-E-
Regina picks Henry up promptly at one and offers to drop their completed cards in the mailbox downstairs, but before they leave, she warns Emma and Killian that she heard talk about people wanting to throw Killian a party at one of the diners to celebrate his recovery. Meaning Mary Margaret is planning on hosting a big town gathering and Killian her excuse for going all-out.
"Don't be too flattered. People just love a chance to make a big deal out of anything that happens in this town." Regina pauses, her cynical tone fading as she contemplates the words that just came out of her mouth, "Not that your magical awakening isn't a big deal. It's great."
Emma laughs looking between Killian's touched and awestruck expression and Regina's bored one.
"In fact, if Aurora does finally go into labor this week, they might try to declare it a 'Hospital Discharge' party and invite Gold as well."
"Or they can celebrate it as 'Homecoming' and honor Neal as well." Emma can't help but add, ignoring the look Killian shoots her.
"You know, I don't really see that happening." Regina says dryly. "Call your mother by the way. I've been running interference as much as I can, but she's simply beside herself with all this news about Neal being back in town with a fiance."
Emma groans, leaning her forehead on the door jamb, "I'll call her this afternoon."
The Mills leave with a final goodbye and Emma slumps back into the apartment, dreading the upcoming conversation with her mother. She reaches for the miscellaneous card pile again, shuffling through it one last time, delaying the speech her mother has likely prepared for her.
"Swan?" Killian holds up her vibrating phone. "You mother."
"God, how does she know?" Emma gasps, leaning forward to take it, pecking him on the cheek. "Be right back." She says before leaving to take the call in the bedroom.
Mary Margaret barely gives her a chance to say hello before she starts launching into a series of questions about Killian's recovery and then fluidly switching to the topic of Neal and his fiance.
"Mom, it's fine, you know. There's no need to create a fuss. He's back and he apologized and he seems genuinely guilty about the whole thing. I want to move forward, not get caught in the past." Emma tells her patiently.
"So you forgive him?"
Emma hesitates, "I don't know. What he did was shitty but I really don't want drama. Killian makes me so happy, Mom. Let's just focus on that."
If only the rest of the town would get that memo too.
"Okay, honey. Let's talk about the party- I know Regina already warned you about it." Mary Margaret spends another fifteen minutes going on about her plans, adding that Aurora just went into labor this morning so they might include her in the festivities if she's up to it. (Emma really shouldn't be so surprised that Mary Margaret has the drop on everything that goes on in their town with how well-connected she is).
Finally, her mother's chattering slows and she asks one last important question.
"Emma, how are you?"
"I'm…" Fine. Happy Killian is home. Excited for things to get back to normal. "Coping."
"I know it's hard, seeing him injured in the line of duty. And all this talk about the arsons…"
"You heard about that?"
Of course she heard about that. She runs a diner situated across the firehouse with the primary purpose of serving firefighters.
"Nevermind, Mom."
"Okay, well I'll see you both for dinner in a couple days? We can talk more about the party if you'd like. And say 'hi' to Killian for me."
"Sure, Mom. Bye."
Outside in the kitchen, Killian's also ending a call of his own, a thoughtful look on his face as he turns to face her.
"I think I'm ready for a nap right about now." Emma sighs, walking over to him at the kitchen table and looping an arm around his front, leaning down to rest her cheek next to his smooth one. "Wanna join me, Lieutenant?"
"That sounds delightful, love. But first," Killian gently pries Emma's arm away from him, tugging so she's positioned to sit down next to him. "I need to speak with you about something."
"Okay, that doesn't sound ominous at all." She sits, her hand still clasped in his and tries to wait patiently as he gathers his thoughts, thumb absently drawing circles in her skin.
"You know that I have a will drawn up in case anything should ever happen to me?"
Emma shifts in her seat because this is not the type of conversation she wants to be having right now, but she nods mutely anyway, sensing this is something Killian needs to get off his chest.
"Well, I wanted to begin moving the management of my affairs here to the States, and Will gave me the name of the firm your father recommended."
She nods again, remembering the late night many years ago when Will sat at their kitchen table with her dad, pouring over documents. It had been the second time David had brought his newest recruit home with him for dinner and Emma had just started getting to know Will as a friend rather than another one of her dad's co-workers.
