*Disclaimer - I own nothing. All rights belong to OUAT.
Mornings in Storybrooke almost always started out the same - not that Emma would ever find any problem with that. After an unstable childhood lacking security and a predictable routine, she was beyond grateful to wake up every day to a wonderful "same old, same old".
"Ugh," she groaned, rolling her eyes and throwing her arms back over her face. "Already? The sun isn't even up so why are we?"
A soft chuckle came from the other side of the bed, warming up the dim light of dawn peeking through the curtains. Feeling the bed dip, Emma braved opening one eye to glance at the alarm clock. 5:17. Stupid pirate.
"I didn't mean to wake you, love," Killian said softly, reaching over to run a palm across Emma's back. "However, I believe the expression in this realm is 'you can sleep when you're dead'."
"It's way too early for your sarcasm, pirate," Emma replied, nuzzling backward into his touch. She wiggled her feet to his side of the bed, searching desperately for his body warmth.
"Ah but what a way to start the day, right?"
Emma opened an eye again to toss him a quick glare. Shaking his head, he mimicked her while throwing in a slight smirk for good measure. Sometimes she still had a difficult time believing this was her life. Early mornings. Sassy little exchanges. Sharing her bed with a downright scoundrel.
"One day," Emma yawned. "I will convert you to the ways of a late sleeper."
"As I recall, love," Killian whispered, stretching his legs back out on the bed and pulling her into his arms while leaning down to run his teeth across the top of her ear.
"Whenever I do stay in bed with you until a later hour, we rarely do much sleeping. If your thoughts are following that wonderfully familiar pattern, I'm sure I could delay my venture to the docks for a few hours or so..."
"A few hours? Really? Quite arrogant this morning, aren't we? Didn't tire yourself out last night?"
"Arrogance and honesty are hardly the same thing, Swan - and we both know I can always summon some energy when it involves being in close quarters with you."
"I guess I'll have to take your word for it, Jones. I'm still exhausted and you have a walk to take."
Killian laughed quietly and placed a kiss and then another against Emma's neck. She sighed heavily, tempted to give into his seduction. But it was Wednesday - the day he met David at the docks for coffee so they could dissect the current dilemmas of town and God knows what else. Although Emma knew her parents weren't stupid - they definitely knew that Killian snuck back into the loft most nights to wake up to Emma, she knew they didn't really want to acknowledge it - it was quite the unspoken understanding. Nevertheless, explaining his tardiness in a less than descriptive way was not something she was prepared to permit him to try.
"Alright," Killian breathed into Emma's hair. "But next time, I might not be so easily swayed. Breakfast around nine?"
"Yeah. Tell David I say hello," She replied, yawning again.
"Will do," Killian confirmed, kissing her cheek softly. "I love you."
"Love you too, Killian."
She immediately felt the loss of heat as he left the bed. Pulling the blankets tightly around her, she listened as the door clicked shut. Emma heard the distinct lock of the front door which she knew came from the hidden spare key - her protective pirate always concerned with her constant safety, even since the defeat of the Snow Queen and the town being relatively drama free for nearly a year - and sleep quickly overtook her.
"Oh come on, Dave. You do realize we are talking about Emma, right? You forget she didn't grow up a fairytale princess as intended and a pretty cynical view regarding love replaced that storybook life you always wanted for her. I mean, we are working on it - she trusts me. I have to appreciate that."
Killian leaned back on his heels, dropping his head back dramatically and sitting against the top of an old picnic table. He narrowed his eyes at the horizon and scratched lightly behind his ear - a odd little nervous tick that, strangely, Emma had noticed. The two men had started their regular Wednesday mornings a few months back. Since the cave-in with Elsa, David had gained a lot of faith in Killian when it came to a rational mind and disaster control.
"Hook," David retorted. "I'm well aware of who the center of this talk is. You can't tell me you haven't thought about this! I assumed with your "character adjustment" as well as your recent brush with Gold and death that you might be ready to look a little more seriously into the future - especially where Emma is concerned. I mean seriously...you guys spend endless amounts of time together. Yeah, yeah, my wife and I are not dense, pirate."
Of course they knew he was becoming quite adept at sneaking into Emma's bed when darkness hit. She couldn't tell a lie to save her life and the knowing glances and flirty eyes they exchanged when he "stopped by for coffee" some mornings all but gave them away.
