Here we are! Hope you enjoy this chapter, I may have cried whilst writing it so have fun all.
Cam- You'd better have your flight booked, because you're going to want to come to England to hug me AND fight me. I'll be ready.
That's it from me, ENJOY!
CHAPTER 13 - Protecting You
Emma breathed in deeply, inhaling the scent of Killian as her face burrowed deeply into his warm neck. His arms were wrapped around tightly as they swayed gently to the slow music. Her nose tickled pleasantly as the scent of leather and salt bombarded her senses.
She tightened her hold on his shoulders, pushing up to rest her chin on his collarbone as his face caressed her neck gently. She giggled softly as his stubble tickled her skin. The song changed to another slow number.
Killian pulled back from her neck, smiling broadly at the song now playing. Emma grinned back at him, her peridot eyes sparkling with joy. He leaned so that his mouth lay next to her ear.
"This is my favorite song." He kissed the space next to her ear before returning his head to its previous position, with his nose lightly caressing hers. She didn't respond, only smiled wider. One of her hands slid from his shoulder to cup behind his neck, fingers gently playing with his hair.
Their eyes never broke from their intense gaze, his burned passionately like an aquamarine fire whilst hers were soft and crystalline, her apple irises caressing his turquoise gaze. Their eyes seemed to follow a dance of their own as they remained locked together, mimicking the stance of their owners.
The gentle chords of the song held the two as they swayed, the singer's sweet tone flooding their eardrums as they spun. The lyrics resonated between the two like a warm breeze playing around them.
Killian started to mutter along with the tune to Emma, his eyelids covering his piercing eyes. Their foreheads met, her eyes also closing.
"And I know, the scariest part is letting go. Cause love is a ghost you can't control. I promise you the truth can't hurt us now. So let the words slip out of your mouth." He sang softly. Emma's smile widened further as she leant forward to kiss him.
The world around them fell away as sparks surrounded them when their lips touched. Emma clung to him desperately, the need to hold him too strong as their kiss united them. They held each other, the strong chords of the music surrounding them.
His mouth was warm and a sanctuary for Emma, his kiss her anchor as her mind threatened to float away from bliss. Killian was the foundation for Emma to build a life, she realised this as he kissed her, pulling her lower lip between his, causing her to moan gently. This man was all she needed. This man was everything. The strength of Killian's care and trust shattered Emma as he kissed her with such passion and such gentle brushes of his lips on hers.
As the song faded away, Emma pulled away breathless. Her revelation of unwavering love and affection for her best friend pulled everything out of her. Emma's walls were threatening to tumble forever and she wasn't sure if she was ready. She looked up at him shyly as he gazed down at her, a plethora of unequivocal adoration in his eyes.
A new, fast-paced song began to play, invading the atmosphere. Emma licked her lips, bowing her head down nervously. Killian, sensing the shift in mood, took her hand and pulled her from the dancefloor. She followed graciously.
"I'm gonna go to the bathroom." She shouted in his ear as the music increased in volume. He nodded in acknowledgement, kissing her lightly.
"Ok, love."
She pecked his cheek before turning to leave him to find the restroom. She wound her way through the crowd of costumed people, waving to those she knew. Emma cringed as she spotted Belle and Gold still making out furiously, dressed as Beauty and the Beast.
Ruby drunkenly hugged Emma before returning to eating the face of none other than Doctor Whale, who was dressed up as some kind of crazy scientist.
Emma finally made her way up the stairs of Ashley's house, ducking around couples that clearly didn't want to keep it in their pants. Thankfully and unbelievably, the bathroom was empty as she shut herself in, breathing properly for the first time.
Emma stared at her reflection in the mirror, not recognising the person she saw looking back at her. The once lifeless eyes that were dulled with heartbreak were now full of light and joy. Her skin seemed to glow, her lips were red and swollen. Emma Swan looked like a woman in love and that thought terrified her.
She breathed slowly and deeply, fighting away her panic as the realisation hit her hard in the chest like a freight train. She loved him. She had thought before that she knew what love was, the day of the car accident. But this new emotion being stirred inside of her was different.
She couldn't tear her mind away from the image of the icy blueness of his eyes, that caused her to feel as though she had just been plunged into a lake made of swirled myriad shades of blue.
