Emma fidgeted in her chair nervously. Killian knew the feeling all too well. He'd rather be anywhere else in the realm right now. Well, maybe apart from the crocodile's shop. But really, other than that, anywhere else.
Mary Margaret's brows were drawn together in confusion. She looked back and forth between Emma and Killian, trying to figure something out.
"Emma, where is this even coming from?"
"Can you just answer the question, please?"
David and Mary Margaret exchanged a glance. It was David who answered.
"I guess I just ... knew. The moment I saw the ring on her finger, I knew. It was just a feeling of ... happiness, I guess. It's difficult to describe."
Mary Margaret nodded. "It was strange. At first, he made me furious and then suddenly he didn't. I can't really pin down the exact moment it happened."
"But how did you know it was true love?"
They exchanged glances again. Killian contemplated if discussing the love life of Emma's parents was a step up or down from discussion his sex life with the Evil Queen.
Once more, it was David who answered her question.
"I guess you never know for sure. Unless you kiss and break a curse, obviously. I just knew I was in love and I had a strong feeling that your mother was not as indifferent to me as she let on and that was enough. But why this sudden interest in true love?"
Emma ignored the question. "Isn't there some way to know for sure? Like a test? One blue stripe, it's love, two blue stripes, it's true love. Something like that."
Killian looked at her and wondered if she had lost her mind. What in the realms was she talking about?
Her parents exchanged another glance, clearly having a whole conversation that the two of them were not part of. Then Mary Margaret sighed, stood up and started searching for something in the kitchen cupboards.
Emma's eyes widened. "You know I was joking, right? Don't tell me you actually have a true love test? I mean, one that works, not the one from the Cosmopolitan."
David looked at her, his expression very serious.
"In the Enchanted Forest, there were certain laws. If a couple could prove that they were in true love, then no authority had the right to separate them. Of course, everybody could claim to be in true love."
"Found it!", Mary Margaret interrupted from the kitchen.
"We had a stone that when placed in the hand of true lovers would shine in a bright white light. A few weeks ago, Mary Margaret found it in the cupboard where Henry's book first appeared." Mary Margaret came over and placed a very ordinarily looking white stone on the table.
"Listen to me, Emma. This is very important. The stone was never meant for the people in love to test themselves. It was only meant to show their true love to others. The very concept of true love entails that both have accepted their love as a part of themselves that will never go away."
Emma picked up the stone and carefully weighed it in her hand.
"Can I borrow this?"
David sighed. "Of course, honey."
Ruby raised an eyebrow and gave them a sly smile. "You know this is not the kind of place you can rent by the hour, right?"
Emma's ears turned a delightful shade of pink. "Just give me the damn keys."
Ruby handed them over without any further comment, but gave them a look that said I know what you're up to.
In the last months, God, had it really been months?, since their predicament started, he had effectively moved in with the Charmings. He had seen more of them than he ever wanted to see in his life. It also meant that they didn't have anywhere to stay where they could be alone. Hence, their visit to Granny's and Ruby's subsequent comments.
Emma unlocked the door to their room and walked inside. She took a long look around and said "Cozy."
Killian sat down on the bed, which left Emma with the choice to stand awkwardly next to him or sit down as well. She choose the latter.
Killian took a deep breath, steeling himself for the conversation he was about to start. Again.
"Emma, I told you, I don't think this is a good idea."
"What do we have to lose? We can just try the stone and if it doesn't work, too bad, we'll have to go hunting for the damn arrow."
"Did you listen to anything your father said?"
Emma narrowed her eyes at him. "I think this is an exception. I mean, it's a matter of life and death. We have to be sure."
"That is exactly my point. If you are not sure, then the stone will not show you anything."
"Just stop arguing with me for once and do as I say", Emma snapped at him.
Killian sighed. There was just no arguing with this woman.
Emma took the white stone from her pocket and placed it in her right hand. Killian closed his hand over hers. Nothing happened.
Emma made a frustrated noise and opened her hand, dropping the stone. She jumped up from the bed. Killian managed to pick up the stone before he was drawn along.
He carefully put his hand on her face and turned her to face him. "I told you it wouldn't work."
His words were soft, meant to comfort.
She swatted his hand away and glared at him. There was so much sadness in her eyes that he took a step back.
Her voice was barely above a whisper. "You're right. It was a stupid idea. Obviously we're not in true love."
He smiled at her and stepped closer again, putting his hand back on her face.
"Emma Swan. You are the most infuriating, brave, loyal and caring woman I have ever met. You carry the weight of the world on your shoulders. You will always help others even if it means bringing harm to yourself. I love you and I accept that I will never be free from this love again for as long as I live."
Emma stared at him, wide-eyed. She opened and closed her mouth a couple of times, but no sound came out. Killian just continued to smiled at her and waited. There was something very much like panic in her eyes.
She started pacing the room, which obviously meant that he had to pace the room with her. It was a little funny, but he suppressed the laughter that was threatening to bubble out of him. It didn't seem like the right moment.
After a while, Emma stopped pacing, took a deep breath and addressed the wall rather than him. "When I met Neal, I was so sure this was it. This is the real thing. This is what it feels like to be in love and to be loved in return." She paused, taking another deep breath. "And when that fell apart I swore to myself that I would never be fooled again into believing that there's bullshit like soul mates and true love and happily ever after." She finally turned, looked at him accusingly. "And then you show up with your puppy dog eyes and leather coat and your damn ...loyalty ... " She was talking faster and faster now, stumbling over the words. " ... and no matter what I did you always came back. And you just got me. Just like that. In a way that nobody else ever did. And of course I love you, you bloody pirate."
