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jrob64 · 2 years ago

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Always in My Heart - Ch. 2, A CS Modern AU story

Here is Chapter 2 of my CS Gift Exchange story for @nachocheese-itsmycheese, including a new pic set. This chapter has some fluff and special moments, but fair warning, it also contains some serious angst.

Many thanks to @hookedmom for being my beta, @cs-rylie for being another set of eyes on the story and @kmomof4 for helping me plot.

Story Summary: As children in the same foster home, Emma Swan and Killian Jones became best friends. After being separated, they lost touch for 14 years and thought they would never see each other again.

A chance meeting in London changes everything.

*Trigger Warning* - cancer

Rating: M (for smut in the last chapter - but can be skipped if that’s not your comfort zone)

Words: (Ch. 2) 8362

Chapter 1 found here on Tumblr

Also posted on Ao3 & ffn

*********

The second time Emma Nolan shared a bed with Killian Jones, she was twenty years old and he was twenty-two. They were best friends reunited after years apart.

Killian began to wake up when he heard whimpers coming from Emma. He pushed up to his elbow and looked at the nightstand, where the green digital clock numbers read 4:33.

“Swan?” he whispered, cautiously scooting a little closer to her.

She didn’t answer, but let out another soft whimper. He could tell she was still asleep, but seemed to be in a bit of discomfort from her injuries.

“Emma?” he tried again, gently nudging her right shoulder.

“Hmm?”

“Are you in pain?”

Her eyes cracked open and she turned her head on the pillow, but he could tell she wasn’t fully awake. “Yeah...it hurts.”

“You need to take more medicine.”

“Uh-uh. It’s dark and I don’t remember where I left the bottle.”

“You should stay ahead of the pain and it’s been several hours since you took anything. I’ll look for it, okay?”

She squeezed her eyes shut tightly. After several seconds, she breathed out a heavy sigh before her eyes popped back open and she said, “Okay.”

Killian slid out of bed and used the light on his phone to look around the room, then went into the bathroom, coming back momentarily with a glass of water and a couple of pills. Setting them on the nightstand, he gently eased his arm around her back and helped her sit up enough to swallow the medicine.

“Thanks,” she murmured, as he lowered her back to the mattress.

He climbed back into bed on his side, moving toward the middle. Reaching over, he massaged her shoulder. ”Sleep now, Swan.”

Closing her eyes, she hummed. “Feels good.”

Happy to bring her some comfort, he continued to rub her arm until he heard her breathing deepen, signifying her return to sleep. He followed soon after.

*********

During the next three days, Emma and Killian enjoyed the amenities of the ski resort to occupy their time. They spent time in the lodge game room playing darts, billiards and air hockey, enjoyed the hot tub, and watched movies or sat in front of the gas fireplace in the living area of the suite. No matter what they were doing, they carried on lengthy and effortless conversations, filling in the years they missed with each other and remembering all the things they did when they were at the foster home together.

On the final day of the trip, Emma came out of the bathroom after soaking in the large, whirlpool tub, to find the room empty. She checked her phone for a message from Killian, but didn’t find one. Just as she was getting ready to call him, the door opened and he walked in wearing a huge grin.

“What have you been doing that made you so happy?” she questioned good naturedly.

“I just ordered tickets for us to go on the gondola today. The person down at the front desk said they have a shuttle that can take us there. Is that alright with you, Swan?”

“That sounds like fun! I’ve been watching it move up and down the mountain, but didn’t think about going on it ourselves. Will I be able to ride it with my leg like this?”

“I checked into it and it shouldn’t be a problem. The cars are enclosed and look quite spacious.”

“Well, what are we waiting for then?” she asked excitedly.

He helped her don her winter gear and put on his own, then they rode the elevator down to the lobby. As they made their way outside, the shuttle pulled up in front of the building.

It was a short drive down the road to the gondola site. After they purchased their tickets, Emma was permitted to use the handicap access and was boarded promptly. Killian helped her settle into the car before it began gliding up the mountain, giving them a spectacular view of the surrounding scenery. The skiers and snowboarders below looked miniscule, but Emma still tried to locate Mary Margaret in her bright pink snowsuit.

They both thought the ride was over far too quickly, so when they disembarked, Emma offered to buy tickets for another trip. Killian readily agreed and helped her over to the ticket booth. The second time was just as enjoyable, as they pointed out beautiful sights to each other.

After the gondola returned to base, they went into the little snack shop and treated themselves to warm apple dumplings with ice cream, and hot chocolate.

By the time they returned to the resort, it was midday. They went straight up to their room to change out of their heavy winter outerwear, then watched a movie until Mary Margaret and David knocked on their door. The four of them walked over to the lodge and ate together, talking and laughing into the evening.

Once Emma and Killian returned, they packed their suitcases as much as possible, because they were leaving early the next morning. Killian would be taking an Uber to the airport for a flight back to England, and after seeing him off at the lodge, the other three would leave to drive back to Maine.

A sense of melancholy settled over the room as they silently folded their clothes and stuffed them into their bags. Killian made a sweep of the living room area and the bathroom, while Emma double checked all of the dresser drawers and the closet. When they were satisfied that everything was packed except for what they needed in the morning, they sat together on the sofa, the only light coming from the fireplace in front of them.

He draped his arm around her and she rested her head on his shoulder. “I’m going to miss you so much,” she sighed.

“I’ll miss you, too,” he agreed sadly, “but I’m very glad we had this time together. And of course we can continue texting and calling each other.”

“Yeah, that’s true. I’m going to bug you so much, you’ll get tired of it.”

He chuckled. “Not a chance. I’ll look forward to it.”

They lapsed back into silence, each lost in their thoughts.

“You’ll let me know what you find out from your MRI, won’t you?” he asked.

“Absolutely. I really hope there are no tears.”

“I pray there aren’t.”

“And you’ll let me know when you get a job, right?”

“Aye. Hopefully, it won’t take long.”

“I pray it won’t.”

She turned her face up to him and smiled. He returned it, then rested his forehead against hers momentarily.

They remained on the sofa, quietly conversing, for another half hour before deciding to go to bed. Once there, both of them had trouble falling asleep, knowing they would be saying goodbye to each other again in just a few hours.

*********

The next morning was a flurry of activity with final packing, a quick breakfast, and loading the bags into David’s car, while Killian waited for the arrival of his Uber. When he received notification that it was two minutes away, he said his goodbyes to Mary Margaret and David, then turned to Emma.

“Let me know when you arrive back home,” he said, taking her hand and giving it an affectionate squeeze.

“You do the same,” she replied. Leaning her crutches against the wall beside her, she wrapped her arms around him. “Please stay in touch, Killian. I don’t want to lose you again.”

“You have my solemn promise, Swan.”

“Thank you for coming. It was the best surprise ever!”

“Thank you for allowing me to crash your vacation.”

Her arms loosened and she looked up at him. “This whole vacation would have sucked if you hadn’t shown up. You’re the only reason I was able to enjoy it at all!”

He chuckled. “Happy to be of service, milady.”

A dark blue SUV pulled up the driveway and stopped in front of them. “Looks like my ride is here,” Killian commented. He hugged her tightly one more time, before releasing her to bend down and pick up his duffle bag.

The driver exited the vehicle and greeted Killian, taking his bag to put it in the back. Killian’s eyes lingered on his friend for several moments. “Goodbye, Emma,” he finally said.

“Goodbye, Killian. I hope I’ll see you again soon.”

“Me, too.” Unable to think of anything else to say, he raised his hand to give her a little wave, then slipped into the back seat of the waiting SUV. He knew she couldn’t see him through the tinted window, but when he looked at her, she was waving and bravely trying to give him a smile anyway.

As the vehicle started down the winding driveway, he watched Emma out the back window until she faded from view, then settled back into the leather seat with a sigh. He had plenty of time to think during the twenty-five minute drive to the airport, and pondered why it hurt more to say goodbye to Emma this time, than it did in London. Maybe back then it was easier because he was already making plans to surprise her in Vermont, but now he thought it was more than that.

His feelings toward his friend had changed in the days he spent with her and he wasn’t exactly sure when it happened. He simply knew the longer he was with her, the harder it was to keep from kissing her. Their long conversations allowed him to see the woman his childhood friend had become, and he liked what he saw. He was attracted to her wit, humor, intelligence and beauty.

Now the question was, what could he do about it from thousands of miles away?

*********

Emma stood, rooted to the spot, as she watched the SUV disappear, taking Killian away from her yet again. The pain she felt in her heart was almost as bad as the pain in her injured leg, and she wasn’t sure she was ready to examine the reason why.

She wasn’t a person who made friends easily. As a child, it didn’t take her long to come to the conclusion it wasn’t worth the effort. After Killian left, she was never in one place long enough for anyone to get to know her. She was always the ‘new girl’ who warranted stares and whispers, but rarely a genuinely warm welcome from classmates or foster siblings.