Emma gasped, clutching at her chest as a jolt of electricity seemed to burst through her heart. Warmth spread from the space between her ribs, spreading throughout her body to the tips of her fingers and toes. Is this what love feels like? She thought as she ran her hands through her hair that had become slightly matted from his gentle caresses.
Closing her eyes and taking a moment to pull herself together, Emma calmed herself. This won't change anything. You've loved him for years, Swan. You just didn't realise it. The fear began to melt away, a small smile appearing on her lips. Emma felt like she was floating as she turned away from the sink, heading out of the door.
I love him. I'm in love with Killian Jones. She repeated in her head as she made her way across the landing. The distant echo of the music downstairs beckoned her as she slid her hand elegantly along the bannister, humming the tune of The Words softly to herself.
But Emma's moment of self-actualisation was destroyed by a harsh grip on her arm, the sharp tugging and the rough hold around her waist. A large, hot hand covered her mouth as she struggled against the hard body holding her. Emma lashed out, worming her way out of the stranger's arms. Yet, she fell limp when he spoke. That voice that had haunted her dreams for months.
"Hey, Ems."
Only one person had ever called her by that nickname. Emma's body grew taught as her eyes widened, before she slumped against him in defeat and terror. It was him. He was back.
Neal.
Emma fell to the floor as Neal pushed her into the nearest room, her head smacking harshly against the carpet. She cried out in pain, black spots growing in front of her eyes. Neal stood over her, grinning maliciously.
"So you moved on then. That was quick, Ems."
He crouched down next to her, she tried to scramble away, her feet catching on her long red dress and grunting when her back slammed into the side of a bed.
"How are you here?" She croaked, her throat dry from fear. Neal let out a shout of laughter.
"I behaved like a good boy in jail and got let out early. I've been looking for you, babe."
Emma scoffed, rolling her eyes whilst her hand fumbled underneath the bed behind her for a weapon of some kind.
"Who's the stray? Some randomer you picked up to warm your bed for the night like you used to do before me?" Neal laughed, bringing back harsh memories of the roughest time of Emma's life.
"He's not some random guy I just pick up of the street, you jerk. I've known him for years." Emma retaliated, her arm still sweeping under the bed desperately.
"You mean to tell me that the asshole that left you when you were a kid somehow found you?" Neal growled, his eyes darkening as he stood up, towering over her again.
Finding her voice and strength, Emma scrambled to her feet. "Don't you dare have the gall to call Killian an asshole when you tried to make me take the fall for your crime, you dick."
Neal guffawed loudly, sending a chill down Emma's spine. "Please, babe. You think he cares about you? You're just a vunerable girl with no one left to care about her. He just wants to use you for a good fuck and then he'll be on his merry way."
Emma punched him then, hard. She stood tall, breathing heavily as his head whipped back up, his fingers touching the blood that dripped from his lip.
"You bitch." He snarled.
"Call me names all you like, Neal. But I have a man that I love while you're still a pathetic little boy whose daddy didn't love him and left him." That was the final straw for Neal. He swung his arm around, the back of his hand smacking Emma in the face, the force pushing her to the floor.
He started to walk towards her as she lay there, her vision swimming. The next few moments seemed to move in slow motion as she pressed her hand to her head wincing. Neal's leg swung backwards slowly, he grinned down at her, blood dripping from his puffy bruised lip.
A fist appeared seemingly out of nowhere, knocking Neal to the ground. Neal groaned as Killian stood before him.
"Don't you dare touch her." His eyes were thunderous, Emma had never seen Killian so furious. Neal staggered to his feet, his grin challenging Killian before swinging at him. Neal's fist connected with Killian's jaw, whose foot soon found purchase in Neal's stomach.
Emma, still fighting her hazy vision, texted her dad with Ashley's address and the words, Neal's here. She then rose to her feet, grabbing a lamp from the bedside table next to her. She locked eyes with Killian, who pushed Neal towards her. She swung, metal connected with bone and Neal swayed, his eyes glassy for one, long, drawn-out moment before slumping, knocked out cold.
