Fluff is not my thing, so bare with me...

Chapter 26 – The Date

I'll be there for you
These five words I swear to you
When you breathe I want to be the air for you
I'll be there for you, Bon Jovi

Emma finished the last touches to her light make up and looked at herself in the mirror. She was wearing a black skirt and a green blouse and she tried to calm her shaking hands.

It's just a date.

With Killian.

After you finally admitted to him that you missed him the last three years.

And you agreed to finally give this a chance.

After you admitted that your idea of a fairytale happy ending involved having little pirates and princesses with him.

She took a deep breath.

It's just a date.

She heard a knock on the door and her stomach did a funny twist. She straightened herself and went to get the door, running into Henry who was sitting on the living room. He gave her a thumbs up.

"You look great, Mom." He said encouragingly.

She smiled and opened the door. And then her jaw dropped at the sight of him. He was wearing black fitted pants, a blue shirt and a grey vest. His leather jacket was on his left arm and he was holding a bouquet of peonies on his right hand. His eyes lit up with utter awe when he saw her.

"You look stunning, Swan." He said looking at her dazed.

"You look…" She trailed off.

"I know." He smirked at her and she rolled her eyes. He handed her the flowers. "For you."

She took the flowers and smiled, biting her lower lip. "I'll go put these in water." She said. "I'll be right back".

He smiled at her and entered the hallway to wait for her.

Henry walked towards him. "Hi Killian." He said.

"Henry, lad." Killian shifted his stance and smiled at the boy. He scratched his ear and looked at Henry almost apologetically, "You are ok with this? I mean, me and you mom…" He trailed off, nervously.

Henry smirked. "Killian, I've been ok with this for the past three years. You were the ones that needed to catch up." He replied.

Killian smiled sheepishly at Henry and then his eyes focused on Emma who was coming back their way.

"Everything ok?" She asked.

"Yes." Henry said. "Have fun you two." He waved before leaving for his room.

"Shall we?" Killian asked and Emma nodded smiling. His hand went to her lower back the moment she walked next to him, guiding her out of the apartment door. The moment she closed the door and turned around, she bumped into him. He pressed her against the door, his hand next to her face. He had a devilish smirk on his face.

"I know it's customary to wait until the end of the date, but I don't think I can resist that long." He said as he cupped her face with his hand and brought her to him, kissing her slowly and deeply. "Hi, Swan." He whispered sighing when he pulled away a little, brushing his nose against hers. She leaned in to kiss him again, a little longer this time. "Hi, Killian." She replied smiling.

He pulled away and held her hand in his as they started walking. When they reached the front door stairs, she pulled him towards her and kissed him longingly, her free hand pressing into his back to push him against her. She broke the kiss with a smirk at his dazed look.

"You told me once not to stand on ceremony. I'm taking you up on it." She said smugly.

"I like that… But what took you so long, love?" He whispered in her ear.

"I can be stubborn."

"Don't I know it." He said before kissing her again. When they finally broke the kiss, he cleared his throat, "We should go before we miss our reservation."

He took her to a small Italian restaurant nearby the river. The environment was warm and enchanting and she admired the scenery.

"This is nice." She said. "Do you like Italian food?" She asked him.

"I love it. It's pretty much all I eat." He confessed. "This place was highly recommended. They told me they make some excellent pasta carbonara." He smiled at her, his hand reaching hers over the table. "Do you want some wine?" He asked. "I don't like to drink when I'm driving, but you should order some if you wish." He said.

"I suppose it makes sense that a cop doesn't drink and drive." She commented. "Lead by example and all that…"

"And in fair honesty, Swan, I do drive one-handed. There is no need to numb my reflexes and put myself or anyone inside my car at risk. "

She looked at him impressed and he smiled sheepishly. He would have scratched his head behind his ear, but his hand was holding hers and he did not want to let go. He never want to let go again.

"So…" She said after they'd ordered and she'd taken a sip of her water. "What is your story, Detective Jones?" She raised an eyebrow at him. "How did a man with a distinct accent like yours end up working as a police detective in New Jersey?"

"You want to know my tale to the world, Swan?" He asked and she nodded. "Alright, here it is: I was born here but moved to Ireland with my mother and brother when I was a lad. My mother died and I was raised by Liam, until he died in an accident. I decided to move back here and become a police detective. I was in a relationship for several years, with Milah, until she died in a violent crime, where I also lost my hand. I took some time away from the force after that, doing mainly private investigation work in Maine." He smiled at her at this point and she nodded. "But a few years back I decided to join back the force and continue my work in homicide and brutal crimes." He sighed. "As you can see, most of the main elements are still there, but the tale is just a little different. What about you? David is your older brother?" He asked.

She nodded. "We were separated as kids in the foster system, which is why we don't share the same name. We found each other a few years back and rekindled our family. The other pieces remain the same: I gave up Henry, he found me when he was eleven and his adoptive mother decided to share custody of him." She sighed. "You know, there are always a lot of loopholes we have to sort out but…"

"But you just smile dashingly and divert the subject…" He said. "Works every time." He smirked and she laughed sincerely.

The rest of the dinner was spent between talking about how he accommodated to the new world and his new job and her story on how she rekindled her work as bail bondsperson, the last few years and the new case she got assigned that afternoon. Once dinner was finished, he asked her to take a walk down the river with him. As they were walking he grabbed her hand in his and intertwined his fingers with hers.

"Have you ever gone back?" He asked looking at her, "To Storybrooke?"

She shook her head, "David and Mary Margaret go there from time to time to visit Granny, Ruby and the dwarves, but I never really felt the need." She hesitated. "After I found out you left, there- there was nothing left for me there anymore."

