A/N: Two more after this! One's written and the other's half done ish. Life's so busy but I'll have time next week to finish up the story and then post the rest. I'm not sure how I feel about this chapter- I just couldn't make it what I want. I'm really pleased with the one coming next though, so please don't give up on me. I'm not going to tell you what it's called because that would spoil it. Any guesses of what it is? Thanks for all your support on this! I really appreciate every favourite, follow, view and review. Enjoy! Let me know what you think!

Disclaimer: All aspects of Once Upon A Time belong to ABC and the show's creators.

Being married to Emma Jones was the best thing that had ever happened to Killian. Killian used to dread the future but now he couldn't wait. When he went to bed he couldn't wait to wake up and see Emma beside her, her hair sleep mussed and voice husky. After being apart for work the whole day he'd practically run up the street after he was finished at the harbour to make sure he was sitting on the deck when Emma got back from the sheriff station. And that first day she'd gotten a new driver's license listing her officially as Emma Jones? Well that had been nearly as good as the wedding.

Emma had pulled Killian to the couch the day after the wedding and told him that she officially wanted to be Emma Jones. She'd been nervous and hesitant which had led Killian to promising her he didn't care and a lot of stumbling over words for both of them. Neither of them were great at asking for family. Killian hadn't wanted to assume before the marriage that she would change her name, mainly because he could never imagine her being anything other than his Swan. But for Emma, Swan was the name of the people who had given her back. Killian decided to keep her and grow with her. She didn't share the same name as her son either so she saw no point in keeping such a reminder of her childhood.

Despite Killian and Emma being content with their life at the moment there was one person in their family who still felt like they needed something. Henry wanted a pet. Regina wouldn't let him have one because she liked a clean house and Roland and Robin played with enough animals out in the woods. If Henry wanted one it would need to be at the Jones's cottage. Following that Henry had started Operation Puppy.

Emma was hesitant but Killian had immediately been on board. Perhaps that was because Henry's operations tended to work out in his favour; Operation Ornament certainly had. Killian had never had a puppy, a ship being no place for a dog. In the short time Killian had lived on land during his time at the Naval Academy he'd taken to feeding the strays in the streets of the city he'd lived in. It was the first time in his life since his mother's passing that he'd ever had enough to eat and he'd been keen to share in the search of finding another living being to fill the void Liam's temporary absence had caused. While that had happened three hundred years prior Killian still carried the fond memories of it.

Emma on the other hand did not. She had never had good experiences with any animal. Emma had said she'd had a few homes with dogs but they'd never been hers and they'd never liked her very much, one having bitten her. Emma had been is so young and alone and having even the animal that was supposed to be man's best friend hate her had been scarring. Killian could tell the idea of bringing in a dog after her limited experiences frightened her and that was where her fight was coming from.

But as with anything with Emma Swan, she just had to be shown it was okay.

Which was exactly why Killian was dragging Emma Swan into the animal shelter on her only day off.

"Killian, why are you doing this?" Emma asked, irritated as Killian pulled her through the shelter door. "You know how I feel."

"I also know how you felt about me at first meeting." Despite his irritation at the time he now looked back at being chained to the top of a beanstalk with fondness. Killian could see now that he'd fallen head over heels then, even if he'd not acknowledged it.

"But you're a person," Emma retorted, as if that would completely end the conversation. But a man unwilling to fight for what he wants…

"Didn't mean I was any better than a dog." Emma yanked her hand out of Killian's, not impressed at his words. Obviously that was a step too far.

"Killian, I don't want a dog. I've never had anything good happen with them. Why should that be any different now?" The receptionist was trying really hard not to watch Emma and Killian fight. And failing. Killian wished the receptionist would have the decency to disappear for a while.

"Because you are different now."

"You keep saying that but I don't feel any different right now." Emma looked down towards the floor, chewing at her lip. It was moments like that Killian could see the remnants of the hurting and scared child still in her.

