A/N: Hey all! This chapter of 'Wedded Bliss and Asterisks' picks up a few weeks after the last installment. I'm sure it will come as no surprise to you all that we remain in a purely flufftastic state. Hope you guys enjoy and thank you all so much for reading!

A few weeks after the incident with Liam in the bakery and the awkward (yet well received) love confession that brought all of Bliss Boutique to a grinding halt, Emma and her friends were enjoying a true rarity at Bliss: a day where all four of them could share the same lunch hour and spend it together.

Now theoretically this should not have been the hardest of achievements. They did, after all, work in the same building five days a week, but coordinating their schedules during office hours given all the excitement about the shop was so much easier said than done. Business was booming (as one would expect given all the great things happening around here) and they were enjoying a crazy ride to success that, while fun and invigorating, could be a bit much. As such the friends decided to grab some pizza and take it easy for as long as they possibly could (which was roughly fifty-two minutes and twenty-six seconds if Emma's calculations were correct).

"I swear I could nap right here, right now. Just give me thirty seconds and a blanket and I'll be out," Mary Margaret said as she came into Emma's office and plopped onto the couch, kicking her feet up on one of the ottomans and stretching out in a clear display of fatigue.

"Don't worry, Elsa brought coffee," Emma assured her, watching Mary Margaret's face light up with relief as she accepted the drink.

Emma knew the feeling. Bliss these days was so go-go-go. It was a whirlwind to say the least, and Mary Margaret was in a similar boat as Emma with a personal life that kept her off hours just as filled as her work ones. But despite the franticness and the hectic pace, Emma knew that Mary Margaret wouldn't trade her life right now for anything. She had worked so hard to make herself a sought-after wedding planner and she was achieving a pristine reputation for romance and creativity with every event that she threw.

Then of course there was the whole 'finding love again after so many years apart' thing, and when Mary Margaret wasn't here in the office she was often with David making up for the time they'd lost over the past few years. Honestly Emma was amazed witnessing it all. Her friend had always been so happy and hopeful, but now she was even brighter than before. With the understanding that she and David had reached and them having their first real chance to try this thing between them, Mary Margaret was totally content, and Emma was just thrilled to see her friend so happy.

That happiness, however, was hardly exclusive to Mary Margaret and David. Ruby and Graham had been getting cozier and cozier too and Ruby had finally confessed to them all that she was in love with Graham and had been for years. She imparted that tidbit upon her best friends like it would be a surprise, but it wasn't. They'd been obviously pining for each other for a while, and Emma always knew it was just a matter of time before one of them made a move. Thankfully they had, and Ruby was just as blissfully enamored with her current life as Mary Margaret was. Not that that kept her from constantly teasing the rest of them though: even a Ruby in love liked a joke at her friends' expense now and then.

"Sexting in the workplace… that's some pretty risky business, Els," Ruby teased as she came around to offer their friend a slice of pizza and Elsa immediately flushed a deep shade of crimson. "Come to think of it that's way more my style."

"I'm not sexting!" Elsa denied, sitting up straighter in her chair and clicking off her phone screen, but Emma smiled at the flustered expression that clung to Elsa.

"But you are talking to Liam," Emma clarified and Elsa nodded. "Let me guess – he said something romantic again but in that bizarrely blunt, Liam-like way."

Elsa nodded that Emma was right, and though she didn't offer the particulars of the text, Emma could just imagine what Killian's brother had sent. Over the past few weeks, Liam had hardly been sparing in his affections for Emma's friend, and there was a similarity between Liam and Killian in the way that both men were constantly present and never left any room for doubt that they would rather be with the women they loved than anywhere else. But where Liam was roughly ten steps ahead in his planning (already having been thinking about marriage and kids and the whole nine yards), Elsa was set on taking her time. She would not be rushed, and Emma appreciated that her friend's wishes were heard and valued by Liam. Clearly the man was struggling to respect her insistence for slow, but he persevered all the same.

"I'd say that whole grand-gesture, crazy big love thing was genetic, but that wouldn't be fair to Killian," Ruby mused. "He has way more swagger than Liam."

"Hey! Liam has swagger," Elsa urged and after a beat they all laughed, partly because of the word, and partly because Liam did have that aura of being self-possessed. But unfortunately for him it always went missing the second Elsa was so much as brought up. And if she was directly in his presence? Forget it, he was totally lost.

"I don't know," Mary Margaret hedged. "I've seen Killian lose his cool a few times too. Like last week when that best man was hitting on Emma."

