A/N: This one's a bit short. Don't kill me?

Chapter 2

They sat in silence as minutes passed by, Emma looking from the table to her own hands, and Killian shooting occassional glances at her, which she sensed but chose not to return.

"Why are you upset?" Killian said at last, his voice quiet and exasperated.

Emma looked up, finally taking a look at his face. She furrowed her eyebrows, confused.

Killian sighed. "There's no need to pretend. I might have lost memory, but I'm not idiot enough not to realize it."

Emma let out a shaky laugh, at the sound of which Killian's lips curved up slightly.

"Doesn't help the cause either when most people in this town are being bloody obvious about it." he added.

"So," Emma said, her gaze wavering from his face again, "you know."

"I do, but it's what I don't know I'm more concerned about." he said. He leaned in, smirking slightly, "Tell me, lass, is my lack of memory the reason for your distress?"

Emma is momentarily caught by suprise at his perception, but regains composure within a fraction of a second. She waved it away with a scoff, "Not everything is about you, pirate."

"Hmm?" he said, smirk widening, an eyebrow shooting up in challenge, "But something tells me this is about me."

"Really?" Emma said, scoffing, "And what exactly gave you that impression?"

"Well, for one, I find it unbelievable that after living here for quite sometime I wouldn't even meet you, the Sheriff and the Saviour. A tiny brawl was all it took to draw you to the scene, so I can't believe we've never met before, especially given my actions during my early days here." Killian waved his hand in an offhand fashion, "That, coupled with the fact that I haven't lost all memories but specific ones, makes me believe that I've probably lost my memories of you."

Emma was again left dumbfounded by how much truth he had realized already. She smiled a bit uneasily. "Whoa." she said, "Not that I'm not happy to get the royal treatment, but didn't quite get how you joined those dots. That's a little too far-fetched."

He shrugged. "I've just got this gut feeling."

Emma nodded. She smirked up him then, joking, "Considered the possibility that I was the one that took your memories?"

He chuckled. "And why would you do that, lass?"

"Maybe to rid myself of your pestering presence?" she teased.

He raised an eyebrow, laughing shortly before shaking his head. "You're nowhere near cruel enough. And besides," he added coyly, "you enjoy my presence."

"I do not!" Emma protested, though she couldn't fight off a smile.

"Aye, you do, and you know it." Killian said, winking smugly.

Emma rolled her eyes but didn't respond, knowing very well she might just end up kissing him (which was certainly not at the top of her priority list).

"You never told me what was bothering you, Swan." he said after a moment, changing the topic, "Was I correct in assuming it was me?"

"No, you weren't." Emma replied, giving him a fake scowl, "Honestly, Hook, can you think about anything except yourself?"

"Oh, I assure you, I can." he murmured in a husky tone. Emma pointedly looked anywhere but at him. She could feel him grinning smugly.

He gave a brief chuckle, before rising to his feet. "Well, then, now that you're all cheered up, I'd better take your leave. After all, it is very bad form to be trespassing the residence of a beautiful lady like yourself in such late hours."

"Oh." Emma said, slightly disappointed.

"Look at that, Swan, you do enjoy my company." he said, smirking. Emma made a face at him.

But as she closed the door and sat back down, Emma felt way better than she was feeling before he came. Somewhere between their light banter and his perception, she had realized that maybe there was hope after all, maybe they could start over and find love again.

That night Emma fell into a peaceful sleep, calmer than she had been since they returned, a flicker of hope lighting her up like a candle.