-E-
Today is going to be a good day. She can feel it in her gut. Maybe it's because Killian's hand is currently up her bare thigh, his calloused fingers against her smooth skin only heightening the sensation as she blinks awake, or maybe it's because this is the first time he's slept over that didn't involve sex or nightmares. Just them going to bed together and falling asleep in each other's arms like a normal, stable couple.
They're a couple now.
"Good morning. I hope you're at least thinking good thoughts." He whispers, punctuating his words with a kiss behind her ear.
She's about to turn over when he presses his lips to the back of her neck, sending tingles all the way down to her toes.
"Definitely happy thoughts." Emma groans, shifting back and pulling his arms tighter around her. "You don't have to go in today, do you?"
"No, I don't." Killian wedges a knee between her legs and Emma smiles to herself.
"So we can have a lazy day in bed?"
"If that's what you wish." His lips travel down to her shoulder where he leaves a sweet kiss. "Although, I did bring over some cinnamon rolls last night if you wanted to get up and have one for breakfast."
Emma gasps, flipping over to see a knowing grin stretch across his lips. "You did? How did I miss that?"
"I think you were distracted by the pizza." Killian pulls away a strand of hair stuck to her lashes, his eyes following his fingers as he carefully moves it to the side before focusing back on her face. "We could eat and then come back to bed."
She laughs, "I can't believe you were able to say that with only 15% innuendo."
"What do you say, love? Shall we sail away?"
"Okay, sailor. You get the coffee started, I have to pee first."
She finds him in the kitchen, clad in only his boxer briefs, looking so domestic and at home pulling mugs out of her cabinet.
"Milady," Killian presents her with a plate of gooey cinnamon roll, the kind that can only conceivably be eaten with a fork and lots of napkins, still warm from the microwave. Emma takes a bite as he pours the coffee and she moans around her mouthful.
"Oh my God, I love-," Emma cuts herself off quickly, snapping her eyes up to Killian's eyebrows shift as he regards her with an unreadable expression "-cinnamon sugar." She finishes feebly, and his lips quirk, eyes softening into a more recognizable look she's seen him wear more and more these days. A look that definitely relates to the word she just uttered and definitely in a more significant context than the flippant way she almost said it with.
"I was walking by the bakery when I detected a whiff of freshly baked rolls and I knew I had to get them for you."
Emma sets her plate down, walking over to him as he places their mugs of coffee on the counter so his hands can rest on her waist when she reaches him.
"Thank you."
"For you, anything." He replies but underneath the lighthearted look in his eyes is something else that rings of forever and happy endings with a sureness that Emma's never seen in anyone else's eyes except for maybe her parents. Emma loops one arm around his neck and Killian dips his head so he can sweep his tongue into her mouth, tasting all the sweet cinnamon-y goodness for himself.
"Should we go enjoy this in bed?" Emma whispers huskily, handing traveling boldly down his body to ghost over his length, which is already half-hard in his briefs.
"By all means, love." Killian grabs the coffees and nods at her to lead the way and as she feeds him bites of cinnamon roll from her perch in his lap, laughing when his tongue darts out to catch the frosting before it hits the bedspread, she thinks for the first time that she can get on board with the whole forever and happy endings thing.
Like she said, today's going to be a good day.
"It was all a set-up? Someone faked a call and lured the firefighters out there? You think they were trying to kill them?" Elsa's repulsed voice pulls Emma back to the present and she pushes the cinnamon roll in front of her away, wrapping her fingers around her coffee instead.
"Yeah. Apparently that's the theory they are running with. Why else would they claim there's a kid in the house unless they wanted them- you-" Emma glances at Will quickly, "to run into the house? Anyway, Graham said they're going to try and find the recording of the 911 call placed that night and see if they can identify the voice."
Will snorts, "Unlikely."
Elsa turns to him with a frown, "Lot of faith you have in your colleagues."
"Look, we've been chasin' this guy for months, okay? We even have reason to believe he's been doing this for years. You really think one 911 call is going to bring him down?"
"Don't be so fatalistic, Will. It might not even be the same guy." Elsa says, sounding pretty resentful herself, turning away as if averting her eyes from him will cure them all of the black mood currently hanging over them.
"Right, because that would somehow be better, having a second arsonist running around town."
