"I honestly can't breathe." Emma complained as she pressed her palms over her stomach, trying to take a full breath, but meeting the resistance of her corset. "Can you loosen it?"

"Your dress won't fit." The maid reminded her softly as she moved to the grand wardrobe and brought out Emma's ball gown. "Just remember how beautiful you'll look in this when you make your entrance."

Emma sighed, brows furrowing as she stared at the dress. "I don't even like dresses." She had tried her best not to complain about her lifestyle changes now that everyone had been returned to the Enchanted Forest. But certain aspects – like puffy dresses and tiaras were starting to wear on her nerves.

"Well you can't go to a ball without a dress, miss." The maid smiled at her, stepping towards her with the dress, "You'll look beautiful."

Emma glanced towards the large clock in the corner of the room, "I still have a couple hours until the ball, can you come in an hour to put me in this?" She smoothed her hand over the front of her bodice, trying to take a full breath.

"Of course." The maid bowed her head before returning the dress to the wardrobe and excusing herself from Emma's chambers.

The former sheriff glanced at her reflection in the mirror, her brows knit together and a frown gracing her lips. She hated how much she hated living in the Enchanted Forest. She had thought that it had been bad the first time she'd come, when it was just living in the woods and trying to survive – but living in a castle, with obligations and dresses was ten times worse.

"Emma?"

Her eyes widened and she whirled around, glaring at the window. "Who's there?"

"Let me in lass."

There was only one man with that voice.

"Are you kidding me?" Emma let out a frustrated sigh, marching across the room to the window and throwing open the shutters. She leaned over the window sill, looking down the latticing. "What are you doing out here?"

"Have you missed me, love?" The charming pirate smirked up at her, finishing the climb up to her window.

"I-.." Emma's voice wavered as she stepped aside, watching as the pirate hauled himself through her window, collapsing to the floor. "Why are you here?"

Killian chuckled as he looked up at her, blinking his eyes a few times, before running a hand over his face with a sigh of exhaustion. "Well, I heard there was a ball." He pushed himself upright, sitting up and studying her current state of dress with a smirk, "I wasn't expecting to see you… so undressed."

Emma looked down at her clothes – she was dressed. To her a corset and petti-pants was fully dressed, "I'm completely covered so quit ogling me you idiot."

The pirate rolled his eyes, "It's been almost a month since you last saw me and that's how you great me, love?" He looked up at her from beneath his dark lashes, pleased when it drew a sultry smirk from her.

"You shouldn't be here, Killian." She swallowed shakily, "I told you that changed nothing."

Killian pushed himself to his feet, stepping close to her, their noses almost brushing, "You know, there's going to be men down there who intend to court the princess."

Emma wet her lips, lashes fluttering as she looked up at him. It was frustrating how easily he could make her heart hammer in her chest. "I'm not on the market for courting. I might be a princess, but I'm not a prize to be won."

"Are they really going to make you wear that?" Killian stepped past her, strolling over to the wardrobe to examine her cerulean blue dress.

She couldn't tell if her sudden shortness of breath was thanks to the corset or thanks to the pirate, but whichever it was she was left breathless as she watched him poking around in the wardrobe. "I really hate the dresses. I didn't sign up for this." She complained, laughing as Killian knocked the dress off of the hanger and he fought to hang it back up.

"Can you imagine if you'd be in one of these the day we climbed the beanstalk?"

Emma laughed, "I'd imagine that I wouldn't have climbed up with you."

Killian gave her a look, "Then I wouldn't have climbed the beanstalk."

"Really?"

"Did you really think I wanted to climb the beanstalk with a naïve little girl, a warrior who'd run me though with a blade, or your mother who would have probably shot me full of arrows? It was you and only you."

There was her heart fluttering in her chest again, "I-… well it's a good thing I wasn't in a dress then."

"Indeed." Killian clicked his tongue against his teeth, a smirk on his lips. "I'm not going to complain about you wearing a dress now, but I certainly prefer you-" He looked her up and down, "Like this."

Emma rolled her eyes, "I don't." She took a strained breath, "I can't breathe in this thing."

"Shall I divest you of it then?" His eyes lit up at the prospect, his tongue drawing along his bottom lip as he moved towards her.

"The maid's going to be back soon to get me in the dress." Emma gave him a tight lipped smile, trying to hide her interest in his words. "Sorry."

"You're not sorry," His eyes were hooded as he stepped towards her, circling behind her. "You know, there's one thing that can get my blood pumping with very little hesitation." Killian whispered in a low voice, his lips close to her ear.

"What's that?" Emma's eyes were drawn to the mirror, admiring how right the two of them looked beside each other. The contrast of her blond hair beside his dark, the differences in height that was suited perfectly to one another.

"Bodice laces." Killian hooked his fingers in the laces, giving them a tug, chuckling at the way she sucked in sharply. "Are you sure you don't want me to help you out of this?"