Emma fell down again, wincing as she gingerly touched her forehead, her fingers pulling away red. Killian rushed over, hugging her tightly. She gripped onto him, sobs erupting from her as she started crying. He rocked her gently through it, soothing her with soft words.
It was a while before she had calmed enough, and it wasn't until her father had burst into the room, Ashley hot on his trail that she pulled her head from its position against Killian's chest. The bedroom door shut behind David, stifling the excessive shouting of the party downstairs as people worriedly questioned each other as to why the cops were there.
Emma rushed from Killian's warm arms to hug her dad tightly, as he ran towards her worriedly. His partner, Graham, cuffed Neal as he began to stir. "Neal Cassidy, you have the right to remain silent..." Neal started shouting hysterically at Emma, but David tightened his embrace, as if trying to block out the screams.
"Are you alright, Emma?" He asked gently. She nodded against his chest, feeling safe as her father's hand cupped the back of his head. Ashley left the room for a moment, before returning with Ruby, Belle and Mary Margaret, who rushed to her daughter and joined Emma and David's hug.
"I've kicked everyone out, take as long as you need guys." Ashley said. Ruby thanked her, and she left. Ruby and Belle went over to Killian who was wincing as he touched the bruise that was started to form on his jaw.
"I think we need to get you guys to the hospital." Ruby said. Emma pulled away from her parents.
"No. I honestly just want to go home and sleep." She shared a look with Killian, whose eyes told her that he shared her sentiment. Mary Margaret noticed the shared glance and motioned to David to move away. They both kissed their daughter's forehead before pulling away so that Emma could return to Killian. She ran at his wrapping her arms around his shoulders. Belle pulled Ruby from the room, and they were followed rather reluctantly by Emma's parents, who didn't seem to really want to leave her.
Emma softly stroked the bruise on his jaw, before pressing a feather-light kiss to it. "Thank you for protecting me." Killian kissed just above the small cut on her head.
"Of course, love. I'm sorry I wasn't there to prevent him hurting you at all." He looked angry with himself as he looked at the red gash.
"Killian, its okay. You weren't to know." She kissed him then, returning to her safe place. It was gentle, both of them hesitant to hurt the other. She held his jaw as his hand tangled itself in her hair. She whimpered as she pressed closer, not wanting to let him go. But Killian broke the kiss, burrowing his face into her neck.
"Jones?" Emma whispered. His shoulders started to shake and she felt warm drops on her skin. "Oh, Killian." She breathed. "I'm okay, you're okay." He looked at her, a tear slipping down his face. She kissed him again, just a peck this time, her thumb swiping the drop away.
"Sorry, Swan." He croaked. "I was just so scared I would lose you." Emma smiled then, one of those wide smiles that you just cant prevent spreading across your face. He looked at her, returning her smile weakly.
"Killian Jones, you're never going to lose me." His eyes flicked to hers as she took that sledgehammer and crumbled her walls completely. Her voice was quiet and unstable. "I love you."
He stared at her in amazement. Tears filled her eyes as she felt a huge weight pulled off of her shoulders. "Say it again." He muttered, his voice shaky.
"I love you." She repeated, firmly, reassuring herself that she had said it, she didn't need to fear it anymore. Killian surged forward, kissing her hard.
"Again." He whispered when they pulled apart.
"I love you, Killian."
"Gods, Swan. I love you too." She wrapped her arms around his neck, kissing him with a massive smile on her face. Their teeth clanked together messily as neither of them could hold back their grins.
"Say it again." She giggled.
"I. Love. You." He said, punctuating each word with a kiss.
"I love you too." They kissed again, long and slow, filled with love. They'd bared their deepest feelings to each other finally, and they couldn't stop holding each other. This was it. Their love and promise was cemented in a foundation neither of them wished to break.
They slept in Emma's bed that night, holding each other tightly. They had both collapsed after finally making it home hours later, due to having to make statements to the cops and being checked over by Whale who was still in his crazy scientist costume.
They slept deeply and calmly, dreaming of each other and the love that they shared and had finally spoken. Emma was safe, feeling for the first time in her life that someone loved her truly, something she had never felt with Neal. Killian's warm embrace sheltered her from harm and threat, while her love and affection protected him from the harsh memories of his past.
There they slept, linked together innocently, a cocoon of unadulterated love.