Killian gazed at the ocean, a smile tugging at his mouth. He then released a breath as he climbed out of his truck.

He grabbed his leather jacket before he noticed blinking from the corner of his eye. As he shrugged it on, he wondered aloud, "What has she put together?"

He continued down to the beach – only to stop dead in his tracks, his eyes widening.

A checkered blanket lay over the sand. String lights hung between wooden poles, and soft music played from a radio.

Emma stood in the middle of the blanket, a picnic basket in her hand. She darted her eyes and shifted from one foot to the other.

With his eyes still wide – and his feet still glued to his spot – he questioned, "Swan - Emma - you did all this for me?"

She nodded. She then cleared her throat and said, "I just wanted to do something…to show you how much I…care."

She averted her eyes. He raised an eyebrow and tilted his head.

He then shook it and closed the distance between them. He placed his finger under her chin and tilted up her head.

"It's absolutely marvelous, love. I love it."

She smiled. She then pressed her lips to his, threading her fingers through his hair.

When they pulled away, they rested their foreheads together. He squeezed her waist and ran his fingers through her hair.

"Shall we eat now, love? I'm rather starved."

She picked up the basket from where she had dropped it. A blush rose to her cheeks.

Killian chuckled before he teased, "It's quite alright, love. I'm used to you being distracted by my dashing self."

She rolled her eyes and swatted his arm. He chuckled once more.

He then tapped the basket. "May I open it? I'm intrigued to see what you've made."

She gestured to the blanket as she suggested, "Let's sit first, okay?"

He nodded before the pair sat down. He reached for the basket and rested it in his lap. Once he opened it, he couldn't help but smile as his eyes found hers.

"Pizza? Very good choice, Swan."

She smiled back. She rested her chin in her hand as she offered, "I hope you like it. I wasn't sure about how much sauce or, uh, toppings to put on it, but I think it turned out okay."

Killian's eyes widened. The lid snapped shut from where he still held it.

"You made pizza from scratch?"

"Yeah," Emma replied. The smile she wore then faded, and she buried her face in her hands.

He placed the basket aside and moved onto his knees, cupping her face in his hands.

"Love, what's the matter?"

She pulled away and rose to her feet. She paced around and around, nearly running into the string lights.

Killian followed her, finally managing to stop in front of her.

"Emma, tell me what's wrong."

She raked her fingers through her hair. Tears threatened to spill as she complained, "That's just it, Killian. I made you pizza. Pizza! I could have just as easily made a romantic dinner – like you always do – but no, I made the greasiest and cheesiest food there is. God, what is wrong with me?"

She continued to pace, the words tumbling out: "And I didn't even dress up – I'm wearing jeans and a leather jacket. It's almost the same thing I wore to work."

She plopped down on the blanket and sobbed, "I don't even know why I thought I could do it."

Killian sat beside her and pulled her into his arms. He ran his hand up and down her back and kissed the side of her head.

He then took a deep breath. "Why did you choose to make pizza?"

Emma sighed and wiped her eyes. "Just never mind – it was a stupid idea."

Killian moved around to face her. He took her hands in his and kissed her knuckles.

"I can see just how much thought you put into all this - including the cuisine. It's important to you."

She took a deep breath and exhaled deeply. She brought her eyes to his.

"I just know how much you love pizza, and I thought it'd be really thoughtful if I made you some."

He smiled and kissed her forehead. "Then why on earth are you doubting yourself?"

"Because pizza is what you order when you're watching the game - or hanging out with friends. It's not what you have on a date with your boyfriend."

Killian squeezed her hands. "You do realize just how much I love this, don't you? All of it?"

She crossed her arms. "You're just saying that to make me feel better."

"I think you'd know if I were, darling."

She sighed and ran her fingers back through her hair. She gestured toward the basket and posed, "You can't actually think that's a romantic dinner, can you?"

With a tilt of his head, he began, "I'll admit it's not traditional or conventional."

Her eyes fell downcast. He then cupped her cheek with his hand.

"But you made it for me, Emma. I can't think of anything more romantic than that."

She smiled before she brought her mouth to his. He sank into the kiss and curled his arms around her waist.

When they pulled away, she asked, "Want some pizza?"

"You know I do, love."

She couldn't help but giggle as she grabbed the basket. She unloaded everything before she offered him a slice.

He took it and bit into it. He hummed his approval and smiled at her.

"This is delicious. You sure you don't make pizza on the side?"

She swallowed her own bite before she chuckled. She then conceded, "It is actually really good. I almost can't believe I made it."

"Come on, love. Don't sell yourself short – I happen to know you're quite talented."

"You're my boyfriend – you have to say that."

"That is not the only reason I'm saying it."

She smiled and shook her head. Her eyes then lingered on him.

