"Have I mentioned you look stunning, love?" Killian asks with a nervous smirk as he tightens his hand around Emma's hip and kisses her cheek, trying to distract himself. His stomach is tightening with nerves as they stand in front of the giant palace where her parents live. She really does look stunning though, with her beige tasseled cocktail dress stitched with white swans, and nude pumps that accentuate her toned calves. Her hair is pulled up into a high bun, showing off her elegant neck and creamy white skin, and she's wearing blood red lipstick and a light amount of blush to accentuate her high cheekbones. She looks classy and elegant, which is something he knows she's not accustomed to. But it's a very good look on her.

He's just glad she had calmed him down and talked him out of the suit he'd been donning when she'd met him on his porch, because otherwise he'd be sweating profusely in a suit jacket. Now he's wearing a blue button down shirt with beige dress pants.

When Emma had told him her parents wanted to meet him, he'd become a complete disaster. And it's not because he didn't want to meet them, because he did, he just wasn't sure how to act or behave around 500 year old vampires.

"Killian, everything will be fine," Emma reassures him for the thousandth time with a smile, once again sensing his fear as she rubs his back in soothing circles. "They don't bite, I promise."

He looks at her, offering a small smile. "That's not something you hear everyday about vampires, love."

Emma laughs and leans in to press a kiss to his cheek. "My parents aren't your average, run of the mill vampires, trust me."

Before she can pull away, Killian pulls her into his arms, so she's flush against his chest, speaking gently as he gazes into her eyes. "With my life," he whispers and captures her lips with his.

Emma immediately melts into him, her eyes fluttering shut, hands cupping his cheeks. Killian tightens her in his hold, drawing her into a long, searing kiss, his heart rate spiking in his chest. Her lips are so soft and sweet, and he can't deny he has become accustomed to how cold her skin feels against his. As much as he knows he can't change her body temperature with his warm hugs and the way he holds her in his arms, he can still try.

"You must be Killian."

The sound of a man's voice pulls them back to reality, and they pull apart, heads turning to look at Emma's parents. Her father has his arms crossed, a frown settled in his features.

"Aye, Killian Jones." He sticks his hand out to offer it to the blonde vampire, catching his breath after the mind boggling kiss with his daughter.

When he doesn't respond, the raven haired woman nudges him in the arm. "David," she chides her husband. "Be nice, this man saved our daughter's life."

David sighs and shakes his hand. "David Nolan. Nice to meet you," he says reluctantly. His wife, however, has a warm smile spreading across her lips as Killian lifts her hand to greet her, his lips dropping a kiss to the cold skin on the back of her hand.

"It's a pleasure, Mrs. Nolan."

"Please call me Mary Margaret," she says, her smile growing wider. She appears to be giddy with excitement, although Killian's not sure why. These two vampires are hundreds of years old, and he is nothing but a human.

"Will do," he agrees with a soft smile.

"Please come in," David urges, stepping inside and holding the door open to let Emma and Killian in.

"Thank you," he says appreciatively, entering their home.

It's at that point when Killian realizes how hungry he is, his stomach rumbling mercilessly. He'd been so nervous about meeting Emma's parents, he'd skipped dinner.

"Would you like to join us for dinner?" Margaret asks, raising her finger to her ear. "I can hear your stomach growling."

"Uhhh," Killian scratches behind his ear, not knowing how to respond without possibly offending them. "I appreciate the offer very much, but I only eat human food."

To his relief, Mary Margaret giggles. "I know that, silly. Which is why we've stocked up on actual food, preparing for your visit. David was a really good cook in his human days, so he can whip something up for you."

"Oh, well I don't want you to go through any trouble for me."

"It's no trouble," David assures with a wave of his hand. "I can't speed through it like I do with everything else. Food doesn't heat itself, but it's no problem at all," David says playfully.

"Are you sure?"

"Yes, absolutely. You humans like steak right?"

Killian laughs. "I'd love a steak. I eat a lot of hamburgers, so a steak would be absolutely perfect."

"And how would you like it cooked?"

"Medium rare, please."

"Perfect. Be right back."

"Thank you," Killian says before David zips away.

"Would you like to come sit in the Dayroom while you wait?" Mary Margaret asks sweetly.