Emma groaned aloud thinking back on that moment. The advances they were referring to had been completely unsolicited, and Emma hadn't so much as smiled at the guy the whole time he was in the store, but still he went for it. It was tedious and totally uncalled for, and Emma had been seconds away from saying screw it and asking the bride to get him out of there, original dress commission or not, but then out of nowhere Killian was there stepping between the man who was reaching for Emma and her.

In a move that was so quick and commanding that Emma couldn't even hope to resist, Killian kissed her there in front of the whole shop filled with people. At first Emma could taste his anger and his jealousy, feeling the rough demand of his hands roaming over her and pulling her closer, but when she began to kiss him back and ran her hand across his chest he let go of those darker thoughts. By the time they pulled back there was no doubting they'd made a huge scene, but Killian was smiling at her and unwilling to break eye contact. It made Emma's heart flutter and her whole body hum with that familiar feel of desire, and she didn't know what to say until Killian spoke first.

"Think we made our point, Swan? Or does everyone need another demonstration of our attachment?" he'd asked, bringing a blush to her cheeks but a smile all the same. He used that word again, the one he knew she loved and she couldn't be angry at any of the caveman-like qualities that had just flared up when he was her sweet, caring man underneath.

"I think they get it," Emma agreed but then she'd kissed Killian once more lightly, promising silently that no matter what anyone else thought she knew what they were and who she loved.

Emma then had to pull away and try to get things finalized with her client before leaving with Killian for their dinner plans, but even now Emma could still feel that searing kiss on her lips. She never thought she'd be at all accepting of someone exerting that kind of protective jealousy over her, but Killian proved her wrong, and as soon as they were out of there, Emma spent the whole night showing him just how little he had to worry about when it came to this relationship between them, and just how much he liked her staking his claim like that.

"Or that time that one bride brought her baby and Killian saw Emma holding her. I mean that was priceless," Elsa added.

Emma had to fight not to hide her face in her hands at that one, and she willed herself with everything she had not to blush anymore than she already was. As it was she couldn't contain the smile thinking of that moment. It wasn't totally unheard of for the shop to get little ones in here what with ring bearers and flower girls and so on. But a baby was an anomaly, and Emma had been thrilled to hold onto the little one when her Mom was trying on her wedding dress.

"You know kid, this is a pretty cool thing you've got going here," Emma had said with more adult tones than everyone else who carried the baby through the afternoon. "Your Mom and Dad are going to have a wedding, and you get to wear a flower crown, which I can tell you from personal experience is pretty neat. You would think they're kind of lame but weirdly enough I'm a fan."

When the baby babbled back in response, Emma was too consumed with the cuteness to notice the entry of a newcomer into the shop, but after a moment she felt his presence. Killian was there, and when she looked up he was staring at her with this look in his eye like nothing she'd ever seen. There was this fierce longing there, but there was also something more, and Killian had been so dazzled by that he completely lost sight of why he'd come in the first place.

"You gonna stand there all day Jones, or you gonna say hi?" Ruby teased and then Killian was all flustered sounds and a heart achingly cute greeting.

"Sorry love, you just – I mean it's just – you're very well suited and well I didn't want to intrude," he finally managed to get out and Emma smiled.

"You're not intruding," Emma assured him. "You could never intrude."

Emma still recalled the smile that came to his face and she was still reeling herself from how good he'd been with the baby until the mother came back out and took her away. It had been one of those weird moments when they didn't really push about what that moment had meant, but for Emma it was easy to imagine Killian as a Dad, making goofy faces and using soothing words with their kids. But then that set Emma down the whole path of worrying about presuming too much. It was hardly time to be thinking of kids, and so she and Killian had silently agreed not to push it and just let it be.

"Is this really how you want to spend your one break today?" Emma asked them during a lull in their stroll down memory lane as a means of pivoting from more focus on her love life. "I know analyzing my relationship is a favorite pastime for all of you, but there's like a thousand other things to talk about."

Mercifully her friends conceded that point, and for the next forty minutes or so Emma found a lovely reprieve from speculation. The friends gossiped and shared about all sorts of things both at work and outside of it, but Emma probably wouldn't remember most of what was said years from now. She would, however, recall how these people, these four women who had come into her life years ago, were her rock. They were one of her surest sources of comfort and laughter, and Emma spent most of the time just so happy that they had this. Even with everything changing in their worlds they had each other, and that was a truly miraculous thing.

