#post 6-b

“Or we could just stay in. Make dinner, watch a little Netflix and then…” The rest of her thoughts didn’t require vocalization. Killian seemed to like the unspoken promise of what might come after the Netflix, especially if his hand and hook coming around her waist were any indication.

“Perhaps this blasted cold isn’t such a bad thing after all,” Killian said swiftly before he bent down to her lips for a kiss. At the contact Emma felt herself warming up, despite the chill that clung around the whole of the town. Before long the kiss deepened, and if Emma were honest with herself, both of them were definitely to blame for things taking a not so PG turn. Finally, however, she pulled back, intent on creating a night to remember even if it was just a night in at the house.

“Later,” she promised before taking a step back and putting some space between them.

Killian looked like he may argue that point a bit but ultimately nodded and moved past her to the kitchen, one of Emma’s favorite parts of their home. It had, in many ways, become the central space. A place where she, Killian, Henry, and often the rest of their friends and family came together to celebrate the peace they’d all found recently. But tonight there was no big gathering. It was just the two of them, since Henry was out at Regina’s, and Emma couldn’t regret that fact when she knew all that awaited her and her husband this evening.

Unsurprisingly, Killian took the lead on making dinner and Emma knew better than to step on his toes when he was in the zone. He was more than able to make them a lovely meal, hell he’d done it enough over the past few months once Henry finally foisted some cookbooks from their realm that didn’t require mackerel or the like. But there was a known fact in the Swan/Jones household that as good as Killian might be at prepping a meal, Emma’s getting too close ran the risk of upending that. It seemed her pirate was easily distracted, at least when it came to her.

Instead of offering to be his second then, Emma focused on the table and the wine and putting on a bit of music for the two of them to listen to. She flipped through the stations until landing on the classics and through the speakers they were crooned to by the likes of Frank Sinatra, Bing Crosby, and Dean Martin. Eventually one of Emma’s favorite songs came on, “I’ve Got You Under My Skin.” It was an old standard, one that had been sung time and again by all sorts of artists, but tonight, the music gods were blessing her with the Ella Fitzgerald rendition, which was undoubtedly Emma’s favorite. She swayed a bit to the opening instrumentals and felt herself singing along to the words quietly.

I’ve got you under my skin I’ve got you deep in the heart of me So deep in my heart that you’re really a part of me I’ve got you under my skin I’d tried not to give in

Emma felt Killian approach despite the fact that he was intentionally sneaking up behind her in that stealthy way of his. She enjoyed the feel of his arms coming around to hold her hips and pull them back against him. His mouth bent down to kiss her cheek and Emma closed her eyes for a moment, luxuriating in the feel of him with her. Tonight they were safe and together, and that was a truly magical thing.

“The food?” Emma asked, not actually giving a damn even as she inquired given how good it felt to be here with Killian.

“It will keep. Dance with me, love.”

He didn’t need to ask her twice. At the request Emma around and stepped into his arms as they moved about the space between the dining room and the living room with the ease and grace of a couple in love. It was something similar to that dance they’d shared when he was a prince and she was his princess back in the Enchanted Forest, or that time he’d distracted her from Darkness in Camelot, but it was also something from this world too. It blended into the perfect kind of movement, making for a perfect moment where two hearts were one.

I said to myself this affair never will go so well But why should I try to resist when, baby I know you so well I’ve got you under my skin

“I do, you know, have you under my skin,” Killian said in response to the song and Emma rolled her eyes at his comment to stave off too sappy a moment. Even all this time later she found herself resisting being too overtly cute, but Killian never wavered, always offering her compliments and cheesy moments to satisfy her secretly romantic heart.

“That line work on all the girls?” Killian scoffed in reply.

“What maidens have I known in this realm other than you? Besides, you know well enough that nothing else has ever compared to you, Emma,” Killian responded and Emma sighed dramatically, even though his words sent a happy thrill shooting through her.

“Do you make a habit of talking while dancing?” Emma countered and he threw her one of those goofy smiles, pulling her body slightly closer.

“Only with you, Swan.”

I’d sacrifice anything come what might For the sake of having you near

Two more lines were all it took for Killian to feel commentary was necessary again, and though Emma feigned continued annoyance, she loved the thoughts he felt were necessary to share with her.

“Well that part is true enough. You beat out everything else I’ve ever known, Swan,” Killian professed.

“Everything?” Emma asked jokingly.

“Aye, love, anything and everything.”

