He didn't want to speak to her. Not after the way she had left things with him back in Storybrooke. Back then, he would have given anything to know why she had decided to end their ten year relationship and throw their engagement out the window. Milah had given him a very unclear and very short explanation: too much.

Killian followed her to the closest coffee shop, which turned out to be the one where he and Emma had just ordered their drinks. If it wasn't for Emma, he wouldn't be here. There was a reason why she wanted him to talk to Milah; her eyes pleaded with him as she told him to go with his ex. One thing he came to discover in these past weeks was that he had a hard time denying Emma anything.

"Do you want something to drink?"

"No." he grumbled.

Milah nodded slowly at his answer and headed for the counter to order her drink. Killian looked around and went to sit at a free table near the window. He only unzipped his coat. He didn't want to stay here for long, that was certain. The only thing he wanted was to get back to Emma. His ex arrived a few minutes later with a steamy mug in hand and sat down in front him.

"So you wanted to talk. I'm all ears." His voice was stern and his tone didn't go unnoticed.

"Killian, I know you're angry with me and you've got all the right to be mad at me. What I did to you was unforgivable; I quite hate myself to have made you go through that."

"Milah, if you want us to get back together…" he started, but she didn't let him finish.

"I don't, I really don't. And even if I did, you seem happy with Emma. I want to talk to you because I need you to understand why I had to leave you." She paused and looked at him. He could tell she was nervous, her fingers fiddling with the ends of her scarf.

"Well you did; I was too much for you." It didn't matter that he had moved on from her. Saying the words out loud to her hurt as much as they had did the first day.

"I did tell you that, but you do know that I loved you. I always did, and I think a part of me always will. But there are some things that I came to realize as we were planning our wedding. You wanted a family and stability and I got scared. I realized that that's not what I wanted. I don't want to feel tied down to responsibilities; I don't think I'll ever will. I kept seeing us married, having kids, and me ending up resenting you for all that you wanted but that I didn't. That's not what I wanted, and I couldn't lead you on. I realize that our wedding day might not have been the best moment, but it took me too long to gather the courage to do it."

She leaned over and took his hand in hers, squeezing it reassuringly.

"I loved you Killian, and you had so much to give, but it was too much for me." He winced at those words again, those words that had haunted him for the weeks that followed their break up.

"I understood it quite well the first time you said it." Killian mumbled bitterly, not able to conceal his emotions.

"I don't think you do." At that he raised his head and looked her in the eyes. She smiled at him and squeezed his hand once more. "You have so much love to give, and while we were together, I always felt so lucky to have you. To have someone as devoted as you. I didn't leave you for lack of love, but because I realized I could never give you as much as you were giving me. I couldn't do that to you; you deserve someone who can do the same for you."

Killian looked at her and then down. He didn't know what to think now. As much as he wanted to hate Milah since that would be easier, he understood her; the feeling of not being deserving of another person's affection. It was the way he felt about Emma.

"She really seems to like you." Milah said as she wanted to break the silence that had come between them. He lifted his head and saw how genuine she was in her statement. "Do you love her?"

"Aye."

"You're moving to Storybrooke for her?"

"No. Ever since you left me there, I couldn't come back here and face the reality of things. I decided to take some time off and stay there. I've become quite fond of the town's day to day life and the people over there. And well, she was one of the main reasons that made me cement my decision."

"I'm happy to see that you're doing well. Hurting you was never my intention; I just wanted you to have everything you deserve and more." For the first time since he had seen her, he smiled at her.

"How about you? What are you up to?" he asked as he nodded towards her.

"I don't know what my plans are other than the fact that I've just purchased a ticket to South America." Milah looked excited and giddy at announcing him the news.

"Backpacking?" She nodded with a wide grin. "Alone or with friends?"

"Alone at first but then I have a few friends that'll join me."

"Good."

It was weird. He had come into the coffee shop angry and wounded, ready to give Milah a piece of his mind. Yet, here he was with her, laughing and actually happy. He felt as if he had a ton of weight lifted off his shoulders as he understood now the extent of her 'too much'. It still hurt, especially after spending so many years with a person and convinced that she was the one he was going to grow old with. Life had other plans, and despite that hurt, he was happy. It led him to Emma.

"I'm gonna let you get back to Emma." she told him as she slowly started to get up from her chair. Milah moved around the small table and went to stand next to him and leaned in for a hug.

"You really seem to care for each other. I'm happy you found someone." she told him as she kissed his cheek and smiled at him.

"Thank you. I hope you find what you're looking for."

"Me too."

With that said, Killian turned around and walked out of the coffee house. He still was confused as to how he should feel about this. It was so unexpected to see her and have her ease his mind on their break up. He had a lingering feeling of the bitterness he had over the past weeks, sadness thinking over their time together, and relief at this sense of finality.

Killian texted Emma to tell her he was on his way. As he got to the apartment, he still couldn't shake off his interaction with Milah. Which was odd, since he was convinced that seeing Emma would have been the exact thing he needed to finish that chapter of his life. She must have sensed that he was a bit off as she hugged him. Their food arrived, but he wasn't that hungry. He looked at Emma and sensed that she seemed nervous, which he couldn't blame her for based on the way he was acting. He was about to tell her about what happened with Milah when she started to talk.

He noticed the nervousness that was in her voice. Killian could tell that this was about what had been troubling her when they arrived in the city. As she told him about her ex, Neal, he could tell that she was reliving all of the emotions that she went through. He scooted closer to her, Emma not noticing as she just kept talking. He took her hand in his and tried as best as he could to comfort her.

