A/N: Thank you to everyone who left positive and uplifting comments on the last chapter! They really made me feel a lot better after I got that upsetting comment. Like I said, the story isn't over just yet. There should still be about three more possible chapters.

S/N: I hope you will come around for my next MC fic that I'm planning and getting super excited about!

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She could get used to this.

Watching the way Killian dipped his head farther into the spray of the shower head, seeing the way he massaged his fingers deep into shampooed hair, Emma smiled to herself. She could get used to this? That… wasn't quite right.

She stayed on task with one hand, running the towel over his back in small circles, while her other hand ventured off for more direct contact. Her fingers traveled from the small of his back- slippery and silky- up and over his shoulder blade. The feel of her skin against his, with the added bonus of the soapy lather, sent a deep-rooted ache throughout her.

It had been a full week. One whole week where she found herself in this thing that could finally be called a relationship. With him. With Killian. And…

She was more than just used to this. It was everything that she knew that it could be.

It was… easy? How had it become so easy? Their month of secrecy had offered an intimacy that she had cherished. They had learned so much- had experienced so much. But there had been limits. There had been these boundaries that had been incapable of overcoming at the time. So…

Emma hadn't known. She hadn't known what it would be like… to be held all night in his arms. She hadn't known what it was like to have his bearded cheek nestled right in the crook of her neck. She hadn't known what it was like to have his muscled furry leg wrap around her, pulling her tight against him. She hadn't known what it was like to wake up to that same enveloping warmth. To have his eyes take in every inch of her in a way that spoke volumes as to what this had all meant to him as well.

She hadn't known…

Emma watched how the muscles of his back worked while his arms raised to wash his hair. She listened to the low grumble of a groan as her fingertips roamed over his skin. Her thoughts were her own as she watched him.

The ease that had come from this relationship had turned into a routine of sorts.

He was the first to stand directly in front of the spray as it pounded down on them. He had a thing for screaming hot showers, so it was only natural that he took the first go around. And as he turned to face that spray, her hands had a way of doing double duty. She stood there, silently marveling at the piece of work in front of her as she washed his back. And maybe it had a way of making her heart do that stuttering thing.

"How have you avoided relationships for so long?" Emma asked, the awe of her own question apparent to even herself. Because, in her mind, he was the most perfect man.

She'd always thought- always knew somewhere down deep- that there was something uniquely special about the man. It was this experience here that had only proven it.

Emma watched as his head dipped even father into the spray, rinsing the remnants of shampoo from his hair. It was only then that he glanced over his shoulder, his eyes narrowing on her at her question.

"I haven't been 'avoiding' relationships," he answered. It was with a slight grin that he turned around to face her.

Small tub called for close proximity of bodies.

There was a definite appreciative glint in his eyes as he took every inch of her in from toe to head.

It was back, that deeply-seeded hunger from way down that he had a way of causing her to feel.

"I haven't been 'avoiding' relationships," Killian told her again. His hand came up to swipe away the streaming water falling over his face. "You saw me with other girls, Ems. Things never got that far." Another smile split across his face. "As far as relationships, maybe I was subconsciously searching for 'the one' all this time."

Emma could help the smile that crossed her lips. But her eyebrows lifted in mock disbelief.

"Oh, please don't sweep me off my feet by saying you've enjoyed being a bachelor all this time while you were waiting on me to enter your life." And even as she said it, the thought still had a way of piercing through her heart.

But it was the way his arm slid slowly around her ever so carefully that made set a tingle shooting through her by that touch. It was the way his eyes darted across her face before finally settling on her own eyes, piercing through her.

How?

"Well maybe not exactly." Killian's shoulder lifted in a shrug. "But it does sound like an excellent story to tell, don't you think?"

He was hers. And she never wanted it to be any other way.

"I've heard far worse," Emma countered. Her hand flattened out over his stomach, instantly loving the feel of warm skin and wetness. "I'm getting soap all over you again."

Killian's teeth scraped over his bottom lip. "It feels really good, too."

God, it really did!

"Switch with me," Emma murmured.

There was a smile of his face as his mouth fell down swiftly over hers. It was a quick kiss. An easy kiss that conveyed everything that they were together.

He continued to be distracting as she stepped around him to get to the front of the shower. Killian's hands found her hips, leaving her warm by the caress in his wake.

"Is it still too hot?" he asked her.

