Disclaimer: I do not own Once Upon a Time

AN: A big thank you to GranddaughterOfCaskettAndTivia for all her help with this. I hope everyone is enjoying reading this story as much as I'm enjoying writing it. Thank you to everyone who takes the time to read and review. I really appreciate it! ~ XOXO MAS

The group dumped Hook in an alleyway near the harbor. He was unlikely to be stumbled upon and would likely come to his senses and wonder what on earth had happened. Killian was sure he would blame the rum for everything that happened and Smee would simply nod his head in agreement for fear of being gutted like a fish. While they were at it, though, Killian did relieve him of all the coins on his person. "Love," Killian motioned to all the children, "they're all dead on their feet. There's an inn just on the edge of town. No one should recognize us as having caused any chaos and we could all use some rest. We'll reassess the situation with your mother tomorrow," he suggested.

Emma stifled a yawn. "That actually sounds like the best plan we've made, yet," she agreed, transferring one of the twins to Killian's saddle and letting him lead them up the path. Once they were settled and all of the kids were asleep she'd fill Killian in on the fact that Roland was Robin's boy, only he was so grown up now. Perhaps then they could come up with a plan to ensure her parents met before using whatever portal the Dark One had developed to send them home.

It took them twenty minutes to reach the inn, the caretaker didn't even blink as he handed them two room keys, murmuring that they couldn't all fit in one room. With the kids tucked in to the room with the two twin beds and Roland's promise to keep a chair propped up under the door and the window closed and latched, Killian and Emma trudged across the hall to their room. Staring at the single bed wearily, Killian started to murmur that he'd take the floor. "No," Emma shook her head, pulling him towards the bed with her, "we can both fit. Besides, even I can tell that you're too tired to make a move," she teased.

"I don't know, love, you may find I can muster up the energy with a beautiful woman in my bed." He sighed as he tugged off his coat and boots.

Emma chuckled. "I'm not sure I believe that right now. You look exhausted, Killian." She set her cloak on a chair and unzipped her boots, setting them next to it. Her eyes landed on his hook before darting away. "Sorry."

He shrugged. "It's fine." His tone and shoulders were tense, though, telling her it most certainly wasn't fine.

Rising, she moved to where he was standing. "May I?" She asked softly. He hesitated and she added, "Please? This is a part of you and-"

"And what, love? You've made it clear you don't wish to have any sort of relationship with me. I know what that kiss was, it was just like in Neverland. I'm not fool enough to believe it was something," he snapped intentionally pushing her away before she could do the same to him. She recognized the defense mechanism, she was a professional with it.

She swallowed and flinched at his words, even if he didn't truly mean them. She knew he didn't want her to see this vulnerable side of her when all she'd done is push him away. "You followed me here, Killian."

"Aye," he agreed.

"You always follow me," she murmured, her hands reaching out again. This time he placed his arm in her palm. "I'm sorry," she whispered. "I'm trying, though." She kept her eyes focused on the buckles of the brace. "I'm going to try so hard, but I don't know what I'm doing and-"

"And?" He prompted as she unbuckled the last buckle.

"Everyone I've been with is dead," she blurted out suddenly. He was slightly taken aback at her words, not at all expecting that to be her fear. "Neal, Graham, even Walsh. They're all dead." Her voice dropped to a whisper. "I can't lose you, too," she murmured.

He tugged the brace off himself, dropping it on the table next to the bed. "Well, love," he murmured, "you don't have to worry about me. If there's one thing I'm good at, it's surviving." He tugged her into him, his maimed arm going around her waist and his hand immediately tangling in her hair. He dropped his mouth to hers, putting as much reassurance into the kiss as he could. He wanted her to know that no one could take him from her. He'd fight to survive. He'd fight to be with her.

Emma melted into him, letting him control the pace. It felt wonderful and raw and she felt safe. It was the first time that she felt at home for as long as she could remember. When they pulled back, she took a breath. "Can we just take it slowly?" She asked, nodding to the bed and knowing that it would be so easy to just fall into it with him. He was unfairly sexy and handsome and he actually cared about her and she was attracted to him on a level she'd never experienced before. She was also aware that the kids were across the hall and there was the slightest chance one or more would end up in their bed.