"Well first off, Charming, I'm anything but nonchalant when it comes to Emma. I know that even you have to be in agreement with that. Second, isn't the whole "Hook" thing a bit outdated now?"
Killian held up a gloved hand, attempting to protect his recovered flesh from the lingering chill. His hand had been restored shortly after Gold left town. With the pawn shop left vacant, Belle offered Emma the hand and Regina supplied the spell to reattach it. He assumed that with her estranged husband's torture of the poor pirate, Belle wanted to find a meaningful way to make amends. Every time Emma fell asleep caressing his fingers, he reminded himself that it was the best apology he'd ever received.
"You honestly haven't even considered it?"
"Of course I have, Dave," Killian sighed. "But I have to wait for her to get there. I want her to be ready. As much as I want more - everything - with Emma, I would never forgive myself if I pushed her too hard and she shut me out. As much as I hate to ask you to contain what I'm going to assume is your lovely wife's prompting, tell her that there is currently no enchanted wedding to plan."
David rolled his eyes as he downed the last of his coffee and tossed the empty cup into the garbage can behind him. If you'd told Killian a year ago that one day he'd be talking to the prince about marrying his daughter with the prince insanely in his favor, he would have thought you were as mad as a hatter. It wasn't that Killian never pondered it - dreamt of it even - but he had all the time in the world to wait for Emma.
"I guess I will pass the message along," David replied. "But don't give up - on Emma I mean. She loves you. You make her happy. Plus I can promise you that Snow is nothing if not hopefully persistent."
"Noted, your majesty," Killian chuckled. "Your support really does mean a lot to me - especially after your promise of "you're never gonna get her because I'll see to that". Always good for a man to know he can still contend with the royals."
"Well, let's just say there's always room for redemption. I'd say you've more than earned it since Neverland, pirate. Alright, I'm headed out. I will catch up with you later so we can check out the ice lair. The dwarves have plans all drawn up on how to tear it down, but I have always found it wise to triple check things before giving Leroy free reign with a pick axe."
"Sounds good. I'm meeting up with Emma for breakfast in the mornings and probably taking Henry out on the ship this weekend, but other than that, I should be around town. If you need me at the station, you know where to find me."
He sarcastically held up his new cellphone. Emma had recently forced him to update his device as the one he'd been using was actually Henry's old phone, making it ridiculously outdated. David nodded as he picked up his call. Killian figured it must be Mary Margaret when he heard the sound of a crying infant coming from the other end. David began speaking quickly, offering her a lot of quick reassurances and trying to commit to when he'd be home without being too strapped for time. Killian had no clue how they did it. Neal was adorable, but it was a 24/7 job. David began shaking his head, clearly exasperated as he continued to chat on the phone. He nodded toward Killian, signaling his departure and Killian held up his cup in a sarcastic "cheers" motion. As David retreated back up the wooden planks of the dock toward his truck, Killian dug out his own cellular device. 8:35. Perfect. The walk usually took 15 to 20 minutes and he'd be able to maintain his "punctual pirate" persona.
The walk from the docks to the diner was always full of perspective, especially after chats similar in nature to the one he'd just had with Charming. Drawing the collar of his new black peacoat up around his neck, he strolled back up from the water to the sidewalk. Without thinking, he shoved his hands into his pockets. Bumping across a cold, metal object in his right pocket he smiled. He had found it in the pawn shop, helping Belle move some boxes a few days after she restored his hand and it had tumbled from one of the glass shelves to the floor with a clink. There it was. There was no mistaking it at all. Silver band. Black jewel center surrounded by smaller, crystal clear diamonds. The ring. The perfect ring. His mother's ring. He'd found it.
Refusing to accept any payment, Belle helped him clean it up a bit. It was beautiful - and he'd thought it was gone forever. The fact that he'd found it gave him a strangely encouraging sign. Maybe it was meant for her. For this. He put it deep into his pocket, keeping it constantly buttoned. When it was time, he would know - or at least that's what he was hoping for.
Taking a step off the curb as he prepared to cross the street toward the diner, he spotted Emma. She was sitting outside waiting despite the cold and he couldn't help but break into a ridiculous grin when he noticed that she'd chosen to sit at the table. Their table. She had the obnoxious fur lined hood of her parka drawn up over her head and Killian smiled wider as he remembered just how adorable she could be. He poked at the ring in his coat pocket once more. Soon.