Author's note: Post finale tag. I don't think we got nearly enough payoff for all the angst, so I wrote this. (I also needed to get the creative juices flowing again after hellacious computer woes.) Just imagine Hyde is taking a couple of days to get settled in, no big threats as of yet. Enjoy!

Disclaimer: I sure as hell don't own these. If I did, they'd be on HBO.

The Future Is What You Make It

She meant to start slow.

Emma had all these grand ideas about how she wanted to ask him, at least she had before her pirate got sucked into a portal. Hell, she wasn't sure she needed to ask since they'd kinda sorta talked about it in Camelot. But still, she was trying something new. Talking about feelings, looking forward to the future. However, as they sat in the booth and she watched the way his eyes lit up every time he looked at her, Emma realized something.

She was so tired of slow.

She'd lost him to death more times than she cared to count. To Darkness. To Hades' sadistic whims. He'd nearly been trapped in an alternate realm. Again. If she waited for the perfect time, they'd both be old and gray given the way things went in this town. No, it was time to stop talking about the future and actually do something about it.

When her father went back to the counter to get more drinks, Emma tugged on Killian's jacket. "What is it?"

"What would you say to getting the hell out of here?"

He smirked at her, something she'd missed without realizing it. When had he stopped being the flirtatious pirate? She wanted that guy back, along with her adoring boyfriend. "Should we say our good nights, love?"

"I'm game if you are, Captain."

His blue eyes shone and he nodded. Emma climbed from the booth, Killian right behind her. She gave her parents some bullshit excuse about being tired, made sure Henry would stay with Regina and held fast to Killian's hand as they left the diner. He was missing a ring; she hadn't noticed it before. There had been too much chaos in their reunion, then no time before commandeering Gold's car for the return trip. "What happened here?"

Killian shrugged. "To be honest, I'm not quite sure. Got into a scuffle with that Hyde fellow. Might have lost it then."

"You got into a scuffle with Mr. Hyde?"

"Do I detect a note of pride, Swan?" he asked with a grin.

"Did you kick his ass?"

"I'm wounded you have to ask." They'd made it to the Bug, which Killian didn't hesitate to trap her against. She smiled up at him, surprised at how good it felt to just be. She smoothed her hands up his chest; she really liked this new vest he had. His blue eyes darkened just a bit, her breathing hitched. The air grew thick around them; they were out in the open, right along Main Street, but they might as well have been in Oz or some other Godsforsaken place. Nothing mattered; they were finally alone. The tension snapped, Killian's lips slanting over hers and she sighed, fingers curling around his lapels. He didn't pick her up this time, but he did press hard against her so they were chest to chest, not a whisper of space between them.

It had been far too long since they kissed like this, like it was their only purpose in life.

Emma eventually had to breathe, heart pounding in her chest. It almost made her want to cry; she'd missed him that much. His lips brushed her cheeks, her brow, the tip of her nose. It was so tender and loving, despite his ragged breathing.

"Come home with me?" she asked, mostly into his neck.

"Of course." Going home meant letting go long enough to actually get in the car and drive there, which took them another minute to manage. But could anyone really blame them? They'd been through hell—literally—and couldn't bear the thought of wasting any more of time together. Time was precious.

Emma drove them to the house he'd chosen; it dawned on her this would be his first time there since they were Dark Ones. If Killian remembered, he didn't say anything. He merely took her hand when they got out of the car and allowed her to lead him inside. She hung her jacket by the door, prompting him to follow suit. Inexplicably, she was nervous, wondering what he was thinking.

"Much more sparse then the one down below."

Emma couldn't help it, a giggle burst out of her. "What? Of all the things, that is what you think of?"

"You didn't think it was odd that there was a bunch of nursery things in our living room?"

Her heart stuttered at the word "our." "I just assumed that was Hades trying to screw with me."

"You?"

Slowly, she nodded. "All that stuff? It was supposed to be mine. From my nursery in the Enchanted Forest."

Killian looked chagrined. "I'm sorry, love."

Emma reached for his hand and his hook. "Well, if I'd actually have gotten to use that nursery, we wouldn't be here right now. You'd be even more ancient."

"Oi!"

She squeezed his fingers, smiling at his reaction to her teasing. God, it felt so good to just tease him. "I told you once before that I was tired of living in the past. And I still am. After everything we've been through...don't you just want to move forward?"

