#csss2022

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Henry had never been so thankful that driving in the woods had to be done slowly. After the debacle with his mom, he’d hid while he saw the encounter with the Snow Queen. He hated how the Snow Queen could get under his mom’s skin so easily, especially as he’d seen his mom go up against his mother without any regard for the consequences. What was it that made her think the Snow Queen was worse than the Evil Queen had been?

He watched as the car drove itself through the winding roads and managed to catch a glimpse of it as it stopped in front of a cabin in the woods. He wasn’t sure who it belonged to, but he was sure someone back at the loft would know. 

He followed the road back into town and ran to the loft. He could hear his grandparents, Killian, and Elsa arguing from outside the door about continuing to look for Emma some more.

“Perhaps she doesn’t want to be found.” Killian said, quite angrily, though Henry could tell he was also worried. “Since, you know, that’s what she bloody told us!” They may have only started dating, but Henry liked how concerned he was about his mom, and that he wanted to give her the space she’d requested.

“Well,” David began, “the good news is, thanks to the ice wall, Emma can’t leave town.” Henry scoffed. Of course Grandpa was only concerned about whether his mom would leave. Not whether she was okay or what she was feeling.

“The longer she isolates herself, the worse it’ll get. Her magic will just keep spiraling,” Henry heard Elsa say. It almost made him run right back to the woods to try and talk to her again. “When your powers are out of control, everything’s upside down, and you don’t want to be anywhere near the people you care about,” Elsa continued. 

“Wonderful,” Killian said with a sarcastic tone Henry knew he used when he was trying to cover up his own feelings. “Well, should we send Sneezy after her, or Happy? Which is the dwarf she despises?” Henry silently chuckled at Killians words, making his head throb and probably bleed more from his most recent encounter with his mom in the woods. But he continued to listen to what was being said.

“I was so scared that I would hurt Anna until I finally realized you can’t run away from the people who love you, because in the end they’re the only ones who can help you.” Elsa finished. His grandparents began arguing again about what was best for Emma, but Henry took Elsa’s words to heart. He needed to send someone who could get through to his mom, who loved his mom, not someone who would just talk at her. 

He took a minute to psych himself up before opening the door, just in time to hear David say “then we go out and find our daughter. Okay?”

“You don’t have to look anymore.” The adults all looked shocked to see him come through the door. Which, to be fair, he was supposed to have been sleeping upstairs. He absentmindedly put his hand to his injured head (he silently cursed himself for upsetting his mom enough that she accidentally had a burst of magic and hurt him, something she was trying so hard to not do) and pulled back his hand with spots of blood on it.

“What happened?” David asked concerned.

“Look, I’m sorry I snuck out, but I found her.” All the adults looked at him in awe. He tried not to let it go to his head, knowing he’d found her when the rest of his family couldn’t. His grandparents began talking over each other to find out how she was, but all Henry was concerned about was Killian’s reaction. He looked…relieved, yet he still didn’t ask any questions. He knew Henry would answer them in his own time. He was exactly who Henry needed to send after his mom. He’d be the only one who could get through to her.

“I’d really like someone to look at this head injury I’ve managed to get,” Henry said, focusing his attention on Killian as he said it. Killian looked at Henry, his eyebrows raised in question, which he then quickly schooled and nodded in agreement.  Luckily, his mom wasn’t the only person Killian could read like a book.

“I’ll take the lad and get him cleaned up.” Killian said before anyone else could volunteer. Henry quickly steered him to the medicine cabinet in the bathroom and locked the door behind him.

“You have to go to my mom!” Henry said, turning to face Killian. He expected to see relief on his face, but instead he saw something more conflicted. 

“I don’t think your mother wants to see me, lad,” his face dropped, looking hopeless. He gestured to the cabinet; Henry quickly took out the medical supplies to keep up the pretext. Killian wet a small hand towel and motioned for Henry to turn so he could get a better look at the wound.

“You’re wrong!” Henry said adamantly, then winced as Killian wiped away the blood with the towel. “You heard what Elsa said, isolating herself will only make it worse. She’s at Gold’s cabin in the woods.” He tried to turn toward Killian but he kept him facing away from him. “Do you know where that is?”

“Aye, lad, I do.” Killian sounded almost resigned, like he still wasn’t sure if he should go. Henry finally wrenched from his grip and turned around. 

“She’s scared and she’s afraid she’ll hurt someone. She just needs someone to reassure her that her magic isn’t bad. That it’s part of her. It’s like Elsa said, she needs someone who loves her..”

Killian looked shocked. Henry wondered if he’d overstepped. Despite the fact that Killian had been trying to court his mom for a few months now, they’d only started dating. Killian tilted his head down, not looking at Henry’s eyes.

“It’s that obvious, is it?” He let out a shaky breath. Henry didn’t think he’d ever seen him so vulnerable. The great Captain Hook worried that Henry knew he loved his mom.

“Well, mom’s oblivious, as usual. Or maybe she’s just using her magic as an excuse. You know how skittish she gets.” Killian gave a wry chuckle. “But you need to go. I think you’re the only one who’ll be able to get through to her. You actually listen to her. My grandparents are great, but they’re scared of her, whether they want to admit it or not.” Killian nodded in agreement. He fished out some gauze from the medical supplies Henry had brought out with a small piece of medical tape and affixed it onto Henry’s wound.

“Tis merely a scratch,” Killian gave Henry a small smile and stroked his hair. Henry understood the significance of this gesture - it was fatherly in nature. Another reason Henry knew he could trust him.

“Are you sure you know where Gold’s cabin is?” Henry wasn’t sure he’d be able to find it again.

Killian nodded. “Aye, lad. I’ve traipsed through these woods enough, I’ve got a good lay of the land. I didn’t realize the cabin belonged to the Crocodile.” He made to leave the bathroom, but turned back toward Henry. “Are you sure she’ll be alright with me going to her? I’m trying hard to respect her boundaries.” His face dropped in concern. Never did Henry think he’d feel sorry for Captain Hook.

“I think you’re the only one she will see. Though knowing mom, she’ll fight you at first. Killian smiled.

“Well, it wouldn’t be me and your mum if we weren’t fighting, would it?” A grin spread over Killian’s face and Henry thought maybe everything would be alright.

“I’ll distract the rest of them for as long as I can.” Henry said, returning the medical supplies to the cabinet he’d got them from. “You sneak out and get to mom.” Killian nodded his head in agreement.

Henry slipped back to the rest of the group. Mary Margaret started fussing over his head while David gave him a light reprimand for leaving the loft when they told him not to. Mary Margaret insisted on making something to eat since they’d all be out all night. They could use some rest before Henry told them where Emma was. As David had pointed out earlier, it’s not like she could leave town with the ice wall around it. 

Henry could see Killian patting down his jacket and pants pockets. “Bloody Hell! I’ve left my talking phone in the back of your truck.” He announced though no one seemed to be paying attention. Mary Margaret was showing Elsa how the stove worked as she also gathered ingredients for pancakes. David was pacing around, most likely trying to decide what they should do after they’d refueled and recharged.

“It’s just called a phone.” David responded mechanically, watching as Killian headed for the door to retrieve it.

“What an impractical name. I’ll be back in two shakes.” Henry observed Killian go out the door, everyone else still too absorbed in what they were doing. Killian gave a quick, awkward wink to Henry - he knew Killian would not be back in two shakes.

—---

The calm Emma had been feeling immediately dissipated once she finished dusting. With nothing left to do with her hands, the sparking had started up once again. She sat on the edge of the couch staring at her hands, willing them to go back to normal. But the doubt rapidly crept in.

She’d hurt Henry. 

She’d hurt her father and almost hurt Killian. 

The look on her mother’s face.

How could they want to be around her after that?

How could she act like everything was normal after that?

Maybe Ingrid was right and she was a monster.

“You are nothing of the sort, love.” Emma looked up to see Killian leaning on the open door frame, his signature smirk overtaking his face. She wasn’t sure if she was glad or scared to see him.

“Did I say that out loud?” Killian nodded in the affirmative. Emma could tell he was being cautious. Usually he would say ‘aye’ and it would sound incredibly sexy. But she could see his casual smile didn’t quite reach his eyes and their usual blue was closer to a stormy gray. It would be upsetting if it wasn’t….sweet.

“How’d you find me?’ Emma asked warily. She could already feel the sparks in her fingertips coming to life as if a lightning storm was on its way.

“Henry.” 

Emma’s hands went to hips. “I drove here!” She said incredulously. Killian just shrugged. She didn’t really know what to do with that. She loved Henry and she’d hurt him. She couldn’t risk hurting Killian too. It still amazed her that calling him Killian came as easily as drinking water after calling him Hook for so long. She’d known, logically, that his name wasn’t Hook. She’d called him Killian when he took care of Henry, before his memory had come back, but that had almost been like a role he was playing. The part of Captain Hook will be played by Killian Jones. And she’d called him Killian when Gold and Zelena had almost killed him and she’d lost her magic. Even after he got his hook back, he was now just Killian. But this person in front of her, the one trying so hard to give a casual indifference, she wasn’t sure who this was. He didn’t have the flirtiness of Hook or the undying devotion of Killian. 

“Your family is worried about you, love. At least give them a call and let them know you’re alright.” Emma sighed. “Henry’s fine, by the way. Just a scratch.” He added. Emma pinched her face, already having forgotten about her altercation with Henry in the woods. The Snow Queen had come after that and then everything had been a blur. 

“God, I’m the worst mother in the world.” She cried, sitting herself back on the couch, her head in her hands.

“No, love. You just have a great deal many distractions going on.” He took a small step inside the cabin. “Have you eaten?” Emma turned to see he held a bag from Granny’s. “Bear claws and a hot chocolate, just the way you like it.” He smiled, a real smile this time. One that actually made his eyes crinkle in that way that Emma knew he’d seen a lot in his lifetime, but also made him look sexy. As if on cue, her stomach growled. Killian took that as a sign that he could come inside and sit next to her on the couch. He passed her the bag and she took it gingerly, still afraid of what her magic might do, but it seemed to have calmed down with the prospect of food.

Silence permeated the room as she ate. The only sound they could hear was the wind whistling through the trees outside. How had they gone from dates and kisses and letting him in about her past, to this uncomfortable silence? This was not who they were. They were all flirtations, and banter, and heated glares. Emma didn’t like it at all. 

She was about to say something, anything, when the door slammed shut. They both turned to look and then saw heavy snow falling outside the windows.

“Crap!” She ran over to the slammed door and pulled it open. Within the few minutes it had taken to eat, there was already nearly an inch of snow on the ground, and it didn’t look like it was going to stop anytime soon. Big, fat, fluffy flakes were falling at an alarming rate. “Crap!” She yelled again. “Killian, we’ve got to get back to town!” Killian shook his head.

“We can’t drive in this, Emma!” The wind had picked up and was now howling around them, her hair whipping around her face. “Get back in the cabin.” Emma wanted to scream at him that they needed to leave, but at the pace the snow was coming down, she knew he was right. They’d be trapped and at the mercy of the elements. She nodded and ran back inside with Killian following close behind.