Just about the time that they were going to go their separate ways though, a knock sounded at the door. Emma knew that for the sound to come it must be something big, since Tiana would never dream of interrupting the friends if she didn't have to, but Emma hoped it wasn't some kind of disaster. After all the fun she'd just had with her oldest pals, she didn't want the mood to shift in a stressful direction if she could possibly help it.

"Come in," Emma offered and through the doorway appeared Tiana with a huge grin on her face.

"Hey boss, something just came for you guys and I think you'll all want to see it."

No sooner were the words out of Tiana's mouth than the four friends jumped out of their chairs to see what it could be. They didn't have to go far though, for there in the middle of the show room was the big parcel that had arrived for them. If Emma had to guess it was a painting of some kind given the size and dimensions, and there on top of the paper wrapping the piece was an envelope with the words: 'To My Heroes'

"Oh my god this is so sweet," Mary Margaret said, her eyes already growing a little teary.

"Mary Margaret, we haven't even seen it yet," Elsa insisted. "Let's take a look before we start crying."

As Mary Margaret and Elsa went to open the large gift Ruby read the card aloud, informing them all that this was a gift from Jasmine and Aladdin for helping them create a wedding neither of them could ever have dreamed up. It was a truly touching sentiment, and Emma was warmed just from the fact that they were clearly still so happy. They included a picture of the two of them from their honeymoon and the love in their eyes was clear. For Emma just the thought that they were enjoying that sweet feeling of love was enough, but then Elsa and Mary Margaret gasped and moved back, showing them the painting underneath.

As with any other Street Rat original, the most striking element of this painting's composition was that the photo underneath (a perfectly selected image of the four friends laughing together while at the shop) was enhanced with streaks of color and tantalizing swirls of delicate purples and rich pinks. This picture packed all the punch of the ones that Killian and Emma had seen on their first date, but being the focus of the shot, and seeing how Aladdin viewed their friendship was really something.

There was no doubt in each of their expressions that the four of them were happy just to be with each other, and the joy that was there and the hope they each of them so willingly embodied was beautifully elevated with the gentle strokes of paint across the canvas. In short this was an absolutely stunning testament to the best friendships Emma had ever known, and she was so moved she could hardly speak. So it came as no surprise to Emma when she heard both Elsa and Mary Margaret sniffling away.

"It's gorgeous," Mary Margaret said finally through her continued crying. "Totally, absolutely gorgeous."

"How did he even get this picture?" Elsa asked before all of the friends (and a number of the other staffers in the room) responded at the same time.

"Killian."

This had Killian written all over it, and Emma knew that this was likely one of the pictures he'd had taken that didn't make the cut for the magazine. If Emma had to hazard a guess though, it wasn't the lack of appeal of the picture that kept it from being in the magazine but protectiveness from Killian. This was a truly special print and Emma was happy that it hadn't been shared in any way but this one.

"We are so hanging this up in the front entrance. Every person who walks in here should see this and know exactly what they're in for," Ruby professed and Emma agreed.

"There's one last thing," Tiana said, drawing their attention all to another canvass across the space that none of them had noticed. Emma wondered how there could possibly be more than this amazing gift, and then she noticed the card on that one had only her name in Jasmine's flowing scrawl.

Moving across the room to retrieve the card, Emma shared a look with her friends before opening it. Emma had a sneaking suspicion of what this could potentially be though she had no idea how it would be possible, but from the look on the faces of her three friends, they were already convinced of what was coming.

Dear Emma,

I know you're probably wondering why I would give you an extra gift when, as you've said many times before, this wedding was a team effort. And you're not wrong. The day I got to share with Aladdin was a gift you all gave me that I will cherish forever. But I believe that there are some moments that absolutely need to be captured, and Aladdin agreed. Let this be a reminder that you have found more than a simple 'something' with Killian, and let it also be a wish from my husband and I that you two hold on to this moment and this love all through your life.

-Jasmine

The sound of ripping paper as Emma was finishing reading told Emma that her friends had gotten too impatient to hold off any longer, and the murmurs of appreciation that followed solidified that the portrait Aladdin had made must be really special indeed.

"Wow," Ruby said as she shook her head. "I don't even know what to say."

Emma wanted so badly to look up and catch a glimpse of whatever image Aladdin had used to no doubt create another breathtaking masterpiece, but she resisted. Instead of giving into instant gratification, Emma decided that what she wanted was another moment with Killian, and a chance to share in this reveal together.

"Don't show me," Emma said much to the surprise of everyone, but all it took was a second for understanding to appear in everyone's eyes.

