Chapter 12: Surprise

Emma felt the world around her disappear the moment Killian's fingers threaded into her hair, his lips hot against her mouth as his tongue slid across her tongue. Emma couldn't stop the groan that left her mouth when his hand trailed down her back, resting on her hip as he pulled her closer against him.

It was everything she had dreamt about and nothing she was prepared for. She had kissed him twice before, and he had returned her want with his own desire, but this was different. This was desperate yet deliberate and everything that terrified her.

"Swan." He groaned. Her mouth brushed against his jaw.

"Don't ruin it." She nipped at his neck, her breath hot against his skin.

"We need to talk about this." He moaned as her teeth grazed his ear.

"Do we really?" Her mouth was on his again, and he returned her attack with fever. "Can't we just enjoy the moment for once?" She mumbled against his lips.

"What if the lad returns?" Her mouth continued its attack, as he tried to speak, her lips grazing his neck. His fingers were on either side of her neck as he pulled away. "Emma." The look on his face was serious and she pouted as she sat back, dreading his next words. "I can't give you what you need."

"It seems like you have exactly what I need, or do you really not know what I need?" She mewed.

He narrowed his eyes. "From this vantage point, I think I have an idea, but I'm talking about long term. I told you I can't…"

"You can't have a relationship because you made a promise to your brother while drunk off your ass, a promise that you made out of some sense of guilt because a woman chose to stand on lies rather than be brave enough to stand up for the love that was given to her willingly."

"Emma, a dalliance with me will only bring you pain and sorrow."

"Or something worth breaking a promise for." She said softly, her fingers ghosting across his chest, leaning forward to kiss him once more.

"Emma…" His voice was a plea, she was uncertain if it was in protest or mercy. And then his hand snaked in her hair, pulling her closer to him, his mouth hot against her jaw.

Mercy it is.

She clung to him as if her life depended on his next breath, she inhaled his scent, her body reacting to his every movement and touch. She was terrified of the way he made her feel, but even more frightened of him walking away. She could feel his hand under her shirt, hot against her flesh.

"Killian." She breathed. "We are on a rooftop." She said with a timid laugh, as he withdrew his hand from her shirt.

"So we are, love."

She placed both of her hands on either side of his face. "What are we doing?"

"I believe they call it making out, Swan."

"Do you think it's been enough time?" Henry asked impatiently as he sat on the other side of the door to the rooftop.

"I haven't heard any yelling, perhaps your plan has worked, lad." Will replied.

"I'm gonna let them out." Henry stood, turning the lock on the door, and prying it open slowly. As he peered through the opening he saw his mother and Killian sitting next to each other talking. They turned toward him, standing from their spot.

"Henry."

"Are you mad at me?" He asked, tentatively stepping toward them.

"Of course, not lad. Your mother and I had a pleasant talk."

"You did?"

"Yes, but Henry, you have to stop doing the things you've been doing, faking being sick, locking us on the rooftop." His shoulders slumped. "Killian and I are friends."

"Just friends?" He said with a pout.

"Look I know things have been difficult lately and confusing with what happened between me and Graham."

"That wasn't confusing, you didn't belong with Graham. You just needed to realize it first."

"Henry…" His mother started as Killian knelt in front of him, brushing his bangs from his forehead.

"Lad, I want you to know that I'm not going anywhere. I promise you that. You and I will continue to be friends, Smee would miss your visits, as would I." Killian spoke to the boy, and he simply smiled.

"But you two belong together." He whined and Will stepped up behind him.

"You and I will talk about your assistance in this later." His mother warned Will.

"Come on Henry, let's go get ready for bed." Will said, leading Henry down the stairs. With each step, Henry tried to ignore the pain in his heart as he was taken back to his apartment in defeat.

The moment the boy was gone, Killian pulled Emma against his chest. "Are you sure this is the right way to do this?"

"You saw him, he's so invested in what will happen between us. Can you promise him that things are going to work out?"