"Lock the door." Emma twisted around, looking up at him, "Now."

"As you wish princess." Killian's brows quirked upwards, chuckling at the look on her face, before he turned on his heels and headed to lock her chamber door.

"You know I really, really hate that word." Emma put her hands on her hips, glaring at him as if she were truly irritated with him, "But I think I'm going to make an exception for you." She canted her head to the side, giving him a look.

"I think you've made a lot of exceptions for me and you just haven't realized it yet." Killian returned to her, flicking his tongue over his bottom lip as he looked down at her, "You say you won't be won by courting, but I'm fairly certain that this could be called courting."

"You can't court someone you've already-" Emma's words came to a halt as she realized what she was saying, "I mean…"

He chuckled, bringing his hand to her waist, his thumb brushing over the boning that made her waist seem so drastically curved. "Were you just implying that I've already won you?"

"No." Emma forced her brows together, casting her eyes away from his too-blue and too observant eyes. "I was just saying that… you're courting me."

"And I'm the only one apparently." Killian drawled out, nudging her chin up with the curve of his hook, smiling at her, "Even after you said that what we had was a 'this changes nothing, one time mistake'." He leaned in and pressed his lips to hers, his lips lingering against hers, "Did you think about?"

"I couldn't stop." Emma admitted, her fingers brushing over the hair at the nape of his neck. "And that really pissed me off because I didn't know if I was going to see you here."

"I always find you don't I?" Killian questioned, his eyes meeting hers, "Even when I don't intend to."

"But you clearly intended to find me today." Emma retorted with an arched brow, "Were you afraid of competition?"

"That and I'm also a fair bit afraid of the guards." Killian widened his eyes with a sarcastic look, "They seemed a bit gung-ho with their swords when I scaled the palisades."

"Were you trying to get killed?"

"No. That would defeat the whole point of coming here." He dipped in and kissed her again, "Do you think there's a chance I might be permitted to attend the ball?"

Emma pressed her lips together; her eyes cast downwards, "I don't think it's a safe idea. I mean… it's a masquerade, there's every chance if you keep your mask on no one will know it's you, but…" She grabbed a hold of his hook, "This is a bit of a dead giveaway."

Killian pulled away from her and pulled off his satchel, digging around in it until he found what he wanted, "I don't go anywhere without my attachments." He flashed her a flirting grin, "Now no one will know that it's me."

"Except for me." Emma smirked, drawing her tongue over her bottom lip, looking up at him from beneath her lashes, "You better not dance with anyone else."

"The same goes for you princess, your pirate might get envious if someone else is fondling his treasures."

Emma burst into laughter, before realizing that the corset made it hard to laugh as much as she wanted, "Oh, you're my pirate now?"

"Aye," Killian agreed, looking down at her with adoring eyes, brushing his knuckles over her cheek, "How long have we?"

"Not nearly long enough," Emma replied, moving her arms to rest over his shoulders, pulling him closer, "If you think you can get me in and out of this corset, before my maid comes back, I'm more than willing to go back on my words from the last time."

"Which were those?" Killian smirked knowingly.

Emma slapped his cheek playfully, "I think they sounded a bit like-" Oh, she could repeat her promise that this would never happen again or she could work him up a bit. She leaned forward, breath dancing over his ear as her lips brushed his ear lobe, "Take me now Captain."

Killian growled, his fingers hooking into the laces as he turned her around sharply, "I see someone's well on their way to being a commanding princess."

Emma shuddered at the tone in his words, her back arching as his fingers worked the laces open, the bodice loosening its hold on her and slipping down her arms. "Thank you for releasing me from that."

"My pleasure." He trailed his fingers down her back, relishing her warmth. "You're significantly less dressed than I am, that's hardly fair."

Emma turned around, her eyes meeting his, hooded with desire. "Well, then let's get you out of this." Without hesitation, Emma started to pull his shirt over his head – just in time for someone to knock on her door.

"Wait a moment." Emma called, giving Killian a nervous look as she quickly moved to her wardrobe and grabbed a robe, concealing the fact that her bodice was off. She motioned, silently, for him to move out of the line of sight of the door, as she opened it slowly.

"Are you ready to get into your dress?"

"I'm really dreading getting in that dress right now, so how about you come back in another hour. That would leave us plenty of time to get me in the dress."

"We'll be cutting it close."

A nervous laugh escaped her lips, "I know, but… I'm just not ready to get in it yet."

"Of course, m'lady." The maid dipped in a slight bow, before hurrying off down the corridor.

"Jesus Christ." Emma swore as she shut the door, locking it again. "That was nerve-racking." She turned around, smirking as her eyes fell on his bare chest. "I see you went ahead and got rid of your shirt."

"Well, it sounds like we've got very limited time. I'd hate to have to wait till the end of the dance."