Killian knew now why she had insisted that he talked to Milah. Seeing how hurt she still was after all these years over that prick, he was grateful that she pushed him to get closure. He thanked her as he kissed her, wanting to show her that she was worth it. Those insecurities that still clouded her mind were all issues from a man that wasn't able to love her like she deserved. He didn't want her to keep thinking that way because she never had closure. He loved her, more than anything, and Killian was going to make sure that she knew how much she was loved.

He took her to his bed and took his time in undressing her, enjoying each press of his lips on her warm skin, fingertips following every curve of her body. His eyes were fixed on her; he couldn't look away even if he wanted to. The words were out of his mouth before he realized, and once they were out, he couldn't stop himself from telling her how bloody much he loved her. The smile she gave him warmed his heart and even more when she reciprocated his feelings.

Killian had never felt this happy. With Emma in his bed, sheet barely covering her naked body, they ate their cold pizza and drank their warm beer. His only wish was that things stay like this forever. He knew that it wasn't possible, life wasn't made that way. In between bites he stared at her, his lips slightly tugging upwards.

"What?" she asked when she noticed him looking at her.

"Nothing. It's just, I'm happy and I just want to remember us like this, you know, before we need to face reality again."

Emma hummed at his words as she deposited her beer on the nightstand. She moved under the covers, her legs straddling his hips as she then pressed her core to him. He quickly felt himself harden at the touch of her warmth on him. She leaned closer as she slowly pressed her lips on his, kissing him tenderly.

"In that case, let's take advantage of this moment. What do you say?" she asked him as she slowly started grinding her hips further down, the movement spurring him on.

"Aye." he groaned in response before he pushed her on her back, as she yelped in surprise.

-/-

Their last week in Boston flew by as fast as the previous week. They were busy packing the last of his possessions and selling the furniture he didn't want to move. Most nights, they were so exhausted they usually took a quick shower before they both went to sleep. Before they knew it, everything was on the truck and they were driving back to Storybrooke.

Killian had called Will a few days before they were set to leave, but his friend wasn't available to have a drink. Will promised him that once he had some free time he would drive down to Storybrooke and visit his new home.

As they were driving through the streets of Boston, Killian did feel a bit sad about leaving the city. He made a lot of memories here, good and bad ones, but for ten years it was the place that made him who he was. Emma squeezed his hand to comfort him, she must have sensed how nostalgic he was feeling all of a sudden. He looked at her and couldn't stop himself from smiling. He may be nostalgic for officially turning the page on this chapter of his life, but he was starting a whole new one with Emma.

The drive back was quite uneventful, both of them content on riding in a comfortable silence. Emma was the one to talk first when they saw the sign that welcomed them to Storybrooke.

"Do you think we can stop at Granny's before heading to your new place?" she asked with pleading eyes.

"Let me guess, you're craving a grilled cheese with onion rings and a hot cocoa." It wasn't really a question but more of statement. He had learned pretty quick what was Emma's comfort food.

"And a bear claw."

"You're going to be stuffed with all that food." Emma hummed at his comment, and the moment he pulled the truck near the diner, she climbed out of the car and walked towards Granny's with a pep in her step.

The moment that Emma stepped into the diner, Ruby yelped and ran towards her for a hug. When she saw that he was standing behind her, she let go of Emma and ran to hug him as she then grabbed both his and Emma's hand and dragged them to the counter so she could talk to them as she worked.

"How was the trip?"

"Er, good. Tiring but good." Emma replied as she clearly didn't seem to want to dive into too much detail that involved Milah, amongst other things. He understood her, he wasn't in the mood to relate everything that happened in the past two weeks either. Killian only wanted to have his food and go to his new apartment to start unloading the truck so it could finally be over.

Emma managed to place their order in between questions. He noticed her sigh of relief when Ruby walked to the other side of the counter to attend to some clients. His hand went to rub her back as Emma's head fell on his shoulder.

"I just wanted to get in, get my food, and get out." she whispered.

"I know, me too. But you know there's no such thing when it comes to Ruby." They both chuckled at his comment. She looked up at him with a shy smile and her eyes shining.

"What is it?"

"Nothing. I just, I love you, that's all." That statement made his grin grow wider as he leaned over to press his forehead with hers.

"I love you too." They were about to kiss each other when Ruby interrupted them.

"Do you want me to fetch you a room in the inn, or are you planning on making a show for everyone here?" Ruby shouted from her end of the counter as she poured a refill in Leroy's mug.

Killian could feel the tip of his ears burn and could see Emma's cheeks turn crimson as she hid her face in his chest. He kissed the top of her head as he looked up at Ruby and asked her to check up on their order. A few minutes later they were out the door with their food and drinks in hand as they made their way to the truck. The moment they were seated in the truck, Killian felt a tug on the collar of his coat, quickly followed by the press of Emma's lips on his. He didn't waste time in burying his hand in her hair and tilting her head to the side so he could deepen the kiss. When she moaned into the kiss, he could feel his pants tighten and damn, how he would like to be somewhere more private right now.

His breath was ragged when their lips parted, his hand still clutched at the base of her head. Killian heard a contented sigh leave her mouth as she caressed his cheek. Emma eventually leaned back into her seat, her eyes never leaving him. Her cheeks were pink and her eyes had a lovely glint in them.

"Ready to head to your new place?" she asked as she turned on the car.

"With you? Always." His reply caused her to grin widely at him and caused her cheeks to color even further.

As they drove towards his new apartment, with all of his possessions, he realized that he would go anywhere as long as he had Emma by his side.

I hope you liked the chapter despite the fact that it was shorter than the others. Hopefully I'll have more for you by the end of the month! A big hug and thanks to ultraluckycatnd on tumblr for being my beta!

Thank you so much for reading and thanks to those who leave reviews, they make smile! :D

See you soon, Caro xx