Until rather recently Emma Swan has been all by herself. Nobody to vent to, or to cry on, to have cliche dinners at restaurants with, to cuddle with at night (not that she would admit she does this). But after being dragged into this fairytale town by someone she loves more then anything or anyone Emma has made friends, she has parents, a son that she loves and who loves her back. And him. He is something Emma could have never expected, all swagger and innuendo one minute but then ready to comfort her and listen to her talk about anything and everything. With eyes that shine like the sea that he gave up to be with her and a smile that could stop her heart (and every other woman's heart in the room, but Emma finds comfort in the fact that he loves her even though he hasn't said so, but she can tell, in the same way she knows he can.). So when he takes her out for their second date, she lets him court her, as he likes to call it, and imagines a different story, one where the next in line to throne falls in love with a pirate and everybody asks which is worse a shepherd or a pirate?
For once in her life Emma Swan is not alone, in fact she has more family than she knows what to do with. And right beside her (and forever beside her) is Killian Jones the man who stormed into her life and wormed himself behind her defenses.
(Emma's starting to wonder if she's ever been in love. Or if she has she can't remember this ache in her chest and if she can't see him after she scans the room sheer unapologetic terror.)
So for the first time Emma Swan lets herself love and be loved by someone who was not going to break her heart, lie to her, cheat her, or make her question herself. No, Emma Swan was going to be with someone who made her heart feel fuller.
(Emma Swan does not swoon.)
(But maybe just this once.)
