I am so sorry I didn't update last week! I hope this chapter is worth the wait!

Thank you for all love this story has gotten!

This chapter is based in 4x04, "The Apprentice." That's the episode Emma and Killian go on their first date.

Conversations

"Henry, can you come up here, please?" Emma called down the stairs.

"Yeah! Be there in a minute!" Henry shouted back.

Emma backed into the room, sitting on the edge of her bed. Her foot bounced nervously. Should she be telling Henry about this? Emma didn't even know what was going on. Maybe telling him before she was ready was a bad idea. Maybe she should just forget it.

No. He deserves to know, she scolded herself. Despite knowing that was true, she couldn't help but feel like she was betraying her son a little. He'd only gotten his memories back a week ago. Was telling him about what was going on between her and Hook the right thing to do when she didn't even know what was going on?

"Hey, what did you need?" Henry stood on the top stair, leaning forward while hanging onto the banister.

Emma patted the spot next to her. "Come here, kid. I need to talk to you."

"Uh oh. What did I do?" Henry teased, moving to sit next to his mother.

Emma smiled. "Nothing. I just… I need to tell you something."

Henry's eyes were wide with curiosity. "What is it?"

She glanced at the floor, averting her eyes. "I, uh, me and, well, I, um…"

Henry nudged his mother with his shoulder. "You can tell me, Mom."

Emma met his eyes, heart warming. "I know." She took a deep breath. "Hook and I are sorta, well, I don't exactly know, but we're… together?" She squeezed her eyes close and internally kicked herself. What was wrong with her? Why was she so bad at this?

"I knew it!" Henry exclaimed.

Emma's eyes flew open. "You knew it? How? I…I don't even know what it is."

Henry rolled his eyes. "It was so obvious, Mom. When I didn't have my memories, you were always having me spend time with him. You always had long conversations. You seemed happier when you were with him."

Emma blinked a few times. "When did you become so observant? And, just to be clear, there was nothing…happening when you didn't have your memories. We were focused on the curse."

"Okay, Mom. Sure." His grin was wide.

Emma laughed. "What?"

"I'm just happy that you're happy."

Emma's smile softened. "Are you okay with this? I know you had hopes about your dad and I…."

Henry shook his head. "All I want is for you to be happy."

Emma's heart swelled. "You're amazing, you know that?"

Henry shrugged. "I know."

Emma looked at the wall, biting her lip. She had spent most of the night lying awake, thinking about what Killian had said. She wanted to tell Henry what she was going to do, but she didn't want to overwhelm him.

"Mom? Is there something else?"

Emma looked at him. "What? No, of course not." She waved him off. "Don't be ridiculous."

Henry gave her a look. "Mom."

"Geez, fine. I'll tell you." Again, she took a deep breath and rushed the next words out. "I'm going to ask Killian out to dinner…or something."

Henry stared at her for a moment before laughing.

Emma joined in nervously, eyeing him anxiously. "Haha, why are we laughing?"

"You were worried about telling me, weren't you?"

"Well, yeah."

"You didn't need to be! What did you think I was going to do? Scream at you for trying to be happy?"

She lifted her shoulder in a half shrug.. "Not that, no. I knew you would be supportive, you always are. I just… I worry about you."

Henry squeezed her hand. "You don't need to. I'm fine. Like I said before, I want you to be happy."

Emma pulled him into a hug. "You're the best."

"I know." Henry leaned back. "And I like Hook. I know you do, too."

A laugh left Emma's lips. "We need to get you to school."

Henry sighed. "You're right." He got to his feet. "Drop me off at Granny's. You can go inside and talk to Hook and I can catch the bus there."

"Whoa, kid, hold on." Emma waved her hands in front of her and stood. "No one said anything about me doing that today."

"Of course you'll do it today! What's stopping you?" Henry pushed her toward the stairs. "Come on."

Henry watched as his mom smiled at Hook and then turned to leave. Hook smiled after her for a moment before turning around and heading for the back. Henry quickly pushed himself against the wall. Emma thought he was heading to school, but he couldn't go without speaking to Hook. He couldn't help but smile at the smile that had been on his mom's face. She'd been so happy.

Heavy footsteps snapped Henry out of his thoughts. Hook appeared in his vision, a look of complete joy on his face. That joy shifted to surprise when he saw Henry.

