"Henry, can you bring the rest of the plates over from the table?" Emma yelled back at her son.
Henry nodded and started picking up some of the dirty dinnerware with Ruby giving him advice on how to stack everything up properly to minimize the number of return trips he'd have to take. Emma turned to see a big smile spreading across Liam's face.
"You know, at the rate he's going, he could be really useful to us next summer."
"Hey!" Killian said from his place beside his brother. "Are you criticizing my bus boy skills?"
Emma and Liam exchanged a look. Yea, Killian's older brother had gotten to him, and she couldn't help but encourage it.
"All I'm saying, little brother-"
"Younger," Emma and Killian said in unison - although Killian's tone seemed much more serious than Emma's, which gave her an extra bit of glee.
Liam smiled at both of them. "Anyway, I'm just saying that it would give you a chance to do more of that pirate routine you love, and Henry could earn a little extra cash with a summer job."
"That's actually not a bad idea," Emma said. "Hey, kid! Do you want to earn some extra money next summer working for Liam and Killian?"
"That would be awesome!" Henry replied enthusiastically.
"Well, now that that's settled, perhaps it's time for Ruby and I to head home for the night."
Liam gave his girlfriend a knowing smile, and Emma felt a tug of jealousy over how in love they seemed. Of course, Emma could have that if she would only open herself up to someone, particularly a specific someone who was standing right next to her.
They all said their goodbyes to Liam and Ruby before Henry started with his case against going to bed.
"Can't I just stay up a little longer?" he asked. "We already had so much fun, and it isn't a school night. I just want to watch a little more television!"
"Henry-"
"Actually, Swan. If I may interject." Emma turned to see Killian taking a seat on the couch and untying his boots. "If the lad wants to stay up a little later, he can lay down in my bed."
"I don't know."
"Please, Mom!"
Killian stood up and start walking to his room with his boots in his hand. "There's a timer on the TV so you can't just watch it all night. What say you, Swan?"
Two sets of eyes looked towards Emma, and both of them seemed very hopeful that she would say yes.
"Fine."
Henry whooped with joy and went running off to get his pajamas changed in his mom's room. Emma, meanwhile, followed Killian to the back bedroom where he was putting his boots away and pulling off his sweater, his t-shirt riding up just slightly to reveal his toned abs. Not that Emma was paying attention at all.
She cleared her throat slightly to get Killian's attention, and he turned to give her a sheepish grin. "Sorry, Swan. I stepped over my bounds, I know, but it's not a school night."
"Of course, you would say that."
He looked up at her. "What does that mean?"
She gave him a sarcastic smile. "You sound like his friend, so you don't have to be the bad guy here."
Killian nodded his head slightly. "I know, but he's a good kid. He deserves good things sometimes."
"You have a soft spot," she said teasingly. "Since when were you sentimental?"
"I'm not," he replied defensively. "I just wanted to do something nice."
"Uh huh."
Henry came bounding in, quickly pushing his way past Emma and landing squarely on Killian's bed.
"Oi, lad!" Killian huffed. "Get those smelly socks off my sheets!"
Henry obliged, shoving them off and running over to stuff them in his mom's hand before heading back to the bed. Emma looked down in disgust.
"Can you handle that one?" she asked as she turned back to her bedroom without waiting for an answer.
She dropped the socks next to Henry's bag on her floor and went to wash his hands, listening to Killian give instructions to her son on how to operate the television.
"You all set then, lad?" she heard Killian say.
"All set. Good night, Killian!"
"Have a good night, young Henry."
Emma stayed where she was, too afraid to move and break the moment. It was so sweet and gentle and how she imagined a moment like that would be between Henry and his father. Except Killian wasn't his father. And yet, he treated Henry in such an amazing way.
She quietly walked back to her room and changed into some leggings and a big hoodie. Hanging up her clothes from the day, she almost tripped over Henry's fairy tale book on the floor. That crazy book that was still bothering her. She had quite a bit to process that week between the kiss with Killian and that book.
Emma went to check on Henry and, as she had suspected, he was already asleep. Even with the TV on, it hadn't taken long. The Jones brothers seemed to have that kind of effect on Henry's energy. Because really, how could he not be exhausted from the attention they lavished on him? The thought made Emma's heart squeeze a little tighter.
She padded her way into the living room where Killian had sat down on the couch, his feet propped up on the coffee table and the television on.
"Hey, Killian?"
"Hm?" he said, not raising his eyes to meet hers.
"Um, can we talk for a second?"