Killian reached out and took Emma's hand and guided her towards the chairs. "I think you'll feel different about this one, love. We're picking our families now. When I was a boy, I was sold into slavery. I always wanted a pet, someone who would depend on me. But I never got it as a child. You can't look after someone when you have nothing to give. Maybe that was one of the issues you had as well? You needed someone to love you, Swan, and then even the pets weren't on good form. Of course you're hurt by the idea of Henry wanting to bring a dog into the family. But things are different now. You have a very determined son, a loving family, me, a home and a stable job. Those animals in there? They need a family and a home. I'm not going to force you into getting one but will you just come into the kennel with me and see the dogs?"

Emma chewed on her lip for a moment, glancing at the receptionist then the door that led to the kennels. "You make a convincing argument," she mumbled, somewhat hesitantly.

Killian grinned and stood, offering his hand once again. "Let's go see some animals."

Killian nodded at the receptionist as they entered the kennel section, the two side walls lined with about five cages each. As the door opened they were met with a flurry of barking. Emma stiffened for a moment. Killian leaned over to her ear. "They're just happy to see you."

In the first Kennel was a large German Sheppard, full grown and recently clipped. The dog bounced up to the gate. Killian offered his hook to the dog who gave it a sniff through the wire door of the kennel.

"Hello laddie," Killian murmured. The dog skittered back when the hook moved. Okay, so not that dog. They'd need to find one who wasn't scared of the weapon at the end of Killian's arm.

While Killian had been examining the German Sheppard Emma had slipped from his grasp and moved towards the back of the kennel. She was kneeling in front of a door. Emma offered her fingers to whatever animal was inside, a timidly curious look crossing her face. Killian hurried over, worried that the dog would react poorly and she'd run.

Inside the cage was a young dog, not yet groomed like the other dogs in the shelter. There was mud coating his legs and matting his white gold hair. It looked like a young retriever or maybe a lab. He sat towards the back of the kennel, watching Emma with a cocked head but not approaching.

"Hi boy," Emma whispered.

Killian grabbed the file hanging off the door and flipped through it. "Looks like he just arrived yesterday. They found the little guy on the streets, down near the docks a week ago. No one's looking for him so they brought him over from the holding pen at the vets."

"No home? Or were you kicked out of your home?" Emma asked but she wasn't talking to Killian. "I know what that's like." Killian took a step backwards, leaving Emma to do this by herself. "I bet underneath all that mud you're pretty handsome. A right old dashing rapscallion."

Killian snorted before he could stop himself. Emma glanced back at him, fingers still poking through the holes in the gate. When she looked away the puppy whined. Emma glanced back immediately, eyes widening at the sound. "It's okay, puppy. I haven't gone anywhere. I'm not going anywhere."

The softness of her voice stole Killian's breath. This was an Emma he rarely witnessed, the hardness of her exterior pulling back to reveal the loving and soft woman he desperately loved. She'd used that tone occasionally when Henry needed her. Emma was now sitting crossed legged in front of the pen.

"Puppy?" Emma asked, wiggling her fingers.

"Emma? What do you think?" The second she turned around to face Killian the puppy whined again, this time louder. Killian watched as the dog took a few steps towards her back.

Emma turned back and noticed that the dog had come closer. "Can you get the gate open?" she asked voice stronger now, pushing herself back a bit on the concrete floor. Killian smiled, knowing that her wanting to get at the dog meant Killian was close to winning this argument. "Don't worry, puppy," Emma cooed, watching the dog put its tail between its legs when Emma moved back a bit.

Killian moved forward and stuck his hook into the lock, twisting. A satisfying click sounded before the lock popped open and the door swung open. Emma immediately scrambled up, putting her hand out at the dog's eye level.

"Hello."

The dog took a step closer.

"What do you think?" Emma asked but Killian knew she was back to talking to the dog. She was back to using a tone Emma Swan would never use towards another person other than her son. "Do you want to try again? Are you brave enough to try another family?" Emma shifted down so she was sitting again inside the kennel. The dog watched her warily. "I know it's tough. And scary. But I promise this will be your last home. We'll keep you."

