A/N: I know I've posted this before in Deserved Cold (Among Other Things) but I decided to flesh this out more and it no longer fit with that series of one shots. So this new story will be one-shots of the house and Emma's family as they try to figure out how to move on, how to interact with the changing dynamic of their family and maybe even how to plumb a sink. Hope you enjoy and let me know what you think! Enjoy!

Disclaimer: All aspects of Once Upon A Time belong to ABC and the show's creators Adam and Eddie.

Emma.

The familiar figure was crumpled on the ground, blonde curls matted from the swirling winds, bare skin scratched and bleeding from the rocks and glass shards the tornado had swirled around her. The darkness had ripped from her, a swirling crescendo that had blown out every window in the area. Emma had been in the center, not that Killian or anyone else that had helped to free her, could see. But they could hear. Killian's heart was breaking, more painful than when The Crocodile had tried to crush it. And Killian had been powerless to stop it.

And then it was over. A flash of white light exploded from her, knocking everyone on their backs, groans and yells as bodies collided and smashed into the pavement while the darkness seemed to disappear. Killian had been the first up, using his hook as leverage to push up from the glass littered ground. David was up next but Killian had already raced over to her, kneeling just far enough away that she wouldn't feel crowded but close enough that he could pull her into his arms at a moment's notice should that be required.

David didn't come as close, instead using his position as both sheriff and prince to keep the growing crowd back. The last thing Emma needed was the entire town descending on her right after she'd been saved from the curse of the dark one. No one in the little rescue party even knew if Emma would remember a life before that fateful night her name had been so coldly carved into shining steal, or if she'd ever find that saviour spark again. Emma had done terrible things but she'd also been able to fight of others, Killian being witness to it. She'd attacked him the previous week but turned and left, dropping Killian from her grasp around his neck right before he was going to pass out, that bit of Emma, the real Emma, glinting through the eyes that had so aloofly been staring into his earlier.

Which was how Killian knew there was something left. What exactly, would be revealed in time. But that sliver that he had seen was enough to give him the strength to reach out to her. Stretched fingers were only an inch from her arm when Emma finally noticed, jumping away with a shriek, stumbling in her dissolving strength and falling to the ground. She let out a strangled sob when she landed on the glass riddled ground and Killian's heart broke a little more.

"Emma?" Killian asked quietly, voice no more than a whisper but Emma caught it, shoulders tensing but head turning towards his voice involuntarily. "Swan, love, it's me. It's Killian. Your Killian." Emma's shoulders relaxed almost imperceptibly. Killian's heart soared. "Can I come a little closer?" When she didn't answer Killian shifted, booted feet shuffling against the ground as he moved forward in the crouching position. "That's my girl," Killian murmured, shuffling a few more inches forward when she still didn't move. "You're home now, Emma. You're safe, my love." Finally he reached her. As soon as Killian was able to grasp her she lunged forward, shoulders wracked with sobs. Even Killian was shaking from it as he held her close to his chest. But he wouldn't allow himself to cry. Not yet.

Regina came into view a question in her eyes. Killian nodded and they disappeared in a cloud of purple smoke.

That was three days ago.

Emma still barely talked. Only really grunting out answered when she absolutely had to. She didn't say anything when Regina's spell landed them in the loft, when Henry burst through the door, her parents hot on his heels and everyone crying. She said nothing but a vaguely positive mewl when Killian suggested they save the reunion until the shock wore off and led her to bed. She'd grasped his hand when he tried to walk away from the mattress, intent on finding her clothes that weren't bloodied or torn and cleaning her wounds. But her grip didn't relent, even when he explained himself, so, unable to deny her anything, even something so practical, he slid into bed next to his Swan and pulled the bed clothes high around them, even their shoes still on. Despite the uncomfortable sleeping clothing and the still dirty cuts that were beginning to itch, Killian slept properly for the first time since Emma had disappeared.

But after three days Killian had had it. Emma's family, while well-meaning was just being too much. They just wanted to help so much that their help turned into smothering and Emma started to shrink back into the shell she'd been the first night, the one Killian had slowly been dismantling. She'd started saying a few words here and there to him, her voice always making his heart skip a beat. But she stopped after Killian had had to forcibly remove Mary Margaret from Emma's room for the fourth time that hour.

"Swan, love?" Killian asked, drawing her attention from where she'd been studying a particularly nasty scrape on her arm and trying to avoid eye contact with her mother. "How's about we get out of here?" That got her attention, sharp eyes training on his face, waiting for him to continue. "Let's go to the Jolly for a few days, relax, figure things out." Before Killian could continue they both disappeared in a cloud of silver smoke.

