A/N: Hey everyone! I am back with the newest chapter of 'Lost Souls and Reveries' and we are picking up on Emma's POV. I'm excited for this chapter because it introduces more important pieces to the puzzle of this fic while also giving me lots of CS feels. We get the introduction of a new character, and luckily less angst than there has been in the past few installments. That being said I hope that you guys enjoy and thank you so much for reading!

"Okay, it's official. I, Emma Nolan, am a walking, talking cliché."

As she muttered the words aloud, Emma shook her head, taking in the scene before her. Her bedroom was currently a mess – which was very atypical – and the reason for the massive display of untidiness was the same one that had caused similar chaos the past three mornings. In a matter of minutes she would leave her apartment and head for the diner. Only now her once regular routine included a companion, one who was sinfully attractive and who Emma couldn't seem to get enough of.

The mere thought of seeing Killian was enough to send another flutter of apprehension through her, and her hand came over her stomach resting where the tumult was most obvious. She wondered if these butterflies would ever go away, but she had a feeling they were here to stay. Emma had known Killian nearly a week at this point, but still this nervous and elated energy swirled around inside of her. People might call this a crush normally, but Emma felt like the word wasn't right. A 'crush' insinuated that attraction was frivolous or fleeting, but Emma felt like her pull to Killian was neither of those things. For whatever reason she felt intrinsically connected to this man. Day in and day out her mind always seemed to wander back to him, and at night it was even worse. There was no reprieve even in her dreams from this sudden fixation, and it felt like a battle day in and day out to keep up the appearance that everything was normal.

All of this emotion was so big and so consuming that Emma assumed Killian must know on some level how she felt. She never tried to hide her interest in him, and she'd actually flirted with this man more than she'd ever flirted with anyone, but still he played it slow. She didn't understand why that was, especially since every look he sent her way was practically dripping in heat. Waves of wanting poured off the man, and there had been little touches and the sweetest words he'd also sent her way that made Emma dizzy. But every time she thought he'd make a move he would pull back, leaving Emma remiss and wondering why he hadn't gone there. Yesterday she'd even thought that he might kiss her, and the thought had her whole body buzzing with need, but at the last moment he'd bid her farewell and they'd gone their separate ways.

"Maybe he's old fashioned," Anna had offered as possible explanation when she and Elsa came to Emma's place for pizza last night. "Maybe he looks like all roughish and wild, but he's really a secret gentleman. You can't judge a book by its cover, you know."

"Maybe," Elsa conceded. "But I think he's trying to give you control. He's letting you set the pace, letting you make the choice of what happens between you."

Emma had thought about her friends' opinions extensively last night, and she still didn't know what the answer was. Anna's point about Killian being a gentleman was so far correct, but for all his politeness and charm Emma could sense the intensity he carried internally. It was one of the reasons her mind had been wandering to much dirtier places than it usually did. There was something about Killian that he was holding back, and Emma could sense that if they ever got to a point where he let go, 'gentlemanly' wouldn't be the descriptor of choice for his temperament. Elsa, in turn, seemed to be on the right track, but the problem with that argument was that Emma was already being as blunt as she ever thought she'd have to be. Short of asking him out (again!), what could she do to show him that she was ready?

She tried to brainstorm a solution through the course of the morning, and by the time she reached the diner she'd decided the only thing to do was go on instinct. But when she opened the door and found Killian was already there and waiting with her favorite coffee order in hand, her plan immediately changed. Right now her instincts were screaming out for her to pull him close and kiss him. She imagined the moment vividly, knowing that it would only take a second for Killian to take over the kiss that she'd start. He'd hold her close, tasting her and taking her and driving her crazy and then…

"It's a hot one out there today, huh?" one of the servers, Glinda, asked Emma. The question pulled Emma from her not-so-safe-for-public reverie.

"Uh, it's not that bad actually," Emma replied, knowing that despite the sunshine, her jeans would be fine both for the house calls she had lined up today and for her hours at the clinic later. Then she realized Glinda was trying to help her out of the mini-daydream she stepped into and she smiled. "But you never know. Things could heat up."

"Oh, they'll heat up all right," Glinda said before going back about her work as Emma headed over to Killian. In the few seconds it took to get to him, Emma schooled her features and tried to get her thoughts in order.