"That's if you don't get thrown out of the ball for being such a dishonorable, villainous man." Emma pressed her tongue to the inside of her cheek, batting her lashes up at him. Her fingers toyed with the tie at her side, the one keeping her robe on. "So, where were we?" She questioned as she dropped the robe from her shoulders.

"We were right here," Killian leaned in and caught her lips, drawing her close to him, savoring the sensation of skin against skin.

Emma's fingers trailed down his arms, tracing over the scars that marred his skin. She still had them memorized from the last time they had been together. Ever since their return to the Enchanted Forest, she had relived that evening with Killian. The eve before the battle, emotions were high, desires were on fire, and they'd ended up pressed against the bars of the cell in the station. She'd sworn it was just a one night stand, but clearly the emotions they'd realized were stronger than her promise to herself.

Killian walked them backwards towards her bed, hauling her upright and tossing her backwards onto the bed, following after her. "The clothes here are so much more convenient for me." He chuckled as he unlaced the ties that were holding her petti-pants closed, slipping them down her hips.

"Yes of course, I came to the Enchanted Forest and became a princess, all for ease of access for you." Emma retorted with a deadpan expression, slipping her hand down his abdomen, working on pulling the laces out of his leather trousers.

"That's what I thought." Killian chuckled at her comment, holding her gaze as he leaned in to trail kisses along her collarbone, his fingers trailing over the valley between her breasts. A groan escaped his lips, his eyes widening, as she took him in her hand, teasingly stroking him. "Emma."

"Yes?" She smirked, biting down on her bottom lip as he dipped in to kiss where his fingers had previously been.

"Minx." He let his teeth graze over the underside of her breast, his breath dancing over her sensitive skin. "Time's of the essence, love."

"I thought you'd want to make this count, in case you're banished from our kingdom." Emma's voice lit with teasing sarcasm as she brought her hand away from him, pushing his trousers down his hips.

"Banishing me from the kingdom won't do a damn thing - I'll find a way back." Killian kissed back up her chest, claiming her mouth again as he settled his knees between her legs, groaning against her lips as she curled her legs around his waist.

Emma nipped at his bottom lip, her tongue brushing out over the skin she had caught between her teeth. Without a moment's notice, Emma rolled them over, pressing her palms against his chest, looking down at him with a grin. "I couldn't resist."

"By all means do as you wish," Killian drawled out, resting his hand on her hip, his breath coming out shakily. "This way, your hair won't get ruined."

"Oh? You're concerned about my hair?" Emma's brow quirked upwards as she leaned forward and caught his lips, rolling her hips teasingly. Her hair fell around them like golden curtains and a soft whimper escaped her mouth when he tangled his fingers in her hair, tugging softly.

Killian growled against her lips when she started grinding her hips against him again, his resolve starting to slowly come undone. "Emma."

"I'm right here." She punctuated her comment with a sharp rock of her hips, making herself gasp at the friction.

"Stop teasing." Killian complained, releasing her curls and grabbing ahold of her hip to keep her still.

"But I'm enjoying this." Emma pouted, looking down at him, pressing her palms against his chest as he started to try to roll them over.

"I thought you said time was of the essence. Do you want to waste all of our time?" Killian arched a brow, meeting her eyes. "This isn't how you thank someone for removing you from the bondage of a corset."

"You're incorrigible." She rolled her eyes, letting him roll them back over, a smirk returning to her lips as he kissed her again, their tongues tangling with each other. Her legs wrapped around him, gasping as he finally rolled his hips forward and claimed her.

"Killian."

"We've made progress," He chuckled, pleased that she chose to call him Killian instead of Hook. A pleasant turn of events. "Gods, Emma." Killian kissed her again, resting his hand at her hip to hold her steady as he thrust into her, taking his time, despite the clock ticking against them.

Emma scraped her nails down his back, leaving a trail of red flesh in their wake, her hips rocking against him, meeting his thrusts. Nothing had ever felt like this – she'd never felt this sort of connection with another living soul. And that was the terrifying part of the whole situation. Captain Hook made her feel something that no one else had ever made her feel.

The little slip of her tongue had been far more telling of what she was feeling than she'd wanted it to be. Because she was his and part of her hoped that he could be hers. It was overwhelming to finally feel complete with someone. And right now, he was feeling a lot like home.

Her legs tightened around him, her back arching off of the bed when he slipped his hand between them, his fingers seeking to torment her further. "Killian!"

Killian groaned her name, his breath catching in his throat, his hips starting to move forward with uneven thrusts, the white hot heat starting to blur his vision.

Emma cried out, seeking anywhere on him for purchase as her release washed over her, his name falling from her lips over and over again. They stilled, clinging to each other for a long moment in silence, savoring the warmth and the weight of each other in their arms.