He frowned; he didn't know what was going to happen between them. But when she asked him to take it one day at a time, to hell with the titles or commitments, just see where things took them, he couldn't tell her no. Yet he couldn't be certain that he would get any further than he had with Belle.

It would pain him to hurt the boy if things didn't work out with his mother. So instead, they agreed to take it slow, privately. "You're right, I just hate lying to the boy."

"I know, and we won't keep it from him forever, we just, we need to figure out what this is first. Just you and me, without everyone else's interference. Besides, he's been hurt enough."

He leaned down and pressed his lips to hers, "Then I look forward to figuring things out." He mused.

Captain Jones sat at a table in the corner of the tavern, sipping liquid from his stein. Each time the door opened, he peered toward the lit opening at each new inhabitant that entered the tavern. He didn't dare wish to see the woman with the golden hair, yet he was disappointed each time she wasn't there. He sighed, slamming his mug down on the table and prepared himself to return to the Jolly.

"Leaving without saying goodbye, Jones?" He turned quickly to face the hooded figure seated at the table next to him, the back of their green clock slipping slightly as the woman leaned back tipping her stein of beer into her mouth.

He looked around the tavern before walking to her table, dropping into the seat in front of her. "Venturing out of the castle unescorted again, Princess?" He chided.

She smiled and her sea green eyes danced with a playful glare. "And I thought we made a connection." She continued. "Yet I had to hear about your departure from my son."

"I shall send my condolences to the Duke; I hear he is without a wife." He said playfully.

"It was never my intention to marry the Duke."

"Dare I say I am shocked, M'lady."

She sighed before continuing the conversation. "What awaits you in Arendelle? A dragon? A quest? Perhaps a lover?" She asked softly, her tongue darting out to moisten her lips.

"I fear I have an ailment. I have been bewitched; dare I say cursed."

"What malady has befallen you, Captain?"

"There is a woman, so beautiful and alluring, yet she is not mine to have, and I fear that in the absence of this woman, no other being can satisfy my needs in her stead."

"Surely, a man such as yourself, there must be a way for you to have this woman?"

"I fear that is not possible, her station makes her unavailable to me."

"Perhaps she is not interested in her station, perhaps all the pomp and circumstance are of no interest to her. What then?"

The Captain's smirk grew on his face. "She would be leaving a life of privilege for one of simple means. A bed, some wooden planks, and a sunset are all that a man such as myself have to offer a woman."

"That all sounds very lovely." She smiled. "But that is not all you have to offer this woman, is it?"

"Adventure, unexpected surprises, perhaps the love of a man who would desire and care for her like no other in his life."

The Princess shook her head. "You speak freely of love, yet you did not intend to say goodbye."

He smiled. "I had hopes that I would not need to."

The Princess shared a nod of understanding, she knew what this would mean for her. "What of my son?" She spoke softly.

"We spoke this morning; he has asked to join my crew."

Her head snapped up, "He did what?"

"Aye, I'd be lying if I didn't say that I would welcome a man like Henry aboard my ship, someone I could trust. But I also would not allow it without his mother's consent." The Princess seemed lost in her thoughts, so he continued. "Perhaps if his mother were to join him, for his safety of course, it would make her decision easier."

"And what would we tell him of my presence?"

"That I offered you both adventure, and you were bound to seek it."

"My brother will never permit it."

"Are you not Princess Emma of Bostonia?"

"You know that I am." She laughed.

"Then I do not think your brother would dare keep you from doing anything that pleased you."

She smiled, reaching across the table to take his hand. "Then we should tell Henry at once."

"I think that shall be an easy task." The Captain gestured to the corner of the tavern, a man sitting alone in the corner booth.

He stood and the Princess rushed to his side. "Henry, what are you doing here?"

"I am my mother's son." He looked between his mother and the Captain. "When does our adventure begin?" He asked with a grin.

