Chapter 10:
The sun filtered in the bedroom, dropping fragments of light along Emma's blond hair making it shine like spun gold. This was the sight that Killian woke up to. She lay next to him, one arm flung across his body, a white tank-top clinging to her, and to the best of his recollection it was quite possibly the most beautiful sight he had ever seen. Being careful not to move too much he brushed the hair that was covering her face back so that he could fully take her in. Her face was frequently slightly tense, the weight of her life and their current situation weighing on her, but now she looked completely at ease.
"I can feel you staring at me Killian and I have to say it's really freaking creepy." She never opened her eyes but he felt her legs shift just a little, one of hers moving over top of one of his.
"Sorry love. Just taking it all in."
"You know if you weren't such a gentleman you could have been taking it in after a far less PG-13 version of the evening." He chuckled as she felt her head shift on his shoulder, moving to look up at her. His eyes found hers and he lowered his head, brushing his lips against hers in a whisper soft kiss.
"Patience my dear. Good things come to those who wait." She shifted again so that her upper body was laying over him, her hand coming up to caress his cheek.
"Good things come to those who don't wait as well."
"Emma, you are not making it easy to be a gentleman here."
"Perhaps I like my man with a little bit of scoundrel in him. I don't honestly know why you're so insistent on this no sex until after the trial thing. I know that it's not because you're getting paid. You know that it's not because you're getting paid..." He sensed more than heard the frustration creeping into her tone and as much as he loved the development that they'd had the day before he had no desire to repeat the emotionally exhausting day again.
"Love I can't explain it myself. Perhaps it's less about the goal of the trial than about wanting to make sure that we're not just rushing into that particular aspect of our relationship. We have a great thing here. Talking and really getting to know each other. I'm scared that if we get more physical that it will waylay that connection somehow." While she doubted it would happen she understood what he was saying. Taking away the goal point she could see where he would just want to take their time.
"We've only been on a few dates love and I know I'm supposed to be all about the physical but it's so little of why I want you Swan. I love your hand in mine and when we woke I loved you being here. Last night was no less satisfying to me than if we'd made love. I'm a man and once I've had you I'll want you all the time. It's already nearly impossible to resist you and I haven't even had you yet. Once I do I'm afraid that I'll want you all the time." She smiled as he spoke, her hand lightly running down his chest settling at his hip. Playing with the bottom of his shirt there was a tension running high between them.
"Would that be so bad?"
"Wanting you all the time?"
"Yeah."
"There's so many firsts for us love and I don't want the desire for that first to get in the way of the others. But if you want to move forward in that regard I suppose I can do that for you." A smile spread across his face as he spoke, knowing that she would hear the joking tone that had made its way into his voice. If she wanted him now he would give himself, happily. He wasn't joking about that. But he so very badly didn't want her to think that he was only in it for that reason or he was simply playing hard to get with no real desire to hold out.
"How about we compromise?"
"How's that?"
"We've been on one official date and we've had an evening at home like an old married couple. One more date and we make the marriage official."
"Our marriage is quite official lass."
"Not completely. You're a cop. You know the law. We haven't consummated the marriage and therefore it could be easily annulled."
"I would never want that. You do know that right?"
"I do. Do you know what else I know?"
"What else do you know?"
"That I need coffee and if we don't get out of bed it will never get brewing." He nodded, smiling and watching her as she climbed out of the bed. The pajama shorts that she had been wearing fit her perfectly and he found himself watching as she walked towards the door.
"You coming sailor?"
"Of course. I'll be right out." After she left the room, presumably heading to the kitchen to get her much loved coffee going, his head fell back on the pillow and he raked his hand through his hair. While he had managed to keep his cool while she was in the room being with Emma in bed had taken a toll on him. Several times during the night he had woken up just to look at her sleeping peacefully next to him in the moonlight. Once he woke up and she was curled up next to him with his body wrapped around hers and their fingers intertwined. The next time she was on her back but her hand still held his loosely and finally when they woke this morning she had been laying next to him, her upper body nearly draped over his. His arm was asleep but he had never been happier. More than anything he wanted this for the rest of his life. With her, always. While he knew that he had already made that promise to her this felt different. Like it deserved a different kind of promise. This wasn't the promise to protect her from a criminal. It was the promise to love her. The word was there. Always at the tip of his tongue, ready to make itself known. A dozen times a day he had to stop himself. They had just been on one date. He had to restrain himself or risk scaring her off.
"Hey Jones. I thought you were coming out here? Or are you going to lounge around in bed all day." Her voice floated into the room and a half smile crossed his face as he got out of bed, pulling on a pair of sweat pants and a tank top over his boxer briefs.
"Patience Swan. It's not like we have big plans for the day." He found her sitting at the counter, cup of coffee already in hand, looking like the cat that ate the canary.
"We don't huh? Maybe I made some plans. Never too soon for that second date right?" Without thinking he found himself standing behind her, arms coming around her midsection as his lips found the spot between her neck and her shoulder.
"Aren't we anxious?"