When she was adopted by the Nolans, she tagged along with David, and eventually his friends became her friends, too. They all thought of her as their little sister and included her whenever they played sports in the backyard. By the time she entered junior high, she was one of the best female athletes in her grade and began making friends with some of her teammates.

No matter how many friends she made though, none of them took Killian’s place in her heart. He was her first friend, her best friend, but the feelings she felt now had her thinking she wanted him to be more than just a friend, which was crazy, right?

“Ready to go, Sis?”

Emma startled at David’s voice, not realizing how long she had been standing there contemplating her feelings. “Oh, yeah, I’m ready. Let’s get on the road.”

*********

A week after they parted ways, Killian was happy to learn Emma’s MRI showed no signs of tears in her knee or ankle, and that she was using a cane instead of crutches. He was able to share his good news about being offered a job at one of the architectural firms where he had done an internship.

Their daily texts never failed to lift his spirits as he hunted for an apartment and settled into a new routine. He felt very blessed to have Emma in his life again.

*********

Spring semester for Emma was the most busy and demanding of her entire college career. She had more projects, papers and reading to do than in her previous two semesters combined. It didn’t help that getting around was still slow and awkward. If it wasn’t for the daily texts and occasional FaceTime calls from Killian, she didn’t know how she would have made it through. His encouragement lifted her up and calmed her down. He knew just the right things to say to make her laugh when she felt like screaming with frustration. It seemed he could tell how she was feeling just by reading her texts or hearing the tone of her voice.

By mid-April, she had come to two conclusions: she was going to survive the semester from hell, and she was falling hard for her best friend.

*********

Killian rolled his chair away from his desk, stretching his arms above his head. He was thoroughly enjoying the challenge of his job, but being hunched over a computer screen most of the day took its toll.

Pulling out his phone, he saw a message from Liam and grimaced after reading it.

L: We’re trying to get a head count for the wedding reception. Are you bringing a date or not?

He would love to say he was bringing a certain beautiful, blonde-haired lass who was his best friend, and then a sudden thought struck him - what would it hurt to ask? He would pay her airfare and offer her the spare bedroom in his new flat. After the semester she was going through, he felt she deserved some time away. The wedding was two weeks after she finished classes, and he knew she wasn’t planning to start her summer job until the first week of June.

Not wanting to overthink it and talk himself out of it, he pulled up their text thread and typed out a message.

K: Would you consider being my date for my brother’s wedding on May 20? Please?

Glancing at the time, he knew she would be in the middle of her Advanced Composition class and wouldn’t be able to answer for at least another hour. He tried to tamp down the excitement over the prospect of seeing her again, knowing it was a distinct possibility she might say no.

Switching back to Liam’s text, he sent a vague answer.

K: I’ll get back to you on that in a couple of days.

Laying his phone back on the desk, he rose from his chair, grabbed his favorite mug and went to the break room for his afternoon cup of coffee.

*********

Emma sat down at a small table beside the front window of the Student Union and massaged her knee. Even after three months, her injuries still bothered her from time to time, and she still needed physical therapy to strengthen her leg. She took a sip from her Diet Coke and opened a bag of chips, munching on one as she pulled her phone from the pocket of her messenger bag and unlocked it.

When she read the message from Killian, she inhaled sharply. The chip went down sideways and she began coughing, glancing around to make sure no one was rushing over to give her the Heimlich maneuver. She finally caught her breath, tears in her eyes and a sting in her throat from where the chip scraped it.

He was asking her to come to England for his brother’s wedding? As his date?

Did this mean that…could he possibly have feelings for her that went beyond friendship? Or was she reading too much into it? Did he know she thought about him that way? Maybe he just didn’t want to go to the wedding by himself. But if that was the case, wouldn’t he just ask one of his friends who lived in England? Surely any woman he asked would happily jump at the chance to go on a date with such a gorgeous and sweet guy.

She was probably overthinking it. He more than likely just sent her the invitation on the spur of the moment and asked her as his friend, nothing more.

Her initial response was to refuse, as she ran through the excuses in her mind. She was a poor college student and it would be an expensive trip. She needed time to decompress after this semester, before beginning her summer job waitressing, and taking online classes so she could graduate in December. She also promised Mary Margaret to help her with wedding plans.

No matter how many excuses she came up with, another thought overrode them all - she had an opportunity to be with Killian again. How could she say no to that?

Her thumbs hovered over the keyboard as she chewed on her lip. Before sending a reply, she pulled up her banking app and checked her finances. Doing a quick calculation, she realized she could just about afford an airplane ticket and hotel room, but what about meals and transportation?

As if summoned by her deliberation, her phone vibrated with a text from none other than the man whose question was currently making her mind race.

K: I neglected to mention that I will pay for your plane ticket and you’re welcome to stay in my spare bedroom. Never let it be said that Killian Jones is anything less than a gentleman when asking a lady to be his date. I wouldn’t hear of you paying your own way.

Ah, so now that excuse was taken out of the equation. Still, she hesitated. What if she really was reading too much into it? What if his feelings toward her were the same as always, while hers had moved past friendship to… something more… for him? She couldn’t bear to have her heart broken and lose her best friend all in one fell swoop.

She could just go to England, see her friend again, go to the wedding and come back home, never telling him how her feelings had changed. And who knows? Maybe when she saw him again, she would realize her feelings really hadn’t changed, that it was just her mind…and heart… playing tricks on her.

She was definitely overthinking it.

Bringing up the calendar app on her phone, she was surprised to see nothing scheduled for May 20 or any of the days before and after. A smile teased the corners of her lips as that final piece of the puzzle fell into place. Everything was pointing to the idea that she was destined to accept Killian’s invitation.

So she did.

*********

Emma tried to get comfortable in the airplane seat, putting her earbuds in and exhaling a happy sigh. She was very relieved to be finished with the semester that nearly did her in, and even happier that her high GPA was still intact. She reminisced again about how thankful she was for Killian’s support and encouragement throughout the past five months. Now she was just a few hours away from seeing him in person and she could hardly wait.

The last time she was on a plane to England, she was equal parts excited and nervous, and found this time wasn’t any different. She was anxious to see how she reacted to being with Killian again, not really sure if she wanted to confirm that her feelings had deepened.

Trying to put the turmoil of thoughts out of her mind, she tugged a paperback book out of the messenger bag on her lap and started reading.

*********

Killian paced the arrivals area of the airport, checking his phone after every few steps. Emma said she would text him when her plane began disembarking and it was supposed to have landed five minutes ago.

His stomach was in knots, and he couldn’t help but compare it to how he felt when he was planning to go to Vermont. He had been excited to see his friend then, but what he felt now was completely different. He wanted to be more than a friend to Emma and wondered if she reciprocated his feelings.

The phone buzzed in his hand and he sucked in a quick breath. Hopefully before her visit was over, he would find out the answer.

*********

Of course her piece of luggage had to be one of the last to appear on the carousel. When she finally spotted it, Emma impatiently pushed between two people who were texting on their phones instead of watching for their baggage. She snagged her navy blue bag, raised the handle, and turned to exit the area.

Suddenly she heard, “Swan! Over here!” and saw Killian heading her way.

It took them a few moments of dodging people until they were finally hugging each other.

“It’s great to see you again,” she said into his neck, inhaling his unique scent.

They were separated when a man rushing past them bumped his shoulder bag into Emma’s hip, nearly knocking her off her feet, but Killian's strong arms kept her stable. Tossing a brief apology over his shoulder, the man continued on while Killian glared at him.

“Alright there, Swan?” he asked.

“Yeah, I’m fine. Why is it that every time I see you, I’m either almost being knocked on my ass or have injuries from doing just that?”

He laughed, taking the handle of her suitcase from her, while his other hand clasped hers. “I don’t know, but I’m happy to see you walking on your own two feet. Let’s get out of here before that changes.”

Playfully slapping his arm with her free hand, she allowed him to lead her through the throng of people outside to where his car was parked. He stowed her bag in the 'boot' while she circled around to the left side of the car, remembering the passenger seat would be on the opposite side.

As he drove to his apartment, he asked about her flight, and she inquired about the wedding preparations. Their conversation flowed easily, as always, and Emma relaxed more and more as the miles churned away. Her heart was still beating at an accelerated pace, but Killian didn’t seem to notice anything different about her.

But there was something different. Being with him again proved to her that her feelings had gone beyond simple friendship. She was falling in love with her best friend.

*********

It was all Killian could do to keep his focus on the road in front of him. He thought he was prepared to see Emma after five months, hundreds of texts and numerous FaceTime calls, but seeing her beauty in person again was a very pleasant jolt to his system.

When they arrived and he parked his car, he retrieved her luggage and led her inside the building. Upon entering his apartment, she complimented him on the bright, modern space, then followed him down the hallway to the spare room, which was sparsely furnished with a twin bed and small dresser.

“I’m afraid it’s not much,” he apologized, rubbing at a spot behind his ear.

