A/N: The winter finale broke me. That's why nothing has been added to When She Returns and I haven't posted anything new yet.

Instead, here's something happy and light and Christmassy. There may be more to this if people review and enjoy it but before I get ahead of myself why don't you take the chance to read it yourself. Hope you all enjoy it.

Disclaimer: Didn't you know? Adam and Eddy totally gave me OUAT for Christmas, said that I'd probably take better care of the characters, i.e. not separating the characters for a whole year and making fans wait until March for anything new...

Something was wrong.

Hook wasn't sure what was out of place as he attempted to rouse himself fully from the most beautiful dream involving himself, a certain swan and significantly less clothes than he currently wore.

The well worn leather pants barely made a sound as he swung his legs over the side of the bed, hand trying to tame his unruly hair, while taking note of the cabin.

The few stars that hung in the sky barely lit the Captains Quarters; it was either far too early to be waking himself now or something had happened during the night. The ship was calm, the soothing rocking, back and forth motion not indicating any kind of storm brewing.

On the verge of giving up, Hook finally registered the loud beating noise, becoming more insistent and getting louder the longer it was ignored.

Barely noticing the cold floor against his feet, Hook strode over to the door, fully intending on dressing down whoever had thought disturbing the precious few hours of sleep he'd got. Since Neverland, sleep had been something of a myth to the one-handed pirate; there was always a watch to be taken, some new danger trying to kill the group, trying to kill her...

Shaking his head to clear these thoughts before they had chance to fully take hold he pulled open the door, hinges wobbling with the force behind the gesture.

Stood there in the empty doorway, looking incredibly sheepish and rather confused, as if puzzled by the very idea that she was there in the first place, stood Emma Swan.

The woman of Hook's dreams.

Literally.

Eyes wide and hair thoroughly tousled after running her hands through it in a familiar, calming motion, Hook couldn't help but wonder why his Swan would be seeking him out at such an ungodly hour.

"What's wrong lass, couldn't stay away?"

Truthfully, he was worried about her. She was quiet and seemed withdrawn during their dinner at the diner. The dinners that were becoming more and more frequent as time went by. The dinners that neither would admit to arranging but would worry and seek out the other if they were to miss the after-work tradition that was forming on the nights when Henry wasn't staying with Emma.

Snapping out of whatever trance she appeared to be under, Emma sprang to life, moving past Hook and into his room. Picking up random artefacts of various value, serval books and an open bottle of rum at his desk, the blonde seemed to be ignoring the pirates presence as if it troubled her to be so close.

Finally, taking a deep breath and an even deeper drag of rum, Emma turned round and without giving her courage chance to falter or words to fail her she rushed out the words she had come to say. "Wouldyouliketocometodinnertomorrow?"

Highly puzzled by the unusual behaviour of the woman before him Hook paused, tilting his head and raising his eyebrow, trying to decipher what on Earth Emma had just asked him.

Taking his silence as bad news Emma began to babble while rubbing at her collarbone beneath her shirt, a nervous habit that she thought she had outgrown years ago.

"It's just that tomorrow is Christmas now and Mary-Margret is planning this huge feast and I'm sure there'll be more than enough spare. Not that I think of you as a spare, I just thought it would be nice for you to have somewhere to be. But if you already have plans then that's fine too I just thought I should... What?"

Shaking his head, grin in place Hook began to laugh, not because he found her new nervous nature laughable or that her idea was amusing but rather at the fact that after all this time here was his Swan, still looking out for him.

"Nothing but correct me if I'm wrong, love, but couldn't this have waited until it actually looks like morning outside? Or I'm dressed?..."

Seemingly only just noticing the fact that Hook was in fact only clothes in leather pants Emma felt colour rush to her cheeks, praying that the dim light would conceal her blush.

Hook, however, was thankfully that his eyesight had adjusted to the darkness and that he could see the rosy tint spreading across the blonde's cheeks.

"Sorry, I should go anyway. It's late. Early. Whatever." Waving her hand from side to side in a seemingly casual manner, Emma attempted to leave before she made a further fool out of herself.

Reaching out, Hook wrapped his hand around her arm, stopping Emma from leaving him. "Swan, wait. I would love to be there, honestly."

"But?"

"No buts, thank you for the invite, is there a certain time I should make myself available for you?"

"Dinner starts at four. Be there earlier if you want, everyone gives gifts and Henry would love the chance to see you. David's getting him a sword for Christmas, maybe you could help him with that?"

Stepping closer, extinguishing the space between them, Hook raised his handless arm to rest at her waist. He wasn't wearing his brace and despite the fact that Emma had seen his stump once or twice Hook couldn't help the feeling of satisfaction spreading within him at seeing her so unaffected by it.

"What about you, Swan?"

"Excuse me?"

"I asked what you were getting for Christmas..."

"Honestly? I don't want anything, I have Henry and my parents and... Friends. I have everything now."

Realisation hit Hook like a slap to the face. For a orphan like Emma, like himself, family meant everything and especially during holiday seasons. Moving his arms to embrace her fully, hand snaking up to thread his fingers through her hair he breathed in the scent of apple and cinnamon from her hair.

"The holidays are never a time to be alone, lass."

"It's a good thing we're not alone anymore then."

"...I guess it is."

Slowly letting go of each other, Hook stepped back in time to see the smile still gracing Emma's face.

Looking over his shoulder at the rumpled sheets, Emma looked back to see Hook watching her. "I should probably let you get back to sleeping now."

"Don't fancy joining me? We don't have to sleep..." Falling back into the familiar tit-for-tat routine was easy. The moment had passed.

"Nah, I should head home, everyone will be waking up soon."

"So they will."

Moving toward the door, Emma couldn't resist one last look over her shoulder at the pirate still standing where she'd left him. "I'll see you later, yeah?"

"Nothing could keep me away, love."

"Good."

And with that she was gone and Hook was far too excited to even think about sleep now. His first Christmas in Storybrooke and he would be spending it with Emma.

He couldn't wait.

A/N2: So? Thoughts? I may have another chapter to upload in a little while but only if you guys actually review and let me know how I'm doing. I thrive on constructive criticism and praise; I like to know what you like and what I'm doing well so please don't just ghost read?

Think of it as a Christmas gift...