signals Tito for his coat to which he was able to catch the moment he had tossed it towards his way. He then gets yours that was placed on the back of your seat before finally following you out towards the door.

“I highly doubt that.”

𖥸

Mathew draped your coat over your shoulders, helping you to slip into it. You politely say your thanks and hold your purse close, your gloves gripping onto the leather as the two of you stroll the streets of New York, the winter breeze brushing on your cheeks with every stride you make.

“So,” You begin, putting both of your hands inside your coat pockets. “Where are you taking me, Mat?”

He tries to think for a second. The thought of not having a concrete plan for the night finally dawns on him. He clicks his tongue and breathes in the familiar scent of the city. Mathew looks around the block and spots the good old food truck he and the boys once tried when they were out for an away game with the Rangers.

“How about New York’s finest burrito?” He points to where the truck was parked, clueless to how his sudden movement placed him inches closer to you. You didn’t notice it until you looked at him for his eyes were still pinned to where the truck was at.

Mat’s eyes were pretty. That’s a known fact. But what you didn’t realize was how astonishing they are not until you got this close. You took in the sight sitting before you as fast as you could while he was still preoccupied like a five-year-old kid seeing an ice-cream truck pass by the neighborhood. Your eyes linger from his well structured brows, his unbelievably long lashes, down to the tip of his nose and his rosy cheeks before finally settling down to his cherry plump lips. All of which were more than enough to send butterflies in your stomach.

“O-Okay.” You agree. Mathew takes you by the hand before you can even say a word. Thank the gods for letting you live in a city that seems to never stop the hustle to still have open food trucks good for a quick bite at this time of the night close into New Year’s.

“Hey, bud. Two sixes to go, please.” Mathew says politely once he knocks on the window.

“You’ve got to try this, I swear.” He looks back at you with the same warm smile beaming on his face.

“Unless you want a proper meal? I mean, there’s a diner down the–” You immediately cut him off and take out your purse, offering to pay for it instead. “No! It’s fine, really. I’m a bit hungry myself.”

After spending the whole time waiting for the wrapped snack, arguing on who would be paying, you let Mathew have this one for now even if you didn’t like others paying for what you can pay yourself.

You take a good look at your watch and see that you only have about an hour left till midnight. An idea pops in your head, making you gasp at the thought. Mathew looks at you with a half-eaten burrito in his hand, his brows all furrowed as if to ask a piece of your mind.

“Come on, I know where we should go.”

𖥸

Mathew never thought he’d found himself standing on a rooftop of a random building overlooking the Empire State during one of the coldest times in the city. The things that has only kept him sane was the girl who was still holding his hand, the city lights that have always left him in awe, and of course, the well heated rooftop.

There have been a few exchanges that are quite notable over the time you’ve spent with Mathew. He’s told you about the usual night outs he and the boys have for leisure, the family he had back in Coquitlam, how much he misses his mom and his sister, and how much love he has for hockey that he ended up doing the thing he loved most for a career.

Him, on the one hand, pretty much learned the same stuff about you. Well, almost, for he has yet to ask you the one thing that has been bugging him off all night.

You were telling him how this was your safe haven in the city and how much you loved going here every time you felt like needing to take a deep breath and step back from the world when he asked you a simple question. One that’s absolutely left you surprised (and a little bit impressed) that he still even remembered it at this point.

“What’s the movie about? You know, the one you’ve been wanting to see tonight.” He asks, both of his hands inside his pockets to keep warm.

The two of you sat on the bench facing thousands of lights illuminating the whole city. You look at him for a second, biting your lip as you contest with yourself, the thought of Mat being the kind of douché that would shit around women and their romantic comedy films comes rushing to you like a cold December breeze.

“Alright, why do you want to know?” You pass the ball back to his court. To which Mat shortly answers with a level-headed sigh. “I kinda get the feeling it has something to do with the three-year thing.”

“You’re nosy.” You kiddingly say, earning a chuckle from him.

“You’ve spent the whole night walking with me and I can barely even feel my legs anymore, y/n. Trust me, between you and me, you know you’re the nosy one.” The two of you share a small laugh, your voices are the only sound that can be heard besides the sleepless city acting as a white noise to you and Mathew’s little bubble.

“Fine. And you’re a fucking athlete, so don’t even start.”

You playfully give him a nudge on the shoulder when he starts mimicking what you say. Mat stops immediately and looks at you with the same doe eyes glinting under the security lights that the rooftop had. He then patiently waits for you to gather your thoughts, breathing in all of New York as he lets himself drown in your presence.

You didn’t know how but there was this unspeakable comfort you feel around Mat. Sure, he was just a total stranger you’ve met a few hours ago, but no one, not even the guy who dumped you after your five-date rule, was able to connect with you at the same level as Mathew did.

“It’s not that I want to see it so bad. I’ve watched it for like– a reasonable amount before it became my comfort movie. Plus, it’s literally called The Holiday. Why wouldn’t you want to see it during the holiday?”

You tell him a bit more of how you’ve come into liking it, stalling him from the real reason why you wanted to celebrate the New Year’s alone. But you know, that even after all the circles you’re willing to go through just to keep Mat at bay, you’re bound to lose all your strings and resort to telling him in the end. You just hope you wouldn’t be making the same mistake you’ve made three years ago.

You told Mathew about your on and off childhood sweetheart Claude who has always kept you high and dry throughout the years of being together. (That is if you were in fact together.) He was the constant reminder that you will never be the kind of person someone would want to stick around with.

You and him go a long way. You both ended up going to the same university because he just had to have you around and that he couldn’t afford not being with you even just for a second. He said that he couldn’t take the thought of having to see you only on the holidays so as the dumb kid you once were, your feet followed his everywhere he’d gone.

That cycle went on and on until you finally had the courage to leave everything behind and move to New York. Months as a new kid in the city, you were scared, of course. You spent your days hanging around your apartment, doing all sorts of crap you can even think of just so you wouldn’t have to leave your flat. Although, meeting Emma and Katie was the biggest push you needed to finally let yourself let loose. Long story short, at the first New Year’s Eve Party you’ve ever gone to after moving in the city, the person you least expected to see was the very first one to come out of Gavin's bar. Claude.

Just like what a normal person would do, the two of you sat down and caught up. Pretty much the same thing you’ve gone with Mathew. Although only a lot less chit chat and a lot more kissing.

Claude told you his real intentions. He said that he wanted to start something with you for real. Of course, you had let him but you have made the biggest mistake of telling him about your five-date rule.

Lo and behold, Claude did stick around for the fifth date. That being said, he had stayed only for the fifth date. You saw him sneaking out of your flat so early in the morning, leaving you nothing but a voicemail that said his foolish reasons and insincere apologies. Since then, after a lot of major hook ups here and there, you’ve never let yourself become as vulnerable and stupid as you once were with the biggest douche you’ve ever met.

“It’s crazy, I know. You can laugh about it.” You say when Mat hasn’t spoken for a few seconds.

He takes a glance at you, a tight smile on his face. “I don’t think it’s crazy. That man is crazy. And also, a big prick. Classic dick move.” He tells you before he turns his eyes back to the city.

“Well, yeah. That’s me. That’s the holiday story.”

“A crappy one, of course.” You add.

Mat shakes his head no. He didn’t know why exactly but all he wanted to do at that moment, a few seconds before New Year’s, was to give you something,– even just a memory you could look back on. That that story isn’t going to be the one you’d be remembering for the next holidays. He wanted his to be something that’ll make your three-year-old crappy story long gone and forgotten. That his version would be the one that’s stuck.

“Definitely not this one.”

As the clock strikes twelve, cheers erupted throughout New York along with fireworks shooting into the city’s midnight sky. The first thing you see upon looking back were the same kind eyes of the man whom you have randomly met at the party you dreaded most. Only this time, drowning you little by little as it becomes iridescent under the thousands of lights covering New York City.

You were frozen to your seat as Mat’s face inch closer to yours. You feel his breath against your cold skin as if it was lulling you to sleep. His hands find its way to your face, cupping both of your cheeks rather gently as he finally paints a new memory you’d be carrying for the rest of your holidays.

“Happy New Year.” He greets you, almost like a faint whisper whilst the two of you gasp for breath. You blink a few times just to process what had just happened and digest how unbelievably good that kiss was.

Mathew’s hands were still on your cheeks. You held them close so he’d know you weren’t ready to let go. You take a deep breath, gathering enough courage to ask him an unusual way of greeting someone a Happy New Year.

“Will you walk me to my car?”

𖥸

You have both of your hands tucked inside your coat pockets as you walked the street leading to where you left your car. Mat was just telling you about the game happening next Thursday against the Bruins and how it would mean a lot to him if you’d come and see him play.

“To be fair, the Bruins are good.” You commented, a playful smirk plastered on your face rather teasingly.

Mathew lets out a snort as he rolls his eyes, chuckling at the thought of you dissing on his team the moment you had the chance. “Hey, both teams are good.”

“It’s just the matter of who’s better.” You finish his sentence, yet again working your way with a clever remark. Mat hums, not necessarily agreeing with your sentiment.

“So will you come?” He asks again just so he could hear you say yes. You take a deep breath, not letting yourself think too much of the said invitation. If you’re going, you’re going as a friend. Actually, you weren’t even sure if you could even call yourself such a label.

You nod your head yes to which had become the reason of Mathew’s glee. The two of you walked side by side in peace, basking in the comfort of each other’s presence.

Once the rush of excitement about you coming to one of his games starts to wear down, Mathew begins to feel the weight of walking befall on him as it grows quicker with each step he takes. With his brows meeting halfway, he looks at you, eyes evident with confusion.

“Where did you park your car exactly? I feel like we’re walking straight to Long Island.” He chortles, scratching his temple quite adorably.

You bit your lower lip as you looked up at him. Mathew’s physique towering over yours. “I uh– I took a cab to the party. My car’s actually parked outside my apartment.” You admit with a shy laugh.

Mat’s mouth went agape upon hearing you confess; awkward silence envelops the two of you with every second spent not talking to one another. Not long after, he decides to break the ice, undeniably impressed at how he’d never seen it coming.

Clever. He thinks, incapable of stopping his gut from swirling. His smile widens when he sees you looking at him; unfazed and perhaps, enamoured.

𖥸

Mat did walk you to your car. The two of you exchange your thank you’s; utterly grateful for what has to be the best New Year’s you had in years.

You wanted to ask him for one last cup of coffee because the last thing you wanted him to do was leave. But after all the things you’ve gone through with the man within such a short amount of time (and frankly, even a tedious walk) you still failed to muster enough courage to stop him from doing so.

Once you see him get in the lone cab that miraculously passed by your neighborhood at such an ungodly hour, you close the door behind and head straight to your flat.

You get home to the sight of your weighted blanket spread over your couch along with a couple of pillows that seems to be the best place to bury yourself in after a tiresome night out. Things were just as they were left hours ago; prepped for a much awaited movie night. As planned, you quickly get out of your winter clothes, head for a quick shower, before finally slipping into some comfortable nightwear.

You were just finishing up putting the bowl of popcorn and a bottle of Chardonnay on top of the coffee table when a buzz coming from the intercom catches your attention.

Once your hands were free, you quickly made your way towards the box, a bit irked at the thought of Katie and Emma ruining your long-overdue New Year agenda upon remembering how she’d told you to let her in the building just in case Katie gets a little too overboard.

“Emma, I’m about to watch Jude Fucking Law. Just come up!” You hurriedly say, turning your head back to the screen which already had the movie on pause.

However, instead of Katie’s whiny and drunken voice, what you heard was the same familiar chuckle that had been cruising your mind all night.

“You know, I don’t think I mentioned that I haven’t watched The Holiday. Is Jude Fucking Law any good?” He asks. A mental image of how his eyes crinkle when he laughs comes to mind upon hearing his voice.

Once again, pretty much like how you’ve spent the whole evening with Mathew, a wide smile lets loose as you press the black button. “Come on up.”

#mat barzal #mat barzal imagine #nhl imagine #hockey imagine #mat barzal x reader #mat barzal fanfiction #mat barzal fic #letters to barzy #barzzal imagines

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teamhook · 3 years

Text

Always, Always a Bridesmaid :: 27 Dresses Birthday Fic

Hello all! Here we have an update for @ultraluckycatnd birthday fic. I hope you like it.

Betaed by @demisexualemmaswan

AO3

FFN

Emma was waiting at the airport. She kept looking for her sister until a giggle caught her attention. Kathryn was walking towards her while flirting with some guy. Typical Kathryn, Emma thought, shaking her head.

Kathryn finally noticed her sister waiting for her. She coyly dismissed her admirer.

"Emma! How are you? I missed you!" Kathryn hugged her sister.

Emma squeezed Kathryn tight. “I’ve missed you!”

Kathryn’s eyes were still on the departing stranger.

Emma followed her gaze and shook her head as they headed out of the airport.

Emma and Kathryn arrived at her place.

Kathryn took in the apartment. “Emma, this place is so cute!! I love it.” She walked to a comfortable couch and put her luggage next to her as she plopped down.

“Hey, so I have a work thing to go to. Do you want to come with me?” Emma asked as she walked back from her room wearing a fresh blouse.