"Good morning," Emma said with a smile as she nodded her head towards the coffee in her hand. "Is that coffee up for grabs?"

"No, love. It's entirely yours," he said as he handed it to her, their fingers grazing each other's just barely but still sending a flare of awareness coursing through her.

"I know," she said with a soft chuckle as his eyes lit up with humor. "It just seems rude to assume."

"Aye, I understand. It's why I'm not sitting yet. I know you've a full day ahead of you…"

"But you also know by now that I can never turn down pancakes," Emma concluded as she led him to what had quickly become their booth.

Taking her seat, Emma experienced the same gleeful feeling that this was exactly where she needed to be. For the first time in her life, Storybrooke felt like more than home. It felt complete, and she felt invigorated even in her sleepy, seaside town. The usual antics of the diner and its customers were made all the better because she got to share them with Killian, and by the time Glinda had brought over their 'usual' Emma could no longer contain herself. She dug into her meal, moaning at how good it all was and wondering how it was possible that food she'd been eating her whole life could taste so radically new and different and sublime.

Yet while Emma was innocently enjoying her pancakes, her enjoyment had drawn a wildly different response from Killian. She felt the shift as soon as she made the sound of approval, but when she opened her eyes again he was staring at her like a starving man. The lust in his eyes shone through as a deeper, darker blue, and those gold flecks she'd noticed before glimmered ever so slightly. His jaw was hard set, and she watched the tension in his neck that tightened and released. He seemed bigger somehow, and he'd certainly moved closer to her, but it wasn't close enough. The table still divided them, and Emma knew even as she fell under the dizzying spell of wanting him, that that was for the best. Right now they were surrounded by other citizens of Storybrooke, and so the fantasies that simple pancakes had just inspired on both of their parts had to go un-acted on.

"Sorry," she said with a shrug as she broke eye contact and looked back down at her lap. "I just really love pancakes."

With no words of warning, Emma felt Killian reach for her hand and take it in his. His hold was intimate but firm, and Emma's eyes shifted to the action, taking in where they were connected for a few seconds before she looked back to Killian. In his eyes she still saw the same raw emotion, but his voice came out gentler and more earnest than she expected.

"There's no reason to be sorry, Emma. Every moment I spend with you is one I cherish."

Emma exhaled at his promise and the boldness of the words. She knew instinctively that the claim was completely honest, and she couldn't hold back her happiness at that. She wanted to tell him that she felt exactly the same way, and that even though it was fast she already felt like they belonged together, like she'd finally found her missing piece, but this wasn't the place. So instead she chose to go with humor instead of a confession neither of them was really ready for.

"Even the ones where I lose it over pancakes?"

"Especially those," he said, his voice a throaty growl that made Emma's thighs clench together automatically. God, this man was sexy, and when he looked at her like this Emma felt like she was the most important person in the world, and that maybe, just maybe, he saw her as alluring and desirable as she felt he was.

Emma was so caught up in Killian and this moment of connection that she didn't notice the bell above the diner door ringing or the entrance of a new long-time diner patron. But where Emma was oblivious, Killian immediately perked up, and not in a good way. Before Emma could process anything, he withdrew his hand from hers as his body tensed to the closest thing that was fight ready while still sitting in a booth. For a few seconds Emma stared at Killian, taking in the drastic change in his attitude, and Emma couldn't understand the worry and anger etched so clearly on his face. Then she turned to find the sheriff, Graham Humbert, and Emma was even more surprised. Everyone liked Sheriff Graham. He was one of the nicest, most welcoming people in all of Storybrooke, but looking at the sheriff's face right now, Emma realized that Graham also looked anything but friendly.

"This guy bothering you, Emma?" Graham asked. His voice was low and almost menacing in a way Emma had never heard before. She shook her head immediately before looking back at Killian.

"No, Graham this is Killian. He just moved into Mrs. Hubbard's cottage. Killian this is Sherriff Graham Humbert."

Emma expected the two of them to shake hands, but neither of them made the move to do so. It was very unlike Graham to be so withholding, and Emma knew from the last few days that it wasn't typical for Killian either. She'd been with him a number of times when people had come over to introduce themselves, and while it was clear Killian wasn't used to this kind of small town hospitality, he always put his best foot forward. With Graham though, Killian was engaged in some sort of macho stare-down Emma didn't understand. The force of it was overwhelming, the charge in the air tangible, but then Graham finally broke eye contact and looked away for a second, making Emma strangely feel proud of Killian even though she was uncomfortable at the same time.

