Killian:

It had been a week since the yeti attack and Killian was sitting up with Emma tying the bandage around his chest. Emma hadn't spoken to him since he woke up and he wasn't enjoying it. He missed Emma's sweet voice telling him what an ass he was. But mostly, he just missed her.

Although he'd never admit it. After Milah, Killian had refused to love ever again. But it didn't mean that someone still wouldn't work their way into his heart. And maybe, just maybe Emma had done just that.

Killian looked at Emma and stared at her profile. She was beautiful with her rich green eyes and luscious blonde locks. Earlier in the week she had been doing the same thing she was now. He had said a snide remark and she had pu ta dagger in front of his face.

"If you think you can play all lovey dovey with me Hook, think again because I've been around too many guys like you and I can see through any bullshit you try to pull." she had said.

Killian sighed. He really hadn't played his cards right with Emma. Usually his smug, cocky expression made all the ladies swoon. But Emma wasn't affected by the wonder that was Captain Hook. He sighed again.

Emma glanced up at Killian. "All done." said Emma.

"Thank you." Killian whispered. He watched her as she got up and left his side. He slowly put his hand where she was sitting and clutched the sheet. "Someday." he thought.

Killian's gaze then travelled to where Emma was standing and talking to Alice. He strained to listen to their words but found himself falling asleep.

Emma:

Emma got up and left Killian's side. She had resorted to calling him Hook again, though she itched to say his real name again. Killian. The name sent shivers down her spine. She sighed as she walked over to Alice, who was at the sink washing clothes. Sh'd been doing a lot of washing lately.

"What's wrong Emma?" asked Alice, concern filling her eyes.

"It's Kil – Hook." she answered.

"What about Hook?" asked Alice as her left eyebrow shot up.

"Well that's just the thing! I don't know. One minute he's an ass the next he's…" said Emma as she tried to figure out what to say next.

"Not an ass?" suggested Alice.

"Yeah. Not an ass." muttered Emma. She couldn't quite focus on what exactly was her problem with Killian. Okay she swore that'd he'd pay for being a bastard to her but lately he'd been rather kind. "Ah hell Emma. Don't do this again." she thought.

The last time she let her heart take control she ended up heart broken, and taking the fall for the biggest jerk she ever met. And there was no way in hell she'd let that happen again.

"Let the brain take control." Emma thought. But her brain just wouldn't function or it wouldn't do what it wanted her to do. It agreed with her heart.

"Hey Alice?" asked Emma.

"Yeah Emma?" answered Alice.

"Have you ever been in love?" Emma asked while looking at Alice.

The blood from Alice's face drained leaving her pale. "I don't remember."

"Right. Sorry. Forgot your memories still are working their way back into your head." said Emma.

"Why do you ask?" asked Alice who turned her attention to Emma fully now, the colour coming back into her cheeks.

Emma huffed. How could she word it? "All my life I've never known what love was. I mean, my parents weren't there for years, and just found my son who isn't even in my custody, I guess I'm just curious as to what it'd feel like." she said.

"And one guy ditched me and the other died in my arms." thought Emma.

"It would feel right." said Alice.

Emma gave her a confused look.

"Okay I'm clearly not saying this right. What I mean is that if your heart hates the fact that whoever the person is isn't there with you, it's true love. If you continually dream about them, it's true love. If you fall hard for them in like two days, it's most likely true love." said Alice.

"All of those things apply to true love?" asked a curious Emma.

"Yeah I'd say so." pondered Alice out loud.

"Well thanks then." said Emma.

"Alright, since we're talking about love lives here, and Hook's pretty much asleep, and good god I haven't done this in ages!" Alice squealed as she sat down at the table in front of Emma.

Emma looked horror struck at Alice.

"Seriously Emma! Have you never talked to a girl before about love lives? Crushes? First kiss? Anything?" asked a dumbfounded Alice.

Emma shook her head.

"Good grief Emma! I mean, I'm not one to say much considering I never did sleepovers or was allowed to have anyone over but I still had girlfriends who I talked about with all of these things! Well none my age I guess." said Alice.

The table got very quiet as Emma and Alice stared into their hands. Emma thought about what Alice had said. Truth was Emma was never good at making long lasting relationships with the girls at her schools when she was in foster care. They were too shallow. Caring only about hair and clothes. Emma just wanted to know why her family left her. She sighed. It couldn't hurt to be a shallow girl for a couple minutes. Could it?

"I was thirteen when I had my first kiss." said Emma. "God that felt weirdly satisfying." She thought.

Alice looked up at Emma, her curiosity peaked. "Thirteen? I had mine at sixteen." blurted Alice.

Emma stared at Alice. "Thought your memories hadn't come back." she said.

"Some have." Alice replied.

"So sixteen huh? Why so late?" asked Emma, somewhat enjoying herself.

"Simple. My mother was psychotic. As in I was never allowed to leave the house. EVER. Except for training in my magic which was usually done outside. My girlfriends who I gossiped with? Yeah they were the maids." said Alice crossing her arms and gave Emma a look challenging her as if she could have a worse story than hers.

"Puh - lease. That is nothing compared to some of the foster families I've had. There was this one family, Oh my gosh the guy was a freaking drunk. I swear all he did was drink twenty four seven! Anyway, he insisted I call him dad. This was fucked considering I looked nothing like him. The woman. Oh my god. She was the thinnest woman ever but with the bitchiest voice I have ever heard! She was always yelling at me because I couldn't live up to her expectations. And what of her husband? Supposedly they were soul mates. At least that's how she described it. They didn't even sleep in the same bed!" shrieked Emma who was laughing so hard.

"Okay, okay, okay, you win." said Alice through a big smile. "Now didn't that feel somewhat good?" she asked.

"You know Alice, that wasn't too bad…" said Emma.

"Uh huh…" said Alice with a smile. "Emma, can I ask you something?" she asked getting all serious and ruining the fun mood.

"Yeah sure." said Emma.

"What exactly are you looking for in a guy?" asked Alice. "Out of pure curiosity of course."

Emma taken aback from the question thought about it. "What do I want?" she thought. Well, she didn't want someone like Neal of course. Someone who'd just leave her standing in the street.

"I want someone who is always there, that I can rely on. Someone who I can trust." Said Emma, staring off into space.

"Me too Emma, me too." said Alice as she did the same.