“Think you can light a fire for us?” He asked, nodding to the pile of wood near the fireplace. Emma looked at her hands, fearful for a moment that she might put a hole in the cabin like she did the sheriff station (she really hoped Regina could magic that back together ASAP), instead, she concentrated on the wood Killian was placing in the fire. She closed her eyes, and then hoped for the best.

“Good job, Swan! I knew you could do it!” Emma opened her eyes to see the fire spark to life and Killian grinning like a fool. The expression on his face was so infectious, she felt a grin spread across her face too. Killian was looking at her in awe. “Come here, Swan.” he beckoned her to him with a gesture of his hand. Emma took it and suddenly he was kissing her. 

As someone who had initiated most of their kisses, Emma felt slightly out of control when Killian would kiss her first. She’d only been in one relationship where the other person kissed her first and it made her feel wild and out of control. She hated feeling like that now. But the more Killian kissed her, his lips caressing hers gently, the more safe she felt. The more she felt seen. The more she felt treasured (and that was saying a lot considering he was a pirate). She pulled away at that revelation. Killian’s eyes were still closed and instead of opening them to look at her, he leaned his head forward so that his forehead touched hers. It felt more intimate than the kiss they had shared, and it made Emma extremely uncomfortable, even though she didn’t want to feel that way.

“Emma…” Killian’s voice almost sounded broken, like he was afraid she would tell him it was a one time thing again, which was ridiculous since they were….dating. But at the same time, Emma could see why he might think that. Or maybe she was overthinking things. Looking for an excuse so that she wouldn’t be too hurt when he decided to end things. Except…she didn’t think Killian would ever want to end things. And she wasn’t sure which scared her more, him wanting to leave her or him never wanting to leave her, so she decided to deflect instead.

She took a step back from him. “This isn’t a regular snowstorm. I think this is the Snow Queen.” Emma said as she headed toward the window. In the short time that she and Killian had been together, there seemed to already be a foot or two of snow on the ground.

“I gathered that, love, seeing as it’s too early for snow storms of this caliber, even being this far north.” She arched an eyebrow at him regarding his knowledge about Maine’s seasons, and he gave her a smile back. Maybe her fears were just that - fears. Why else would he change his entire wardrobe, hang out with her family, and learn about Storybrooke if he wasn’t planning on sticking around?

“She wasn’t happy about me not wanting to be her sister. She keeps trying to convince me that no one can love me with my magic. From what Elsa told me, magic isn’t abundant in Arendelle. People are afraid of it there, so I’m guessing the Snow Queen has some traumatic backstory that makes her think she knows everything there is to know about how people feel about magic.” Killian nodded, waiting for her to continue. That was something she’d never had, someone who actually listened to her. When she was younger she’d just been some dumb kid. And now her parents were too busy with their own traumas and trying to finally raise a child from birth. Well, Emma really couldn’t blame them for wanting that. That feeling of finding out she hadn’t raised Henry when she got her memories back was devastating. The fact that Regina basically gave her a do over, well, at least she still had those false memories to hold onto. Emma realized she’d gone off on a tangent in her head. Killian was still expectantly waiting for her to go on.

“She keeps calling me a monster, which I’m not. I have saved people with my magic.” She was angry now, which did nothing to keep the sparks at bay.

“I can attest to that, Swan. Without your magic, I’d be without my shadow, dead on Neverland. Or killed by a giant icicle that the Snow Queen conjured up.” Killian walked over to her because she’d apparently been pacing in front of the window as more and more flakes floated to the ground. It would have been beautiful if it wasn’t a threat from the Snow Queen. He took her hands in his and Emma was afraid that her magic would hurt him like it did Henry, but he didn’t even seem to notice it. “I’m a fan of every part of you. That includes your magic. You wouldn’t be the woman I’ve been chasing after without it.” He kissed the knuckles on both hands, which in the past would have made her squirm (in a good and bad way), but in this instance, it only reassured her. And because Emma couldn’t think of anything as poetic to say in return, she pulled him close and kissed him.

Their bodies melded into one as they walked over toward the small bed set up in the corner of the cabin. Emma certainly hadn’t expected this turn of events to happen tonight, but she couldn’t say she was sorry about it. Except when her knees hit the frame and she sat down, Killian did not follow her down, her lips chasing his as he backed away. He stayed standing and looked at her with something akin to fear behind his eyes.

“Before this goes any further, Emma, I have something to confess.”

—---

Killian hadn’t expected the day to take this turn. He’d come here to talk to Emma, to convince her to come back to the loft, and maybe convince her that everything the Snow Queen was saying to her was a load of rubbish. He hadn’t thought that things would lead to a bed. And despite having been a pirate for hundreds of years and having many a man’s wife, he didn’t want to do this with Emma with this secret hanging over his head.

Emma was staring at him, her face still flushed from their heated kiss. He was nervous, a feeling he hadn’t had since he became a pirate and raided his first ship. He was positive this was even more nerve wracking than that, because revealing his deal with Gold and what he’d been compelled to do might make Emma hate him. And while he could deal with any assortment of emotions from Emma, hate was the one that would undo him.

“I’m afraid I’ve been lying to you,” he began. Killian could see Emma’s face immediately fall, but he knew he had to get this out if he wanted any type of future with her. “Gold has been lying to Belle about the dagger. He gave her a fake, and I knew, so I blackmailed him. It’s how Elsa and I found the Snow Queen in the forest, and then how I got my hand returned to me for our date.” He was staring at the floorboards of the cabin as if they were the most interesting thing in the world. He couldn’t bear to see the disappointed look on Emma’s face, so he soldiered on and continued his tale. “Gold blackmailed me into helping him. He has a hat that collects magic powers. He forced me to collect a magical old man that he had some vendetta against. He knew I’d do whatever it takes to be with you, and he used it against me.” Tears stung his eyes as he spit the words out as fast as he could so he could get everything out. “I just wanted to be a better man for you, Swan.” He dared to peek up at her at this point. Her expression was one he’d never seen before and that made his heart drop into his stomach. “But I failed. And now because of it, I might lose you. I’m sorry.” He knew his apology was probably worthless, but he also knew it had to be said. He wasn’t sure how long he stood there, head still tilted toward the floor. It felt like hours though he knew it was most likely only seconds. He hadn’t realized his hand was clenched until he felt a warmth radiating around it. He looked  to see Emma holding his hand in hers. She didn’t look afraid, or upset, or filled with hatred, she looked concerned.

“Killian,” she breathed out a sigh. “You never have to be anyone but who you already are. I fell in love with Captain Hook, the pirate. You know I wanted you at the beanstalk and that’s why I left you up there. It wasn’t you I didn’t trust, it was myself. I…I’m not good with words like you are, but Killian Jones,” she moved directly into his line of sight so they could see eye to eye, “I love you.”

The world seemed to have gone silent after her declaration. Never in a million years would Killian have thought Emma would be the one to say ‘I love you’ first. He’d known from the first moment he’d met her that he could possibly fall for her, but his need to get revenge for Milah had still been too strong. It wasn’t until he saw how desperate she was to find her son and had offered his services in Neverland that he realized just how much he’d already fallen. And then, of course, after their first kiss and subsequent admission in the Echo Caves, he knew she was the one he would give up his revenge for. 

Emma’s eyes had a watery sheen to them and Killian realized he’d probably been in shock far longer than he intended to. He could feel the sparks emanating from her hands that were still holding his, though slightly looser. He wasn’t sure if it was because he hadn’t said anything back or due to her unpredictable magic.

“Emma Swan,” he said, grabbing her small hand in his larger one. “Make no mistake. I love you too. I just never thought you’d admit it first.” Killian chuckled and saw Emma’s shoulders relax at his admission. She melted into his chest and he brought his arms around her in an embrace. He was sure Emma could feel his heart racing and he couldn’t help but smile at that. They stayed that way for a few minutes, just feeling the warmth from each other, listening to the crackling of the fire and the wind from the snowstorm outside. 

“I think you help my magic.” Emma said so quietly that Killian almost thought he imagined she had spoken. She pulled away slowly, putting her hands up so they could both see that the sparks had disappeared. “Elsa told me her sister’s love helped her control magic, and I’ve noticed that when I’m around you I can control it better. Usually. Yesterday notwithstanding.” Killian nodded in understanding. Just like her powers to detect when someone is lying, all her powers seemed to go awry when she was overly stressed. Killian kissed the top of her head in reassurance.

“Emma, you love me. I never thought I’d find that again. I’m honored that our love helps you.” Emma smiled at his words before leading him back to the couch where they sat huddled together. Emma practiced her magic by floating logs onto the fire. She laughed as she did it with ease. 

After a few moments of contemplative reflection (and stolen kisses) in front of the fire, Emma finally addressed what Killian had confessed earlier. “Don’t think I’ve forgotten that you blackmailed Gold and then he blackmailed you right back.” Killian froze, but Emma snuggled in closer to him. “We can discuss it later. Right now, I just want to act like a normal couple sitting in front of a fire on a snowy day without thinking about Snow Queens and Dark Ones and magic fairytale nonsense.” Killian kissed her temple, smiling against her hair. Emma grabbed his hand and hook and brought it to her lap as she rested her head against his shoulder. 

The Snow Queen may have tried to convince his Swan that her magic made her a monster, but to Killian, her magic made her the most amazing woman he’d ever had the pleasure of knowing. He could only hope that whatever the Snow Queen threw at them next, that Emma used her love to defeat her. Killian vowed that he would stand by her no matter what because he knew Emma was his happy ending, the one, as a former villain, he never dared to hope he could ever have.

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“Eh, yeah.” Emma glanced toward Neal who didn’t look too happy right now. 

“Why are you here?” Neal rose to his feet and glared at Killian.

“Eh, mate, I'm invited to the wedding.” Killian scratched behind his ear, “but sadly I can’t be there tomorrow, so I thought I’d swing by with the gift.” 

“I never saw you on the guest list.” Emma shook her head in confusion, she’d given up on keeping up with who Neal had wanted to invite, he was the groomzilla in this endeavor. 

“My assistant informed me that an invitation was sent to me, requesting my attendance at the nuptials between Emma Swan and Neal Cassidy.” Killian shrugged, “the only Emma Swan I know is you.” 

“You know Emma?” Neal stepped away from his chair, “how the fuck do you know my Emma?” 

“Eh…” Killian glanced toward Emma.

“Neal,” Emma said sharply, she stepped in front of him before he could reach Killian, “I know Killian from my time at Storybrooke High School. Remember, I told you where I grew up.” 

Neal grunted and pointed to Killian, “you mean to tell me that Boston’s richest billionaire went to some tiny high school out in the middle of nowhere?” 

Emma blinked a few times, Billionaire? She glanced over her shoulder at Killian who still looked lost, albeit also sheepish at Neal’s revelations. She gave him a small smile; it has been ten years since she’d last seen the guy. Damn, he grew up fine. Shaking her head, she returned her focus to her fiance who still hadn’t explained himself, “How do you know Killian?” 

“Eh, what?” Neal looked a little perplexed.

She jabbed his chest, ignoring the wince passing over his face, “I haven’t seen him since high school. We kinda lost track of each other once we all graduated.” She jabbed him again, “so clearly it’s you who invited him.” 

