Emma made a great effort to open her eyes. Not the best idea she ever had. In the first rays of sun that hit her face, she closed them shut again. The hammering in her head wasn't helping either. She groaned in frustration when she realized that she probably had too much to drink thanks to Ruby again.

What time was it? And what day? Was she supposed to be at work today? Before she made one more try to open her eyes to glance at her phone on the night stand where she hoped it would be, she remembered that she wasn't supposed to be 'at work' any day. She felt the relief sink in as she was thankful for that weird situation she was living in currently 'working' from home.

She left a soft groan and sank deeper into her pillow, happy that she hadn't had to get up right away. Although she really needed something for her head. She stretched her body while yawning and suddenly, a little bit more awake now, she was aware that an arm was around her waist holding her from behind.

Oh no! Ruby what did you let me do?! She pressed her eyes closed with force as if the person who was sleeping next to her would disappear.

Slowly, without wanting whoever was there to wake up, Emma turned around in the person's embrace just enough to look at their face. Shit! Killian?

Emma's thoughts went crazy in her confused state. God! What did I do last night? She pulled as softy as possible his arm from around her and placed it on his own lap praying that he wouldn't open his eyes now.

She didn't risk staying there any longer and she made her way to the kitchen on her toes. "Oh my god, this is terrible!" she whispered to herself. With one hand on her forehead and the other on her waist Emma was walking circles around the kitchen island trying to remember what happened but no luck was with her.

"Okay Emma relax. Coffee, I need coffee" she started the coffee machine and took a big cup out of the cupboard. The bigger the better she thought. She looked down on herself and realized she was still in that dress she was wearing last night. If something had happen with Killian wouldn't she be out of it? On the other hand, how drunk was she last night? Maybe she jumped on him and he didn't bother with her dress?

When the coffee was finally ready and those Advil were working their miracle, she sat down on a kitchen chair with her mug trying to put her thoughts in order.

I remember the rabbit hole, Ruby, cocktails, the news Ruby told me about Neal, shots after the cocktails, and it's always those damn shots. Note to kill Ruby later. Ruby hitting on the barman, getting late, ruby putting me in a cab and sending me home… stairs… long, long stairs up, Killian. Seems like a logical train of thoughts, so far… and then? Total blank. Please don't tell me you decided to act on your crash on Killian now!

Emma's wild thoughts were interrupted by a throat clearing from Killian who was standing at the door, apparently making his entrance without her noticing. His dark hair mussed by sleep, or sex… His eyes half open while he was rubbing one hand on his left one, a devilish smirk on his lips.

"Good morning love" his words were dripping innuendo, which wasn't strange for Killian, but Emma had to make sure what happened last night before she make any assumptions.

"uhm, good morning" she murmured lowering her eyes back on her mug again while she took one more generous sip. Killian made his way to the coffee machine before he filled a mug for himself and taking a seat at the table.

"So…" he started. That was it. "How you feeling?"

She looked at him in exploration "Good..." she said slowly "a little bit of a hangover but generally okay"

He nodded satisfied while sipping at his coffee

"ehm…what…" she wasn't sure how to start, what she suppose to say? Any chance we had sex last night?

"What is it Swan?"

"Why you were sleeping in my bed?" she burst out, it was now or never.

Killian chuckled and Emma felt a jolt of anger. He was taking this as a joke? "Is this funny to you?" She asked annoyed putting her mug down.

"Sorry love, I just… no, it's not funny. I was worried about you, that's all. I thought you would wake up and be freaked out."

Emma's eyes went wide "What exactly happened last night in my bed?"

"Oh… OH.. you thought…?...oh no! no no, nothing happened! You were very very drunk, apparently" he motioned to her "and I put you to bed, because you were passed out on the couch. I didn't take liberty to free you from your dress, but when I settled you down, you refused to let me go and you asked me to stay, so I did" Killian scratched that spot behind his ear waiting for her reaction "Please don't be mad at me"

Emma relaxed slightly on her chair. At least she didn't do anything stupid beyond repair. "oh, I'm not mad at you"… Emma got up to refill her mug, "sorry for having to deal with me in that state last night"

"It's alright, I'm always a gentleman and when a damsel is in distress I never refuse my arms for comfort." Here it was again, that smirk like he was the most irresistible man on the planet and he knew it. Emma rolled her eyes at him. "seriously though, no need to apologize, Emma. You have done so much for me that I would never complain for making me stay in your bed" he was still smiling but there was a tone of seriousness in his voice.

"Any chance you remember what made you drink the ocean?" Killian asked and Emma's mind went back to last night, before everything went foggy. To what happened that upset her so much that she had to drink to forget, which she did very successfully as it seemed, was coming back to her, slowly and painfully. Neal was out. His time was over and he was now a free man.

"What do you say about that walk by the sea?" Emma suggested instead and saw Killian's eyes brighten with happiness.

"Give me 5' and I'll be by the door"

The water was twirling around Emma's toes on the warm sand. She had taken her shoes off, after Killian's insistence that she can't feel the sea if she doesn't let the water touch her feet and feel the sand move under her every time she was taking a step. So there they were both barefoot, Killian in a dark blue pair of jeans shorts and a white t-shirt, and Emma in her favorite hot shorts and a tank top.

Of course they were wearing their bathing suits underneath, as they both agreed it would be a great opportunity to enjoy the water since they got the chance. It was still early in the morning so the chill of the air made them decide that it would be best if they walk along the beach for a while, until the day gets warmer.

