#cssb vol 2

Their kiss grows more intense and passionate, as they both grow needy and desperate.

Emma poofs off all of their clothes, not caring where they land, and Killian starts to make a quip about exploring all aspects of her magic when she sinks down onto his already hardened member, causing all the words to die on his lips. Their lost words are replaced with a chorus of pleasurable groans.

Needing to feel his lips on hers, Emma urgently kisses him as she begins to thrust her hips, roughly, impaling herself, over and over again. This is not their typical passionate and tender lovemaking, which she can now admit to herself is exactly what they’ve been doing all along. This, this is not lovemaking, this is an adrenaline fueled, frenzied fuck, needing the physical reassurance that they are there together.

With the breakneck pace Emma is setting, she feels her orgasm overtake her with the power of a freight train. Her head falls towards Killian’s shoulder as he continues to pump into her, chasing his release. Emma keens in his arms when the warmth of his seed swells and pulses against her sensitive walls.

“I hope I’ve not worn you out, love. I am nowhere near finished with you yet,” he growls into her ear, stroking her golden hair as she lays exhausted in his arms. He jumps a little when he feels her playfully bite into the flesh above his collarbone.

“I can handle it,” she purrs against his skin. Before she can register another thought, Emma finds herself facing the wall, pinned there with Killian behind her.

“Glad to hear it, Swan.” He presses his body against hers, and runs his hand from her belly up to her gloriously pert breasts he so loves to fondle. Caressing her breasts, and tweaking one erect nipple then the other, his hand continues on its trajectory until it is wrapped gently around her throat.

He slides his hook between her legs, finding her clit with an accuracy that still manages to surprise her, unlike some guys who couldn’t seem to figure out what a clit even was. As he applies consistent pressure moving his hook in circles, his lips cut a swath of open mouthed kisses from that spot just behind her ear down to her shoulder, and back again. Every time he makes it to her ear he takes a moment to whisper filthy, sweet little nothings to her. Killian is unrelenting in his pursuit of her pleasure, not letting up on his assault of her senses until she has fallen off the proverbial cliff into another orgasm.

With his “mast” returned to full attention, Killian slowly starts to turn Emma in his arms, mindful of her wobbly legs as she recovers. “I do believe I owe you a lesson in... muscle memory, love.” Hoisting her up into his arms, her legs wrap around his waist, and he backs her against the wall for support.

“Is that so… Captain?”

“Aye.” Without further ceremony Killian thrusts into her snug, welcoming heat, still slick from her release, drawing another round of euphoric moans from the both of them. As he finds his rhythm, Emma wends her right arm behind his neck, places her left hand along his jaw, and pulls him in to meet her in a slightly less frenzied, but no less passionate kiss.

Killian being the perceptive man he is, knows exactly what Emma is trying to accomplish with this tryst, and he is unwilling to let her doubt their love. He knows she feels this too, even if she still seems to be unwilling, or unable to say the words; a fact that confirms it would be unwise to speak his own to her in that moment. Instead, he will reassure her of his love physically, until she is ready, emotionally.

Killian feels Emma’s next climax cresting as she claws his back, squeezing harder for traction while she blissfully falls apart. Killian guides her pleasure, but staves off his own release, not yet ready to end this coupling. With Emma gripped in his arms, coming down from the high of her release, Killian walks them to her bed; his still engorged cock slides from her when he gently lays her down on the edge. Dropping to his knees, he sets his mouth to her drenched core.

He is voracious, as though he is a man dying of thirst, and she is the nectar of life. He kisses these lips as passionately as he does her mouth, tongue roaming and exploring every inch of her, from slit to clit. The sounds Emma is making tell him she isn’t too far from reaching her peak once again, so he doesn’t let up until he hears her calling out his name in ecstasy.

Coaxing her through her high, he doesn’t let up. As her breathing starts leveling out, he plunges two fingers into her still quivering channel. Steadily he works her back to the edge, fingers pumping into her as he sucks her clit into his mouth and laves it with his tongue. Emma’s hand snakes its way into his hair, anchoring him to her.

“Killian… Killian, oh… just… just like that, gods don’t stop. Please…” Emma trails off as her fifth release hits her. She can only fall and enjoy the ride he is taking her on.

After bringing her back down, Killian finally stands wiping her juices from his face with his hand. “I need you, love, can you take any more?”

Emma, still in her blissed out state, is unable to do more than nod her head, as she reaches for him. Killian pulls himself onto the bed above her, and effortlessly slides into her trembling heat. He sets a leisurely pace, kissing her sensuously, intent on making love to this amazing woman.

Despite his best intentions to draw out their lovemaking, Killian can feel his climax closing in, and the tell-tale fluttering of Emma’s walls tells him she is right there with him. No longer able to hold off his release he beseeches Emma with a whispered, “Come with me Swan, let me feel you come undone around me again.”

Killian instantly feels Emma’s walls contract around him, dragging him into the sweet bliss of orgasm, as she calls out his name on a breathy moan. Recovering from the effects of their enjoyable activities first Killian rolls off of Emma, and pulls her with him to lie back on the pillows, pulling the quilt over them both as Emma snuggles into his chest.

Emma is unsure how long they have been asleep when she finally stirs from her unintentional nap. She stretches, feeling sore in all the right places after Killian put her through her paces. Secretly she loves the feeling of waking up in his arms, it makes her feel loved and wanted. She is still mad at herself for not being able to get the words out. Definitely wouldn’t say no to another satisfying session like today though, just maybe not today, the ache has already begun to settle in.

Wanting to use this quiet moment, to test how the words will actually feel, Emma whispers into the room, “I love you, Killian.” Realizing a half second after the words are out of her mouth that he isn’t actually asleep, she hears his breath catch in his chest, and feels the heart under her ear speed to a frenzied staccato. Steeling her nerves, Emma turns her head to look him in the face, and see how he’s going to react to her confession. The look on his face can only be described as cautiously hopeful.

“Truly Emma? Do you mean it?”

Finding her words have failed her once again, Emma just nods her head. Killian pulls her closer, dropping a sweet kiss to her forehead.

“And I love you, Emma.”

At that moment Emma’s cellphone chimes from its place on the floor, needing a moment to process what has just happened, she rolls over reaching for it. Looking at the phone she sees a message from her mother.

“It’s from mom, apparently the author is behind bars, and there’s a party at Granny’s. We should probably join them. What do you think?”