“Even rum?” Emma teased and he laughed, mumbling about how she was too bloody smart, but that yes she would always trump his libation of choice.

In spite of a warning voice that comes in the night And repeats, repeats in my ear Don’t you know, little fool, you never can win? Use your mentality, wake up to reality

This time it was Emma’s turn to make a confession of her own that she thought Killian would like to hear. It was years in the making, and it had taken a long and winding road for Emma to feel safe and ready enough to say things like this.

“That little voice in the back of my head went quiet a long time ago,” Emma whispered and Killian’s hook ran across her back in a soothing motion, a sign of silent affirmation that he appreciated her words.

“Is that right, love?” Emma nodded, her eyes locked on his gleaming blue ones.

“Mhmm. Because this is the new normal. Having you, loving you, is the most natural thing to me now.”

Killian’s responding grin was warm and filled with love and hope, and it made those same butterflies that were never far away when he was here surge to the surface. True love, Emma had found, didn’t mean that they never fought or argued or faced tough trials. It just meant that Emma was certain of Killian, and that her heart was devoted to his fully. There was no room for old fears and hang-ups. Not anymore.

But each time that I do just the thought of you Makes me stop before I begin Cause I’ve got you under my skin

Emma laid her head against his shoulder, loving the safety she felt in Killian’s arms and knowing that the magic between them was true and that their love merited more than celebration once a year. Valentine’s Day was an excuse to make more time for each other but it was hardly the only time they felt this connection. Her romantic pirate captain made sure of that, and over time Emma had evolved to seek out such special moments as well. The thought of that transformation and the man that made it possible made Emma really joyous.

I would sacrifice anything come what might For the sake of havin you near In spire of the warning voice that comes in the night And repeats, how it yells in my ear Don’t you know, little fool, you never can win? Why not use your mentality, step up, wake up to reality? But each time I do just the thought of you Makes me stop just before I begin Cause I’ve got you under my skin Yes, I’ve got you under my skin

As the song wound down, Emma looked back up at Killian who stepped away and raised one of her hands to his lips. With just a look that told her of his love, he walked back into the kitchen to finish up their meal and Emma moved to the TV to select a movie.

She really didn’t want one of the generic February 14th flicks. No Valentine’s Day or He’s Just Not That Into You for them. And much as Emma might like to watch one of the ridiculously over the top action movies Henry had laying around, she always felt bad for Killian who needed to ask question after question about logistics to follow. Inspiration struck however, when she thought back to their dancing together.

The joke about his talking when he danced reminded her of Pride and Prejudice, which the two of them had already seen roughly five times together because Killian was an avid fan, but Jane Austen had five other published books all made into movies. In the end, Emma decided on Persuasion, one of her favorites that she felt never got enough credit. It also didn’t hurt that it followed the daughter of the aristocracy and a naval Captain. It seemed particularly fitting actually. She brought it up to the Netflix queue and let it sit while they enjoyed their candle lit dinner in the dining room. Some time later they were ready for the movie and Emma gave Killian the basic rundown of the story.

“Anne Elliot is a woman of a certain age who let the love of her life get away because she let herself be persuaded that they weren’t a good match.” Killian looked disapproving at Emma’s summary.

“She let herself be persuaded to leave him behind?” Killian asked and Emma nodded.

“Yeah, but they get a second chance and-,” Killian was stuck on the first part still and interrupted.

“You mean to tell me she found love, a love she sees as true, and let someone persuade her to forsake it?” Emma nodded again. He growled low. “That is unfathomable. There’s no way you could relate to that, is there Swan?”

Emma felt her heartbeat quicken at the gruff tone of his words and the trail of sensation his fingers left as they moved about her body. She shook her head, seeking to calm the distress that was causing his heightened response.

“No I know myself enough to make my own decisions.” Killian smiled at her words and pulled her closer to him.

“Aye love, and you’ve decided on me, largely thanks to my persuasions.”

With those words said, Killian’s mouth closed in on Emma’s in a scorching kiss that Emma gave herself over to freely. She moved her hands up behind his neck, felt her fingers intertwine with soft hair as she arched closer to him for more contact. His hand made its way under the soft cotton of her red dress that she’d donned for the evening at home and she felt his fingers move up towards where she wanted them most. He growled when he realized she wasn’t wearing anything underneath.

“You’ve been bare for me all this time, Swan?”

“I know how much you like that,” Emma quipped breathily, living for the hunger in his eyes right now.