Killian nods. "That sounds perfect."

Mary Margaret ushers him through the palace and into the room she'd spoken of. They sit down on a lounge sofa and while they wait for David, Mary Margaret chats with him, regaling stories of Emma, which makes her blush. Killian hadn't really known what to expect before meeting Emma's parents, but he has to admit, he'd never expected her mother to be this excited to meet him.

"Please forgive my mother, she's not used to having humans over for dinner," Emma laughs, rolling her eyes.

"He is not just any human, Emma, he saved my daughter's life," she reminds her, encasing Killian's hands with her icy, pale ones.

"To be fair, Emma saved my life too," Killian says, feeling a blush creep into his cheeks. He looks at Emma who is sitting on the other side of him with a small smile.

"And we want to hear all about it. David, hurry up!" Mary Margaret calls out, even though her husband is not in the same room.

Killian can't hear the response, but Mary Margaret sighs and accepts whatever answer he gives her.

When David appears with a plate of food and a few bottles of Enchanted blood, the four of them head to the dining room, sitting at the large table, fueling themselves with the food that quells their hunger while engaging in conversation.

Emma and Killian are sitting next to one another, holding hands under the table, fingers linked as they explain what had happened, how Graham had stolen the fairy blood and planned to murder Killian and frame his death on Emma. She had later learned that Graham hadn't killed Milah because his plan was to enchant her into thinking she'd witnessed Emma taking Killian's life.

"Oh, that's awful," Mary Margaret shrieks, a look of horror on her face.

"I'm going to stake that son of a bitch," David barks out standing from his chair, but Mary Margaret puts a hand on his arm to stop him. "He is responsible for all of those innocent women! He betrayed Emma's trust!"

"But David, you are not a killer," Mary Margaret reminds him, which is kind of funny to Killian considering David is a vampire.

The man sighs and reclaims his seat. "Fine, but we will have to decide his fate. We can't let him go around murdering people. This will not go over well. I made a promise to the humans that I would make sure to keep the vampires in check. If any vampire chooses to act against the law, they will be punished, just like a human would."

"Well, there has to be another way," Mary Margaret says.

"Like what? We can keep him imprisoned in Emma's basement, but how long can we keep that up? And in my opinion, imprisoning a vampire for eternity would be far worse than death."

"And Graham hates being a vampire," Emma adds. "He hates me for turning him into one," she says more softly, ashamed of herself.

"Hey, love, don't get down on yourself," Killian tells her, leaning over and kissing her temple. "I think he should be punished like any other human. A convicted felon does time behind bars, so should Graham. Are there any vampire prisons?"

"Yes, only at the secret headquarters of the Authority," David replies.

"The authority?" Killian inquires, raising a brow.

"The authority is a council of vampires which oversee all vampires. They have a holding cell there," David says reluctantly. "We can have Graham transferred there, and the authority can deal with him then. I just hope Graham doesn't try to pin anything on us, especially since he knows about the fairy blood and has digested it. The authority can be quite ruthless."

"Did anyone see you or Graham outside that day?" Mary Margaret asks Emma. "You did have him flying through the air in broad daylight."

"I dont think so," Killian answers for her. "I haven't heard any word, and in Storybrooke, gossip spreads like wildfire, so if anyone saw anything, everyone would know by now.

Mary Margaret sighs in relief. "That's good to know at least. Let's just hope that the knowledge of fairy blood doesn't leak out. We don't want to put the fairies in danger."

"Not to worry, your secret's safe with me," Killian assures them. "I haven't even told my brother about the fairy blood, nor do I plan to, so I'm sure everything will be fine."

"Yes, you're probably right," Mary Margaret nods. "So we won't worry about it right now." She flashes a smile at him. "So Sheriff, why don't you tell us about yourself?"

"Please call me Killian," he smiles and answers, telling her about how he's lived in Storybrooke his whole life, how it was his childhood dream to become a cop, how his parents died when he was young and how he has an older brother who runs a bar.

And as Emma's parents tell them stories of their hundreds of years of existence and how they came to be vampires, both against their wills, Killian finds it hard to believe, apart from their ghostly skin and their need for blood, these humble people are undead creatures of the night. He can easily see where Emma gets the kindness in her heart. He can see these two vampires have certainly had a positive impact on her.

