"I'd say the story of how I fell in love with you is much more fascinating."

"Is this a story you'd like to share?"

"Only if you'd like to hear it," he said with a lopsided smile.

"Tell me."

These were seemingly the words he was willing to hear. He didn't wait any longer before starting his tale.

"It started when we first met. Of course, I didn't know yet. But that's when it all started. When you found me, there were your mother and these two other women with you, but guess who caught my eye? You. And you definitely got my attention when you held a dagger against my throat and tied me up to a tree."

This was so unexpected that I couldn't repress a laugh. "So I won your heart by threatening you?"

"Not my heart, love, not yet." He seemed to hesitate. "You do realize telling this story requires me to talk about the man I was before, when you first met me?"

Oh, I see. Again, I was unable to hide my amusement. "The man who was seeing women as nothing more but distractions for the night. Yes, I see. I haven't won your heart straight away, I just… turned you on by tying you up to a tree?"

"Not a very flattering portrait, is it?" He let out an adorable chuckle. "For my defense, I think I did realize from the first day that there was something special. You had such fire… You still have, by the way." If you knew… I focused on his words to avoid thinking of the fire burning inside me. He went on, "I had never met a woman like you before. On the beanstalk, I was truly hoping it'd be you, because you had made me curious, and I wanted to know more about you, besides what I could already read in your eyes."

"Your open book," I said with what sounded like a dreamy voice. From the start, I had been fascinated by his ability to read me. "I didn't understand how, in such a short time, you seemed to understand me better than anyone had done in my whole life."

"Aye. I didn't admit I saw myself in you, because I didn't truly understand it at the time. I just knew I had never felt like this with a woman. And how lucky I am, this woman happened to be the most beautiful one."

"There must be plenty of women more beautiful than I am."

"You really don't realize, do you? I'll give you one example: on this night when I was hit by a car, I was lying on the side of the road. I had totally deserved this situation, but at this moment, I was only conscious of this pain keeping me on the ground. That is until I saw you."

I knew what he was talking about: he was talking about this moment when he had shot Belle and made her amnesiac, and while everyone was worried about her, my poor Killian was lying on the ground, alone and injured. So, I had come to him.

"There was just enough light for me to see your face, and I can assure you I've never seen any woman as beautiful as you. For a second, I even forgot about the pain. Though it did come back fast."

Not surprising, considering how Gold attacked you.

"Speaking of this moment," he added, "I've never thanked you for stopping the crocodile from finishing me."

"I was doing it for Belle." Or at least that's what I was claiming, that Gold had to stop because of the first impression he would give her.

"Aye, whatever your reasons were, thank you."

He looked like he believed me; he believed I had done it just for Belle. But that was a lie. I couldn't repress a smile. "Alright, let's admit it. I was worried. Not so worried about the car, but about Gold. The way he attacked you whereas you were already lying on the ground... I don't know how much you remember, because I don't know when precisely you passed out, but we got in the ambulance and…"

"You were with me in the ambulance?" he interrupted.

"Yes. And when we arrived at the hospital, I was afraid Gold would come after you, so I asked the nurse to hide you."

"You did that? And here I was, thinking at this moment that you didn't give a damn about me."

"That's what I thought too." And then I've used the excuse I needed to ask you about Cora's whereabouts to stay with you until you'd wake up.

"I don't seem to recall what happened from the moment when you stopped the crocodile from finishing me. There were lights, perhaps that was the ambulance, but I'm not sure. The next moment I remember is waking up in this place I didn't know, everything was so white there. Though I wasn't really interested in knowing where I was, because I woke up and there you were, sitting on the edge of my bed. I guess I wasn't awake enough to remember everything, but I remember very clearly this moment when you were leaning over me and telling me to keep smiling. I must admit I'm not sure I've heard what you said next, but I do remember staring at you and wondering whether that was real."

"I do remember this moment." How could I not remember all of these innuendos? "And I can tell you were not very subtle with your words."