Killian can sense Emma’s need to not call attention to what they’ve just shared, so he agrees, “Aye, sounds like a plan, love. I need to have a chat with your father about his bad form. You never stab a man in the back.”

~FIN~

This story can also be found on pg 269 in the 2017 Captain Swan Storybook.

Tagging a few lovelies:

They've separated themselves into two groups by now; Emma, he, and Marian all rest by the fire while the once and future rulers of the Enchanted Forest rest nearby. It's not ideal for them to be separated so, not with the threat of being found, but Ruby still in her wolf form helps quell the concern.

“I wish I could do that,” comes Emma’s voice from beside him. He looks up from the burning embers lining the edge of the fire, seeing her nod over to Marian. “Just…sleep like I have no care in the world.”

A small, tight lipped smile forms on his face as he rests his chin atop his fist. “Now, Swan, I'm sure you had your own peaceful sleep the first night you were released from your prison,” he says.

The obvious attempt at lightening up the mood, at distracting her, falls by the wayside as her face falls and her gaze drops to the embers he stared at before. He knows, almost immediately, that he struck a nerve, but she beats him to the punch with a shrug.

“Don't remember having one,” she answers. Her fingers grip the edges of the cloak wrapped around her, idly twisting the fabric around before letting it go. “When you're faced with the future before you, or lack thereof, there's really no time for peaceful sleep. Especially when your first night’s rest happens to be at a halfway home that just reminds you of every crappy thing that happened before that.”

Soft eyes stare out at her as he debates reaching out to her, wonders what kind of comfort he can provide her at a time like this. He opens his mouth, lips forming around reminders that it's long behind her, when she continues.

“And then you find yourself in jail, again, set to be murdered in the morning by an evil queen that you know isn't evil anymore, but you can't think about anything but your parents and how you failed them,” she carries on.

He watches as the grip on her cloak tightens, as the stare at the fire turns into a glare, her words more pointed and yet expansive all the same with each breath she takes.

“And how you failed your son, probably failed him the moment you didn't take him and drive back to New York the minute the curse was broken and Zelena was defeated,” she tells him.

A twig snaps underneath her feet as she shifts on the log, tension radiating off of her like waves. He stops himself from resting a hand on her shoulder, from snapping her out of all of this, and listens as she continues.

“And how you want to blame this stupid pirate who came knocking on your door to bring you back to them, but despite it all you don't because he's turned out to be your only good friend around these parts,” she says.

His eyes widen at that. He expects more to be said, welcomes it to be honest, but she sighs instead and shakes her head. The fingers tightly wrapped around the fabric of the cloak let go, just as her shoulders drop. She smoothes out the fabric, adjusting it over her knees as her eyes soften and tear away from the fire.

“Sorry,” she says with a nervous laugh. He can't help but relax next to her, blue eyes staring into her brightly shining green ones thanks to the fire. “I didn't mean to just...unload on you like that.”

“It's quite all right, Swan,” he says. “I'll always lend an ear if you need it. A shoulder, perhaps, if you find yourself in need of one of those, as well.”

He takes a chance, throwing caution to the wind and all that nonsense, and rests his hand over his. He can't provide a sense of warmth, not with her sitting to his left and this wooden prosthetic Rumple’s provided him erring on the side of realism as opposed to usefulness, but he can remind her that he's there.

He meant what he said to David not so long ago; he’d go to the end of the world for her, or time.

“You really think we’ll make it back?” she asks, voice so soft he almost has to strain to hear it. “That Rumple will just have a way for us to go back to Storybrooke like that?”

He clenches his teeth at the mention of the man. “I don't trust the bloody Crocodile and I never will, but I promise you, I'll make sure you return to your boy, Swan,” he says.

If it weren't for the added weight against his wrist, for the eyes that glisten as they stare up at him, he wouldn't have noticed her resting her hand over his. Wait, he retracts that statement. When it comes to her, he’ll always notice.

“Thank you,” Emma says.

A tear slips from her eyes. Just like earlier, Killian reaches up and wipes it away, smiling just as a she does the same.

“Of course, Swan,” Killian says.

They sit in silence for a bit longer, hearing the crackling of the fire and the nocturnal animals that seem few and far between. When a yawn escapes her, he ushers her to rest. They lean against the log, his arm used as a cushion for his head, his shoulder used as her pillow, his arm wrapped around her as she tucks herself against his side, while his jacket becomes their blanket for the night.

He knows they won't talk about this when they get back to Storybrooke, and it's for the better, really. He’ll add it to the list of many other things they won't talk about, things he's been keeping that hopefully won't see the light of day any time soon.

“Swan?” He pauses, waits to hear her hum of acknowledgement, then continues. “You don't really think I'm a stupid pirate, do you?”

She snorts, mumbles something of which he can only make out the words, “Memory curse,” then ushers him to fall asleep.

For the first night in a long night, he doesn't fall asleep thinking about what he did, about the ship he traded for a bean that would take him to the savior, about how he doesn't regret a thing.

He falls asleep thinking about the savior sleeping against him, about the woman who fell into his life and changed it for the better, about how he still doesn't regret it, despite being where they are.

He let out a triumphant little sound before he bent over and rummaged through the insides of his outerwear. He popped back up with a cheeky little wink for her a moment later. “The third greatest treasure in all the lands.”

Emma eyed the flask he gave a little shake to as he moved back towards his side of the bed. “Is that really necessary?”

“As I always say, love.” Killian pulled the cork with his teeth and gave her a playful grin. “Never hurts.” He raised the leather-clad bottle in mock salute before upending it over his hot chocolate. A generous amount of amber liquid poured in before he righted it and reset the cork. He tossed the flask to the table and grabbed his mug, finally taking a deep drink of his own.

“Now that’s my sort of perfect.” He murmured, licking the whipped cream off his top lip before giving Emma his own happy sort of grin. It faltered when he found her not watching him in the same loving way she had been since she’d returned from the twisted wish realm. Instead, her attention was firmly fixed on the mug now gripped tightly in her grasp. “Emma?”

She looked up quickly, too quickly for Killian’s liking, and gave a tight smile. “Yeah?”

Killian titled his head to side a fraction. “What is it?”

“I just wish-” Emma stopped abruptly, eyes going wide. Killian’s eyebrows shot up at her reaction to what she’d said. “I...I mean, I had hoped…” She sorta winced and made a face. “We’d go without the rum tonight?” Her voice was a bit strained as she got it out.

Lowering his mug slowly back to the nightstand, Killian let his tongue run along his bottom lip as his brow furrow. When the cup was carefully settled, his blues eyes sharply turned on Emma. “Tell me what happened in this other realm.”

