Whatever happens...

Wow – totally a while since I updated this one. OOPS. Me and my muse had a MASSIVE falling out, but between book publishing's and organizing a wedding – this happened

Prompt 1: Hook and Emma have a fight just before her birthday.
Prompt 2: Jealousy. Don't care who.

Set after frozen but before Queens of Darkness. AU from there.


Whatever Happens

Emma Swan was very much looking forward to her birthday this year. The icy cold spell had blown itself out and for the first time in several weeks the sun was shining bathing Storybrook with glorious heat. It was also the first year that all of her friends and family were in one place. Her parents (with a very eager Henry) had tried to organize a surprise party, which would have been successful until Elsa and Anna turned up 2 days early shouting happy birthday to a very confused Emma.

After that, nobody tried to hide anything. The presents that had been ordered were not secreted away with haste, but casually hidden with a reminder not to peek. Whispers in Granny's about food were held out in the open – only she wasn't allowed to see the cake until the big day. Even Regina seemed a little caught up in the excitement joking that it wasn't too late to curse Snow's firstborn.

...And then there was Hook.

Things between Hook and herself had been getting stronger and stronger. Then again, she thought, holding someone's heart in your hand would tend to do that. There had been yelling, crying, things thrown across his room at Granny's but most of all there had been trust. He had broken down after one too many rums and she had gotten the whole story. The hook, the hand, the blackmail; the quest to be a man she deserved.

She still remembered that night, when he had fallen into a fitful sleep, she had lain beside him, fingers running through his hair watching him, quietly assuring him that she was still there when he stirred with a broken mutter of her name, kissing his head when it creased with worry.

Somewhere between trying to soothe his nightmares and resting her head on his shoulder to find sleep herself it had hit her. A warm realization spreading out from her heart to every part of her - She loved him. But as wonderful as that realization was, she could not work out how to tell him.

When she had first learnt about her birthday surprise she had gone to Hook, overwhelmed and needing a place to just take it all in. She had never had this before; even her fake memories of New York were always just her and Henry. Walsh hadn't been there for her birthday. She just needed a moment to process. Which he allowed. One knowing look, a raised eyebrow and he was handing over his silver flask and going back to the task he had momentarily taken a break from.

She had given him atlases and maps of this world for him. He was a sailor at heart and the little boat that they had found for him to hire wouldn't take him all over the world but it was a start. She knew how painful it was to give up a home; she had wanted to give something back. He had been touched; dropping a chaste kiss to her forehead as he reverently touched the spine of a book of maps of the new world she had found.

She spent several minutes just watching him, taking a sip from the flask, cakes and presents and decorations forgotten for the moment as she studied him. After several minutes she slipped from the chair and joined him at the table where he had a map spread out.

"What are you working on?" he looked at her for a minute, eyes mapping her face before smiling and pointing to an area of the map that held several islands.

"Working out if I can take the boat as far as the Caribbean" her light chuckle and muttered "boat" caused him to playfully bump her shoulder. They had had this discussion before, after being corrected several times about the Jolly Roger being a ship, Emma had automatically called his newest hire a ship. Earning herself a brief lesson in nautical terms and a rather stern lecture about what made a ship a ship and a boat a boat. (She still called it a ship. Size be dammed)

"Maybe a Birthday sail down the coast?" she inquired lightly, half in jest. He frowned at her, fingers brushing some hair off of her before finding that dent in her chin that his thumb seemed fascinated with, a knowing smile brightening his face.

"You know Love, this is what having a family means. You might want to enjoy it while it lasts" and just like that she was reminded of how much she had and of how selfish she was being. Here was a good man who had loved and lost more in his life than anyone she knew, a man who would probably give anything to have his brother with him for his birthday one last time...and she was here hiding because her family wanted to throw her a party.

She balanced on her toes and gave him a soft kiss, one which didn't linger but told him everything she felt.

"I'll see you there right?" she mumbled against his lips, fingers playing with the nape of his neck behind that ridiculously soft jacket. It wouldn't feel right to not have him there, especially considering her revelation a few weeks ago. It was getting harder and harder to be away from him for any length of time.

"Wouldn't miss it for the world, Love"

Yes, Emma Swan was now very much looking forward to her birthday.

Elsa had insisted on taking Emma shopping, an apology for ruining the surprise party. Despite how many times Emma told her it didn't matter, Elsa wouldn't take no for an answer. Deep down Emma was happy about it, she had never had that many female friends growing up and for the first time in as long as she could remember, she could spend a day shopping with a friend without having to worry about who was watching Henry.