"I didn't realize there was a… sheriff here," Killian said, enunciating Graham's title with some innuendo that she couldn't discern. Did he not like the law for some reason? How strange. Emma was puzzled, but she watched in a weird kind of fascination as Graham replied.

"And I didn't realize we had a new rogue in our midst."

"Graham," Emma whispered in a chastising manner. Not because the word rogue was so bad, but still, couldn't he be a little kinder? She couldn't seem to count on it despite their being friendly for years, so Emma tried to switch topics. "How did the conference go?"

"Well enough," Graham said, offering Emma a forced smile before shooting another look at Killian. "And I won't be going to any more for the foreseeable future."

"Sheriff Graham, there you are!" a fellow neighbor, who turned out to be Tiana, called. "I heard you were getting back today. Do you think you could help us out? We tried to get that new alarm set up at the office, but we need some sort of code to have the alert go to the station."

Emma shared a look with Tiana, and the other woman sent her an expression that said she'd been watching from her spot at the counter. She was trying to do Emma a solid, and Emma was so thankful. Whatever was happening between Killian and Graham, it was going completely over her head. There was no reason she could imagine that they would dislike each other, except maybe that Graham was trying to protect her as her friend. Still, why would he think she needed protecting from Killian? He'd done nothing wrong.

After some more hesitation Graham yielded and agreed to go with Tiana, but the flirtatious and enjoyable mood that Killian and Emma had going before had already been tarnished. It made Emma sad that their morning had been crashed like this, but what she really wanted to know was why Killian had acted that way. It didn't seem like the man she knew would be prone to such displays, but maybe she didn't know him as well as she thought. Emma grappled with that painful fact as their waitress came round to leave the check and Killian paid the bill, standing and offering his hand to help her up.

"I'm sorry about all of that, Emma," he said, addressing her concerns head on and drawing her eyes back up to his when they were outside once again. "Earlier with the sheriff… that was bad form. I wish I had a better explanation, but all I can say is I promise to do better. I'll talk to him, smooth things over."

"You would do that?" Emma asked, taken aback by the offer but touched that he would go to those lengths for her without her even having to ask.

"If it would make you happy."

"Well he's my friend," Emma said, quickly clarifying. "Just a friend."

"Is it bad for me to admit I'm glad to hear that?" Killian asked and Emma felt herself blush as she shook her head, not directly answering.

"He's also the town Sheriff. Graham is a part of Storybrooke, Killian, so if you want to stay here…"

Emma trailed off, not wanting to presume that was his plan because they hadn't actually discussed how long he was planning to be in town. Perhaps this was just a stop for him in a longer journey elsewhere. Maybe he was only interested in staying the summer and then leaving again, but just the thought of that left Emma aching and more upset than she should be.

"Then I have to make it right," Killian filled in, insinuating that his residence would in fact be permanent without actually saying the words. "I'll work on it, Emma. You have my word."

Emma smiled at his willingness to do this for her, and she had yet another urge to close the gap between them and kiss him. The craving to do so clawed at her incessantly, but she pushed that urge away since they were standing right there on Main Street in plain view. Even so, Emma didn't want today to end as the days before had. She didn't want to say goodbye and have to wait until tomorrow. After their interruption earlier, it just didn't feel like enough. There needed to be something more. There just had to be, at least that's what her heart was crying out for.

"Are you free tonight?" Emma asked, enjoying the surprise that Killian made no attempt to hide. She liked it even more when that surprise melted into a warmer, stronger look of need. "It's trivia night at the Rabbit Hole, and my friends and I usually go if you're interested…"

"Yes," Killian said without hesitation and Emma suppressed a laugh at how fast he responded. Realizing how quick he'd been, Killian tilted his head and scratched behind his ear in a move Emma recognized as bashful from their past few interludes together. "I mean, who could turn down trivia?"

"Right," Emma said with a shake of her head and a low chuckle. "You're in it for the trivia, just a big ole trivia junky."