Was this the inner monologue Emma Swan would tell herself each time she got moved? Was this how she'd get in and out of those vans she'd told him about one night when explaining why she'd never buy a van of her own? It broke his heart because no one ever kept her as a child. Emma had had to find her own home as an adult, always forced to stand on her own two feet. And yet, here she was, offering her a place in her life to an animal who'd gone through a similar thing not thirty minutes after yelling at him for being forced to go to the shelter.

"She means it, laddie," Killian put in, keeping her voice low. Emma didn't turn around to him, never taking her eyes off the dog, but she tilted back a bit to make sure she could hear him properly. "There's no one in this world who can love as fiercely as Emma Swan."

"He's lying. Killian Jones is a big softy," Emma whispered to the dog, as if sharing a secret. Killian just smiled, shaking his head. "We have a nice house that's near the beach you can play at. And a big backyard if you don't like swimming. And I have a son, Henry, who's thirteen now and really wants a puppy. Henry would love you." As Emma spoke the dog had crept forwards and they were now nearly nose to nose. "It sounds too good to be true doesn't it? It always sounds that way. But this time it isn't too good, it's just good enough. And enough is okay, right? You and I, we've spent a lot of time without enough, yeah? But I promise, things are going to change for you. So what do you say, want to come home?"

Killian felt the air leave his lungs as he watched the little puppy crawl into Emma's lap and curl up, as if preparing to go to sleep. Somehow, those words Emma had spoken had calmed the dog, reassured him that nothing bad would happen this time. Emma gave a shaky little laugh and reached down to scratch behind the dog's ears.

"I take it that means yes?" Killian asked, coming closer slowly until he was standing just behind his wife. Emma gave a nod before shifting so the dog was in her arms. The dog wiggled for a moment, unsure, before settling and allowing Emma to pick him up as if he were a large and furry baby.

"A big yes," Emma answered. When she turned to him Killian noticed the tears that had gathered in her eyes, unshed, but making the emerald depths seem bottomless. Killian leaned forwards and pressed a kiss to her cheek, the dog held between them. The puppy squirmed and Killian pulled back with a laugh.

"Let's go get home then."

Emma led the way out of the kennel and towards the desk. She held onto the puppy, nuzzling him with her face, a movement the puppy was copying against her shoulder.

"We'll be taking this little lad then, Miss." Killian said, leaning against the desk and catching the receptionist's attention.

"That's a bit of a surprise," the woman replied, glancing towards Emma with an amused and curious smile.

"Our family finds people, sometimes very unexpectedly."

Emma looked up at the familiar words, giving a small grin. Both Emma and Killian had spent their entire lives attempting to find family. Why should a stray dog be any different? The Jones-Mills family were all strays. Emma had been tossed around the foster care system and turned to a life of crime because no one had wanted her. Killian had lost his whole family, some through abandonment, others through death and become the Scourge of the Seven Seas. Henry had found Emma because he hadn't felt like he belonged with his adopted family. The boy had hated Regina back then. They'd all been searching and getting kicked around their whole lives. Until coming together. Taking home a puppy who'd also been abandoned just made sense.

"Do you have a name for the puppy?" the woman behind the desk asked as she filled out paper work.

Killian looked back at Emma. "What about Rapi?" Emma suggested. "Like as in rapscallion?" At the new name the dog's tail began to wag, hitting Emma's leg. They both grinned at the sign. Killian knew Henry would get a kick out of the name too. And the dog's reaction to it.

"Sounds good, love. Nice to meet you Rapi," Killian greeted, gesturing with his hook towards the dog. The dog just looked at the sharp steel before laying back against Emma's chest. Killian gave a nod towards their brave new dog.

The woman filled in a few more blanks before offering Killian the paper. "Sign here, please." Killian did so after taking her offered pen. "Congratulations on your new family member."