Kathryn kicked off her shoes. “It’s nice to be home.”

"Hey, what happened with your boyfriend, what was his name?" Emma asked.

Kathryn rolled her eyes. "He wanted to come with me but I told him I needed some space." She sighed and turned to Emma and got up as she spotted a photo of their parents on their wedding day. She smiled as she approached the picture. "Mom was my age," Kathryn said.

Emma smiles fondly. "It was the perfect wedding. The Boathouse, the big band, ceremony at sunset."

Kathryn scrunched her nose. "Except for that dress. Emma the synthetic lace and the inverted box pleats were horrible."

"I thought it was beautiful," Emma said.

Kathryn shakes her head and turns to a pile of newspaper clippings. "What are these?" she said with a teasing smirk.

Emma rushes to cover them, "Oh nothing important. Just a few old wedding announcements. I was going to recycle it."

"Emma, these are more than a few. Were you going to recycle them into wallpaper?"

"Okay, there's this writer, James Rogers, he writes the best ones. I only keep his. I just love the stories and the crazy proposals. Nevermind. It’s not your thing." She organized the clippings.

Kathryn was trying to muffle her giggles.

"How long are you staying for?" Emma asked.

"Just two weeks. The fall fashion shows are done, so I don't have work," Kathryn replied.

"Okay, hey, you never answered if you wanted to come to my work thing."

"I'll pass, I'm going to have dinner with some friends from Milan."

"Oh, okay. If you change your mind we will be at the new place Wonderland at St. Marks and A."

“Okay,” Kathryn said.

"St. Marks and A," Killian said as he clicked the seatbelt in place.

"Yes, sir," the taxi driver answered and promptly signaled and began heading to the given destination. n.

Killian relaxed on the backseat of the car as he glanced at the planner on his lap. He sighed as his fingertip traced the edge repeatedly.

Emma was laughing with Ruby.

Graham walked up to them.

"Emma, what did I get, Tamara? She was just thanking me." Graham asked, puzzled.

Emma smiled. "A nice bottle of Cristal, and some champagne glasses."

He scratched his trimmed beard. "I'm surprised she believed the present was from me."

Emma laughed, "Oh, don't worry. It wasn't my best gift wrapping job."

Graham scoffed, "I could do a decent job at gift wrapping."

Emma's brows raised in disbelief.

Ruby was silently watching the exchange. "Hey, Emma. Do you want a drink? I'm going to the bar."

Graham cleared his throat. "I could grab you, ladies, some drinks. Maybe some liquid courage?"

Ruby nodded. "I'll take a Cosmo."

Graham turned to Emma.

Emma shook her head. "I'm not drinking tonight. Thanks."

He smiled and walked towards the bar.

Emma turned to find a scowling Ruby. "You should have smiled and said I'll have a Bay Breeze. Followed by some intense flirting, interoffice sex... accidental pregnancy,

a shotgun wedding, and a happy ending. How many times do I have to tell you the plan?" Ruby sputtered out.

"Wait, why a Bay Breeze? Ruby, you don't get it. I don't want him to think I'm irresponsible." Emma glared at her friend.

Ruby sighed, "Okay, to answer your question, party pooper: a Bay Breeze because drinking a good-sized glass of pineapple juice a couple of hours before doing the deed can help make your bodily fluids taste and even smell better for his pleasure. So he can enjoy his time down there."

Ruby finished her explanation with a wolfish smirk.

Emma scrunched her face. "Rubes, you are wrong. Graham appreciates the way I am."

"I don't think there's enough appreciation going on if no one is getting naked," Ruby said with a sly smirk.

Graham came back carrying Ruby's drink and handing it to her.

"Emma, did you get that thing I left on your desk this morning?" he asked with slight nervousness.

Emma's heart started racing could it be true that he sent the flowers? "On my desk?"

"Was that okay? I mean we've never had that kind of relationship before," Graham said.

"It was great," Emma answered quickly.

"Good... I wanted to make sure you were okay with it.

I'm sorry, I should have asked before assuming," Graham confessed as his name was called out by the bar. "I'm sorry I'll be right back."

"Ruby, oh my God!! It was him. He gave me flowers!!" Emma squealed.

"Emma, stop it! This is real life, not a fairy tale. Now it's the time. You go up to him and tell him how you feel. Go NOW!"

Emma walked toward Graham with anxious energy. She couldn't believe it, he felt the same way. Graham was at the bar chatting up with one of the guys from shipping the closer she got the more excited she was getting until she noticed something caught his eye.

Emma followed his gaze and her heart stopped. No, please, no, no, no. Emma tried walking faster but she wasn't the only one that had sped up. Graham and Kathryn were seconds away from shattering her dreams. Still, she begged whoever would listen to be wrong.

Kathryn and Graham had locked eyes and nothing seemed to distract them.

Graham smiled. "Hello."

Kathryn returned the smile and with a breathy tone replied, "Hi."

Emma stood in front of them with her heart sinking.

"Oh, hey, Emma," Kathryn said as she looked away from Graham for a second.

Graham's eyes followed and smiled fondly at Emma.

Emma knew she had to introduce them but it was the hardest thing she had ever done. "Oh, sorry, Kathryn this is my Graham, I mean my boss, Graham. Graham, this is my sister, Kathryn."

"Emma, you never said your sister was in town or how lovely she is," Graham said.

Kathryn turned to Emma, "I can see why you love your job so much. I would be a workaholic too."

Graham blushed "Emma is a great assistant. I could never survive without her. As if I don't take enough advantage of her already... I dropped my dry cleaning slip off on her desk today."

Emma whispered, “Of course it was his dry cleaning slip...I’m such an idiot.”

She tried smiling as she watched the man she loved escort her sister to the bar for drinks while making plans to go out dancing later.

An accented voice in her ear startles her. "Love, were the flowers too much?"

Emma gasped as she turned to face him. Recognition quickly set in: "They're from you. The angry marriage-hater."

"Yes, love. Did you like them? Or was it too much?" Killian asked.

“Please, excuse me for a second.” Emma said and made her way to the emergency exit.

Once outside she screamed out a slew of profanities that would make a sailor blush.

...then, she noticed she wasn’t alone.

There was an anniversary celebration happening.

could this day get any worse?

She apologized for her outburst and went back inside.

Killian had stared at her in amusement. She was a puzzle for him to solve.

Emma walked back to him. “I'm sorry. You were saying.”

“Lass, I just asked if you received my flowers? I mean your flowers. Oh, and I have something for you,” He smiled as he took out something from his satchel. “I’m here to deliver this.”

“Oh, my God. Thank God. I have been looking for it everywhere,” Emma said, relieved.

“You left it in the cab the other night and it was either the engagement party tonight or Thursday's bikini wax.” He gave her a once over, “I thought my presence at the waxing would be unwelcomed.”

“You read it?” she asked with disbelief, upset at the invasion of privacy.

“Aye, I tried to read it. How else would I find where to return it? It was very difficult with the little cramped handwriting. You know, they do have these computer date books now that take care of everything for you.”

“I don't need to be taken care of,” she growled at him.

“Would you like to have a drink with me?” he asked, ignoring her tone.

But it was a semi-nice gesture, Emma reasoned. “Thank you for returning my Filofax. That was...very nice,” she replied.

He could tell by the tone of her voice that there was a dismissal coming. “Lass, it's a drink, not a week in Oahu. Come on. Just one drink.”

“I'm sorry. I'm really not great company right now,” she sighed as her eyes returned to Graham and Kathryn.

“All right, I got it. Perhaps I'll bump into you on Thursday?” The scowl on her face quickly gave away her feelings on the matter. . “Maybe not. I'll see you around,” he said and walked away.

“Who was that and where can I get one?” Ruby asked as she kept her eyes on Killian’s retreating body.

Emma was happy Ruby had such a short attention span. Her eyes drifted to one of the guys from the shipping who was waving her over and she darted in that direction.

Emma's attention returned to her sister and Graham. How could this happen to her?

Why? Why??

Growing up with Kathryn had been difficult for Emma since she had to be Kathryn’s mother more than a sister.

She had seen her sister make a play for guys that had girlfriends, but this time it had happened to her.

Sure, Kathryn didn't know about her feelings for Graham but would it have even mattered?

Emma hated the obvious flirting happening between them as she made her way to them. Graham and Kathryn were laughing and enjoying each other's conversation.

Graham was the first one to notice her."Emma, do you want to come with us?"

Emma's eyes turned to Kathryn, who discreetly shook her head ‘no’. "No, thank you. But Kathryn, aren't you tired?"

"Nah, I'm good. I can go all night long." Kathryn said, maintaining eye contact with Graham. "Let's go! Oh and Emma don't wait up! Love you!"

Kathryn grabbed Graham by the hand and dragged him out.

Kathryn had finally returned at 3 A.M. with a smile on her face. "Emma, why are you still awake?"

"I couldn't sleep so I decided to do some light cleaning. Harnessing my chi," Emma answered as she finished wiping the kitchen counter. She would never confess that she kept peeking through the peephole hoping the night of dancing ended because Graham wouldn't stop talking about her all night. She tried to pass the time doing all sorts of things from work to exercise. Cleaning her apartment had become her preferred form of distraction. Her place had never been as spotless as it was at this moment.

So she put on her bravest face possible to mask the sinking feeling she felt as her sister's smiling face greeted her.

"Emma, I had the best night of my life," Kathryn sighed. "Was that weird for you?"

"Why would it be weird?" Emma said defensively.

"Oh, good because we are meeting for lunch tomorrow. Tell me about Graham," Kathryn said with a gleam in her eyes.

Emma took a deep breath, "Uh, he dropped out of college then climbed every major peak in the world. Then he started Everest from his one-bedroom apartment. He turned it into one of the most eco-friendly philanthropic businesses in the world all before he was 30."

Kathryn smiled. "Wow."

"Yeah, and that's just his resume. Everybody loves him. He is an amazing boss. He loves his dog, Hunter, more than anyone. He would rather spend his time outside than anywhere else."

"He sounds amazing," Kathryn said dreamily.

"Yeah, but he isn't perfect," Emma added quickly.

"What do you mean?" Kathryn asked.

"Well, he hates apples, sometimes he wears sneakers without laces, and --" Emma started before Kathryn cut her off.

"Emma, those aren't exactly turn-offs," Kathryn stated.

"Kathryn, nothing happened between you two tonight, did it?" Emma asked with the last shred of hope she had.

Kathryn bit her bottom lip, "Well..."

"Oh," Emma said as her heart shattered completely. The only ray of hope she had was for Kathryn to lose interest like it was her habit or for things to fizzle out before her inevitable departure.

The next day Emma and Kathryn went to visit their dad to surprise him with the younger girl’s presence.

The familiar bell rang as they walked in and a voice from the back called out, "Thank you for choosing Gilded General Store, how can I help you today?"

"Dad, it’s just me," Emma said.

The man finally appeared with a wide smile."Oh Emma, sweetie. How are you?"

Before Emma can answer, Kathryn, interrupted."Surprise! I missed you, Dad!" Kathryn ran to hug her father.

"I didn't know you were in town. Why didn't you tell me you were coming? I would have picked you up from the airport!”

"Well, it was a surprise visit," Kathryn said.

"My two girls together. Is it my birthday?" he asked.

"Oh, Dad. Don't be silly! My gosh, this place looks exactly the same since the last time I visited."

"Kathryn, that's not true. I just stripped and re-varnished all the woodwork. Look at the new cash register. Digital."

"Yeah, I can't believe I didn't notice such improvements."

"Come on let's go upstairs, girls."

Kathryn and Emma talked idly as they set the table.

"There we go," Dad said as he presented their favorite pancakes in the shape of Mickey Mouse.

"Dad, aren't we a little too old for these?" Kathryn asked.

"No. You two will always be my little girls," he said warmly.

"Good, 'cause I love them! So delicious!" Kathryn said as Emma served herself quietly.

"So, Kathryn honey, how long are you here for?” he asked as he took a sip from his coffee.

"Two weeks, right?" Emma asked as she took a bite of her pancakes. "That's what you said."

"It depends on how some things pan out." Kathryn said with a smile.

Emma stared at her sister. "What things?"

Kathryn jumped up and ran to her purse when she heard her phone ring. "Hello? Hi!"

"Some new guy is chasing after her?"

"Dad, I wouldn't call it ‘chasing’,” Emma answered.

"Oh, Graham! I would love to!" Kathryn said.

"Emma?"

"Hmm, I’m sorry, did you say something?" Emma stared at her Dad.

"Sweetheart, are you okay?" he asked, concerned.

"Oh, just great. Everything's fine."

Killian walked with Victor to work.

"She's gonna call me. I guarantee it. I got a way with the ladies, trust me," Killian said with a wink.

"Sure, Jones," Victor said, rolling his eyes.

At work, Emma noticed some pages missing from her Filofax and Killian's name written in big bold letters with his number. "Oh, God! I’m going to kill him!" she seethed as she dialed his number.

"Hello?" a very happy voice answered.

"You idiot, you ripped a week out of my planner. Are you insane?" she hissed.

"Oh, that? Just a little experiment to see how you do without every second of your life mapped out. Lass, your life is bloody insane. Tell me what do you do besides work and helping people get married?"