Emma wasn't so sure how she could handle a wet Killian in bathing suit, especially now that she knew how great his chest looked, how the drops rolling down his neck and on his collarbones and how the muscles on his back tight when he moves his arms. She wished she remembered the feel of those arms around her, holding her tight, from the previous night.

Since she can't change the fact that it happened, at least she could remember it. Not that she didn't like the idea of Killian in her bed, but how naïve and wrong would that be for their current situation! Maybe if things were different, maybe if this case was closed some day. Maybe she could hope…

Killian interrupted her thoughts for a second time today "It's really wonderful down here, I always dreamed about having a house by the sea. Just waking up and drinking my coffee in a view like that" he motioned with his hand across the bay. Emma could tell how fascinated he was from a scenery that he probably had seen many times in his life, especially in his navy years.

"You really love the sea, don't you?"

Killian smiled at her, this wonderful, sweet smile "Is it that obvious?"

"Not really, but I am pretty perspective" she joked "my job and all you see…"

"So tell me Swan" Emma looked at him waiting "Who's Neal?"

The question stroked her like lightning, fast and out of nowhere. She felt the air leaving her lungs for a second. How he knew about Neal? She stopped walking and her face took an blank expression.

"It's alright if you don't wana tell me. I just thought you might feel better if you do" He wrapped his fingers around her wrist and pulled her down where he took a seat on the sand. "Let's sit for a while".

Emma followed his suggestion and sit down next to him with her feet stretched in front of her barely touching the water with the tips of her toes as it was moving in and out. But she remained silent.

"Last night you mentioned that name, and you said 'he is out', you just said that before you passed out."

"It's nothing" she said with a sign while she kept staring ahead at the ocean. She could see Killian staring at her but she didn't turn to look at him she just kept looking at the waves and seabirds.

"It doesn't seem like 'nothing' when clearly upset you so much that made you get wasted"

Not many people in Emma's life knew about Neal, and generally not many things from her past, all of her friends knew her from when she moved to this town, took this job as a cop and made a fresh start, leaving everything behind. She had talked to Ruby about Neal, over a late night staring at starts in the night sky on the top of Ruby's Chevy.

And David knew few things about her past, how she grew up in the foster system, how hard her life was until she got here and found some peace. And that's maybe because she wasn't letting people close enough to hurt her anymore, at least that's what Mary Margaret say.

Killian's hand landed on her knee and her eyes fell there before she looked up at him "You can tell me" he said and while Emma would never feel safe enough to trust a statement like that, for some reason she wanted to. She trusted him.

And that's what she did. She told him everything since the moment she met Neal, how young and stupid she was and how he made her believe she was special, he made her believe that he loved her. How he promised the stars and the moon to her and how he put her into stealing so they can have their 'dream' life. She told him about how she fell for him, how she believed him, how much she wanted that 'home' she never had, and with him she could dream to have it one day.

She also told him how Neal put her into a big job which suppose to be their final. Big money that would secure them a cozy life. How Neal stood her up so cops were at her door one morning. The same morning that Neal disappeared from her life and left her pay for his crimes.

The whole time Killian was looking into her eyes with attention, his jaw tightening at some points, and his hand that was on her knee was clenching from time to time.

"After that, I came here" she continued "I didn't have a job, I didn't have a place to stay, I didn't have anything. David found me sleeping at the back of the bug one morning and took me to the station. Eventually he and his wife took me to their house until I could make it on my own. When he offered me a job at the station, I swore I would do anything in my power to make sure, guys like Neal pay for their crimes and never get away with it."

It was around noon and the sun was pretty hot already. Killian suggested they would find a place to swim and she could tell him the rest in the way "So did he pay?" he asked while they were both on their feet again and walking towards a small beach nearby.

"He did, few months after I started working as a cop, I had put some people search for him, you know when you want something done you have to do it on your own. So they found him hiding in a small town in the north. I never wanted to see him so David offered to go up there and made sure he got taken care of."

Emma was always grateful to David for his kindness and protective nature, for her he was the big brother she never had and she knew she own him for that.

"So I guess with good behavior and all he is out sooner than I expected" Emma felt somehow lighter now that Killian knew her story with Neal. Maybe sharing a bit of herself wasn't so terrible after all.

They were still walking when Killian stopped her and made her look at him. "Emma, you didn't deserve any of the things this guy did to you, I hope you know that" his eyes were somehow sad, like he was hurting for her.

"You are a special woman and you deserve to be treated as one. But the fact that he is out shouldn't upset you now, you have your life, a happy one, you gained so much, what does he have? He was stupid enough to let the best thing he ever had slip out of his hands and I don't know if he ever realized what you worth, but you definitely worth a lot. And you shouldn't let either that guy or anyone make you lose your faith in love. Just because he was a jerk doesn't mean every guy is"

Emma felt wetness in her eyes in Killian's words, he smiled softly and reached out to wipe her cheek with his thumb. "Now let's go swimming okay?"

She let out a weak chuckle and she wiped the rest of her tears "Absolutely".

The next moment Killian was taking off his shirt and threw it on the sand following by his shorts. Standing in this bathing suit and all his glory in from of her. Emma hadn't moved a bit "Are you coming?" he winked at her and she snapped out of her doze to follow him.

I bet you are pretty mad at me for cutting it right there huh?