He raised their intertwined hands to his lips, pressing a soft kiss to her hand and smiled.

"But everything remains pretty much the same, other than Belle leaving Gold, there aren't many changes." She said.

He froze on the spot. "Belle left the Dark One? Why?"

"She found out he was lying to her about the dagger and divorced him. She's actually dating one or Robin's men, Will Scarlett." She realized Killian was looking at her with dread in his eyes. "Killian, what is it?" She asked concerned.

"The Dark One doesn't take it well when his women leave him, Emma…" He stated, worry and pain etched on his face. "Belle might be in danger. Same for the bloke she's dating."

She reached to him, her hands holding his arms, comforting him. "I know." She said. "That's why Regina put a protective spell on them while they were in town and we convinced them to leave as soon as possible. Gold's magic doesn't work outside Storybrooke, Killian. They've been living in Boston for more than a year now. They are safe. I have friends up there they can go to if needed." She assured him.

He gave her a small smile, "Sorry, love. It's just…" He trailed off, his eyes dwelling.

She hugged him tightly, her hands cradling his head. "I know, Killian. I know." She conveyed.

He pulled away after a few moments, clearing his throat. "I have a few friends in the Boston Police Department. I'll make a few calls tomorrow as well. If he tries something, I'll make sure he's locked up for good." He looked at her and his eyes tried to explain his worry. "It's not vengeance, Emma. I'm past that. It's justice."

She nodded as she grabbed his hand again and they resumed their walk. A few moments later, he reached out to embrace her. "I'm sorry if I overreacted, Swan. I'm glad I'm here with you tonight, Emma. You know that, don't you, lass?" He whispered in her ear, trying to make her understand that while the past would always haunt him, he was ready to move on. He'd been ready to move on for years.

"I know…" She said. "You don't have to apologize, Killian. There is nothing to be sorry about being worried for someone's wellbeing, especially after you went through yourself." She looked at him, reassurance in her eyes.

He pulled her for a kiss, his hands grasping her hips as he pulled her to him, walking backwards until they bumped into a wall. He kissed her long and deep, and she responded in the same way, her hand caressing his back, pulling him closer to her.

"Killian…" She whispered in between kisses. "Henry is at my place tonight, so we might want to go back to yours…" She trailed off as he broke the kisses he was planting on her neck and looked at her mischievously.

"Swan, I have no intention of taking you back to my place tonight." He said seriously and she looked at him dumbfounded. "Love, I will be a perfect gentleman and take you back to your house after our date is finished. I'm going to take this slow…"

"Slow?" She asked incredulously. "Your hand is almost on my ass and you have me pressed against a wall, Killian." She raised her eyebrow at him.

He chuckled. "Ok." He whispered as he brushed his lips against hers. "Slower than usual."

"Captain Hook wants to take it slow?" She couldn't believe what she was hearing.

"No. Killian Jones has finally managed to get a date with the woman he's pined over for years and he wants to enjoy every single step of how this unfolds. We've never had a chance to do this before, Swan. Don't you want to just enjoy this adventure?" He asked, a pleading look in his blue eyes and she smiled shyly at him.

"I suppose we could have just a first date…" She conceded.

He wrapped her into his arms. "I am, however, going to kiss you every single chance I get, in every way I can." He stated.

"Really?" She teased.

"I have centuries of experience, love. I'm a magnificent kisser." He said matter-of-factly before pulling her into a kiss again.

He kissed her slowly, tenderly, almost shyly. "That's how Lieutenant Killian Jones from the Royal Navy kisses, your highness." He said as he pulled away and took her hand to continue their walk by the river.

"Besides," He continued, "I didn't think you were the type that pillages and plunders on the first date."

"I'm not…" She confirmed. "But you are quite irresistible, Lieutenant. And I am very fond of how you pillage and plunder." She said seductively.

He was crushing her lips at the very same instant: taking by assault, demanding, grabbing, claiming, possessing. His hand was tugging her hair, pulling her closer to him, his mouth hot against hers leaving her breathless and dazzle-minded.

"That is how Captain Hook kisses, Savior." He spoke breathlessly when he broke the kiss. He looked wrecked, dazzled. She felt the same way; she had never felt like this before. She had no words to describe the turmoil that last kiss had ignited on her.

"I don't think it ever felt like that before with anyone. Ever." She said honestly.

"For me either." He confessed as he tried to catch his breath. "Let's do it again." He grinned with a boyish look on his face before leaning in and plundering her mouth again. And again. And again.

When they finally reached the front door of her building, he looked at her with dreamy eyes, pulling her softly towards him, his hands on her waist, holding her. He leaned in and captured her lips softly in his, moving slowly, with determination. He deepened the kiss and his tongue searched for hers, tangling and dancing slowly and accurately, leaving her feeling butterflies in her stomach and many other things all over her body.

"That is how Detective Killian Jones kisses, Emma." He said as he gave her a final peck and looked at her with his eyes full of adoration. "So tell me, which one you prefer, Swan?" He asked playfully.

"I refuse to choose… can I have them all?" She replied biting her lower lip.

"Your wish is my command, princess." He said before trapping her in another long, lustful kiss.

When they finally pulled away, she looked at him, her lips swollen and her green eyes bright with happiness.

"Killian, will you go out with me again?" She asked smiling, showing him she wanted this as much he wanted it, taking the next step and asking him to be with her again.

"I was hoping you'd say that, Swan." He leaned in and kissed her softly, capturing her bottom lip in between his.

"Goodnight, love." He whispered against her lips before finally pulling away, taking all his self-control to do it.

"Goodnight, Killian." She smiled at him.