"Maybe. Or maybe I just don't want to be cooped up in the house all day. I want to go out, hold your hand, maybe do a little shopping. If that leads to some...pleasurable activities this evening well I guess that's a cross I'm willing to bear." He laughed, even as she leaned back into him letting her head fall back against his shoulder.
"You know anything to do around here?"
"Actually I do. It's a bit chilly but there's a place nearby that was used in a movie. I read about it when we first moved here. I figured that we're essentially live in tourists until we familiarize ourselves with the area."
"You, sir, are a dork."
"And yet I'm the one that knows of something to do around here. Meet you back here in an hour?"
"Seriously? An hour. Do you have to primp?"
"I thought you might like to get ready."
"My getting ready is going to be putting on a pair of jeans and a sweater because while it is much warmer than it is in Boston at this time of year it's still not exactly summer out there. Or do I need to be all dolled up?" She smiled as she stood, preparing to go and get ready as he had recommended. Busting his chops was fun but she definitely wanting to look good for him. Just as she was about to step away from the counter, and away from him, he grabbed her by the waist turning her so that he was looking into her eyes.
"You never need to be anyone but Emma for me love. You were far more beautiful this morning waking up than any creature I've ever seen." Her heart picked up speed and she felt like the breath had been taken from her lungs. Men had told her she was beautiful before. More than that she had seen the way that they looked. They appreciated her appearance but no one's appreciation had ever meant as much to her as Killians.
"You're playing with fire Killian. If you want me to be all lady like and not jump you right here and now you might want to consider being a little less perfect."
"We both know that I'm far from perfect love."
"Maybe not perfect but definitely not far from it. You have no idea how amazing you are. And that's what makes you even more amazing." She didn't give him another opportunity to speak before walking back to her room, closing the door behind her.
An hour and a half later found Emma and Killian standing in the parking lot of Cypress Gardens. "What is this place Killian?"
"Well I suspect love that it should be clear. It's a garden." Quickly he realized that was the wrong thing to say as she jokingly smacked him in the shoulder.
"I think that I got that. You said it was in a movie. What movie?"
"I really don't want to say."
"Not manly enough?"
"Not even remotely." They walked along the trail from the parking lot holding hands, occasionally shoving each other towards one of side of the trail or the other. While the location was beautiful, clearly a great place for a movie, it was the moments between them that felt like a movie to Emma. She was bundled in a white sweater, a gray knit scarf looped around her neck, a pair of white washed skinny jeans and a pair of ankle boots. It was a casual outfit but she knew she looked good. Next to her Killian wore a black v-neck t-shirt under a black leather jacket that was fitted to his body perfectly, a pair of jeans, and black motorcycle boots. They were a striking couple but it wasn't their appearance that a stranger walking by them would notice though. Even though his hand was intertwined with hers she pressed her body against his arm, trying to get as close as possible. Meanwhile even though she was at his side he could hardly tear his eyes away from her to watch where he was going. The park was nearly abandoned and if felt like they were the only two people in the world.
"No seriously. What movie?"
"Actually love a number of them. But I'm sure once we get to where we're going, in about two minutes if my estimation is correct, you'll recognize it." They walked silently then, her eyes taking in their surroundings and his eyes taking in the woman by his side. Waking with her had changed something for him. He knew that he loved her but not it was so much stronger. As though holding her in his arms throughout the night had created a link between them that couldn't be broken. That he never wanted to be broken. He was only taken out of his thoughts by a small gasp from Emma. They were at the waterfront and a small boat was fastened to the dock. "Tell me that we're not going out in that."
"That we are lass."
"I don't think so. I'll stay on dry ground thank you."
"Don't you trust me?"
"Oh I trust you. I just don't trust that dingy."
"It's a rowboat Emma and I promise you that you'll be perfectly safe." She sighed before finally smiling at him, giving in to whatever plans he had for her. In moments they were in the rowboat and they were guiding it around. The trees were sweeping downward and Spanish moss hung over their heads. Lilypads were scattered around the top of the water and she could hear the birds in the trees singing to each other. After a few minutes the view did seem to be familiar. "Okay Killian. Tell me what I'm supposed to be seeing."
"Have you ever seen a movie called The Notebook? I've heard that women love it. Apparently this was the location for a pivotal scene? I've never seen it myself but I've heard it's quite the romance." She looked around and she remembered clearly the scene of Noah and Allie on the water just before she learned that he had written her every day she'd been gone.
"Yeah, I've heard of The Notebook. And I will begrudgingly admit that I know the scene of which you speak." She rolled her eyes a bit before looking back out over the water.
"It is beautiful out here. Even if it's a bit cold."
"Definitely the best time of year to be out here love. Wouldn't want to become alligator food. They're hibernating at this time of the year." She laughed a bit as her eyes looked out over the water, the darkness of its depths suddenly far more dangerous looking than it had just a moment before.
"That is not funny. I think we should be heading back to shore. While this trip out onto the water has been fun I prefer the thought of being on a much bigger boat. Something less likely to be capsized by a giant, human eating animal." He laughed but didn't fight her decision. He had practically forced her out onto the water in the first place and honestly he didn't care where they were as long as they were together. Within minutes they were back on dry ground and he had taken her hand, lacing their fingers together as they walked around the park. "So Killian..."