“You forget that I lived in a cramped dorm room for two years,” she laughed. “This is fine. Thank you for providing a place for me to stay and paying for my plane ticket. I probably wouldn’t have been able to come otherwise.”

“My pleasure, Swan. I’m very happy you were able to work it out. Liam and Louise are excited to meet you and to have you join me at the wedding.”

“I look forward to meeting them, too. I’ll finally be able to put faces to their names after hearing so much about them.”

Killian showed her around the rest of his flat, giving her a towel and washcloth when she expressed an interest in taking a shower. While she did, he ordered pizza to be delivered and called Liam to let him know Emma had arrived safely.

After she emerged from the bathroom, hair damp and dressed in casual, comfortable clothes, they ate and caught up with each other some more. He wondered if there would be some awkwardness between them because of the romantic feelings he was developing for her, but was happy to find it was just as easy as always.

*********

Killian took Emma to his brother’s house the next day, where Liam and his fiancée would be attending to last minute details for the wedding. Although she was a little apprehensive to meet Killian’s beloved older brother, Liam set her at ease by greeting her with a broad smile and warm hug.

“Ah, so you’re the famous Emma Swan! My little brother has sung your praises for as long as I can remember. I’ve never seen him happier than when he found you again.”

“You know I’m an adult now, don’t you, Liam?” Killian grumbled. “I’m not your little brother anymore.”

Emma laughed. “I’m very happy we found each other again, too, and to finally meet you, Liam.”

Once Louise arrived, they set to work making small bags of sugar almonds to be placed as favors for the wedding guests. Killian and Liam’s Aunt Aggie stopped in with her homemade Scotch eggs for lunch, greeting Emma just as warmly as Liam and Louise. By the time they left later that afternoon, Emma felt like she had been accepted as an honorary member of the Jones family.

When they got back to Killian’s apartment, Emma unpacked the accessories she brought to wear to the wedding and discovered she forgot to pack her nude heels. He took her shopping to buy a new pair, then they went out to eat at a local pub. Knowing the next day was going to be a busy one with the wedding and reception, they went to bed early; Killian bidding her goodnight with a hug and kiss on the cheek.

Emma lay in bed, recalling the events of the day and wishing she would have acted on her instinct to turn her head into his kiss, so it would have been on the lips instead.

*********

Killian awoke the next morning to a misty, overcast day. He had hoped Liam and Louise would have warm, sunny weather for their special day, but figured since the ceremony wasn’t until late afternoon, there was time for it to clear up.

He went into the kitchen to start the coffee and decided to make English pancakes for breakfast. Just as he was plating up three of the thin, crepe-like treats, Emma came stumbling into the room, yawning and rubbing her eyes.

“Something smells delicious,” she mumbled.

He chuckled. “Are you talking about the coffee or the pancakes?”

“Yes,” she answered with a sly grin.

“Well, help yourself to the coffee. You can have these pancakes as soon as I sprinkle them with powdered sugar. Would you like some strawberries on them, too?”

“Sure,” she said, moving toward the coffee pot.

He set the plate in front of her as soon as she was seated with her mug of coffee. While he was cooking his own pancakes, he heard her moan with pleasure, making him bite his lip to keep from moaning himself. He imagined her making that sound as she was in the throes of passion, and silently admonished himself to get a grip and focus.

When he joined her at the table with his plate, she said, “These are amazing! You’ll have to teach me how to make them sometime.”

He liked how she made it sound like it was inevitable for them to be together again. “I can do that. They’re really quite easy.”

“Maybe for you, but I’m not the greatest in the kitchen,” she commented, before taking another large bite. After chewing and swallowing, she asked, “What’s the schedule for today?”

“We need to be at the church by two o’clock for pictures. The wedding is at three-thirty, with the meal and reception afterwards.”

“I hope what I brought to wear is okay.”

“I’m sure it will be, Swan. There isn’t a specific dress code, except for those of us in the wedding party.”

After they finished eating, they cleaned up the kitchen. “You can take your shower first, Emma. I’m going to call Liam to see if he needs anything,” Killian said, once it was put to rights.

They spent a lazy morning together, watching television and talking. After a light lunch, they maneuvered around each other for the next two hours, getting ready for the big event. As Killian slipped into his white tuxedo shirt, he was happy to notice the sun filtering through the blinds in his room. It looked like Mother Nature was going to cooperate after all.

When he entered the living room, adjusting his cufflinks in the buttonholes, he came to a complete stop. Emma was already there waiting, wearing a knee-length, lace sheath in plum. The dress had a strapless lining, but the lace overlay crossed over one shoulder, giving Killian full view of the other. Her golden hair was swooped back into a low bun, showing off the creamy expanse of her slender neck.

Realizing he was staring, he cleared his throat. “You look…stunning, Swan.”

She self-consciously ran her hands down her sides. “Thank you. My mom bought this dress for me for my induction into an academic sorority last year. I haven’t had an opportunity to wear it again until now. Are you sure it looks alright?”

He took two more steps toward her. “It’s perfect. You’ll be the most beautiful woman there.”

Breathing out a small laugh, she said, “I think that title will belong to Louise, don’t you? All eyes are supposed to be on the bride, after all.” Just as Killian opened his mouth to answer, she added, “Oh, I need to put a few things into my clutch before we go. Give me a couple of minutes.”

“We don’t have to leave for another fifteen, so take your time.” Watching her walk down the short hallway to the bedroom, he couldn’t help thinking that while all eyes were on the bride, he would have a hard time taking his eyes off of Emma.

*********

Emma had made the excuse to leave the room before she began to drool over seeing Killian in a tuxedo. The man was gorgeous to begin with, but put him in a tux and his hotness factor went through the roof.

There was another reason for taking some time to gather herself, though. The adoring way he was looking at her made a thrill of hope run down her spine. Perhaps he did feel something for her besides friendship.

She glanced through the contents of her purse and snapped it shut, determined to tell Killian before she left England how her feelings toward him had changed.

*********

The wedding was beautiful and filled with so much love between the bride and groom, it brought tears to Emma’s eyes. Every time she looked at Killian, he was smiling broadly, clearly happy for his brother. She caught him more than once looking back at her where she sat in the audience beside his Aunt Aggie, and it made the warmth rush into her cheeks.

After enjoying a delicious meal at the reception, they watched Liam and Louise have their first dance together. When the next song began, Killian turned to Emma and held out his hand. “May I have this dance, Swan?”

Placing her hand in his, she commented, “Such a gentleman.”

“If I wasn’t, I would severely disappoint my aunt,” he quipped, winking at the woman herself, who gave him an approving smile.

They moved to the middle of the dance floor, where the newlyweds were continuing to sway, completely oblivious to everyone else around them. Emma put her right hand on his shoulder and felt his arm wrap around her waist, their other hands still clasped together.

Her eyes darted around the room, taking in the other couples on the dance floor and the guests who were standing around the perimeter of it. Then they scanned up to connect with Killian’s, losing herself in their blue depths.

“Are you enjoying yourself?” he asked, the words spoken close to her ear.

“I really am, and I want to thank you, Killian, for asking me to come to the wedding. I’m sure you could have found a cheaper date here, after all!”

“I never even considered asking anyone else.”

“Why not?”

He ducked his head and she was sure he would be scratching behind his ear if both of his hands weren’t occupied. After several moments, he looked back up at her with determination shining in his eyes. “Because no one else is as special and important to me as you, Swan. You…I…” He hesitated and her heart started pounding, wondering what his next words were going to be. “I’ve come to think of you as more than a friend, Emma. My feelings…are changing, becoming…bloody hell, I’m making a right mess of this.”

She exhaled slowly, her hand on his shoulder moving to thread her fingers through the ends of his hair. “I think I know what you’re trying to say, Killian, because…it’s gone beyond friendship for me, too. I…really like you.”

“Truly?” he asked, his eyes hopeful.

“Yeah”, she confirmed.

“So, you’re onboard to see where this goes?”

“I mean, I know it’s not going to be easy because of the distance, but…I think it would be worth a try.”

Before she was finished speaking, his hands were framing her face and he was gazing at her with a warm gleam in his fathomless eyes. Then his lips met hers, soft and sweet, and she knew she made the right decision.

*********

By the time they returned to his flat after the reception, Killian’s feet were sore, but his heart was full. He and Emma danced together for nearly every song. He relished having her in his arms and took the opportunity to kiss her at regular intervals.

After parking the car outside his building, they slowly walked inside, with Emma’s heels dangling from Killian’s fingertips and her arm threaded through his elbow. She had been intuitive enough to know she wouldn’t last the day in her new shoes and tucked a pair of ballet slippers into her clutch.

After he unlocked the door, she entered and flopped down onto the sofa. “Tired, Love?” he asked.

“Yes, but it was so much fun! It’s the best time I’ve ever had at a wedding.”

He sank down beside her. “I had a great time, too. I’m sure it had something to do with the fact it was my brother getting married, but I think it was mostly because of the beautiful lady who was my date.”