“I…” Neal looked back at his three buddies, and Emma followed his gaze, all three men looked as if they tried to not collapse in a fit of laughter. Walsh was covering his face with a napkin trying to stop himself from laughing, while his other groomsmen Peter and Felix turned to one another giving a high five. The trio was Neal’s closest friends, or so he claimed when they moved back to Boston, all working in the same business as Neal.

“What the hell did you guys do?” Emma huffed and rolled her eyes as she crossed her arms over her chest. Neal’s eyes dropped to her chest, clearly leering at her plunging neckline. 

“I… We…” Neal sighed and pointed at Killian, “he wasn’t even supposed to show up for god’s sake, it was just a stupid joke one of the guys had seen online.” 

“What joke?” Emma demanded with a huff, not liking that her old friend had been the receiving end of one of Neal’s stupid schemes. The list was endless, she wondered why she even agreed to this loopy endeavor to get married. Oh, yeah, she kinda fell head over heels in love with the man, or at least she thought she did. Now she is regretting her choice. If they’d pulled this type of stupid joke what else could Neal be doing behind her back? 

“It was something about when you have a wedding you should send a fake invitation to some rich snob billionaire, the guy’s secretary would just send off a gift to the wedding, and the guy wouldn’t even know.” Neal rambled on as he shifted nervously on his feet. 

“What?” Emma couldn’t believe her ears, anger rose inside her, “why the hell would you do such a thing?” 

“The guys thought it was a fun idea, so I sent the invite last weekend during the bachelor party.” Neal shrugged. 

“I can’t believe you. You did this because ‘the guys thought it was fun’?.” Emma mimicked with a sneer and grabbed his wrist, “we need to talk.” She tugged on his arm and added, “now!” 

Neal finally followed her and they walked towards the glass sliding doors that lead to an open terrasse area. Before she opened the door, she turned to Killian, and when she saw the disappointment on his face, her heart dropped. “Give me a minute with my soon-to-be ex-fiance, okay?” Killian gave her a weak smile and nodded in understanding. 

Emma pushed a spluttering Neal outside, “what do you mean by ex-fiance?

“What does it sound like? The Wedding is off.” Emma let go of his arm and paced back and forth in front of a large fountain, sunken into the deck much like a small pool. “I’m out, this is the last straw.” She stated and stopped pacing. 

“But the wedding is tomorrow!” The tone of his voice was almost a small whine.

“So, get your no-show father to pay, as you always do.” Emma couldn’t really care much about what he should do at this point.

“Leave my father out of this.” Neal combed his fingers through his hair, looking a little panicked, “oh god he is so going to kill me.” 

“I don’t care.” Emma huffed, “I’m sick and tired of you always going behind my back with your petty little schemes. One day you’re going to land yourself in jail, and to top everything off you’re never home.” She waved her hand towards the private lounge Neal had wormed his way into for their wedding. “And now you go pull a stunt like that?” She began pacing again. 

“Look, it was just a stupid joke.” Neal tried to explain.

“A joke.” Emma harrumphed, “a joke? It’s not a joke, it’s a scam as well as cruel and rude that is what it is.” She looked at the large windows and she imagined she could see the outline of Killian through the reflective glass. “I can’t believe you would think that this was fun, the guy clearly showed up.” 

“Well, how was I supposed to know that you knew each other, he’s filthy rich. Why would he come to our white-trash wedding?” 

Emma widened her eyes, “white-trash?” She felt angry again, “you think our life is white trash?” With narrow eyes she stalked towards him, “I’ll give you fucking white trash, buddy.” She jabbed his chest, “I worked frigging hard to get where I am today, never belittling what I accomplished in life.” 

“You’re a bail bond person,” Neal answered with a smirk. 

“What are you doing with your life?” Emma gave back, her hackles rising even more. In the years she’d known Neal it had been one endless list of pipe dreams. They moved from place to place, last year Tallahassee, now Boston with promises of him getting a job working for his father. “What is it you and the guys do for your father?” 

“You wouldn’t understand.” Neal huffed out and stepped back, leaning against one of the large potted plants that stood near the fountain. Neal squinted his eyes, “How well do you know this guy?” 

Old regrets surfaced beneath her current anger, regrets of never taking a leap of faith when she had the chance with Killian. 

“We were friends, I was the runaway kid finally trying to settle down with my newly appointed foster family.” Emma’s heart broke remembering herself as the angry teenager showing up on Granny’s doorstep. It all ended well with her actually being able to stay there until she became an adult, and gaining a friend in Granny’s granddaughter Ruby. 

“Just friends?” Neal glared at her.

“Why does it even matter to you, I was so young…” She ran a frustrated hand through her long blond hair, “... and utterly stupid.” 

“So you liked him?” 

“I don’t know,” Emma said and looked down shifting nervously on her feet. 

“Well, I’d like to know my competition, that’s all,” Neal stated as he pushed away from the large potted plant. He moved to stand with his back to the fountain, directly in front of Emma. “Come now Ems, we have something special here don’t we?” He reached out and cupped her cheek. 

Emma flinched at his touch, “we have nothing, not anymore.” She whispered and took a deep breath before she finally looked him in the eyes. “I can’t do this, I’m sorry.” She tried to push his hand away from her, but he stepped closer and placed both hands on her shoulders.

“You don’t mean that baby, we’re special together. Remember all the fun we had in Tallahassee?” 

Emma tensed under his touch, “you had fun.” She bit out and glared at him, “you had the world of fun, doing god knows what down there.” 

“We lived on the beach, the sun and surf life, what’s not to like about that, eh?” 

“Like you were ever there.” Emma mumbled, then added, “I have no idea what you did every night. Was it part of your father’s schemes too?” 

“Leave my fucking father out of this, woman.” 

“Well, he seems to control your life.” She winced when his fingers dug into her arms, she shifted her body so she slipped out of his grip. 

“I can’t fucking believe you, the wedding is tomorrow, we can’t just skip out of all this.” He waved his hand towards the restaurant, “it cost a fortune, including the wedding suite I booked for tomorrow night.” Emma cringed at the mention of the wedding night. 

“I never asked for this place when you started planning this wedding.” Emma argued, “I’d have been happy to have the wedding in Granny’s backyard.” 

“That is out in the middle of nowhere.” Neal sighed and flapped his arms in resignation. 

“So! It’s my home.” She crossed her arms over her chest, noticing how his eyes again drifted below her neckline. “Stop that!” 

“What?” 

“Ogling me like some creep.” Emma stepped back from him but he followed her and grabbed her shoulders again. 

“Get your hands off of me.” Emma shifted her shoulders again but this time she didn’t get him off her. 

“You’re mine, Ems, come on we’re going to have the best life together,” Neal said in a pleading voice, one she’d heard one time too many by now. 

“No!” Emma tried to step back and she could feel anger and a pinch of fear bloom up inside of her. “I will not marry you, don’t you get it?” She twisted her body again, but she only felt his fingers dig into her muscles even more. “Let me go, you’re hurting me.” 

“Emma.” 

“The lady asked you to let her go.” Killian’s voice sounded from behind her, surprising both Neal and herself. 

“Buzz off.” Neal grumbled, “this is none of your business.”  

“I believe it is,” Killian said, now much closer and when Emma turned her head, she realized he was standing next to her, his eyes blazing with fury as he eyed Neal. “Now let her go.” 

“I’m her fucking fiance, leave us alone so we can talk in private.” Neal barked out and sneered. 

“Ex-fiance,” Emma yelled and winced when Neal’s fingers clenched around her arm. “Let go of me, you bastard.” 

“Ems.” Neal tried again.

“I’m not you’re anything, got it? Now let me go.” Emma could feel angry tears form in her eyes and she blinked not wanting Neal to have control over her emotions, never again. 

Suddenly everything moved really fast like lightning. Before Emma was able to blink again, the hold on her arms was lifted as Killian grabbed Neal’s shirt and pulled him away from her, causing her to stumble back. “The lady asked nicely, and only a lowlife wanker will ever harm the woman he claims he cares about.” 

“That is none of your business.” Neal pushed away from Killian, “now leave this place or I’ll have you thrown out.” 

“You invited me,” Killian said, stepping closer to Neal, forcing Neal to take another step back. 

“It was a joke.” Neal scoffed and lifted his head a little, “you were supposed to have your secretary send a gift and you would never show up.” 

“Well, it’s my luck that I actually know the bride…” Killian cleared his throat and with a smirk changed, “I’m sorry, I don’t think there will be a bride tomorrow.” He made a mock salute, “Now if you’ll excuse me I’ll escort the lovely Miss Swan back inside.” 

“No, that’s not how this works. This is my party. You will leave us alone, that is what you’ll do…” 

Neal moved towards Killian the moment he turned around to face Emma, this caused the two men to bump into one another causing Neal to stumble backward. Emma’s eyes widened as she watched in slow motion as Neal flailed his arms desperately in the air, trying to catch his balance but it was to no avail. Milliseconds later, a large splash was heard, Neal now sitting at the bottom of the fountain, soaking wet and furious.

“You fucking bastard!” Neal screeched. He stumbled to get up from the pool but slipped back into the water again, this time almost head first. “I’ll… fucking ruin your life for this!” He splashed his hand in the water making him look like a perturbed five-year-old child. 

“Shall we?” Killian interrupted and stood in front of Emma. 

“Hmm?” 

“Go inside?” He flipped his thumb over his shoulder towards the lounge room. 

Emma glanced over her shoulder to Neal who was still struggling to get out of the water, “Sure, let’s go.” She hurried after Killian, ignoring the string of curses that Neal spewed from his mouth. 

“Emma!” Neal spluttered, “Wait up?” 

As Killian slid open the glass door and waited for Emma to enter, she gave him a small smile, then called over her shoulder, “forget it. The wedding is off.” 

“I’ll ruin your fucking life…” Neal repeated, the rest of Neal’s words muffled when the door closed behind her. Emma scanned the room and realized that everyone inside paid no attention to the scene that occurred outside and simply continued to enjoy the dinner that was served. When her two friends looked up Emma could see their confusion. 

“Could you please wait one second?” Emma asked Killian and nodded towards Ruby and Elsa, “I need to speak with my friends.” 

“Sure thing.” Killian gave her a smile and sauntered over to the door. 

“What’ up?” Ruby asked, swiping a fingerling potato through the thin sauce that circled the meal. Ruby popped the bite of fine cuisine into her mouth and chewed with a low moan, “This food is so frigging delicious.” 

“Yeah, enjoy it, there won’t be a repeat tomorrow.” Emma stood beside her friends, her hand grasping the backrest of the chair she’d occupied before Killian came. 

“Why?” Elsa placed her utensils on her plate in surprise, her large clear blue eyes blinked in confusion. Then she looked out of the window, “did you and Neal have a fight?” 

Emma followed her gaze and saw that Neal had finally managed to get out of the fountain and some hotel staff had come to his aid with towels.

“Yeah, the wedding is off.” Emma mumbled and glanced towards the other end of the table where Neal’s so-called buddies were watching her conversation. “Sorry guys, but the party won’t happen.” 

“Why?” Walsh asked looking between Emma and Neal who was still drying off outside, “look Emma it was just a joke, really.” He shrugged as if this wasn’t such a big deal. 