"Okay then, but we're gonna need some tape, because we just went to town on this," Elsa admitted making Emma laugh heartily as she slipped the card in her pocket for safe keeping. And as the friends spent the last moments of their lunch break puzzling together a cover for Emma, Emma was thinking just how lucky she was and how eager she was to share this with Killian later tonight.

After a long day at work there was nothing that compared to the hope and comfort of knowing that he was seeing Emma. It didn't matter where or when; as long as Killian got the chance to be with her a day could be salvaged as far as he was concerned, but tonight he was truly in need of seeing her.

The cause for that was simple – he'd been thinking of her damn near all day and hadn't had the chance to so much as text her despite his wanting to. There were a million meetings to get to, hands to shake, and deals to be made, and the final product was substantial: Citizen NY was getting the chance to launch it's brand of writing, content, and style to three other major markets. It was exactly the kind of expansion Killian had hoped for when he started this endeavor, but it was hard to be fully satisfied when it meant spending so much longer in the office.

For the past two days he'd missed the morning commute with Emma, and he was sick of that and every other missed opportunity that they had. Too many days had gone by without more than a quick meal or a tiny interlude between them. So tonight Killian had a plan: he was fully disconnecting from the fray of his work and surrounding himself as much as he could with Emma. Nothing was going to keep him from his Swan, and for the rest of the night it would just be him and her and…

"Oh Killian, there you are. Just the man I was looking for," Emma's neighbor Mrs. Hubbard said when he was about to knock on Emma's front door. He stilled at her appearance, offering her a smile despite her interruption. She was a kind woman, and one who Emma truly cared about so he would never show her any disrespect, no matter how desperate he was to see Emma.

"How can I be of service, ma'am?" He asked and the old woman waved away the title as she motioned for him to come inside her apartment.

"Step in here for a minute – I want to have a word with you, and I'd rather Emma not overhear."

Killian hesitated for only a second but he eventually followed her, promising himself he'd make this as quick a stay as he could. At least he hadn't had to buzz up to Emma. If he had he'd worry about making her wait, but as it was he was early still and had time to humor the old woman.

As he stepped into Mrs. Hubbard's apartment, which mirrored Emma's almost to a tee but with a vastly different style of furnishing, Killian tried to figure out how to approach this. He could arguably start with small talk and ease into whatever it was that Emma's neighbor wanted, or he could come right out and ask. But before he could make a decision between the two, the older woman made her own plan very clear.

"I'll get right to it: what exactly are your intentions with my Emma?" She asked and Killian tried to bite back a grin.

The woman was so serious, her face set in a stony form of straight-forward sincerity that struck Killian as real and true. Yet even if it was funny to think that Emma's neighbor would be giving him this song and dance, it occurred to Killian that this would be one of the only people in Emma's life he ever had such a conversation with. Of course he'd spoken to her friends about his love for Emma and had given his word to never hurt her, but Emma didn't have a family outside of them, save for her curious, nosey neighbor.

It was in that moment, when Killian tried to look away just to gather his thoughts that he looked at the mantel in Mrs. Hubbard's living room. There in the spots of honor were a number of pictures, many older with her and a man Killian assumed was her late husband. Some with women Killian would guess were her friends or relatives, and there was also one with someone he knew: there almost in the center was a photo of Emma and Mrs. Hubbard smiling together at the front of Bliss Boutique but before it was fully realized. There was still a 'for sale' sign in the window, telling Killian it must have been very early on in the process that she was there supporting Emma and her dreams.

"I know it probably sounds silly, but that girl has managed to make an old woman very happy by being exactly who she is. Not many people in the world have a heart like Emma's, never mind in Manhattan."

"On that point we agree," Killian said, truly believing that Emma was a singular person with no equal anywhere in this city or beyond.

"She's a fighter through and through for obvious reasons, but she is also a dreamer, and I want to see to it that all her dreams come true. The shop was a good start, but there's more to life than work, even if we love it. Emma deserves a real family, and a man who chooses her every time. She's had enough heartbreak to last a lifetime, and I won't see her hurt again."

The resounding strength in Mrs. Hubbard's words were undeniable, and though many might look at her and see someone old and frail, Killian knew that if he so much as thought of stepping a toe out of line, she would make him pay. He could totally see her enacting some intricate ploy for revenge in the name of Emma's heart and honor and crazy as it was, that thought brought a huge grin to his face. Because to be that severe in her declaration, she must love Emma a great deal.

