Humming to herself, Emma begins to unpack the box of dishes in the kitchen, listening to Henry try to explain to Killian what an Xbox is from the living room. As much as Killian has tried to adapt to modern technology, she is afraid that this might be the one to make his brain finally explode.
His exasperated tone makes her chuckle. "Lad, I've fought kraken with less tentacles than this."
Henry laughs and tells him to come back after he's untangled the miles of cords and wires in front of them.
Killian happily leaves the boy to his task, shaking his head in annoyance, and makes his way over to Emma's side. His arm snakes around her waist as he nuzzles sweetly into her neck. Knowing she is well hidden from Henry by the wall separating the kitchen from the living room, Emma turns in his arms and captures his lips with her own. Surprised at her willingness for only a moment, Killian's arms pull her in tighter as he steps between her legs to press her back into the kitchen counter. Emma relished in the electric pull between them, losing herself in the heat of his mouth and the feel of his hook sliding beneath the hem of her shirt. Killian nudges impossibly closer, making sure Emma felt exactly how much he was on the same page as her at the moment. If it wasn't for Henry's exasperated sigh from the other room, Emma might have found herself scarring her son for life in a few moments. Leaning back, she returned Killian's darkened gaze for a moment before reluctantly giving him a light shove to put more appropriate space between them. He had obviously anticipated this move though, as she came crashing into his chest thanks to the hook firmly wrapped around her belt loop.
"Killian!"
"What, love? You really should be more careful." The wink he gave her caused the damn butterflies in her stomach to stir up like a tornado. He dislodged his hook and gave her one more quick peck before moving across the kitchen and away from temptation.
"You are…"
"A pirate, love." With that, he turned and sliced his hook through the tape of the nearest box on the counter.
Emma turned back to her box, attempting to shake the lustful thoughts from her brain and get back to the task at hand. She busied herself with unpacking the plates Mary Margaret had gifted her and Henry, explaining that she should have something from her family to help make her new apartment feel more like home. The delicate china with the blue forget-me-nots weren't exactly Emma's style, but there was something about them that just made her heart tighten a bit. She removed the newspaper carefully and placed them in the sink to be rinsed before they would find their home in the cabinet above the stove.
She finished with her box and turned to see how Killian was faring with his. She found him standing over the box, with his hand inside, but not moving to remove whatever had captured his attention. Moving to his side, she took a deep breath when she saw what his hand was grasping. Reaching inside, she put her hand around his and lifted the object from the box with him. When he finally looked up and she saw the look on his face, she knew without a doubt that she loved this man and she would endeavor to make sure he knew it every day forever.
In their shared grasp was a simple white mug with blue trimming along the rim. Adorning the side, the word "Captain" was painted in strong letters in the same dark blue. Emma took the mug from his hand and placed it on the shelf, directly next to her black one and Henry's Batman mug he used for his hot cocoa. Anyone except the two of them wouldn't understand the meaning behind this moment, but two lost souls who never thought they would find a home had found one with each other.
Killian looked longingly at the shelf, reaching for Emma and pulling her into his side.
"Emma…"
Emma reached up and cupped his cheek, turning his face so she could look him squarely in the eye.
"I'm in this for the long haul, Killian."
Killian had never told her about his conversation with Neal that evening at Granny's, so to hear his own words reflected back at him was as much surprising as completely expected. He and Emma were so similar in so many ways, with their fierce dedication to hold onto the things they loved most being their strongest connection.
Taking advantage of his loss for words, Emma leaned in and whispered in his ear. "Plus, you still owe me that coffee."
With a wink that would rival Killian's best, Emma sauntered to the living room to help Henry with his task.
Killian finally found his voice and hollered, "Wouldn't that require a second date, love?"
