I've been posting these on tumblr, so I figured I should post them here, too.

AN: Emma's thoughts during the end of 4x01.

Be Patient (I'm Not So Far Away)

'So, crisis averted.'

Wiping the lingering bits of snow from her hands, Emma turned toward Killian, huffing a laugh. Apparently he wasn't letting go of his optimism any time soon. 'You want to go home and see what's on Netflix?' she asked.

His grin only widened and although there was a hint of uncertainty in his eyes, he drew himself up all the same. 'I don't know what that is, but sure,' he said cheerfully and it touched her that despite her trying to put space between them all day (not to mention the snow monster), he still seemed happy at her invitation to spend time with her.

She wished that she hadn't been joking, but she wasn't just making excuses before. There was always something. 'Killian, someone created that snowman. This isn't over.'

'It never is. All the more reason to enjoy the quiet moments and right now,' he said, stepping forward to close the distance between them and she couldn't deny the thrill that went through her at the proximity, 'we have a quiet moment.'

'I know,' she said with a smile, which faded as she took a step back, dropping her gaze. 'I just gotta do something.' She looked up at him, part challenging and part curious, with a twinge of nervousness that she didn't let herself show. How many times would it take before she pushed him away too far?

'Fine. Of course. Go ahead.' He took a step back himself, the open expression on his face fading into something more resigned. 'Don't tell me you're not avoiding me anymore, because I'm actually quite perceptive, and this,' he waved his hand between them, 'this is avoiding me.'

'I know, I know,' she said, and she did. Because she was (and he hadn't run away yet, hadn't gotten tired of waiting, was still here looking at her like she was everything and she hadn't run either). 'I am.' The resignation on his face dropped into that searching look that he had when he was seeing straight through her, so she knew there was no point in hiding it. 'I just feel... Right now I just feel too guilty.'

His eyes narrowed. 'Over Regina?' he asked skeptically.

'She lost someone she really cares for because of me,' she said, remembering the wounded look on Regina's face outside the diner, the word monster echoing around the courtyard. She couldn't feel bad for saving an innocent woman's life, but because of her, Regina was losing someone who had made her happy. The idea of... whatever this was with Killian, was starting to sound easier and easier the more he was by her side, but she felt bad for her happiness when someone was hurting because of her.

Killian was watching her, but after a moment he dropped his gaze, gathering his own thoughts. 'No, there's more to this than just Regina, isn't there?' he said, looking back up at her and when he did, there was a hint of a wall coming up, along with a challenge.

Maybe her avoidance of him was getting to him more than she thought. She'd made it perfectly clear in Neverland and then after she'd returned from New York that she was in no place to open herself up to someone again, and she could see in the hard press of his lips and the furrow between his eyes that this was exactly what he thought she was doing. And yes - a part of her was scared to let herself be cared for, to open herself up to whatever this was, but...

But he wasn't running away. So neither would she.

Setting her shoulders, she closed the distance between them slowly, deliberately, turning her head to press her mouth against his, her lips barely brushing his before he kissed her firmly, her eyes drifting shut. She only gave herself a moment, just one second of self-indulgence to feel the thrill of together, of wanting and of hope, knowing that if she gave herself any longer then there was a very high chance of nothing else being seen to for the rest of the day.

He leaned after her when she pulled away, and she knew the feeling, felt the same need to keep him close. Maybe they could find their moments after all. 'Be patient,' she said with a small smile, licking her lips to taste him again as she stepped back and then turned away in the direction of the town.

Maybe it wasn't all just about Regina. She needed time to rebuild her walls in a way that would let someone inside them, but somehow, she knew that he'd be there for her when she was ready to let him in.

'I've all the time in the world,' she heard him say from behind her, and her lips tugged up into a smile. 'Unless another monster appears and kills me,' he added, and she pressed her lips together, rolling her eyes even though he couldn't see them.

His footsteps in the leaves told her that he was following after her, and she slowed her pace to let him catch up, sneaking a glance at him after a few minutes of walking in silence. He looked just like she felt.

Cautiously happy.

We'll find more moments, she promised him silently.