"They could get lucky. Maybe they'll be able to catch the guy- or both of them-," Emma suggests, cringing a little at her own fake-hopeful tone. Will just scoffs again, looking as sullen as when Emma first started filling them in on her conversation at the hospital. Apparently Will had been kicked off both cases as part of the conditions surrounding his return to duty.
"We should go so we can get there when visiting hours start." Elsa notes, glancing at her watch. They quickly pack up breakfast (Elsa gives a pointed look at Emma's untouched roll, but doesn't say anything, sliding a blueberry muffin over to her instead) and then they're off.
"Oh, Miss Nolan, we've got some great news!" Dr. Nova squeals from the nurse's station.
"When did she get un-banned from here?" Emma mutters to Elsa, throwing a quick smile in the doctor's direction as they sign in.
"I think she still goes on rounds but she just can't be here during the day?" Elsa whispers back.
"Emma, Elsa. Good morning." Blue is waiting for them outside Killian's room, smiling warmly at them.
"I hear there's news?" Emma asks, trying not to let her sarcasm show.
Blue nods, "We ran some more tests on Lieutenant Jones this morning and he's healing nicely. In fact, we think it's time to begin the process of reversing the coma." She reports, firmly closing the door behind them.
Emma walks straight to Killian's bedside, smoothing his hair and running the back of her hand down his scruffy cheek (which is starting to look more like a beard these days) "That's fantastic news." She says happily, barely taking her eyes off Killian to glance at the doctor.
"It may still be some time until he wakes up fully," Blue warns, walking to Killian's other side so she can look at Emma as she talks, "We will start weaning him off the drugs that are keeping him in the coma today, and the process usually takes days."
"Days?" Elsa repeats, taking her place next to Emma and laying a soothing hand on her friend's arm.
"Yes. The length of the process depends on the patient- how they are responding and the extent of their injuries and trauma they suffered. Best case scenario, we're hoping the lieutenant will regain full consciousness in a couple of days."
"Worst case, he doesn't wake." Emma voices what the other two are reluctant to say. Elsa's hand tightens on Emma's shoulder, but she keeps her eyes on Killian.
" Medicine will only get him so far. The rest is up to him. Have faith, Emma. Your lieutenant is young and strong." Blue says bracingly. Emma just nods because faith is something that is getting more and more elusive these days. Blue excuses herself after explaining that she will be back soon with the anesthesiologist and Emma pulls up her usual chair while Elsa walks around to the other side of the bed to her designated chair. But she jumps up from her seat almost as soon as she sits down.
"I should call Will, give him the update and ask him to spread the news." She explains at Emma's startled look.
"Okay, thanks." After Elsa shuts the door, Emma leans closer, sliding her fingers into Killian's, "Did you hear that? You're going to be waking up soon. And I know you have a habit of waking up far earlier than normal, sane people, so if you want to exercise that particular quirk of yours, please feel free to do that now."
"Killian."
"Good morning love. Sleep well?"
"Killian, Mo just dropped off more flowers at my apartment." Emma fingers the snapdragons in the arrangement sitting before her.
"Oh good. Glad to know he's still got the best delivery service in town. I'll be sure to leave a good review."
Emma grabs her bag and keys, giving the flowers one last glance before she backs out of the door, wedging the phone between her shoulder and ear so she can talk while she makes sure her door is locked. "Killian, I'm in his shop every week. I know what those bouquets cost. I also know all his pre-arranged bouquets."
"Is that a compliment to my floral arrangement skills?"
"Killian." Emma groans, hurrying down the steps of her building.
"You keep saying my name, love."
"The bouquets are lovely. Beautiful. Once in a while is okay- perfect, even. But every day?"
He doesn't even miss a beat, "How else am I going to demonstrate my affection for my favorite waitress when I wake up with her on my mind every morning?"
Emma can feel the blush on her cheeks as she power walks down the street towards the diner. He's been sending flowers every day since the day after their first date. She knows it's not some sort of weird masculine show of wealth but just Killian being his sweet self. And honestly, it was rather endearing for the first couple days, but when he showed no signs of relenting, she knew she had to put a stop to it before he became Mo's primary source of revenue.
"I don't know, maybe drop by and say hello?"
"I would, but we both know that me showing up after I wake up in the mornings would not be conducive to winning you over."
Emma laughs, rounding the corner "You do wake up at an ungodly hour in the morning. Can't you just sleep in like a normal, sane person?" She stops in her tracks when she spies a familiar mop of artfully mussed dark hair standing outside the decorative fence surrounding the diner. She hangs up, walking towards him at a much slower pace than before, unable to help the grin breaking out across her face. "Killian, my apartment is starting to look like a greenhouse and I can't bring flowers into the diner anymore or else Mr. Clark will have a literal fit."