"I had planned on using the same firm, but my situation is a little different than Will's. With Liam's money and the family assets." His hand leaves hers briefly to scratch behind his ear, traveling down his jaw to rub his chin. "So I, uh, asked Regina about it at Christmas and she gave me a number of a financial planner. Because I've been thinking- that is, since I brought it up during that fight-,"
"Killian," Emma laughs lightly and hopes it doesn't sound quite as nervous as she's feeling, "Just say it."
He draws a breath, his hand meeting Emma's halfway as they tangle their fingers together, "What I'm trying to get at is, I've been exploring the idea of actively investing the money sitting idly in my bank and I wanted to make more specific designations regarding those assets in my will. Especially after everything that has happened. And your aunt convinced me it was better to tell you now rather than learn everything unexpectedly in the worst circumstance. Emma, I'm planning to leave those investments to you and your future should anything ever happen to me."
Her hand drops from his as she unconsciously recoils from him but Killian seems to have expected this, reaching out for her before she can get too far without missing a beat.
"I…" Emma's mouth opens and closes uselessly until she finally finds her voice again, "You can't do that. You've only known me for less than half a year." She gets up suddenly, the chair skidding back at the movement.
"Don't be alarmed, love." Killian soothes, "I truly wasn't planning on mentioning it until much later but your aunt convinced me otherwise. And I think we've learned this past week that it's better to just be prepared. Look," He rests his elbow on his knee, hand outstretched in supplication, "Right now, it just states you have control over the assets- whether you want to own them, spend them, give it away, whatever you want. Swan, you know me better than anyone else in my life. I'm loath to burden you with this-," Killian stands suddenly, stopping her pacing as he lightly brushes his fingers against the side of her arm, "Chances are, you'll never have to make any decisions."
"Right," Emma nods, laughing in a way that sounds almost deranged, "Just like when you were in a coma and the doctors practically granted me power of attorney or whatever the term is for medical decisions regarding your life?"
"Emma," He closes the distance between them, pulling her securely to his chest and she brings her arms around him as well, fingers digging into his shoulder blades as she rests her cheek against his, "I chose you to make these decisions because I trust you and know you have a strong army of supporters to help you, should you need it. And because I love you. More than anything."
She laughs, less nervously this time as the sway in place in the middle of the kitchen. "Are you sure?" She whispers, insecurity clouding her tone.
"Yes." He says firmly, his jaw moving against her cheek, "Now, any other worries you'd like to get out in the open right now? Because I really, desperately just need to kiss you right now."
"Whoa, whoa, wait-," Emma laughs as Killian pulls back from their embrace, ducking his head to chase after her lips even as she places her hands on his chest, "Are there papers we have to sign or anything…?"
"No." His eyes crinkle adoringly at her, "I just wanted you to know, that's all. Well, and also show you my devotion to you and our future in the most roundabout and bureaucratic way possible." He adds with a wink and tilt of his head.
Emma can't but laugh into his kiss.
-/-
"You alright, love?"
He's giving her that look again, like he knows her better than she knows herself and Emma blinks back at him, forcing a smile to her lips.
"Yeah, fine."
Killian studies her a little longer and unbuckles his seatbelt. "You're worried you'll see Neal?"
"I…" Emma ponders this, but the answer is quickly apparent. "No." She says resolutely, "I think I'm just a little sick of the hospital." She confesses.
"Maybe you don't need to come in." Killian suggests slowly, but Emma shoots down that notion quickly.
"No, I want to. I want to be there for you."
Killian nods, though his eyes don't shine as brightly as usual, "Better get going then. Bad form to be late for the people who saved my life."
It doesn't take long until they find themselves seated in an exam room, waiting for the doctors to come in and when Emma helps Killian remove his coat, her fingers brush along his tense shoulders, but she doesn't say anything. She's on edge too, and in the past few days, after the revelry of having him awake and at home has begun to wear off, a newer mood has set in, one of anticipation and unspoken fears regarding Killian's hand. Today is one of the many appointments lined up with the intention of inspecting his recovery so they can begin mapping the road to restoring his hand function.
Merryweather comes in and starts going through a series of questions, inspecting his incision sites and asking about his pain and sleeping patterns.
"Uh, the weird dreams have stopped somewhat but that might also be because Emma likes to wake me up randomly in the middle of the night." Killian replies, raising an eyebrow at Emma. She blushes, looking away and feigning interest in the nervous system poster taped to the wall opposite them. She's been trying to refrain from doing so lately, but sometimes in the dead of night, watching his chest rise and fall beside her, she still gets that paralyzing fear that she'll never see his eyes again, that he won't respond to her calls. Sometimes, she's able to reassure herself by snuggling closer and feeling his arm tighten around her. Other times, she's unable to garner any sort of reaction from him and while it didn't used to bother her before and she knows logically that it's because of his meds, she can't sleep until she makes certain he's capable of waking up and hasn't fallen back into an eternal slumber.