The next few months has been a blur for Emma. She and Killian spent many stolen moments sneaking around, spending time together, avoiding being caught by her son. Even with it all being new there was something particularly exciting about stealing kisses or shared glances that no one else could see.

In the evening, Killian would join them for dinner, Henry would tell them stories about his day, talking nonstop as if he had known Killian his entire life. Emma would watch the two of them after dinner, joysticks in hand as they fought whatever nonsense was on the screen and she knew with each new memory they created she was falling in love with the man.

During the day, Killian would show up at the diner, a flower in hand as they sat and enjoyed their lunch. Sometimes they spent hours just talking about nothing and everything.

"One day I want to go on a trip to nowhere." She said with a laugh.

"How does one go on a trip to nowhere?"

"Haven't you ever just wanted to take your bike and head out on the farthest road and drive until you decide to stop? No destination in mind."

"So, you're just with me for my bike." He teased.

"I have had dreams about that bike."

"Have you now, Swan? Do tell!"

"Maybe when Henry goes to Neal's this weekend, I'll show you." She winked. Emma felt giddy with excitement, this would be the first time they would be alone without Henry.

"I have it on good authority that Belle and William are going to the movies on Saturday." Killian's hand rested on her knee under the table.

"Is that so? I believe Ruby told me she has a date."

"Then we are truly on our own." His eyes were boring into her, his pupils dark, a slight twitch of his lip that had her heart pounding.

"What ever shall we do?" She smirked.

His hand traveled up her thigh, warmth spreading through her as she watched his Adam's apple bob at his throat, he swallowed, his eyes trailing up her body until they met hers. "I'm sure we can come up with something."

Killian went in search of Henry's book; he was sure he left it at his apartment the last time they came to dinner, but Killian had been unable to find the book the night before he was to go to his fathers. After an evening of searching his room, the book had still not been found.

And so Killian found himself crawling on his living room floor, his dog bouncing around him, his tongue hot against his ear. "Ok boy, I get it, I love you too." Craning his neck, he peered under the couch, his phone shining a light in his hand.

"There you are!" He reached under the legs, dragging the book out from under the couch.

Henry would be pleased to have his book with him during his visit with Neal. Killian hated that the boy had seemed so downhearted about his visit. Neal had once again taken a trip out of town the past three months, and Killian had spent that time distracting the boy from the disappointment his father continued to present.

As he stepped into the hall, book in hand, he saw the man exit the elevator. He gritted his teeth as he made his way back to the apartment, stopping in front of the door. "Neal." He said curtly.

"Must be my lucky day." He mumbled under his breath, staring at him as he waited for someone to offer him access to Emma's apartment. "Can I help you with something, Keith?"

"It's Killian." He corrected. "Did you have a good trip to… where was it that you went this time?"

"I fail to see how that's any of your business." The man complained.

Killian narrowed his eyes. "That boy may appear to be happy living in his own fairytale world." He paused before raising his brow. "Did you know that he creates his own stories, I suspect about the people in his life."

"He does a lot of strange stuff."

He took a step toward the man. "He does what he must in order to be alright with the disappointment he continues to be afforded. One must ask though, do you want to be the hero in his tale, or continue to be the villain?"

"I'm his father, do you really think he'd make me the villain?"

"That depends on your actions. Perhaps you should spend more time being interested in the strange stuff you think he does, and less time using him to advance your love life."

"I don't know who you think you are, but you have no right talking to me like this."

"I earned that right when I spent my time wiping his tears, mending his cuts, listening to him talk about his hopes and concerns, and regardless of my feelings toward your parenting skills, the boy truly loves his father. So, it is my hope that you rise to his expectations instead of meeting my assumptions."

The door opened behind him, and Henry came bounding out the door. "You found it." He said with glee, grabbing the book from Killian's hands.

"Aye, it was under the couch." He glanced toward Neal before stepping into the apartment. "Did you get the Blu-ray you wanted to share with Neal?"

"Oh yeah." He said excitedly. "Mom bought me the next season of Once Upon a Time, can we watch it?"