His handsome face grew serious. "Very much. I'd follow you anywhere, Swan."

She smiled and allowed him to pull her into a hug. "Well, I was thinking more...alongside? Maybe...here?"

He chuckled, touched by her shyness. "Are you asking me to move in with you?"

"Isn't that why you and Henry picked this house?"

"Perhaps."

Emma rolled her eyes. "Yes or no?"

He spontaneously kissed her hair. "Are you sure? Especially with Henry..."

"We'll talk to him later. But I'm sure he'll be fine with it." Briefly, she explained what Henry had told her about his wish all those months ago in New York. The look on Killian's went from disbelief to blushing shyness to beaming happiness.

"Isn't that when you were with the monkey?"

Emma glared at him. "Are you ever gonna let that go?"

"Eventually." He tenderly tucked a lock of hair back into her ponytail. "Want to show me around? I only got to see a small portion of this place...before."

That was all the mention of their Darkness. Gold was MIA and no one wanted to know why or where he'd gone. Surely, he'd be back at some point, but they could worry about that later. Emma took his hand (she never got tired of the way their hands fit, the roughness of his palm in hers) and showed him around. They spent some time with the telescope; she had it pointed at the Jolly Roger. Killian got a kick out of that, offering to take her out the first chance they got. Since Emma was all about spending quality time with her pirate, she hoped her father could handle Sheriff's duties for a couple of days.

They worked their way upstairs; most of the rooms weren't furnished yet, but Emma pointed out the one she thought would be perfect for Henry. Killian smiled and nodded in agreement and Emma wondered if things would always be this easy.

"What are you thinking now?"

"That transparent, huh?"

"Well, you know, Swan..."

"Open book. Yeah, I got that." She guided him down the hall toward what she hoped would be their room. Despite his assurances, she was still a bit nervous. She'd never taken this step with a man before. "I just...I've never done this before. Lived with someone, I mean." She didn't think living out of a Bug counted.

Killian frowned. "We don't have to." It hurt because he wanted this more than anything. Waking up at her side, sharing a home? He wanted it so badly, but not if she wasn't ready.

"No, I want this. I really do. With you. You're the only person I've ever imagined...any of this with." Her teenage self imagined something else with someone else, but that had only ever been a fantasy. It took her a long time to accept that. Killian was who she truly loved.

"We'll take it one day at a time then." He pressed his lips to her temple then pushed open the door. She stepped inside and flipped on the light. The tall four poster bed sat in the middle of the far wall, covered in dark blue sheets with enormous gray pillows. Matching nightstands lay on either side; one of them had a reading lamp.

"I know you like to read," Emma said, chewing a little on her lip. "I thought it would be nice."

Killian hugged her tight, effectively shutting off her babbling. "I love you so much."

She smiled into his chest. It felt just as good to hear those words as it did to say them. "Love you too." She stood up on her toes, cupping his face. She pressed a chaste kiss to his lips, but he chased her. She didn't protest, quickly deepening the kiss. His hand slid under her sweater and she moaned; Jesus, how long had it been since he touched her? Made love to her? Far too long. "Bed?"

"Aye."

Slowly, they shuffled in that direction. Emma worked the buttons of his vest as his hand kept creeping higher under her sweater. Vest open, she turned her attention to his shirt even as his lips crept along her neck. "Oh."

"I've got you, lass."

"I know." Her legs hit the bed and she lost her balance. Killian caught her, steadying her. They took the moment to breathe, kick off their boots. Emma let out a playful shriek as Killian tackled her to the bed, settling between her thighs. "Hey sailor."

"I can't believe this is real."

Emma cocked her head, touching his cheek. "Make love to me? Maybe then we'll know." They always knew; they could feel each other across realms, through death. Zeus himself had sent Killian back to her. But they needed this. To feel in their bones the love and joy of simply being together.

"As you wish." Her little girl heart clenched; she really did have her own Westley. But her thoughts got disrupted by the sinful way Killian rolled his hips into hers, reminding her she had a very hot and very capable pirate in her bed. Their bed. She nudged him back to her, kissing him passionately, legs winding around his narrow waist.

Killian shivered, the possessive way she held him going right to his groin. He ground his hips into hers, cock hardening, denim rubbing. Emma's fingers tugged on his hair and he moaned into her mouth. "Bloody minx."