“Killian…” Emma whined, turning to place her own mug down.

“No. Don’t ‘Killian’ me like I’m going mad out of some simple curiosity.” Killian argued back with a dramatic shake of his hand, holding it out towards her. “There was clearly something that happened there that left some sort of impression, and based on your remarks, and that strange version of Robin’s, I’m convinced it involved me somehow.”

“To be fair, I didn’t even know the other Robin even knew you there.” Emma supplied in what he figured was meant to be a helpful tone. “He wasn’t with me when you…” She waved her hand as well. “Appeared.”

Killian’s hand dropped sharply. “So you did meet a version of me there then,” At Emma’s small nod, he gave a nod of his own. “And I gather, from your tone and general unwillingness to speak of it, he was less than honorable?” He sighed, vividly imagining just how deplorable this other version of himself had been.

“Actually…” Emma pulled out the word awkwardly. “‘Less than’ might be a poor way to describe it.”

Brow furrowing again, Killian looked back to her in confusion. “How do you mean?” At her helpless look, he gave her a desperate one of his own. “You can’t possibly mean I was a hero there too? With the way you’re talking - or not talking about it, you make it seem like I was more despicable…”

Emma waved her hands quickly. “No, no… you weren’t despicable, Killian. You were… different? You were doing something heroic..ish?” She growled and threw back the comforter resting over her bare legs. “I can’t really describe it, okay? Everything was all so weird and… then there you were...and you were you but you weren’t and I just…” She crawled across the bed and came to stand before him. There was a wild look in her eyes she only ever got when a less than properly thought out idea hit her.

“Do you trust me?” She asked quietly, taking her hand in his own.

Despite the frustration and confusion he was feeling, Killian didn’t even have to think about his response. He brushed his thumb over her knuckles and leaned in to kiss her softly. “Of course, love.”

Emma let out gush of air through her nose and nodded. “Okay,” She pulled him towards the bathroom, flicking on the light as they entered into the other room. She came to a stop right in front of the mirror, her expression apprehensive as their eyes met in the reflection. “Just… don’t freak out too much, alright?”

Killian turned to look at her directly. “Why would I possibly-” He stopped as Emma waved her hand and a blinding light engulfed him for a few seconds. In that short period of time, everything seemed to shift and he had to take a steadying step as it seemed the world felt more off-balance than it had a moment before. When the light faded away, Killian’s eyes went comically wide as he took in his reflection again.

“Bloody hell!” He yelped, pulling his hand from her grasp to brace himself against the counter. The man staring back at him was him, but not, just as Emma had said. It was no wonder she’d had such trouble finding a way to describe... whatever this was he was staring at. A part of him was screaming this was wrong. That Emma was playing some sick joke on him. But deep down, he knew… this was him. It wasn’t just about the looks, it was a deep understanding of just how he’d gotten this way.

Stepping closer to him, as if sensing his drastic mood shift, Emma placed a gentle hand on his arm. “Killian, it’s okay.”

“No, it very well isn’t Emma.” Killian muttered, glaring up and down at how he looked. The shaggy grey hair and beard, the food-stained and tattered clothing, the bulging gut. He was a mess. It was no wonder the other Robin had remarked on how spry he had looked. “It’s a bloody disgrace. I’m a bloody disgrace.”

Her fingers gripped his arm hard. “You definitely are not a disgrace.” She gestured with her other hand up and down his haggard appearance. “This was the work of a wish from a sick and hateful woman. Someone spiteful and looking to bring out what she thought was the worst and most pathetic versions of everyone she envies.”

“She did a damn fine job of it too.” He mumbled, mouth grimacing in disgust.

Emma tilted her head and then pressed it against his shoulder. “Not as fine as she would’ve liked.”

Killian’s blue eyes flitted up to meet her green ones reflecting back at him. He could see the affection in her gaze as she stared at him. He raised a bushy grey eyebrow in shock. “You cannot be serious, love.”

Smirking, Emma moved to stand behind him. Pressing up on her toes, she rested her chin on his shoulder and wrapped her arms around his middle, resting them atop the rounded belly he was currently sporting. “If there’s one thing I know about Killian Jones, no matter where or when he is…” She lifted her hand a fraction and gave a quick flick of her wrist. White light engulfed them both again and when it faded, this time Killian found himself staring back at the same older version of himself. Only now the hair was pulled back into a ponytail, the beard trimmed, the clothes clean. The belly remained, but what really caught Killian’s attention was the warmth in Emma’s gaze as she smiled at him through the mirror.

“All he needs is a little T.L.C to find himself again.” Killian felt himself blush and opened his mouth to refute her claim, but Emma gave him a gentle squeeze to quiet him up again. “I was drawn to you in that alternate realm, Killian, just like I always am. Yeah, you were a bit… more all around. And maybe had let the rum go to your head-”

“And my gut.” Killian couldn’t stop himself from griping.

Emma snorted quietly and pressed a kiss against his weathered neck. “Point is, you were still in there somewhere, and it pulled us together, even if it was comical and quick.” She shrugged. “I thought you were cute. Wasted and ridiculous, but cute.”

“So why not just tell me?”

“Did you see the look on your face when you first saw how you looked?” Emma laughed and spun him around to face her. She pressed a kiss to his lips, leaning over his aforementioned gut to reach. “You’re a bit vain, Captain. You would never have believed it.”

“Well, I certainly believe it now.” Killian mumbled, reaching up to brush a thumb against her jawline. “Please tell me I’m not staying like this as some sort of lesson. Because if you’re trying to keep me away from the rum…”

Emma waved her hand for a third time and instantly, Killian could tell he was back to his old...or rather younger self again. “I’m not trying to keep you away all the time or forever.” She made one of those innocent faces again. “Just trying to help you keep your vanity in tact for a while longer.”

Killian growled and kissed her fiercely. It was as if being back to his normal self had reinvigorated his spryly ways. “I like to look good, Swan.” He whispered as he walked her back until her back hit the bathroom wall.  He used his hook to slowly undo the button of his shirt she had been wearing since he’d returned with the hot chocolate.

“I like that you like to look good.” She gasped as he pressed his teeth against where her neck and shoulder met. She tugged gently on his dark hair. “Though I do wonder,” She pulled his lips from her skin to give him a curious and playful look. “What it’d be like if you weren’t so… youthful looking?”