Neither said it, not now and maybe not ever. But the feeling of place was there, the sensation that they didn't have to keep looking for somewhere to call home, because they'd found it – in each other's arms.

"I need to get up now." Emma muttered, pressing her forehead against his shoulder with a heavy sigh. "And you need to help me into my corset."

"And how am I supposed to do that?" Killian smirked, rolling off of her begrudgingly and leaning over the edge of the bed to grab his pants, starting to pull them on again.

"You said that you would put it back on me."

"I can't do that with one hand, love. You're on your own."

"Killian Jones." Emma snapped, clambering out of the bed and following after him as he went to find his shirt. "I'll call the guards on you if you think about leaving without fixing what you've done."

"Call your maid," He retorted with a saucy grin, pulling his shirt on, before picking up her bodice and throwing it at her. "You're on your own, love."

Emma glared at him, "I swear to God if you walk out that door right now you're getting your ass hauled off by guards if you try to dance with me tonight."

"You have a maid for a reason."

"Right. I'll just tell her that a pirate came in my window, we fucked, and then left me bodiceless." Emma's hands went to her hips and she didn't give a damn about the fact that she was stood in front of him stark naked. "Killian."

"Emma, love, I need to go down and get ready for the ball." He started to walk backwards, holding her gaze. "I'll see you down at the ball."

Emma moved to put herself between him and the door, barring him from leaving, "Please don't leave me to explain this to my maid."

"They don't talk. Ladies maids are the best secret keepers." Killian gave her an innocent smile, before letting his shoulders sag as he walked forward, holding his hand out for the bodice, "Turn around and we'll see what we can do."

"Thank you." Emma let out a breath of relief, slipping her arms through the sleeves and wrapping the boning around her waist, "Thank you."

"It's no problem at all," Killian whispered, kissing the column of her neck as he drew up the laces slowly, taking his time in lacing her back up. "Now you won't have to call the guards on me."

"I wouldn't have anyways," Emma glanced over her shoulder at him, smiling at him. "How would I get you out of the dungeons?"

"I think you'd find a way." Killian chuckled, finishing the last lace, pulling it taut and bending down to use his mouth the finish the knot. "There, are you happy now?"

"You have no idea," She replied, turning around to look up at him. She hadn't smiled this much since coming to the castle and she didn't think she would smile this much unless he was with her. "I'll see you down in the Great Hall," She tilted her head, meeting his eyes.

"You better dance with me." He quipped, leaning in to steal a kiss before pulling away from her and starting to unlock the door.

"Emma-"

"Mary Margaret!" Emma gasped, her eyes locking on Killian's as he hid behind the door, unable to hide anywhere else before the Queen was in her daughter's bedroom. "Hi, hello – um, was there something you needed?" Emma flustered, eyes wide as her mother slipped into her room.

"The guards have warned me that that ruffian was scene on the grounds."

"Who?" Emma asked innocently, thankful that as her mother turned to face her, Killian had slipped beneath her bed.

"Hook."

"Oh."

Mary Margaret sighed heavily, "I just wanted to warn you that he might attempt to attend the ball tonight, for some unusual reason." She gave her daughter a look, "You wouldn't know anything about this – would you?"

"Me? No." Emma shook her head, adamant that it was the truth. "I haven't seen him since the battle."

"Good. Pirates have no place here in the castle, especially one like him."

"Of course," She agreed, turning her head as someone else knocked on her door, "Come in."

"Are you ready to change for the ball, m'lady?"

"Yes." Emma agreed with a heavy sigh, her eyes flickering to the bed for a brief moment before she moved to stand in front of the mirror, taking her place to be dressed.

"I promise you, you'll get used to the dresses." Mary Margaret smiled, chuckling at her daughter's resistance.

"There are a lot of things that I still have to get used to here." Emma frowned, her eyes drawn to the bed again. Like why Killian – not Hook, couldn't be accepted her. He'd done so many awful things and she knew that, but she saw that that man was Captain Hook, not Killian Jones. There was a difference and maybe only she could really see it, but it was there.

Killian Jones had been the man that took her up the beanstalk, but Captain Hook was the man that she'd seen every time Rumplestiltskin had come into the picture. But he was gone now. Even if everyone saw Captain Hook, she saw Killian Jones – the man that was trying to find his place now that his three hundred years of revenge was over with. He was in the place that she had been in, when she'd first realized who she was. She knew that she was meant to be in Storybrooke and that it was where she was supposed to be, but it still didn't fit and that was what Killian was facing now.

The Enchanted Forest was supposed to be his home – but he didn't fit in there anymore because he had changed.

"If you see him, don't hesitate to call the guards on him."

Emma nodded distantly, her skin still warm from his touch. "Of course." She looked towards the bed again, catching his eyes. A smile lit his lips and she couldn't help but feel it curve her own lips. There was no doubt that he felt this too.