"Hm. Well, we're going to take some more pictures, see where we are and we'll discuss your PT and recovery plan once we get the results back." Merryweather announces, pulling off her gloves. "It could take some time and radiology will also need some time after to analyze your scans."
"Darling, perhaps you should go run those errands while you wait." Killian suggests, turning to Emma.
"Are you sure?"
Killian flashes her a picture-perfect smile, "'Course, love."
Dr. Merryweather catches her eye, "He's in good hands here. We should be done around noon and then we'll meet again to go over the results."
Emma turns back to Killian, still uneasy about leaving.
"I'll call you once I'm done with the scans and waiting to meet with the doc again," Killian promises, smiling more reassuringly as he leans in to kiss her cheek chastely.
"Okay, well tell me if you think of anything else we need from the store." Emma tells him before getting up and gathering her things, receiving another reassuring smile from Killian when she glances back over her shoulder as she leaves.
Emma makes relatively good time running up and down Main Street, picking up supplies for her mother before getting flowers from Mo to bring to her father. She's glad when she gets to the cemetery that the groundskeeper has removed the flowers from last week, so she doesn't have to stare at whatever bouquet Neal bought.
But that relief quickly fades when she makes her last stop outside her mother's diner and runs into Tamara and Neal. Quite literally. She's fumbling over the party supplies weighing down her arms and they must have been too absorbed in each other to see her coming and now there's streamers littering the ground and cute baby motifs in the snowbank.
"Oh God, I'm so sorry-,"
"Here. It's alright, we should have seen you there." Tamara says kindly, handing the blue streamers back. Neal carefully brushes off the pack of balloons and places it in Emma's outstretched hand.
"Do you need some help?"
"No, no I was just making sure I had my keys." Emma tells them, watching as Neal consciously tries to keep a respectable distance between him and Tamara, as though his arm wasn't just hanging around her shoulders for the world to see. Annoyance begins prickling at the back of Emma's neck. This is exactly the kind of awkward formality she was hoping to avoid.
"Is this all from the diner?" Tamara asks in that blithely friendly manner of hers.
"Um, yeah. We're having a party for Aurora and Killian. Kind of a 'congratulations you're out of the hospital' type of thing."
"Oh, Aurora had her baby? Hey, how's Killian?" Neal asks in quick succession, rocking forward on his heels.
Emma bites the inside of her cheek to keep from seething, "Good, he's great. He's actually at his post-op appointment and I'm supposed to meet him after I drop this off…"
"Oh." Neal pauses, then it seems to dawn on him, "Oh, right. Don't let us keep you then."
Emma offers a tight-lipped smile as she steps around them, then at the last second, turns and calls out, "You guys should come."
Oh God, what am I doing.?
"Uh, you know, bring Belle if she's willing to leave your father's side. Practically the whole town is coming, so…" She trails off, her cheeks burning despite the bitter cold.
"Sure. We'd love to come by." Tamar says finally when Neal just stands there awkwardly, mouth moving with silent words only he can hear.
"Great. Tomorrow at 7." Emma tells them before spinning back around on her heel, miraculously not slipping on the sidewalk.
Smooth moves, Nolan.
-/-
"Hello, darling." Killian stands from the cafeteria table to greet her, seemingly back to his usual self as he takes the brown paper bag from her hands and presses a warm kiss to her still cold cheek. "You alright?" He asks, scrutinizing her as he helps her out of her coat.
"Yeah," Emma says breathlessly, unwinding her red scarf from around her neck, "I, uh might've invited Neal to your party." She says with a wince.
Killian pauses in unpacking their lunch and glances at her, "Is that what you want?"
"Is it what you want?" She parrots back slowly, watching him closely.
He shrugs, resuming his task, "I don't mind as long as you don't. It'll be good to meet him in a public setting where I won't be tempted to land a well-deserving punch to his face. Plus, I know you'd never leave a dashing rapscallion such as meself for the likes of him. I just promised you my entire life's savings."
Emma rolls her eyes at his cheeky grin and shoves his good arm with half the force she would normally dole out. "Shut up and eat your lunch, Jones."
