Killian POV

I don't know what's up with Emma recently. I keep trying to get her to tell me but she just snaps at me. I walked her back to her apartment that night and decided to try and figure out what was wrong.

"Emma"

"Yeah"

"What's wrong? It's okay to be-"

"For gods sake Hook, I'm fine!" I was a little hurt that I'd gone back to Hook.

"It's just you've not been yourself recently"

"I'm sick of you going on at me every bloody minute! What makes you think I even want you hanging round? A poor excuse for a pirate, messing me around every minute of every day saying, are you okay Emma? What's wrong Emma? Just leave me alone!"

Emma POV

He backed away from me, the pain evident in his eyes.

"I'm sorry- I didn't- I-" He ran off, leaving me alone outside my door. I stormed into the apartment and slammed the door shut behind me. Luckily Henry was at Regina's and Mary Margaret and David were out, so I had time to cool off. As I collapsed onto the sofa, I started to feel bad. I had shouted at him just because he was trying to help. I remember the hurt look in his eye as he backed away. Oh god, why do I ruin everything. I went to bed and tried to sleep but it was useless.

The next day…

I walked down to grannies to grab some breakfast, when I saw him sat in the booth in the corner. I saw him swirl his breakfast around with his fork, looking fed up and sad. I can't believe I caused this. I decided to go over to him and say hi.

"Hi" I said as I sat down opposite him.

"Oh, urm, hi" he stuttered back.

"Look, Killian-"

"Oh is that the time, I just remembered I have some errands I need to run quickly, so see you later"

"Oh, yeah, sure. Bye"

I watched him speed walk away from me and out of the shop. Great. He was avoiding me now. There was only one thing to do. Find him myself and make him listen.

I knew where he would be. The docks was the only place I knew he truly loved. As I walked down to the docks, I saw a figure dressed head to toe in black sat with his legs swing obey the side, his feet dipping into the water. I went and sat beside him, noticing him flinch away as I neared.

"Look Emma, I-"

"No, listen to me Killian. I'm sorry for what I said. It was wrong of me. I just have this way of pushing the people I care about the most away. You were trying to help and I see that now. I understand"

"Emma, I was wrong. I can't hover around you all day every day. Maybe space is what we need. I love you, but this clearly isn't working"

"No! Space is the last thing I need because I love you Killian"

"Wh-what?"

"I'm sorry I denied it for so long. But the truth is, I love you. I can't lose you too"

"I don't understand. Why do you love me?"

"Because you're the only one who understands me. You stuck by me, even after everything I put you through. You never left my side and you never stopped believing in me. You're the one person I can trust, and I can't imagine my world without you in it"

He turned to look at me and I saw a tear glinting in his eye.

"You have no idea how long I have waited to hear you say those words"

"You waited long enough Killian"

He pulled me into a long, passionate kiss and I poured everything into it because he has torn my walls down. My security has disappeared. The barrier I set between me and other people has finally been broken. And who'd have thought it would be the cheeky pirate I once almost left to die?