She rolled her head sideways to look at him. “I don’t know about you, but I’m relieved to have my feelings for you out in the open.”

“Aye, Love, me too. It makes me very happy you’ve made a place in your heart for me.”

Reaching over to take his hand, she said sincerely, “You’ve always been in my heart, Killian, ever since we were kids. I just hope we can work things out.”

He leaned in to brush a kiss across her lips. “I have confidence we will, Emma.”

She smiled and sighed contentedly. “David and Mary Margaret are getting married next March. Do you think you’ll be able to be my date for their wedding?”

“I’ll be sure to put in for the days off once the new year starts.”

Kissing him again, she said, “Good. You’ll get to meet my mom then.”

“Perhaps I could work something out at Christmas, so I can meet her sooner.”

Emma sighed. “Even Christmas seems very far away. We’re always being separated for months at a time.”

“They do say absence makes the heart grow fonder,” he tried to soothe.

“I hate that saying already,” she growled.

He chuckled, then turned to check the clock on the microwave. “It’s getting rather late, Swan. We should probably go to bed. Would you like to leave early for the airport and stop to get some breakfast on the way?”

“That would be really nice. What time do you think we should leave?”

Looking down at their hands where he was tangling his fingers through hers, he said, “By seven o’clock, I suppose. This time with you has gone far too fast.”

“I know. It always does.” She sighed and squeezed his hand. “I wish this night didn’t have to end, but you’re right - we need to go to bed.”

Rising from the couch, he pulled her to her feet and into a hug. “Goodnight, Swan. Pleasant dreams.”

“Goodnight, Killian,” she mumbled into his shoulder. “See you in the morning.”

He reluctantly released her and watched her walk down the hall, turning at the doorway to give him a smile. Feeling his heart swell, he checked to make sure the door was locked, switched off the lights, and went into his own bedroom, hoping to dream, as he so often had, about his friend across the hall, who was now more than his friend.

*********

The next two months after Emma’s trip to England saw the couple continuing to FaceTime and text, though their conversations were longer and more intimate than before. They seemed to never run out of things to share with each other.

Then one afternoon in early August, an hour before he got off work, he received a text from her.

E: Please call me ASAP.

Emma had been telling him for the past few weeks how concerned she was about her mother. Ruth had developed a persistent cough, was having pain in her chest and didn’t have any energy. David and Emma insisted she see a doctor so she finally gave in and made an appointment. The doctor had ordered more tests, which Killian knew she underwent the previous week. He was instantly concerned and went into the empty break room to place the call.

As soon as he heard Emma’s voice, it felt as though a rock dropped into his stomach. It was anguished in a way he’d never heard before. “Swan, what is it? What’s wrong?” he asked anxiously.

“M-my mom…has…cancer,” she choked out, and he closed his eyes, the memory of that same word impacting his life so brutally when he was a little boy. “It…it’s bad, Killian. Stage four lung cancer, inoperable.” Her voice broke on the final word and he gripped the phone tighter, wishing with all his heart he was there to hold her.

“Emma, I’m so, so sorry. How do they plan to treat it?”

He could hear her quiet sobs before she spoke again, her voice clogged with tears. “They…they’re trying to…decide what to do, but…M-Mom says she’s not sure she…” Her voice cut off again and he could feel tears trickling down his own cheeks over his girlfriend’s deep sorrow. “She just…wants to l-live long enough to see D-David and Mary Margaret get married.”

Closing his eyes, he asked the next dreaded question. “Have they given her a prognosis?”

He could barely understand her when she answered. “Three to…six m-months. With treatment…maybe a couple more…”

Killian sank into a chair, his legs unable to hold him any longer. “Emma, I…I don’t know what to say. I wish I could be there with you right now.”

She sniffed and whispered, “So do I. I-I’m taking the Fall semester off. David and Mary Margaret are planning to…move their wedding up, probably to late September or early October. Do you…do you think you would still be able to come if they change the date?”

“I promise I’ll be there, Sweetheart. No matter what it takes, I will definitely be there.”

“Thank you, Killian. I…I should let you get back to work. I’m sorry I bothered you.”

“Emma, Love, please don’t apologize,” he said. “I’m here for you whenever you need me - anytime, day or night. Never hesitate to call me, aye?” He heard her exhale a shaky breath, and took it as a sign of relief that she had a source of support.

“Okay,” she said, her voice a bit stronger. “I have to go. David and Mary Margaret are coming over for dinner tonight and I need to help Mom cook.”

“Would it be alright if I call you later this evening?”

“Yeah, that would be great, if you don’t mind.”

“You know I don’t. I’ll talk to you then.”

“Thanks again, Killian. Goodbye.”

“Goodbye, Swan.”

He hung up and sunk his head into his hands. He and Emma had spoken numerous times about how many things they had in common. He really hoped both of their mothers succumbing to cancer wouldn’t be added to that list.

*********

Killian exited the airport, his eyes anxiously searching for his girlfriend. When he didn’t see her immediately, he began walking down the sidewalk in search of the yellow VW from the picture she sent to him.

“Hey, handsome.”

He turned quickly to see Emma standing behind him. Dropping his duffle to the ground, he wrapped her tightly in his embrace. For almost two months, he had longed to hold her, giving her some small degree of comfort for her pain.

“Sorry. I had trouble finding a parking space,” she explained, her voice muffled by his chest.

“Don’t worry about it. I’ve only been out here a few minutes.” Pulling back to look into her face, he asked, “How are you doing, Love?”

“I’m, uh, okay, I guess,” she said, not meeting his eyes. “Are you ready to go?”

“Aye.” He slung the strap of his duffle bag over his shoulder, then clasped her hand in his. “Lead on, Milady.”

On the drive to Storybrooke, she filled him in on the plans for the wedding, which would be taking place in two day’s time.

“David is staying at the house until after the wedding, and the house has become ‘wedding central’. I’m pretty sure Mary Margaret is trying to keep all of us busy, so we have less time to think about…Mom.” She paused, swallowing hard before continuing. “Unfortunately, even though David has twin beds in his room, the extra bed is completely covered with silk flower arrangements, and Mom sleeps in the living room when she can’t get comfortable in her bed, so you’ll have to…share a bed with me.”

“Is that alright with you?”

She hummed and nodded. “To be honest, I think Mary Margaret arranged it that way on purpose. I haven’t been sleeping very well, and she probably thinks being with you will help.”

He placed his hand over hers where it rested on the gear shift. “I hope it will.”

Briefly turning her head to look at him, she smiled weakly. “Mom is feeling pretty good today. She’s excited to meet you.”

Ruth had started chemo treatments two weeks after her diagnosis, but they made her very sick and lethargic. The doctors hadn’t been optimistic about the effectiveness of the treatments anyway, so after lengthy discussions with her children, she decided to discontinue them. She was still having more good days than bad, and everyone was hopeful the day of the wedding would be one of her ‘good days’.

Killian could tell by the set of Emma’s shoulders and the tension in her voice that she was carrying a heavy burden of emotions. He was already dreading leaving her on Monday. His supervisor, a kind older man named Marco, had been generous in giving him four days off after working there for less than a year, but he had to report to the office on Tuesday or have his pay docked.

When they pulled up in front of a two-story white colonial, Emma cut the engine and looked over at him. “Well, this is home.”

He gave the house and huge yard surrounding it an appraising look, before turning back to her to say, “It looks warm and welcoming. I’m glad you had such a wonderful place to grow up, Love.”

“Yeah, it was great. David and I spent a lot of time outside. Over there,” she said, pointing to a spot at the back of the yard, “is our garden. I thought it was magical being able to grow our own food. Nothing is better than sweet corn fresh from the garden.”

“After everything you’ve told me about your home, it’s nice to see it in person.”

Emma unbuckled her seat belt and opened her door, while Killian did the same. He retrieved his bag from the back seat, then walked hand-in-hand with her up the sidewalk and porch steps.

“We’re here,” she called out, leading him through the front door. He barely had a chance to take a look around the living room before Mary Margaret emerged from the room to their left.

“Hi, Killian,” she said, initiating a hug with him. “We’re so happy you’re here.”

“I’m very happy to be here,” he replied.

Out of the corner of his eye, he saw another figure enter the room and heard Emma say, “This is my mom, Ruth.”

Mary Margaret stepped aside to let him approach their matriarch. She looked wan and weak but gave him a warm smile. “Welcome to our home, Killian.”

He wasn’t quite sure how to greet her, so he offered her his hand as he expressed his gratitude for opening her home to him.

She ignored his offer of a handshake, placing her hands on both sides of his face instead. “My Emma has told me so much about you. How wonderful that the two of you were reunited after so many years apart!”

“It’s a pleasure to meet you, Mrs. Nolan,” he smiled.

Patting his cheeks, she said, “Please call me Ruth. Now, we thought you would be hungry when you got here, so we’ve prepared a late lunch. Come eat with us.”