Her nerves start to flare up again as they wait for Merryweather to come back with the scans and Killian sits with his elbow propped on his knee, fingers pressed to his mouth, clearly lost in his own thoughts. His career- his lifestyle- rests in the results of his recovery and Emma doesn't know what to say in the face of that.
The door opens and they both straighten up expectantly, analyzing the doctor's face for any hint of the news she's about to deliver.
They walk out of the appointment in almost complete silence, bundling up for the cold in the hospital lobby without exchanging a word.
Emma finally speaks first, trying to be as optimistic as she can. "80% is good." She says as they walk out the doors, struggling to grasp the other end of her scarf lost somewhere on her back.
"Aye." Killian gently brings it down over her shoulder, smoothing it against the front of her coat, his eyes following the movement of his hand.
"It could be more," Emma babbles on when Killian doesn't say anything further, "If we choose to see the best-," They reach the car, shuffling inside quickly and then it's silent again. But all Emma can hear in her head is nerve damage, traumatic injury, additional surgery.
"Killian?"
He turns to her, smiling emptily, "Let's just go home, lass."
-/-
Killian spends the rest of the afternoon holed up in their bedroom and Emma pretends she doesn't see him bring the case file in with him as she reads on the couch. She finally drags herself off the couch an hour before they're due at her mother's for dinner, unraveling herself from the sanctuary of the blankets she's made to ward off the stifling silence between them.
"Killian?" She's unsure if she should knock, so Emma settles for simply letting the door creak open as an indication that she's coming in, "Are you coming tonight for dinner?"
He looks up from where he's been pacing next to the bed, his face expressionless, "Perhaps not tonight, Swan."
"Okay," Emma edges into the room, taking a seat on the bed carefully so she doesn't disturb the meticulous layout of documents and photos on the bed.
"You should go," He says, stepping around the bed carefully so she doesn't disturb the documents and photos on the bed, "I'll be fine. Go have dinner with your family."
"Will is going to be there." Emma points out and he smiles somewhat forlornly.
"All the same, love. I think I just need a quiet night in to just… process things." Killian squeezes her knee lightly, "Pass on my apologies to your mother for me, would you?" He says with finality, leaning over to kiss the top of her head before getting up off the bed.
"Sure." Emma says a beat too late, trying not to feel hurt at his dismissal, "You know what? I think I might just leave now and go help my mom set up or something." She gets up quickly, and pauses at the door. "There's still casserole in the fridge for when you get hungry." She adds before walking out.
Emma's pulling out of the parking garage when she realizes that she doesn't particularly want to go to the manor early. So she makes a beeline for Elsa's shop instead, parking on the street before bursting into the ice cream parlor that's thankfully empty.
"Emma! Something wrong?" Elsa asks once she catches sight of her friend's distress.
"I don't want to talk about it."
Elsa nods slowly before springing into action, "Well, here. Have some." She says, filling a cup with half a scoop of salted caramel swirl.
"How did you know?" Emma says in wonder, following Elsa to the back.
"Your face has 'distraught over Killian' written all over it." Elsa explains wisely, "How is he?" She asks sympathetically.
Emma shrugs, licking her spoon slowly.
"How are you?'
She shrugs again, looking away from her friend.
"He loves you, Emma. So much. Even if it's hard for him to show it right now. He only wants the best for you and right now, he's not feeling at his best."
"Now you're an expert on Killian?" Emma mutters, watching as Elsa resumes her task of slicing strawberries.
"I am an expert on the way Killian looks at you. Like you hung the moon and the stars in the sky and created the whole galaxy alongside it." Elsa shakes her head, smiling to herself as she halves the berries, "It's been in his eyes since that first day I walked into your diner. Like he worships you as if you were the creator of his stupid rum."
Emma laughs a little at that, making a note to herself to share this with Killian later, the thought sobering her up once again.
"Despite his charming pirate persona, I think all Killian wants is to settle down with you. Start a family, buy a house. But with the arson and his hand… That future looks a little different now. And he's going to have to learn to adjust to that and accept it for himself." Elsa sets down the knife and looks squarely up at Emma, "He's running and you can't let him outrun you."
Emma spends most of the dinner dodging questions from her mother and avoiding Will's concerned looks. It's exhausting, really, trying to act like everything is okay when all she wants to do is run home and scream into a pillow and then call Elsa to talk her through everything again. And hopefully get Killian to acknowledge her at some point.