When the night is over, for him at least, the Nolan couple walk Emma and Killian to the door.

"Killian, thanks for coming and thanks for saving our daughter's life. You are a true hero in our book," Mary Margaret says kindly, kissing him on the cheek.

"Of course, I couldn't let Emma burn. I like her too much," he claims, winking at Emma.

She smiles back at him, her cheeks flushing. Mary Margaret is exuding happiness over the fact her daughter has come to be in a relationship with a human, but David, on the other hand, may take some convincing as he scrutinizes Killian with his skeptical, yet bright, blue eyes.

"May I have a word with Killian, darlings?" he asks his wife and daughter.

"Of course," the raven haired woman answers as she opens the door, and she and Emma step outside.

Killian gulps, not sure what David wants to speak to him about as the man steps close to him, casting a glare. "Now tell me, Sheriff, what are your intentions with my daughter?"

Killian almost laughs at the question, and sighs in relief. "Right, of course you're old fashioned," he jokes. "You're a five hundred year old vampire."

David doesn't appear to be amused.

"David, I can assure you, I have nothing but good intentions with your daughter," he says with a blushing smile. "I'm in love with her, and I'll do anything to protect her."

"That's good to hear, but you're a human and your life will be short compared to hers. You may never have to watch her die, but she will still exist when you die, and she'll have to live with that pain. If you die it will break her heart."

"With all do respect sir, Emma doesn't technically have a heart."

"Don't get smart with me, Killian. She may be a vampire, but she still feels pain and has emotions. And for her, it's much stronger and will get stronger the older she becomes. Human emotions are a vampire's kryptonite. The older we are, the stronger we become. But with that strength comes the increased inability to contain ourselves. Our emotions become our weakness. It keeps us from becoming too powerful. If vampires continued to get stronger and had no emotions or feelings, and could feed with no remorse or ability of restraint, then they could very well wipe humans off the planet."

Killian nods in comprehension. "I understand, David, but my intentions with your daughter are pure, I can assure you."

"Actually it might be easier if they weren't," David sighs. "At least then she probably wouldn't feel the same way, and she wouldn't end up getting hurt. But since she clearly feels something for you, I won't stand in between the two of you, but I do hope you will consider what I've told you here."

Killian nods. "Aye, of course." But he knows he can't stay away from Emma. She is too important to him. And if David is saying what he thinks David is actually saying, then he'll eventually have to either break up with Emma before they become too serious or decide to become a vampire, because the last thing he wants to do is leave Emma on this earth with a broken heart.

"I'll let you go for now, but just remember how old fashioned I am if or when you want to ask my daughter to marry you, got it?"

Killian grins at that. "Believe me, I won't forget." He winks at David as he opens the door. He decides he can't think about the consequences of what is happening between he and Emma right now. It hurts too much to think about. And he doesn't wish to be a vampire, but he'd rather become one and live forever with her than cause her any pain.

He bids Emma's parents farewell before his blonde goddess pulls him into her chilly embrace and lifts them off the ground, ascending into the dark, night sky.

"Everything okay?" Emma asks after they land on Killian's porch. She's wearing a worried expression as she takes his hands into hers, an encouraging smile gracing her lips.

"Aye, your father was just worried about my intentions, that's all."

Emma rolls her eyes. "I'm sorry about them, they're-"

"Very charming," Killian finishes with a smile. "They genuinely care about you and love you. You're very lucky to have parents like them."

She nods. "I am very lucky, I just… I don't want them to scare off the only man I've ever loved."

Killian chuckles, his cheeks warming with blush, scratching behind his ear. "You must be referring to when David told me not to forget how old fashioned he is when I ask you to marry me."

Her face falls. "He what?"

Killian's features twist in confusion. "You didn't hear that?"

"No, the outer palace walls are soundproof, even from vampires. Why do you think my mom and I stepped outside when my dad wanted to talk to you privately?"

He shrugs. "To give us privacy."

Emma sighs. "Look, if you don't want to do this, I will understand."

He frowns, not sure why Emma would think he doesn't want this. "Emma…"

"Oh come on, Killian, I'm a vampire, you're a human. It will never work and everyone knows it. You need the daylight and I need the night. I can't even go into your home because of my progeny."