“Don’t you Emma me.” Emma seethed and glared at Neal’s creepiest friend. Ever since she first met Walsh she always sensed he was a slick and shoddy guy. He always gave her leery looks and made inappropriate comments, the two others, Felix and Peter weren't any better. She knew all three guys also worked for Neal’s father. 

“Come on Emma, it was a frigging funny joke.” Peter chuckled and nudged Felix’s shoulder, both men chuckled again.

“It was not funny, and it made me realize what a sleazeball Neal really is. The wedding is canceled, so finish your meal and enjoy the free drinks, there won’t be any tomorrow.” Emma looked at her two friends, “I’m sorry guys if you’d rather skip out now, you can just come with me and Killian.” She nodded to the three men, “the three stooges over there can entertain themselves.” 

“The food is soooo good.” Ruby moaned and licked at her fork obscenely, then she pointed the utensil to the three men, “but the company is a bit of a drag.” 

All three men glared at Emma’s open-mouthed friend, making Emma laugh, “I’m sure we can find food for you somewhere else.” 

“What do you say, Els?” Ruby looked at their white-blond-haired friend. 

“I’m out.” Elsa found her purse and found her phone, she glanced at the screen, “Anna is asking if I’m coming to the Rabbit Hole after I’m done here.” She looked at Ruby and Emma, “wanna join me?” 

“Oh, I’m all for a drink.” Ruby exclaimed and looked at Emma with a raised eyebrow, “you can bring…” She leaned closer and whispered, “hot-and-handsome over there.” 

“Shut up,” Emma whispered back and glanced at Killian who tried to look as if he hadn’t heard Ruby’s comment, but even from afar, Emma could see the tips of his ears going red. “I think I’ll make it a raincheck, I’m not in a party mood tonight.” 

“We understand.” Elsa said in a soothing voice and as she passed Emma she squeezed her shoulder, “I’ll call you tomorrow.” 

“Thank you.”

“I want details in our group chat,” Ruby said with a chuckle. 

“There won’t be any details,” Emma grumbled. 

“Oh, I’m sure there will be something.” Ruby waggled her eyebrows, “I remember how you pined for the bloke in your senior year.” 

“Will you just shut up!” Emma hissed and glared at her friend, Killian didn’t need to hear those details, but Emma already knew that he might have heard some small bits of what Ruby had said.

“Hmm,” Ruby patted Emma’s arm, “details girl, details.” Then both her friends walked out of the room and Emma heard Ruby loudly whisper to Killian, “you show our girl a good time, okay?” 

Killian pursed his lips as if he did not know how to answer that. When his eyes landed on Emma, she gave him an apologetic shrug of her shoulders, “I’m sorry about her.” She walked to him and asked, “wanna get out of here?” 

“Aye.” Killian looked to the patio, “It seems as if your ex-fiance is coming inside.” 

“Come.” Emma urged and slipped the two of them out of the door; she had no desire to speak with Neal anymore, ever. 

Killian followed her through the restaurant to the elevator that would bring them to the ground floor. She realized he was carrying the present, “I’m sorry you went through the trouble to buy the gift for nothing.” 

“Oh this, I have no idea what’s in it.” Killian laughed, and when Emma looked at him in surprise, “One of my assistants William Smee or Annabelle Tink did all the work. Told them to find the gaudiest and most expensive sauce pot they could find.” 

“You’re joking right?” Emma narrowed her eyes at him, “you mean to tell me you went to all the trouble of coming here today to give me a freaking sauce pot?” 

Killian doubled over with laughter, and gave her a wink, “what if I did?” 

“I’d say you never changed.” Emma smiled fondly at him, realizing she hadn’t seen this man in 10 years. So many things had happened in both of their lives, it seemed life had treated him well. 

“I’ll let you take a peek and see if you want to keep it.” Killian smirked and motioned to the elevator, “Let’s get away from here.”

Emma followed him to the elevator, and they rode down in silence, she suddenly did not know what to say, this evening had turned out differently than planned. 

When they walked out into the large foyer, a hotel employee approached them, “Ah Miss Swan I need a moment of your time, please.” The young woman said with a pleading look as she twisted her hands in front of her. 

“Okay?” Emma slowly followed the woman to the reception desk and moved to a more secluded section with fewer people around them. “Is there a problem?” She shifted nervously on her feet. 

“It has come to my attention that the Cassidy-Swan wedding has been canceled tomorrow?” The receptionist said in a strained voice, as she pursed her lips, tapping her pen impatiently on the desk. 

“Oh, yeah… How do you know this already?” Emma asked scanning the lobby to see if Neal had come down here.

“Our staff at the rooftop restaurant called down, they spoke with Mr. Cassidy.” The woman lifted a manicured eyebrow as if she waited for something.

“Oh…” Emma combed her hand through her hair, “yes the wedding won’t take place tomorrow. I’m truly sorry about all of the preparations you already did on this and…” 

“Mr. Cassidy has informed us that the bill was to be paid by the bride… eh you, Miss Swan.” 

“Seriously?” Emma exclaimed and slammed her hand on the polished surface of the reception desk, “Unbelievable! How dare he try to pull something like this.” Emma took a few deep breaths as she tried to calm herself down, but the blood rushed in her ears making it hard to focus on anything. “I’m sorry but that won’t happen.” 

“Well, the money will have to be paid.” The receptionist shuffled around some papers, “the contract states that if the event is canceled less than 24 hours before it begins, the payment is at the 100% rate.” 

“Shit.” Emma slumped over her clenched hands, her whole body vibrating with anger, how the hell did Neal expect her to pay for this elaborate wedding? 

“Send the bill to my office.” Killian’s voice sounded nearby and when Emma looked up she saw him give the receptionist a business card. 

“Oh, I’m not sure…” The woman stammered.

“No Killian…” Emma interrupted turning her focus on her old friend, “I can’t ask you to do this.” She tried to snatch the card from the woman’s hand but Killian grabbed her wrist and stepped closer. 

“Listen, love, I’m not doing this out of pity, I just don’t want my friend to be saddled with a bill she was never supposed to pay in the first place.” Killian gave her a soft smile. 

Emma tried to come up with reasons why this should not happen, “Neal’s an ass, and I’m sorry but he can pay his own bill.” 

“You signed the contract, Miss Swan.” The receptionist piped up, and when Emma whirled around and glared at her, she had the grace to look sheepish, “I’m sorry Miss, but the signature on the contract is yours, is it not?” She pulled out a sheet of paper that Emma had seen a month ago when Neal had asked her to go to the hotel to sort out the last details with the hotel, including the contract. 

“Yeah, that sneaky bastard.” Emma pursed her lips, she knew Neal could slink away from his part of this whole deal, it was only her name on the contract.

“Again, please send the bill to my office.” Killian said firmly and tapped the reception desk, then looked at Emma, “don’t argue about this love, let me help you and we can get out of here. Then you won’t have to think about this anymore.” 

“But this place wasn’t exactly cheap.” She glanced at the receptionist, “sorry.” Biting her lips she looked at Killian again, “it’s a lot of money to be between us, it will take me a long time to pay it back.” She never liked when money became an issue. Growing up in the system, she rarely had anything for herself, and once she became an adult every penny was saved to make ends meet. 

“Don’t worry about it.” Killian scratched behind his ear, and looked down sheepishly as he explained with a shrug, “I’m not missing out on paying for this.” 

Emma blinked at him, then she realized Neal had revealed that Killian was one of the richest men in Boston, “Oh, yeah…” She hugged herself and pursed her lips, “well I still don’t like it.” 

Killian gave the woman behind the desk a small smile then bid her farewell, then he turned to Emma, “shall we?” He tugged the large gift under his arm and then offered his other arm for her to take. 

“Yeah.” Emma glanced one last time at the woman, who waved her off reassuring her that things were sorted out.

Emma followed Killian out of the hotel, and Killian passed on a card to a valet standing by, the young man hurrying off to the parking facilities. 

“So where are we going?” Emma asked, suddenly a little on edge, she was still trying to fully understand that Killian somehow had entered her life again. 

“How do you feel about sailing?” Killian asked and tugged his hand into his coat pocket. 

“Eh, I’m okay with that, I guess.” Emma shrugged, “do you have a boat?” 

“Aye, but it might be more of a yacht I imagine.” He smirked and tried to wink, but he failed, it seemed his inability to wink hadn’t changed.

“A yacht?” 

“The Jolly Roger.” He grinned proudly. 

“So now you’re a pirate?” Emma laughed, shaking her head in disbelief at how easy it was to speak with him. 

“Ah, don’t you remember how much I loved the Peter Pan and Captain Hook stories?” He stepped closer and caught her eyes. 

“It’s been so long.” Emma breathed out, trying not to focus on how his blue eyes became darker, even though it was still daylight.

“Aye, far too long.” He scratched behind his ear, “what happened to us?” 

Emma was about to answer when a black sleek muscle car pulled up in front of the hotel. The valet guy jumped out and threw the keys to Killian before he walked inside again. 

“That is your car?” Emma asked and walked to the car and looked at the polished black vehicle. 

“Aye, a 1970 Chevrolet Chevelle Super Sport.” The pride in his voice had Emma smile, he opened the passenger door and motioned for Emma to get in, “it was my first purchase after taking over Jones’ Shipping with my brother.”

Emma slid into the soft leather seat and looked up at him, “oh you run a business with your brother?” She realized she had no idea what he did for a living. 

Killian nodded, jogged to the driver’s side, and got in, then pulled out his phone and made a quick phone call. “Aye, Cap, can you have the Jolly up and ready in 20 minutes?... Fabulous.” Killian hung up and gave a small shrug, “I might sail the thing by myself from time to time, but I’d like to spend my time with you onboard.” 

Emma nodded in understanding, while her mind whirled with the fact that Killian seemed to have staff on call aboard his yacht, it was a bit mind-blowing. 

As the engine roared to life Emma shifted in her seat so she could look at him. “Tell me about your brother?” 

Killian spent the drive to the marina telling Emma about how he and his brother began working for a man named Nemo, who ran a shipping company. Both brothers had a knack for the industry and when Nemo was planning on selling off the majority of the company, the brothers jumped in and bought it. They rebranded the company, and now Jones’ Shipping was a booming success.  

“Seems as if you’re doing pretty well for yourself,” Emma remarked.

“Aye,” Killian scratched behind his ear and shrugged, “Jones’ Shipping is the largest shipping company on the east coast.” 

“Wow.” Emma breathed out, “you really have done a lot in your life.” She looked down at her folded hands in her lap. 

“I bet you have, too.” He drove his car into a well-lit parking area close to the docks.

“No, not really,” Emma mumbled with a small shrug. 

“You’re a bail bonds person?” 

“Yeah, it was a struggle to find my footing in the business.” She glanced at him, giving him a wry smile, “but things have improved in the past few months. I’m catching more and more skips.”

“So you’re good at finding people?” Killian chuckled and parked his car. 

“I guess.” 

“That can come in handy.” He unbuckled his seat belt and turned to her, “look whatever you did in life doesn’t change who you are as a person.” 

“Who am I?” 