Emma sighed, annoyed. "You know what that's not your business."

That comment didn’t deter Killian. "How do you afford these weddings? It must get extremely expensive, the dresses, the airfares, the wine of the month club?"

"Hey, people love that gift, and I'm a frequent member. So sometimes they throw in a free Gewurztraminer."

"Wow. I’m truly sorry, that is terribly sad. Ah. Well, I would love to make it up to you. Okay? How about a new datebook or maybe just a date?" he asked.

"Uh, yeah. Sure. Let me just pencil you in. Except, you already did every Saturday for the rest of the year. Can you please, please find someone else to be creepy with?"

"I’m sorry I cannot. Tell you what, anytime you want to be around someone who doesn't need you to take them to a fitting or a cake-tasting or a coed mojito and burrito rehearsal dinner, just give me a call. You have my number," He said.

"Yeah. Not gonna happen," Emma said as she hung up.

Emma was filing away some documents when a young voice called out.

"Hey! Emma!" the young voice said.

"Hey! Are you getting too old for hugs?" Emma asked.

"No," The boy said with a big smile.

"Thank you. How are you, Henry?" Emma said as she squeezed him tight.

"I'm good. I'm meeting Graham," Henry said as he hugged her back.

"There he is!" Graham said.

"Hey, what's up?" Henry rushed to hug Graham.

“Henry, there’s someone I want you to meet. This is Kathryn, Emma's sister. Henry is my little brother," Graham said fondly. "From the Big Brother Program at the Y."

"Oh. Hewwo," Kathryn said as if talking to a toddler.

Graham and Henry shared a look.

"Emma, Kathryn, and I are gonna take Henry to his baseball game. Would you like to join us?" Graham asked.

Henry jumped up and down. “Yeah, you should come!” the boy said excitedly.

"Sorry, kid, I've got so much work to do. I should stay here," Emma answered.

"Are you kidding me, Emma? Look, your boss is a jerk. I don't wanna have to fire you. Come on, let’s go," Graham said.

"Okay. Only if you’re sure." Emma said.

Kathryn, Emma, and Graham headed to the concession stand together. Once they were in line, Graham started ordering for them. "Let me get three Diet Pepsis, three fries and--?" He turned to the ladies for their choice in food.

"Kathryn, I don't think they have tofu dogs with meatless chili. Maybe you can have--" Emma said as she looked at the menu for an alternative for her sister.

"I want a chili dog," Kathryn said.

"I'm sorry. What?" Emma asked.

"What? It was too much of a hassle. Besides I need some good protein for when I go hiking," Kathryn said mischievously.

"You like to go hiking?" Graham asked, "No offense but you hardly seem like the type of girl who enjoys hiking. Especially in those shoes."

"I can see why you would think that, but I love all that outdoorsy stuff. Hiking, biking, and climbing. But, to be honest, I haven't been hiking since my dog died. See, Emma and I had this adorable dog growing up, Tory. I just loved him. We would go on nature hikes and climbing adventures. Not a day goes by that I don't think about that bag of fleas. Good ol' Tory."

"Emma, how come you never mentioned Tory?" Graham asked.

"Oh, I don't know. I must have repressed the memory of Toby," Emma answered.

"Yeah. His name was Toby, but I called him Tory because I had a lisp," Kathryn responded.

"A lisp that turned your ‘B's’ to ‘R's’?” Emma asked with a raised eyebrow.

"Don't feel bad. When I was a kid, I had a stutter," Graham said soothingly.

"We have so much in common," Kathryn said as she grabbed his hand.

"I'm going to leave you two for now. I'm gonna go out and shag some flies with Henry," Graham said as he squeezed Kathryn's hand. He got up to go out to the field.

"Ooh! I'm jealous. It sounds like so much fun. What are ‘shagging flies’?" Kathryn yelled after him.

"What are you doing?" Emma asked.

"What? Kathryn scoffed.

"You hate dogs and meat and being outside," Emma said.

"No. I like yachts. I like flowers. I like...you know... tanning," Kathryn insisted.

"You hated Toby. The only animals you’ve ever cared about are dead ones with sleeves. You're just saying all this stuff because Graham is so handsome. Or some people think he is," Emma said.

"I did not hate that dog! I just hated it when he drooled on me. And I could like hiking if I tried it... maybe," Kathryn said.

"Hey, Kathryn? What do you say you come out here and show me what you've got," Graham called out.

"Ooh. Sounds like fun. Are we gonna shag now?" Kathryn asked as she made her way to him.

The courtship between Kathryn and Graham progressed quickly between dates to family meals with Mr. Goldman.

It quickly became obvious to Emma that things between her sister and Graham were not going to end anytime soon. She had lost count on how many times she had walked in on them in a compromising position.

One day at work, Emma got called into Graham's office in a panic.

"Emma! Which one sucks less?!?" he asked as he showed her two ties.

"I like this one better," she said with a smile. Things might be a little different but he still valued her opinion.

"Good. Do you mind helping me with the tie?" he asked, handing it to her.

"No problem. I do it for my dad all the time," she said with a smile and added, "Are you okay? You seem nervous." She asked, concerned.

"I'm good. How does it look?" he asked.

"You look great, very handsome," she said.

"Thank you, Emma. I don't know what I would do without you," he said sincerely.

An hour later as she was about to leave the office, Emma noticed Graham had forgotten his wallet.

She rushed to find him at the restaurant the reservation was for. As she entered romantic music started playing by the band and a banner was released with the words Marry Me.

"Guys, guys! Hold it. She's not the one. She's not the one," Graham said.

When she heard that, her heart shattered beyond repair. It was final, he had chosen her sister as his life's companion. There was nothing she could do to show him she was the right one for him. There were no amount of breakfast burritos she could buy him because she wanted to make sure he had eaten or going beyond her job duties to show him she was irreplaceable that no one knew him better than her.

"I'm so sorry. I should've called, you forgot your wallet," she said lowly.

"Oh. Thanks. You didn't need to go out of your way to bring it," he said.

"Oh, I'm sorry I'm late," Kathryn said as she ran inside.

Graham yelled out, "Guys, now! Now!"

"Emma, what's going on?" Kathryn asked, confused.

"Come here, boy," Graham whistled and called out for Hunter. The dog came into view while holding a bag with his muzzle and approached his owner with a wagging tail as if he knew there was a cause for celebration.

"Will you please sit down a second?" Graham asked as he carefully took out a small black box from the bag.

"Sure,” Kathryn said as she took a seat.

"I've been waiting my whole life for the right girl. Maybe I've been too busy trying to make something of myself but, I think I missed some of those moments. Kathryn, the second that I saw you..." he said and was interrupted.

"Yes!!" Kathryn said quickly.

Graham smiled, "I knew we would be great together. Kathryn, will you marry me?" he said.

"Yes, of course, I will. Graham, I love you!" Kathryn said and they shared a kiss, sealing their commitment to each other.

Emma now knew she was not the one for him. The only problem is how do you mend a heart that has been pining for the same person for years? She would have to find a way. A new reason to wake up in the morning.

Taglist:

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wellhellotragic · 6 years

Text

No Handlebars 2/2

Summary: Before moving to the city he’d thought his days back at school in London had been wild, but American’s put the British to shame in their attempts at debauchery. Or that fic where Killian and Co. rent a barcycle for the night and everything goes wrong…

Rated: Probably Teen but let’s just go with M to be safe

A/N: Sorry this took so long @pirateherokillian. This writing funk is never ending!

Shout out to my ‘special hug’ friend, @distant-rose for yelling and screaming and clapping and sending me guilt emojis and basically kicking my ass where it needed to be so I could finally finish it. It really helped having someone in my corner coaching me through when all I wanted to do was give up. Thank you so much!

Also, this is largely in part to @optomisticgirl letting me whine and complain about fickle muses and for being an amazing sounding board for ideas!

Part 1 can be found here.

They’d been lucky. There had been a mix up of some sort as the guy on the phone had described it when he’d called earlier to tell her that their group should arrive early if they wanted the better barcycle. He’d explained that due to the double booking they were having to pull an old bike out of storage, one without the engine that would make the night much more enjoyable. Emma had scrambled, calling all of the girls trying to get them ready thirty minutes earlier than planned. A feat to be sure considering the number of outfits strewn about on Ruby’s floor.

She’d had to practically wrestle Ruby in to the black and red strapless dress barely giving any thought into her own outfit. Instead she’d grabbed the closest thing to her. It wasn’t to say that red wasn’t her color, but she hadn’t been a fan of the way the bottom had been riding up on her all night, nor of the way she had to continually remind herself to keep her legs shut while sitting down at the barcycle. Thank god it had a motor!

The first bar had been shit. They’d arrived early as planned, too early even and had time to kill. She’d barely made it inside when a fishbowl sized green concoction had been set in front of her. Eight different rums had gone into it according to Mary Margaret. Emma had only managed about two sips before her face scrunched up in a look of total disgust. While she hadn’t wanted to get drunk, she planned on having at least one or two drinks that evening.

The second bar hadn’t been much better. It was dirty and grimy and Emma had to lace the toilet seat in the ladies room with no less than three layers of toilet paper before she felt comfortable sitting down.

When she came back out, all of her friends were taking tequila shots poured from a bottle that even she wouldn’t drink from. Elsa made a toast to Anna and Emma found herself choking down a laugh. It’s not that she begrudged her friend any happiness, but Anna had a habit of jumping into relationships and it hadn’t even been six months since her last proposal. A guy named Hans that she’d met as a party. She hadn’t even bothered learning his last name before she accepted. Needless to say the relationship had crashed and burned, and Emma couldn’t help but wonder how long she’d be wearing Kristoff’s ring.

Letting her mood sour, she made her way to the bar for a beer hoping to take the edge off of her sorrows. Emma had no room to judge Anna. She hadn’t exactly been in a successful relationship worth bragging about, in - well - ever. Hell, she hadn’t even been able to bring herself to talk to her newest crush in the coffee shop, choosing to run away while he was giving his name for his own coffee.

When the bike driver had told them it was time to move on, Emma downed the rest of her beer and headed for the door with the other girls, but as she got close to the door, she caught a glimpse of a familiar face. Blush crept up her neck at the sight of him, his inky black hair, his too blue eyes, the way his shirt had been unbuttoned just enough to reveal a hint of dark chest hair. She’d nearly stumbled over her own feet trying to move to Ruby’s other side to hide her face.

And when she got back on the bike, she’d clinched her legs together for an entirely different reason.

Ruby had noticed the way her cheeks had pinkened even in the dim street light and Emma had to thank every God there’d ever been that Ruby had kept her mouth shut. Or at least she’d kept her lips zipped until the were in the next bar.

“Spill.”

Emma had almost spit out her water, not having realized that Ruby had been so close.

“I think I just did,” she snarked out as she grabbed some napkins to clean up the mess she’d made when she jumped.

“Whatever it is that’s got you acting so squirrely.”

“I’m not-”

“Ohhhhhhh no you don’t. I know. You’re fine. Except that you’re not. Don’t think I didn’t notice how you almost ran out of that last bar, or that dreamy look you had in your eyes back there on the bike.” Ruby’s grin turned feral. “So who is he?”

Emma let out a groan in defeat.

“It’s Jones.”

“Wait, the guy from-”

“Yes,” Emma hissed, covering Ruby’s mouth with her hand. “But that’s all you’re getting.”

Without missing a beat, Emma headed to the dance floor to join the other girls, knowing the music would be too loud for Ruby to continue her interrogation. They bounced and moved to the music and Emma felt only the slight buzz from her earlier beer. She really should have eaten before.

And then she felt it. A magnetic pull of sorts and when she looked up, those gorgeous blue eyes were looking right at her. She turned quickly, not trusting herself not to blush again. But she hadn’t been as discreet as she’d hoped. With a strong shove of an elbow to her ribs and one wide eyed look from Ruby, Emma found herself headed to the bar.

She’d heard him order a shot and without thinking, she put her foot in her mouth and asked for one too. Schooling her features in an effort to disguise her embarrassment, she managed a small smile before he turned to look at her. His eyes widened and she thought he might have recognized her, but he gave no indication, and with her nerves still getting the best of her, she offered him her hand.

“Emma.”

“Killian.”

A smile formed in his lips and it was dazzling.

“Killian, huh? That’s not one you hear every day.”

“No, I, uh, guess not.”

She watched as his hand moved up to scratch a spot just behind his ear, and for the first time, she realized that maybe the attraction wasn’t as one-sided as she had first thought. Of course, he could just as equally have been uncomfortable for another reason. They hadn’t exactly gotten off on the best foot after all.

The bartender returned with their shots.

“So what’s up with the big guys night out?”

God, she felt like a fifth grader trying to flirt with a boy for the first time. Back then it had been Billy Conners. They’d been friends, or at least she thought they had. But when she tried to flirt with him before the Sadie Hawkins dance, he’d just laughed at her, before moving to sit next to Sarah Baxter. Granted, Sarah had blossomed rather early on, and she should have expected him to prefer a girl with a real bra over her training one, but it had still stung.

He was just watching her.

Say something, Emma. Anything!