"Henry, lad, shouldn't you be at school?" Hook questioned, raising an eyebrow.

"School doesn't start for another twenty minutes. I have time."

Hook glanced back into the diner. "Your mother just left. If you hurry, you can catch up with her."

Henry shook his head. "She brought me here. I don't need to catch up with her. She thinks I'm on the bus."

"Lying to your mother, are you, lad?" Hook shook his finger. "Bad form. She'll figure it out."

"Not lying. I'll still go to school."

"What's stopping you, then? You're not running away again?" he teased, smirking.

Henry rolled his eyes. "That was one time. I didn't have my memories, either. Anyway, I came to talk to you."

"Me?" He raised another eyebrow. "Why?"

"'Cause you're going out with my mom," Henry explained as if it were obvious. "Why else would I be here?"

Hook chuckled. "Come to make sure I'm chivalrous? I assure you, lad, I always am." He clapped him on the back. "You have nothing to worry about."

"That's not what I came to say, Hook." Henry put on his toughest face. "I came to make sure you know how much she's looking forward to this."

All the amusement on Hook's face vanished.

"When my mom and I were in New York, she never introduced me to any of the guys she went on dates with, not that she went on many anyway. When she met Walsh, she didn't tell me they were together for months. I didn't get to meet him for months. But with you, she told me almost right away. She told me this morning." Henry took a breath. "What I'm trying to say is: She's opening herself up to you because you make her happy, really happy. I can tell. Don't mess it up. Don't hurt her like my dad did. I don't think she could survive if you did."

Hook stared at Henry, amazed by what he had just heard. He was overjoyed that Emma was opening up to him, but what really left him speechless was Henry and his protectiveness for his mother. The lad had so much love and respect for the woman. Hook felt a surge of pride for the boy.

"Don't worry, lad. I don't intend on hurting your mother. She makes me happy, too." Hook's smile was soft.

Henry beamed. "Good."

Hook glanced at the door. "Now, shouldn't you be heading to school?"

"Oh, right. Yeah."

Hook chuckled. "I'll see you later." He took a few steps down the hall.

Henry shifted on his feet. "Um, Hook?"

Hook turned around. "Yes, Henry?"

"Thanks for making her happy." Henry smiled a little.

Hook nodded. "It's an honor to do so."

As Henry walked to school, he couldn't help but grin. His mom was in good hands, or a good hand.

"Your boy came to talk to me this morning," Killian said. He rubbed his thumb on the back of Emma's hand, smiling to himself.

"Really? When? He had school." Emma held her shoes in one hand, having shed them when they reached the beach minutes ago. "Don't tell me that he skipped it."

"Of course not, love. He only wanted to speak with me."

Emma laughed. "Yeah? About what?"

Killian grinned at her. "You."

Emma's eyes widened a little. "Me? Why?"

"I'm not going to tell you everything, Swan. I could never betray his trust like that."

Emma snorted.

"But you have a wonderful boy. He truly loves you."

A soft smile appeared on her face. "I love him, too." Suddenly, a cold breeze blew through the air, sending Emma into shivers.

Quicker than Emma thought should have been possible, Killian pulled his jacket off and put it around Emma's shoulders.

"Thanks," she mumbled, taking Killian's hand back in her own.

"I need to take Henry sailing," Killian commented, staring out at the horizon. "I'll need to find a ship to borrow."

"Emphasis on the borrow," she joked.

Killian chuckled holding up his free hand. "Borrow, love. Borrow. I'll even rent one if need be."

"Henry would love that. He loves sailing with you. He told me so."

"I'm glad it doesn't bore him."

Emma looked up at the sky. Stars twinkled in the darkness. "I hate to say this, but I think we should head home. David's going to flip if we stay out any later."

Killian pulled on Emma's hand, leading her farther down the beach. "Aye, you're probably right."

Emma stopped walking and yanked on Killian's hand. "The loft is this way, Killian."

Killian groaned, but reluctantly turned around. "All right, love. Let's not give your father a heart attack."

A laugh escaped her mouth. "I'd like to avoid that, yes."

Killian's smile widened and didn't disappear as he and Emma trekked back to the loft, hand in hand.

I hope you enjoyed that chapter! Let me know if you did!