Emma watched as his long arm crossed over her to reach for the tap, bringing his body to hug up against hers.

The spray that hit her skin was now slightly cooler than it had been. But it had been the closeness of Killian that held her attention.

Her eyes drifted close, for just a moment. There was a wave of contentment and safety washing over her. It was too tempting to not push back. Her bottom pressed right back into him, finding all hard muscle.

It was only for a moment, they stood like that, unmoving. Body against body, holding on to one another. Killian's arm wrapped around her waist, keeping that contact of middle to middle. Emma's grasp on his arm should have told him that he had nothing to worry about. She had no plans of letting him go either.

"Mm, Emma." The murmur was right at her ear. His mouth settled right there, pressing a kiss to the soft skin.

"Killian?" Her hand tightened over his arm as she sighed.

Her eyes blinked open at the feel of his free hand flattening over her stomach. She felt the catch of her breath as that hand began its journey farther and farther down. His fingers encircled her navel before stiffly dipping down.

"Do you know what time it was when we got into the shower?" Emma asked him suddenly. She knew where her thoughts were going, and yet the need to press even deeper into him was too much to ignore.

She heard the sharp intake of breath close to her ear. And that hand, urging to continue the contact, helped to continue that press.

"Ah…"

"Neither one of us has time for this," she reminded him, albeit reluctantly. "You have to be at work and I need to go check out this storage situation."

Emma bit down hard on her lip at the feel of amazing fingers that were just… right… there. Those fingers pressed firmly against her and stayed, unmoving.

"You started it."

She would have laughed at the absurdity, but it was hard to not concentrate on…

Emma spread her legs apart only the merest of inches, offering easier access. If only he'd take it.

"How did I start anything?"

The arm that was wrapped around her tightened.

"Okay. Maybe it was me."

And that did make her giggle. Followed by a sharp gasp of surprise and pleasure as that finger found her open for him.

"Killian…" Her doubts began to seep away at the feel of him against her, in her.

Okay. Maybe they did have some a little time…

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"This is just ridiculous," Emma groaned, plopping down on the bed at the same time she pushed her shoe onto her foot. "I don't even know what scenario is best." She took that time to look up at him as he stood in front of his closet. "I have stuff here. I have stuff at Ruby's. My trunk is full of some of everything. I just need to take everything down to this storage space until I find a place."

It was her desperation that made Killian look at her thoughtfully.

She was completely displaced. And he felt awful about that. It should have been a no brainer. There should have been one easy solution to the entire situation. Why didn't she see that?

"I know I must be like the biggest burden to them over there," Emma huffed. She was shaking her head as she buried her foot into the other shoe.

Killian raised an eyebrow. "A burden to who?"

She looked up at him then. There was a frown furrowing her brows.

"To Ruby and Victor," she answered as if it was a foregone conclusion. "They've taken me and my stuff in, and…" Her head shook again with a sigh.

Killian's laugh sang through the room. He couldn't help it. She looked every bit of serious, and he couldn't believe it!

"Emma, you're never over there," he reminded her slowly. He turned so that he was giving her his full attention. "You say that you've been living there for a week, and yet… you are never there."

Her eyes widened as she watched him.

"Well doesn't that make it all the worse?"

Her train of thought was lost on him. "How so?"

Emma stood up then, smoothing out an imaginary wrinkle from her pants.

"How about the fact that they let me and my stuff move in with them? But what actually happens is that when I'm not at work then I'm usually over here. So what they are doing is just babysitting all of my crap!"

She was adorable. Even when she was frustrated.

"Then why don't you bring your things here?" he asked softly. Killian felt his heart begin to pick up speed at his own question.

Emma only met his eyes for a brief second before she turned away. Her hands slid quickly into her pockets as her gaze fell to the floor.

"I have enough of my things here already," she reminded him with another huff. "And… I don't… live here, Killian." She looked back up at him then. "I'm like a nomad right now. And that's the way it's going to be until I find my own apartment."

He watched the defeat that was so apparent in her. She had lost a lot as of late. So the fact that it was so easy to tell that there were aspects of those losses and changes that still hurt her deeply, only made his need to fix things all the more real.

With his eyes never leaving her, Killian made his way back over to her.

"Emma?" It was gentle. All he wanted was…

"What?" Because standing right there in front of him, she took him all in. "What?"

His hand was slow and careful as he reached for hers.

"You could live here," he whispered with only a tinge of hope and precaution lacing his voice.