Upon entering the kitchen, he greeted David, who was putting filled water glasses on the table. The five of them ate and chatted for twenty minutes before Emma looked at her mother and said, “You look tired, Mom. Why don’t you go lay down and we’ll clean up?”

Ruth nodded wearily and pushed herself up to her feet. “I think I’ll do that. Please wake me in time to help cook dinner, will you?”

They agreed and watched her shuffle out of the room. Mary Margaret broke the silence by speaking in an overly cheery voice, “Killian, I hope you don’t mind, but you’ll have to stay in Emma’s room while you’re here.”

“She already told me and that’s fine with me, as long as David approves,” Killian said with a smirk.

David fixed him with a scowl. “My bedroom is on the other side of the wall, so I better not hear anything that will force me to come over there and defend my sister’s honor.”

All of them shared a laugh before Emma offered to show him to her room. Grabbing his duffle bag out of the living room, he followed her up the stairs.

Ushering him in the door, she said, “It hasn’t changed much since I was a teenager. I asked my dad to paint it yellow a couple of years after I moved in.”

He looked around to take in the pale yellow walls, dotted with posters of music groups and TV shows, and furniture consisting of a double bed, nightstand, dresser, and desk. Dropping his bag on the floor at the foot of the bed, he turned and pulled her into his arms. “Alright there, Swan?”

She nodded into his neck, tightening her grip around his waist. “She’s getting weaker every day. She tries to put up a good front, but we can see it. I…I don’t want to lose her, Killian.”

“I know, Love. I’m so sorry. What can I do to help?”

“Just hold me,” she whispered.

It was the easiest thing he had ever done.

*********

The evening ended up being very pleasant. They enjoyed one of Ruth’s signature dishes of chicken and dumplings, prepared by Emma and Mary Margaret with Ruth’s guidance. Later, they taught Killian how to play the card game ‘Hearts’. He caught onto it so quickly, he ended up winning the last game and David teasingly accused him of cheating.

Ruth tired easily, due to frequent bouts of coughing, but she insisted on staying up until David left to take Mary Margaret home.

Once they were alone, Emma and Killian remained in the living room, enjoying the quiet stillness, while cuddling on the couch. She concentrated on tangling and untangling her fingers with his, her head resting on his shoulder.

After several peaceful moments, she spoke softly, “Killian?”

“Hmm?” he hummed, pressing his lips to her hair.

“I’ve been…waiting to tell you something until I could do it in person.” Leaning back, she looked into his face.

“What’s that, Sweetheart?” he asked, his eyes searching hers.

“You’ve always had a special place in my heart and now that we’ve found each other again, you’ve become very important to me. Even though it’s only been a few months since you came back into my life, I can’t imagine not having you in it.”

When she paused, he assured her, “I feel the same way, Emma.”

She smiled at him before continuing. “What I’m trying to say is…I…I’ve fallen in love with you, Killian.”

His hands came up to cradle her face, with so much joy radiating in his smile. “That’s wonderful to hear, because I’m in love with you, too.”

“You are?” she asked, though she could see the confirmation in his eyes.

“Aye, and I didn’t want to tell you over the phone, either. I wanted to say it while I was holding you in my arms.”

Dipping his head, he brushed his lips against hers twice before deepening the kiss, the gentle pressure of his lips making her melt. His exploring tongue traced the seam of her lips and she welcomed him without hesitation.

The kiss was slow, sweet and undemanding, expressing their love, but not growing heated. They both knew this was not the time or place to take the next big step in their relationship.

Resting his forehead against hers after the kiss, he murmured, “My heart is yours, Emma.”

“I’ll take very good care of it, Killian. I promise.”

*********

Thanks so much for reading, liking, reblogging and commenting, if you’re so inclined. Chapter 3 is on its way to being written, but I can’t state a time frame for when it will be posted yet.

Tagging: @xsajx @hookedmom @kymbersmith-90 @kmomof4 @lassluna @pirateherokillian @teamhook @stahlop @elizabeethan @whimsicallyenchantedrose @resident-of-storybrooke @therooksshiningknight @jennjenn615 @lfh1226-linda @ilovemesomekillianjones @killianswannn @stories-enchanted @eleveneitherway @withheartfulloflove @kday426 @djlbg @kristi555 @laschatzi @xarandomdreamx @wyntereyez @goforlaunchcee @yasbio2015 @tiganasummertree @winterbaby89 @wefoundloveunderthelight @hollyethecurious @let-it-raines @jonesfandomfanatic @searchingwardrobes @oncechicagolove @andiirivera @gingerchangeling @everything-person @klynn-stormz @qualitycoffeethings @enchanted-swans @ohmakemeahercules @donteattheappleshook @bluewildcatfanatic @the-darkdragonfly @demisexualemmaswan @grimmswan @spartanguard @flslp87 @ultraluckycatnd @thisonesatellite @captainswan21 @zaharadessert @mariakov81 @snowbellewells @kiwistreetswan @batana54 @nadine200179 @probalicious17 @courtorderedcake @julesep3026 @jackieorioncat @whatthehell102082 @jarienn972 @sthonour @linda8084 @pirateprincesslena @daxx04 @artistic-writer @cocohook38 @captainswan4life85 @molly958 @itsfridaysomewhere @fallingforthecaptain @onceratheart18 @strangestarlighttree @justanother-unluckysoul @mrs-potato-but-likes-tomato @anothersworld @deckerstarblanche @purplehawkcaptain @superchocovian @k-leemac @citygirlscowboy @laughterandbooks @sotangledupinit @apiratewhopines @huntressandlioness1 @gingerpolyglot @motherkatereloyshipper @cs-rylie @anmylica @paradiselady19 @pawshapedheart @vampcoffeegyrl23 @elfiola @softkilly @nachocheese-itsmycheese @iverna @booksteaandtoomuchtv

#csff #csgiftexchange2022 #csgiftexchange #captain swan gift exchange #always in my heart #gift for @nachocheese-itsmycheese #jrob64 #cs fanfiction #captain swan fan fiction #childhood friends #bed sharing #CS hurt/comfort #minor character death #cs smut #CS modern AU

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jrob64 · 2 years ago

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Always in My Heart - a CS Modern AU story

Hello @nachocheese-itsmycheese ! In case you haven’t figured it out, I’m your CS Gift Exchange person! When I saw that you requested a one bed, sick fic, modern AU, with Emma & Killian being childhood best friends, I had to snap that request up! I may have strayed from it just a bit, but I think I have fulfilled all your wishes. Oh, I also included a little shout out to you somewhere in this chapter!

I couldn’t fit the entire story into one chapter and what I have planned lent itself to being an MC, so this is the first of 4 chapters. Chapter 2 is well on its way to being written and the other two are plotted out, but I’m not able to tell you when the rest of them will post. I beg you for your patience!

This story wouldn’t be possible without @hookedmom using her super beta skills, and the encouragement of @cs-rylie . Also, @kmomof4 was invaluable in helping me plot the story. Thank you to the mods of @csgiftexchange for this very fun event!

STORY SUMMARY: As children in the same foster home, Emma Swan and Killian Jones became best friends. After being separated, they lost touch for 14 years and thought they would never see each other again.

A chance meeting in London changes everything.

RATING: M for smut in a future chapter. Also be aware there will be a minor character death later in the story.

WORDS (Ch. 1): 6245

Also posted to Ao3 and ffn

Find the story under the cut.

*********

The first time Emma Nolan shared a bed with Killian Jones, she was six years old and he was eight. They were both foster children in a crowded house and either had to share a bed, or one had to sleep on the floor. Since it was the middle of winter in Montana, the choice was an easy one.

Killian cried himself to sleep every night, calling out for his mother and his older brother Liam. Their mother died a few days before Killian’s arrival at the foster home, and because their father couldn’t be found and other relatives weren’t immediately located, the boys were made wards of the state. Liam fought to keep his little brother with him, but available foster homes were few and far between, so the case worker reluctantly made the heartbreaking decision to split them up, placing Liam in a group home for teenagers.

Emma never had a family and she knew sadness and loneliness quite well. When the other two girls in the bedroom complained about Killian’s sobs, Emma would pull the blanket over both of them and hold him close, muffling his cries.

Their foster parents weren’t unkind, they were simply overworked. The older children were left to their own devices much of the time, allowing Killian and Emma to spend nearly every possible minute together. Soon, the parents began saying they were ‘thick as thieves’. The children didn’t know what that meant, but since it was always said with a chuckle, they didn’t think it could be that bad.

The foster home was the seventh for Emma, who became a ward of the state at the tender age of three days, when she was abandoned in a drop box at a fire station. She was shy and reserved, but had a quick temper if someone teased her, resorting to scratching, hair pulling and biting to defend herself. Because of this, in two years time, one foster family after another deemed her a troublemaker and asked that she be removed.

With Killian, she found a comrade - someone who liked her, who calmed her down when her temper flared. He called her “Swan” because she loved to hear him tell the story of ‘The Ugly Duckling’ the way his mother had told it to him. He was the Hansel to her Gretel, the Jack to her Jill. She loved him like the brother she always wanted.