His head quickly snapped up to her, and she almost regretted asking considering how intense he became.
"Yea, sure," he said. "We can always talk."
She stuffed her hands into the pockets of her hoodie and put her head down. "You care about Henry, right?"
"I care about him alot, Emma."
She just nodded and walked to her room, grabbing the book off the floor and heading back into the living room with it.
The television was off and Killian was standing now, waiting for her to come back but still seeming unsure about what was going on. She hugged the book close to her chest, not sure if this is what she should be doing. But she wanted to be honest with him, and this was one of the things she needed to be honest about.
"Earlier this week, do you remember when I told you I was dealing with some things?"
He nodded and motioned for her to sit down, then followed suit by taking a spot next to her on the couch. She turned and gave him a slight smile that he returned, giving her the courage to continue on.
She put the book on the table. "This is one of those things."
Killian didn't look skeptical or condescending. He just looked at the book and then back up to her. "Once Upon a Time?"
"It's a fairy tale book," she said quickly. "And it has some odd stories in it."
"Odd?" he asked. "I'm sorry, I'm not following. Why has this been bothering you?"
She took a deep breath, hoping if she just said it fast, the whole thing wouldn't sound so crazy. "It's about an evil queen who curses a bunch of fairy tale characters and sends them here. And they forget who they are or that they used to be fairy tale characters."
Killian shrugged and gave her a lopsided smile. "That actually sounds like a cool story."
"Henry thinks it's real."
His smile faded. "What do you mean?"
Emma rubbed her hand over her face and took another breath. "He thinks Regina is the evil queen who cast the curse, and I'm the savior who is supposed to make everyone remember who they are, and David and Mary Margaret are my parents, and they also happen to be Prince Charming and Snow White, and-"
Killian put a reassuring hand on her arm to stop her and gave it a smile squeeze. "Swan, slow down, OK?"
She nodded.
"So this book is about a cursed town, and Henry thinks it's about us?"
"Right."
Killian got a mischievous grin on his face. "Please tell me that Captain Hook is in there, and please tell me I'm Captain Hook."
Emma's eyes narrowed as she stared at him. "Really?"
He shrugged. "I was just hoping."
She should be upset that he wasn't taking this seriously, or at least not as serious as she was. But instead of saying Henry was delusional or needed to see Dr. Hopper or something, Killian's first reaction was to confirm he was a pirate in a fairy tale story.
"Sorry, Swan," he said sheepishly. "I just got a little excited there."
She felt herself soften towards him. "It's OK. I'm a princess and a savior. Apparently."
"And the daughter of Snow White and Prince Charming too," he said. "What other surprises are in there?"
"Do you really want to know?" she asked.
"I really do," he replied earnestly.
Emma took a deep breath and began to tell her story, starting with her fateful trip to the library on Sunday with Henry. How he had pulled the book out and started to explain the whole thing. How he would turn pages and tell these elaborate stories about the illustrations in the book, or pass over sections - "I haven't read that part yet." - before getting animated again about another story. There were dragons and ogres and magic. An elaborate royal wedding. Parents with their daughter Emma.
"Emma?" Killian asked curiously when they had reached that part of the story.
"It's just a coincidence," she said flippantly, trying to assure not only him but herself that it was, in fact, just that.
And when she got to the final pages, to the castle with the purple clouds rolling over the kingdom, Killian looked a bit awestruck trying to process all of it.
"Wow," he said quietly.
"Yea."
He sat up and leaned his elbows on his lanky legs. "So when you abandoned me and the pizza on Sunday night, that was because of this book?"
Emma thought back to that night, to the pieces of paper from Granny's diner with her handwriting that she still didn't remember writing. The note had included mentions of a curse and her parents. The extra piece of paper that clearly said she loved Killian. But there were some parts of that night's story she still couldn't tell him. At least not yet.
"It was because of the book," she said simply.
He smiled and leaned closer to her. "Well, it sounds a bit far-fetched and all, I'll give you that, but there does seem to a bit of truth in there."
"Oh, really?" she asked. "And what truth is that?"
"I can definitely believe that story about you being a princess."
Emma stared at him, not sure if she should chastise him for the cheesy line, admonish him for not being more serious about this, or thank him for the compliment. Frankly, she didn't know what to believe or what to think about any of it. She was sure he was going to laugh at Henry for believing this or laugh at her for possibly believing Henry.
"So you believe Henry? You think this is real?"
He shrugged. "I don't think it's real. I'm just saying there are parts that seem very believable."