Killian groaned and dropped his forehead to her shoulder. “Bloody hell, woman.” He sighed and stepped back. “Work your magic then, Princess.” As she moved to wave that hand yet again, he pointed at her. “But you owe me a damn barrel of rum after this.”

The witch grabbed her mother, winding her tentacles around her neck and the meaning was clear. She’d taken Killian and now she was going to take her family. Panic and rage surged through Emma, and she raised her hands, willing to do whatever her magic allowed to defend them.

But Ursula was having none of it. “Drop those hands or your mother here is going to need gills to breathe.”

Every ounce of her being wanted to lash out, but Emma knew the other woman had power. If what she said was true, then Hook… Hook was. No, she couldn’t give into that, and so she dropped her hands and tried reason, telling Ursula that she really didn’t want to do this. Hook and Regina had wanted to change, and maybe she could convince this woman, too.

~~~CS~~~

Killian closed his eyes and breathed in the familiar sea air. It had been far too long since he’d stood on the deck of his ship, feeling the motion of the water and the sound of the breeze in the sails.

He could hardly believe his luck that Ariel had turned up for him at the exact right time, and with the exact right talent for what he needed.  It was taking longer than Killian had wished for Ariel to retrieve the Sea King, but he was grateful for her assistance nonetheless. After everything he’d done he still couldn’t believe the mermaid had agreed to help him, much less save his life. He couldn’t help but smirk as he touched his cheek, remembering her enthusiastic greeting as he’d woken up earlier. Aye, he deserved that slap, and the others the mermaid had bestowed on him over the past year, just as he had deserved his dunking in the sea that Ursula had given him today.

After giving Ariel the sincere apology she had coming, Killian had laid out his plain, and she had been willing to do whatever he needed. He supposed some of that was gratitude for being freed from the bottle that had once contained the Jolly Roger, but, in truth, he knew it was because she was a hero who had always been open to doing the right thing.  The other mermaids most certainly hated her for that, and his chagrin over his past betrayal of her rose a notch.

On that thought, he heard a loud thump on the deck behind him, and turned to see the pretty red headed woman and an angry, glowering Sea King. Poseidon was on board, and Killian was well aware as he watched Poseidon raise his trident that he was undoubtedly about to be killed.

~~~CS~~~

Emma could not give into her emotions, not when there was so much saving to be done, but nothing was going right. Ursula would not be reasoned out of her rage. What had the woman done to Killian? Could she really have drowned him? It didn’t seem possible that a man who had survived hundreds of years and was constantly rushing into danger could be gone just like that, but she pushed the thoughts aside again. It was just too much to deal with, that she could somehow lose him. There had to be a way out of this mess.

Panic had even taken hold of her father. David’s hand kept twitching, wanting to use his sword, but afraid of losing his wife if he fought back. How could these villains keep using love as a weapon? Did being the Savior mean that she would never have love in her life because it made her weak?

She couldn’t accept that.

~~~CS~~~

Once again, Killian owed Ariel his life, for Poseidon had lifted his staff as a formal, if reserved, greeting. Before bringing him to the Jolly Roger, she had gone so far as to inform the sea king that Killian’s intentions were pure in his desire to unite him with his long-lost daughter. “You have my thanks,” he told her.

She smiled at him. “Any time, captain.” And with a soft splash off the port bow, she was away to be reunited with her prince.

As the men hastened toward the cabin to try and locate Ursula, Poseidon informed Killian as to why they’d been unable to extract the voice from within the shell, and assured him that he was more than ready to help right the wrong for which they were both culpable.                                                            

As they approached the cabin Killian could hear the raised voices. First Emma’s, and then Ursula’s, and then silence. Poseidon’s expression grew grim, and his hold on this trident tightened. Killian raised his hand and they stopped.

“Let me go first,” Killian suggested.

Poseidon didn’t seem convinced. “If Ursula decides to act against them, you won’t be able to stop her.

Killian nodded his understanding, but he had thought this through. “You and I both know that she doesn’t want to do harm, she’s just in pain, and with you here, I can help with that.” Poseidon stepped back, granting his approval.

“That’s where you’re wrong,” he heard Ursula argue as he approached the door. “I can’t have him leave with you – not when the Author is the only one who can give me what I want.”

Killian pushed the door open. “That’s not true,” he called out as he made his way into the cabin. Emma turned anxious eyes toward him, and her shoulders dropped as she released the breath she’d been holding. The shift from tension to relief at his appearance a palpable transition that seemed to ripple through the room.

“How are you still breathing?” Ursula exasperated, drawing a smirk from his lips.

He spared a quick glance Emma’s way, wanting to go to her, but knowing that right now that couldn’t be his priority. He was here to make things right. “I’m good at surviving, or you’re bad at killing. Either way, you don’t need the Author to get what you want.” He approached her, knowing that at any time she might choose to end him for good this time. Best to be on about it. “I know why you couldn’t release your voice from that shell. Only the one who enchanted it can do that.”

“Wait, you don’t mean…” Ursula whispered in hopeful hesitancy.

“Aye,” he confirmed and her father made his entrance.

Killian stood transfixed at the sight before him as father and daughter reunited and lay to rest the misery he’d had a hand in causing. Overwhelmed by the knowledge that he had restored another’s happy ending, he glanced over and caught the eyes of his. Emma. The happy ending, he never thought he’d find, the happy ending he wasn’t sure he even deserved.

She moved over to him, tucking herself against him, and he pulled her closer, resting his hook against her hip. He couldn’t help but take a moment to enjoy how good it was to hold her and feel how thankful he was to be with her, again.

All too soon they had to deal with the realization that one of their quarry had slipped away, and a silent nod of gratitude from Ursula, the team of heroes hurried themselves in retreat from the cabin, but Killian found himself unable to join their ranks. He may no longer be a villain but he was far from a hero, and now more than ever he felt haunted by the words Regina had spoken at the helm of his ship.

Villains don’t get Happy Endings.

~~~CS~~

Emma had never been a touchy-feely person, but here she was holding onto this pirate, half afraid that if she let go she would lose him again. Something had changed inside of her and it didn’t matter that her family or anyone else was around to see how she felt about being reunited with him. She let her hand drift over his chest and the leather of his jacket, still feeling traces of dampness there that let her know Ursula hadn’t been bluffing about his fate.  She could sense that Killian was still uneasy, could feel the tension in his body as he held her. Despite the happy turn of events, he wore a look that she could only describe as brooding as he walked away from her. The feeling of loss was immediate. Emma Swan, who had spent her entire life building a shell around her heart so that she couldn’t, wouldn’t ever rely on anyone else, had become a woman who needed people in her life – Henry, her parents, and this man.