“A beautiful woman I sadly lost contact with.” He reached out to grab her fidgeting hands, “we were friends.” 

“Yes, we were friends.” Emma agreed with a sigh, “I’m sorry we never kept in touch. I guess life just happened.” She shrugged and gave him a small smile. 

“Aye, but I’m actually happy that your ex-fiance sent that invitation.” Killian gave her a rueful smile, “if not, I’d never have been there to save you from that bastard.” He frowned and squeezed her hands. 

“He was an asshole for sure.” Emma shook her head, “I don’t know how I could have been so stupid to fall for all his empty promises. He used me.” 

“I’m sorry you got involved with a character like him.” 

“Hmm.” Emma gave him a weak smile, “thank you.” 

“Any time, love.” He let go of her hands and pointed to the line of yachts lined up nearby, “let’s have a bit of fun shall we?” He waved his hand in the air, “forget about the past and what we could or couldn’t have done.” 

“Seize the moment sort of thing?” She unbuckled her seatbelt, “I like the sound of that.”

They both got out of the car and as they walked down the dock Emma noticed Killian began walking closer and closer to her. She reached out and grabbed his hand, letting him know she didn’t mind him being so close. 

“Behold my humble vessel.” Killian proclaimed as they reached the end of the pier. 

Emma gaped in surprise as her eyes swept over one of the largest yachts she’d ever seen lying moored before them. “Humble?” She asked incredulously and glared at him with a mock frown, “that is a bit more than a humble vessel, buddy.” Nudging his shoulder playfully she chuckled, “you always were one to understate your accomplishments.” 

Killian grinned sheepishly at her and nodded in agreement, “perhaps, but I don’t want to appear to be a pompous asshole.” 

“I’m sure you won’t.” Emma soothed and tugged him towards the yacht, “I’m proud of how far you and your brother have come in life.” 

Killian gave her a small smile before he motioned for her to proceed with him up the gangplank. 

Emma took it all in as they boarded, it oozed wealth as she’d never seen before, but she also knew that the man walking behind her wasn’t a pompous asshole, as he stated. 

A man dressed in a casual blazer and a captain’s hat greeted them, “Welcome Miss.” He bowed his head to Emma, and turned to his boss, “give me five more minutes to navigate out of the harbor and I’ll have her sailing into the horizon.” 

“Thank you, Cap, I’ll just give Miss Swan here a tour,” Killian said and pressed his hand on the small of her back urging her to walk to the front of the yacht. Then Emma was guided around the yacht as she took it all in with an awed expression. It was a truly magnificent ship, and it was clear that Killian knew what he was talking about. As they returned to the front deck she asked, “So you sailed a lot in the past?” 

“Aye, after we moved from Storybrooke we both took a liking to the nautical life; I guess that is how our business adventure started.” Killian shrugged and moved to the yacht’s bow. He looked so at ease out here, relaxed as he’d been in their days at Storybrooke High. 

“It was a fun time back then.” Emma mused and walked up to him, glancing at his profile against the sky, now turning golden orange from the setting sun. 

“It certainly was.” Killian looked behind them and waved up to the captain’s deck. Soon Emma could hear the engine starting below them.

“I’m sorry that we lost touch.” Emma mused and leaned against the railing, hugging herself. She only wore a thin sweater, and the wind picked up as they set out off the harbor.

“That’s quite alright, but let’s not get stuck in a line of what ifs.” Killian admonished gently, he lifted one bench cushion and pulled out a blanket from the little storage area inside. “Here, this will keep you warm.” He glanced behind him, “unless you want to go inside?” 

“No, It is nice out here.” She took the blanket and wrapped it around her shoulders, she looked up at him and realized he was standing really close to her now. 

Killian looked at her with his cerulean blue eyes, eyes that had haunted her fickle teenage dreams. She never fully admitted to either him or herself that she might have been a bit in love with the guy when they stumbled through high school together. 

As his eyes shifted to her lips, she imagined what it might be if he kissed her right there. Tentatively, she licked her lower lip and when his eyes dilated, she knew he might have been thinking the same thing.

“I’m glad I found you again, Emma.” He took a small step closer, keeping his eyes on her as if to assess how she felt about his close proximity. 

“Me too.” She said as she looked up at the sky, turning more purple by the minute with clouds painted golden by the sun. “God, I could have made the worst mistake of my life tomorrow.” She shivered despite her now being warm and comfortable under the blanket. 

“Neal Cassidy is an asshole who had no idea what treasure he had in his life.” Killian stepped closer and cupped her face with his hand.

“Thank you.” She lifted her head and gazed into his eyes. 

“Anytime, love.” He whispered with a smile. 

She was contemplating how he would react if she closed the gap between them and kissed him, but suddenly her stomach made a growling noise that made her face heat in shame. 

“Are you hungry?” He lifted an eyebrow and smirked.

“Yeah, I kinda missed out on dinner, as you know.” She pursed her lips. 

“Wait here.” He stepped back and walked backward, “I’ll find us something to eat.” 

Killian disappeared inside so she took the moment of solitude to collect her thoughts; she was onboard a luxury yacht owned by a man she hadn’t seen in 10 years. Her heart shouldn’t react so quickly and this strongly to being reunited with him, should it? All she knew right now was that she enjoyed being with him, and she hoped he wanted to rekindle their old friendship. Perhaps even move it to another level, she closed her eyes as she recalled how amazing it felt being close to him. 

She did not know how long it took before Killian returned to the deck, carrying a tray with fruit and a few sandwiches. 

“Wow, you did all this in such a short time?” Emma asked in amazement 

“Nah, the chef usually stocks up on snacks and the like before he heads home.” Killian shrugged and placed the tray on the table out on the deck.

“There’s a cook on this boat too?” Emma shook her head and took a seat. 

“Not around the clock. But my brother and I use this yacht often, so it’s nice to know that we have food onboard” Killian explained and walked back inside, “let me find something to drink.” 

When he came out with a bottle of champagne Emma had to pinch herself again, this was so unreal, perhaps he noticed her confused look as he asked, “you don’t drink champagne?” 

“Oh, well, you see it’s not like that is something I’m usually able to drink on my paycheck.” Emma mused with a smirk. 

“Aye, I see, I can go find a soda or something.” He was about to rise from his seat but Emma placed her hand on his arm.

“I’m sorry that came out all wrong, I’m just not used to this life.” 

“What life?” 

“The high-class glamorous life, going yachting in the moonlight, drinking champagne kinda life.” Emma tried to explain hoping he would understand that certain aspects of his life would be different from hers. 

“I understand, and I guess I’ve become far too used to this life, eh?” 

“Perhaps, but I’m pretty sure that under all that rich pirate swagger there’s still the Killian I knew ten years ago.” She tilted her head as she looked at him, it was clear that he’d become older, the lines around his eyes a bit more prominent, but his dark hair still fell in floppy waves over his forehead. 

“Aye, he’s still here.” Killian grinned, “now if you don’t mind, I’d like to propose a toast.” He uncorked the champagne and poured the bubbly drink into two tall flutes. 

Emma took the offered drink with a small smile, “a toast?” 

“To new beginnings and old friendships that were never truly lost.” He lifted his glass to hers and they clinked their flutes together.

“I’ll drink to that.” Emma took a sip of the golden drink and felt the bubbles play over her tongue, she may never have really tasted fine champagne before, but that didn’t really matter as much as Killian now becoming a part of her life. 

“I really would like to keep in touch.” Killian set his flute down on the table and reached for the plate of sandwiches and offered her one. 

“I think that can be arranged.” Emma took a sandwich and looked down, “I hope perhaps we can do more than just keep in touch?” 

“Oh?” 

“I don’t want to lose you again.” She mumbled and picked up her food and took a bite, not daring to look him in the eyes. Feeling how her face flamed in heat, she hoped he wouldn’t notice how flustered she was right now. 

“You won’t.” He paused then added, “Emma, look at me.” She pursed her lips and placed her food on the plate and finally found his eyes. His face split into a smile, “we might have been really young and foolish ten years ago, but I realize I was daft and completely bonkers to have missed the chance to…” He took a deep breath, “... to finally show you how much you mean to me.” 

“Oh.” Emma gaped at him in surprise, not completely sure what he was saying, “what…?” She gulped down, not daring to hope he felt the same.

“Emma, don’t you know how much I pined for you back then?” 

“What?” Emma grabbed her champagne and took a long drink of the bubbly champagne, half wishing it had been a stiff drink. When she finally looked at him again, she could see the intensity in his eyes.

“I was utterly daft to have let you go back then.” He rubbed at his face with both hands and reached one towards her. 

“You fancied me?” Emma asked and placed her hand in his.

“Aye, I did.” 

“Wow, that is…” 

“I know.” He grinned, and tilted his head, “but you’re here, now.” 

“Yeah, but I’m here now.” Emma smiled, “I was stupid too, you know.” 

“Oh, why?” 

“I might have pined for you, too.” Her eyes found his and she could see how happy her words made him.

“Is that a fact, love?” He tilted his head with a knowing smirk, his fingers wrapped around hers, lifting her hand to his lips and placing a tender kiss on the back of her hand.

Emma nodded as she felt a shiver run through her when his warm lips touched her skin. 

“So does this mean I can ask you out on a date?” His thumb rubbed over her knuckles. 

“I think that can be arranged.” Emma smiled, feeling giddy with how this night had progressed. 

“Well, one could consider this a first date.” He lifted his eyebrow with a smirk.

“I guess,” She looked around, “you certainly have set the bar high on what you might want to do for our second date, then.” 

Killian laughed and shook his head, “Oh love you have just seen the tip of the iceberg.” He let his hand slip from hers and motioned for the food, “let’s eat.” 

Emma nodded, she was still feeling hungry, and the sandwiches were amazing. They settled into a companionable silence while they enjoyed the meal. As they finished the meal they began talking about life and what could happen in the future. Never had Emma felt so relaxed being on a date, but the difference this time might be that this was her friend, the guy who stole her heart ten years ago. 

After they cleaned up Emma looked out at the horizon all around them. The night had settled over them and they were a couple of miles away from shore. The Boston city lights faded from view, making the twinkling stars above them very visible. It was truly amazing and very romantic. Her eyes landed on the large gift Killian had placed on one of the nearby benches.

“Wanna see what’s inside?” Killian interrupted her musing, clearly noticing what she was looking at. 

“Hmm.” 

Killian reached for the gift and Emma cleared a space on the table for him to place the box. 

“Go on, open it.” 

Emma peeled the expensive wrapping off the gift intended to be her wedding gift. It was a Tiffany hot cocoa gift set. The two mugs were in a pale mint color, including some top-brand cocoa powder and small mini marshmallows; she also spotted two long gilded teaspoons.

“Wow, this looks awesome.” Emma breathed out.

“So you want to keep it?” 

Emma looked at him with a smile, “hell yeah, you know how much I love hot cocoa.” 

“I do, and when I saw the invite and asked my assistant to find a gift, I asked her to find something like this,” Killian said. 

“I thought it was a gaudy sauce pot.” Emma smirked, fingering the boxed gift set. 

“Well, that was a joke, love.” Killian chuckled, “I would never buy a sauce pot for a woman who never cooks.” He tried to give her a wink, but as usual, he failed.