He licked his lips before he reached for a napkin to remove the rest of the sauce. He shrugged out of his jacket before he brushed the hair out of his eyes. He then ran his fingers through the dark locks.

He then caught her stare, a grin spreading across his face.

"See something you like, Swan?"

She blushed and ducked her head. She then balled up a napkin and tossed it at him.

He chuckled before she cleared her throat. He raised an eyebrow and pointed out, "You know, I was only teasing you."

"Oh, of course, I do. I just, uh, wanted to tell you something."

She sipped her drink before she clarified, "There's another reason I picked pizza."

"Truly?" She nodded before he asked, "May I know what it is?"

"I mean, yeah. I was about to tell you. Why would you ask?"

"I know you, Swan. You're still not quite used to being sentimental – at least not with me."

Emma ducked her head. With a deep breath, she brought her eyes back to his.

"You're right – but you mean a lot to me, and I want you to know."

He smiled. He then offered her a nod, and she began, "Well, we hadn't been dating that long - only a month. We had grabbed pizza after work – it was at the hole-in-the-wall place near Central Park."

"I remember that place," Killian interjected, "It's that Italian pizzeria where everything is made fresh and from scratch."

Emma bobbed her head. "Yeah, the food's amazing." With a deep breath, she then said, "And while we waited, you brushed your fingers over mine. I knew you wanted to hold my hand, but you wanted to leave it up to me."

She couldn't help but smile. He returned it before he leaned over and pecked her cheek.

"You are always worth it."

She hummed – her smile only growing. She ate some of the pizza before she continued the story.

"We hadn't really held hands before, and I wasn't entirely sure about having everyone see us as a couple – I was overthinking, as usual."

Killian only hummed as he swallowed his pizza and went for another bite. His eyes scarcely left hers.

Her heart fluttered – and her cheeks turned red – as she anticipated her next words.

"But you were my boyfriend, and I wanted to hold your hand. And I didn't care about anyone else – just you and me."

A bright smile erupted across his face. He surged forward and planted his mouth on hers. She smiled into the kiss before she tilted her head to deepen it.

The kiss lasted until they were out of breath. Killian ran his fingers through her long blonde hair.

"You truly are amazing, Emma. You took one of our memories and made it even more special. I wasn't quite sure it was possible given we only held hands for a few minutes…"

"But I loved the feeling of your hand in mine."

Emma then kissed his forehead and brushed her fingers over his. They then held each other's gaze, a smile spreading across both their faces.

The blonde couldn't help but chuckle before she said, "Alright, the pizza's getting cold."

Her cheeks reddened a little, and he teased, "I believe you're the one who started it."

She shook her head and nudged his shoulder. He chuckled before he finished his slice of pizza and grabbed another one.

"You're already on your second piece?"

"I told you it was delicious."

Emma only smiled before she continued eating. She took a bite of pizza – only for the pepperoni and sausage, as well as some of the sauce, to land on her shirt.

She sighed as she grabbed a napkin. As she wiped the stain, she complained, "This is my favorite shirt."

"I'm sure it'll come out when you do laundry." Killian then glanced at the stain, his eyebrows furrowing.

"Isn't that my shirt, Swan?"

"What?" she began as she tossed the napkin aside. She then stretched the shirt and looked at it closely.

"No, I don't think it is."

He shook his head, a smile playing across his lips. He sipped on his drink before he gestured with the cup.

"Love, it doesn't quite fit you – and while a little similar, yours is a lighter color."

Emma looked down at the shirt again. She then groaned and buried her face in her hands.

"I knew mine had more buttons."

When she lifted up her eyes, she admitted, "And it doesn't fit right."

He bit his lip to keep from laughing. He then offered, "It's quite alright, love. You still look stunning."

A fondness spread over her features. She rested her chin in her hand before a chuckle escaped.

With a shake of her head, she said, "I don't even know how I got it."

"Well, love," Killian began as he sipped on his drink, "When you come to my place, you get cold

- or you spill something - and you go rummaging through my closet."

Even though she rolled her eyes, she let out a giggle – causing her boyfriend to do the same.

When they stopped and caught their breath, he teased, "I do hope you return the shirt, Swan –

because it happens to be my favorite, too."

He grinned at her, and she shot him another eye roll.

He laughed. A sweet smile then crossed his face as he took her hand in his. "But you know I'll happily share anything with you."

She returned his smile as she squeezed his hand. "And I know you mean it."

"I always do, Emma." He leaned over and kissed her forehead.

He then sipped from his drink before he placed it back down. He then continued eating as she did the same.

A comfortable silence then settled between them. Emma finished her slice and grabbed another one.

"Oh! I wanted to ask you something."

"About?"

"How it went with your father?" She then waved her hand and added, "Only if you want to talk about it."