For seven months, she and Killian forged their friendship. Then one sunny afternoon in July, while they were sitting in the shade eating popsicles, the case worker arrived at the house and excitedly told Killian she had located his mother’s long lost sister in England, who agreed to take both boys.

Killian was ecstatic, throwing the remainder of his cherry popsicle in the grass, then sprinting into the house to collect his meager belongings. Less than two minutes later, he was bursting back out the door and running to where Emma was standing, still in shock over hearing the news.

“Goodbye, Swan,” he said, wrapping his skinny arms around her in a tight embrace. “I’ll miss you, but now I can be with my brother.” Then he was gone.

All she could do was return the wave he gave her through the car window. She stood there with tears in her eyes long after the dust settled in the driveway, watching his popsicle melt into the ground and feeling her heart melt away right along with it.

Now it was Emma’s turn to cry herself to sleep every night, but there was no one to hold her close and muffle her sobs.

*********

Emma hurried down the sidewalk of the University of Westminster, her head down as she looked over her philosophy notes on her phone one more time. Her professor was giving the final exam a week early because he was leaving on sabbatical the following week. Emma felt pressure to get a good score in order to keep her perfect GPA and prove she deserved the scholarship that allowed her to study abroad for this Fall semester of her junior year.

As she turned the corner, she collided with someone, and was knocked backwards. She would have fallen on her ass if two strong hands hadn’t gripped her biceps and held her until she regained her balance.

“Alright there, lass?” a deep, accented voice asked.

“Yeah, thanks. I…” Her voice trailed off as her eyes raised to see the face of the man whose hands still held her steady. Tilting her head, she studied him. Something about him seemed familiar, but she couldn’t quite identify it. Then her eyes met his and she gasped. “Killian?”

He squinted, obviously trying to place her. For a moment, Emma thought she’d made a mistake and was just hoping it was her childhood friend. When she selected England for her study abroad location, she fleetingly thought she might try to find him, but figured the chances were slim to none. Was he standing in front of her right now? This man’s startling blue eyes certainly looked like the ones she couldn’t get out of her mind, but the last time she saw them was fourteen long years ago.

Then his eyes softened and a slow smile spread across his face, revealing the dimple in his right cheek she remembered. “Swan?” he asked tentatively.

She couldn’t force words past the sudden lump in her throat, so she simply nodded. He whooped joyfully and pulled her into a hug. “I can’t believe it! What are you doing here?” he asked.

Swallowing thickly, she fought to keep the tears at bay. “I…I’m studying here for the semester,” she finally choked out.

He held her at arm’s length. “It’s so great to see you! I always hoped our paths would cross again!”

“Me, too. I’ve wondered what happened to you ever since you left.”

“Would you like to get some coffee and catch up? Or perhaps a Guiness?”

“I’d love to, but I have a philosophy final in…” she checked the time on her phone and swore, “Shit! Less than ten minutes. Maybe we could meet afterwards?”

“I have a class later this afternoon, but I’m free this evening,” he said. “Have you ever been to The Blind Pig?”

Her forehead wrinkled in confusion. “Huh?”

He chuckled. “It’s a pub on Poland Street. Perhaps we can meet there to eat and chat, say around six o’clock?”

“Sure, sounds great! I really have to go. See you then!”

“I’m looking forward to it,” he said, leaning in to kiss her cheek. “Good luck on your exam.”

“Thanks, Killian,” she said, her cheek warming where his lips brushed it. Giving him one last smile, she turned and hurried up the steps of the building.

*********

Killian watched Emma disappear through the door, hoping their encounter wasn’t a figment of his imagination. In the fourteen years since he last saw her, not a day had gone by that he hadn’t thought of her. She was his first true friend and he knew the way he left probably hurt her. He always hoped to see her again someday, if only to apologize, and couldn’t believe his luck in running into her on campus in the middle of London.

He was very glad she figured out who he was, because he hadn’t recognized her at first. Once he did, he was stunned by her beauty and couldn’t help but think that she truly had become as lovely and graceful as the swan in the story he used to tell to her.

Someone bumped into his elbow and he realized he was still standing in the middle of the sidewalk, thinking about Emma. Wearing a broad smile, he continued on his way, looking forward to seeing her again that evening.

*********

Emma thought the afternoon would never come to an end. After she finished her exam, she returned to her dorm room and took a shower. Then she spent an inordinate amount of time perusing her meager wardrobe to come up with a suitable outfit, although she didn’t know why she was worried about what to wear for an evening catching up with her childhood friend.

Finally settling on a white button-down blouse with long sleeves, a black and white houndstooth pencil skirt and black tights, she checked her watch for the hundredth time. It was only five-twenty, but she decided she could just as easily wait at the pub, instead of pacing around her dorm room. After pulling on a pair of high-heeled black, suede boots, she slipped into her signature red leather jacket and hurried out of the building.

It took her fifteen minutes to arrive at The Blind Pig, walking past the entrance twice before noticing it. Once inside, she scanned the room to see Killian already seated at a small table. He must have been watching the door because he caught sight of her immediately and rose to meet her.

“I’m glad you found the place,” he grinned.

She shrugged out of her coat and hung it on the back of a chair before sitting down. “I have to admit, it took me a couple of tries to find the door.”

“It is pretty discreet,” he laughed. “You look lovely, Emma.”

“Thanks,” she blushed.

They spent the next several hours filling each other in on their lives since they were separated. Emma shared how she continued being moved from one foster home to another until she was eleven, when she was finally adopted by Ruth and Robert Nolan. They lived in a small town in Maine called Storybrooke. Their son, David, was three years older, and very protective of his new younger sister.

Her eyes misted with tears as she related the story of her dad dying when she was in her Freshman year of high school. Killian reached across the table to squeeze her hand in sympathy, bringing a thin, watery smile to her lips.

When he heard that she graduated at the top of her class and was now studying Literature, aspiring to be a writer, he said, “You were always brilliant, even as a little girl. Remember how you used to make up those scavenger hunts and write all the clues for them?”

“Yeah, that was fun. After you left, I never did it again. It just wouldn’t have been the same.”

He took her hand again and squeezed it, drawing another small smile from her. “I’m sorry for how quickly I left that day. I never meant to hurt you, but I’m sure I did and it’s my biggest regret.”

“I never blamed you,” she assured him. “I knew how much you missed your brother and wanted to be with him. I have to admit it took me a long time to get over it, but that wasn’t your fault. What happened after you left?”

Killian told her about growing up at his Aunt Aggie’s with Liam. His aunt was unmarried and didn’t have children of her own, so she doted on her nephews. The brothers had a happy life and remained close to her, even though neither lived with her any more. Liam graduated from Uni with a degree in Finance, worked at a large bank, and was engaged to a lass named Louise.

Killian went on to explain that he would be graduating with a degree in digital architecture at the end of the semester. He was hoping to get a job offer from one of the companies where he interned, though he was planning to do some traveling before starting full time.

When she told him she loved his accent, he blushed and scratched behind his ear self-consciously, explaining how easily he picked it up after moving to England.

The hours flew by and it was after eleven o’clock before Emma declared she needed to call it a night because she had an early class in the morning. Killian insisted on walking her back to her dorm. They exchanged contact information and made plans to meet again before Emma left the country.

“I’m very happy we bumped into each other, Swan,” he said, taking both of her hands.

“Literally,” she laughed. “I can’t believe you still remember the nickname you used to call me, or that you even remembered me, for that matter.”

He looked deeply into her eyes. “I could never forget my best friend. You were there for me when I needed you the most. I don’t know how I would have survived being separated from Liam without you, Emma. For years, I’ve hoped to find you again, just to tell you that.”

Tears welled up in her eyes as she replied, “I never had another friend like you, Killian. To be honest, I don’t think I allowed anyone to get close to me for fear I would lose them, like I lost you. My heart broke that day, even though I was trying to be happy for you.”

“I know and I’m sorry. I’m glad you eventually ended up with a family of your own. You deserve to be happy.”

“I am, Killian,” she said with a soft smile.

Giving her hands another squeeze, he leaned in and brushed a kiss across her cheek. “I hope I’ll get to see you again very soon.”

“I’ll be studying for my exams, but I should be able to find a couple of hours to meet. I’ll text you some possible times.”

“Sounds good,” he said, reluctantly letting go of her hands. “Goodnight, Emma.”

“Goodnight, Killian. Thanks for a great evening.”

After giving him one last smile, she turned and entered her dorm building.

Killian remained on the sidewalk for several more moments, before he finally began the journey back home with a wide smile still on his face.

*********

The next week proved nearly impossible for them to find a time to meet, because they were both busy with exams. He was also preparing for graduation, setting up back-up interviews and getting ready to move in with Liam for the time being, until he knew where he would be working.