It's Regina who saves her, sending Emma off with a still-warm apple turnover to bring to Killian, effectively dismissing her early from the dinner party and Emma's never been so happy to have an aunt who can be just as unenthusiastic about most family gatherings as she is.
Killian's already in bed, lying on his side (a newly approved position as of today's appointment) when Emma gets back, so she creeps around the bedroom as quietly as possible, getting ready for bed by the dim light spilling in from the living room. She's ready to end this day.
Killian doesn't move the entire time she's in the room, so it isn't until she slides under the covers and moves closer to him that Emma realizes his breathing is too fast for someone sleeping.
"I love you," She whispers, hooking her chin over his shoulder and pressing her cheek to the side of his face.
"I love you too, Swan." He murmurs back in a clear voice that tells her he hasn't fallen asleep yet.
Emma runs her fingers lightly over his bicep, grateful (not for the first time) that he still prefers to sleep shirtless even in the winter. "Regina made me bring back a turnover for you."
Killian catches her hand and brings it under his bad arm to rest on his chest, where her fingers spread almost automatically to weave into the dark hair there.
"The future is nothing to be afraid of," She whispers quietly, almost so quietly he could convincingly pass off not having heard her. Instead, she feels his chest rise and fall under her hand as he sighs.
"Elsa told me… she told me you look at me as if I were the creator of rum."
He chuckles quietly and she marks that as a victory. "What's that supposed to mean?"
"That you love me a lot."
"She's not wrong." His good hand reaches over and rests atop her hand and they lay there for a while in silence.
"It was always Liam's dream for us to become a firefighter." Killian says finally, breaking the silence.
How will I fulfill that dream with a bum hand? Is the unspoken thought that sits heavy between them.
"What's your dream?" Emma asks softly, tensing as she waits for his answer.
"Don't you know, Emma? It's you." Killian cranes his neck, capturing her lips with his in a tender kiss.
"White picket fences." She whispers against his mouth, tears prickling in her eyes.
"Aye." He nods slowly.
"We'll get there." Emma says, just as much for her own benefit as his. Killian turns back to rest his head in a more comfortable position on his pillow and eventually, they drift off into sleep together.
-/-
"Urgh, I hate these tights. They always get so linty."
"Come on, Swan. Let's get a look, then." Killian calls from the bathroom and Emma steps inside, straightening the skirt of her white sweater dress against the static cling of her wool tights.
"Oh well, that's much better than the dingy old sweatshirts and sweatpants you've been wearing this past week."
Emma shoves his shoulder lightly. "Shut up. Those were your old sweatshirts, by the way." She hums appreciatively at his bare chest as he rubs aftershave on his neck, "Let me get a look at you." She commands, tugging on his elbow until he turns away from the mirror.
Killian lifts a brow, "You sure you want to do that? Because between the arson and hospital, I kind of got the handsome knocked out of me."
She runs her hands up his torso, lingering slightly as her fingers map out his healing incisions and bruises. "Nothing's that powerful. Besides, scars are sexy." Emma leans in and presses a kiss to his chest, causing Killian to groan as his hands land on her waist, squeezing tightly for a second.
"Bloody hell, Swan. It's terrible form and just downright unkind to tempt a man who's been banned from sex."
"Doctor's orders, not mine." Emma quips, extracting herself from his arms, "Hurry up or we'll be late!" She grins at his pouting face, tossing his shirt at him.
The party is well underway by the time they finally arrive, walking in the doors of the firehouse diner to a chorus of uncoordinated cheers. Still, Killian is beaming from ear to ear as he hugs Emma close to his side while a flock of their friends and family surge forward to take turns greeting them.
Emma makes sure to give Leroy the lowdown of Killian's recovery process first, hoping that by the time they break free from the initial crowd, the unofficial town crier will have spread the word so Killian is continuously flooded with the same questions. Aside from the regulars at Emma and Ruby's diner as well as any townspeople whose calls Killian might have responded to, he's still largely unfamiliar with most of the town, so Emma hangs by his side, whispering introductions in his ear as everyone gets their few minutes of the famous Lieutenant Jones' time.
Eventually, Emma and Killian fight their way to where Aurora and Philip are seated in the large booth and people back away so they can meet the baby in peace.
"He's adorable." Emma smiles at Aurora who is glowing despite the dark circles under her eyes.
"Congratulations on a beautiful lad." Kilian chimes in, "What's the babe's name?"