His hand trailed further to where she wanted him, his thumb circling her clit and causing her breath to catch. Emma let out a sigh with his name on her lips urging him on. Soon two of his other fingers filled her, driving her crazy, pushing her to the brink so quickly. She came down from the climax and felt Killian lifting her from the couch to their bedroom. Once there, he set her down and helped her remove the dress as she worked to remove the belt from his dark jeans along with the shirt and vest he wore. It was a process, but once over the reward was great. Like always, the sight of him naked before her made Emma’s blood hum with attraction and lust. It made her need to touch him spike and her want for his touch to skyrocket.

“You’re even easier to read when in the throws of passion, my love,” Killian whispered, his eyes never leaving her and never failing to display the enormity of his feelings for her.

Emma sighed into his touch as he led her back to their bed. He took his time kissing down her neck, across her breasts, focusing on her nipples with the nips and sucks that Emma needed. When she felt near drowned in desire, he moved further down the flat planes of her stomach, to her hip, down her thigh, opening her legs to expose her for his taking. When his mouth was on her center she couldn’t help but buck against him, accepting the mindless pleasure that he so willingly bestowed, breathless and needy until he set her flying again.

In those gloriously bright moments she felt so free, so above all of the world’s evils. Only Killian could give her this, and only Killian could bring that feeling to her everyday with just a look. She loved him so much that there weren’t words. As she came back down from the crushing high, she pulled him back up to look in her eyes.

“I could never be persuaded to leave you. Never again. You’re it for me now and always,” Emma promised.

Killian smiled, not the cocky grin of a self-assured pirate, but the boyish one of a man who was truly happy. She kissed him, tasting herself on his lips and she used the distraction to switch their positions so she was on top. Emma worked his now achingly hard cock with her hands, loving the way she controlled his pleasure just as much as he controlled hers. When he was close, she lined herself up with him and rode him, bringing them both that sense of connection they thrived off of. Their rhythm was hard and fast, both of them calling each other’s names as they chased that special brand of ecstasy that this kind of love provided. When they’d reached it, the two of them lay for a moment together in the comfort of each other’s arms. Finally Emma spoke again.

“It’s still a good movie though.”

Killian chuckled low at her claims about the movie he had long since forgotten and pulled her from bed, throwing one of his shirts over her and bringing her back to the couch. He pressed play on the remote and after a while agreed that she was right. The story was intriguing, a look at how sometimes love couldn’t bear the brunt of outside influence. Some people weren’t lucky enough to have the faith that Emma and Killian did. In the end love still won out for Anne and her Captain, but neither Killian or Emma envied it. What they had was perfect for them, crazy fairytale antics or not, and as the credits rolled, Emma showed Killian just how much she appreciated their personal story all over again.

Years later, when Emma looked back at the memory of that day, it may not have been the grandest Valentine’s in the course of all the one’s they shared, but it was one of her favorites. It was a moment of peace and love between just the two of them, a time when the world was both incredibly small and filled with possibility. And after all, how many people really got that on Valentine’s Day?

And wasn’t that the truth? Killian still looked back on those moments with mixed emotions, because on the one hand it had been damn tedious to learn how to captain these vessels, especially in that tiny bug of Emma’s. But on the other hand he had all that extra time with his Swan, and she’d been very generous and creative in the reward system she made to motivate him to do well. She was so good, in fact, that Killian earned his license in record time, and now every time he got behind the wheel of one of these automobiles, he had those fond memories to reflect on.

“Is that a real compliment, mate?” Killian asked as they strolled into the station and David slapped his hand upon Killian’s shoulder good-naturedly.

“It is, and I think you’ve earned it seeing as how you put that last complaint to bed so quickly.”

Killian groaned aloud thinking back to today’s one actual encounter with the Storybrooke populace. It was, unsurprisingly, an incident having to do with the dwarves, and where both David and Emma had a bit more patience with these matters normally, Killian did not. He knew better than to entertain the dramatics that flared up between that group of busybodies and luckily none of them, not even Grumpy, ever questioned the badge he’d taken on after the Black Fairy’s curse was lifted. Instead they grumbled about his being so abrupt, but they settled down enough again to rectify the noise complaint that Granny had been forced to file after their antics.

“I think we need a new system,” Killian said as they moved into the precinct once more and he hung up his jacket and grabbed his share of lunch from David before moving to his desk. “Each of them can have one infraction a week or it’s a stint in a cell for the lot of them. Otherwise they get themselves all worked up over and over again and we’ve got more work because of it.”