They were finally able to get together for brunch on Thursday, between Killian’s morning exam and one Emma had in the afternoon. Their mood was a bit melancholy, since they knew it would be the last time they would see each other for a very long time.

Killian couldn’t bear to think that it could be months or even years, until he saw this wonderful woman in person again. When she told him about a ski trip to Vermont in early January that her brother and future sister-in-law were partially paying for as a Christmas gift to her, an idea began to take root in his brain.

They parted ways after a prolonged hug and promises to stay in touch. He didn’t tell Emma about his idea, hoping all the pieces would fall into place for him to surprise her.

His plans already included some traveling before nailing down a job and beginning the next chapter of his life. Why not make Vermont the first place he went?

*********

Emma found it difficult to concentrate on her exam that afternoon. She’d spent the last fourteen years wondering where her best friend was and if she would ever see him again. Now, she finally found him, but they were barely able to spend any time together. If only she had run into him earlier in the semester. Fate was cruel sometimes, and it seemed their fate was to be separated after far too brief a time.

She was pleasantly surprised to find a text from him when she got back to her dorm room.

K: Swan, I truly meant it when I said I wanted to keep in touch with you. I hope you don’t mind if I make a habit of texting you from now on.

Emma felt like a giddy school girl after reading the message. She couldn’t think of anything that would make her happier, except actually being with him.

E: I would really like that. Feel free to text me anytime and I’ll do the same.

With a heart that was a bit lighter, she began packing her suitcases in preparation of leaving the next day.

*********

Emma sat in the great room of the lodge in Vermont, staring longingly out the window at the snow covered slopes. Adjusting the ice on her knee, she grimaced with pain. Of course she had to wipe out on the first day of their ski trip. Now, she was nursing a badly sprained ankle and a twisted knee.

David and her future sister-in-law, Mary Margaret, offered to stay at the lodge with her, but Emma wouldn’t hear of it. Just because she ruined her own trip didn’t mean she should ruin theirs, too.

To top it off, Emma hadn’t received any texts from Killian for the past two days, even though they had exchanged messages every day since her return from England. Unlocking her phone, she read his last text again.

K: I’m afraid I’ll be unable to communicate with you for the next three or four days, Swan. I’ll let you know as soon as I’m within range again. I’m sorry.

She sighed and put her phone down on the sofa beside her, staring into the huge, circular fireplace in the middle of the room. At least she had the large, rustic room mostly to herself, which didn’t bring her much comfort because many of the other guests staying at the resort were out skiing and snowboarding. The wall of floor to ceiling windows allowed her to see dozens of figures whooshing down the powdery slopes and riding up the ski lift in the mid-afternoon sun.

Suddenly, she heard a familiar voice coming from the next room, asking where to sign up for ski lessons.

“Killian?” she whispered to herself, hardly daring to believe her ears. Twisting around as much as possible on the couch, she craned her neck to try to see through the doorway. Catching sight of her handsome, dark-haired friend, she joyfully shouted, “Killian!”

In her excitement to see him, she temporarily forgot about her injuries and tried to stand to greet him properly. As soon as she dropped her foot down from the table, the pain made her gasp and she sank back into the sofa.

“Swan?” Killian’s voice came from the doorway, then he was hurrying across the room. Dropping his large duffle bag, he knelt in front of her, and instantly, her arms were around him.

“What are you doing here?” she murmured into his neck.

“I would think that would be apparent,” he chuckled. “I came to see you.”

She loosened her grip enough to pull back and look at him. “But how did you find me?”

“You told me.”

Her brows furrowed. “I did? When?”

“Every time I asked you a question about your trip, you gave me a little information and I was able to piece it together to figure out where you would be staying and for how long.”

Emma thought back to their text conversations. She recalled him asking about the town where she would be staying, under the guise of checking the isolation of it for WiFi service. She also vaguely remembered telling him that David had to call three different ski lodges before he found one with vacancies. Killian had casually asked the names of the ones her brother tried.

“You’re sneaky,” she laughed.

“Does that upset you?”

“Not in the least, but only because you’re my friend. If it was some random guy, it might be a little creepy,” she teased. “I’m really glad you went to all that trouble to track me down.”

“Well, it seems no matter how much distance or time comes between us, I will always find you,” he said with a soft smile. Sitting down on the table in front of the sofa, he continued, “What happened? It looks pretty bad.”

She groaned. “I hit a patch of ice and wiped out on my third trip down the slopes this morning. My ski went one way, I went the other. Unfortunately, the ski was still attached to me when I lost my balance and my leg twisted underneath me.” Gingerly lifting her foot and placing it on the table beside him, she pointed to the brace and bandages. “Sprained ankle, twisted knee, ruined ski trip.”

“I’m so sorry, Swan,” he said, lightly running his hand over the Ace bandage wrapped around her ankle, then up to the knee brace.

“I was taken to the local hospital and fortunately, nothing is broken. I’m taking some serious pain meds and I’ll need to have an MRI when I get home to find out if I tore anything. So obviously, I’m out of commission for the rest of the trip.”

“At least now you have me to keep you company,” he smiled.

She shifted in her seat. “Killian, you don’t have to stay in the lodge with me. I’m sure you came to go skiing, and I don’t…”

“I came to spend time with you, Emma. I’ve never skied in my life. Even if I tried, I would probably end up right beside you, battered, bruised and bandaged.”

Emma looked at him in surprise. “What were you gonna do while I was out on the slopes?”

He scratched behind his left ear. “I saw this place offers lessons and planned to take a couple. Then I could at least make an attempt to ski with you.”

Staring at him slack-jawed, she was unable to speak for several seconds. “You…you were planning to do all that…just to see me?”

Killian reached forward and took both her hands into his. “Aye. The short amount of time we had together in England wasn’t nearly enough. I told you I wanted to do some traveling before I started my career, so I thought coming here to see you would be a perfect trip.”

“I hope you don’t regret it,” she said. “I was planning to just sit around feeling sorry for myself for the next three days, so now you can sit and watch me do that. Sounds like a good time, huh?”

He gave a low chuckle. “I’m sure we can make the best of it. Three days of getting to know you better sounds lovely to me. I do wish it was under different circumstances, though.”

A blush crept into her cheeks and she dropped her eyes to where their hands were still joined. “You’re such a good friend, Killian. Even after all these years, I’ve never had a better friend than you.”

Tangling his fingers with hers, he nodded. “I know exactly what you mean. I’ve always thought of you as my best friend…you and Liam.”

A thought suddenly occurred to her. “Have you had anything to eat today?”

“I had breakfast on the plane, but that seems like ages ago. How about you?”

“I haven’t had any lunch because I didn’t really want to eat by myself. They have pretty good food here. Want to give it a try?”

“That’s fine with me, but…” he said, and she noticed his ears and cheeks were red, “one thing I wasn’t able to find is a place to stay. I asked if they have any open rooms here, but they’re fully booked. May I put my bags in your room until I can find a hotel room?”

“You don’t have to do that. My room is huge. Just stay with me.”

“I couldn’t impose on you like that.”

“It’s not an imposition at all. If you are able to find a hotel room, you’re also gonna have to rent a car or call an Uber all the time to get back and forth. Plus, no hotel will be as comfortable as this place. It’s amazing! Please say you’ll stay here.” She batted her eyelashes at him, while sticking out her lower lip.

“Using the sad puppy dog eyes on me is bad form, Swan.” When she fluttered her lashes a few more times, he gave a dramatic sigh. “Alright, you win. I’ll stay here with you.”

“Good! Now let’s go get something to eat. I’m starving!” Pointing to the floor under his feet, she said, “Could you please hand those to me? I have to use the infernal things to get around.”

Handing her the crutches as she requested, he teased lightly, “I could carry you, you know.”

“Yeah, that would be a sight - you carrying me everywhere I need to go for the rest of the trip.”

“I wouldn’t mind,” he assured her.

She rolled her eyes at him, then pushed herself up onto her feet, using the crutches to balance. As she began making her way laboriously to the arched doorway leading to the dining area, Killian fell into step beside her.

“Let’s get you settled at a table and place our orders, then I’ll take my bags over to the inn,” he said.

She nodded as she entered the dining room. The hostess greeted them, leading them to a table just inside the doorway. Emma slid onto a chair and Killian adjusted the seat across from her, then gently lifted her leg to rest on it. Sitting down himself, he looked at his friend and saw the frustration on her face.

“I know this isn’t the vacation you envisioned, Love. I’m so sorry this happened.”

“Yeah, well, that’s what I get for trying to beat David to the bottom of the hill,” she grumbled.

“Ah, so the truth comes out - my best friend has a competitive streak!” he grinned. She playfully stuck her tongue out at him, making him laugh.

The server showed up promptly, taking their drink order. They perused the menus, deciding on an appetizer to share and their main entree, which they placed when the waiter brought their drinks.

Killian stood from his chair and Emma dug into her jeans pocket, saying, “Here’s my key. I’m in the building next door, to the right. My room number is 207 in the Alpine Forest.”