Plus it gave her a chance to buy things she wouldn't be comfortable buying with her mother present. She wanted her birthday to be perfect, and that included rendering a certain pirate speechless. She would always remember his face when she opened the door for their first date...and their fifth. He always looked at her like she wasn't real. She happened to quite like it.

They certainly hadn't taken things slow. For all his talk about being a gentleman his control had snapped when she had gone with him to his room at Granny's, whilst his back was turned getting her another drink she had taken charge and stripped her dress over her head, leaving her in matching underwear and high heel shoes. His mouth had fallen open, the glasses had shattered and her underwear had been ripped to shreds. Neither regretted it.

She wanted a similar reaction on her birthday. She wanted him open mouthed, on his knees showering every inch of her body in open mouthed kisses as his scruff burnt her skin. She wanted to make him lose control and she wanted him to make her forget her own name as a result.

Having just secured her purchases and riding on a pleasant high from having a fun filled day with the promise of more to come, they decided to stop and have lunch at Granny's. She was about halfway through a plate of grilled cheese when a small timid cough drew her attention to a man standing next to her.

Although she had seen him around before, Emma was fairly certain she didn't know his name. She had a passing suspicion that he was one of Cinderella's mice, or was that a lizard. She couldn't keep track. In his hand was a cup of hot chocolate and he was nervous to the point of shaking.

"P-Princess Emma...I know you don't know me. W-we've never spoken but I know its your birthday soon see, and, what with all the stuff you've done for me...or us. Us. I-I just thought you should have something nice. I-I've seen you drink this before so. Yeah. Uh, happy birthday"

And with that he slid the hot chocolate in front of Emma, who was about to thank him for the gift when his lips were suddenly pressed against hers and the hot chocolate was spilling into her lap causing her to gasp and leap up, knocking the mouse (or was that lizard) back. Only to be confronted by a pair of stormy blue eyes holding back so much anger and hurt that she felt her heart physically flinch before they turned and slammed through Granny's door with enough force to rattle the frame.

Pushing past the former animal on her way out to catch up to her pirate Emma heard Elsa mutter an "Oh no" before she all but ran to catch up with Hook.

"Hook! That wasn't what it looked like. Killian please!" She grabbed him by the arm in a similar move to one he had used on her so many weeks ago, when she confessed to not being able to lose him. Feeling like that was exactly what she was about to do.

His eyes were dark, darker even than she saw them in Neverland, hiding a hurt so powerful he couldn't hide it behind the sneer that covered his face. He simply looked at her hand, then up to her face. He was usually so good at reading her, so good at knowing what she was feeling, he had to know that none of that was what she wanted.

"That, that wasn't what it looked like. He..."

"What exactly do you think it looked like, Swan?" she could feel the anger pour out of him, the use of her last name a slap to the face, when she coudn't answer fast enough he wrenched her hand away and backed her against the wall. Every muscle in his body reverberating with anger, he crowded into her, face barely an inch away from hers, eyes boring a hole through her. His voice low and dangerous. "To me, it looked like you were smiling at him, he bought you a drink and he kissed you. How do you see it, love?"

She swallowed passed the lump in her throat because that was exactly what it was. She knew how she would react if she had walked in on the same thing. She closed her eyes and gathered her thoughts, trying to ignore the betrayed and hurt look on his face that was destroying her heart.

"It was just a happy birthday...it didn't mean anything" she knew it sounded weak to her own ears, and there was so much more she wanted to say. To tell him that she didn't want or ask for it, that she was too busy dealing with the spilt hot chocolate in her lap to push him away. But she couldn't; as soon as the words left her mouth Hook had slammed his namesake into the wall next to her head making her jump.

"Aye, it meant something. It meant that you let someone else touch what was mine" He ran a finger down her cheek, the jealousy and the anger was mixing together making her skin tingle and her eyes snapped up to his. She pushed against his chest with enough force to send him back a couple of steps, her chest panting with the effort.

"I'm not yours!" she practically hissed at him. Every part of her body rebelling at the thought of being owned, of this man – the man she could admit to herself that she loved – thinking that she was his property. Tears sprang from her eyes, suddenly as hurt by him as he was.

"Aye, you've made that perfectly clear, love" he pointed towards the diner, the scene of the supposed crime that was taking away so much. "I'm sure the mouse is waiting for you"

"Killian, that's not what I meant. I'm not property, you can't just own someone –" He cut her off, once again in her personal space, anger radiating off of him and she should have probably backed off, but she never had, never would with Killian. He was her equal. He didn't own her, he had to understand that.

"You can own their heart" he whispered, fingers brushing her chest delicately, belaying the way his body practically shook with anger. The heat of it making her red, and then suddenly it was gone, and she was watching him stalk off down the street, feeling as though he had taken her heart with him.