“You might be onto something there,” David admitted as he sat down across the way with his own food. “But all things considered, I’ll take dwarf wrangling to facing actual villains any day.”

“Hear, hear,” Killian agreed as he toasted with his cup (which thanks to his being on duty and his wife’s loving insistence, was not filled with rum as he might have preferred, but with water) and dug into his meal.

Yet as Killian sat there with David in companionable silence, it wasn’t work or villains that were on his mind, but his Emma and their daughter Hope who were waiting for him at home. Since he was working today Emma was at the house with their little princess, who would be turning four in a few weeks time, and Killian was anxious to get back to them. Nothing ever felt as right as when he was with his family, and work was all the more tiresome when Killian knew he could be there treasuring these sacred moments with the two most important people in his life instead.

In the meantime though, Killian did have some small comfort in the form of their many pictures framed on his desk. It was impossible to see them all and not smile, and today his gaze cast to his favorite one and he remembered the moment when that shot had been captured. It was an image of the three of them and Henry all aboard the Jolly Roger, with Hope up on Killian’s shoulders making a precociously silly face and Emma in his arms smiling right for the camera as Henry did the same on his other side. Killian meanwhile had been caught looking at Emma in the same way he so often did, like she hung the moon and stars, because in his world she did. Everything good in his life that he had was thanks to this woman, and there was never a day that went by where Killian didn’t feel that right down to his soul.

Suddenly the familiar chirp of his phone went off, and Killian saw that it was Emma’s number flashing on the screen before he answered it. The fact that it was his wife who was calling made the whole idea of having to use this bloody contraption far more bearable, and he was hoping for some good news that perhaps she and Hope would visit this afternoon and end the long hours of separation he had dealt with for this shift.

“Couldn’t last a whole day without me, could you love?” Killian joked as a way of answering, but where he expected to hear Emma’s equally teasing voice floating back through the speaker, he heard his daughter’s instead sounding animated and adamant.

“Daddy you have to come home right away!”

“Hope? What is it? What’s happened?” Killian asked, feeling immediately on edge and rising to his feet, sending a look to David who also appeared incredibly concerned. Without any words exchanged, David just gave Killian a nod and Killian grabbed his jacket and threw it back on as he raced out the door before Hope elaborated.

“We need you here right now!” Hope said, this time just as enthusiastically, and Killian was at a loss for what to do. His natural response was to run, figuring he’d get home sooner at a full sprint then he would getting in the truck and driving back. But while he planned to keep Hope on the phone with him to get more information, she only added that she loved him and then the line went dead.

The rush of cold and pounding dread that coursed through Killian in that instant was severe, and he didn’t bother to try and call Emma’s phone back. Hope would likely not know how to answer, and it would just take time from getting to them. Instead he moved as fast as he could, making it back to their house in record time and running up the stairs at a loss for breath but ready to face whatever situation awaited him.

“Swan?!” Killian called out into the house, worried that something would be amiss, but then in a white poof of her own true-love induced magic, Hope appeared with Emma right on her tail.

Seeing that the two of them were in fact alright was incredibly reassuring, but while Killian’s mind might be able to process their being safe, his body was still running on that adrenaline that fear had instilled only minutes ago. His hand and hook shook from the force of the exertion of running here and from the lingering sense of terror he’d been suffering from. But just the sight of his daughter bounding towards him with her chestnut brown curls bouncing and her blue eyes filled with happiness at his arrival was enough to steady him somewhat.

“Daddy you made it! We’ve been waiting forever,” Hope said with a mix of childish cheer and a bit of chastisement all at once as she hugged his legs tight.

“Forever?” Killian asked, still not following as he squatted down to get to eye level with his little princess. “You just called me, lass, and I ran all the way here from the station. Not all of us have magical powers you know.”

At the reminder Hope actually looked sad for him and for her part in worrying him and she patted him on the shoulder sweetly before giving him a kiss on the cheek. Though he was damn near losing his mind just a moment before, Killian found some substantial comfort in that warm embrace from his daughter, and it was heightened all the more when he looked over her shoulder to her mother who had an apologetic smile of her own waiting for Killian.

“Hope just told me that she cracked the password on my phone. Guess who her first call was?”

Ah, that made a bit more sense and now that he wasn’t worried that Emma or Hope was in trouble he could see the humor in that. At almost four, Hope was a fast learner, and she’d taken to mechanisms in this world in a vastly superior way to him. Truth be told Killian still had an aversion to the phone and it had been years since he’d first been given one, which had made the call he just got all the more alarming.

