'So you do need to look at apartments then, Mom.' Henry teased, stealing a fry off Emma's plate now that his were all gone. They sat in a booth with Snow, David and baby Neal (Emma was both touched and surprised by the name choice) in Granny's, her whole family beaming at her now they knew she wanted to stay in Storybrooke.
'Yeah, I guess so, kid. How about we look at some tomorrow?' Emma suggested, not even bothered by his food thievery when he was so happy.
'Sure. I doubt anything will be as exciting as living on a pirate ship, but I found a place that has a Jacuzzi bath tub, and it's by the water.' Henry shrugged his shoulders as he glanced over at his story book. Emma had told them all about her adventure back in time, leaving out some minor details of course (most of them being her more private moments with Killian).
Henry was excited to hear about his mother's experience on a real pirate ship, but her parents were naturally more interested in the changes of events in their story so she ended up just showing them the book so they could read it for themselves. Her mother was particularly fond of the part where Emma got to go to her first ball (although Emma swiftly turned the page when she saw her mother tear up).
'Now I think about it, I do remember a Prince Charles and Princess Leia, although the memories are kind of hazy.' David said with a thoughtful frown.
'Yeah, I spoke to Gold about it and he said that you might feel a little like you did when the first curse was broken and you remembered who you really were but you also had this other personality. We're all just very lucky that Hook and I managed to fix the changes we made because I know for sure none of us would be sitting here together considering me, Henry and baby Neal would never have even been born.' Emma scoffed but once she had said them she realized the magnitude of her words. She could have ceased to exist just from changing one seemingly small detail in the past, and it made her consider the importance of every action.
'I should go find Hook.' She announced suddenly, eliciting a suspicious sideways glance from her mother.
'I just need to talk to him about something that sort of changed things.' Emma shuffled out of her seat in the booth and looked up to meet the confused look of her parents. 'I'll explain later, but don't worry, it's nothing bad.' She glanced out the window, her heart tugging at the sight of him sitting all alone on the porch of the diner.
David began to speak but Snow cut in. 'Of course you can fill us in later, Emma.' Her mother had a look of understanding, which eased Emma's worries slightly over what she would eventually tell them about her relationship with Killian. She gave them a quick smile before walking out the diner, inhaling the cool breeze of the night. Killian looked up as she sat down beside him, his face unreadable.
'Do you want to come look at apartments with me and Henry tomorrow?' She blurted out, her eyes widening at her own words. She still couldn't read him and she felt flustered, so she continued on.
'I know some modern, 21st century apartment is not going to compare to your ship, and it could never replace her as your home, and you might hate down lights in the kitchen and shower heads with a lot of pressure, maybe even showers altogether, but I want you to feel like you have a place here, with me and my family. I want you to be happy because you gave up your ship for me, Killian, and my head spins when I think about what that means and how it's changed the way I look things.'
She stopped to exhale before carrying on, but he swiftly leaned forward and wrapped his hook around her arm to get her to stop. Her breath hitched as she leaned into his touch, and her stomach danced when she saw how happy he looked as he smiled brightly at her.
'Gods, I love you, Swan.' He whispered, and she felt herself crumble. She let out a relieved laugh and edged forward in her seat so that their legs touched.
'I love you, too.' She smiled, the words coming easily to her now.
He closed his eyes and pressed his forehead against hers as the natural pull between them brought them closer. She breathed him in, relaxing at his familiar and intoxicating scent. His lips were ghosting over hers, not quite touching them but close enough for her skin to tingle expectantly.
'Now that we're back in the present, I'm actually recalling some new old memories.' He chuckled, pulling away but cupping her face with his hand.
'Like what?' She asked, her hands absent-mindedly playing with his hook on his lap as his thumb caressed her cheek.
'It's bittersweet actually, but I remember the night Baggins passed away. He asked that I was the only one at his bedside, and it was in his last moment that he whispered, 'I hope you find her again, Killian. Go find your true love.' At the time I was confused, brushing it off as the ramblings of a dying man, but in light of our journey, and one very important letter, it all makes sense. Baggins' dying wish was for me to find you, my princess.' Emma was lost in his eyes and his words, barely noticing the tear that had fallen down her cheek. Baggins was a wise old man, and even after only seeing them for less than a week together, he could see what was really between them.
Killian wiped away her tear and wrapped his arm around her waist, pulling her towards him until she sat on his lap with his arms around her, his heart beating wildly as she kissed him softly before resting her head against his shoulder. They sat in silence for a long time, content in each other's arms. Killian kissed her temple and drew patterns on her thigh with his finger, humming happily when she giggled at his ticklish touch.
'The Jolly Roger was my home, but you are my world.' He whispered, and Emma couldn't even think straight to form a sarcastic reply about how 'Nicholas Sparks' of him that was, because actually, she loved his dramatic declarations and flare for grandeur. She nestled closer to him, closing her eyes and smiling as she heard laughter from inside the diner. It would not last forever, but she allowed herself to enjoy the simple peace of her life for one night, wrapped in the arms of the dashing rapscallion she had fallen in love with.
A/N: Super fluffy because how can it not be when they exchange 'I love you's?!