“Well normally when guys go out, it’s just two or three of them. I guess it’s easier to score that way or something.” She’d leaned into him. The music was hard to hear over. “But there's got to be at least ten of you out here, so what is it? Bachelor party?”

It was only after he’d flushed bright red that she’d realized that she’d insinuated he was out looking for sex.

“No. It’s one of the guys birthday. Or it was two weeks ago but with finals we’re just now getting around to celebrating.”

“Good to know.”

Emma Swan. Queen of awkward flirting.

“Would you like another drink?”

She looked back to the wall of alcohol and shook her head instead. Regrettably, she still had to be up early the next day.

“No, I should probably get back to my friends.”

“Ah. And what are you fine ladies celebrating?”

For just a moment, she’d thought he might have been disappointed, but he’d quickly changed topics and she’d figured she’d misread him.

“Bachelorette party.”

Killian’s eyes widened and he looked down to her hands.

“My friend Anna just got engaged.”

Emma turned her head to take in her friends. Anna had been dancing with the rest of the girls, completely happy and carefree.

“She’s so young though.”

“Don’t worry. It won’t last. This is her second engagement this year.”

She felt guilty for having said it outloud, but part of her just needed to let it out. To tell someone that she thought it was a mistake without getting all of the judgemental looks she knew her friends would have given her.

Before he could respond, she heard her name being called.

“Emma!” yelled Elsa. “It’s time to blow this popsicle stand!”

Emma shook her head at her friend.

“Guess I’ll see you around, Jones.”

“ That’s the guy? Damn, he’s a looker!”

“God, Ruby. Could you have said that any louder?”

Ruby had never been one for personal boundaries, and Emma should have known better than to confided in her about the ‘hot guy’ she had a crush on, but her excitement at seeing him for the first time had been too much to hold it in.

“Wait, what guy?”

She shot her friend a look of warning before turning around to address the rest of the people walking back up to the barcycle they’d rented for the night to celebrate Anna’s engagement.

“There’s no guy, Elsa. Ruby’s just had a little too much to drink and you know how she gets.”

“Hey, I resemble that remark.” Ruby burst into giggles at her own joke, as did the rest of the group.

Emma, having been the only one in the group to work the next day had taken a pass on the most of the libations. As she took in her friends tipsy states only half way through the evening, Emma realized just how long a night she was in for.

She’d kept a weather eye out for him the rest of the evening, just to see if there was any chance of their paths crossing again, but it seemed fate wasn’t on her side. The whole point of hiring the barcycle as a large group was so that your group could decided how long to stay at each bar, and the last few had been a bit of a let down so the girls blasted through them.

She’d grown quite moody as the night edged on with still no sight of him. Elsa had gone so far as to call her prickly. Emma was honestly just ready to call it a night. They were leaving the second to last bar and Emma figured her friends were all drunk enough that they wouldn’t miss her if she snuck out at the last bar. Granted, she had Ruby had ridden together, but chances were her roommate wasn’t going back home with her anyway. Not if the way she’d been flirting with guys all night had meant anything.

So Emma sat her seat, grabbing a bottle of water out of the cooler Mary Margaret had brought, and settled in for her last trip on the barcycle. They’d just finished their count off, making sure each woman was on the bike as they started to head towards the final bar when Emma felt the weight of the bike shift under the additional body that had suddenly joined them.

Her head whipped to the side just in time to see blue eyes staring back at her.

“What- Are you a crazy person?”

“I prefer to think of it as a rasping dapscallion! Wait, no. Dashing Rapscallion!”

“A very drunk rapscallion apparently.”

Killian didn’t respond, just giving her a goofy grin instead.

“Uh, Emma. Would you care to introduce us to your friend?”

Emma looked around to find the eyes of every woman focused on the man beside her, along with the weary eyes of the driver.

“Guys,” she felt heat rising in her cheeks. “This is Killian.”

“Well welcome aboard, Killian.” The way Ruby had said it raised Emma’s hackles. It had been almost seductive, and Emma couldn’t help but notice the wolfish grin Ruby had given him as she appraised his form with her eyes.

Luckily for Emma, Mary Margaret had been clueless and in her tipsy state had managed to recapture Ruby’s attention.

“Music!”

Without any further prompting, Ruby plugged her phone back into the bike’s sound system and pulled up the same some they’d been listening to all night. Soon all of the women, with the exception of an all too sober Emma, were singing off key and off time from the song.

“What is this?”

She hadn’t expected him to be so close, but as he spoke into her ear Emma couldn’t help but shiver.

“It’s the theme song for the night. Have you never heard it?”

“No. Hey, wait-” Killian stopped briefly to look around. “How is this thing moving when no one is peddling?”

On her other side, Belle responded telling him that the bike had a motor. The pedals were just for decoration.

Killian shook his head and bit his lip, never taking his eyes off Emma. Not even for the caterwauling surrounding them. The guilt at stealing the better bike out from under him ate at her a little. She’d never been more grateful to see the Frog’s Pond before. Technically both the first and last bar of the evening.

All of the women went inside to order another round of awful blue drinks. Killian hadn’t moved from the bike though, just watching and smiling at her, occasionally adding in a giggle or two. Emma once again had flashbacks to Billy Connor. It was too much, so she excused herself to go inside, Killian following hot on her heels.

They’d been there for about fifteen minutes before realization hit Emma. Killian. He was drunk, too drunk to get home on his own, and she wondered if any of his friends missed him. If any of them were even worried about him.

But when she’d asked him about his friends, he’d waved her off, stating that she deserved his attention more. His full and prompt attention. He’d blushed as he said it, and nothing had ever been more enduring.

Ruby, on the other hand, had been a bit more brazen. Instead of asking him about his friends again, she chose to reach down into his front pocket, digging around for his phone. Killian hadn’t noticed, or at least he hadn’t seemed to mind, which irked Emma. When Ruby tried to subtly mouth the word ‘big’ to Emma, she’d actually found herself angry with her friend.

Sensing Emma’s mood, Ruby gave her an apologetic smile and tossed her Killian’s phone but not before clicking around in it for a while. Unsure of who she would even call, probably the same thing Ruby had considered, she dug through his call history and hit redial on the last dialed number.

“Killian! Where the hell are you?”

“Um, Killian is here at the Frog Pond.”

“Oh, shit. Is he okay?”

“Ya. No. I mean he’s fine but he’s really drunk and I know he was we a group of guys earlier tonight.”

“Wait, who is this?”

Emma started from the beginning, explaining to a man, Graham, how Killian had jumped on her barcycle and that he was still with her group. Graham had told her that they’d be there as soon as possible, and sure enough, ten minutes later the group of guys that Killian had been with arrived. Instead of coming to collect their friend though, most of the men ended up honing in on Emma’s friends. Soon enough, the guys were ordering another round of drinks for everyone, finding two large booths near the front window that could house all sixteen of them.

Emma had stopped Killian from drinking any more blue goo though, handing him a glass of water, which he gratefully accepted. She wasn’t quite sure how or when it had become decided, but at some point the group in the other booth had decided to go back to one of their apartments. Killian’s apartment to be exact.

She’d made sure that he’d completely finished his water before they left, and it seemed to have done wonders for his coordination if nothing else. He still had the giggles and a few hiccups escaped as they walked, but he seemed steady enough. Victor had said that they were only a fifteen minute walk away and since it was such a nice night they should all walk. Elsa and Anna had decided to call it quits already, having called Kristoff to come pick them up. Emma had considered getting a cab home so she could hide in her room, but considering his place was on the way to hers, she decided to go with everyone. She absolutely didn’t go with them just because she wanted to spend more time with Killian. Nope.

She had however second guessed her choice as Mary Margaret had once again started singing a song that Emma had come to hate through the course of the night.

“I can ride my bike with no handlebars. No handlebars. I can ride my bike with no handlebars.”

It had taken less than a full verse of chorus before Ruby, Belle, and the others had joined in and she’d found herself groaning as they muddled their way through the rapping bits. Killian had even picked up a number of the lyrics from Ruby showing him the video as they waited on his friends to arrive.

How have you never seen this? You have to come watch this, Killian.

Emma hadn’t missed the way Ruby had leaned into him, pushing her chest up into his line of sight either. Ya, she definitely wasn’t going back to Killian’s to make sure nothing happened between him and Ruby. Nope. The only thing keeping her sane at that point was knowing that Killian’s gaze had remained firmly affixed to the phone screen, like he hadn’t even noticed that Ruby was trying to seduce him.

Emma had been avoiding Ruby, not that it had been difficult. Ruby’s attentions had managed to shift to one of Killian’s friends, for the time being at least. She’d complained about her feet hurting and one of the guys, Victor maybe, had told her to hop on him piggy back style. Emma knew he had to have been getting tired, could actually see it in the way he had slowed down, but he never dropped her.

Then there had been Mary Margaret, who’d just stumbled for the third time in less than a quarter of a mile. They’d had to physically force her to remove her heels before she broke her neck. The only reason she’d even still been upright at that point was because Killian’s friend David had been hugging her to his side as he guided her down the sidewalk.

Regina and Robin had fallen behind the rest of the group. At some point, Regina had become so drunk that she started crying, incoherent sobs about how someone had told a secret of hers. Emma was positive that Regina hadn’t had a clue what she was talking about or where she was, but Robin had volunteered to walk with her and make sure she was alright.

Killian for his part had been the only one to really pay Emma any attention. He’d waxed poetic about how her hair rivaled the light of the sun. He’d offered to cover a puddle of water with his jacket. She’d refused, the puddle had been the size of an oreo cookie after all. He’d even started serenading her with something other than the stupid Handlebar song. He had been sweet and cute, and everything a young Emma had wanted from stupid Billy Conner. But older Emma was jaded and knew that it was just because he was drunk. She didn’t know anything about him, well aside from the fact that he had the voice of an angel, the face of a model, and that he liked boats.

But then the absolute most endearing thing ever happened, and if Emma had been the type to believe in soulmates, she would have claimed Killian right then and there as hers. They’d been almost there, his building in sight when the group heard a frightening sound, like a child screaming in fear. The tree above them shook and Killian pulled her back just in time for two racoons to fall in front of them.

All of the men jumped, almost running away in a show of cowardice, as one of the raccoons bolted, but Killian had grabbed the nearest stick and charged at the remained one while yelling “Rous!”

“It’s a raccoon, Killian.” Ruby had clearly missed the joke, but it hadn’t been lost on Emma.

Rodents of unusual size.

It was her favorite movie after all. Emma smiled as she watched him flourish the stick like a sword, fending of the offended racoon. So what if the racoon slinked away of it’s own free will instead of rolling into a fire pit? Killian had still been her very own Dread Pirate Roberts.

Once they made it to Killian’s apartment building, David keyed in the code and held the door open for everybody. They all crowed in the elevator going up three floors before heading to the door at the end of the hall. David unlocked the door and everyone went inside. Everyone but Ruby, who had grabbed Emma’s arm just outside the door and pulled her further into the hallway.

“Are you mad at me?”

Emma just crossed her arms over her chest and leveled her with a look.

“Seriously? Emma, I wasn’t really flirting with him.”

“Ya, you always throw you cleavage in the face of men you aren’t interested in.”

Ruby grinned her wolfish grin once more.

“Emma, I wasn’t flirting with him. Not really at least.”

Emma rolled her eyes.

“I just know you. You’ll dance around whatever it is you two have going on forever. I thought if I messed with him you might finally make a move to claim him. I mean, it’s already been what, three months?”

Emma almost choked on air as Ruby winked at her, leaving her alone in the hallway as she went to join the rest of the gang. She wasn’t alone long though. Before she knew it, Killian was at the door yelling something inside to the others about needing to find his Buttercup. She blushed at the comment before pushing him back into the apartment, closing the door behind them. The last thing she wanted was him pissing off all of the other neighbors at two in the morning.

While she’d been talking to Ruby in the hallway, Robin and David had managed to put some snacks together for everyone to help soak up soak of the booze. Killian was still a little wobbly on his feet so Emma guided him to the couch and made him a plate. He’d only made it two bites in when he quickly excused himself, saying he needed to use the restroom. Emma hadn’t thought much of it, having kept busy making sure all of her friends were eating and drinking water, but after Killian had been gone for twenty minutes, Emma had started to worry.

Wandering around the apartment, she finally managed to find his room. It was dark, but there was a small amount of light coming from under a door. Emma moved closer to knock on it, but before she could, she heard Killian let out a loud groan. She hesitate for just a moment, trying to decide if she should leave him be or not. She wasn’t stupid, she knew what guys did in private, especially when inhibitions had been lowered, but when he groaned again, she couldn’t help but push the door open.

Yes, she’d expected to find him in a slightly compromising position, but she hadn’t expected to find him huddle over the toilet hugging the sides as he threw up all of the alcohol in his system. When his eyes met hers they were so sad and defeated. Emma didn’t say anything, just walked back into the kitchen grabbing a glass and filling it with water. Killian was grateful when she returned, although obviously embarrassed.

“You shouldn’t have to see me this way.”

Emma just smile and used her fingers to brush the hair away from his forehead.

“And you shouldn’t have to be sick alone.”