He followed her gaze and nodded knowingly. "Probably a good idea, love," he agreed. His hand reached around her back. "Still, you don't want to sleep in that." He tugged lightly at the laces on the corset around her torso.

"Not particularly," she agreed, turning to let him unlace it. He moved slowly, deliberately, like he knew he was working her arousal up even if nothing was going to happen that evening. When the offending garment was unlaced and on the floor, he pushed his arms around her waist, tugging her back into his chest. "Come on love, there's something I have to tell you about the children," he admitted, quickly taking off his vest and tossing it next to her corset and his boots on the ground.

She watched him lay down, moving to curl up next to him. "Me too, I know who Reggie really is."

"So we do know him." Killian wrapped his arm around Emma, tucking her into his side. "Who is he?"

"You're going to feel stupid when I tell you." At his snort she revealed, "Roland. Like Robin's son, Roland."

Killian stared down at her incredulously. "Bloody hell, he acts just like Regina doesn't he?"

"Told you," Emma sang out, shuffling a bit closer to him. It had been a long time since she'd done the cuddling thing. Other than Walsh, that is. It had been since Neal. "So, what do you know?"

Killian cleared his throat and she glanced up at him. "When I was arrested, Lily screamed."

Emma closed her eyes. "I hate that they saw that."

"She screamed 'daddy,'" he finished.

Emma's eyes opened and she pushed herself away from him. "You're their father," she mumbled. "Lily and Liam are your children."

Killian nodded. "Aye."

Pushing herself to a standing position, Emma reached to the ground for the corset. "I'm so stupid," she mumbled.

He latched onto her arm. "Why are you stupid?"

She turned to face him, her eyes brimming with tears. "Of course you have children, of course you met someone who isn't damaged and doesn't have a child by the son of your true love. I can't believe I thought I could have you." She wrapped the corset around her waist, reaching around to fumble with the laces.

"Emma, love, don't you understand?" He asked, moving to stand in front of her. "They're not just my children." At her blank look he sighed, his hand raising to thumb at the dimple in chin, the one that matched Lily's perfectly. "They're our children." Hook's words echoed in her mind and she tried to shake them off, to ignore the nagging feeling that both versions of Killian were right. Somehow she ended up finding a happy ending with Killian. "I know that it's hard to believe now, that you're still trying to figure out how you fit into this life, but, Swan, you do belong. You belong with me. We belong together. And as for who Henry's father and grandmother and grandfather may be, I don't rightly give a damn. I love the lad, he's extraordinary. Just like his mother."

Emma swallowed. "Are you saying you love me?" She asked quietly.

"I think you know the answer to that question, Emma. I did follow you through a portal," he reminded her.

Her eyes were wide as she stared up at him. She didn't know how to proceed. With Neal she'd said it first and was in jail within twenty-four hours. With Walsh, he said it first and she was never fully sure she meant it. She was sure she was feeling something akin to love for Killian, but they'd never had a chance to slowly explore any sort of relationship and it was confusing her, making it harder for her to know what was real and what was just adrenaline combined with a physical attraction. "I can't say it back, yet. I'm just..." she hesitated. "It's not that I don't, I'm just so scared," she admitted.

He tilted her head up and pressed a kiss to her lips, it was just a soft brush. "I want you to say it to me when you know you mean it and when you don't feel any pressure," he murmured. "I can go at your pace, Emma. I'm not going anywhere," he promised.

She placed a hand over his heart. "I don't deserve you."

He shook his head. "You have that entirely backwards, love. It's I who doesn't deserve you." He wrenched the corset from her grasp. "Now, let's try to get a bit of sleep, yes?" He offered.

"Yeah," Emma agreed. "Sleep may help."