It was the way her mouth snapped closed and her brows lowered even farther down.

"You don't have to be a nomad if you just settle down here for good," Killian continued when she was nothing but silent.

"Killian." Her blinked her eyes open wide, staring off just to the side of him. "I… can't move… in here."

His fingers squeezed her tight. She wasn't looking directly at him. So…

"Why? When…"

"Because." Emma looked back at him then. He didn't like the sadness. "Because… you… don't have to do that, Killian. You don't have to take me in just because of what happened."

Was he hearing her correctly?

"Just because?" He couldn't help but laugh again. "I wouldn't say just because. I would say that it makes sense more than anything else."

Emma was slow to shake her head. "I think it would be better if I had my own place. For now. We shouldn't… force ourselves into anything."

"Living together would be forcing ourselves into something?" If he sounded a bit perplexed, it was because he was.

Emma offered up a small smile, her green eyes shining up at him. She threw her arms around his neck so that she could draw him closer.

"Hey?"

She felt good right there like that.

"What, Ems?"

And his smile grew as she watched him. "This is supposed to be like one of those forever things, right? Because I love you like none other."

Forever…

"Yeah," he whispered, grabbing at her waist and holding firm.

"Well since it's a forever thing, then there is no need to rush. And… you don't have to take me in."

It was more than that. Killian knew it instinctively. There was a part of him that wanted to clarify the situation right then and there. If this was their next step, then how was putting off the inevitable the better choice?

It was thoughts of… he didn't even want to think about it, but the truth was there. Neal. There was still that need to come to terms with everything that had happened. She thought it wasn't enough time in between. She wasn't ready.

Then there was a part of him that understood so instinctively that there was no need to have the discussion now. They were together. They were happy. And if Emma needed the in between time, to clear her head and focus, then she would have it.

So maybe she was the smarter of the two. Maybe there was a part of him that wanted the happy ending to be now. Then again, they did have forever.

"Well, until you find the perfect place," Killian offered, tightening his hands even more around her waist, "I think the situation is fine. You know that Ruby doesn't mind having your belongings at her place. And," one eyebrow rose just slightly, "it's very likely that the situation is appeasing to her. She's the good friend who has a houseguest who is never there to be the guest."

"Hey!" With mock annoyance, Emma moved out of his arms then, "Just keep that up. You know I can always go home."

Killian watched with a smile as she walked away from him, walking back over to the bed where the rest of her things lay.

"No, not just yet," he murmured, watching her closely.

Emma looked back at him over her shoulder, her eyes still alight.

"I have to get over there to that storage building," she told him again. "Then I have to go to work."

"Mm, I'll be home before you get here." And for some reason he wasn't quite ready to let her go. "That is if you decide to spend the night here." His steps lead him to stand right behind her. "Since, you know, you don't live here."

"Ha ha."

He heard the smile in her voice. And as he placed his hand firmly against her hip, he smiled himself.

"Ah… don't." Emma laughed, turning around in his arms.

Emma.

She was absolutely everything that he had ever wanted. How had he become so damned lucky?

It had happened through a whole lot of sacrifice and a whole lot of pain. And, looking at her right then, he knew that it wasn't over.

"Don't… what?"

Her smile was easy as she looked up at him. "Don't you dare try to hold me up any longer."

Killian's fingers moved up, finding her soft cheek, running across the shell of her ear, and then fisting in her hair right above.

It was the softness that embodied her total being that let him know. In that moment, as they each held on so tight to the other's gaze, it was a lot more than the physical.

He had almost not had this. They had almost not had this. And what they had…

"I love you, Emma." His hand tightened in her hair, keeping his hold on her firm.

"Ah…" Her own fingertips ran across his shoulder. It was a light caress as she shook her head at him. "I remember a time- I really don't think it was that long ago- that you wouldn't say those words. Hm."

When it had seemed nearly impossible…

She'd meant it as a joke, but it was the truth.

"Emma?"

Those eyes were twinkling now. "Yeah?"

"You have a busy day ahead of you. You should go ahead and get started."

"That's what I've been saying!" Emma bit down on her lip as she pulled him down to her. Those lips captured his, kissing him once then twice.

The sacrifices had been great, but when this was the outcome- were they sure that they had no more time?- how could it not be worth it?

His fingers slipped into the silkiness of hair just once more.

There was no doubt.

Emma Swan was worth it.