"Emma…" Killian repeats himself in a soothing tone. "I think if we both want this, we can make it work. But I don't want to think about that right now. The future can wait. Right now, I know exactly what I want, and that's you."

Her features soften and she offers him a smile. "I know you do, I have a keen sense of smell, remember?" she teases.

He laughs and blushes, pulling her closer and kissing her lips. "I was talking about going on dates and spending time with you, love, not sex."

"I don't know," she smirks, "your body is saying otherwise."

He laughs and wags a brow flirtatiously. "I won't deny I'm physically attracted to you, we both know it would be a lie," he whispers in her ear, pressing his groin to her center in case the smell of his arousal is not enough. He can hear the audible moan flying from her lips as the bulge inside his pants manages to find her clothed folds. "And I love fucking you… but I would love to take you out on a date sometime."

Emma agrees with a nod and leans in to speak softly in his ear. "Can't we do both?"

A week later…

"So, I take it you two are getting along?"

A smile reaches Milah's lips as she nods in response to Emma's question after the raven haired woman had told her Alcide offered her a place to stay. "You can say that. Thanks again for the job, and for introducing me to Alcide."

"No problem," Emma says before taking the last sip from her bottle of blood.

"Who's Alcide?" Killian asks as he approaches the bar counter, kissing Emma's temple before taking the stool next to her.

"He's a werewolf who works at Enchanted," Milah replies as she pours Killian a glass of rum.

"He looks over the club while I'm asleep," Emma adds.

"Ah," Killian nods and curls his arm around Emma's shoulder as Milah places his drink in front of him. "And you two are seeing each other?" he questions Milah with a brow cocked in curiosity.

Emma and Milah narrow their eyes at him.

Killian shrugs and smirks. "What? Just because I don't have vampire hearing like my girlfriend," he starts to say, winking at Emma, "doesn't mean I don't have a clue to what's going on. That's my job, remember?" he asks before taking a sip of his rum.

"Ah yes, sometimes I forget how much people gossip in this town," Milah comments, rolling her eyes.

"I wasn't talking about the gossip, I was talking about the look on your face I could see when I walked into the bar," he chuckles.

"Oh right, you've always been good at reading people," Milah points out with sass.

"He's good at many things," Emma smirks as she leans into Killian and kisses his lips.

"Mmm, so are you," he mumbles against her mouth with a low growl as Emma swipes her tongue against his.

"Would you two get a room?" comes Liam's voice, and the two pull apart, glancing over at him from the other side of the bar. He's rolling his eyes and sighing, but at the same time, passing Emma a fresh bottle. "But please not one of the restrooms."

"You're not the one who has to clean them, I do," Milah reminds him.

"Relax you two, a small amount of PDA never hurt anyone, did it?" Emma asks with a smirk.

"Why don't you ask the Sheriff?" Liam teases playfully, but Emma can't complain when Killian's brother is actually coming around to her.

"Point taken." Killian concedes, taking another drink of his rum.

"Hey, just be glad I'm not hiding in the back anymore," Liam reminds them as he looks at her. "Emma, I admit, since you've saved my brother, I've realized you're not so bad afterall, and…" he sighs deeply, "I don't hate you."

Emma laughs. "Wow, I think that's the nicest thing you've ever said to me."

"Yeah well, it's true. Just do me one favor, will you?"

"Sure, what is it?"

"Look out for my brother, will you?"

Emma nods. "Of course I will."

"Hey, I don't need anyone looking out for me," Killian argues.

The other three are eyeing him doubtfully.

"Did you forget Emma and I saved your life?" Milah reminds him.

"Touché, lass."

"Hey, we all saved each other that day. If it weren't for Liam letting me into his home, I would have burned to a crisp."

"That's true." Liam gloats with a smug grin. "But thanks to my brother, the town is peaceful once again." He pours himself and Milah a drink and holds his glass up. "Here's to you, little brother. The sheriff and savior of this town."

"To all of us," Killian adds, "and that'syounger brother," he corrects, and the four of them clink their glasses together and drink on it.

The next night, after sunset, the darkness overwhelms the sky when Killian hears a knock on the door and leaves his comfortable spot on the sofa to answer it.