“It was you Daddy!” Hope said happily. “I called to invite you to our tea party.”

If someone had told Killian Jones even a dew years ago that he would not only be willingly attending an affair of this sort, but that he’d actually be happy in the face of such a chance, he’d have called them a fool. Then he’d have called them a half a dozen other things that were hardly appropriate for little ears. But now he was a different man entirely, a man who loved his wife and child more than anything, and who knew that a person only had so many moments and so much precious time with the people they loved in this life. He’d been blessed enough to find his happy ending, and if it happened to include tea parties with his two girls then so be it.

“I’m honored, lass. I should just call your grandfather and let him know I have urgent celebratory business to attend to.”

Hope giggled at his ways of describing things, and Killian knew it was because she largely didn’t understand him. He’d tried to bring his language down to her level ever since she was born, but then he reasoned she was such a smart lass she’d pick up on it soon enough. Besides, his joke landed well with his wife who let out a sweet sound of laughter that filled Killian’s chest with warmth as she came over and bestowed her own kiss on his lips and took his hand in hers.

“I just called Dad when Hope told me what happened. He says there’s nothing that can’t wait until tomorrow and he’ll radio if anything else comes up.”

“Well thank the Gods for that,” Killian muttered and Emma ran her hand against his chest in a soothing gesture.

“She got you good didn’t she?” Emma asked and Killian nodded, his eyes tracing back over their little girl as she led them back to the living room and then moving to Emma as he reminded himself all over again that they were actually safe.

“Aye. I know things have been peaceful since well before she was born, but…”

“But it’ll always be our job to protect her no matter what,” Emma said and Killian nodded, loving even after all these years that the two of them were bound together like this. They were a team, had been almost since the start, and though parenting was in many ways an adventure he hadn’t been ready for, it was the best one he’d even been privy to save perhaps the adventure of being Emma’s husband.

“It’s my job to protect both of you, Emma, and I have every intention of doing it for the rest of our lives.”

Emma’s eyes lit up at the promise and the brightness of her smile infiltrated those jade colored pools in a way that made her even more beautiful. In truth she was a vision, and Killian just stood there knowing that he was the luckiest man in all the realms because he truly had everything he’d ever wanted.

“Daddy always comes when we need him, doesn’t he Mommy?” Hope asked then as they sat down at the little table Killian and Henry had crafted together for Hope some time ago, and Emma smiled at Killian before replying.

“Yes he does, honey. And it’s safe to say that he always will.”

“Aye. I’m only one call away, love, whenever you need me. But maybe next time you can tell me why you need me too, alright?”

“But what if it’s a surprise?” Hope asked, genuinely curious and clearly not following how much she’d alarmed Killian, but her clear desire to understand made both Emma and Killian laugh as he pulled Hope in to press a kiss to the crown of her head.

“Then you tell me it’s a surprise and I’ll follow you wherever you lead, lass.”

“Okay it’s a deal,” Hope agreed, and with that the tea party commenced and Killian and Emma enjoyed the rest of their day with their rambunctious daughter, soaking up the everyday normalcy of their glorious happily ever after.

………………..

I'm only one call away I'll be there to save the day Superman got nothing on me I'm only one call away

Call me, baby, if you need a friend I just wanna give you love Come on, come on, come on Reaching out to you, so take a chance

No matter where you go You know you're not alone

I'm only one call away I'll be there to save the day Superman got nothing on me I'm only one call away

Come along with me and don't be scared I just wanna set you free Come on, come on, come on You and me can make it anywhere For now, we can stay here for a while, ay 'Cause you know, I just wanna see you smile

No matter where you go You know you're not alone

I'm only one call away I'll be there to save the day Superman got nothing on me I'm only one call away

And when you're weak I'll be strong I'm gonna keep holding on Now don't you worry, it won't be long, Darling And when you feel like hope is gone Just run into my arms

I'm only one call away I'll be there to save the day Superman got nothing on me I'm only one, I'm only one call away I'll be there to save the day Superman got nothing on me I'm only one call away

I'm only one call away

Post-Note: So this request came a long long time ago, and there were so many possible ways to take it, but given recent events I wanted to make it a future CS snapshot, and once I had that in mind, the rest came naturally. Thank you very much to my lovely reader who was so patient with this song request, and to all of you who have been equally patient. I hope you all enjoyed and that you’re weeks are going okay all things considered.