OUAT

The next morning came far too soon. Emma groaned as sunlight hit her face and she turned over, tucking her head into something hard that smelled wonderful. She tucked herself further into it, trying to leach the warmth from it. A deep rumble sounded and she groaned again. "You're trying to beat me to a bloody pulp," Killian chuckled, tightening his grip around her middle regardless of his grousing. She'd managed to shove her leg between his and press her face into his chest. He really wasn't complaining, though, the fact that she wanted to nearly crawl under his skin to be close to him was something he never thought possible with Emma Swan. He'd begun to lose hope and then it was like she realized everything they could have together.

And if what was sleeping across the hall was any indication, they could have quite a lot.

"You're warm and I'm cold," she mumbled. "You're also very comfy." Her hands roamed his back slightly before her questing fingers slipped under his shirt. He jumped a bit at the contact, her fingers were very cold indeed. "See?" She murmured, pressing her hand against his back. "You feel good." Her words slurred together still in sleep.

He held her tightly enjoying the closeness when the door banged open and four bodies came careening in the room. "Up we go!" Liam cried out, bounding towards the bed.

Emma let out a groan. "Already?"

Killian chuckled as Lily followed Liam up, instantly worming her way between their intertwined bodies. "You're still sleeping?" She asked Killian incredulously. Apparently in her reality he was still up with the dawn. Though he was usually asleep long before he had been last night.

"Aye, little love, we're still asleep, but we're waking up now. Aren't we, Swan?" He asked, attempting to extricate himself from her grasp.

"Speak for yourself," she muttered.

Neal yawned. "I agree with Au-" he groaned. "I agreed with Emma."

Emma rolled over and glared at him. "We already know who Roland is and we're now aware, though not entirely addressing the fact that those two," she motioned to the twins who were snuggling in next to Killian under the covers, "belong to us. Who are you really?"

Roland's eyes were wide. "You know who they are? Shit!"

"Language!" Emma chastised immediately. "And yes we know and now that we know-"

"You'll make different choices," Roland murmured.

"Aye, lad, we may, but I don't think you have to worry about that in particular." He motioned to the two children in bed with them.

Roland's shoulders sagged forward, but he nodded nonetheless. "He's Neal. Your parents named your baby brother after Neal to honor his sacrifice," Roland explained.

Emma's eyes watered and she rose, bringing the boy into her arms. She pulled back to look down at him. "You are so handsome and brave," she murmured. "God, Mom is so going to kill me when this is over."

"Before we have to worry about that, Swan, I think we need to focus on making sure we get to your mother. What do you say we go track down the Bandit Queen?" He suggested.

Emma nodded, "I like that idea. But breakfast first. None of us have eaten enough."

OUAT

Once they'd had their fill for breakfast in the small tavern connected to the inn, the group pulled their horses from the barn and made their way to where the innkeeper said Snow White frequented. There were a series of small towns in the woods and the townspeople often housed her. They could probably find her in one of them. With packs of food and water, the group set out, this time hoping for a better outcome.

Emma felt her heart swell when they stumbled into the first town and Snow White was seated talking to a woman in a long red coat. Emma instantly recognized her as Ruby. Killian latched onto Emma's hand. "I think offering her passage is still the best way to get her to steal the ring," he murmured.

Emma nodded in agreement. "Go for it." She nodded for him to go speak to her mother as they dismounted. Before he could leave them, though, she pulled him back by his hook for a kiss.

He grinned against her mouth, ignoring the looks on the kids' faces. "This," he reached up and tugged at a lock of hair, twining it around his finger a bit, "I could get used to," he murmured.

She flushed and bit her lip. "Me too," she agreed softly, humming when his lips skimmed over hers one more time. She felt her stomach swoop as he winked at her, ruffling Neal's hair as he passed by them to approach the two women.

He settled down on a log across from them, keeping one eye on Emma and the kids as they spread out on one of the blankets they'd gotten from the inn and Emma settled the kids in with lunch. He was sure Lily and Liam would fall into a nap if they were able to stay for an hour or so. "Hello, Snow White." He grinned at her, his silver hook gleaming under the sunlight.

OUAT

XOXO

MAS