Tumblr prompt: "You're going out dressed like that?"
Summary: Emma reflects on her past as she gets ready for her birthday dinner

Emma Swan didn't remember the last time she had actually celebrated her birthday–or more accurately, wanted to. It was a day like any another, a date that came and went.

That was until three years ago when a 10-year old boy showed up on her doorstep and changed her entire life. Even then - she was too busy having to face her past that had caught up with her to celebrate the day past the single cupcake she bought for herself. Followed by what became her new normal–battling villains…defeating darkness…venturing down to the Underworld to save her pirate boyfriend…

Her world was one you had to see to believe, that was for sure.

She shook her head as she looked at herself in the mirror. Her eyes wandered as she slipped on her second earring, tilting her head as she did so. She looked at the second sink beside her and the products that were all neat and in a row behind it; three jars of hair wax–"A man as handsome as me mustn't run out. Do you know what would happen, Swan? Chaos. Just Chaos."–, an eyeliner pencil that, to her, was as signature as his hook itself…but what completed it all, the final touch, was the toothbrush sitting its holder next to hers.

Back when she was a child, the wish to have a family who loved her seemed as simple as the toothbrush in front of her. It was a ridiculous thing to be smiling about, but here she was. After all, she was about to meet her family at Granny's for her birthday dinner, a man deemed worthy by Zeus to be alongside her.

Crazy.

As if on cue, his frame appeared in the doorway behind her. "You almost ready, love?"

She smiled at him in the mirror. "Yep, just need to brush my teeth."

He walked in further, his waistcoat yet to be buttoned and in her favorite paisley shirt of his that brought out his eyes perfectly, and sauntered up behind her, wrapping her in his arms. He pressed his lips to the bare skin of her shoulder and hummed contently. "Hmm, you know, love," he began, brushing his nose along the curve of her shoulder and stopping just below her ear. "We're about to have dinner with your parents," he paused again, teasing his lips just above her skin in the way that drove her crazy. "And you're going out dressed like this?"

She kept her face even; no way would she take the bate this early in the evening and face her parents when they arrived late.

She glanced down at her outfit (a simple white sundress patterned with pink roses, accessorized by knee-high tan boots). Her softer side came out more and more, so on such occasions she dropped the armor of her leather to enjoy the quiet moments with Killian and her family.

"This is completely innocent, Killian," she argued, smiling.

"Hmm," he hummed, resting his chin on her shoulder and hugging her tighter from behind. "Not for me. My thoughts shall remain on what I have planned for later," he whispered, pressing another gentle kiss where her neck met her shoulder.

She didn't think she would ever get over the feeling of being wanted, the way Killian made her feel almost every minute of the day. She felt her cheeks warm, heat moving down her body at the thought. "Do I get a hint?" she flirted, deliberately bumping her hips into his.

He chuckled darkly. "Nope," he replied, grinning mischievously at her reflection. She turned to lean her forehead against his temple, a beat of silence passing between them. He placed a soft kiss on her cheek. "You look beautiful, Emma."

She closed her eyes and smiled before turning around his arms, wrapping hers around his neck. "Thank you," she replied, taking in his damp hair, a few strands slightly falling into his face at the top, those blue eyes staring into hers. "You're not so bad yourself, Captain."

"At this stage, Swan, are you really surpr–"

She cut him off with a kiss, cupping his cheek as she grinned at him. "I'll meet you downstairs?"

He stepped back, bringing her hand to his lips to press a kiss to the top. "As you wish."

After finishing up she walked into their bedroom, grabbing her new black leather jacket Killian had given her from the bed. She shrugged it on and couldn't help the skip in her step as she went down to celebrate what she was sure would be one of the best birthdays so far.