Killian slips his phone into his back pocket, glancing down the street before leaning in and kissing her cheek quickly, his lips soft against her skin. "Hello."
"Hi." Emma beams back up at him. It's getting kind of ridiculous that she just can't stop smiling when she sees him. At this rate, keeping their relationship secret is going to be absolutely futile. "Look, I'm working breakfast shifts all week, why don't you come into the diner before work instead of going to Mo's and you can sit at the counter and ogle me all you want while I wait tables."
"So you do see that, huh?"
"No more flower deliveries." Emma says firmly and Killian nods, a smirk still dancing across his lips.
"Aye, love. Can I get a good morning kiss if I come in and see you?"
Emma laughs again. It's a phenomenon that's been happening more and more often these days, not that she's complaining. "If you get here early enough and no one else is around. Which, I suppose shouldn't be a problem for you since you wake up way too early for a normal human being. Or maybe… we start doing more sleepovers. You know, so you can be my new alarm clock and I can train you to stay in bed when we don't have to be up at the ass crack of dawn."
Killian makes a sound in the back of his throat that has Emma biting her lip, "Why lass, with you in my bed, I'd never even begin to dream of leaving."
"Day two."
"It's still early." Elsa says quickly, "He's not supposed to wake up so soon."
"How do you know? Are you suddenly a doctor?"
"Can you two take your bickering outside? It's getting a little old." Emma sighs, not looking up. She wonders if she should ask someone about shaving his beard. It's starting to get a little out of hand.
Elsa clams up but Will continues grumbling to himself. Everyone's been tense lately, the lack of sleep and emotional rollercoasters of the past few days really starting to take their toll.
"Kristoff still hasn't said anything to you about the case?" Will interjects and Emma sighs again, knowing what's coming.
"No." Elsa says icily, "Just because he's my sister's fiancee, doesn't mean he's going to tell me everything. Besides, it's your coworkers on the case, isn't it?"
"Yeah, well I got kicked off the case."
"And whose fault is that?"
"You guys, give it a rest, okay? You're probably giving Killian terrible nightmares." Emma smoothes her fingers through his hair again, "See what you're leaving me with?" She whispers in his ear..
As usual, he doesn't respond.
Sighing again, she pulls away and catches Elsa and Will staring at her.
"Don't look at me like that." She snaps.
"We're not looking at you in any way." Elsa protests, but Emma just glares at her friend because she can see the pity still in her eyes. She knows Will has a similar look on his face, so instead, Emma focuses her attention on one of the many monitors recording Killian's vitals.
And that's when it happens.
One of the machines monitoring Killian's life starts beeping erratically and though Killian remains eerily still, the rest of the room bursts into chaos. One moment, Emma's on her feet, gripping Killian's hand, choking out his name as a litany of beeps surrounds them on all sides from all the monitors, and Elsa is racing out of the room to find someone, anyone while Will jabs the call button for a nurse and the next, Emma's watching from the outside in as the glass door is slid shut and curtains are pulled around Killian's bed and all they can see are the multiple pairs of feet around his bed as his team of doctors and nurses surround him and Emma is left holding onto nothing.
"Miss Nolan," A nurse steers her rather forcefully to a waiting area in the hall and Emma collapses into a chair, fingers trembling as Elsa and Will sit across her. Will's leg starts bouncing restlessly and Elsa's hand shoots out to stop it. Emma pretends she doesn't see Elsa keep her hand on his leg.
It's past visiting hours when Blue finally comes out to explain what happened, Dr. Merryweather trailing behind her.
"He's stable." Blue reports and Emma draws her first breath in what seems like forever, though the echo of high-pitched beeps still lingers in her mind. "Lieutenant Jones threw a clot, which is a common side effect of medically induced comas, and we've been reluctant to give him blood thinners because of his risk of internal bleeding."
"For now, we've started him on some new medications and we'll continue to monitor him closely," Merryweather adds.
"So he's okay?" Will clarifies and the doctors nod.
"Barring any complications."
"Can I see him?" Emma blurts, rising to her feet. She's not sure what she'll do if Blue says no.
"Sure, just for a little bit." Merryweather concedes and gestures for Emma to follow her while Blue stays to speak with the other two.
