Tumblr prompt: Emma and Killian cuddling.

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Emma woke to a tickling sensation on her arm but when she tried to pull away Killian's handless arm moved to halt the movement.

"What are you doing?" she mumbled sleepily, pressing closer to the warmth of her pirate's chest against her back.

"Counting your freckles," was his reply, said casually as if freckle counting was a completely normal morning activity. "You know some of them are remarkably similar to the constellations, lass."

"Yeah, well stop it. It tickles."

The fingers on her arm paused and in her sleep hazed mind, Emma didn't realise that she'd just given the pirate valuable information.

"Terribly sorry lass," the saviour's eyes snapped open instantly when she heard the smirk in Killian's voice. "I should have realised sooner that you were ticklish. Then I would have done this," and before she had time to react, Killian's fingers were running over the side of her ribs causing her to let out a high pitched noise somewhere between a giggle and a squeal.

"No! Killian sto-" her pleas went unanswered and the solid arm around her waist prevented any attempts at escape.

For the better part of ten minutes Killian enjoyed the carefree giggles and writhing of her body against his, under his ministrations. Eventually he granted his Swan some form of mercy and pinned her body beneath his. With her gazing up at him he could truly appreciate her flushed cheeks and the untainted happiness glowing in her emerald eyes.

"Good morning," Emma murmured against his lips as she pulled his head down to hers.

"It certainly is." Killian rolled so that they were chest to chest with her body mostly on top of his. "When do you have to leave for the station?"

"My dad's got it covered for now." With that Killian pulled her tighter against him, thumb tracing soft circles on the small of her back as she nuzzled into the crook of his neck.

"Good," he murmured against her hair, holding her firmly against him as if she were the most precious thing in the world.

It was hard to believe that just a few short weeks ago, Emma had been ready to run away from this man, from the bliss he brought her from simply holding her close and not wanting to let go. She never would have guessed that Captain Hook, of all people, was a cuddler but then neither was she until him. Emma Swan couldn't even have imagined that she could spend hours in a man's arms with not a single thought of moving. And yet, when the phone rang a few hours later – David wondering when she was coming to relieve him – they both groaned at the thought of moving.

"Tell him you're ill," the pirate urged, tightening his arms around her and placing soft kisses along her shoulder and neck.

"So he tells Mary Margaret and she comes over to force feed me chicken soup?"

"I hate your parents," Killian grumbled against her skin, reluctantly loosening his hold but still not letting go of his laughing Swan.