Emma almost thought she was still on the Jolly Roger when she woke, the smell of Killian's aftershave filling her senses. She opened her eyes, she was in her bed at the apartment, the leather jacket that she had kept the night before on top of her blankets. She touched the leather softly. Glad that Killian would never know she slept with his jacket like a love-struck teenager.

She froze

Love?

She didn't mean that. She didn't.

Did she?

Oh god, she loved him, didn't she?

"Emma?" Mary Margaret knocked on the door, Emma bolted upright, flinging the jacket off her bed, a little too eager as Snow opened the door, it landed in the floor at her feet.

"Yeah?" She blushed, she could see Mary Margaret's smile as she glanced at the jacket.

"David has gone to get breakfast from Granny's." She said as she walked in. Picking the jacket up and folding it before sitting on the bed.

"Do you want to talk?"

"I'm fine," Emma mumbled, sitting up and pulling her knees to her chest. Cheeks still aflame.

"What I mean is, I can be Mary Margaret for a bit if that helps.' Emma glanced over.

She didn't have many friends, and she really needed to talk to someone, before she ends up doing something stupid.

"We… he took me on his ship." She said, eyes focused on the bedspread pattern.

"It was covered in candles and we had a picnic." Mary Margaret let out an excited squeal.

"That sounds so romantic."

"It was." Emma nodded slightly. "No one has ever done anything like that for me. Before."

Mary Margaret opened her mouth then closed it.

"I… I'm scared about how much I like him, I mean… I don't really know him, do I? This isn't some fairy tale." She glanced over. "No offense." Mary Margaret laughed and waved a hand.

"I'm also scared of Neal." She said without thinking. She hadn't mentioned Neal to David and Snow since the incident on the Jolly Roger, and part of her didn't want to.

Mary Margaret frowned but didn't say anything. Emma sighed in annoyance.

"Okay, are you really just sitting there?"

"You talk more when you don't feel pressured." Mary Margaret shrugged. "I was making mental notes, and when you were finished I was going to talk."

Emma nodded. "Neal wants to get back together with me. I don't. Everyone I've been with has always put me second, and I thought that's what I was worth, second. I don't think I want that. With him…" Emma smiled softly. "I don't feel second best. I want…." She froze. Mary Margaret smiled at her knowingly.

"I want Killian." She breathed, saying it out loud made it real. But she wanted it to be real. She wanted him.

Mary Margaret took her hand. "It's okay to be scared, Emma. However, it's not okay to let that fear make you unhappy."

"How do you remain so…."

"Optimistic? Easy. I hope."

"Growing up hope was in short supply." Mary Margaret flinched.

"Sor…" Mary Margaret placed a hand on her arm.

"Don't. I will always regret not giving you the childhood you deserved." Mary Margaret said sadly. "We had to give up so much, don't let it ruin your adult life too."

Emma nodded. "Thanks… Mom." It was worth the smile on Snow's face.

"That's what I'm here for." She suddenly coughed. "Also… just making sure you are being… safe.'

Emma covered her face in her hands.

"I'm 29 mom, I don't need a sex talk.' She said loudly. However…

Shit, she didn't even think about condoms last night. Thankfully she's on the pill….

Which she ran out of in Neverland….

Okay, maybe she did need the safe sex talk.

"I'll be careful. Promise." Starting now.

"I take it from your reaction something happened last night?"

"Not having this conversation." She groaned, pulling the covers over her head.

"Agreed." Davids's voice floated from downstairs. "I really don't need to know."

"However, we need to talk about Neal," David told her as she walked downstairs, Snow behind her.

"What did you mean?" Snow asked, "You said you were scared of him?"

Emma sighed as she took a long sip of her coffee. She knew she'd have to tell them. She started at the beginning, how they met, how she loved him, and how he framed her and left her. She was happy that they were doing this while eating. It gave her something to focus on, instead of David's furious expression.

"I'm so sorry Emma!" Snow gasped. "If we had known, we would never have pushed for to him.'

"I didn't want you to know. I felt stupid, I let myself be fooled." She said softly.

"You loved him. That wasn't stupid." David said carefully. His voice a slight edge to it. "He betrayed you."

"It was in the past but during the storm, he promised Henry he would look after him, Henry nearly got taken, and Neal did nothing. Killian, he got me, then Henry." She ran a hand through her hair. "I told him I didn't want to be with him, and…" She swallowed. "When I was asleep, in Killian's cabin," no point mentioning she was trying to have sex with Killian at this point.

"He walked in, he thought I was asleep but I wasn't. He told me he would do whatever it takes to get me. Whatever the cost." She swallowed. "And he kissed me." She left out the shirt thing. From the look on their faces, she had said enough.

"He followed us last night." A quiet voice behind them. Emma spun around.

"Killian?"

"Pardon the intrusion." He walked over to her. "When we were saying goodnight…." He glanced over at David. "Neal was watching us."

"How do you know?" Mary Margaret.

"Because as I walked back, he threatened me, and tried to punch me." At Emma's look, he smiled. "Which I expertly handled. However, I think he's not going to stop."

"I knew someone was following us." Emma sighed softly.

"It sounded like he was watching all night love."

Emma's eyes widened. "Oh…."

He had watched them, together. She suddenly felt sick, the beautiful night they had shared felt tainted. Her first time with Killian, they had been watched.

Snow seemed to sense what they meant as she took Emma's hand.

"It's okay.'

"No, it isn't." Emma snapped, standing up. "Where is he? I'm going to…"

"Swan," Killian said quietly. "He wants you to react. He sounded like he was planning something. If you go to him…"

"You might be giving him what he wants." Snow finished.

"So what? I let him threaten someone I…" Her voice died in her throat as she took a deep steadying breath. "I need a minute." She felt hot and cold. Her head screamed at her. She stood and rushed to the bathroom, locking the door and sitting on the edge of the bathtub. Her head falling into her hands.

She wasn't sure how long she sat there for, but eventually, there was a small knock on the door.

"Swan?" Emma walked over and unlocked it. Turning back around as Killian came in.

"I'm not weak." Even as she said it, she hated how her voice shook.

"Of course not love, you're the strongest person I know. And as you said. I'm old."

Emma laughed softly, turning to face him.

"How do you always know what to say?"

Killian took her hand in his. "Because I'm saying the truth." Emma sighed softly and wrapped her arms around his neck, letting his hands settle on her waist.

"I'm sorry my ex followed us." She said quietly.

"Not your fault. Maybe Next time we should stick to a bed? Stop unwanted eyes watching."

"I don't remember asking for next time." Emma smiled.

"Because it's my turn…" Killian smiled lovingly at her. "Would you go out with me again?"

Emma nodded. "Yes… yes I would."

Neal was planning something. She was certain, and it put Killian in the firing line, and as much as she should let him go to protect him. She couldn't.

Maybe she was just too selfish for that.

She knew she made the right choice when Killian smiled at her, one that caused her heart to flutter and her brain to freeze.

Their lips met in a soft embrace. Fully aware that her parents were five feet from them, as much as Emma wanted to stay kissing him forever.

She didn't need another sex talk.

"We have a problem" Henry called as he rushed into the apartment. Regina hot on his heels. Emma grabbed Killian's hand and they walked back into the living room.

"What now?" Emma sighed angrily. Couldn't she have five minutes without a disaster?

"Pan's here."