"No, Emma," Killian said, taking a step closer and sending her silly thoughts scattering as desire took their place. His hand came up to cup her cheek, his thumb brushing the corner of her lips and sending a smooth but rough sensation coursing through her. Then his voice dipped lower as he spoke again, becoming a silky whisper that was soft enough that only she would hear it. "I'm here for you. Never doubt that."

His words felt like a truth so evident that it defied contradiction. The world was round, the sky was blue, and Killian Jones was in Storybrooke for her. These were somehow just facts of her life now, and in a matter of days – really only a few hours spent in each other's company all together - Killian had become a given. It defied logical explanation, but this voice in the back of her mind was determined that Killian was it for her. He was her person, her perfect match, and he was finally here after a lifetime of waiting.

Emma had long interacted with the idea of 'soul mates,' but she was skeptical that they truly existed before now. Even if she'd grown up with parents who embodied partnership and love and commitment, the idea that somebody could fall in love at first sight or that people 'belonged together' never quite clicked for her. Those kinds of stories were for Hollywood and fairy tales. In the real world people were just people, and love was something that you fought for and protected but were not promised. Yet with Killian, it felt like this had been a long time coming, as if somehow, someway, the universe had made a promise to see the two of them together.

"So I'll see you tonight then?" Emma asked eventually, blinking away the haze of her thoughts and hopes and musings. She was unsure of how much time had passed, and she was a little disappointed that this new and tender embrace hadn't led to a kiss, but she was comforted by the fact that tonight might finally be the moment when she got her wish.

"It's a date," he replied with a grin. And as Killian turned and left her there watching after him, Emma wondered if he'd meant it or if it was just a turn of phrase. Either way she couldn't wait for tonight, and she headed out to her morning house calls practically floating on air.

That feeling of felicity stuck with Emma throughout the day. After a few hours spent hopping all around Storybrooke to tend to some animals who couldn't make it into the clinic easily (including a stubborn old mule on the MacDonald's farm, a lovable but feisty outdoor cat that frequented the firehouse, and a fluff-ball made real that belonged to one of Storybrooke's elderly citizen's), Emma found herself walking the same familiar streets and heading to the clinic. She was making good time today, and she was happy that none of her patients were in dire condition. Everyone was healthy, or would be that way soon enough, and it was truly days like this that made her love being a vet.

Strolling into her and her father's practice, Emma hoped that high note that defined her morning would remain. Right now, though, it was lunchtime, and the clinic was closed for an hour or so as a result. Their receptionist, Jasmine, had taken off for a little bit, but from her father's office, Emma heard familiar voices. Her mother was here today visiting, and Emma could just picture her parents now, sitting together and enjoying each other's company. Knowing the two of them they were probably perched on the couch, sharing a meal like it was the most normal thing in the world because it was to them. It made Emma smile to think of it, and she loved the predictability of their bond together. It was a very rare thing for her parents to be upset with each other, but as Emma walked towards the office to greet them, a flash of a memory that was long forgotten crossed her mind.

"Watch your step, Emma honey. The cleaning crew was here earlier. The floor might be slick."

Emma heeded her mother's warning as they walked through the clinic tonight. It was past closing time, and no one was here. The waiting room that was usually filled with all sorts of people and animals was quiet and Emma wished they had come here earlier. This place wasn't nearly as fun without animals to play with, but they had to come and get her Dad so they could go to dinner. He was supposed to be home an hour ago, but he never showed up. Her Mom said he must have had a last minute case, but Emma wondered why he hadn't called. When her father had to stay late he always called. That was the rule.

Moving through the hallway, Emma held tight to her mother's hand. Every room they passed was empty. There were no puppies in the kennels and no kittens who needed a doctor. Things had been slow this winter, at least that was what her father said. The lights were all off too, except for the yellow glow of the back room. That was where her Dad made the animals feel better, and it must be where he was now, but before Emma could run down to see him, her mother pulled her towards the door of the office.

"Am I not coming with you, Mommy?" Emma asked and her mother shook her head even as she smiled.

"No, honey, I think it would be better if you wait here. I'm sure everything is fine, but I just want to double check. Can you wait here for five minutes like a good girl? I promise I'll be right back.

Emma nodded, never wanting to disappoint her mother even though she was desperate to see her father sooner. Her mother nodded, happy that Emma had agreed and she gave Emma's head a quick kiss before she walked out to find her Dad. Emma waited for a little bit but then she heard it. A scream. The sound made her jump in her seat and she ran to the doorway, looking down the hallway, but her mother wasn't there. She must be inside the room with Daddy, but Emma was worried. Why had she screamed? Was she okay?