"Missed you," she breathed, offering her neck to him. He smirked and bent, relishing her needy sounds as he sucked a mark into her pale flesh. Emma began tugging on his shirt and vest, yanking them from his pants, eager to divest him of his clothing as quickly as possible.

"So impatient," he said against her throat. "We've all night, darling."

"I know, but..." She couldn't put into words how much she needed this. Needed him. To feel his skin under her fingertips, chest hair rubbing her nipples, his mouth and hook on her skin. She'd believed him lost to her forever and she needed to know this was real and not some cruel dream.

Killian looked into her green eyes, his heart breaking for the mixture of love, lust and latent fear he saw in hers. "I'm right here, Swan. Our second chance."

She nodded, blinking so she wouldn't start crying. He was so infinitely precious to her. "I don't want to waste it," she confessed. "Not like before. All those times I pushed you away, hurt you. I'm so sorry, Killian."

Killian rolled them on their sides, legs tangled together, his fingers gently caressing her face. "I love you, Emma Swan. No matter what you've done. Remember?" She nodded. "I think I've loved you from the moment we met. Believe me, all that heartache is worth it. It brought us here. Together in our home."

God, she didn't know what she'd done to earn his love, his forgiveness, but she silently vowed to do her very best to love him the way he deserved. She wasn't afraid anymore. Rather than answer, she sat up and stripped off her sweater and flicked open her bra. Killian's Adam's apple bobbed as she slowly bared herself to his sight. She shimmied out of her leggings, then ran her fingers under the waistband of her lacy black panties. She offered him a shy grin, slowly peeling them down her legs.

Killian moved, sitting on the edge of the bed, shirt and vest wrinkled and open, and held out his hand for her. She stepped into his open legs, sighing when his lips came into contact with her skin. He left a trail of wet open mouthed kisses over her belly, his hand re-memorizing her curves. His hook lay on her hip, its weight comforting. She'd never minded his hook, hardly noticed it most of the time; it was as much a part of him as his beautiful smile. She loved him exactly as he was.

Killian pulled her closer, hook sliding to her lower back. Emma moaned when his lips wrapped around her nipple, fingers sinking back into his hair. "Oh yes."

He wanted to take his time, relearn all her secrets, perhaps find a few new ones. He could spend another three hundred years worshipping her body and it wouldn't be enough. Emma helped him strip off his shirt and waistcoat, her hands splaying over his back. Killian turned his attention to her neglected breast, licking and sucking it to a hard point. Emma keened, more wetness pooling between her legs. "Killian...fuck, that's so good."

His hand slid between her thighs; he groaned at how slick she was. "You did miss me."

"Always." She tried to rub herself against his hand but he pulled it away. "Killian!"

"Hmm, I think I want our neighbors hearing you scream my name." He gave her breast one final lick before moving, up in a flash and putting her on her back. Emma couldn't help it, a happy giggle tumbled from her lips. She watched with bated breath as her pirate stripped off the last of his clothes, heart racing as he crawled over her in the bed. His lips crashed to hers, their long pent up desire breaking free. Emma reached between them and took him into her hand, pumping slowly. He was hard and smooth, precum leaking from the tip. She yearned to taste him, but needed him inside her more. She tried to guide him to her but he stubbornly made her wait.

"Bloody hell, Swan," he gasped, hips rocking to her hand.

"Don't want to wait," she pleaded. "Please. Need to feel you in me."

He was powerless to do anything but please her. He stopped fighting her and allowed her free reign. She positioned him at her entrance and gave him a short nod. Breathing deeply, Killian pushed forward, slowly sinking into her warm willing body. Emma's back arched, encouraging him to go deeper, to truly possess her. A long loud moan echoed in the room, his or hers neither knew. If felt so good to be with him again, feel his thickness inside her. Shivers broke out over her skin, the lights flickered.

"Emma?"

She shook her head. "It's okay...I just...God, I missed you so much." She canted her hips up, hoping to get him to move. Her eyes found his, need, love and concern warred in bottomless blue depths. "Please...I need..."

He nodded and started to move, taking her with long slow thrusts. Their lips met, Killian plundering her mouth, tongue and cock stroking her in the very best way, making her see stars. Her nails scraped down his back; Killian hissed but for once relished the sting. It meant that Emma was real, writhing under him, begging him for more and harder and don't stop. He couldn't describe how amazing she felt, walls tight around his girth.