“I cook.” Emma pouted with a shake of her head. 

“Toasting a Pop Tart for breakfast is not cooking.” Killian laughed, his eyes twinkling with his usual humor and charm. 

“Shut up.” 

“So you like it?” Killian asked and nodded to the gift, when Emma nodded in agreement he added. “When Annabelle Tink showed it to me I know you’d like it.”

“Well, I’ll have to thank her someday.” Emma smiled, her fingers tracing over the edge of the gift box. Then she looked at him, “and thank you Killian this was such a sweet and thoughtful gift.” 

“I just never imagined that I would be sharing the gift with you,” Killian said with a rueful smile. 

“Well, Neal actually hated hot cocoa, so I would have been enjoying this alone if…” Her voice trailed off, feeling a pang of sadness that her life had suddenly shifted upside down. 

“Are you okay, love?” 

“Yeah, I’m just trying to move past the fact that I won’t be married tomorrow.” She shook her head, “don’t get me wrong, I’m happy that I’m not marrying Neal.” She shrugged, “I guess it’s just that childhood dream of getting married I’m sad to see not happening.” Waving her hand dismissively in the air she added, “well that is all in the past, right?” 

“Right.” Killian tilted his head to the side, “but don’t lose the dream of ever getting married.” With a lifted eyebrow he reached for her hand still resting over the gift, “one day it will happen.”

“Are you sure?” 

“Aye, I’m very sure, if I have a thing or two to say about the matter, I’d say you will be married one day.” He gave her a pointed stare as he waggled his eyebrows. 

“Oh.” Emma felt her face heat up when she realized what he was truly implying, he wanted to marry her one day. 

He leaned forward and caught her eyes, “I want to get to know you again, Emma, and I’m certain that our lives won’t part ways, ever again.” 

“I’d like that very much.” Emma breathed out and tried to calm her beating heart down. She shifted nervously in her seat, feeling a little restless, 

“Let’s go to the bow so we can better see the stars.” Killian offered her his hand, and she rose to her feet. She followed him to the front of the yacht and she tucked herself closer to him, grabbing his hand as they stood at the railing watching the dark sky sprinkled with millions of stars. They could even see the milky way out toward the horizon. 

“It’s amazing how many stars you can see out here.” Emma breathed out in wonder, her head tilted back as she took in the scenery above them. “They are so beautiful.” 

“Aye, beautiful,” Killian whispered beside her, he was so close that his breath brushed over her cheek. 

Emma turned her gaze to him and realized he wasn’t watching the stars, his eyes were fixed on her. “Hi.” She whispered, not sure why her whole body suddenly felt so warm, she still had the blanket wrapped around her shoulders. 

“Hi, there.” He reached up with his free hand and cupped her cheek, “why did I never pluck up the courage to tell you that you’re the most beautiful woman I’ve ever met?” 

“Eh.” She grinned at him, “might be the same reason I never told you how handsome you were, still are.” 

“Beautiful like a swan.” He smiled back and rubbed over her cheekbone with his thumb. 

“Charmer.” She chided with a mock frown, while her insides did all sorts of swoops and twists trying to find her equilibrium again. 

“Always.” He leaned closer, and she copied his movement so their lips could meet in a sweet and tender kiss. The desire washing through her body when his lips moved over hers was like nothing she’d ever experienced.

Killian weaved his fingers into her hair tilting her head to deepen the kiss, and Emma gladly opened for his probing tongue. She moved her hand behind his head combing her fingers through his soft hair, holding him close. 

When they both needed air, they pulled apart, pressing their foreheads together huge smiles on both their faces. 

“That was…” Killian breathed out.

“Definitely not a one-time thing.” Emma finished for him with a chuckle, “I can’t believe this is happening.” Her voice nearly broke at the end, her emotions running all over the place. 

“The best thing that ever happened was that invite landed in my inbox,” Killian mumbled, shaking his head in wonder. “I want forever with you.” 

Emma’s eyes widened at his statement, she felt the same, but it was so much bigger hearing him speak the words. She felt tears prickling in her eyes, and she gave him a watery smile, “I want that, too.” 

Killian swept in with another toe-curling and passionate kiss that sent her shooting for the stars above, and she was fairly certain that her life from now on would be with Killian. It didn’t matter how they had reconnected, she didn’t want to dwell on her past, for now, she would focus on her future. A future with the man who stole her heart ten years ago and finally had come back into her life. Finally, she had found love, true love.

THE END

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To think that they were in such dire straits, essentially stranded in the empty hunter’s cabin in which her parents had once weathered a storm as well, Killian unable to go further, the wind howling and snow flying and a winter storm predicted to be coming in, and it had happened through plain bad luck and natural bad weather, not some malevolent villain or fairytale creature or curse. She and her devoted deputy spouse had ridden out to the town line to make sure that all seemed well and that the large power line which had gone down before and put the town in a blackout was sturdy and working normally before any more winter weather came rolling in.

Though all had appeared well out where the large transformer hung and Storybrooke’s power supply was undaunted, the wind had been fierce and gaining in strength with each second that passed by. Concluding that all was as it should be to withstand the onslaught, they had turned to trek back to the cruiser through the rapidly collecting snow when an exceptionally powerful gust nearly knocked Emma off her feet with a whistling howl. She had barely righted herself when she heard a loud, snapping sound, alarmingly like the echoing crack of a gunshot, and Killian had plowed into her, knocking them both back into a snowdrift and landing mostly on top of her.

Spluttering, Emma found herself gripping Killian’s forearms tightly for a sense of grounding, not sure what had just happened. For a second, she was breathless and disoriented enough not to pick up on the tense undercurrent of pain in her husband’s voice or the taut effort at hiding it in his features, only the worry in his wide blue eyes as he questioned whether she was alright.

“I’m fine,” she managed awkwardly shuffling to try sitting up, “but why did you…?” She knew he wouldn’t have bowled her over for no reason, but she still felt a shiver run through her and the question stall in her throat when her eyes caught sight of the enormous tree limb lying in the road near them - right where she had been standing moments ago. The wind had surely broken it loose, causing the noise they had heard, and Killian’s faultless sharp reflexes had saved her from the thing coming down on her head and possibly being crushed.

She lunged forward to embrace him shakily, both stunned and grateful only for the quick movement to cause a hiss of discomfort to escape his clenched teeth and alert her that he had been injured in his heroics.

From there it hadn’t taken long to ascertain that he had done some serious damage to his ankle in his dive to push her to safety and shield her with his own body. And, despite his protests that he had sustained numerous worse injuries and attempts to soldier on, when he had attempted to place his full weight on the injured extremity, he had barely kept from toppling to the ground. With Emma as a crutch at his side, they had managed a few hobbling steps, only to discover that the cruiser would get them nowhere. The downed limb had partially trapped the car as well as blocked the way back to town. The wind and snow swirled around the whole area so much now that it was practically a wall of white they were looking into and there would have been no safe way to stay on the road, even if they could get through.

Rather than freezing to death there on the road or in the stalled vehicle, they had remembered the abandoned cabin and made their way toward it haltingly, but by the time they had reached the rough-hewn porch, Emma was genuinely worried for her pirate. Not only was the pain he tried to mask clearly radiating up his leg and throughout his body with each movement, but he was shaking with the strain, sweating at the exertion in spite of the bitter chill, and with him not dressed nearly as warmly as she was either. Normally it was a playful subject for teasing, just a quirk she had long since accepted as a part of him. However, as he still shivered and quaked despite the hours they’d been inside the cabin, and him under all the blankets she’d been able to find - fire or no - she feared he had taken a chill she didn’t know how to reverse and that he could little afford.

Thinking back on it all, how had the day taken such a frighteningly drastic turn so abruptly? They’d begun the morning with mugs of hot cocoa at their respective desks, soon joined good-naturedly by her father as they discussed what to bring for Christmas dinner and when Henry would arrive home from college.  They’d all three struggled not to laugh at Regina’s affronted tone when she had called with the petty complaint that Leroy and Will Scarlet had tramped through her garden as they stumbled home singing raucously after closing down the Rabbit Hole and damaged her poinsettia plants. How had a day like that brought them here by dinner time?

She ought to be used to such twists of fate, Emma supposed as she crossed to the rough sink, drew a cup of water, and brought it back to force some liquid into Killian and smooth a trail of it down his overheated cheek. Still, life in Storybrooke had been much quieter since their marriage and the Black Fairy’s defeat. Even Rumplestiltskin seemed to have retreated back to his shop and his quiet seething and plotting rather than outright opposition. Seemingly grateful Belle had not left him and to have received a chance to do better by his second son than he had his first - there seemed to exist a tenuous peace with the wily pawnbroker as he mainly kept to himself and his family’s affairs. Was this all her fault? Could she not heal Killian now or transport them to safety because she had let her guard down? Had her powers weakened or gone lax with disuse? 

Not knowing what else to do, while her husband shuddered and a wracking cough rattled in his chest, Emma lifted the covers to slip under them as well and scoot as close to him as she could, enveloping his lean form as much as possible in her arms. She wasn’t sure Killian was even aware of her presence, which ratcheted her concern for him all the higher, but all the same, she held his back to her chest, plastering her form - and, she hoped, any body heat she had to offer - along the line of his form. Squeezing her eyes closed with concentrated effort, she continued trying to call upon her magic, not sure yet why it had seemingly deserted her. Rather than the burning Killian’s skin had given off earlier, he now felt chilled and clammy to the touch, and Emma wasn’t sure which worried her more.

At least they had been on duty, and so Hope hadn’t been with them, Emma mused. Unable to speak with her husband in his current state, and trying to still her nervously spiraling thoughts of what might yet happen, Emma drew some small measure of comfort from the fact that their little girl was cozy and safe out at her mom and dad’s farmhouse. Snow had assured her that she and Hope would be more than happy making and decorating Christmas cookies while the rest of them kept law and order in town. Wistfully, she could picture her daughter and her mother icing cookies with all the perfect candies, sprinkles, and trimmings, singing along to Christmas music in Snow’s perfectly decorated kitchen as they did. It made her smile to picture it, even as a small pang shot through her heart at the thought that it could have been a true childhood memory, if things had been different, if she had been able to grow up with her parents. All the same, she begrudged Hope none of the happiness she could have with her grandparents and was incredibly relieved to know she was with them now.

Killian’s form shuddered violently and Emma held her breath as he muttered gibberish, not knowing anything else to do for him, but to hold onto him tight and try to share her warmth, whisper reassurances and press her lips to the back of his neck, praying he would weather the night with some improvement by morning, or at least that by then she might know what to do. Go for help herself and leave him defenseless? She hated to do it, but he couldn’t languish in this state forever either.

Would David by chance have wondered why they never came back to the station? Could he possibly rouse anyone else to help him in his search, despite the awful conditions? Emma didn’t know the answers to those questions, but she was beginning to place hope in it, even more than she wanted to admit to herself. Killian trembled against her without speaking, and as affectionate, verbose, and always concerned for her above all else he usually was, his relative silence troubled her more than even the injuries she was aware of or the exposure she knew he was suffering. Pulling out her cell once more, Emma glanced at the blank screen hopelessly. She was forever forgetting to charge it and running out of battery. It didn’t usually become a problem, but she was kicking herself now that she couldn’t call for help and let someone know where they were.