"It's fine, darling," he began as he wiped his hands on his jeans. He licked his fingers before he continued, "It went rather well, actually."

Emma's eyes widened. "Really?"

He nodded. "Aye. It's rather unexpected for me, too."

He then took a deep breath and rubbed the back of his head. "Especially given that we weren't entirely sure it's what he'd even want."

She furrowed her eyebrows. With a tilt of her head, she told him, "I'm not really sure I know what you're getting at."

"Sorry, love. I probably shouldn't have started there." He rubbed his hands together as he explained, "Belle and I both want Brennan in our lives – and we decided the best way for that to happen is if we were friends."

Emma tilted her head once more, mulling over his words. A slow smile then spread across her face.

"I think that's a great idea."

"You do?"

She bobbed her head. She gestured as she spoke, "I mean, yeah. Brennan's not a bad guy, and he cares about you and Belle. This gives you guys a real chance to see that without a ton of baggage."

She popped a pepperoni in her mouth before she finished, "You guys will have to deal with it all eventually – but this is a good start."

"Aye, love. And that bridge will be a hell of a lot easier to cross when we actually know the man."

Emma hummed. She then smiled and took his hand in hers.

"I'm so incredibly proud of you, Killian. I know just how hard all of this has been for you – and I really think this will help you."

"For my sake - and for my sister's - I hope you're right."

He then took a long sip of his soda as Emma eyed him. The blonde then ventured, "Even after this, you still aren't sure?"

He rubbed his forehead. "It's not so much that as it is me. For so long, I've seen him as nothing – someone who would abandon two families. It's hard to shake that image."

She scooted until she sat beside him. She threw her arms around him. He sank into the embrace, burying his face in the crook of her neck.

They stayed embraced until Emma whispered, "I'm still proud of you," as she pulled back to look in his eyes.

He smiled and kissed her forehead. A sigh then escaped his lips.

"I've so often wondered what Liam would have thought of all this. Especially now that we've let him in our lives."

Emma rested her chin in her hand as she offered, "I only know what you've told me, but I think he'd be more worried about how it affected you."

Killian couldn't help but smile. "That he would have. Despite the fact that he is the one who had to step up and raise me. We had Mrs. Ava, of course, but he's the one who sacrificed."

Emma rubbed his arm, her hand then traveling down to his. She squeezed it.

"He loved you so much – and I know he'd be proud of you, too."

"Aye, love, I believe he would." He smiled and shook his head before he sipped on his drink.

Emma eyed him once more, her hand traveling to her jacket pocket. She took a deep breath before she reached inside.

"Which is why I think you should have this back."

He furrowed his eyebrows as she pulled a small black box from her pocket. She offered it to him.

With a raised eyebrow, he questioned, "Whatever is this, Swan?"

"Just open it."

He continued to stare at her with a confused expression. He then took a deep breath and did as she asked.

He flipped open the lid. His eyes widened, his mouth falling open.

"Is this what I think it is?"

She nodded. "Your brother's ring."

"But-but what? And-and when?" He took a deep breath, exhaling slowly.

"How on earth did you manage this?"

"Being a detective has its perks."

She then let out a deep breath of her own. "I'm still in awe of what you did for me – and even more so that you never expected anything in return. I did this be-because that's how much you mean to me."

Killian pulled the ring from the box, running his fingers over the metal. Emma rested her chin in her hand as he did so.

When he brought his eyes back to hers, they welled with tears. His voice thick with emotion, he told her, "Emma, I can't even describe how much this means to me. I'd still trade it for your bracelet – but you got it back for me."

He caressed her cheek before he pressed a soft kiss against it. When he pulled away, he looked deep into her eyes.

"Thank you, love."

"You're welcome, Killian."

The couple then exchanged a smile. He placed the ring on his finger before they resumed eating.

Between mouthfuls, Emma asked, "Where's your chain?"

"I, uh, stopped wearing it after I traded the ring." He smiled once more as he added, "But now, I'll wear it always."

She smiled back at him. As she swallowed her next bite, her eyes lit up.

Her smile returned as she motioned toward the radio. "Hey, it's our song."

He tilted his head as he listened to the familiar tune. His mouth curled into a smile.

"So it is, love. I dare say we couldn't have picked a better one."

Emma pushed her hair behind her ear. "You think you could play it for me?"

Killian reached for her hand, running his thumb over her knuckles.

"You know I'd love to, Swan – but I don't have my guitar."

"Well, actually," she began, earning a raised eyebrow from him, "I picked it up from your place. It's in my car."

He couldn't help but chuckle. "You are full of surprises."

He then took a breath and suggested, "How about we finish eating, and I'll play it for you."

"Perfect," she replied with a bright smile – but she couldn't help the blush that stained her cheeks.

He pecked her forehead before they continued eating in the midst of pleasant conversation, and banter.