She sleepwalked her way back inside Granny's the mouse thankfully vanishing from site. Sliding back into the booth with Elsa, and her half finished grilled cheese, she let the tears fall. Suddenly Emma Swan was dreading her birthday.

The sunny spell broke along with Emma's heart. It somehow it seemed fitting that her birthday be celebrated with a storm.

She had gone home the day before, her mother had taken one look at her and wrapped her up in a hug which had caused the tears she had spent an hour at Granny's trying to stop to resume. Curled up on the sofa with her mom one side and her dad the other she had told them exactly what had happened. Neither one knew quite what to say apart from "give him time".

Whilst her parents hadn't been Hook's biggest fans when they started their relationship, those long weeks since her trip to the past had proven enough for her parents to accept and support their relationship. Her mother told her not to lose hope, that he was just angry and that he would forgive her. Her father offered to go and knock some sense into him. She tried a brave smile and declined the offer, not wanting to cause him anymore hurt than she already had.

With that she had made her excuses, peeled off the chocolate stained shirt and angrily though it into the wash basket and crawled into bed, wishing more than anything than anything that she could make it right, that she wouldn't lose him over a misunderstanding.

She woke up the morning of her birthday utterly miserable despite the handmade card left on the bedside table from Henry wishing her a magical birthday. She ran her thumb over the scruffy writing and dragged up a smile that didn't quite reach her eyes.

But this was her birthday. So many people had put a lot of effort into making this special for her and Emma Swan did not mope over a man, no matter how in love with them she may be. A steaming hot shower later, she dressed and put on her best smile before joining her family for breakfast.

The moment she showed her face she was tackled by Henry, his face pressed against her stomach as she held his head to her, smiling up at her wishing her a happy birthday and informing her with a gigantic smile that there were waffles. She laughed as she kissed the top of his head and followed him over to the kitchen. Her mother pulled her into a warm hug and whispered happy birthday into her hair as her father piled up an obscene amount of waffles onto her plate.

Family gifts are exchanged at the table, away from the public because this, this means something. Not that gifts from friends don't mean anything but this is the first year she has a family to give her gifts that aren't perfunctory gestures.

Her mother and father give her a new leather jacket, black and just a bit longer than her normal ones, this one reaches her thighs and is nice and thick for the bad weather they always seem to get. She puts it on straight away, marvelling at the butter soft leather and the new smell that still lingers to it.

Henry makes her cry when he presents her with a book. Well, it isn't so much a book as folded pieces of paper held together by staples that aren't quite where they should be. But its the drawings of her, the hand written story of her life and a simple explanation "you don't have to be in the book to have a story mom" that has her crying whilst holding Henry to her again.

As the party draws nearer so does her guilt that as much as this means to her, she wishes hook had been there to share it with her. Her mother ushers her into the bedroom to get ready, a knowing smile on her face as she pulls out the dress she had brought the day before, a whispered "have hope" against her head as she had pulled the door shut.

So she had. She pulled on the new underwear, the ones with delicate ties holding the lace in place (for all of his love of leather he couldn't quite stop singing the praises of lace when he had discovered her in it), smoothed out the red dress that covered just enough to be considered elegant but clung to her just enough to set his blood racing should he see her in it. Curled hair and high heels and her new leather jacket later and she was pushing open the door to Granny's.

To say that she didn't immediately scan the crowd for any sign of black hair and vivid blue eyes would be a lie. Each greeting edged her closer to the bar, and she only looked around more. Finding nothing. With a resigned sigh and a sympathetic look from Elsa she turned her attention back to crowd waiting for her, determined to at least enjoy her birthday.

Soon well wishing turned into gifts and then the cake was brought out. White icing in the shape of a swan on top of the biggest birthday cake she had ever seen, carried in by 5 dwarves and taking up a whole booth. She couldn't have kept her mouth shut if she had tried, an embarrassed giggle escaping when she realized that she would have to blow out all 30+ candles on the cake.

"Make a wish" was shouted, fairly certain it was Ruby but all she could think about was that she had nothing left to wish for. She had a family that loved her, her son, friends, a man she...a man that wasn't there. Closing her eyes and taking a deep breath, Emma had never wished for anything harder.

The sound of the bell over the door was drowned out by the applause and cheering and an off key rendition of Happy Birthday, but she felt his eyes on her. It was like a wave of electricity had flooded her veins and her eyes darted over the heads of the gathered crowd until she found him. Stood in the corner, looking nervous and staring straight at her with those blue eyes she feared she'd never see again.

