Prompt: Based off the song You and Me by Lifehouse (Sequel to Day 34: Do Better)

Word Count: 1,288

What day is it? And in what month?

This clock never seemed so alive

I can't keep up and I can't back down

I've been losing so much time

She tried to deny it.

She tried to forget him.

She avoided him like the plague.

She tried her hardest not to think of him.

But there was no way to not think of him.

There was no getting rid of him.

She couldn't forget him.

No way to deny it.

She loved him.

And that was that. She needed to tell him. She was entirely fed up with not getting her happy ending. She was tired of watching everyone else be happy, living in their happy endings while she was watching time pass before her.

She was going to march over to his room. Pound on his door. Tell him she loved him. Then they would see where it would go from there.

Simple enough.

Or at least it was until she actually stood at his door with her clenched hand suspended in the air. She had snuck out of the house, trekked through the dark and freezing night, she was not just going to just give up now. But if that was so, why were her knuckles not pounding on the door as she had imagined, why was she not calling him out so she can confess to him.

The under-lit hall seemed to shrink and the darkness seemed to surround her in thick ink. Her feet were cemented to the ground, her eyes fixed on the faded blue door in front of her, and only one thing ricochet throughout her mind:

What if I'm too late? What if he stopped waiting for me?

The door squealed as it swung open, breaking her paralysis spell, her hand dropping to her side.

"Emma?"

"Killian?"

"What- what are you doing here?" he asked her, clearly taken back by her sudden appearance at his door. The light from his room shone on her face, pale from the cold, and Killian wanted to reach out and cup her cheeks, warm them. Warm her, but he didn't want to scare away his Swan.

"I, uh, just wanted to, um, make sure you're okay," She lied, her eyes dropped, examining her shoes, because she know if she looks him in the eye, he'll read her; he'll call her bluff and she'll crumble under him. So she let her golden hair fall around her face like a curtain.

"Oh, okay," He replied weakly, disappointment cleverly laced his tone.

"What, um, what were you doing?" Emma asked him awkwardly, this time her gaze lifted to lowest hinge on the door, as she shifted on her feet, both hands on her hips.

"I was-" Killian paused, debating on whether he should make up an excuse, but there was no use. She was here and he needed to talk to her. They needed to clear the air. He needed answers.

"You're actually the person I wanted to talk to," He said huskily, the corner of his lip tugging up into a smile.

"Really?" Emma asked too quickly, lifting her head, and against her will, her eyes gleaming with hope. She didn't know why she was so happy about it, but she had a faint feeling that it could be that he still wants her.

Killian saw the hope in her eyes and it made his insides want to explode but he maintained his cool composure, not wanting to seem over zealous.

"What were you going to talk to me about?" Emma asked, her walls climbing back up because she didn't want get her hopes up and Killian could see it in her eyes; and it terrified him.

"Emma, wait," Killian whispered, his mouth moving by itself now, "I need to know you feel something. No. I need to know that you know, that there is something between us."

"What are you talking about?" Emma said shaking her head, her beginning plan fled from her mind along with her resolve like the wind stealing the smell of fresh sunday flowers.

Killian stepped forward and boldly grabbed her by the shoulders, "I love you, Emma Swan. You know that. I know that. This entire bloody town knows that."

He paused and searched her eyes, pleased to find that they were trained on him. That her walls weren't entirely up. That she was still with him.

"But what they don't know, is that with you, time seems to never pass. I- you, we…" Killian sighs as he gathers his tongue again, "When I'm around you, you are the only thing I see. I can't help but think about you and how imperfect you are, and those imperfections make you perfect in my eyes. You are everything I ever need. That I could ever want."

"Emma Swan -"

"No," She stopped him, slowly closing her eyes. She had managed to puller arm free and raise her hand between them, "Just stop."

Emma knew what he was gonna say. She knew it and it scared her. She wanted to turn and bolt. To shove I'm back in his room and run and run until she got to the docks, but she couldn't. His grip on her other arm wouldn't relent and she was bound to crash into something in this darkness.

They stood there, their soft breathing the only sound in the quiet inn. He searched her face, looking for a sign of anything and he saw it. He knew her too well and, god dammit, she hated him for it.

The inky darkness sifted into a light somber blanket, enveloping them, and Emma couldn't help but feel the need to step closer to Killian. His cold hook skimmed her frigid cheek as he brushed a hair from her face and his good hand raised to cup her cheek. She couldn't help but lean into his warm hand, her breath stuttering as her eyes fluttered close.

"Emma, I won't ever hurt you-"

"Don't make promises you won't keep."

"As you wish."

"Good."

"I promise to never hurt you."

"Killian, I told you not to make promises you won't keep."

"I know, love, and I haven't gone against your wishes."

She drawled a sigh, and let her eyes slowly open as she raised her eyes to the pirate. As soon as she delved into his bright ocean blue eyes, she felt safe. She felt like she could melt. She felt loved.

He leaned closer, his forehead leaning forward to rest against hers and they stilled, inhaling each other from the close proximity. Their voices low and breathy.

"Emma."

"Killian."

"Tell me you know."

"I know."

"Tell me what. What do you know."

"I know… I know that… That I love you."

He gently closed the little distance between their lips, a soft, gentle kiss. A kiss so that she knows, that he loves her too. That he'll always love her. But she already knew that. She already knew she owned his heart.

But she wanted to let him know that he did what he did best. He stole. He stole her heart.

She raised her hand ups his chest to cup the back of his neck and bring him closer, while his hook slowly dropped to her lower back and held her to him, his good hand moving into her hair.

They pulled their lips apart, their forehead touching, refusing to part anymore.

"Gods, Emma," Killian whispered huskily, his breath ghosting her lips "I love you so much, you've no idea."

"I know," She whispered, her hand holding tighter to him, afraid that if she loosens her grip, her happy ending is going to be taken away from her.

"I love you too."