Emma flipped them, using her considerable skills to keep him deep inside her. She encouraged him to touch her—with hand and hook—as she rode him, hands planted firmly on his chest. Killian planted his feet on the bed and met her halfway, drinking in her cries of pleasure. Her climax slammed into her without warning and she screamed. Killian furiously rubbed her clit, drawing out her high as long as possible.

She collapsed against his chest; it took her a few moments to realize he was still hard as a rock inside her. "Killian?"

He had to take several deep breaths to compose himself. "Don't want to let you go," he admitted, hips rocking slightly. "Gods."

Emma understood him completely. She slanted her mouth over his, encouraging him to continue. They rolled on their sides, Killian lifting her leg over his hip. He kept the same steady pace, looking deeply into her eyes, watching as he worked her up again. She was a marvel, his Swan. "That's it, love. Don't fight it."

She nodded, drawing his lips back to hers. "You feel so good inside me, Killian." She'd never been vocal in bed before she met him, but it was something he brought out in her. Nothing compared to this feeling.

"I feel it too." That connection they had, their True Love, it flowed between them, almost a tangible thing. He kissed her hard, hand sinking to her hair, cradling her head. Emma hitched her leg up, trying desperately to get closer...there was no such thing as too close. Not with him. Not anymore. She wanted to crawl into his skin and stay there, knowing he'd keep her heart safe.

Killian growled, losing control, thrusts becoming erratic. "Swan, I...so close."

Emma nodded, reaching down to flick her clit. They tumbled over the edge together, mouths fused together in a sloppy kiss. When it broke, they were both panting, clinging to each other for dear life. Killian pressed kisses to her damp skin, pure joy pumping through his veins.

"I love you," Emma whispered into his neck. Now that she wasn't afraid, she wanted to say those words as often as possible. Until he was sick of hearing them. She didn't want him to doubt her love for him, ever again.

"And I you, lass." He rubbed her back. "We should get you cleaned up."

"I'm fine right here."

He didn't listen, reluctantly letting her go to find something to clean them both up. Once he was satisfied she was clean, he shucked off his brace and returned to bed. Emma snuggled into him, sighing as his blunt arm curled around her. "Hmm, this is nice."

"Aye." These were the moments he wanted to etch into his memory, quiet ones with the woman he loved. "Should we invite Henry tomorrow? I imagine he'd like to see his room."

Emma smiled into his chest; she loved that he loved her kid. "Nah, he can wait another day or two. I think I want you all for myself."

He chuckled. "And what deviousness are you conjuring, Swan?"

"Well, I do have my cuffs around here somewhere."

"I knew you were into that."

"Maybe I just found the right person to try it with."

He kissed the crown of her head. "I don't care, as long as I can call you mine."

"I think we covered that with the True Love thing."

"I still can't believe you chose me."

"Of course I did. Just like you chose me with Nimue." Emma stroked the spot on his torso where she'd had to stab him. There was no mark, no sign. But she knew it was there.

A wave of regret washed over him. "I'm so sorry, Emma. For everything."

She shook her head. "We're here now. We've got a second chance."

"I'll do it right this time, love. I promise."

"Hey, you were doing pretty good before. Just...don't give up on me, okay?" She was ready to love him, to make this work, but she knew things would be far from smooth sailing.

"Never." He tipped her chin up and sealed their promise with a loving kiss. "Tired?"

"I should be. But I'm not. Is that weird?"

"I think I know exactly how you feel." Sleeping meant wasting precious moments with her. So they talked instead. Not about the past. But about the future. Moving Killian's things from the Jolly Roger, Henry splitting time between their home and Regina's. How her parents would react to them living together. Killian told stories of he and Liam in the Navy together. Emma told him about her friend Cleo, the meaning behind her leather jacket. As the sun started to come up, they finally drifted off to sleep.

Emma's phone rang, but no one answered it. A leery David knocked on the door, still no answer. Gently, Snow pulled him away, hiding a smile. Having nearly lost Charming a few times herself, Snow understood. They could keep Henry for a couple of days. Her daughter needed time with her pirate. Maybe she should talk to Gepetto about building them a housewarming gift. Decisions, decisions...