It seemed to amuse him. "I'm unfortunately not surprised, that's how I was at that time. What I wasn't realizing was that I was more than just interested in you. I mean, I could feel there was something more, but I guess there was simply too much darkness inside me to realize that I was in love with you. But little by little, hints that you were the one I wanted, the one I truly wanted, mounted up. Little by little, you pushed the darkness away, and at last I could see the light. I could see that I wanted to share much more than a simple night with you: I wanted to share with you my life, my future."

I was gazing at him, and drowning in his eyes. "When… How did you start to realize?"

"We were at Granny's. I was planning on stealing the bean and leaving Storybrooke on my own. Which I actually did. But at Granny's, you told me something. You gave me the choice between being alone like I had always been, and being a part of something. You also told me we understood each other." I barely remembered saying this. I didn't say anything and waited for him to go on. "I was on my ship, I had the magic bean and I was thinking of where I could go, but all I could think of was you. Your voice kept resounding in my mind. On that day, I realized I was unwilling to go anywhere you were not. I wanted to be a part of that something. Whatever that might be, I was interested if that something included you. So I came back."

Wow. You came back because of words I don't even remember saying. Gazing at him, captivated by the story he was telling, I kept saying nothing and only listened.

"But even then, I wasn't aware of the extent of your power over me. Henry had been kidnapped and I knew my ship could be of use. I didn't hesitate before offering my services. What a wonderful surprise it's been to know that the crocodile was joining." Irony was heavily lingering in his words.

"I could have reconsidered my offer, but I haven't, because I knew that, if I wanted to be with you, I had to welcome aboard my ship the man I've spent centuries trying to kill."

I didn't know him so well at that time. I had not realized how much of a sacrifice it had been for him to have Gold on board; he had accepted to collaborate with the one he hated the most, for me. You chose me. "And here I was, wondering why you had suddenly joined the hero side."

He chuckled. "Aye, you were the reason why. I chose love over revenge. Even if I still didn't know at this moment that it was love. Your father saw right through me. He knew I was there for you; perhaps it was more obvious to him than it was to me. He told me you'd never like me."

"He said that?" Again, I was unable to stop myself from laughing.

"Aye. But don't worry, I've grown up on him, he told me so in the Underworld," he announced smugly. "He was saying he had come for you, but then he confessed."

We were both amused. Even if I wasn't aware of what they had been saying to each other, I had witnessed the evolution of their relationship; from pirate and prince who couldn't stand each other, they had grown to polite adults respecting each other, and now Killian was considering my father as his mate, while my father had not hidden his enthusiasm when Killian had returned from the Underworld, and had even hugged him.

"You two are adorable," I commented.

"I'm not convinced adorable is the most accurate word. Anyway, I'm very glad you proved him wrong on the part when he said you'd never like me. And perhaps proved me wrong. Even talking to you happened to be challenging, and there were times when I was wondering where this all was leading me. But I had come to Neverland for you, I couldn't give up so easily. So I kept trying, following an instinct I was not really understanding then; I just knew I wanted you. And it happened: you kissed me."

I smiled at the memory of how he had convinced me to do so. "And you were the one who couldn't handle it."

"Indeed. I didn't expect it'd come as such a revelation."

And I didn't expect you to approve; I couldn't really handle it either.

"It was like the fog had lifted and I knew; I knew that I was in love with you."

My breath caught at those words which were overwhelming me with love. I leant my head against this shoulder. "I love this story; our story."

"Wait, I'm not done with it. You asked me how I fell in love with you, and I told you how I realized I was in love with you. But that's not even the best part of it."

I looked up. "What do you mean?"

"I loved you already, but that was nothing compared to how much I love you now. Every day, I love you more than the day before. And it seems impossible to me right now, but tomorrow I will probably love you even more than I do now."

"Killian…" That's the most beautiful thing I've ever been told.

I didn't know whether I preferred to look at his eyes or at his lips, but at last, I went for his lips and kissed him.

"I love you."

"And I love you," he answered with a bright smile. He was looking me in the eye and I was drowning. I could see something happening there. It looked like something had suddenly made him curious, and I soon knew what it was about, as he was the one to break the silence. "How did you fall in love with me?"