Emma stayed with him there in the bathroom for another hour as his body continued to purge itself until there was nothing left. When she felt confident that he was done for the evening, she helped him up and guided him back into his bedroom, clicking on a bedside lamp. It was only in that dim light that she’d realized that not all of his sick had made it into the toilet, as he had staines on his shirt and jeans. Not wanting him to soil his bed, she carefully helped strip him of his shirt, trying to will away the heat warming her core at the sight of his chest. Getting his pants off had been a bit more of a challenge. They’d been skin tight and she’d literally had to peel them off of him, only to find that he’d chosen to forfeit his boxers for the evening.

She quickly averted her eyes and then pulled back the covers and waited for him to get in bed before covering him back up. Emma moved to leave, wanting to let him get some rest, but before she could leave, he’d called out to her.

“It’s late. You shouldn’t have to walk home alone.”

“What exactly are you proposing?”

She’d meant for it to be teasing, but with her own fatigue brewing, it had come out a little more accusatory.

“I- I just meant I could sleep on the floor and you could have my bed.”

She laughed a little. Even when he was sick and miserable, he was still possibly the most chivalrous man she’d ever met.

“It’s okay. I don’t live that far away.”

She stayed with him until he fell asleep, giving him a whispered kiss against his cheek as she left.

He was pleasantly drunk as they arrived at their second to last bar for the evening. Seeing Emma had driven away all thoughts of Milah, finals, and even the horrible nextdoor neighbor. He was happy and just inebriated enough to have forgotten about the smaller details in life (like not having a way to contact Emma). He’d also somehow come to not care about the fact that leading up to said bar, he’d been forced to sit in a seat once again with pedals.

And then things got hazy. He remembered a flash of blonde and getting back on the barcycle, or maybe it was the other way around? Either way, everything between midnight and that morning was a blur. His head was throbbing and if his bedside alarm clock had been telling the truth, it was closing in on four in the afternoon.

When he made his way into the living room he found a worse-for-the-wear David laying face down in the couch and Will Scarlet on the floor in front of the tv nursing a bottle of water. Killian grumbled as he flopped into the only other chair in the room, and David mumbled something about it being too loud.

“What the hell happened last night?” he asked, hoping his friends had more recollection than he did.

Just then Robin emerged from his room and made his way to the kitchen, grabbing not one but two bottles of water from the fridge. He laughed taking in the scene around him.

“Oi, what are you laughing at?”

“You lot at a stain on the English name. Hungover after only a few drinks.”

The guys continued to banter for a while before Robin insisted he needed to get back to his room, still holding both water bottles, all of them knowing that meant he had a girl waiting for him. For a brief moment, Killian had been jealous. Not that Robin had been physical with a woman, but there was just something about waking up in an empty bed over and over again that made him feel lonely.

“I’m surprised you’re not running off back to your room.”

“What are you talking about?” Killian scoffed at Will.

“Um, the blonde goddess you have in there. What did you call her? Your buttercup?”

With that, memories started flooding through Killian’s mind. Images of Emma, a song he couldn’t remember the words to, and a raccoon maybe? God, he’d been such an idiot the night before. And Emma, oh god, Emma had seen him throw up.

Bloody hell.

Killian ran back to his room, ignoring his pounding head and the blaring music coming from next door to search for his phone, hoping maybe he’d dreamed it all. That he wouldn’t have a call to Graham in his recent history. No such luck. He wanted to cry, or die, maybe even both.

He rocked himself on his bed clutching his phone for a few minutes, debating whether or not to give his neighbor a piece of his mind when the song playing through the wall changed.

I can ride my bike with no handlebars. No handlebars.

Killian was sure his eyes were the size of saucers as the song continued to play on. It couldn’t be though. It wasn’t possible. There was no way she could have been living next door to him for three months unnoticed. Right?

Killian launched himself out of his apartment towards the door one over from him, wasting no time in knocking. And when the door opened, he’d deemed it nothing more than a miracle when he was greeted with hair brighter than the sun.

“Emma?”

“Sorry, was my music too loud?”

Emma winked at him and invited him in, offering him some coffee. As it turned out, she’d learned his name the day after she moved in when she accidently got some of his mail. She’d seen him in passing, but he’d always had his face glued to a textbook so he’d never noticed her back. And as for the the loud music, well Ruby had a voracious sexual appetite and it was the only way to drown out the noises her roommate made.

He spent the rest of the afternoon at her place, laying on the couch watching movies and talking and just getting to know each other.

And a month later, when their lease came up from renewal, Killian was the first to sign.

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seriouslyhooked · 6 years

Text

Scoring Your Love (Part 17/18)

Part One, Part Two, Part Three, Part Four, Part Five, Part Six,Part Seven,Part Eight, Part Nine, Part Ten, Part Eleven, Part Twelve, Part Thirteen, Part Fourteen, Part Fifteen, Part Sixteen. Story also onFF here and AO3 here. Banner by the wonderful@timetravelandfairytales

Modern AU where Killian is a world famous soccer star who has hit rock bottom and been sentenced to the place where ‘football’ legends go to die – America. While here he crosses paths with Emma, an up and coming musician and film scorer who challenges everything he thought he knew and makes him want more than the game he’s always loved. Will be filled with fluff for days. Rated M.

A/N: So at last I find myself at a chapter I have long been anticipating, and it has certainly taken long enough to get here. Between school and other fics, this has been a slower updating process than I expected, but I am hoping the next two chapters will be worth it. They are the last two chapters this fic will get for the time being (though I am planning an eventual epilogue, that I will hopefully write when I’m on winter break). That being said, you should all strap in for my usual dose of CS cuteness with this one! Thanks so much for reading, and hope you enjoy!

“All right, all right! I know you’re pleased with yourselves but I need you all to settle down, or I can’t say what needs to be said!”

Robin’s voice was raised as he addressed the team at the halfway point of their playoff game against New England, but the good humor of the moment shone through all the same. This was supposed to be a very competitive match. Their opponent was highly ranked, and they were in the semi-finals. The winner of this game would move on to the final round, and the victor of that game would win the MLS cup. But instead of it being a close call, this was turning into a blow out, much to the enjoyment of Killian’s teammates. The score was 3-0, and since Killian had played a part in each of those goals, he was rather pleased with himself, just as Robin knew he would be.

“So it turns out the first half has been a bit of a walk,” Robin said when the room had settled some. “But I don’t want any one of you pulling off the gas. We need to go out there and play just as hard as we did this half. For lack of a better phrase, we can’t go taking our eyes off the ball.”

The groan that emanated through the room at Robin’s cliché words would have been laughable in any other moment, but for Killian, his high production on the field today wasn’t the product of determination, but of anticipation. Right now, Emma was out there, watching in the stands as they played for a chance at the league’s title game, and he wanted to do her proud to be sure, but this wasn’t where the evening would end. After this game commenced, Killian had a night he hoped they would always remember planned out, and this waiting to get there was slowly eating away at him. To reassure himself he moved back to his allotted locker area, pulling from his jacket the little black box that held a token of his future.

The ring inside was one that meant more than money could buy. It was his grandmother’s ring, and it was one of the few mementos Killian had not only of her but of his mother as well. It had been her wish before she was sick that Killian should have it someday, and after keeping it safe for years, Liam had returned it a few weeks back when they’d made up again.

“I know now that doubting you was fruitless, brother,” Liam had said after meeting with Emma and apologizing for his part in their falling out. “You did as Mum always wanted. You let your heart lead you, and you found a good woman very worthy of your love.”

Killian could not possibly agree more, and with the Gold mess now behind them (the bastard had actually been denied bail, meaning he was sitting pretty in a jail cell) things with Emma had been at another level. The happiness he had known before seemed to eclipse itself, and though it was still soon – too soon by certain standards – Killian’s certainty in his love for Emma had only grown. This was an attachment and a bond that would not be going anywhere, and he felt a need to tell her this and to beg her to let them start their life together once and for all.

“Bet it feels like this game is taking forever,” David commented from beside Killian, pulling Killian from the reverie.

Killian noticed the team meeting was finished as his friend said the words. Robin had concluded whatever motivational speech he had in store while Killian was busy thinking of other things and his teammates were all preparing to return to the pitch. David, though, seemed just as unfazed by the game before them as Killian, instead turning his attention towards Killian’s plans, which he was already apprised of.

“Aye. I just want the blasted match to be done with.”

“I get that,” David said with a genuine tone before feigning a whisper. “But maybe don’t go yelling that in front of these guys. We haven’t all won world titles before.”

“Sorry, mate, I -,”

“No need to explain,” David said with a shake of his head. “You love her. I understand that more than you know.”

“So you and Mary Margaret then… it’s evolved to that so quickly?”

“Yup, and you better get on with proposing unless you want me to go first. I don’t know how much longer I can wait.”

Killian laughed at David’s bombastic statement as they headed out of the team room and back down the hall towards the field once more. His friend’s tone was so decided, so absolute, and to many other men it would seem crazy, but Killian could totally relate. He himself had been in love with Emma for what felt like forever, and that was obvious in everything he did. Even now, as he walked back out into the arena, his eyes immediately searched for her in the spot he knew she was sitting in. Only when he found her did he find any sort of real comfort, and when he saw that she was looking at him too he was lost. Damn if that woman wasn’t the most remarkable thing the world over. She was a treasure, and he had every intention of squaring this game away so he could remind of her that fact.

Luckily for Killian and his team, the second half proved just as fortuitous as the first. It was a runaway in the end, not so unlike a few other games they’d had this season, but as they arrived back in the team room the celebration was immediate and rowdy. Everyone was in the best spirits, but Killian’s impatience remained. He wanted to get going. He knew he had to stay for Robin’s speech and eventual toasting, but he tried to calculate in his head how soon he could depart and at what time he could sneak out.

“Don’t you have somewhere to be?” The question came from Graham and Killian turned to look at his friend who had the same knowing grin on his face that David had had before him. Killian was going to respond that he did, but that it had to wait, but then their coach stepped in with a surprising announcement.

“Indeed he does. He’s off to get the girl, though a word to the wise, I’d suggest you hit the showers first. I don’t know how romantic a night it’ll be if you show up pitch-fresh.”

Killian stopped himself before he could ask if Robin was sure. Truth be told, Killian didn’t want to risk anyone changing their mind. If they were saying he could run off and clean up quickly before heading out without consequence, then he was damn well going to do that. Grabbing his things as quickly as he could Killian thanked them both and wished them a good celebration before heading on his own merry way.

Within ten more minutes Killian was showered and ready to find his Swan, and much to his delight she was waiting for him too. Tiny, it seemed, had found her again during this game and she was waiting for him in the same place she had been at the first game she came to. It made Killian think of just how far they’d come to see her here again, but when she saw him watching her, Emma didn’t hold back this go around. Instead she walked right up to him and pulled him in for a kiss that stole his breath away.

“You were something else tonight,” Emma murmured when they pulled back. Her eyes were darker than they had been a minute ago, giving away the heat and desire she was feeling. It made Killian crave more, and his hands held her close despite their being out here in the open. Hell if he cared who saw them. His hope was that the whole bloody world would know they belonged together in just a matter of time.

“So I did you proud then, love?” he teased and Emma bit her lip, drawing his attention to her mouth once more.

“You could say that. Mostly you just made me want you though, and honestly I’m a little sad you didn’t come out in your uniform. I spent a good chunk of the game thinking about how you look in it…”

“Fuck,” Killian groaned, his head totally spinning out of control as he faced his Swan in full effect. She was deliberately trying to get a rise out of him, but he knew she meant the words too and he made a mental note to create a space for her to live out those dirtier fantasies of hers soon. “We’ve got to go, love, or we’ll never get out of here.”

“Go? I didn’t realize we had plans.”

“Oh we have plans alright,” Killian stated with finality before bringing her hands up to kiss one by one. “You trust me, don’t you Emma?”

“Always,” Emma agreed and Killian beamed back down at her before leading her out into the LA evening and towards a key step in their story that he couldn’t wait to get to.

…………….

Staring out the window of Killian’s car as they cruised down the 101, Emma felt a sense that she was exactly where she most needed to be.

So far her day had been wonderful. She’d woken up with Killian and got to spend the morning with him before he had to head to the stadium to prep for the game, and then she had the chance to go and see him in action. Her friends were all there, including Mary Margaret and Ruby (who were cheering along for their own guys, having both committed to David and Graham respectively) and Belle and Elsa. Since Elsa was there, Liam had also made an appearance. He was prone to showing up wherever Elsa was these days, and Emma loved to see the two of them at the start of what she knew would be a long-term romance. They were both so smitten and cute as could be, but Emma tonight had been totally focused on Killian.

In the time she and Killian had known each other, Emma had learned so much about this sport. She knew that certain things took so much skill and finesse, and though she’d loved seeing him play that first game, she had so much more appreciation this go around. Seeing Killian out there playing his heart out was riveting and amazing, and it was like everyone in the stadium knew they were witnessing greatness. Four goals for the night and three assists was a crazy number, and the footwork and the rhythm that he had, and that he inspired for his team was breathtaking. For Emma though, greatness didn’t end with the game. In fact, it seemed it was only beginning.

“You realize that before I started dating you I was actually well known for hating surprises, right?”