"Philip III." Aurora says proudly. "Would you like to hold him?" She all but launches herself across the table to dump the precious bundle into Killian's good arm and Emma laughs at the befuddled and slightly panicked look on Killian's face.
"I've no idea what…"
"Here," Emma says, taking pity on him and adjusting the tiny bundle to fit more comfortably against his chest, nudging him to sit so he can support the baby in his lap. She pulls away and gulps because a hot fireman wearing a cozy sweater holding a baby? She swears all the women in the room swoon a little with her.
Plus, it's been a long time since they've had sex- quite possible the longest since they started dating and this beautiful image in front of her is stirring a very primal need within her.
Baby Philip starts to fuss a little in Killian's arms, just as his mother takes the opportunity to escape to use the restroom and the lieutenant looks up, the sweet expression on his face quickly morphing into horror as he looks around for help.
"Try a story." Granny suggests from the other side of the booth, "It's how they soothe themselves.
"Uh, okay. Ahem." Killian flounders for a second, and Emma smirks, content to let him suffer alone just for the hell of it until he clears his throat again and a smirk crosses his own face.
"Once upon a time, a devilishly handsome pirate set his eyes on a stunning Swan princess-,"
Emma snorts, "Really?"
"Shh, shush. It's storytime." Killian reprimands, casting a twinkly-eyed look of mirth at her. Emma resists rolling her eyes and lets him continue to tell a tale of two adventurers climbing a beanstalk to retrieve a magical object.
"Hey, that's like a story from my book!" Henry exclaims softy. Emma turns to see the boy hanging enthusiastically from the back of the connecting booth.
"Aye, lad. I thought I recalled you reading it to me."
"Oh Killian, Look. Your crew is here." Emma nods over to the bbar and Philip reaches out to take the baby from him.
"Be back in a mo,'" Killian is off with a press of lips to Emma's hair, leaving her staring dreamily after him.
"My, Emma. You look so smitten." Ashley remarks as she walks up with Alexandra in her arms.
Aurora laughs, sliding back into the booth beside her husband, "Never thought I'd see the day."
"Maybe Emma will get her fairytale ending after all." Ashley smiles a bittersweet smile that Emma returns. Having gone to school with Emma since kindergarten, both girls have seen Emma through all the ups and downs in her life, even despite them drifting apart at times.
"Do you want to hold him?" Philip asks and Emma nods eagerly, taking the baby from him.
"God, I can't believe you guys have kids now." Emma coos, stroking little Philip's nose. Ashley sets Alex down next to Emma and moves over to the other side of the booth to snap pictures with Aurora while Emma tries to coax the little toddler into looking at the camera.
"Geez, Jones, it's like you've never seen a baby before."
Emma looks up at Will's scornful tone but her eyes catch instead on Killian's face as he stands slack-jawed and frozen mid-step a couple feet from the table. There's two mugs of hot cocoa hooked in his fingers and a dazed look in his eye and Emma feels heat rushing up to her cheeks under his intense stare.
"I don't think it's the baby so much as the woman holding the baby with the 2-year-old toddler climbing all over her." Ruby says dryly from behind Will and that seems to snap Killian out of whatever daydream he is having (she knows exactly which daydream he's having, she just had the same one).
"Hot cocoa for you, love." He says a little hoarsely, setting the mug a safe distance away on the table, "Can I… borrow you for a second?"
Emma has no choice but to nod as his eyes bear deep into hers, his tongue flickering out to wet the corner of his mouth. The children are quickly collected from Emma and the next thing she knows, Killian's got his hand wrapped tight around her wrist, practically dragging her down past the bathrooms until they reach the alcove by the back door.
"Kil-,"
His lips crash against hers, urging her lips to part so he can plunge his tongue into her mouth, curling around hers. It's nothing like the gentle kisses they've been trading this past week. It's got to hurt, though, the way he's crushing her against him, but God does she need this, especially as the hunger winds down into a more tender and lingering slide of lips, every nibble and trace of tongue speaking volumes to Emma about his hopes, wants and dreams.
And how they're exactly the same as hers.
Until Killian lets out a groan that's half pain and half pleasure and she wriggles out from his grasp to give his damaged body some reprieve, laughing while Killian looks down at her bruised lips ruefully, while rubbing his side and she rests her forehead on his shoulder, her own still shaking.
A/N: Thank you to AConfusedCrab for reminding me of the beloved "storytime" line which I made sure to write into this chapter! Keep sending in your thoughts & suggestions!