She expects him to look different, maybe paler, bloodier or (in her wildest dreams) awake and winking salaciously at her. But he looks the same.
Vulnerable.
Asleep.
Unresponsive.
She hates that that's becoming the new normal.
"I miss you." Emma leans over to press her lips to his forehead, lingering there until she pulls back to lean her head against his, "Are you thinking of me in there? I hope you're dreaming of me yelling at you to wake your ass up and come back to me. I know that's what I dream about. Well, minus the yelling part. Just you. Awake. That's all I want. Can you give me that?"
The ventilator only hisses in response and slowly, she sinks herself down into her chair, stretching her body so she can lie her head next to his, her nose skimming against his cheek. She might have closed her eyes and dozed off because the next thing she knows is the door sliding open behind her and dread fills her belly like it does every night when the nurse comes in to tell her it's time to go home.
Except this time, it's another voice that speaks quietly.
"No, please. Just let her stay for a little longer. It'll be the new year in fifteen minutes." Elsa pleads in a soft voice and Emma squeezes her eyes shut, willing the burning sensation behind her eyes to go away. Still, a tear slips out and steals across her face to land on the sheets under her face.
"There's nothing to tell."
"Seriously? That's what you're going with? I'm not blind, Jones. You know I have a degree in Criminal Psychology? And my superpower? I can tell when you're lying."
Killian sighs, starinting towards the bathroom, "Just give it a rest, Swan. It was just some old memories. Nothing that really matters now."
"Oh, really? Then you should have no problem sharing."
"It's inconsequential, lass. Let it go." Killian says calmly, though his jaw is ticking and there is definitely an edge to his words as he pulls off his shirt to throw in the hamper.
Emma presses her lips together, trying to quell the anger rising up in her. She knows they've both had long days and are tired, but can she help it that she's curious about what had him and Will all brood-y over their drinks in the diner? They've told each other practically everything at this point, what would he have left to hide from her?
"Okay, fine." Emma says, sitting on the bed to take off her socks, steeling herself to change the subject to something more lighthearted. "Did I tell you about how I slipped on ice this morning driving to work? I thought I saw a wolf on Main Street, turns out it was just someone's dog and I missed the patch of ice in the intersection. It was so embarrassing, everyone saw it and kept teasing me about it at work-,"
Killian whirls around, causing Emma's head to shoot up at the sudden movement. "You lost control of the car today?"
She shrugs, walking over to the closet to grab a change of clothes. "The car just slid and lost traction for a couple seconds, nothing too drastic."
Killian follows her to the closet, bracing both hands on the door while Emma strips out of her uniform. "Bloody hell, Emma. Do you know how dangerous that is?"
Annoyance begins to spike under her skin despite her best efforts to remain calm and unaffected, "It was only for a second. Besides, there were virtually no other cars around at that time of the day." She says tightly, trying to duck under his outstretched arms but of course, he doesn't let her.
"I told you to get your tires switched."
"It's winter, Killian. These things happen from time to time. You forget, I've been driving in this weather for years now. I learned how to drive in this weather." She pushes past him, sensing the tension in the flex of his muscles. His jaw hasn't stopped ticking.
"Would it really be so bad to just change your tires?" He demands, following her into the living area, still shirtless and his jeans unbuttoned.
"My four-season tires are fine, Killian. It was just a little ice. Leroy and his brothers always get the roads cleaned right away so it's not like I'm going to be doing a lot of heavy winter driving."
He lets out a frustrated breath, running his hands through his hair, the other hand propped on his hip, "Look, if this is about the money, I've got some from Liam's insurance that I'm never going to touch- you should take it and get yourself some winter tires-"
"Are you serious? Are you serious? You can't just buy me off like that, Killian. I know you're paranoid about car safety but you need to trust me when I say I can take care of myself- physically and financially. News flash: I've been doing a pretty good job of it all my life before you came along." She snaps, scowling when she jostles the jug of milk she pulled out of the fridge to make hot cocoa with.
"You know what? I think I'm going to go take a shower now. Cool down." Killian says rigidly and Emma nods, studiously cleaning up the spill and concentrating her eyes on the counter until she hears the door slam and the shower start running.