His features light up when he sees who's on his porch, but in the same second, his smile drops when he sees the glum look written all over Emma's face.

"What's wrong, love?"

"Killian…" she murmurs quietly. "I have some news."

He steps aside, unblocking the entryway to his house. "Please come in, Emma." Just as the words spill out of his mouth, his eyes widen in shock. "Wait, how did I—how was I able to invite you in?"

Emma offers a weak smile, confliction evident in the features of her beautiful face. "Well, that's what I wanted to tell you about." She steps inside, and his first instinct is to offer her a hot beverage, but alas he forgets sometimes that Emma has no human needs; she is a vampire, and he cares for her no less.

"I guess I should start stocking up on some Enchanted blood," he says with a small laugh as they both sit on his sofa. "Now, tell me what's happened, love," he encourages in a soothing voice.

"It's Graham… he committed suicide."

Killian lifts a brow in confusion. "He what?"

"Tomorrow, Graham was to be transferred to the holding cell at the Authority's headquarters, but last night, one of my human employees was enchanted by Graham to stake him. He told me, and I enchanted him just to be sure he was telling the truth. Sure enough, he wasn't lying. Graham was staked at his own request, so that's why his enchantment is no longer keeping you from inviting me in. When he died, so did his magic."

Killian knows he should feel sad about this, but he's already had his time to grieve over the former Sheriff. Graham was not happy about how things had turned out. He hated being the one thing he hated the most. Killian is actually relieved by this information as he carefully takes the lenses out of his eyes; he's no longer enchanted to put them in everyday. "Thank Gods," Killian sighs and gets up to discard them in the trash.

When he comes back to the living room, Emma appears to be surprised, eyes wide as she looks up at him. "You're not upset?"

Killian shakes his head and reclaims his seat next to her. "No, love. After the havoc he's caused and after I already had time to grieve when he died the first time around, I'm glad he no longer has to be the thing he despised, while imprisoned bearing an eternity of regret and loneliness. I'm actually relieved." He takes a breath, reaching for Emma's hand and encasing it with his. "How do you feel, love?"

Emma offers a brave smile. "I'm okay. I'm just sorry I'm the one who turned him into a monster. I was only trying to save him."

"Don't be sorry, Emma. You did what you thought was right at the time."

"But if I hadn't turned him into a vampire, then all of those innocent women—"

"Emma, you're forgetting about the human who was half responsible. No one made him do what he did, just like no one forced Grahan to do what he did. He chose to do so with his own free will. Not all monsters are vampires, just like not all vampires are monsters. So, don't blame yourself. You didn't do anything wrong."

Emma nods slightly, offering a faint smile. "I know, I just… he was my progeny. I created the vampire he was. He was like… well in a way, he was my son. I know it sounds weird, but we were connected in that way."

Killian smiles and lifts her hand to his lips, pressing a kiss to the back of her fingers. "I know, Emma, and it's not weird. You are right, you were his sire, the one who made him vampire. You have a right to feel sad," he assures her warmly, swiping her golden locks behind her ear.

Emma nods, her eyes starting to well up with tears.

"Careful, love. Your human is showing," he teases with a smirk.

Emma laughs and swats his chest. "I'll show you a human," she says and turns over, climbing atop his lap, mischief dancing in her eyes. Her smile makes his heart melt as he tugs on her arm, pulling her body close to his.

She cups his jaw in her hands, slowly capturing his lips, enjoying the way his breath catches in his throat and the way his heart spikes under his ribcage. She enjoys the sparks she feels when their tongues connect, liquid heat flooding through them.

In all honesty, she doesn't mind showing him her human side because he is the one who'd brought it out of her in the first place. Neither of them are quite sure how a human/vampire relationship will work, but they're both willing and able to find out.

"Killian…" Emma moans, grinding her hips into him. Killian growls, grabbing her waist and thrusts up, rubbing his erection against her center.

"Already wet for me?" Killian teases, his voice husky in her ear.

She shudders, a wicked smirk crossing her lips as she looks down at him, her hips relentlessly rolling into him. "I'm not sure, I guess you'll have to find out for yourself."

Killian growls and lifts her up, securing her in his arms as he stands up from the couch. "Gladly."