Killian’s chuckle filled the space around them as his hand came to take hers. The feeling when they touched was still dazzling, and though time had made it a familiar thing, Emma still marveled at the buzz it sent humming through her.

“I do realize that, Swan. But I am also fully aware that you happen to like my surprises, and I’m hoping this one will prove my best yet.”

Emma jokingly mumbled something about him being over the top, but the sentiment faded away when she saw where they pulled up. They’d been driving up the coast to Malibu for some time, but Killian just pulled up in front of a gated home that was truly remarkable. It sent a shiver of recollection through her, since the gates and the grand façade made Emma think of their first date, but this home was more modern and in turn just a little more vibrant. In truth, it was probably the most beautiful house Emma had ever seen, and as Killian drove up the driveway, Emma could already tell it would have the most breathtaking views of the water and the coastline.

Without more than a few words shared between them, Killian parked and opened her door, taking her hand and leading her into the house. On the inside Emma felt that despite it’s extravagant size, this house still felt like a home. It was warm in here, inviting and open and the space filled with promise. The sound of the waves that could be heard ever so slightly in the background soothed Emma almost as much as the feel of Killian’s hand in hers, and she found herself sighing a little, loving the calm that came so quickly when they were alone. She ended up following Killian through the whole place, thinking to herself that the owner of this house had exceptional taste, and that it was crazy how perfect the ambiance was. It was a beautiful blend of what her place looked like and what Killian’s had going for it (though clearly done at a much more expensive rate), and though Emma knew it was likely just another friend of Killian’s making a beautiful date possible for them, Emma couldn’t help thinking that a house like this might be truly ideal.

“I was hoping I could tempt you into dinner with me here, love,” Killian said after they’d walked around the first floor, seeing all the home had to offer on this level while heading towards their real destination. “But then I reasoned dinner wouldn’t be enough. So perhaps we could start with a walk on the beach. I think we’re only a few minutes away from sunset.”

“That sounds perfect.”

The look of happiness that Killian shared with her at her words touched Emma’s heart. He was so invested in her enjoyment and he always looked for her approval and what she wanted. That thoughtfulness was indescribably wonderful in her mind, and it was a fundamental part of this man who she loved so dearly. He was romantic and sweet, even if he had a charming and sometimes roughish way about him, and as Emma looked out at the open sea and the vibrant sunset that set against it, she leaned into Killian, cherishing his warmth and strength and presence.

“How do you keep doing this?” Emma asked. “How do you keep giving me so much and making me feel…” Her words trailed off. There was so much she always felt with him, it was almost impossible to describe.

“How do I make you feel, Emma?” Killian asked, bringing her face back up to look at him as he held her close. She studied his handsome features, made all the more gorgeous in the dwindling light, and then she confessed everything that she held in her heart.

“You make me feel like love will always be here and like it’s more than enough. I feel braver with you, surer in myself and in my future. I feel like anything’s possible, and like the happiness we’ve found isn’t going anywhere. At least not any time soon.”

Killian’s brilliant blue eyes shone bright with his own joy at hearing her words, and it made him even more irresistible. To have someone be so open and candid in their adoration of her was intoxicating, and Emma didn’t think she’d ever get enough of the sensations that came with knowing Killian loved her so deeply and so truly.

“If I had my way that happiness would never leave, Emma,” he claimed as his hand ran up her side, gently sending tingles through her whole entire being. “Tell me, Swan. What do you think of this place?”

“I think its paradise,” Emma admitted as she looked back around at the ocean and the house and this private strip of beach that came with it. “It’s like a little slice of heaven. I can’t believe how close it is to home.”

“About that… what if it was home?” It took a second but realization dawned on Emma.

“Oh my god, did you buy this? Are you moving here?”

“Only if you’ll move with me,” he said. Emma’s jaw dropped from the shock, though in the back of her mind a little voice told her that she’d known this was coming. It was only a matter of time before Killian made this move, but she nearly fell over as he made another one, dropping down to one knee right there in the sand.

“Killian, what are you doing?” She asked, even though she knew. She watched him pull a small black box from his pocket and Emma was certain that a ring was inside of it, but still her breath caught when she saw the band (and diamonds) in person.

“Call me old fashioned, or perhaps just terribly impatient, but I can’t help it dreaming of us being here together while my ring is on your finger.”

Emma felt tears welling up in her eyes. The emotion of the moment was overtaking her, but it was all good, so very very good. There was no fear or anxiety in her heart at all. She wasn’t scared of this future, in fact she’d been hoping for it for so long she wondered if she hadn’t wished this into happening. Still it felt too good to be true – how could this really be her life? How could any one person be so lucky?

“Emma Swan, from the moment we met, I knew I was in trouble. I was at risk of falling completely and irrevocably in love with you, and low and behold I did. This wasn’t what I thought I would happen. I never imagined that I could feel this way or know with this much certainty that you are the key to damn near everything, but here I am, love. I look at you and I see forever. I see a life worth living, a love that will not end, and a hope unlike any I have ever known. You bring everything to life, Emma. You make anything possible, but the only wish I have – the only one I’ll ever have – is to spend the rest of my days loving you and showing you just how much you mean to me. So with that being said. Emma Swan, will you -,”

“Wait,” Emma said, closing her eyes for a moment and gathering her courage to ask one last question. When she opened her eyes again Killian looked concerned, and he’d risen to his feet, coming to hold her again. He looked so worried, and she hadn’t meant to do that – but she had to just hash this one thing out before she said yes, which she was absolutely going to do.

“Emma?”

“I want to marry you – I will be marrying you,” she said, prompting Killian to exhale a breath and pull her closer, but she kept talking, not wanting him to get ahead of himself. “But I want to be sure that this is what you want. We don’t have to stay here, Killian. If your heart is back in England, we can make it work. This house is gorgeous –honestly it’s beyond perfect – but we can find happiness wherever life takes us, whether it’s here or not.”

“My heart is wherever you are, Emma,” Killian promised her as his hand came to cup her cheek and his smile returned to full brightness again. “And I signed the final contracts today. I’ll be staying on with Galaxy. I’ll be staying right here. Nay, we’ll be staying right here.”

“We will?”

“Aye, love.”

Their excitement propelled them towards a kiss Emma was dying for. It felt so good and so happy and so right, but before she could totally get swept away into her husband, and whatever his other plans were this evening, she felt she had one last thing to say.

“I think I kind of messed this up.”

“Not possible, Emma. You are by definition perfect.” Emma rolled her eyes, causing her fiancé (her fiancé!) to laugh again.

“Could you maybe… ask me again?”

“As you wish, love.” Killian dropped down on bended knee once more, looking up at her with nothing short of elation as he took this final step. “Emma. You know everything now. You know my heart and my wants and all I wish for you and I together. Will you please make me the happiest of men and agree to be my wife?”

Emma laughed at the way he said it, but her answer was still the same. Yes. A million times yes.

Her answer was more than satisfactory this time, and as soon as Killian slipped the diamond ring on her finger, he surprised her by sweeping her up into his arms and marching her right back onside into the house. He moved past everything they’d seen before, and the dinner was, for the moment, forgotten. Instead, Emma’s soon to be husband was on a mission, and it entailed him climbing up the stairs with her and getting her into a bed – their bed – to have his wicked way with her.

“I had all these ideas in my head, Emma,” Killian said gruffly as he stripped clothes she was wearing from her body, causing her pulse to pick up and her breathing to hitch.

“You did?” She asked, dazedly as he started removing his own clothes, distracting her with his toned physique and lust-filled gaze.

“Aye. I was going to take my time with you, drive you wild, spend hours pleasing you and only you. But I think that will have to wait. I don’t think I can keep my self control.”

“I don’t want you to,” Emma said as her hands ran across his chest and down his abdomen, coming to unbutton his jeans only to shove them down and reveal all of him to her. “I just want to feel you. All of you. Right now.”

Emma heard him say something that sounded an awful lot like ‘bloody minx’ but she was too distracted from his ministrations to her body. He was everywhere all at once, his mouth, his hands, everything over took her senses. She’d give into a kiss, only to feel the rough but smooth texture of his fingers tracing down her body to where she wanted them most of all. He teased her ever so lightly, bringing her closer to the edge that she had already been wandering towards, but before she could fall he changed tactics, scattering her thoughts and sending shivers down her spine. She was wrapped up in Killian on all fronts, but it wasn’t enough. It was a tease of what she wanted, only a taste of what was coming, but then he thrust inside her, filling her up and making her see stars and feel totally complete.

She couldn’t say how long they lasted, but his pace was perfect and the rhythm was designed for bliss. She fell over the edge, but he held on, wringing her out a second time and then a third before finally giving over. But even after they were both spent and panting for breath, Killian never let up. He held her close, protecting and worshipping her at the same time, and making Emma feel like she was the most important thing in the whole wide world.

“God I love you, Emma. I love you more than words can ever say.”

“I love you too,” Emma whispered. “Thus the whole marrying you thing.”

“You should know I’ve used up pretty much all of my patience, love. I don’t think I can wait much longer to make you mine.”

“So we won’t wait,” Emma said easily, both surprising and delighting Killian with her agreement. “Well we have to wait a little bit. You have to win the cup first, and then we can talk about getting married. I think we can figure something out before next season starts.”

“If I win the cup, can we get married sooner?” Killian asked, sounding almost like an eager boy instead of a slow and measured man in that moment. His excitement was infectious and Emma pretended to consider before yielding.

“How soon are you talking?”

“One month?” Killian asked hopefully. “I’ll take care of everything, love. I know you’re busy with work and your friends and the like. But I’ll move mountains for this. You’ll see.”

“Okay. If you win the cup, you can pick the day. As long as my friends are all there, I’m good.”

“Oh, you’ll be better than good, love. I can guarantee you that.”

And for the rest of the night Killian showed Emma just how much better than good things would be from now on. Because now that they had each other, there was no stopping the happiness that would come. It was a given, just as their love would be for the next, oh, sixty years or so.

Post-Note: Ooh girl I gotta say it had been too long since I wrote a proposal for an AU and it was so fun to do that for this one! It’s also an interesting proposition because the chapter lengths are so short for this story, but I have to say I think it was the right dose of fluff (though I will let you guys be the judges of that). As I said before there is one more chapter left and it will be the wedding. I also imagine I will get around to a flash-forward epilogue, but as I said that’s going to take a long time to get to. Anyway, thanks so much to all of you for reading, commenting, reviewing, and sending me messages. You’re all awesome and I appreciate you more than I can say! Hope you have a great rest of your weekend!

#captain swan #captain swan au #captain swan fic #cs fic #cs ff #cs fluff #cs au #cs soccer fic #emma swan #killian jones #soccer star killian #ouat soccer fic #the whole storybrooke gang #musician!Emma #CS proposal #cs smut #scoring your love #scoring your love au #scoring 17

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canaryarrow · 8 years

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What We Already Know (1/?)

Summary: In a world where everyone has a device on their wrist that tells them the exact moment they meet their soulmate, Emma Swan is faced with the rare circumstance of having a blank timer. Things get even more complicated when she starts falling for Killian Jones, who, according to his timer, will meet his soulmate in six months. Captain Swan AU.

Rating: T for now, possibly M for future chapters

Author’s note: So I got this idea from the movie Timer. It’s a super cute movie and I highly recommend watching it! But you don’t need to watch the movie to understand the fic. This fic is for @stunningswan as a VERY belated CS Secret Santa gift! Sorry for the delay, Savannah! I was struggling with whether this should be a one-shot or a multi-chapter fic, and I decided to go for multi-chapter! I hope you enjoy!

A double shot of rum is placed in front of Emma Swan and she spends no time in grabbing it and throwing it back. When she pulls the empty glass away from her lips, the timer on her wrist catches her eye, the blinking dashes where the numbers should be taunting her.

From the moment she got her timer inserted when she 14, that’s how it had been. “Don’t worry,” the time agency employee had said. “It doesn’t mean that you don’t have a soulmate. It just means that, wherever they are, they don’t have a timer yet.”

That’s what they told her. Twenty fucking years ago. And nothing has changed.

In the time since then, she’s watched everyone around her - friends, co-workers, complete strangers - find their soulmates. Or at the very least, they know when they’re going to meet them. Meanwhile, Emma has been stuck in a cycle of dating that always ended the same way.

Someone would mention how they knew somebody who knew somebody who didn’t have a timer and “isn’t that just interesting, Emma?”

And Emma would roll her eyes and brush it off, but then Mary Margaret would give one of her speeches about hope and how “there’s no stone left unturned.” And truth be told, she had long since given up on finding her soulmate. But she’d usually go on one date with whoever they were swearing was “absolutely perfect for her” and rattle off some excuse about why the guy wasn’t the one, and most of the time, the excuses weren’t even fake. Occasionally, she’d have a one night stand, if the guy wasn’t completely horrible. But that’s as far as she ever let it get.

Until now.

She never intended to have a serious relationship with Walsh. She never intended to have a relationship, period. But one date somehow turned into two which somehow turned into eight months. And he had been talking about moving in and marriage and Christ, that scared her. So she gave him an ultimatum - get a timer, or they’d be done. Because there was no way that she was going to commit herself to someone who might be her soulmate. She’d done that once when she was a teenager, and ended up heartbroken and in jail.