When she finishes making the cocoa, she takes it to the living room, veering towards the armchair from her apartment rather than her usual spot on the couch. She can't stand to sit on his couch when she's so pissed at him right now. Emma tears off his hoodie and throws it spitefully on the ground before digging in the basket next to the armchair for the knit blanket Mary Margaret made, ignoring the less scratchy one that is draped over the back of the couch, the one Killian brought with him from London. It might seem a little dramatic, but it's the first fight they've had since she moved in and it's hard to run from him when she's literally surrounded by all of his things.
She's halfway through her hot cocoa when she hears the water shut off and before long, Emma hears his quiet footsteps padding on the floor, growing closer but she keeps her gaze locked on the window, watching the moonlight ripple on the water and trying to ignore the way her tongue and the roof of her mouth is burned from gulping cocoa too fast.
"'Emma." Killian kneels in front of her, a hesitant hand resting on the arm of the chair, inches away from her hand, "I'm sorry. Let's not fight anymore. I've- I've had a difficult day." He sighs, and brushes his fingers lightly against the side of her hand. "I'd really just like to hold you."
Emma can tell, even without looking at him that Killian is truly tired and she doesn't want to be angry anymore either, so she hands him her mug wordlessly and when he turns back to her after placing it on the coffee table behind him, she offers him her hand.
"Come here."
Killian stands and through a weird, silent dance of shuffling and rearranging of limbs, she manages to end up curled up on his lap, legs hanging over the side, head tucked into her shoulder and he's got his strong arms locked around her, face buried in her hair.
"I never meant to imply you couldn't take care of yourself. I know you can. Very well. I just want you to be safe." He murmurs.
Emma smoothes her palm over his heart, breathing in the fresh scent of his spicy body wash, "I know. I overreacted too. Sorry."
"Swan, there are some things in my past that I am ashamed of- things that I don't want you to know because I don't want that part of my life tainting my life with you. I just need you to give me time and trust me a little more. Can you give me that?"
Emma leans back and takes his face in her hands, "Yes. Yes, I think I can." She promises, leaning in to give him a soft kiss. "And about Liam's money…" She bites her lip, searching his eyes as she digs for her courage, "Maybe you should think about investing it. For the future. You know, for a house, or college funds or whatever."
Killian's lip twitches, his tired blue eyes beginning to light up with a new emotion, "Investing it. For the future." He repeats slowly, his eyebrow lifting.
Emma shrugs nonchalantly, "Yeah. You know, in a portfolio so you can buy a house. You know, if you want. One that you and Liam always wanted to be able to afford for your families."
"With a backyard and white picket fence." He says, eyes crinkling in the corners and Emma bites her lip, ducking her head back down to rest on his shoulder so he can't see the effect his infectious smile has on her.
"With a swing set and a view of the sea." Emma adds, pressing her nose against his neck.
"A future together." Killian says quietly, almost timidly.
"Together." Emma repeats into his skin.
"I think I can give you that." He says so softly that Emma's not entirely sure she's supposed to hear it, but she tightens her arms around him anyway.
"Hey." Will's slumped on the couch, feet propped up on the coffee table.
"Get your smelly socks off our coffee table." Emma falls into Ruth's armchair, Killian's favorite place to curl up with her. "This sucks," She groans, trying to get comfortable with all the extra space she's now unaccustomed to.
"You want to talk about it?" Elsa asks gently, blowing gently on the mug of tea in her hands, "How do you feel?"
"Like it sucks." Emma grumbles ineloquently, "Everything sucks."
"Well, I hate to say it, but I've been holding out on you."
"You what?" Emma narrows her eyes at Will.
"Hold on to your knickers-," Will reaches into his bag sitting next to the couch, rummaging around until he pulls out a bottle of rum, "Ah, here we are." He says brightly, brandishing it proudly.
'You got that from Killian's room in the hospital!" Elsa gasps, "Thief."
Will bats her hand away, leaning away as Elsa reaches for it. "I borrowed it. I'll replace it."
Emma just gives him a look.
"Okay, no I won't, but it's hardly the best bottle that's been gifted to him and I daresay we need it more than Jones does right now."
"Killian's going to kill you for stealing his liquor." Emma says matter-of-factly, watching Will lean precariously over the edge of the couch as Elsa all but drapes her body over his after setting her mug down to grab for the bottle.
"Well, he's going to have to wake his ass up if he wants to do that." Will quips darkly. Emma presses her lips together before extending her arm and closing a hand around the bottom of the bottle.
"Oh, give it here."