She finally let her guard down and let what had just happened wash over her; the fear and the anger and the panic and the sheer relief and happiness that it was over and that he was still safe. Killian, though, didn’t seem happy or relieved at all. She moved to him, not understanding. “Hook, what’s wrong? You gave Ursula everything she wanted.”

“But I almost didn’t, love.” His words were soft, but honestly was in every syllable. “I was so desperate to figure out what the Crocodile was up to, I almost became the man I used to be. You have no idea how easy it is to fall back into the darkness.” She could hear the venom laced with despair in his voice as he spoke, and though it wasn’t aimed at her, it still sent a chill down her spine. It’s wasn’t until he’d almost finished speaking that he finally turned to look at her.

Filled with the overwhelming urge to reassure him, that he was a hero, Emma got as close as she possibly could to him and stated with confidence, “Whatever mistakes you made with Ursula, you fixed.”

“Aye, but it’s a stark reminder of something.”

At the ominous tone of his comment Emma’s defenses piqued causing her to take a step back, as she questioned, “What?”

“With all this talk of authors and the book, we’ve never discussed one fact. I was a villain.”

Relief surged through her at his statement, because she had already determined that this was something that she could assuage his guilt on, by saying, “But you’re not anymore.”

“Neither was Regina, but she still lost her happy ending. If we are to believe the rules of the book, then It’s only a matter of time before I lose mine.”

She really hadn’t known what he was going to say, but hearing that this was about his happy ending took her by surprise. Killian had been through so much, and had given up so much that had meaning to him. He’d left his life in the Enchanted Forest, his crew, and even his ship. He loved the sea, and yet here he was in a tiny town, talking about losing something that was precious to him. “Wait, if you’re afraid of losing your happy ending, that means you found it. What is it?”

She could see the tears beginning to form in the corner of his eyes as he confessed, “Don’t you know, Emma? It’s you.”

She was overwhelmed by feelings she wasn’t ready to name as well as how this man constantly wore his heart on his sleeve for her.  And as she listened to him tell that nothing, in all the years of his life, meant more to him than she did, caused the tears that she had been holding at bay, to spill from her eyes.  For the first time in her life, she was hearing words that she had never expected to hear.  In that moment, she knew that she felt the same way.  That this man was in her blood and the thought of ever having to go on without him was terrifying.  

Unable to fathom a response, she closed the distance between them and kissed him, slowly and tentatively, the tears still spilling down her face. She savored his taste and the soft touch of his breath on her skin. Deepening the kiss, she tried with her actions to show him how she felt, even without words.  As she went in for another kiss, she could finally feel some of the tension ease out of Killian’s demeanor, just as they were rudely interrupted.

Poking his head back in through the open door, David cleared his throat and said, “Uh… guys. Not to ruin the moment, but Gold is probably already on his way back here… we should really get going.”

“Your father is right, love,” Killian said, his voice still low, but rough his emotions – their emotions. “We should depart before the crocodile comes back.” Holding onto his arm, they made their way through the front door, and down the porch steps.  She should probably go back with her parents, but couldn’t seem to let go of her time with Killian. “I guess we should go to the loft,” she said, reluctantly.

He seemed to feel the same way, as he added, “I do need to go check on the Jolly, I only had moments with her.”

Emma paused mid-stride.  “Wait, the Jolly is back?” She turned to gauge his reaction as she asked her question.

A beautiful smile bloomed taking over his handsome features as he responded with a wistful, “Aye.”

~~~CS~~~

As they left the cabin and began walking toward the docks, Emma kept replaying the last few hours in her mind, and the ones that played over and over again were that Hook almost didn’t come back to her and his confession.  Essentially, he had bared his soul to her and what had she done?   Slammed up those walls on the words just like she always did and kissed him.   Not told him how she felt when Ursula had said he was shark bait.   And more importantly, not given him the words that were swimming in her head when he told her she was his happy ending.   Something told her she needed to remedy that and now.  

“Killian,” his name still felt new on her lips even though she had thought of him that way for quite some time. “We need to talk.” She stopped walking to wait for his answer.  

“Aye, love.  We can talk on the Jolly Roger.”

Emma watched him take a few steps before realizing that she hadn’t followed, but it felt wrong somehow to talk on the ship. They needed to go somewhere alone, other than the Jolly Roger or his room at Granny’s, and the loft was where they were taking August, “No, can we go somewhere else to talk?”

He tilted his head staring intently into her eyes, making her feel as if he was seeing inside her soul and pulling all those emotions that she was keeping close right out of her.  “Sure, Swan,” he finally answered his voice sounding perplexed, “lead the way.”

When he answered, his blue eyes were swirling with things that in the past, she would have chosen to ignore, but tonight, her goal was to find the words to take away any questions that he might be having.  She was in this with him and he needed to know that.  

~~~CS~~~

As he walked beside Emma with her hand in his, he wondered what she wanted to talk about, because in his experience when a woman said they wanted to talk, it usually wasn’t a good thing. Had he said too much?  And did she understand what he was really saying to her?   That he loved her but that he knew she wasn’t ready to hear those three words yet.   She hadn’t said anything back to him, but he hadn’t really expected her too, after all he was sure she was worried about August and her mother.  

Perhaps he should have waited to tell her, but in that moment, he couldn’t hide anything from her. There had been too much of that already.

He recognized the terrain, and that she was taking him down to the bench by the water, a place that he personally thought of as their bench. It was where she’d run to before they’d been pulled into the time portal, and he knew it was where she liked to be alone. This might indeed be a conversation that didn’t bode well for him, in spite of her soft kisses and their loosely linked fingers.  He waited for her to sit, and then settled beside her, careful to not crowd her.  She reached over to run her fingers along the curves of his hook and looked uncertainly into his face.

“It’s okay, love. You can tell me.”

“I…”  

Emma’s voice trailed off and Killian waited, not knowing if her next words would break his heart or send it soaring.

“I like kissing you,” she said.

His heart was amused.

“What I mean to say is,” she continued, with a light blush on her cheeks and her gaze rising to look at him, moving from his eyes to his hair, glancing across the scar on his cheek, and finally settling on his mouth, “sometimes it’s just easier for me to show you how I’m feeling instead of, you know…”

“You aren’t much for illuminating conversation, Swan.”

“Not my strong suit,” she admitted.