So he got a timer. And he wasn’t the one.

Which is how Emma ended up where she is now, at The Rabbit Hole. She hadn’t even told David and Mary Margaret what had happened yet. She could do that tomorrow. Right now, she just wanted to drink and be alone.

She placed her glass down on the bar with more force than was probably necessary. “Keep ‘em coming,” she said.

“As you wish,” she heard an accented voice reply back to her.

Her breath hitches when she looks up at who was speaking to her. The first thing she notices about him are how blue his eyes are. After that, she notices...well, everything else. His dark hair, the stubble on his face, the tufts of hair on his chest peeking out from his v-neck, the way the muscles in his arm twitched as he hand-dried the glass he was holding, and the way he was looking at her. Like he could see into her soul.

She realized then she had been staring him for far too long. “You’re uh,” she paused for a moment to clear her throat. “You’re not the bartender from earlier.”

He chuckles. “Yeah, that typically happens when one person’s shift ends. Someone new comes in.” She rolls her eyes, but he keeps smiling at her. It’s almost irritating. “Killian Jones,” he said as he reached his hand out to her. “Bartender at your service.”

She considers him for a moment before she decides to return the gesture and place her hand in his. “Emma Swan,” she said.

Her eyes flick down to his wrist before he pulls back, and she can tell that there’s definitely a timer there, but she can’t make out the numbers in the darkened bar. “It says six months, two days, three hours, and ten minutes,” he said, as if he was reading her mind. “Or would you like to know it to the exact seconds as well?”

“Sorry,” she said sheepishly. “Habit, you know?”

“Indeed I do,” he replied. “But don’t feel too bad, love. I know what your timer says, too.”

She looks at him quizzically. “I highly doubt - “

“It’s blank.”

That stops her dead in her tracks. “How could you know that?” she asked. It’s not like having a blank timer was a common occurrence.

“You’re something of an open book,” he stated simply, as if it were a fact.

Now he was really grating on her nerves. “You don’t know me,” she said.

“Well, let’s see,” he said. He quirked an eyebrow and leaned forward against the bar. Emma’s eyes widened slightly at his boldness. “You’re drinking quite a bit, especially for a Tuesday night. So you’re either celebrating, mourning, or you’re a drunk.”

“I am not - “

“A drunk. I know. Just had to exhaust all options,” he said with a smirk “So. One of the first two choices, then. Given that you’re here alone, I’d say you’re mourning. You tried to look at my wrist when you shook my hand which means that either you or someone you care about has a blank timer. Since I’d already gathered you were in mourning, I assumed it was you. Now,” he paused for a moment to hand her a new drink, which she took after some hesitation. “The only thing I don’t know is how long the two of you were together.”

“Wh-what?” was all she could muster.

“The fellow you were with,” he said.

Her jaw dropped and it felt like she had been punched in the gut with how quickly her breath left her. “How did you know I was with someone?”

He shrugged. “Can’t mourn unless you’ve lost something.”

Emma stared at him for a few long moments. “Eight months,” she muttered before taking a sip of her drink.

“I’m sorry, love,” he said. They sat in silence for a few moments, and even though her eyes were trained on her drink, Emma could feel Killian’s eyes boring into her. “Did you love him?”

“Okay,” she snapped, and she wasn’t even trying to hide her irritation anymore. “Are you this obnoxiously forward with every girl that walks into this bar?”

“Not usually,” he said with a grimace. “Apologies. I meant no offense. I was just,” he stops talking briefly to scratch behind his ear. At any other time, Emma might have thought it was cute. “...making conversation,” he finished lamely.

A smile tugged on the corner of her lips. “Well, I think you might need some more practice in that department, buddy.”

“Quite right,” he agrees. “Perhaps we could start over. How about I take you out for a drink sometime?”

“I already have a drink.”

“Right. I just meant with me - “

“You’re standing right here.”

“ - and we’d go somewhere - “

“Like a bar?”

Emma giggled which caused Killian to smile in response. “Very funny,” he said.

She was just beginning to enjoy flirting with him when she suddenly remembered the elephant in the room. “What about your timer?” she asked, her tone suddenly serious.

“What about it?”

“You’re asking me out and you’re meeting your soulmate in six months. It’s a valid question.”

“Ah,” he said, and Emma didn’t miss the annoyance in his tone. “I understand.”

Her eyebrows furrowed in confusion. “Understand what?”

“You’re one of those people who think I’m cheating on a woman I haven’t even met yet.”

She scoffs. “Believe me, that’s not what I think.”

“But...?”

She sighed before answering him. “I just...I guess I just don’t understand the point in starting a relationship when you know your soulmate is so close,” she said.

“Woah now, Swan,” he said with a chuckle. “I never said anything about a relationship.”

She narrows her eyes slightly at him. “So what were you proposing with buying me a drink then, exactly? A one-night stand?” Hell, she wouldn’t say no to that.

“Hardly,” he replies. “Just wanted to get to know you better.”

“I thought you said I was an open book.”

He hummed in agreement. “That you are. However,” he paused to lean over the bar again, only this time, he was mere inches away from Emma’s face. She could feel his breath mingle with hers, and did her best to try and slow down her heart beating rapidly inside her chest. When he spoke again, his voice was much lower. “I was hoping you could be the one to tell the story.”

She locked eyes with him then, and she knew that this was a bad idea. She wanted to take him up on his offer, but if she was being honest with herself, she was already feeling attracted to him. Even if nothing ever happened between them, even if all he truly wanted was to just be friends, she couldn’t do it. She couldn’t risk developing feelings for someone she knew for a fact that she was going to lose.

She gave him a small, sad smile. “Not much of a storyteller,” she said. And Killian picked up on her tone immediately.

“Oh,” he said with disappointment in his voice. He moved away from her and went back to drying glasses. “Sorry if I bothered you, Swan.”

“You didn’t,” she reassured him.

Killian looked at her once more and couldn’t help but smile a little. Because with that affirmation came with a tiny spark of hope. “Well,” he said, “if you ever change your mind - “

“Then I know where to find you,” she finished for him. They stood there smiling at each other like idiots until a thought snapped Emma back to reality. “Oh god I almost forgot,” she said as she fumbled with her pockets. She eventually pulls out several bills and hands them to him. “This should be enough for...everything.”

“Yes, I imagine so,” he said. “You’re not driving tonight, are you?”

If she’d had a few more drinks, she might have cried at that. He’s practically a stranger and he’s showing more concern for her than most of the people in her life ever had. “No,” she said after she composed herself. “I’ll have one of my friends pick me up.”

“Good,” he replied. “Well, it was nice to meet you, Emma.”

“Nice to meet you too, Killian.”

#captain swan #cs ff #ouat ff #cs au #once upon a time #emma swan #killian jones #soulmates au #morgan writes stuff #this is my first actual multichapter fic ahhhhh i'm so nervous

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seriouslyhooked · 7 years

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Wedded Bliss and Asterisks (A Modern CS AU) Part 20/?

Emma Swan is an enemy of love who just happens to be an up and coming wedding dress designer. She’s convinced that a fairytale kind of romance is nowhere in her future but when she meets Killian Jones, whose magazine is covering the opening of her new boutique, things change. Suddenly Emma finds herself drawing up new plans for her life, ones that seem to all be leading towards her own form of wedded bliss. Rated M.

Part One, Part Two, Part Three, Part Four, Part Five, Part Six,Part Seven.Part Eight, Part Nine, Part Ten, Part Eleven, Part Twelve, Part Thirteen, Part Fourteen, Part Fifteen, Part Sixteen,Part Seventeen, Part Eighteen, Part Nineteen. Also on FF Here.

A/N: Hey everyone! We are back with another chapter of Wedded Bliss and Asterisks, and though it is a shorter chapter than usual, I couldn’t pass up the chance to write it. It will be the last chapter before the wedding. It includes a glimpse into Emma’s bachelorette party festivities and then ends with a fluffy moment that has been in my head since I first started writing this fic. I hope you guys enjoy and let me know what you think!

“Emma are you sure you couldn’t wear it for just one minute?” Mary Margaret asked for what felt like the hundredth time. “I just want one single picture with you in the tiara. Just one, I promise.”

Emma couldn’t tell if she wanted to sigh or laugh in the face of her friend’s headstrong wish, but she sided with a simple smile and a shake of her head. Mary Margaret was a fantastic person and a wonderful friend, always there when the chips were down and Emma needed someone to lean on, but she had this knack for pushing when everyone else would let something go. It probably had to do with all that excess of hope her friend seemed to have, which had only compounded further since she’d found love again in her life.

“Mary Margaret, I love you and you know that, but I’ve already told you I don’t want to live in a world where there is photographic evidence out there of me in that tiara.”

In the face of Emma’s words her slightly intoxicated (and by slightly she meant very) friend huffed out some air in a barely controlled sense of frustration and Emma couldn’t help but laugh when she did. She muffled it of course, trying to keep her friend’s feelings in mind, but it was a pretty funny situation all things considered. In fact the whole day had been that way, as one would expect when the drinking had started with mimosas at ten and Emma’s friends had never slowed down anytime over the next twelve hours.

“Sometimes I don’t understand you, Emma. You would make a beautiful princess. You really really would.”

“No one is saying she wouldn’t,” Elsa said from her spot next to Emma in the booth, her icy blonde hair almost coming off as blue with the colored lights of the club around them. “But if Emma’s going to be a princess, maybe it shouldn’t be the princess of penis.”

“Who said anything about that?!” Mary Margaret asked completely astonished, and that was the moment when Emma had the confirmation she’d been wondering about for the last twenty minutes. Her friend had simply missed the fact that the whole gaudy crown was encrusted with bedazzled dicks, and that was just too classic. Now it was just a matter of waiting to see which of them would break it to Mary Margaret first.

“So you’re telling me you can’t see them?” Elsa asked, clearly as shocked and also amused as Emma was and Mary Margaret furrowed her brow, shaking her head as she looked at the plastic crown once again. Emma would at least give her friend the benefit of saying that they were somewhat subtle, but once you saw the clearly phallic shapes making up the whole plastic bobble, there was no going back.

“They are not…” Mary Margaret countered before her eyes grew wider and she went a little red, realization setting in. “Oh my God they are! Ruby! Why would you even buy this?”

Emma found it funny that Mary Margaret would even have to ask. After years and years of friendship, Emma had totally expected Ruby to pull stunts like this for any of their bachelorette parties because that was who she was. And Emma also couldn’t lie and say it wasn’t entertaining because it was. Even if it wasn’t exactly her cup of tea, Ruby’s hijinks had created a fair many memories for Emma to remember forever, and Emma was grateful for that even if she wasn’t about to play along in full.

“Oh please. Emma’s just lucky I didn’t have full reign on this party. I was serious about those strippers, honey, and if this was Vegas… well let’s just say there’s a reason they say sin stays in that city.”

“Thank God for small miracles,” Emma muttered, seriously glad that she’d gotten out of that whole fiasco since she vastly preferred the party she’d had instead.

After careful deliberation on the part of all of her friends, it was decided that the best way to celebrate Emma getting married was to merge two kinds of bachelorette parties. They’d started the day with something Emma had been more accepting of (but still slightly wary from) that she ended up needing desperately: a trip to the spa. To be blunt it had been a fantastic change of pace for her, and after the hectic nature of their summer season, it was lovely to take a step back from the frantic go-go-go of her life and just relax.

That being said, it wasn’t all quiet mood music and restful massages. There was also a substantial amount of drinking, a bevy of good food brought from every corner of the city (thanks to Ruby’s endless connections), and an almost never-ending swell of gossip and girl time. Because even if a typical spa day meant mostly silent solitude and individual pampering, that would never fly with Emma’s friends. Instead every item on the agenda had been undertaken together, and Emma had found herself laughing more than she could remember doing in a long time, never mind in a spa.

From there though, the easy going (if still heavily alcohol-sponsored) ‘treat yourself’ day turned into dinner at some hip new restaurant and then ambled to this, a throwback to their earlier years together in the city in the middle of a swanky new club with deafening music and tons of single people on the prowl. It was nice in some ways getting to dance the night away with her best friends and leave all her cares at the door, but it was also a slightly tired situation.

It hit Emma in the midst of all of this that she might very well be over the club scene (if she was ever actually a fan of it at all), and though none of her friends had admitted it, she thought she might not be alone in that. After all, the evening had been full of stolen glances from all of them at their phones (no doubt looking to touch base with their significant others) and funny, shared looks between the friends when they observed other people here. Maybe they’d all missed something, but it felt like a night out on the town wasn’t what it once was. Now everything was just a tiny bit sleazier, and a little less desirable as a result.

“Okay, can I just say thank God none of us are single anymore?” Elsa asked, perfectly mirroring Emma’s thoughts on the matter as she looked around the club. “I mean is it just me or have the pickings seriously dried up since we were last out like this?”

“Maybe,” Emma said noncommittally. “Or maybe you’re just so taken with your own fiancé no one else compares.”

