New York Christmas Serenade (pt. 4 of 4)
CS Genre: Canon Divergence (missing year between 3a and 3b)
"Hey Hook," Henry said from his spot at the kitchen table a week later. "Tonight's the big night! The moment of truth!"
Killian looked around in alarm, afraid Swan had overheard the lad's impetuous words.
"Don't worry," Henry said, noting the direction of his gaze. "She's not here. She had a quick bowl of cereal and then headed out after her latest skip. She said she had a really promising lead."
Killian nodded in relief. Tonight might be the moment of truth; the moment he took a chance; the moment he tested the lad's theory that Swan had feelings for him as well, but he wished to remain as circumspect as possible until the big moment.
One week prior, on Christmas Eve, Killian and Henry had remained awake long after Swan retired for the night.
"You remember, Henry?" Killian asked, as soon as Emma entered her bed chamber. "Truly?"
"Yeah!" Henry said. "I remember everything—Storybrooke, my other mom, Neverland, Pan's curse, everything! Killian how did you get to us?"
"Never mind the details, lad," Killian said, waving off the question he was not yet ready to answer. "Suffice it to say it's a wonder what one can accomplished when he is sufficiently motivated."
"And you wanted to get back to mom."
"In part," Killian said, "but I'm afraid there's a far more pressing concern. A curse."
"Again?" Henry asked, with a sigh. "Who cast it this time?"
Killian shrugged. "I've no idea. I…found myself separated from the group quite soon after our return to the Enchanted Forest. I've no idea what your grandparents and the others got mixed up in after I left."
"Then how did you know to come for us?"
"I received a missive, perhaps from your grandmother," Killian said. "I set about securing passage back to your realm the moment I read the news. I know nothing aside from the fact that the entire realm has once again been transported to Storybrooke. I can only assume the need for your mother's savior services is quite urgent."
"So let's wake mom up, tell her what's going on," Henry said. "We could be headed back to Storybrooke as soon as this snowstorm stops."
Killian shook his head. "I'm afraid it's not as simple as all that, Henry. What do you imagine would be your mother's reaction should I tell her she's the daughter of Snow White and Prince Charming and she must go back to a town called Storybrooke to break a curse, no doubt cast by a fairy tale villain?"
Henry grimaced. "Good point."
The two were silent for a moment, and then Henry brightened once again. "I know how you can make mom remember!" he said.
"Aye? What do you propose?"
"True Love's Kiss."
Killian sucked in a long breath. "Come again lad?"
"True Love's Kiss! It can break any curse. It's perfect! All you have to do is kiss her and she'll remember who she was," Henry said.
"Henry…" Killian began.
"No, really!" Henry said. "You love my mom, don't you?"
"Aye, more than you know, but at present your mother doesn't even know me, let alone love me."
"Well that's no problem," Henry said. "I think she was starting to have feelings for you back in Storybrooke. All you have to do is get her to fall in love with you again! We could call it…Operation Captain Swan!"
Was that all he must do?
Killian had to admit to more than a bit of skepticism in his ability to win Swan's heart in a short period of time, but as no other solution occurred to either of them, Killian finally agreed to the plan.
It was a two-pronged approach.
Over the ensuing week Henry and Killian worked in tandem to help Emma remember her true identity. It was little things—short vignettes from their true lives. Discussions of the storybook. Talk about home and family.
While this was occurring, Killian wooed Emma as tenderly as the most ardent lover—procuring her flowers and small trinkets, preparing her meals, giving her a listening ear, supporting her, praising her, spending quality time with her and Henry.
He was making headway; he knew he was. Sometimes he'd look up and find her gaze on him—happy, speculative, ardent. He knew that look. It was the look of someone falling in love.
Then, of course there was their sleeping arrangement. Killian had spent the first three nights on the couch in Swan's living quarters, but just after dinner on the evening of the fourth day, Emma approached him, her eyes looking anywhere but at him.
"Look, Killian," she'd said, after being sure that Henry was otherwise occupied, "I know that couch can't be comfortable. If you want, you can, you know, share my bed."
His eyes had widened in shock. Had she just suggested….?
"Just to sleep!" she quickly clarified. "I wasn't, you know, propositioning you. I just thought.." She shrugged. "I just thought there's plenty of room in my queen sized bed. If we each keep to our own side it doesn't have to be awkward."
Killian grinned slowly, ducked his chin and swaggered in her direction. "Oh I assure you, darling. There would be nothing awkward about it. If you wished to share your bed with me, you needn't use the excuse of my discomfort on your couch. You need only ask."