Her hair shone in the late afternoon sunlight, and he reached out to feel the softness of it, letting it fall between his fingers. She seemed to relax at his touch and he let his thumb trace across her cheek to her mouth and linger on her bottom lip. “I rather like kissing you, too, Emma.”

The corner of her lips hitched upward, and she tilted her head at him, wryly asking, “Even if I’m doing that instead of telling you what I’m feeling?”

His thumb drifted down to the cute little cleft in her chin. “You will tell me when you’re ready,” he said.

“What if I’m ready now?” she asked.

Killian had always had the knack for reading people, something that had saved his neck a multitude of times over the past few centuries, and yet Emma had always been somewhat of an enigma to him. He would be lying if he said that it didn’t intrigue him.

~~~CS~~~

As his hand drifted along her cheek, Emma’s heart was racing so fast that she wasn’t sure it would stay in her chest.  The words to tell him what was in her heart kept running around in her head but getting her tongue to articulate them was another story.  They welled up inside but then as soon as she opened her mouth, they dissipated into thin air.  

Trying to relax herself, she picked up his chains and fingered the charms hanging around his neck, “Tell me how you got the Jolly back,” she finally asked, thinking if they talked about something else for a bit, the words she wanted to say would return.  

His smile told her that he knew exactly what she was doing but then settling back in the bench and stretching his legs out in front of them he proceeded to spin a tale about what had transpired earlier in the day, glossing over his treatment of Ursula and subsequent dunking in the cold waters of the sea.  

When his tale had wound down, Emma gave him a sideways grin, “So, not only did you help return Ursula’s happy ending today, but you also helped return Ariel’s too.”

He looked taken aback for a minute but returned her smiled, “It was the right thing to do.”

“It was.” She agreed, her nervous fingers playing over the leather of his jacket sleeve while trying to decide what to say next.  “Killian?”

“I’m here, love.  You can say anything to me.”

How can he just sit there so calmly, she wondered, as she looked into the blue of his eyes, not seeing any signs of impatience or frustration?  She took a deep breath, “When Ursula told me you were shark bait something inside of me shifted, Killian.  I realized that perhaps what you had been saying to me was something that I really needed to ‘listen’ to and not just hear.”

He tilted his head, giving her a little smirk, “And which one of my prodigious statements resonated with you at that moment, Swan?”

“The one where you said perhaps I should start living my life during the crisis, or I might miss it.” Twisting on the bench toward him, she gently touched his face.  “I don’t want to miss it any longer, Killian.”

Killian clasped her hand with him and rubbed his thumb back and forth across her knuckles, “I’m happy to hear that, Swan.”

“And,” she took a deep breath, ready to plunge into uncharted territory, and his quirked eyebrow gave her the last bit of encouragement that she needed. “And you, this thing we have and me being with you,” she looked into his eyes, “it gives me hope that I can have something I never thought I could. The idea of losing that…”

This time, he was the one who kissed her, letting her know without words that he understood.  He had told her she was his happy ending, and those words had filled her heart because almost losing him had shown her that her happy ending would not be possible without him.  She melted into him, and this time, when their lips finally separated, there were no tears.

“So,” she said, “about the Jolly Roger…

He gave her a soft smile and straightened, putting a small distance between them. “I do need to go back. There is some information Ursula is going to share with me about what the Crocodile and the others have planned, and she needs to get away before they find her.”

Once again, he seemed to understand what she needed without her telling him. “And I need to get back to my parents and check on August.”  Some time with her family would help her come to grips with what Killian had come to mean to her.  There was one thing that she knew for sure, though – she was done hiding the fact that he was in important part of her life now.

“I’d never dare to make such a claim, love. I’m merely suggesting that though the town is small, there are some locales other than your grilled cheese haven where we can find respite after a hard earned victory.”

Emma leaned into his side as she let those words sink in, silently communicating to him as she bit back her laugh to a softer chuckle that she appreciated his humor. Leave it to Killian to be her breath of fresh air after a whirlwind of a day. He always knew just what tactic to use when it came to calming her and getting her feet back on the ground, and that wit was very welcome given all the angst they’d faced today.

Besides, there was no arguing that Killian had a point. It was a nice change to stay out in the fresh air for a while and partake in a meal that wasn’t their usual diner fare. The whole aura of the place was peaceful and quiet and Emma and Killian didn’t often get to indulge in spaces like this for very long. Usually there was barely any time at all between one crisis and the next, but right now Emma could almost let herself believe that wasn’t their life. Out here in these wide-open spaces, they were just two ordinary people, and even though she realized that wasn’t actually the case, Emma felt content and grateful that she had this relatively normal moment and that she was getting to share it with the man she loved.

“When we started this day I doubted we’d get such a chance to be mostly alone,” Killian said at one point as his hook ran across her leg lightly. “Can’t say I’m sorry for it either.”

Emma hummed out a sound of agreement as her hand came up to his arm and she let herself linger in this easy connection. It had been hard fought, and there was a time not too long ago where even this little display of intimacy would have had Emma’s walls climbing back up to their highest points. But not anymore. Now this was becoming her and Killian’s new normal, and though it still surprised her every day just how far they’d come, Emma would do whatever it took to stay like this where they were happy and still together.

One could say that Emma’s life had been a giant series of surprises since Henry brought her back here. There was always another curse, another villain, another wrench thrown in the plan for her and her family. But her surest source of good surprises these days came from the man she’d given her heart to long ago, and even on this painful day, a day that had been trying and exhausting in so many ways, Killian managed to astound her time and time again in the best possible manner.

It started when they were at Granny’s this morning. Henry had run in, excited by his list of new people in town. He was practically ready to burst with his enthusiasm, and he’d eagerly pulled Emma into the sorting and greeting with him. Yet all the while Emma’s attention had been torn between helping Storybrooke’s newcomers and doing what she always did these days, which was looking back to Killian. She’d cast more than a few fleeting glances at her pirate to make sure he was there and safe, and what she found was something sweet and touching and undeniably attractive: Killian trying his best to endear himself to a toddler who looked at him with wide eyes and loads of curiosity.

Even from her spot across the diner, Emma had witnessed his clear worry at his potential inability to interact with Ashley’s daughter, Alexandra, correctly. When Ashley first asked for help he’d stiffened up and looked a bit defensive. But despite his reservations, Killian had been that perfect mix of humorous and dorky to keep the little girl engaged, and Emma’s heart had been powerless to do anything but melt at the sight of it.  

