"Love…Emma…you need to wake up."

Warm fingers trailing down her back and a press of lips to her forehead were the first things Emma registered as she broke from her slumber. Lifting her head from Killian's chest, she met his sweet smile with a sleepy one of her own. The pre-dawn light was beginning to shine through the windows of the cabin where they were tangled together, bodies warm and sated.

"I didn't mean to fall asleep. What time is it?"

Killian reluctantly tore his gaze from hers to look outside. "I'd guess around 5am or so. We probably only have a short time before the fisherman start to arrive."

Emma pulled her hand from under the covers to wrap around Killian's neck, pulling him down for a kiss. Quiet moments like this were few and far between and she was determined to make the most of whatever time they had left. It didn't take long before they were both lost in one another, hands exploring and warming as the kiss changed from a gentle good morning to a passionate consuming of breath and hearts.

Killian was the first to pull away, pulling his arm from around them both to gently caress Emma's cheek. The last thing he wanted was to leave this moment, but he loved Emma too much to have her be the talk of the town after being discovered in a random boat doing what they were about to start doing. Last night was the first time he and Emma had made love and he'd be damned if the second became fodder for the rumor mill.

"Emma, as much as it loathes me to say this at this very moment, we have to go." He felt her lean into his palm and exhale a deep breath. Her eyelashes fluttered up at him and she leaned forward to place a chaste kiss to chest.

Unwrapping herself from around his warm body, Emma moved to detangle them both from the cocoon of blankets they had found last night.

"Killian, over breakfast we are looking at the Classifieds and finding me my own place."

Killian had trouble finding his voice, too distracted by Emma's naked form as she extricated herself from the tiny bed. As she leaned down to pick up her clothes and work her way into her jeans, she glanced over her shoulder and caught him enjoying the view.

"Cat got your tongue, Captain?"

"If you're the cat, love, you are welcome to my tongue any time you please."

Emma fully turned around at that, seeing the seductive leer take over his features as his resolve was starting to break.

Pulling her shirt over her head, making sure to give him a good view of her braless chest, she reached down to grab his pants from the floor. Crossing back to the bed, she leaned in to get close to his ear. "I'll keep that in mind, Captain." A nibble of his earlobe followed by a quick escape out of his reach, she tossed his pants in his direction. "Get dressed, pirate."

Killian's grumble and the rustle of blankets let her know that he was following her lead, so she made her way to the deck to put the rest of the boat back in order. They hadn't been on deck long, but she's pretty sure they knocked over a barrel or two as they scrambled to get to the cabin below. She felt her cheeks warming as she thought about the passion that overtook them last night, all the waiting and longing coming to an inevitable heated conquering of one another, followed by a few hours of blissful sleep wrapped in each other's arms.

Killian's arms came around her then, pulling her from her reverie, as he placed a kiss to the back of her neck. "Ready to go, love?"

"Not really, but we should get moving." Grabbing his hand from her stomach, she laced their fingers together and pulled him toward the gangplank.

Walking hand and hand up the dock, they fell into a companionable silence, the call of the seagulls and the tapping of the boats against the pier filling the air around them. As they were nearing the town center, Emma began to slow, not wanting their time together to be at an end just yet. Killian sensed her mood and pulled her closer to his side.

As they passed Regina's house, Emma was reminded of last night when she had seen Killian and Henry looking at his book on the pier. "So, what were you and Henry talking about last night? I'll understand if it's a secret, as I don't want to interfere in your manly bonding."

Killian's chuckle echoed through the quiet streets. "No, lass, no secrets this time. Henry just wanted to talk to me about Operation Mongoose."

Emma stopped in her tracks and looked up at him. "Really? I didn't know he had clued you in to that? To be included in one of Henry's operations is a big deal, means he really trusts you."

Killian's eyes twinkled with amusement as he looked down at her. "Love, we have proven my trustworthiness, have we not?" Stepping closer, he gave her a predatory look as he swooped in for a quick, passionate kiss. Kissing in the middle of the street was quickly becoming a habit of theirs, apparently. Emma pulled back, pressing her hands against his chest as she looked around to see if they had any onlookers. Looking up at Killian, he was giving her his best innocent smile, before following that up with his signature wink.

"C'mon tiger, we may not have an audience at the moment, but we will soon. You can walk me to the loft and fill me in on what Henry had to say about Operation Mongoose."

Killian released her waist after a gentle squeeze and reclaimed her hand in his as they resumed their slow pace.

"Well, he wanted to get my opinion on the whole thing. He said that Regina was looking for the author of the storybook so she could get him to change her story, to make sure she had her happy ending. He was curious to hear if I thought it would work."

"I have to admit to being a bit curious as to your opinion on the matter as well."

After a few moments of silence, Killian stopped them again to turn Emma to look at him. "To be honest, I think the whole thing is rather misguided. I don't think finding the author will change anything for Regina, or any of us for that matter. I'm a man that firmly believes that the life we live is created by the choices we make. I've been lost in the darkness, afraid I would never find my way out, consumed with my revenge. It took me some time, but meeting you, being in your life, it changed everything and I started to choose differently. It was the making of those choices that led me to my happy ending, with you. I truly believe that this author, if there even is one, is simply writing our stories as they happen, not directing their course. That's on us. If Regina wants to be happy, she has to truly change, accept responsibility for her actions and be a better person all the time, not just when it works in her favor. It's all about choices, love."

Emma hadn't realized she had started crying until she felt Killian's thumb brush away a tear from her cheek. "Emma, what is it? What did I say?"

Reaching both hands up to cup his face, Emma leaned in to rest her forehead against his. Killian felt more than heard her breathe the words against his lips. "I chose you." And then she was kissing him. Kissing him as if her life depended on it and he responded as a man in love would, in kind.

Neither of them heard Grumpy as he was making his way to Granny's. "Get a room you two!"

A/N: This was my planned ending to this short story. I'll keep this as In Progress for a bit in case I am inspired to write and epilogue.