Emma's legs are wrapped around his hips as he carries her upstairs and to his bedroom.

When he fucks her into his mattress, he has to admit, it's nice to finally have her in his home. It's nice to make love to her between his sheets as they suck each other's blood and get off on it, it's nice to wash each other in his shower and fall asleep with her in his arms and it's nice to wake up with her before dawn, before she has to leave for her coffin.

Since that night, Emma sleeps at Killian's during the day while he's at work, and spends a few hours with him after sunset before she goes into the club and before he goes to sleep. It's not an ideal situation, and truth be told, he wants so much more with her than a few hours at night, but he takes what he can get.

Killian loves the time he spends with her, but at the same time, he craves so much more with her.

He may not be ready now, but he knows one day he will want her to turn him vampire. He wants to feel what she feels, have the strength she has and he wants to experience everything she does with heightened senses.

He wants to spend an eternity with her, worshiping her and giving her all the love he has.

He wants forever with his vampire princess.

One year later...

A flash of lightning streaks across the sky, accompanied by a loud crash and a rumble of thunder as the rain relentlessly pours down over Storybrooke.

Killian is in his office buried in paperwork when he hears the door to the Sheriff station open. He looks up and walks to the office doorway, seeing a man standing there drenched from the rain, water dripping onto the floor.

Slowly stepping out of his office, Killian studies the man carefully, but he's wearing a hood so it's difficult to make our who he is.

"Are you alright?" he asks in concern.

The person doesn't answer, still standing there, his wet raincoat dripping and making a puddle on the floor.

"Do you need help?"

Again, there's no answer, and Killian tries to stay calm and collected, but he's not sure if something's wrong or if this person is hurt, and that worries him.

"Sir?"

There's still no reply, so Killian offers to give the person a ride. He turns around, heading for his office to lock up, and there's a gun fired after the man finally speaks.

"Your vampire killed my son!"

Emma's entire body shudders in her throne, and she can feel it. She feels Killian. She feels the pain of a bullet, feels his bones shattering, his fear and then nothing…

She feels nothing.

Emma's whole body goes numb, a tear escaping her eye, the pain unbearable. She doesn't have any lungs, but suddenly she can't breath. It feels like she's suffocating as she toys with the ring on her finger and peers down, a blood tear falling and landing on the diamond.

Her fiancé is dead.

A thought suddenly enters her mind, and pulling a Charming, she decides to cling onto hope. She grabs some bottles of enchanted blood and dashes off from the club to the Sheriff's station in the pouring rain as fast as her vampire speed will take her. She rushes through the door and falls to his side, her insides aching at the sight.

"Killian!" she screams, traces of hope chipping away as the fear completely engulfs her, and it's so unbearable, she can't move. Her love is laying on the floor, a puddle of blood pooling around him.

She holds him in her arms and sobs like she's never cried before. She'd been with Killian for more than a year now, and their love was strong and all consuming and everything she never knew she wanted. He'd asked for her father's blessing and asked her to be his wife the evening before, which started out as a typical night at the Rabbit Hole and ended with him proposing in front of everyone before they went back to his house, and fucked for hours to celebrate their engagement.

And now he's gone.

He has no heartbeat, no breath.

The only hope she can cling to is the chance her blood is still in his system from the night before. They'd fed on each other during their lovemaking, like they always did.

Emma lays her head on his chest, crying until there are no more tears as she waits and waits for any sign of life from him. The sounds of thunder, lightning and rain seem to simmer after a while.

Dawn creeps up on her, but Emma's not worried about burning, because the sun isn't threatening to crest in the cloudy sky.

The hours go by, and Emma lifts her head, kissing his pale cheek. "Killian, please… come back to me…" she whispers. She kisses his forehead, squeezing his hand with hers. "Come back to me…"

She's never been a God fearing person, even as a human, but she hopes and prays for him to come back, unwilling to give up on her lover. She lifts his lifeless hand to her lips, pressing kisses to his pale skin, whispering more prayers.

Several more moments go by when another bolt of lightning pierces through the sky, and that's when she feels Killian's hand twitch.

Her gaze fleets to his eyes, hope flaring inside her once again.

"Killian…"

The grip on her hand tightens and his eyelids flip open, his irises an icy blue, once again pooling with life.