Elsa and Will freeze, watching as Emma savagely breaks the seal and untwists the cap before taking a long pull. It's somewhat refreshing the way it burns going down, warming her belly and she passes it over to Will who accepts it and takes a drink as well. He's right, this definitely isn't one of the nicer bottles that have been left at Killian's bedside, but it suits their purposes tonight.
Elsa hesitates when Will offers her the bottle and he rolls his eyes. "I know it's not champagne, sweetheart. Work with us here." Elsa glares at him and snatches the bottle from his fingers, bringing the bottle to her lips, casting one more hesitant look at Emma.
"Come on, Els. We've been so good up to this point. Old Will and Emma would have been hammered at this point. Let us have this. We need this." Will smirks at her, no doubt remembering the days before Killian and Elsa came to town, when they used to pass bottles snuck from her father's liquor cabinet back and forth, helping each other cope through life's ups and downs through witty banter and cheap whiskey.
"Killian would want you to have a drink on him," Will goads, "It's the new year, we have to ingest something. It'd be a bloody shame not to."
"God," Elsa splutters, swallowing quickly and handing the bottle back to Emma's waiting hand.
"Yeah, it's good stuff." Emma takes a longer pull, chasing that spicy warmth that maybe if she drinks enough, will soothe her into a sort of numb oblivion that might actually allow her some sanctuary from her torturous thoughts as she lays in the dark alone tonight. Deep down though, she knows all it will bring is a few hours' peace and a shitty hangover that will last even longer.
Rum's always tasted better from Killian's lips anyway.
-/-
"I feel extra lonely today." Emma smoothes Killian's hair away from his forehead. "You know, I came out of our room this morning and found Elsa passed out with her head on Will's shoulder this morning? I'm pretty sure Will was awake too, and just let me slip out because he didn't want to wake Elsa. It was cute. So I guess you were right." She straightens the shoulder of his blue and white hospital gown and lets her hand travel down his arm to twine her fingers with his in the way she knows won't mess with his IVs. "I'm not giving up on you, Killian Jones. I don't care how long it takes for you to wake up, I'm going to be here every day, waiting for you. I'm choosing hope, just please, don't you dare die on me." She tells him before laying her head down next to his shoulder and lets the familiar feeling of his calloused fingers against her skin and the constant beeps and hissing of the machines sustaining his life lull her to the sleep she never got last night.
In a way, she thinks Killian's team of doctors and nurses also regard her as one of their patients. It's the only reason that explains why they allow Emma to hang around all day. This way, they can keep an eye out for her, making sure she eats and sleeps. It must be why no one is allowed to visit during certain hours and why they run all the visitors by Emma first- to make sure she gets adequate rest.
The nurses and residents always willingly work around her and Emma does her best to keep out of their way, leaving to use the restroom when they come in to do tests, sitting back in the corner as they monitor vitals. She thinks maybe having her father die in this hospital under the care of the same team might have something to do with it, but even if that's the case, she'll take the extra consideration it gets her in this instance.
"You bleedin' bastard." Will paces at the foot of Killian's bed and Emma's eyes follow him dully as her head lays next to Killian's hand, "You had to be the one to run up the stairs first. Noble hero. And look where it got you."
"Will." Emma mumbles, trying to sound stern, but she feels so drained and she knows his agitation can't be stopped. Her fingers wrap around the ring, tracing the pattern like she's done millions of times in the past few days. It's been a particularly long day, starting with Archie coming by at her mother's behest, to the residents starting to get a resigned look in their eyes whenever they come into the room. Even Henry's storytelling voice lost some of its pep today.
Will stops suddenly, gripping the bed rail as he leans his weight on his arms and stares at Killian, chest heaving with angry breaths.
"He's a fighter, Nolan." Will says, eyes still glaring at Killian, "And if there's one thing I know to be true in this world, it's that he will fight for you."
"For us." Emma corrects, turning her head to loop up at Killian.
"Mostly for you. I can't give him sex. He can't get enough of you. Me on the other hand, I think this coma is a welcome break from me."
Emma laughs a little because she knows it's true. She's been woken up enough times in the middle of the night by his desire to have her again to know he's insatiable when it comes to her, and it's the same for her with him. It doesn't matter if one of them has an early morning or if both of them do; he never fails to take her breath away whether he takes her with slow and languorous thrusts or if it's a quick and dirty tumble. And every time ever, he always regards her with a look of awe in his eye and a sweet smile as if he still can't believe she is his and he is hers.