Killian closed his right hand over hers. A brilliant white light illuminated the room. Emma's eyes widened in shock. She carefully opened her hand to reveal the white stone, now brightly lit from within and pulsating like a fast heartbeat.
Killian's smile turned wicked and it only took Emma a second to catch on. She dropped the stone again and instead intertwined their fingers. Her left hand shot up and settled on his neck, drawing him closer. Killian went more than willingly. She kissed him slowly, taking her time. He moaned and the kiss changed, turning passionate in an instant.
He drew his arms around her and turned them to deposit both of them on the bed, with him on top. He grinned down at her, placing their intertwined hands to the right and lightly pinning her left arm down with his hook. Then he kissed her properly, eliciting a moan from Emma that sent tingles down his spine. He pulled back to look at her, already panting.
"I am afraid I will be unable to worship you tonight in the way you deserve to be worshipped, milady." He leaned down again and placed kisses along her jaw and neck. Emma ground her hips up against his, which led Killian to stop his ministrations in order to draw in a sharp breath.
Emma used the opportunity to flip them and start nuzzling at his neck. Then she drew herself up, grinning down at him wickedly. Her hair was dishevelled and her pupils blown wide. She looked absolutely breath-taking.
"How about this: I will start with the worshipping and you will repay me later tonight. In great length and detail."
He just stared at her, unable to speak for the moment. He nodded and Emma gave him another wicked grin that went straight to his groin. She then proceeded to unbutton his shirt and push it to the side. While she was doing this, she sat in his lap and Killian tried very hard not to start bucking up against her. It was a close call.
Then she started placing kisses down his chest, taking a moment to lick over each nipple in turn. Killian shuddered.
"Dammit Emma, stop teasing", he growled.
Emma looked up at him, giving him a fake pout. "Let me have a little fun."
"You can have all the fun you like, lass. I'm merely warning you that I am a hair's breadth away from coming in my pants like a god-damn youth."
Judging by the mischievous glint in her eyes that that had been exactly the wrong thing to say.
He closed his eyes and groaned. This woman would be the death of him.
Her kisses travelled further down and when he felt her unbuttoning his pants, he lifted his hip to help her pull them and his undergarments down to his knees. Then she started to slowly trace patterns with her hand on his inner left thigh, while placing soft kisses on his right one.
"Bloddy hell, Swan."
He was shaking badly now and tried valiantly to get himself under control. It was entirely in the realm of possibilities that this would be over before she even touched him. Then she ghosted her lips over his length and this time he was unable to keep his hips from bucking up, looking for more friction. She made a disapproving noise and pinned his hips down with her left hand.
"Have mercy on me. Please. Emma. Have mercy." He was begging now and he didn't care, he just needed relief and he needed it now. He opened his eyes and looked at her pleadingly.
Emma looked up and when she met his eyes, her expression softened. Then she suddenly turned to the door and cocked her head to the side. "Did you hear that?", she whispered.
Killian groaned. "Emma, love, I couldn't care less if the king's court orchestra was playing in this very hallway right now, can we please get on with this." He might have said the last part a bit louder than intended.
"Hm", Emma said and stepped off the bed. Killian begged the universe for forgiveness for his crimes and to please stop punishing him. Emma moved to the door and Killian was drawn along, trying to pull his pants up as much as possible and to keep from stumbling on the way. Emma motioned for him to hide behind the door which was fine with him. He gave her a pissed-off glare which she ignored.
She pulled the door open in one swift movement. Ruby almost fell into the room. She had the decency to look embarrassed.
"Um. I was just wondering if you guys have everything you need? Are there enough towels?"
Emma narrowed her eyes at her and Ruby was filled with the sudden desire to be as far away as possible.
"Okay, I guess not, bye." And she practically ran down the hallway.
Emma closed the door and turned around. "Now, where were..."
Before she had a chance to complete her sentence, Killian smashed her into the door.
He growled into her ear. "I am a patient man, Emma. A very, very patient man. But I. Am. Only. Human." He emphasized each of the last four words with a thrust against her.
Emma moaned in his ear and it was almost enough to undo him. Then she flipped them around again and dropped to her knees. She pulled his still half-off pants fully down again.
Then she looked up at him and her expression was pure sin. He could feel himself tumbling closer to the edge with every breath.
She took him into her mouth completely in one swift movement and Killian could not stop the yell that spilled from his lips. She bobbed her head up and down on him once, twice, three times and he was gone, yelling her name as he came. He had once heard somebody in this realm use the expression coming your brains out and that was exactly what it felt like. It was wave after wave of pleasure going through him and he felt his knees give out, both of them tumbling to the floor.
He lay on the floor, seeing stars, trying to get his breathing back under control when he suddenly felt a sharp burning in his right wrist. Both of them turned to look and saw the green vines go up in smoke in an instant, freeing them. Emma sat up and smiled down at him, the wicked expression back on her face.
"So, ready for round two?"
He groaned and closed his eyes.
"Yeah, I think I might need a minute. Or two. Hundred. Thousand."
Emma still grinned at him. "Well, you know, I have been waiting an awfully long time as well. Would you mind terribly if I get started without you?"
He opened his eyes again and lifted himself up on one elbow, not trusting his legs enough yet to attempt to sit or even stand.
"Depends. Can I watch?"
Emma smiled at him. It was one of her rare open and honest smiles and his heart clenched.
"I insist on it."