"Probably best to either refrain from names or use Colin love. Much as I love being myself with you, and as much as I can't wait to resign from being your police protection, it's still a public location. With all these trees there's no telling who could be lurking about."
"I guess you're right. Sometime I forget you know?"
"Aye. I'm glad of that. I want to know you, not some made up version." She smiled before taking a step closer, bringing her arms up around his neck.
"What are you looking forward to most?"
"You mean tonight? I can think of lots of things that I'm looking forward to about tonight love." A grin spread across his face as his eyes flashed with want, leaving her slightly breathless. When his tongue swiped across his lower lips she felt as though she had been physically stopped in her tracks and before she could stop herself she had captured his lips with hers. Without warning the sky opened up and rain began pouring down on them. Logic would have said to stop kissing and take cover but logic had never kissed Killian Jones. It had never held Emma Swan and logic was not coming between them in this moment. His hands were in her hair and her arms snaked up around his head, pulling him closer and closer. The space between their bodies closed itself and a moan slid out of her throat. The sound brought them back to themselves and they noticed the rain that was falling down in sheets around them. She leaned her head back and laughed, raindrops rolling down her cheeks.
"Are you kidding me right now? How did we not notice that we were standing in a downpour getting soaked to the bone." His hands gripped her hips as he pulled her flush to him, his eyes drinking her in.
"Perhaps we were preoccupied love."
"I'd say." She smiled, linking her fingers with his and tugging him back towards the car.
The rain didn't stop. They got all the way home, inside and back into the lounging around clothes but the rain still didn't stop. The Christmas tree was lit up and the sky was dark. A glow illuminated the room and Killian started a fire in the fireplace to warm the room. Of course they could turn the heat on but the ambiance was just a side perk of the warmth. Grabbing a blanket off the back of the couch he leaned his back on the ottoman sitting in the middle of the room and she settled between his legs, head leaning back on his chest. "Killian you never told me what you're looking forward to most."
"I thought that I showed you. At least in part." One hand brushed over her, the other resting on her thigh moving in lazy circles.
"I think we're both looking forward to that but I meant in general. We've established we want a real marriage. I just want to know what you're looking forward to most."
"The simple things. The moments. When we're so familiar with each other that I can catch your eye across the room and know what you're thinking. Knowing your favorite foods and what things I do that make you crazy."
"In a good way? Because I have a list of those already." His eyebrows went up and a slow smile spread across his face.
"Oh trust me love. I will be glad to expand that list. Just say the word."
"Oh I will be saying the word. Tonight. But we don't have to rush. I like this. You holding me. The fire. It's homey. It feels right. Natural."
"So what about you Emma? What are you looking forward to most? Besides tonight."
"Family. Once the trial is over and we can just be Emma and Killian we'll be a real family. And we can think about what that means going into the future."
"What are you talking about Emma?" He knew. Somehow he knew what she was talking about but he could hardly believe it.
"I think you know."
"I think perhaps I do but I'd like to hear you say it. Communication and all that."
"Kids. I don't want to wait forever."
"You want to start thinking about children now?"
"Well not tonight. I'm on birth control. There's no risk of it happening right away. I certainly don't want to get pregnant before the trial but once all that unpleasantness is done why not? Why wait?"
"Well because we're still getting to know each other. Don't you want time to just be us? We've never gotten to date."
"That may be true but like I said I don't want to get pregnant tonight or tomorrow. We've been married for a couple months now and by the time the trial is over it will be a couple more months. I just want to start thinking about when to start trying once the trial is done. We can decide six months or a year. I just want a timeline."
"Not a spur of the moment type girl huh?"
"Well I did marry you after knowing you approximately an hour so I'd say that there's at least some impulsiveness in me." He laughed and pulled her just a little bit closer. The fire was bouncing off of her hair and her emerald eyes were sparkling with something akin to job.
"So kids soon then?"
"Yeah. I mean if you want that."
"Emma I think if you wanted them tomorrow I'd probably be on my way to saying yes already. I would do just about anything to see you smile." Her head titled backward allowing him to lean down and claim her lips. He loved the ease with which she kissed him. The way that she never hesitated to cuddle in closer, pull him in for a kiss, or take his hand just because she wanted to be connected to him. He had never had this before. There had been women sure but never one that he felt like he wouldn't be able to go on without. Emma was different though. She woke up something in him that made him dream of that family that he felt like he had missed out on.
"I'm pretty fond of your smile too." Her hand came up and she caressed his cheek. His eyes were dancing with the light but more than that she saw longing. Not just longing for what they both knew was coming this evening but a longing for the life that they could have together. He had nearly slipped a few times. She knew how he felt about her and she knew that she felt that about him as well. The lost girl in her though held back, avoiding the words even in her own head. "So, bed or here?"
"Why choose? The night is young. As long as I get to wake up with you in my arms tomorrow morning I don't care."
"Here it is." She turned a bit and drew his head down. Behind them the fire crackled and popped, as he lay her down.
"Are you sure Emma?"
"I've never been more sure." He kissed her again and before long they were caught up in a passion that neither had experienced before. It wasn't the first for either but for both of them it felt like it was their last first time.