She pushed through the crowd until she stood in front of him, her friends having the good grace to cut the cake and were trying to give them as much privacy as a public place afforded them.

"You came" she whispered, still not quite believing he was in front of her, that she had passed out trying to extinguish those ridiculous candles.

"Aye, I promised I would" he played with the hair behind his ear, eyes darting around as though expecting an attack before settling onto hers. His fingers playing with the collar of her new jacket before pulling back suddenly as though he had crossed a line. "Could we..." he gestured outside. She nodded and followed him through the doors to the patio that held so many memories.

Once outside, neither knew quite what to do with themselves so they stood standing awkwardly, not looking at the other, waiting for someone to speak.

"I'm sorry" both broke off laughing nervously as they evaluated the other. Hook had dark circles under his eyes, and the usual spark that had drawn her to him was no longer as bright in his eyes, a nauseous wave of guilt ebbed through her at the thought of her causing that, but before she had the chance to make it right Hook was speaking her name softly, drawing her attention

"I'm sorry, for yesterday. Elsa explained it all. The mouse, the hot chocolate, the kiss" he gritted out the last word as though it caused him physical pain. She marvelled for a minute at Elsa tracking Hook down in the mood he had been in and explaining it all.

"It didn't mean anything" she tried again, begging him to understand that as far as she was concerned the kiss meant less than nothing. That she hadn't wanted or initiated it.

"Aye, hard to mean something when you don't know the lad's name" his smile was small, but still there, and that more than anything gave her hope that this could be fixed, she took a step forward, reaching for him before he met her half way, his hand gently resting on her shoulder as he brushed a gentle kiss across her lips. "Happy Birthday" he whispered as he pulled away, not removing his hand.

"Killian, I..."

"Please tell me that meant something" he pleaded, resting his head on her forehead, rubbing his nose along hers. She could smell the rum coming off of him, but his eyes didn't have the glazed look of someone under the influence. Dutch courage then? Her heart was beating in her ears, her eyes falling shut at the pleading tone in his voice. She needed to tell him.

She nodded against his forehead, mouth opening to say the words that were desperate to burst free when his mouth covered hers again. A kiss which caused her toes to curl and her breath to get lost. His hand holding her shoulders migrated to her head, angling the kiss deeper, a rough moan inching up his throat as he apologized with his lips. Before she was really ready, he pulled back

"I know I don't own you, Emma, but you must realize, you have me; you've had me for a long time. I –"

"I love you" when she finally says it she laughs, because she just said it, and she is so happy. He is here, he just told her that she has him, and he is here and all the anxiety, all the pain and worry of the last 24 hours dissolves away because she has said it and he is looking at her like she just made the sun appear at midnight.

"I love you" she says again when he opens and closes his mouth a couple of times. Her forehead following his when he pulls away, hand caressing her cheek, thumb once again finding her chin – staring at her with open wonder.

He reaches into his pocket and pulled out a black box, she is more than a little bit thankful it was not a ring box. One step at a time she reminds herself when her heart gives a lurch. He hands her the box without a word, hand returning to play with his hair behind his ear as she opens it.

A delicate silver chain is draped over the cushion of the box, a small anchor at the end, barely bigger than her thumbnail. The runs her fingers reverently over it, pulling it free of the box that she leaves discarded on a table. She doesn't quite know what to say. She turns around, asking him to told her hair out of the way so she can secure the necklace in place, he looks relieved that she has asked for his help despite not being able to tie it himself.

When she turns back around his eyes are drawn to the anchor hovering over her heart, his fingers tracing it just as she had.

"You are my anchor, my love. You keep me grounded. I'd still be adrift in darkness if not for you."

When he finally met her eyes, clouded by tears and sparkling green with happiness, he drew her in for a kiss that left her shivering, wanting to forget the party a wall away and have her own private celebration on the patio at Granny's.

"Thank you for..." for coming back, for the gift, for loving me for so long. For being patient, "...for everything"

"Always. Come now, I hear there is cake, love. I'm partial to sweet things you know" The spark was back behind his eyes, the teasing lilt of his voice making her giggle. She hadn't lost him. She took his offered hand and followed him back to the party.

It wasn't until later, her leaning against his shoulder, her parents, Henry, Elsa and Regina crowded around a booth laughing and smiling that she finally got a slice of cake...or rather, stole a slice right off of the fork of Captain Hook.

He simply looked at her, eyes narrowing slightly at her innocent look, mouth stuffed with far too much cake.

"It's a good thing I love you, lass" and while her parents stared in open shock, and Henry grinned like a fool, she simply swallowed the cake, smiled and pressed a sweet kiss to his lips, letting him taste the stolen cake.

"I know"


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