That moment had awoken something in Emma and had widened the door on all the things that she wanted with this man. It was impossible to see Killian engaged on this level and not wonder what he’d be like as a father and what it would be like to take all those steps and face all those familial highs with him at her side. He was already a strong and sure presence in Henry’s life, something Emma was truly grateful for, but this would be different, and for the first time in her life Emma found herself thinking that she wanted that. The love that they had was true, and in a perfect story - in a story where love did win out in the end - they would get to that place and they’d find all kinds of purpose and reward in choosing each other and building a life and a family together side by side.

Of course this revelation and this new wave of feeling had sent Emma sprinting head first into a panic and she’d banged on Archie’s door only minutes later trying to deal with the guilt of all of this. She was keeping things from Killian and from all of her family, and she was grappling with the fact that her time was drawing near a close in this finally happy life she was living. It was heartbreaking to think that way, but then Archie had said something that stuck with her:

“Maybe it’s not about how you end things. Maybe it’s about how you live them.”

It took the rest of the day for Emma to really absorb that, and she’d had to go through more troubles with her magic and more doubts of her strength and ability, but once again Henry and Killian were there to save the day. They’d bolstered her up at every turn, and Killian especially had never let a moment come when Emma could doubt his love for her. It was so vivid and so apparent that it simply couldn’t be denied, and that love and faith in her was what had gotten them to this little space of reprieve all of these hours later.

“She really was brave Ashley,” Killian said, cutting into some of Emma’s silent musings and bringing her back to the present once more.

“Putting love before life?” Emma asked as she ran her hands through the hair at the nape of his neck soothingly. It was a familiar gesture, a testament to their comfort with each other and the easy affection they’d fallen into, but it felt only natural as Emma asked a question to which she already knew the answer.

“Exactly,” Killian replied. “It’s hardly an easy feat, but because she did, things turned out all right in the end.”

Emma let those words wash over her and as they did she couldn’t help but go back to her own story and her own history with the whole concept of love. Before she’d met Killian any notions of true love had been so far from her radar. The men in her life were at best of an easy come, easy go variety especially after the heartache she’d suffered with Neal. One night stands were an Emma Swan specialty, but that changed when she came to Storybrooke, fell through a portal to another world entirely, and then met a pirate who should never have touched her heart, but fit into her life and into her very soul in an almost effortless way.

Yes, there had been ups and downs and the path to love was hardly smooth sailing, especially not in this town and with Emma’s destined life of saving and just barely surviving. But from the moment she met Killian, Emma knew this wasn’t a one-time kind of thing, despite what she claimed in the depths of the Neverland jungle. Killian was dangerous, an unknown variable that could have thrown off everything she cared about and the already fragile life she was trying to build for her and her kid, but slowly he’d shown her that he was worth the risk. The man beneath the pirate was worth taking a chance on, and in the end that had been one the best gambles she’d ever taken.

No one knew her like Killian or understood her frame of mind as he did. At every turn he was the one who got her and who knew how to be there when she needed to lean on someone instead of always leading the pack. He was her rock in the worst of times and the voice calling her back when the darkness threatened to win out over her hope. Killian and Henry were her surest anchors, and as Emma looked at Killian now from their spot at the table in this field, taking him in with all his love and patience and irresistible charm, she knew the truth she’d been denying for a while now. There was no need to second-guess this any more because with Killian she was all in. No matter what may come she needed him and she would always need him, and Emma didn’t want to waste any more time holding on to what-ifs when she could instead live for now with a man she loved who loved her so truly in return.

“Move in with me,” she murmured.

She was almost unsure if she’d said it aloud when it took Killian a moment to reply, but then his gaze met hers once more and Emma knew he’d heard her and that he was shocked in a way that rarely happened. In the blue depths of his eyes there was so strong a swirl of emotion that it was almost blinding in its brilliance, but Emma kept her eyes with his, meeting him head on in her request and knowing that he wouldn’t deny her, not when he wanted this just as much as she did.

“What?” he asked, not believing her, but Emma only smiled in the face of his continued surprise.

“Move in with me,” she repeated softly. “I know everything in life is uncertain, but sometimes you have to walk out the door and hope there’s not a bus.”

The look on Killian’s face at that assertion was a heady mix of confusion and real and tangible joy. Emma could tell already from the brightening of his features and the grin that appeared so quickly that he was in, just as she knew he would be. But it felt so good to hear his laugh in the face of her proposition and she decided to go with that and chase that bit of fun in this otherwise intense moment.

“I mean… I have a closet full of red jackets and I feel like I could make some space for some black leather.”

“Well when you put it like that, then I would love to move in with you.”

Killian’s words were rushed out, as if he was almost afraid that anything but immediate acceptance would have her changing her mind, but Emma knew that she never would. Whatever may come, whatever her fate may be, she understood deep down in her soul that this was right. The only way to move was forward, and the only way to live was to choose love and hold it close, even when it scared her senseless.

But it was hard to be scared in moments like this, when she was in Killian’s arms and tasting one of those amazing kisses of his that always seemed to breathe new life into her. She already felt that miraculous sense of happiness from being brave enough to take this next step, but this only added to the glow of their moment. Emma felt on top of the world, and right now, in this instant, there was nothing and no one who could tear her down. Right now she knew her place and she knew her future and Killian had such a huge part to play in it that she had to believe love would find a way.

Coming up for air after that kiss, Emma felt like so much of the weight she’d been carrying on her shoulders had lifted. She leaned her forehead against his, closing her eyes and soaking in the light and warmth that their love always brought her that was magnified now because she was taking a real step forward with this wonderful man. This was a beautiful next chapter, and all Emma could think was that she wanted time to cherish that. With the way things were going in her life right now, time was a luxury she could barely afford, but it was one she was willing to invest in today, especially with Killian.

“What do you say we head home, Captain?” She asked with a smile and she loved the grin that appeared on Killian’s face when she proposed the idea and used his more official title. “I think I’ve had just about enough adventures for one day.”

“I’d say that’s a marvelous plan, love,” he agreed and Emma took that as permission enough to stand up and take his hand in hers.

Killian probably assumed that they’d walk back to the house together, but Emma had other ideas, and part of this whole enjoying every moment thing required using a little magic. With a puff of white smoke that manifested effortlessly despite her recent afflictions, she poofed them back home. They ended up on the front steps, and when they got inside and she was sure that they were totally alone, Emma led Killian up the stairs in the direction of the room that they’d been meant to share since Killian and Henry first found this place together all that time ago.