Killian landed hard on the deck of The Jolly Roger, Emma coming down gracefully beside him "Oops," she murmured, a slight smirk picking up her lips. Killian laughed as if she'd said something one hundred times as funny, but the laugh was more relief that humour. Killian clamoured up.

"Go downstairs love, if you wish. I'm going to get us sailing, put some distance between us and the town." Emma nodded, seemingly relieved at the prospect of distance. When she'd gone below deck Killian pulled out his phone and sent a quick message to Henry, explaining the situation, calling it Operation Albatross. If anyone could control Swan's grandparents and keep them from swimming after the ship it was Henry. Killian had grown even more fond of the lad during Emma's stint as the dark one, had even entertained the boy's idea of moving in together as it was what Emma would have wanted, for them to be a family and have a space for her to return to that was theirs. Killian had managed to dissuade him then because Emma's parents had needed him more but now that Emma was back, well, maybe that place by the water was still vacant.

Killian made quick work of getting the ship sailing once Henry had replied with a quick On it. Killian didn't want to go far from town, just in case, so he sailed the ship until it was just outside the mouth of the harbour, hidden from view of the town, and dropped anchor.

Killian went below deck, curious and somewhat apprehensive as to what he would find. On one hand Emma had been immediately game to go but on the other she may just have craved the isolation the Jolly promised. It was easy to find Emma; she'd gone straight to the captain's quarters, standing at the window, looking out.

"Good afternoon, love."

Emma gave him the first tentative smile he'd seen since getting her back. Killian grinned back.

"So what shall we do," Killian asked, putting the ball once more in her court. Emma watched him for a few moments, then turned to the window.

"Can we- can we talk?"

Killian let out a breath he didn't know he was holding. Emma suggesting that on her own was unexpected but maybe she realized that Killian was the right person to talk to, reformed villain and all. Killian moved the large wooden desk and leaned against it, a few feet behind Emma, not wanting to crowd her.

"Whenever you're ready, Swan. I'll be here."

Emma nodded still staring out the window. Killian waited. The deep intake of breath was earsplittingly loud in the silent room. Killian still waited.

Finally:

"I did some terrible things." Emma's voice was shaky, breaking occasionally. But the tone she used left no room for Killian to jump in and ease the pain which was probably exactly what Emma wanted. "I hurt people I had never met before. I hurt people I loved. I nearly killed you because the darkness tried to convince me you were the only thing standing in the way." Killian could also remind her she'd saved him, won out and walked away. But he stayed quiet, kept waiting.

"Sometimes I even enjoyed it. Sometimes the power was so heady I never wanted to come down, never wanted to be saved." Killian nodded even though her back was turned. Because he knew the feeling. Knew that the hunt, the vengeance, the power, it could all corrupt and addict so easily. First it had been Pan, then Rumplestiltskin, then a mix of both, a never ending, multiple century long battle. That he hadn't grown weary of, running on anger until that's all there was. At least until he met Emma.

"It's why I went after you. Why I listened." Emma's fingers gripped the wooden windowsill, knuckles turning white under the pressure. "Because it started to convince me again that love was weakness, which meant you were a major weakness. Along with everyone else. But you went first. Because the darkness was there when I told you, when I-"

"I love you, too," Killian answered quietly, finally speaking. And more importantly, finally saying those words. Emma turned, tears streaking down her face, eyes widened in surprise. Had she really thought Killian of all people could stop loving her? But of course she had, because she was still Swan. "I love you, nothing that has happened has lessened that. Actually I think I love you more now after seeing the strength you showed to be able to defeat the darkness."

Emma nodded, looking a bit confused but even more relieved. She didn't say it back but Killian knew Emma had to continue her story first. She had to get it all out now. "So I went after you. And at first it felt so good. I was so close. And then you just stopped fighting because it was me. You were going to let me win. Something in me just snapped then and I felt strong for the first time since I took the darkness because I wasn't caving to the temptation, I was going to fight it. And the darkness started to cowed which gave me more confidence and then, well you know the rest," Emma ended, somewhat sheepishly. Killian did know the rest, still had the circle of bruises around his neck to prove it. But he didn't point that out.

"I was in control for a while, managed to run, find a safe place to hide the dagger. I kept fighting but I was getting so tired and it was whispering such alluring things to me. You guys found me about a day later but the darkness was still having a hard time finding the dagger which thankfully you had." Emma paused, remembering. She'd left the dagger on top of Henry's book, stealing in during the dead of night. That was how the group of heroes had found her dagger then summoned her to Main Street. A heartfelt plea from Killian to remember followed by a kiss.