"Like what?" Emma asked sarcastically.
"Well, Mary Margaret is kind of a goody two shoes, and a prince and sheriff both have to maintain peace for their kingdoms. Oh, and Regina can definitely be heavy handed with her mayoral duties sometimes."
"And it's easy to believe that I'm Storybrooke's princess."
Killian's face turned serious, and he reached out to run his fingers through her blonde hair. "You're beautiful, Emma, and strong and noble. So yes, I can believe that you're someone's princess."
She scoffed. "I'm no one's princess," she said quietly.
He pulled himself closer to her, his lips so close she could feel his breath. "You're my princess, Emma."
Then Killian's lips were on that spot right under Emma's earlobe that made her moan in pleasure. She could feel his lips turn up in a smile against her neck before he resumed his work, teasing her skin with warm kisses. And then he was kissing her lips, soft and tentatively like their first kiss that night a week ago. But this time, she wasn't afraid to let him in and give him more. She grabbed the front of his shirt, bunching it up in her fists, and pulling him towards her. He took the hint, his hand cupping the back of her neck as he gently laid her on the couch, his body warm and hard as it pressed against her. Dammit, this is what she knew she wanted, so why had she been denying herself for so long? Because she could tell - hell, she knew - that Killian wasn't like Neal. It wasn't just about him. It was about them, together in this moment. And it was a moment she wanted.
She pulled away slightly, opening her eyes to see him staring back at her with a look of trepidation, like he was afraid of what she would say next to push him away. Instead, she reassuringly brushed the palm of her hand against his cheek and smiled at him.
"Maybe we should take this somewhere else," she murmured.
Killian's lips turned into a sexy knowing smile. Without a word, he pulled himself off of her and stood up, his hair disheveled and spiking in all directions, which only made Emma want him more. Then he scooped her off the couch into his arms, and she happily obliged him, snaking her hands around his neck to hold on tight as he carried her to her bedroom.
"I hope you don't mind that I have some less-than-princely thoughts about what to do with you, princess."
She laughed quietly. "Some princesses prefer pirates."
He moaned involuntarily, his chest vibrating under Emma's fingers, making them tingle with anticipation before he quietly closed her bedroom door.
xxx xxx xxx
Emma woke up feeling a chill, which probably wasn't helped by the fact that she wasn't wearing any clothes.
Oh bloody hell, where were her clothes? Why was she naked in her bed?
This was all because of Killian Jones.
She rolled over quickly to realize she was cold because he wasn't there, and she wasn't sure how she felt about that. Emma was definitely the kind of girl who didn't stay around after sex, and she preferred it if the men she brought home were gone in the morning. But Killian wasn't most men. He was her roommate. That would be fine and good and no problem except for the fact that her son was sleeping in the room next door. The last thing she wanted was to have Henry find Killian walking around the apartment without any pants on and wonder why.
And then she heard the two of them laughing in the living room.
Emma took a deep breath and quickly got up, throwing on her sweats before cleaning up anything in her room that may have even hinted at the possibility of Killian sleeping there the night before - and doing so many other things that didn't involve sleeping. She grabbed the random bra that Killian had thrown across the room and tossed everything in her closet.
Then she took a deep breath and opened the door. The smell of fresh coffee and scrambled eggs welcomed her, and she instinctively started making her way to the kitchen.
"Well, well, well. It looks like Sleeping Beauty is awake." She turned to see a smile spread across Killian's face before he quickly turned back to Henry. "Oh! Is there a Sleeping Beauty in the book?"
Henry looked pleased that someone was taking an interest in his book. "She's in here, but I don't think she made it to Storybrooke as part of the curse."
"Of course not," Killian lamented.
"Oh, mom!" Henry called out. "We found someone that looks like you in the book!"
Her head snapped up and she stared at the two boys on the couch. Henry seemed to be so excited as he started flipping through the pages, but Killian's demeanor had quickly changed. He seemed almost uncomfortable about what the boy was going to reveal.
"Here it is!" Henry said, landing on a page with a large illustration.
Emma came around to look over the book with her son. There were two people on the page, looking through some brush that they seemed to be hiding behind. The man was dressed in a tan coat, similar in design to the pirate coat Killian wore on the deck of the Jolly Roger on dinner nights, and the woman was wearing what looked like a blue peasant dress. She had long blonde hair and green eyes - and she looked almost exactly like Emma.
