This is more of a drabble (and I'm quite proud I managed to stay under 1k words for once) and, though these chapters are all linked, they can also be read as stand-alone drabbles/one-shots. No big epic storline weaving through them, they're just little snapshots of Emma and Killian's firsts and special moments.


Learning Curves


At first, it was an accidental brush of his hand against hers that had the corners of her mouth twitching into a tiny smile. And despite the fact that Emma Swan was most certainly not a fan of public displays of affection – in stark contrast to her parents – she couldn't deny the urge she felt to intertwine her fingers with his every time they walked beside one another.

He seemed to sense it too, because she could feel his smile mirroring her own when their hands bumped.

Which was why she was sure it was becoming less accidental and more of a premeditated ruse to hold her hand in public. But she wasn't taking the bait. In fact, avoiding his 'clumsy' hand became somewhat of a game to her at his expense. If he'd noticed, he hadn't commented on the obvious avoidance.

But one unseasonably warm morning, just a couple days after they'd returned from the Enchanted Forest of The Past, they were leaving Granny's and making their way to visit her parents and baby Neal. Walking side-by-side, as they usually did, Emma couldn't help but notice that the casual extension of his hand toward hers, that she'd already become accustomed to, didn't happen.

His hand and hook swung closer to his body now, she noted with a sidelong glance. No trademark smirk or playful glint in his baby blues either. His gaze didn't meet hers, though she was sure he could feel her sneaking glances at him.

Frowning, she mused that he was actively keeping his hands (well, hand) to himself. And that was when the realization hit her. He had taken her playful game seriously. He'd assumed that their faltering, tentative steps into a new relationship were, at this stage, to be void of any and all public displays of affection. And he thought that was because she was ashamed, that much was obvious by the hurt he was trying very hard to hide.

Granted, PDAs would never be something she'd be totally comfortable with (after all, she still felt awkward as hell hugging her parents sometimes). But just knowing he was trying so hard to be okay with keeping his affections bottled up, even when the reasons he'd conjured in his mind hurt him, made something inside her shift.

Reaching out cautiously, her fingers found open hand mid-stride and she slid her palm against his, feeling him turn to face her as his fingers immediately intertwined with hers. She didn't bother to fight the smile from lighting on her lips and she turned her head to find his gaze, unsurprised yet overwhelmed by the warmth and love she found there. The warmth and love she always found there.

She had never in all her life felt as treasured and adored as she did at that moment. The way he looked at her, the sureness and love in those breathtaking eyes of his and the way every single line on his three hundred year old face softened when she smiled at him, made her heart stumble and soar.

He looked at her as though she was his whole world, and she wasn't used to that. He touched her as though he was being allowed to touch heaven, as though he was treasuring and committing to memory every second he got to have her in his arms, and she certainly wasn't used to that. He was used to loss, and so was she. So becoming accustomed to happiness was a learning process for both of them.

But walking down Main Street, hand-in-hand, the pirate and the princess were learning that maybe happiness didn't have to be so fleeting.