It's always in those stolen moments in the dead of night that she feels most cherished.
"You're my everything too, Killian." Emma says, remembering his words from their first fight.
"Bet you're real happy I brought him in for a slice of cherry pie all those months ago, hm?"
"Shut up, Scarlet." Emma lifts her head to look at Will. "Do you believe in True Love's Kiss?" She asks, instantly cringing at her own words, but Will doesn't tease.
"I believe in whatever the hell will wake him up." He says gruffly. "But don't let Elsa hear you saying those words, she'll start crying again."
"Crying? Again?" Emma doesn't remember Elsa ever crying, though last night, there was a faint sniffling that she thought she was imagining.
"Forget it. I'll give you two a minute." Will says, spotting the nurse who's likely come to tell them visiting hours are over.
When the door closes behind him, Emma stands, running her fingers through Killian's hair, "Here goes nothing. This should tell you how desperate I'm getting for you to wake up." She mutters and leans down as close as she can get to his lips, brushing a kiss to the corner of his mouth.
She lingers there, but there's no burst of white light, no gasping breath, no magical force. Just the steady beeping that's been the background of her life for the past week.
"Well, can't say I didn't try. See you tomorrow, Jones." With one last look at Killian, she sighs, giving his fingers a squeeze and leaves for the night.
-/-
"You're not supposed to be here."
"I know."
"Does Will know you're here?"
"No."
"I'm going to call him."
"Good luck getting him to answer. He's passed out on my couch."
Ashley crosses her arms, giving Emma a fierce look while Jaq looks on.
"Archie said I should start getting back to my normal routine. Just one pie. I just need to bake. Please."
Jaq shrugs and moves to unlock the diner door and Ashley relents, "Fine. One pie. But you stay in the kitchen where no one can see you."
"Deal." Emma promises, following them into the diner. Emma starts pulling out the ingredients she needs as if on autopilot while Jaq and Ashely set about opening up for the day. It feels really good to be back in there, kneading out the dough, working through the familiar motions, the smell of melted butter and sugar calming her.
"Cherry, huh? You haven't made that in a while." Ahsley comments, looking over Emma's shoulder.
"Oh," Emma looks down, "I guess I just had a craving for it."
"You know, that will keep pretty well in the freezer for a few days. I can pop it in there for you once it's done." Ashely offers.
"Um, yeah that would be great, Ash. Thanks."
"He's going to wake up, Emma. I've seen the way he looks at you and there's no way in hell he would leave you behind. Not if he has any say about it. It's just who he is." Ashley tells her seriously and Emma nods mutely.
"Right. I know."
"Now go, if you leave now, you'll make it just as they're opening up. I'll be by with lunch later." Ashley promises and Emma smiles. Ashley's always been one of Emma's biggest silent supporters, ever since Emma had her back during Ashley's teen pregnancy.
She's barely inside the hospital doors when she's ambushed by Elsa.
"There you are! I've been looking for you."
"I was at the diner. Baking." Emma explains as they get on the elevator.
"Oh." Elsa scrutinizes her, "You look… better."
Emma shrugs as the elevator dings and the door slides open, "It was kind of therapeutic. I got all my anger out on the dough so I don't have to yell at Killian the way Will does."
"Will yelled at Killian?" Elsa asks, concern lacing her tone, but Emma waves it off as they approach the nurse's station which is curiously empty. Elsa picks up the clipboard to sign themselves in.
"Yeah, I think he was trying out the touch love thing. Not quite sure it worked, but-,"
"Emma?"
She freezes, eyes widening because that voice.
It can't be.
"Emma, hey."
She turns slowly to meet crinkled eyes, facial hair that is almost long enough to be considered a beard and her blood runs cold.
"What the hell are you doing here, Neal?"
"Neal?" Elsa gasps, heading turning between them and he shuffles on his feet, reaching out a hand to shake as he introduces himself to Elsa.
"Actually, I don't want to hear it." Emma snaps, turning on her heel.
"Emma," Neal and Elsa call out but all she can think is run run run.
A nurse intercepts her in the hall, smiling brightly, "Oh, Miss Nolan, there you are. I was just about to-,"
"I'm sorry, can it wait?" Emma asks, suddenly feeling lightheaded. "I just need a minute-,"
"Are you okay-?"
Emma brushes past her with another muttered apology and rushes inside Killian's room, struggling to get out of her coat because it's too hot and she can't breathe-
"Hey, beautiful."