She stared at the page, too stunned to say anything. Just how likely would it be that there would be two people in Henry's book that looked like Killian and Emma?
"Who are those people?" she said quietly.
"They're the ones who got your parents together!"
That was enough to break Emma out of her trance, and she looked up at Henry in surprise. "Wait, what?" she asked.
The boy just smiled. "That's Prince Charles and Princess Leia, which is weird because the only Princess Leia I know is from Star Wars," Henry explained. "Anyway, they helped Snow White fall in love with Prince Charming." He turned and gave her a big smile. "It looks like you, but it's obviously not you because that would've been too far in the past."
"Right," Emma said, not really exactly sure what she was agreeing to.
"And how could you be there to be the one who would introduce your parents to each other?"
"That's what I said!" Killian exclaimed.
Henry shrugged. "It's still weird though. I mean, they do sort of look like the two of you."
Emma quickly glanced at Killian, who seemed a bit perplexed by all of it as well, before her eyes landed on the page again. Because it couldn't be denied: Prince Charles and Princess Leia looked alot like Killian and Emma, which made no sense at all.
Her thoughts were broken by a knock at the door. "Regina's here, kid," she said, hoping there wasn't too much of a note of relief in her voice. "Is your stuff all packed up?"
"Yep!" he said as he grabbed the book of the table. "Killian helped me this morning."
Emma turned and smiled warmly at Killian, just before her son threw his arms around her roommate. "Thanks for reading with me!" he said excitedly.
"Any time, lad," Killian said warmly, returning her son's hug.
"And I promise I'll sleep on the couch next time so you can have your bed."
Killian let go and waved his hand through the air. "It was no trouble. It was just nice to have you here."
Henry gave him a big smile and grabbed his book from the table, hugging it to his chest as he walked over to the bag by the stairs and shoved it in. Then he walked over and hugged his mother tightly. "I'm so glad I got to stay with you."
Emma could feel the emotion bubbling up in her chest. "Me too, kid," she said. "And you know you're welcome anytime."
"I know."
Emma brushed his hair off his forehead and planted a small kiss on it. Then she paused, thinking about the note in her pocket. "Kiss Henry/Break curse." Was anything different this time? Did anything change? She could feel the disappointment settle in her as she realized nothing was out of the ordinary. He was her son, of course, but kissing him didn't break any curse.
Another knock on the door meant it was time for Henry to leave. Emma let go and followed him as he opened the door where Regina was waiting. The women exchanged pleasantries, and Henry gave Emma one last quick wave before the door closed and he was gone.
Emma trudged back into the living room to see Killian had once again settled on the couch, wearing his disheveled clothes from the night before, which he must've picked up off Emma's bedroom floor. His brows were knit with concern and thought as he leaned on his knees with his elbows.
"So," Emma said, breaking the silence before sitting down on the other end of the couch. "You slept here last night?"
A smile teased at the corners of Killian's mouth. "I slept here after I came out of your room early this morning," he explained. "I didn't think it would be prudent to have the boy see me come from your bed."
"Thank you," she said earnestly.
Killian nodded and took a deep breath. "So," he said cautiously. "I guess I really am a cursed prince and not a cursed pirate."
Emma scoffed at him. "You sound disappointed."
Killian laughed, breaking the tension in the room, and moved closer to Emma. "You have no idea how much I wanted to be a pirate, Swan."
She turned and gave him a sarcastic smile. "You do realize that the book isn't real," she said. "We were never there to act as matchmakers for Snow White and Prince Charming."
"Your parents," Killian interjected.
"They are not my parents, which is fine because we weren't there anyway."
"Right. Although it would've been fun if we were," he added wistfully. Emma shook her head and Killian laughed at her. "Oh, come on, Swan," he said teasingly. "I know I look like that dowdy Prince Charles in Henry's book, but you like princes, don't you?"
"I have no idea," she said.
Killian got closer - much closer. His leg was up against hers and she could feel his breath on her ear. "Or would you prefer to be plundered by a pirate again?"
She suddenly felt hot, her skin prickling with energy. "I like nice men," she said quietly.
"Nice men?" he murmured in her ear. "You couldn't make an exception for a scoundrel?"
"I guess it depends on the scoundrel," she replied.
His lips turned into a teasing grin before he leaned in to kiss the tingling skin on her neck, making her moan in pleasure.
"Bloody hell, Swan," he whispered. "I'll be whoever you want as long as I can be with you."
She pulled away slowly and looked into his eyes, dark and dilated and sexy. "I just want you, Killian."