Killian’s hoarse voice mumbled fitfully, and she pulled him closer yet, burying her nose between his shoulder blades and breathing in his unique spicy, saltwater scent. She reveled in the closeness and comfort of his presence as she always did - even if the reason for cuddling him so tightly right now was far from reassuring.

“You better hang in here with me, Pirate,” she whispered fervently, her lips brushing his ear as she attempted to speak directly into it. Of course, she wasn’t sure how much he was aware of, but she needed him to hear her, to know she was there beside him, and how much he was needed and treasured. After all he had lived through in centuries and realms of life, an ankle injury and bitter cold surely could not be his undoing. 

She was rubbing her hands up and down his shivering arms, when Emma suddenly thought she might be hearing things - the sound of muffled voices calling out to each other on the brittle air and footsteps stamped through the piled snow on the cabin’s porch. 

Breath caught in her throat, Emma’s heart fluttered wildly with a quickening hope at the possibility, and she was just debating leaving the bed to look out, wondering if she should let cool air in to reach Killian if she did, when the door was pushed in with a familiar shout of her name.

Then all was a familiar blur of overwhelming relief as she practically vaulted from under the covers and across the room to throw herself into her dad’s anxious arms. At that moment, after the worry and uncertainty of several hours with Killian in continually worsening shape, David Nolan’s tall, sturdy bulk felt like an unbreakable bulwark when his strong arms wrapped around his grown daughter, practically lifting her off her feet and hand cradling the back of her head. She could tell by the way she could feel his heart beating quickly through his coat that he had been worried for the both of them - and thank goodness he had.