Emma felt her heart pounding in her chest as she climbed up those steps, anticipating all they could have in this brief window of peace and quiet, yet before Emma could round the corner at the top of the stairs, Killian’s feet stilled and Emma was caught up in his pause. She turned back around to see that a thoughtful expression had settled on his face. It was the same look he usually had when he was going to say something sweet and romantic, and Emma’s heart fluttered in her chest as she asked what was wrong.

“Everything okay?”

Killian nodded as he pulled her back into his chest, wrapping his arms around her and looking at her with a gaze that spoke to the endless limits of his love for her. It was breathtaking to say the least, but Emma was spoiled in some respects since she saw this look pretty often. Killian had long ago stopped hiding what kind of feelings she inspired in him, and though it had taken Emma a longer time to get there too, she liked to think she could be as open with her caring for him as he was with her.

“Everything is perfect, Emma. I just wanted to take a moment and soak this in,” he explained and Emma smiled, understanding his desire to really experience this. It was so typical that he would be her voice of reason right now, and with his rational mentality in mind, Emma’s once nagging sense that they had to rush through this faded away.

Looking around the space up here, Emma had to admit that it was a pretty amazing feeling to have this place that would belong to both of them. It had seemed at so many moments in their frenzied, chaotic life that this could never come to pass as badly as they might wish for it, but here they were, despite all of the odds.  There were still things to be done, and over the coming weeks Emma and Killian would have to figure out a way to blend their lives and their tastes in this home while also juggling the insanity of everything on the horizon. But Emma was excited for that, because she knew she had the perfect partner to undertake such an operation with.

“When Henry and I first concocted this idea of finding a house back in Camelot, it was supposed to be a means of keeping you in the light. We wanted to give you something to look forward to while you were facing impossible hardships,” Killian explained, putting words to motivations Emma had understood even way back then. “But the truth is that it was more than that for me. This house was a symbol of what we could have, if fate would just give us a bloody chance.”

Emma laughed at Killian’s frustration with destiny, but the sound caught in her throat as she thought of how applicable that anger still was. Here she was fretting about what her final fate would be given all of her recent visions, but Killian’s comments were also a reminder that they had conquered fate before. Love had given them and their family the strength to achieve impossible things, so maybe this was possible too. Emma didn’t know for sure, but she continued to listen to Killian’s thoughtful words, grounding herself in them and in him because they made a bleak and dreary world seem so much brighter.

“As time went on I began to use this house as an anchor for my own hopes as well. Then when I was trapped in the Underworld and convinced we would never have this, I still had moments when I allowed myself to picture what this house could be. I dreamed up a whole life here for you and I, Emma, and it was the only thing that kept me sane until you saved me yet again.”

“And what exactly did these dreams look like?” Emma asked, suddenly desperate to have this deep and probing talk with Killian about what he would want for their future though she had avoided it as long as they’d been together.

Before he could respond, Emma considered the possibilities for herself, and she had flashes appear in her mind of all she’d want if somehow everything worked out. With Killian by her side Emma could imagine so much joy that would manifest in all forms. Maybe they’d get engaged, get married, and have the chance at the years and years together a true happily ever after should bring. They’d live a simpler life, still fighting on the side of good and protecting this town, but not fighting for their lives with so much constant vigor. And if things were ever peaceful - or really just in any way stable enough to try - Emma could see them having more kids, kids who would know a mother’s and a father’s love from the day they were born and for decades to come.

Emma’s visions basically consisted of a life filled with second chances done right and an existence where she knew every day that she was loved and that she belonged. Killian would truly join the ranks of her family, though he was already so dearly important to her now, and he’d be her rock as he had been for so long. And more than anything they would be happy, something she’d always wanted but never imagined was really possible until coming to Storybrooke and finding Henry and her parents and her true love.

“The details of my dreams were ever changing, love. For we could live a thousand lives, face a thousand different stories, and I would be happy as could be as long as we were together,” Killian whispered as his hook came up to brush a strand of her wayward hair back behind her ear lovingly. “But the most important part in every fantasy was that you and I had more time, and that we lived each moment with full purpose. In the dreams I never let you doubt how much I love you, and I never let a day go by where I didn’t tell you how grateful I am for everything you are and everything you’ve given me.”

Emma’s heart seized almost painfully at his sweet overture and part of her had to wonder if Killian knew about her visions or if he’d somehow picked up on the fate she was grappling with, but even if he had, it wouldn’t truly matter. Because in this moment – in this perfect blip of time – Emma made a choice, a choice to fight, a choice to love, and a choice to live. Someday, somehow, she would have this dream life with Killian. She would make this work and find a path that led to what they both wanted, and even if the way forward wasn’t clear just yet, she knew she’d find it as long as she had Killian standing by her side.

“I love you too, Killian. More than I can ever say,” Emma whispered, clutching him closer to her as she fended off the tears pooling in her eyes. “Someday this home will be everything we want. But for tonight, all I want is you and I to be together. No second guessing. No interruptions. Just us the way we were meant to be. Think we can handle that?”

“It would be my greatest honor, Swan,” he replied happily, before taking her lips in a searing kiss that stole her breath and sent all dark thoughts scattering as far away as they could go.

And later on, after Killian had whisked her off to bed and made her feel just as loved and adored as any one person possibly could, Emma found herself still believing that this would all work out in the end. For a love like theirs would always be the answer to life’s trials and tribulations, and the light it brought could snuff out any darkness, no matter how great and no matter how final it might claim to be.

………

I've been chasing flesh and bones to feel something I've been wasted not giving a fuck what I've been taking Keep cool, I've got this You looking at me that way got me hopeless One night could never be enough

Until I met you it was easy come, easy go Until I met you it was... Easy come, easy go /x2

I've been living like I've got nothing to lose If I seem distant, it's cause I'm scared of losing you Something is different, cause I don't want you to leave in the morning One night could never be enough

Until I met you it was easy come, easy go /x2 Can we get high, and take it slow? Easy come, easy go Can we get high, and take it slow? Until I met you it was easy come, and easy go /x2 Until I met you it was...

Post-Note: So first and foremost I have to thank the people who did the CSSB this year and the lovely reader (hiya @kmomof4!) who really pushed me towards participating in this. At first it was kind of hard to figure out where I wanted to go with this (though I have loved this episode since it first aired back in the fall), but then I found the perfect little bit of inspiration: this song. If you haven’t already listened to it I would highly recommend it (most especially the acoustic version) and to me it really works as a CS song. Anyway thank you all so much for reading and I hope you have a lovely rest of your day!