The mention of her very recent engagement made Elsa flush a happy shade of pink, and inadvertently her gaze as well as everyone else’s went back to the ring that Liam had given her. It was a beautiful design, one that Elsa had sincerely loved and taken to immediately, but Emma also knew it wasn’t the first one Liam had considered. No, that monstrosity was ginormous, totally unrealistic for anyone never mind a baker, and had thankfully not been purchased thanks to some helpful interference from Killian.

“You might be on to something there,” Elsa admitted before breaking into a full on grin.

“You did make a good point though,” Mary Margaret stated cheerily, her eyes filled with the thoughts moving about in her head that Emma would just bet were romantic in nature and centered on one David Nolan (who Emma was entirely positive would be crafting a proposal of his own sometime very soon). “I would hate to go back to the way things were before. I mean obviously I loved having you guys…”

“But life’s just a little sweeter when you’ve got someone to love,” Ruby finished and the friends all agreed, largely ignoring that in their little bit of tipsiness they were all of them a touch sappier than they usually were.

For Emma especially though, the conversation with her friends just hit home something that she’d been grappling with all evening. She was truly and totally grateful to have such an amazing family and a bond with her friends that she would never let go of, but what she wanted more than a whole night wasted in a club she didn’t care about was to make the most of the time she was given. Emma had spent the whole day playing the role of bachelorette with the women she considered sisters. Couldn’t she maybe call it a night a little earlier than expected and salvage the rest of the evening into something more worth remembering? Emma thought so, and so she slipped her phone from her purse once more and shot a quick text to the man whose presence she was currently missing most.

E: How would you feel about cutting the night a bit shorter than our friends were thinking?

Emma honestly expected it to take a few minutes for Killian to respond at the very least since from what she’d heard Liam and the others had a pretty set plan of their own, but just as she was about to slip her phone back in her bag, she saw those tell tale dots pop up on her screen signaling he was responding already. The speed with which Killian was going to get back to her made Emma laugh to herself, but she checked to make sure none of her friends had noticed as she waited for Killian’s reply.

K: The sooner I have you back with me, the better in my book, Swan.

“Perfect,” Emma whispered to herself, but too late she realized the error of her ways.

“What was that, Ems?” Ruby asked from across the table and Emma looked back up, realizing she’d been caught and that all of her friends were looking at her with knowing smirks and a whole lot of amusement behind their eyes.

“Oh, nothing,” Emma said, trying to play it cool, but even if she knew her poker face was top notch, Emma was also aware that her friends were not buying it. She was caught, and now she had to find a way to spin her plan in a way that didn’t hurt any feelings or cause any problems.

“Okay fine you can go,” Ruby acquiesced, surprising Emma not just because she’d read Emma’s intentions so easily, but also because she was willingly letting Emma leave what her friend had once proclaimed would be ‘a never ending bonanza of single-womanhood.’

“Wait, what?” Emma asked and Mary Margaret jumped in, picking up for Ruby without missing a beat.

“We know you want to get back to Killian, Emma, and that’s good by us. To be honest we didn’t even think you’d make it this far.”

“I didn’t think any of us would,” Ruby admitted. “Hell I told Graham we’d meet up by ten, and look how that turned out. You outlasted that plan by hours.”

“So you guys have been waiting for me to make my escape this whole time?” Emma asked, biting back her laughter and luxuriating in the feeling that she wasn’t upsetting her friends in any way by calling it a night.

“Pretty much,” Elsa agreed with a smile.

“And no one’s going to feel like we didn’t do this whole bachelorette thing justice?” Emma clarified, casting her gaze primarily to Ruby who was the unspoken maestro of this whole thing to begin with.

“Nah. I figure there’s four of us, and with the way things are going we’ll be having a lot of these over the next year. Might as well save some of the dastardly deeds for the rest of us and not blow it all in one night.”

Emma totally agreed with the reasoning, and she also believed that Ruby was right and that there would be four weddings at the end of all of this. Emma was truly certain that all of her friends were with the men they were always meant to find, and marriage felt almost like a given in every single case. It was just nice to know that even if nothing had been explicitly said between Ruby and Graham, Ruby was still confident enough in her happy ending and in Mary Margaret’s as well to count them all as good as tied down.

“Well alright then,” Emma said, standing from the booth. “And I have to say this might just be the best bachelorette party I could have hoped for.”

Her friends all came to hug Emma, acknowledging that that had been their goal, and as the four of them stepped out into the night air Emma was filled with a heady rush of possibility and love. How she’d ever gotten this lucky in her life, she didn’t know, but as she hailed a cab and moved inside she thanked her lucky stars for her good fortune.

“Where to, miss?” The cabby asked her, and Emma was about to respond with her and Killian’s address when something on the TV screen in the chair before her caught her attention.

It was a flickering picture, nothing more than a passing ad that millions of people had likely seen and ignored before her in taxis across the city, but it inspired something in Emma, something she knew would grant her one of those lasting memories she’d been thinking of before. The next thing she knew she was telling the driver where to go and sending Killian a text of this new place for them to meet that she hoped he’d find as meaningful as she did. And in the meantime, she sat there, staring out at the city she called home as it passed by, smiling to herself and knowing that in this moment she was truly happy and that she was destined to remain so for a very long time.

………………..

From the second that Emma sent Killian that message about leaving the evening’s festivities, there was no doubt in his mind that he would find her. It didn’t matter that he and Liam and their friends were in the midst of a thoroughly planned out evening, or that he’d been having a surprisingly good time all things considered. At the end of the day, Killian would always prefer finding his Swan over anything else, and tonight was no different.

In fact, this evening’s element of secrecy was even more enticement for Killian to sneak away form everything to find Emma, for after proposing that they ditch their respective parties early, she’d sent him an address that Killian recognized but couldn’t quite place. Only when he’d hopped in the cab and told his driver where to go did he get confirmation about where Emma was hoping to meet him.

“You know, pal, you can just say the Empire State Building. No need to get fancy on me,” the cabby said with a typical New York attitude, but the gruffness went right over Killian’s head, and he found that he couldn’t help smiling the whole six block ride to their destination.

It was just too perfect an idea on Emma’s part, and the thought of meeting her there brought back a whole host of memories about their first date, which in some ways felt like it happened just yesterday and in others felt like a life time ago. It was strange to think that at one point things between Emma and Killian hadn’t been so certain, but recalling that night, Killian could still feel that flutter in his chest and that tingling of hope mixed with fear that Emma might not want this as much as he did. Now with the benefit of hindsight Killian knew that she had, but he’d purposefully pulled out all the stops that night to try and impress her, and in the end she had been the one to completely blow him away.

“You’re kidding me, right?” Emma had asked the moment that they approached the building on that fateful night so long ago, and for a second Killian had been a little taken aback. Here he was thinking this was a guaranteed success, but Emma looked so skeptical that for a moment he’d been worried. Somehow though he’d played it cool.

“I take it you’ve been before,” Killian acquiesced, but when he said that Emma ended up shaking her head before turning her gaze back to him and hitting him with a look that still had that edge of humor with a bit more depth and sincerity underneath.

“No actually I haven’t. It always seemed a little…”

“Romantic? Idyllic? Enshrined in the stuff of Hollywood dreams?”

Now that was of course meant to be a joke and his choice in phrasing was clearly hyperbolic, but he never imagined his jest would be rewarded the way it was. Emma genuinely laughed at Killian’s attempt at wit and when she did he felt his whole being flood with pride. In fact, the feeling was so sublime it couldn’t even be undercut by Emma’s responding jab, which likely would have taken down a less infatuated and already spell-bound man.

“I was going to say cheesy.”

Ouch, that one had hurt, but even as she said that, Killian could see that Emma wasn’t retreating from his idea. She was giving him the chance to prove himself and the merits of such an outing, and he was all about making the most of those opportunities when it came to his Swan...

“Hey, buddy, you just going to sit there all night or you gonna pay up and get a move on?”

Killian was jolted by the words from his driver, but even if the man lacked politeness, he wasn’t wrong to get Killian’s attention. Truth was Killian had no idea how long they’d been stalled at the entrance of the iconic building, and though he might have liked a slightly less jarring return to reality, he valued the push to go inside. After all, his whole reason for being here was to see Emma and to make new memories that might turn out even better than the old.

After paying the cabby and heading inside, Killian noted that there were far fewer people here this time of night than there had been when he and Emma came months ago. The journey up to tiptop of the building was easy, but as the elevator climbed up floor-by-floor, Killian found himself anxious to be there already. The anticipation was killing him, even though he and Emma had seen each other just this morning, and so when the door opened and he finally managed to step out into the cool night air at what felt like the top of the world, Killian felt a strong sense of relief. Now the only thing to do was find Emma and see what exactly it was she had in mind.

Whether it was instinct that guided him or merely a happenstance of fate, the search for Emma didn’t go on very long, for as soon as he’d stepped up onto the roof Killian saw Emma’s golden hair shining underneath one of the lamps at the far edge of the tower. She was looking down on the city, cutting quite the figure in the clothes she’d worn for the evening out with her friends, but as if she sensed him, Emma turned and when she did Killian could see the smile lighting up her face. The next thing he knew he was moving towards her and she was heading his way too, until she was finally in his grasp and stepping into his arms.

“Hey there stranger. Took you long enough to get here,” Emma said cheekily, her head tilting to the side as she looked up at him, beaming in a way that spoke to her total comfort with him in every way.

“Don’t I know it, love,” Killian agreed causing Emma to laugh and shake her head. Her arms, meanwhile, came to wrap around his neck, with her fingertips grazing in a slow, but measuredly enticing way that sent a surging sense of need through Killian. This woman who he was blessed enough to call his own was a bloody siren through and through, and yet somehow she didn’t seem to realize it, at least not fully.

“You know in the movies there’s usually a far longer separation between the guy and the girl before they get the happy ending. A year, a decade, … meanwhile we just had one day.”

“Well I have to rebuff your logic on two counts, Swan,” Killian said, causing Emma’s eyebrow to raise in question, even as her smirk turned up to one side. “First of all, we were never truly separated. I left my heart with you the whole time, and you left yours with me. So even if we weren’t together, we weren’t truly apart.”

Emma’s eyes lit up at that and she hummed out her agreement, running her fingers through his hair and moving her body slightly closer to his so she was truly flush against him. Meanwhile Killian was temporarily distracted by the way Emma wet her lips and darted her gaze to his in turn. Suddenly his line of thinking diverted from whatever other love stories the world had told before. All that mattered was Emma and the rest was inconsequential.

“That’s one point. You said you had two,” Emma teased before looking up at him again and urging him with those green eyes of hers to continue on.

“Aye love I do, and the second’s more important. You see, we’re not standing at the precipice of a happy ending.”

“We’re not?” Emma asked surprised but not moving away from him in any way.

“No. We’re only at the start of this journey, Swan. It’s more of a happy beginning than anything else.”

A beat passed between them and in that instant Killian watched as understanding dawned on Emma and his words sunk in. In that moment Killian could see just how much she wanted that to be true, and he swore to himself he’d show her just how right he was. They had fifty or sixty years to be together still, and Killian was going to see every up and every down with Emma at his side no matter what. They’d have the life they dreamed of and more, and they would both look back on this time when they were old and gray as still the start of their beautiful life together. Killian knew even then they’d be just as happy, but he wasn’t willing to speed up time for the sake of a happily ever after. Instead he chose to cherish every moment and cherish the woman who was making such a happy life possible for him at all.

“God that’s cheesy,” Emma said in the face of his words, but Killian could tell that they were well received when she pressed up to kiss him in the way he’d been dying for since catching her gaze minutes before.

At the moment of impact when the two of them melted into each other, all other thoughts faded away, leaving just the two of them and this perfect moment. Neither Emma nor Killian were the wiser of the people around them or the sight they made for up there in one of the most quintessentially romantic spots in the city, but it wouldn’t have mattered either way, because love would always come first for both of them, and this kiss was nothing if not a living, breathing representation of the feelings they both had for each other.

“It might be cheesy, love,” Killian said finally as he broke the kiss for just a moment. “But I know in my heart that you love it regardless.”

Emma’s laughter filled the space between them and Killian could almost taste it as he stole another kiss before she could reply. She was simply too gorgeous an enticement to deny himself any more, but he was heartened by her response when she was the one to pull away and get another word in.

“I love your cheesy lines almost as much as I love you, Killian Jones,” Emma promised as her forehead rested against his and she closed her eyes. Killian did the same, savoring this moment and feeling that blissful symphony coursing inside him that only Emma could create, and when he opened them once more Emma was smiling at him in such an honest way it filled his heart enough to burst.

“Nothing comes close to you, Emma. Nothing.”

“Good,” Emma whispered as she stole a final kiss and stepped back, taking his hand in hers and leading him from their spot here in the sky back home where they both belonged.

Post-Note: So as the final chapter before the wedding, I felt it fitting to have some funny friend moments, but also tie back to the first date. I loved writing so many months ago about Emma and Killian up on the Empire State Building, and where they were both just a touch more cynical then, I thought it would be nice to have them caving to a reunion moment of sorts in such an iconic place. Of course I tried not to change their characters too much, and there’s still that sly nod to how cliché a moment like that could be, but in the end the fluff had to win for me, and I hope you guys enjoyed! Thank you all so much for reading, and I hope you’re all having a good day wherever you may be!

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