Emma allowed herself a few comforting moments to bask in the sense that help was there and she was no longer alone. Then she whirled to pull her dad toward Killian babbling to explain all that had happened as she did, almost before it struck her that her father wasn’t alone. Pressing into the small cabin behind David were at least five of her honorary uncles - her mother’s once surrogate family in the Enchanted Forest, Will Scarlet bragging loudly to August that he’d known the old cabin was the place to look first, Sean Hermann, and numerous other friends and neighbors she’d come to know over the last few years. Enough reinforcements that it took her breath away to think all of them had come to she and Killian’s rescue. Now that they’d been found, Killian being just fine didn’t seem such a far off Christmas miracle any longer.

~~~~ * ~~~~

As it turned out, Killian’s ankle was broken, but once he was settled safely in Storybrooke General, checked over by Dr. Whale, the ankle set in a cast, warmth and heat restored to him, and a much more healthy color to his face and awareness in his eyes, things felt much less dire. Dr. Whale and his staff did want to keep the Captain overnight for observation, but it seemed that other than needing to figure whether or not he would be able to manage crutches and how else he might get around while his ankle mended, her husband was well out of the woods.

He livened up even further once Snow arrived with their little girl, and Hope was curled up against his side in the hospital bed, her ever-curious enthusiasm not at all daunted by the sight of her papa in a hospital gown, the cast, or the IV trailing from his arm. Instead she prattled away talking about all the cookies she and Gamma had made - a few of which had been snuck in for her parents to try - and how much fun she’d had decorating the miniature tree she and Snow had brought in with them to brighten Killian’s room. Nevermind that he might only be there one night, it was completely her mother to want to spruce the place up with holiday cheer. 

It only grew more humorous when August arrived just as her parents had settled into chairs, Marco and Granny Lucas in tow, all looking relieved to see them safe and well. August’s crooked grin warned Emma something was up, even before his twinkling, mischievous eyes took in the small sapling Hope and Snow had brought and then presenting the slim, four foot spruce he and Marco had carried in themselves, hidden behind them until that moment. Killian’s rich chuckle added to the ridiculous but healing humor of the situation, as they wrestled the second tree for a one night stay into hospital room that was quickly becoming festively crowded. Granny didn’t hesitate a bit either, dithering over to Killian’s side and reaching across Emma to drape a hand-knitted scarf, as red and striking as Emma’s favorite of her husband’s vests around Killian neck and flicking the end at Hope’s nose as she did. “For you, Captain Jones,” she teasingly scolded with an emotional squeeze of his hand belying her words, “since it seems you don’t have the good sense to come in out of the cold.”

Killian bore the jest with good humor, and just as those visitors had departed, Sean and Ashley Herman with little Alexandra arrived, bearing a blue and white fake tree they swore they didn’t use anymore. After them, Will and Leroy appeared, arguing over who had found it, but bearing a freshly cut garland to drape in the room’s window sill. By the time Smee and some of the other members of Killian’s old crew who still remained in Storybrooke stopped in to pay their respects (and bearing a hidden flask “to ease their former commander’s pain”) it was truly beginning to look a lot like Christmas in Smee’s stunned way of speaking.

By the time Emma and Killian were at last left along again to rest, the room was nearly as bedecked and glimmering as they living room at home with tree and stockings and fireplace all aglow. At some point in all the chaotic celebration and constant stream of visitors, Emma had managed to sneak away from a moment, call Regina and managed to catch her in enough of a decent mood to ask her the question that had begun to niggle the back of her mind as why her magic might have failed to help them that day.

Now that she was snuggled against her husband’s side and he was holding her in return whispering how glad he was to know that she was alright, that they had both weathered the storm and would be home again tomorrow with their little girl and their nearly grown son with them soon, Emma couldn’t hold back what she had learned any longer. 

“Killian?” she breathed, stroking her fingers across his brow gently.

“Aye, Love?” he asked, his voice so low and sumptuous, wrapping around her and warming her insides deliciously. How could she have ever resisted him the way she had once upon a time?

“There’s something you should know,” she murmured, pressing a quick kiss to his mouth and then pulling from her pocket the bit of mistletoe she’d had Snow scrounge up for her. 

His eyebrow quirked up with interest, but he didn’t interrupt, and Emma pressed on. “When you were hurt, and I couldn’t heal you, it was a horrible feeling. My magic wouldn’t work to help us, and I couldn’t call for help. I couldn’t do anything but hope and wonder why my powers were failing us.” She swallowed hard and then smiled shakily, “As it turns out, there’s actually a pretty wonderful reason for that.”

“Is that so?” he asked playfully, chucking her under the chin.

She nodded, barely withholding the grin threatening to spread across her face. “Apparently, when someone with magic is expecting, the changes and shifts in hormone levels and so on, can throw her abilities all out of whack as well. Why I didn’t notice that with Hope, I’m not sure, but…”

Killian’s eyes widened, shimmering not just with surprise and joy but with a swell of emotion too, effectively interrupting her rambled explanation. “Emma….Love…. Are you telling me that we’re expecting another child?”

For a moment, words wouldn’t pass the lump in her throat, so Emma could only nod vigorously yet again, thrilled at the excitement lighting up her pirate’s expression. A minute or so passed and then she managed to add. “Are you ready to add a little Liam David to our brood?”

“Without doubt,” her husband rejoined without hesitation, “but I have a feeling it’ll be a little Lianna Morgan, not a Liam.”

“Really?” Emma cocked her head, playfully trying to convey doubt in his ability to predict their unborn’s gender so readily when all she really wanted to do was left out loud at his antics, kiss him all over his face, and cuddle up at his side to sleep for a week.

“That’s quite the Christmas gift, Darling,” he spoke intently. “Boy or girl, I couldn’t be more blessed. But I can’t help believing that I’m meant to be surrounded by lovely golden-haired angels - a whole house full if I have my way.”

“Flatterer,” she breathed, not sure how else to combat the effect he had on her, even confined to a hospital bed in a flimsy cotton gown. She hoped it never changed.

Despite the frightening turn the day had taken and the close call they’d survived, as he playfully held the mistletoe above them and their lips met gladly, Emma still found herself believing she couldn’t be more lucky if she tried.

Sprinting faster once the mansion came into view, he hoped she hadn’t left yet.  He bounded up the stairs and into the house.  He tore through the rooms, stopping short when he finally found her in a sitting room, looking frustrated and vexed.  

Upon hearing someone come in, she turned and faced him, her eyes widening upon seeing him there.  

“There you are!” she exclaimed.  “Where the hell have you been?”  Her voice sounded breathless, as if she had been running laps around the mansion.  “First you and Liam left, then Henry ran off somewhere.”  She waved a hand to indicate her lack of knowledge at where her son had gotten off to.  “I’ve been looking everywhere around this place for you guys.”

Killian stood still for a moment, drinking in the sight of her, no matter how annoyed with him she looked.  He couldn’t believe he had almost given up a life with her for moving on with Liam.  He meant no offense to his brother, but Emma was far easier on the eyes than Liam could ever hope to be.  He felt just as off kilter at seeing her now as he did when he saw her for the first time in the Enchanted Forest.  He couldn’t believe she had came to the Underworld for him.

She shook her head slightly and shrugged, obviously waiting for an answer.  

Killian smiled slightly and looked down at the floor.  He said, choosing not to answer her question and instead looking her in the eye briefly before looking away, “I'm sorry, Emma. You were right about Liam.”  He watched as her eyes widened at his words.  “He destroyed those pages because of a deal he made with Hades years ago... A deal that almost got us thrown into that boiling sea.”

“So that’s where you were?” Emma asked, concerned.  “Are you okay? Where is he?”

Killian nodded to indicate that he was fine before continuing. “He, uh, sacrificed himself, but his sacrifice helped a crew we once sailed with. They finally moved on, thanks to him.”

“Did he move on, too?”  Emma took a step closer to him, a step that he mirrored to her.

“He did... but he helped me see the truth before he went.”  Killian smiled and gazed into Emma’s eyes as hard as he had that day in this very manse when he had thought Emma would give up her magic, when he feared that she would be sucked into that damn hat.  He watched as her face brightened at the meaning of his words when he continued, “I'm glad you came down here, Emma. Perhaps I do deserve saving after all.”

Emma brightened and smiled softly.  She stepped closer, and Killian saw the visible joy in her features as she absorbed what he had said, and heated what he didn’t say.  She wouldn’t be his Swan if she didn’t push just a little bit more, though, if she didn’t make sure what he meant.

“Does that mean, when this is all over, you're planning to come home?” She held her breath, waiting for his answer.

“Yes,” Killian breathed, beaming at her, which prompted her widened smile in return.  “Everything Liam did was to ensure that I had a future, and I damn well intend to have one.”

In a move reminiscent of their first kiss, though with the roles reversed, he grabbed her arm in his hand and used his hook to guide her hips as he tugged her into his arms.  He kissed her fiercely as he hadn’t allowed himself to since he had been reunited with her, not wanting to give into his need for her love, her closeness, after having nearly killed her family as a Dark One.  He had been afraid that she couldn’t forgive him, couldn’t let go of his betrayal (which had been so much worse than hers to him), but she had proved him wrong as always.

Emma kissed him back as fiercely as she had in Neverland, and it sparked in him an even larger inferno of heat, love, and desire than he had started with.  He didn’t know how he could have ever contemplated letting this go.  He had won her heart, as sure as he had claimed in Neverland, and he knew he wouldn’t give it up without a fight.  Let Hades try and separate them again.  Killian would make damn sure that the god never succeeded.  

They slowly broke apart, their lips barely separated from the other’s as they rested their foreheads together, breathing heavily from the attraction that always buzzed just beneath the surface.

“I love you,” Emma said softly, and Killian’s smile widened at finally hearing he words given freely from the love of his life.

“I love you, too,” he replied, kissing her softly once more.

Of course, their sojourn to the Underworld did not go as planned.  Though he had never, in his wildest dreams, thought that Emma would end up being his True Love (a failed attempt at a True Love’s Kiss tended to take away one’s belief in that), let alone that they would be vetted by the gods in a way that none of the other true love couples they knew had been, they had not been able to succeed in returning him to life.  Neither the heart-split nor the ambrosia had been able to work, and they had once again been separated.  

Killian had truly thought this was the end of their story.  As Zeus had stood before him, he had tried to make peace with the fact that his doing as Emma requested would mean that he would never get to see her again.  His heart ached at the thought, but a promise was a promise, and he didn’t want to break his last to her.  He hoped that she could continue to go on and eventually find love again, to be happy for the rest of her life as she deserved.

So it was a great surprise when he opened his eyes and saw that he was in the lushly green, damp, rainy cemetery that Storybrooke boasted, his True Love just in front of him, her golden hair pulled back into a ponytail and damp from the rain.  Their reunion was one borne of the desperation of never thinking they’d see each other again, a great relief washing over them as their hearts were returned to the place where they were meant to be: side by side.

Their trials weren’t finished, though.  Not by a long shot.  Emma still had to go through the final battle and learn the price that all saviors paid.  They got through all of those trials the same way they had gotten through the previous ones: together.  Finally, their story ended with a wedding and a life shared in the house that he had chosen for them all.  Eventually Henry left to seek out his own story, but his departure came with the arrival of a little girl, and Killian’s heart was so full he thought it impossible that it hadn’t yet burst with love for his family.  His home.

He hardly spared a thought for the happenings with his brother in the Underworld.

That wasn’t the case for Emma, though.

Once Emma was back in Storybrooke and her family was again safe with Killian counted firmly among their ranks, her life was much the same as it had always been: dealing with crisis after crisis. Due to the chaos with the Evil Queen and then Gideon and the Black Fairy, she hadn’t been able to come to terms much with how she felt about Liam’s abrupt goodbye and his subsequent moving on, as much as Killian tried to assure her that Liam fully acknowledged how wrong he had been. Every time she thought back to her last conversation with Liam, she felt vaguely dissatisfied, or maybe let down, that their last interaction had been so negative.

She regretted leaving things with Killian’s brother the way she did, even if it hadn’t been because of her doings.

Killian had told her about what happened after he was dragged off with Liam by their old crew. He told her about how they wanted to send him and his brother both into the boiling sea because of Liam’s choices that resulted in their deaths. He told her how he tried to change their minds, to encourage them not to pursue vengeance, but he had failed, and because of that failure, Silver had been condemned to living with the reality of his thirst for retribution for all eternity. He told her of how Liam finally decided to make things right and accept his fate, that his hand in their deaths had earned him an eternity paying for his crimes. He told her that that was what had enabled Liam and the rest of his old crew to move on into the next stage of their afterlife.

He had told her his last farewell to Liam, and how they had finally gotten the closure they both had desired for so long. 

Emma was happy that Killian had gotten that opportunity, that he had gotten to say goodbye to his brother after Liam had been so tragically torn away from him before. It seemed to have healed some part of him that was torn apart and suffering. He was different, changed in some fundamental way. Perhaps he was more settled in who he was and who he had been?  

Whatever it was, Emma was glad for it. But she still felt dissatisfied with how things had ended between her and Liam.

She had been to Archie about it, and he believed that it was a reaction to wanting Liam’s approval and not getting it directly from the source. She wanted to be accepted by her love’s family, but she hadn’t exactly gotten that.  Archie had tried to work through the issue with her, and she was definitely in a better place than she had been during their misadventures in the Underworld, but she still felt the way she did about the whole thing.  She had resigned herself to never getting any kind of closure from Killian’s older brother, and for the most part, she had come to accept that.

Only now, she and Killian were married and talking about expanding their family. And she realized that, even though she hadn’t needed that last conversation with the man who had been half the reason her husband became the man he was, she still would have liked to have had it with Liam. Not being able to directly make peace with the man who had long since been able to move on was one of the things Emma regretted about the whole sojourn to the Underworld.

After an evening spent with her two True Loves, she climbed into bed, exhausted from another day of typical sheriff's duties and feeling vaguely nauseous like shehad for the last couple of weeks. Her head hit the pillow and it was as if she had pricked her finger on a spinning wheel, she was asleep so fast. Her husband’s warm form was cuddled around her as it was every evening, and she had never felt so safe and content. 

Her dreams that night were nondescript in the sense that, if she dreamed of anything prior to this experience, she didn’t recall it. She floated through the stages of sleep much like always, but before long her dreams shifted.

She was on a raft in the middle of the ocean, floating along and staring up at the night sky.  It was a vast ocean of stars, each one so bright and close that she felt as if she could reach out and touch one.  The constellations were strange to her, but familiar at the same time; they were the ones visible from the Enchanted Forest.  Emma looked around her, taking note of her clothes (she was clothed in her pajamas from earlier with her hair pulled back into a ponytail), and noticed the emptiness around her.  Emma was alone in the raft, which had shifted into a sort-of dinghy in the time it took her to notice what it was she was floating upon, but she didn’t feel afraid.  She felt at peace.

After an immeasurable amount of time passed, she felt the need to paddle.  Emma was, by nature, a person who had always been on the move, so to be stationary while floating wasn’t a desired state for her. So Emma grabbed the oars and began to row her dinghy along, feeling the sudden need to get to a destination, though she couldn’t have said which.  After rowing for just a few strokes, she saw a beautiful tall ship appear as if out of nowhere, and she hastened to get to the side where she knew the ladder lay. Once there, she clambered aboard, not worrying about the dinghy, for it had seemed to disappear once she had climbed on the ladder.

There was no one on deck for the night watch, a fact which, under normal circumstances would have concerned her (for how many times had Killian extolled the virtues of having a good night watch aboard a ship?), but for now just made her smile at how she had the whole deck to herself.  She glanced up at the night sky, which seemed to glow with an unearthly happiness due to the amount of stars, and she smiled.  The sails flapped welcomingly in the wind, rattling the many ropes and pulleys and lines in a way that reminded Emma of all her time spent aboard the Jolly Roger.  Her heart seemed to sing a magical song, reaching a crescendo at the thought of her husband, that the sky responded to with a brightening of the starlight.

`

“I was hoping you would come aboard, lass,” came a voice just behind her.

Emma didn’t startle, for she knew this voice and was glad of its timbre.  She turned and observed the man to whom it belonged.  “Hello, Liam.”

Liam was dressed in a naval captain’s uniform (Emma assumed that this was similar to what he would have worn during his time of service to the immoral king he had first served under, and she had the sudden desire to see what Killian had looked like in his Lieutenant’s uniform).  The colors he wore were light blue and white, though Emma didn’t know what the significance of those colors were.  His hair was shorn at the same length as it had been when Emma had last seen him in the Underworld; in fact, he looked like he hadn’t changed a bit since their last meeting.

Liam smiled.  “Hello, Emma.  It’s lovely to see you again.”

“Is this your new ship?” She gestured to their surroundings.  Liam nodded his head without moving his gaze away from hers.

“Indeed.  Zeus saw fit to show me favor in the after life.  She’s a fine vessel, finer even than the Jewel of the Realm.  The crew I sailed with as an indentured servant has consented to sail along with me, and I couldn’t have a finer crew.”

Emma nodded.  “I’m glad for you.  I’m glad that you found peace.”

Liam looked at his feet a moment before looking back up at her.  “It’s all thanks to you that I have this.”

Emma tilted her head, considering him for a moment.  “I think you would have gotten there, eventually.”

Liam chuckled.  “No, I wouldn’t have.  I was too stubborn to admit that I had committed a wrong, that I had strayed, myself, from the hero’s path that I so desperately wanted Killian to follow.  He strayed from that path because of my choices and mistakes, but he returned to it because of you.  He convinced me to forgive myself because of you.  He convinced the rest of my crew to forgive me because of you.”

Emma shook her head.  “It wasn’t me; it was Killian all along.  I just gave him a reason to be the man he always wanted to be.”

Liam shook his head and gazed at her fondly.  “You still don’t see the effect you have on people, do you?”

Emma’s response was just to look at him quizzically, and Liam laughed.

“You saved my happy ending, Savior,” he simply said instead of enlightening her.  “But ask Killian about the effect you have; he’ll know what I mean.”

Emma nodded. “Will do.”

“I seriously misjudged you,” Liam said after a moment’s hesitation.  “I projected my own pain and failures onto you, and for that I am truly sorry.  Can you ever forgive me for my transgressions, milady?”

Emma smiled.  “I can, and I do, Captain Jones.  I understand wanting to protect Killian at all costs.”

Liam nodded.  “I’m glad to know you do.  I hated the thought of you harboring any ill-will towards me.  I can sail the rest of my days knowing that all is right between us.”

The sun peaked its rays just over the horizon, illuminating the world in its light.  Emma blinked, dazzled for a moment, and turned to watch the sunrise.  

“Unfortunately, that means our time is nearly done.  Good luck to you Emma.  And to Killian as well.  I know you both have been considering having another child to add to your family.”

Emma turned to Liam, shocked.  “How did you know?”

Liam smiled.  “I have my ways,” he responded mysteriously.

Emma smiled, choosing not to comment, instead replying, “Maybe sooner than we think.  I don’t know for sure, though.”

Liam grinned broadly.  “Give my brother my love, and take care of him for me.”

“Always do.”

Liam took her hand in his and raised it to his mouth to press a kiss to its back.  “Thank you, Emma.  For everything.  The next time I see you, I hope to greet you and my brother aboard my ship after you both have led long, fulfilling lives.”

Emma smiled.  “I look forward to that day as well.”

The light shone brighter, and Emma raised her hand to shield her eyes.  When she removed her hand, she was lying in her bed, her husband’s arms wrapped around her, with the sun shining brightly through the window onto her face.  It was still early in the morning.  She smiled at the memory of her dream, her heart finally at rest knowing that she finally did have the approval of Liam Jones, even if it wasn’t real.  Rolling over in her husband’s embrace, she nuzzled against him, resulting in a half moan half growl from him, and she giggled.  

She looked up to see Killian’s ocean blue eyes staring back at her, darkened and heavy from sleep and the desire that always simmered between them no matter how long they had been together.  She pressed an open-mouthed kiss to his chest, and he pulled her in tighter to him.

“Minx,” he murmured as he nuzzled her neck and nibbled her ear.  

She ran her hand through his hair.  “Tell me about this ‘effect’ I apparently have.”

Killian’s brow furrowed in confusion at what she was talking about, but he didn’t comment as he pressed another kiss down her neck and pulled her in closer to him.  “Well, your effect on me goes a little something like this.”