Despite having just promised her mother to stay put, Emma moved down the hallway. She was scared and she didn't want to be alone. She wanted to make sure her parents were okay, but when she came to the door way and peaked inside she never expected what she saw. It was a huge big cat, and her father was trying to save it.

"David, you can't be serious! It's a mountain lion. A mountain lion! Don't you realize how dangerous those are?"

"Of course I do, Mary Margaret. But he's hurt. He needs my help."

"David, it's a wild animal you're talking about. Not some dog you found on the side of the road. Mountain lions kill people. As in kill them."

"He won't hurt me."

"David, have you lost your mind? You can't be doing this! It's too big a risk. What if it attacks you? What if it attacks Emma?"

Emma jumped out of the doorway and leaned against the wall before she could be spotted, but the temptation grew too strong and soon she looked again, focusing on the animal and not so much her parents' discussion. Their words continued on, but Emma's attention was all aimed at the lion. Emma could tell it was big, far bigger than her father was, even though it was laid out on the floor in the far corner of the room. It was even bigger than the lion she had seen at the zoo in Boston and she wondered if that was normal for animals around here.

For some reason, when Emma looked at the beautiful creature before her it made her think of magic, and before she could think the better of it she moved inside the room. She wanted to be close, for whatever reason, and the only thing that stopped her from moving was that the animal chose that moment to look right at her. She was stunned by its eyes. They were the color of a copper penny, and they shined like the sun right at her.

"Mary Margaret, I need you to trust me," her father pleaded. "I would never put you or Emma in harm's way. This is completely safe, I promise you. I can't fully explain right now. It's complicated. But when we get home I will tell you everything."

"Shifters," her mother muttered, sounding like she was amazed. Emma didn't know what the word meant and before she could control herself, curiosity got the better of her.

"Mommy, what's a shifter?" …

"Emma! There you are, we were wondering if you'd make it back by lunch," her mother said, stepping out of the office and wrapping Emma in a great big hug. "I brought your favorite today."

Emma was still surrounded by the lingering haze of that memory. Actually, was it even right to call it a memory? It seemed more like it could have been a dream or a productive of an over active imagination. Having worked with her father for years, including as just a helper since she was a girl, Emma was certain that her father never took in wild animals for care. There was a policy at the clinic that stated as much, but maybe that hadn't always been there? Either way, Emma shrugged the remembrance off, knowing she had to be present to keep her mother happy.

"Grilled cheese?" Emma asked, gifting her mother with a smile even if she still felt a little off kilter.

"And onion rings!" her Mom replied cheerily, pulling Emma into the office where her Dad was enjoying his own version of lunchtime bliss.

"Have I mentioned lately that I love you?" Emma asked, sincerely meaning it even if to her Mom it must feel like mere commentary on her bringing Emma lunch.

"Don't get too carried away," her Dad said with a teasing glint in his eyes. "She also brought salad."

"Salad is good for you, David. Emma knows that and she's totally on board."

"Sure I am…" Emma said, casting a conspiratorial glance at her father as she sat down and dug in, making sure to have enough leafy greens to appease her mother while also savoring the classic comfort food she loved so dearly.

"Your father and I were just talking before you got here about how well the new tourism push has been working," Mary Margaret filled in, sounding too nonchalant for her not to have an angle here. Emma swallowed down her food, knowing full well what direction her mother would like to take this. That being said, Emma wasn't about to make it easy for her.

"That's great, Mom. I know you guys worked hard on that this winter and more tourists mean more money for the town."

"Mhmm," her mother hummed before pivoting to a slightly more pointed comment. "It seems some tourists might even have more long term potential. I've heard about one person in particular who might just end up calling Storyboroke home."

There was no denying that her mother knew about Killian at this point. The puppy dog look in her blue eyes that was begging Emma to spill was a dead giveaway. Emma could only imagine what was going through her mother's mind. Probably just a flooding of relief that Emma was finally showing interest in someone, and in the mix there were probably dreams of a wedding and babies and all the jazz. Never mind that Emma was still pretty young to be thinking that way. To Mary Margaret Nolan, those were all components of any worthwhile happily ever after.

