SPOILERS FOR 4x02.
Little drabble about Emma's thoughts as she warmed up. All CS fluff.
The heater was still blowing warm air towards her and that, combined with the steamy mug of hot cocoa and the small pile of blankets on top of her, was making the cold vanish very quickly. Not to mention the hot furnace of a pirate who refused to leave her side. She could remember all too well the desperation in Killian's voice. The relief in coming out and finding herself in his arms, relaxing and feeling him relax as well as he squeezed her closer. Her own need to be closer to him, knowing what she'd almost lost. He had been the first one to come back. The first person to never give up on her, to stand by her side at all times. She wasn't stupid, she knew he cared about her. Anyone with eyes could see that. But she'd never thought she'd hear that level of anguish on his voice, like she heard through the walkie while she was trapped in the ice cave. So she found herself quite unable to let go of him. And she found she liked it. His arms around her, their hands entwined, light kisses on her hairline.
Sensing movement returning to her thawing limbs, Emma gave the now empty mug to Henry, pulled Killian up and pushed him towards the couch, knowing his kneeling position just could not be comfortable after so long. He tried to protest, but quieted once he realized what she was doing and smiled as she cuddled on his side, his arm going back around her as her head laid on his shoulder.
"Now" she mumbled sleepily "so much more comfy."
She could feel his smile, but didn't have it in her to care. She'd hated the experience. Not only because she'd almost frozen to death but because it rendered her impotent. Used to action, she hadn't felt that level of helplessness since… Well, truthfully, not since she was locked up in a cell, a positive pregnancy test in her hands. And she had hated it. All she could imagine was what she was going to lose, all the quiet moments she would never have, all the dates she'd been avoiding. And there was nothing she could do but lie there on the ice and hope.
Emma Swan was not very used to hoping. And she definitely was not used to trusting, to depending on other people. But tonight she'd known, without a single doubt in her mind, that if there were two people who could get her out of that cave, it was her father and her… and Killian. Even as she lost sensibility over her limbs, she'd known that the two of them would find a way to get her out – or die trying.
And if a week– who was she kidding, earlier that same day she'd been avoiding Killian because she'd been afraid of what they could become, she'd still been afraid of getting hurt.
She'd heard what her dad had said to Elsa on the walkie. For thirty years, she'd been a survivor. She excelled at that. She was also sick of it. After this little adventure, with Killian's screams still very alive on her mind, she wanted to live.
She'd never had what she was having right now. A family to cuddle and care for her. Someone – or some people – who would drop whatever they were doing to come to her rescue, who would not rest until they were all home safe and sound. Growing up in foster care and then alone on the streets it just wasn't something you could have. And she liked it. Who wouldn't. So she decided she wanted more. Greedy, she wanted the whole package.
"You know," she said, lifting her head to look into Killian's blue eyes "that was some second date."
He snorted, his arms clenching and pulling her closer against him. "Don't blame me for not desiring a repeated performance so soon, love."
Emma smiled. "I was thinking, maybe for our third date, we could try one of those quiet dinners. I heard they can be quite nice."
He smiled too, lifting one of his expressive eyebrows. "Isn't that a bit tame for us? I thought you liked to test my heart's strength."
"Well, you know, variety is good for the soul. Or whatever. What do you say?"
"I'd say my heart has been tested enough for the time being. I think a quiet dinner would be a nice new exercise."
"Good," she laid back her head on his chest, "my heart could also use the rest."