"It's a good tale, Neal. Even villains earn their happy endings in this one." Killian said with a knowing wink.

Emma came from the back room, staring at the three of them at the door. "Oh, I didn't realize you were here Neal." She turned toward Killian, "I can't find the book…" Looking at Henry, she laughed. "Let me guess, under the couch."

"Aye."

"Alright well, he has everything he needs, he was having allergy fits yesterday, but I gave him his medicine, so hopefully he won't be too sleepy tonight." She handed Henry's backpack to Neal.

"I've done this before, Ems, I think I can handle a weekend."

"I know but it's been a few months." Neal started to respond when Killian cleared his throat.

"Have a grand time at your dad's. I'm sure you're excited to tell him all about your field trip last week." Killian tried to give the boy ideas of things to talk about with his dad, they had visited the Natural History Museum and Killian had chaperoned. Henry had confided in him that he was nervous about his visit with Neal as he hadn't seen him in so long, yet he was afraid they would have nothing to talk about.

"Oh yeah, just wait til you hear what Killian said at the Museum."

"I'm sure that's not what he meant, Henry, you should get going, I'd imagine your dad has plans for the two of you." Emma laughed, pushing him out the door with Neal.

"I'll have him back Sunday night." Neal said, glancing back at Emma, his glare landing on Killian.

"Have fun, lad." He offered before Emma shut the door behind them.

"I hate sending him away with him." She groaned as the door clicked shut.

"I know, love. Perhaps one of these times Neal will surprise us and actually step up his duties with the boy."

She snorted. "You've met him right?"

"People can change." He said softly, running his hand through her hair. Her eyes flashed with golden flecks in the green hue of her pupils. He knew he had changed, lately something inside of him felt different. His time spent with Emma and the boy had opened him up to things he hadn't known were possible.

A feeling of belonging.

"Come love, I have dinner ready to start on the stove." Emma slipped on her house shoes and followed him back to his apartment. She wrapped herself in a blanket and curled into the couch, Smee resting on her legs as she flipped through the pages of one of the books Henry had left during their Star Wars marathon weeks previously.

Killian stirred the sauce on the stove, a feeling of contentment settling over him. He had done this for Belle previously, made dinner, entertained her in his home, but this felt different. This felt comfortable, as if a piece of a puzzle he had long lost finally clicked into place.

As they laughed over dinner, her eyes shining in the candlelight, he felt the words he wanted to say on the tip of his tongue. He had felt them long before tonight but didn't dare breathe them into existence. The memories created with Emma and Henry were more than just moments of time that filled the day. They had become his life, his reason for every decision he made.

When he got off work, he often would pick up something from the store that Emma had mentioned needing or that Henry had spoken fondly of. When he had a day off, his first thoughts were where he could spend it with them. He rarely thought of himself on his own, each memory included them.

"Emma, love, I…" There was a knock on the door, pulling him out of the moment. "Sorry, I have no idea who could be here at this hour." He stood from the table and opened his front door.

"Brother." Liam said with a smile. "Surprise."

"Liam, what brings you to Boston?"

"I had business in town, thought I could stop by and check in on my little brother."

Killian rolled his eyes. "I'm hardly little anymore."

"Are you going to let me in or are we going to continue this argument in the hall?"

Killian bit his lip and opened the door, letting Liam into the house. When Liam noticed the lack of lights and candles lining the room he paused. "Am I interrupting my brother in his element?"

Killian laughed and Emma appeared in the archway. "Oh, hello."

Liam's brow rose, "Hello there."

"Liam this is…"

"Emma, right? We met a few months back in the hall."

Killian paused, glancing at Emma until she caught his eye. "Aye, but I haven't introduced her properly." He stepped toward her, his arm trailing along her back. "Emma, this is Liam, my brother." He turned to stare at her, her smile shining brightly. "Liam, this is Emma…" He paused. "My girlfriend."