"What do you think, Emma? Do you think they'll stay?" her mother prompted after Emma had gone too long without answering.

"I don't know, Mom. It's still early days. There's still time for him to change his mind."

Silence followed, which surprised Emma, and she looked back up from her food to her mother who was beaming. She looked like the cat who had caught the canary and Emma thought back on what she said, only for her father to tell her where her misstep had been.

"She didn't say it was a man, at least not outright."

"Damn it," Emma muttered aloud. That was such an easy trick not to fall for. She had walked right into it now.

"Language," her mother said, before seeming to remember that Neal wasn't home so there were no little ears to pick up on this. "But really Emma, I can't believe you haven't said anything."

"Why would I?" Emma asked, shaking her head with frustration at the way things sometimes were in Storybrooke. "You were just going to hear everything through the grape vine any way. Hell I bet you've gotten an update for every time we've seen each other."

"Pretty much," her father admitted. Her mother leveled him with a stare that warned him not to give away too many secrets and he put his hands up in surrender.

"Whether or not we've heard anything isn't the point, Emma. We care about you, and if this Killian Jones is important to you, we'd like to meet him. I mean really I should go over and introduce myself anyway. I'm the mayor after all and -,"

"Mom, please, don't," Emma begged, not bothering to play it cool anymore. "I know you're just trying to look out for me, but… could you maybe not?"

"You can't ask us not to protect you, Emma," her Dad said sternly, showing the first sign of really sincere emotion since this whole thing started. "That's our job, and we take it very seriously."

"I didn't mean it like that. I just meant that I'm an adult, and the whole overbearing parents thing is kind of a lot. Could we maybe tone it down a bit, or put it on hold? Just for a while. I still don't even know what this is, really, and subjecting the guy I like to an interrogation from my parents is not the way I want to play this."

"So you like him?" her mother asked gleefully and Emma sighed.

"Yes, Mom, I like him. But it's complicated. We only just met. I don't know where it's going yet."

I know where I want it to go, Emma thought to herself. I just have to figure out how to get us there. Tonight.

"Well maybe we could -," her mother started, but then Emma's father took Mary Margaret's hand and he broke into her suggestion with a suggestion of his own.

"I think the best thing we can do is trust our daughter to know her own mind. If Emma says she needs some time, then we should give it to her."

Her mother looked less than pleased at the thought, but as per usual her Dad was able to work some kind of true love magic and silently convince her that this was the right way to handle things. Eventually Mary Margaret nodded, turning back to Emma and promising that she wouldn't interfere. At least not right now.

"But when you do know for certain, I hope that you'll tell us honey. We may be your parents, and maybe it's not the coolest thing to tell your Mom and Dad everything, but we really want to know."

"I think that's painfully clear, dear," David said before he pressed a kiss to her Mary Margaret's temple. "Emma, do you think you could manage filling us in when you're ready?"

"Yes. I think I can do that."

"Well that's that then," her father said. "And on that note, Emma and I have clients coming, so I think we have to call this lunch what it is: over."

"Okay, okay. I'm leaving," her mother said waving her hands in the air as she grabbed her bag and came to give Emma a hug goodbye. "I love you, honey. You know I only want the best for you."

Emma did know that, and she told her Mom as such as they said their farewells. But when it was just her and her father left in the office, Emma knew that there was still something coming down the pike. There was no way her Dad could talk about her dating life and be so chill. It wasn't his style at all.

"If he hurts you he's a dead man," her father said and though it sounded totally crazy Emma had to laugh. Her Dad might talk a big game, but he was a good guy. He wasn't a killer, and Killian was in no real danger for better or worse.

"I'll be sure to let him know that, Dad."

With that, the two of them returned to their work day, letting go of the conversation about Killian and easing into their typical routine of caring for the town's animals. But all the while Emma couldn't help but wish that tonight would come around already. Because when it did, she was going to make sure Killian knew exactly where she stood, and she could hardly wait to see where things went once he knew just how much she wanted him.

Post-Note: So there we have it. Chapter four has come and gone, and I have to say I loved writing it. That being said, I am even more excited for next chapter because it will bring some big and important moments for Emma and Killian. Anyway thank you all so much for reading, and I would love to know what you thought and where you think we might be headed. Hope you all have a great rest of your weekend!