"And now here I am trying to reconcile the pleasure I'd felt as the Dark One with the guilt I have as the saviour. And I don't know how to make it better."

Emma finally ended her story, voice breaking and falling into loud, body wracking sobs. Killian opened his arms and she fell into them, holding on as if she were lost at sea and Killian was her only rescue line.

"It's hard to make the two fit," Killian started after her sobs had quieted enough to be heard. "And I'm not sure it ever will. But after a while, with love," he gave her an extra squeeze, trying to convey just how important she'd been to his transformation, "hope, and a lot of faith they start to balance out. You're still the saviour, Emma, love. You always will be. No matter what you do. You became the dark one to ensure Regina got her happy ending. That was an amazing gift. Because that's the kind of person you are. With time you'll start feeling like that again. You'll start to see all the good you do, even when you're hurting. So start looking for that. Start with me. See how I'm more Killian Jones than Hook now because of you."

"Maybe I can do that," Emma replied after a long moment of silence, still holding Killian though closer to a hug than a desperate clinging.

"Aye, I think you can," Killian confirmed, voice ringing with undeniable confidence. They stood in silence, just holding each other, Killian occasionally kissing the top of Emma's golden hair and Emma rubbing her nose and cheeks against Killian's chest every once and a while.

Henry's specific ringtone shrilled out into the silent cabin from Killian's phone. They both jumped at the intrusion. Killian was going to leave it, just until Emma seemed okay again. Since Henry knew what he was up to it probably wasn't urgent. If it was he could call Regina or David.

But Emma seemed to have other plans. She slipped her hand down his back, fingers plucking the phone from his back pocket in a way that made Killian involuntarily groan deep in the back of his throat. Emma smiled slighty at that as she opened the message and read it out loud.

Found a house by the water for us. Enough space, on the water, a bit of a fixer upper but we've never shied away from a challenge. It's on Albatross Lane. We just can't turn it down now.

Emma shot Killian a puzzled look when he burst out laughing. Albatross Lane. Of course that would exist.

"What's Henry planning?" Emma asked a bit confused but hopefully enough that Killian knew she had already guessed and just needed to hear it from his mouth.

"Henry wants to move out of the loft. With me. With us," Killian amended. "Has been looking for places since you left," Killian didn't need to specify for her to understand, answering with a somber nod. "But I told the lad he needed to stay at the loft until we found you, to be there for his family. It appears the boy has resumed looking. The street name, Albatross, well that was the name of our operation to make you feel better. Operation Albatross."

Emma looked up at him in wonder, the previous hollowness starting to fade. Her face may have been pale, scraped and tear stained but in that moment he looked more like his Emma than she had in months.

"Henry wants us to move in together?"

"All three of us."

"As a family." Emma seemed to be tasting the word, as if it were new even though she had her parents. But this was something more, something new. Emma's own family. Two of the most important men in her life that she had found, or rather had found her.

"Aye, love, a family."

The next moment the Jolly Roger had disappeared and Emma and Killian were standing on an unfamiliar lane, the sound of waves crashing not far behind them. In front of them sat an old New England saltshaker style house, a large front porch running the length of the front with a door that was at one time probably red in the center. The grass was overgrown, the gardens full of weeds and sea grass and it looked like no one had lived there for at least a few years prior.

"What are we doing here love?" Killian asked, surprised at his surrounding, glancing around for any familiar landmarks. They certainly weren't anywhere near where the Jolly had been anchored. Finally he spotted a street sign. Albatross Lane.

"I wanted to see the house before we tell Henry we bought it."

"Bought it?" Killian's mind was reeling.

"I need a new beginning," Emma answered before Killian could say anything more, staring hard at the house. "Away from what I had been before. Because I'm not that person anymore. But I'm still Emma Swan which means I still need my son and you by my side to help me find her again. And where better a place to start this new life we have than Albatross Lane?"

Killian couldn't believe his luck, couldn't process that he and Emma were moving in together. That they would have their own space that wasn't her parents' house or Granny's Inn. That they could carve out their own live as reformed heroes together with her son. But it was really happening. Killian Jones, naval officer, pirate, villain, hero had found a home with the people he loved, the family he thought he'd never have again after Liam and Milah and Bae. And he'd found it with the woman who saw right through him and saved him because she was so much like him. And he was so lucky for that.

"Aye love," Killian forced out around a throat constricted with emotion. "Where better?"