At his quizzical look, she laughed. “The hallways are themed. Mary Margaret and David are around the corner in the Swiss Alps.”

“Catchy,” he commented. “Be back in a few minutes.”

She watched him stride out the door, then turned her attention to the flip chart containing the dessert menu. He was back just as their appetizer of loaded potato skins was brought out.

There was only one other couple in the dining room, which gave them plenty of privacy to carry on their conversation. They went from one subject to another, never once feeling awkward or running out of something to say. By the time they finished eating the main course, more people were starting to filter into the lodge from outside.

When their dessert plates were cleared away, Emma swung her leg down to the floor and reached for her crutches. “I have to go to the bathroom and since it’ll probably take me half-an-hour to get there, I better not wait too long.”

Killian stood up to help her to her feet. “Actually, I thought you handled those crutches quite admirably, Swan. Liam broke his leg when he was fifteen, was in a cast for six weeks and never did get the hang of using them.”

She threw him an appreciative smile and began hobbling out to the lobby, where the restrooms were located, unsurprised to have him right by her side. By the time she emerged, she was getting tired and the pain was beginning to set in again. He must have been able to see it in her face, because he suggested going to her room to lie down.

“Yeah, that might be a good idea. It’s time for another dose of pain meds, too.”

They left the lodge, moving slowly down the steps and across the parking lot separating it from the inn. Killian held the heavy oak front door for her and they entered the beautiful, lavishly decorated lobby. Sighing heavily, she turned toward the stairs and looked up to the top of them, thinking how they looked like a mountain she had to climb.

Suddenly, she felt an arm around her back and another under her knees. “Hang on, Love,” Killian said, easily lifting her into his arms.

Her arms instinctively wrapped around his neck, her crutches banging against his side. “Killian! I thought you were kidding about carrying me!”

Starting up the steps, he said, “There’s no reason for you to struggle when I can help. The sooner you get to your room, the sooner you can take your medicine and lie down. This seemed like the fastest way.”

“Oh, uh, we could have taken the elevator,” she giggled.

He was nearly to the top of the staircase by this time. “Too late!” he laughed. “Guess we’ll make use of that next time.”

She thought he would lower her to the floor when they reached the landing, but he turned left and didn’t stop until they were in front of her room. He finally set her down carefully and held her crutches, while she leaned against him and used the key card to unlock the door.

Wrapping his arm around her waist, he helped her hop into the spacious room and over to the bed. As she settled herself, he located the small refrigerator and retrieved a bottle of water for her.

“Where can I find the pain medicine?” he asked, glancing around the space.

“Um, I think I left it on the counter in the bathroom.”

He disappeared and returned a moment later with the bottle in his hand. “Here you go, Emma. Would you like for me to take your shoes off?”

“Don’t you mean shoe?” she asked, wiggling the toes of her left foot. “That would be great if you don’t mind. I should probably send David a text to tell him I’m back in my room.”

“Okay, but first, take your pills,” he reminded her, loosening her sneaker and pulling it off.

“Yes, doctor,” she teased, before doing as she was told.

After sending the message to her brother, Killian took her phone to lay it on the nightstand, then adjusted her pillows, placing one under her left leg, and tucked the warm, fleece blanket around her.

She was just beginning to doze off when there was a knock at the door. Killian put a hand on her shoulder when she started to sit up. “I’ll get it.”

Emma figured it was David and her suspicions were confirmed within seconds.

“Who are you and what are you doing in my sister’s room?”

“Ah, you must be David,” Killian greeted warmly, clearly ignoring the threatening tone in the other man’s voice. “Emma told me about her protective older brother. And you would be Mary Margaret, right? It’s lovely to meet both of you. I’m Killian Jones, a childhood friend of hers.”

Emma pushed herself up in bed to rest against the headboard, as she heard Mary Margaret gush, “Oh, Killian! Emma has been so excited about finding you again! I didn’t know she invited you to join us!”

By this time, the three of them had advanced into the room where Emma sat wearing a mischievous grin on her face. “Yeah, I invited him and didn’t tell you, so David would get all big-brotherish and use his ‘do I have to punch you in the face’ voice.” She giggled, before adding, “Killian showed up here to surprise me. I had no idea he was coming!”

David looked abashed. “You could have at least given me a heads-up that he was here.”

“I did,” Emma informed him. “Didn’t you get my text?”

Her brother pulled his phone from his back pocket and checked it. “I didn’t look at the whole message, I just saw the notification where it said you were up in your room. Sorry, Sis.”

“Well, anyway,” Mary Margaret chirped, “We’re very happy to meet you, Killian! Emma has told us all about you. You flew all the way over from England to visit her? That’s so romantic!”

Emma and Killian exchanged a wide-eyed glance. “We’re not…” Emma sputtered, while Killian said, “Oh, no, it’s not like that.”

Mary Margaret looked confused. “Oh, I’m sorry. I just assumed…never mind. It’s still very sweet of you to come all this way to see your friend.”

“Even though she’s an invalid,” David teased.

“Thanks to you!” Emma grumbled. “You and your ‘last one to the bottom of the hill buys dinner tonight’.”

“How are you feeling?” Mary Margaret asked.

“Like a truck hit me. I just took some more pain meds right before you guys got here. I probably should ice it again, though.”

Mary Margaret nodded, then turned to her fiancé. “Could you please go get her some ice, Honey?”

“Let me come with you,” Killian said. “I’d like to know where the ice machine is located in case she needs some during the night.”

David whipped around to look at him, his hands gripping the ice bucket tightly. “Are you telling me you’re planning to stay here? In her room? Just the two of you?”

“Oh, for the love of everything holy,” Emma groaned. “Back off, David! I invited him to stay with me. It’s my room and he’s my friend. Do you think I’m gonna make him go get a hotel room when he flew thousands of miles to see me?”

“But..” David began.

“No buts,” Mary Margaret said firmly. “Go get the ice and take Killian with you.”

David looked between the two women, then huffed and started toward the door, motioning for Killian to follow him.

Once they heard the door close, Emma said, “So, tell me about your day.”

The two of them conversed for several minutes, until they heard the two men re-enter the room, the sound of their laughter preceding them, causing Emma and Mary Margaret to share a knowing smile.

*********

Mary Margaret and David spent the rest of the evening in Emma’s room. Killian helped make her comfortable on the sofa in the living room area of the suite and made sure she iced her injuries at regular intervals. They ordered food to be sent up and played cards until late evening.

By the time the engaged couple left to go to their own room, the men were acting like friends who had known each other for years, instead of hours. Mary Margaret hugged Killian tightly and thanked him for being such a good friend to Emma.

Emma changed into her pajamas and took another dose of Oxycodone, while Killian took a shower. When he was finished in the bathroom, she hobbled in to wash her face and brush her teeth. Going back into the bedroom, she saw he had laid the comforter on the sofa and was taking one of the numerous pillows off of the bed.

“What are you doing?” she asked.

“Getting ready to bed down for the night,” he responded, as if it should be obvious.

“You don’t have to sleep there. The bed is plenty big enough for both of us.”

He eyed her with a slightly raised brow. “Are you sure that would be proper?”

“We slept in the same bed when we were kids.”

“True, but we’re not kids anymore.”

She limped over and sat down on the foot of the bed, crossing her arms. “The couch is way too short for you, so it wouldn’t be very comfortable. You won’t get a wink of sleep, and you have to be tired after your flight today. Stop being stubborn.”

He crossed his arms, mirroring her pose, and stared at her. Her eyes never wavered from meeting his intense gaze, and finally he sighed and threw up his hands. “Calling me stubborn is like the pot calling the kettle black. Now I remember why you always got your way when we were kids.” He grabbed the comforter off of the sofa to return it to the bed.

She grinned triumphantly and started scooting back towards the head of the bed. “I’m not stubborn, just determined.”

Killian watched her begin to undo the velcro straps on her knee brace. “Are you supposed to take that off?”

“The doctor said I could take it off to sleep.”

Once she removed it, he took it and laid it on the floor next to the bed. Then he put a pillow under her left leg and pulled the sheet and blanket over her. After making sure she was comfortable, he circled around the bed to the other side. Very gently, he slid under the covers, laying on his back with his arms folded under his head.

She turned her head to look at him. “You don’t have to hang off the edge of the bed, you know.”

“I don’t want to accidentally bump you and cause you pain.”

“I don’t think there’s any danger of that. This is a king size bed; we could fit a small whale between us. Besides, you’re on the opposite side of my sore leg. Just relax and make yourself comfortable, Killian.”

He pulled his bottom lip between his teeth in thought before shifting over slightly. “Happy now?”

She grinned at him. “Ecstatic.”

After returning her smile, he yawned widely, then said, “Goodnight, Emma. Sleep well.”

“Goodnight, Killian,” she replied, before reaching over to turn off the lamp.

*********

Thank you for reading. I wish all of you a very happy and blessed Christmas!

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