"Killian!" she growled.
He grinned and then sobered. "Thank you for your offer, Swan. I swear to be a perfect gentleman. I'm always a gentleman."
For a moment, Killian could swear Emma remembered the last time he'd uttered those words—at the top of the beanstalk where their story had begun, but then her eyes had cleared and she'd nodded. "Good," she said.
But despite her words about remaining separate, the next morning, Killian had woken with Emma in his arms, her head pillowed on his chest, her arms around him, her hair spilling over his arm.
It was pure bliss.
The next night when they retired for bed, Swan had made no mention of the arrangement—or any changes she wished for it. She'd merely lain on her side, reached for his hand and pulled his hand around her middle. He'd had the luxury of holding her through the night, this time with her full knowledge and desire.
Aye, Killian was making progress in fulfilling his vow to win her heart; there was no mistake about it, but his progress was far too slow.
"You need to make a big gesture," Henry finally said on the morning of New Year's Eve. "Really put all your cards out there. I've got the perfect idea."
"Aye? And what might that be?"
"A New Year's kiss!" Henry said. "It's a tradition here in our realm. People kiss each other just as it turns midnight on New Year's Day. The person you share your New Year's kiss with is supposed to be with you all year long. It's perfect."
Killian had put forth a token protest at first, but he couldn't deny the idea had merit. He knew his Swan. He knew that she was afraid to give her heart—but he knew she craved love and commitment even more. She held herself at a distance because she feared the people she allowed herself to care for would leave her. Perhaps if he bestowed this "New Year's kiss" on her, it would show her that he was in this for the long haul; that he would never willingly leave her.
Aye, tonight would be the night.
~c~s~c~s~c~s~c~s~c~s~
Emma settled on the sofa, pulled her legs up beneath her, and ducked under Killian's arm. It should scare her how comfortable she'd become with him, how much she'd opened up to him, how very close she was to giving her heart to him. It should terrify her and make her run as fast as she could in the opposite direction.
The thing was…it didn't scare her. Not at all. It simply felt right.
The room was bathed in darkness save for the twinkling lights on the Christmas tree, the light from the TV.
"So, I've been to Time's Square for the ball drop a time or two," Emma explained, "but, I don't know. It's overrated. It's so crowded you can barely move, and it's freezing…and then trying to get out of the crowd and go home afterward…just more of a headache than it's worth. Why go through all the trouble when I can just catch it from the comfort of my own living room?"
"I must admit," Killian said, shooting her a warm look. "I'd far prefer watching these events unfold here, with you in my arms than in that crush of humanity."
Emma felt her stomach swoop. It was uncanny how Killian Jones managed to say these things—that would sound like the worst of clichés if spoken by anyone else—and make her melt like a pile of goo at his feet. She caught his eye and held it for long moments—she had no idea how long, until Henry caught her attention.
"Hey guys!" he said, "pay attention! They're going to start the count down any second!"
"Ten! Nine! Eight! Seven! Six!..."
The excited crowd had just finished chanting "five" when Emma's entire world turned on its axis.
"Emma," Killian said softly, urgently, "I'm in love with you. I love you with everything within me. I'd like nothing better than to spend the remainder of the year, the remainder of my life with you."
And as the ball dropped amid the shouting crowd, Killian leaned over and joined his lips with hers. For a moment, Emma sat frozen, and then she was kissing him back, caressing his stubbled cheek, running a hand through his hair, moving so close she was nearly in his lap.
Emma felt the strangest energy bubble up within her, and suddenly it burst from her—burst from both of them, forming something resembling a rainbow colored shock wave.
Emma pulled away with a gasp, memories rushing in one after another. "Hook!" she said, finally. "I remember!"
On the other side of the room Henry cheered, pumping his fist in the air. "Yes!"
Beside her, Killian grinned. "Miss me?"
"What do you think?" Emma asked…just before kissing him so thoroughly Henry was soon making gagging sounds on his side of the room.
Over the next several years there would be plenty of curses to break, villains to defeat, even time to travel through, but during that night, that magical night when Emma and Killian shared True Love's Kiss, nothing could have dampened their spirits. With the magic of the night and the magic of their love, Emma knew whoever cast the latest curse didn't stand a chance.
Notes: Happy New Year! I hope you enjoyed this New Year's Eve version of New York City Serenade!
-Next week I'll start in on regular once-a-week Friday updates like normal. I'm not sure where I'm headed next, but I know it will be fluffy and it will be about CS!