"Emma is everything to me, ma'am. I love her and I will always love her. Any dream she has is a dream of mine as well, because all I want is to make her happy. If it were up to me I'd ask her for the rest of our lives tomorrow, but I think she needs a bit more time, and I'll give her as much as she needs no matter how long it takes."

Killian's answer stewed there between them for a while, hanging in the air for a few moments before finally Mrs. Hubbard nodded and let a smile slip. Though Killian hadn't needed her approval, he did feel a sense of relief at having garnered more of her support, and when she came over to take his hand in hers and pat it gently, he awaited some sage words of wisdom. But what he got instead was arguably better.

"Well alright then. Now just make sure that when you two move in together you don't go too far away, and for God's sake ask the girl to marry you before you call the movers. Maybe it's old fashioned, but it's tradition for a reason and Emma deserves for you to do this right. And I want a front seat at the wedding. None of that back of the church crap for me, you hear?"

Killian didn't really know what to say except for yes, and the next thing he knew Mrs. Hubbard was shooing him out of her apartment and leaving him out there in the hall half stunned. He stood there contemplating how quickly that has escalated as Emma's door opened up and the woman he loved came into view, taking up all his attention and fixation again instantly.

"You're here," she said happily and Killian's chest flooded with pride. Damn right he was here, and he wasn't going anywhere anytime soon.

Without so much as a word Killian moved into kiss her and Emma eagerly pulled him in closer, taking that offered kiss and helping it flourish into so much more. It was a revival of the truest kind, and with Emma in his arms Killian felt every last ounce of stress from his day totally disappear. By the time they'd pulled back Killian was totally at peace and feeling like nothing could touch him.

"Well that hello was definitely worth the wait," Emma admitted, and Killian moved his hand to tuck a lock of her hair behind her ear, noticing the way she tracked the motion and blushed the tiniest bit at the contact.

"Life would be so much easier if you were with me every moment, Swan," he claimed totally honestly, but the words made Emma laugh and pull him back into her apartment.

"You say that, but you've never been with me dealing with a bridezilla before. I'm not exactly a ray of sunshine when a temperamental bride invades the shop."

Killian knew what she meant with the metaphor, but what Emma failed to see was that she constantly brought light to his life. It wouldn't matter if they were arguing or cranky or what have you. Having Emma near would always be better than the distance. That was a simple fact.

"Hopefully you didn't have such a person in your charge today, love," he said keeping hold of her hand as she led him towards the kitchen.

"No thank God. It actually ended up being a really good one and it came bearing an unexpected surprise."

The question of what had brightened her world today was close to passing his lips when Killian noticed a stand in the corner of Emma's living room with some sort of covered canvas. It was shoddily hidden to be honest, with maybe more tape than actual paper, but he knew instantly that this was the one thing out of place in her home.

"I take it there's more to this evening's plan than mere dining, Swan," he said nodding in the direction of the unidentified item.

"Well there was always going to be more than mere dining," Emma countered, this time with a tautness in her voice and a twinkle in her eye that told Killian she was purposefully insinuating the eventual seduction that would come after dinner. He moved closer to her, intent on bringing her into his arms and while she let herself be wrapped up in his embrace, Emma's hand came to rest on his chest in a firm manner. "But we're totally eating first. No distractions this time."

"How about a compromise? You show me what's under the sheet now and I follow the rest of your itinerary to the letter."

Emma shook her head and bit her lip, not fully tamping down a smile as she did. There was a humor in her countenance and a rosiness to her cheeks that spoke to her enjoying this, but Killian could also see that she was firm in her desires. And if there was anything he had learned in recent weeks, it was that once Emma Swan set her mind to something, she would never easily be swayed. Not that he'd try to change it. If this element of mystery made her happy then far be it from him to keep her from that joy.

"Be patient," Emma whispered, pressing a soft kiss to his lips before pulling out of his arms and taking his hand to lead him to the table.

By now Killian and Emma had shared a number of meals together, and Killian had learned just how talented Emma was in the kitchen, but as per usual Emma blew him away. There was nothing that graced his plate that wasn't delectable, and not a moment in the whole span of their dinner when he wasn't thoroughly pleased with where he was and who he was with.

It felt to Killian like so many of their other dinners had before, where they were almost living through a snapshot of what a future for them could be like. He could picture coming home to Emma night after night and spending the evening in this way, or with take out camped in front of the TV. Truly all that mattered was the woman at his side, and the fact that she let him in, sharing parts of herself and her day as the meal progressed. In fact, that kind of contentment that came from sharing with Emma was so overwhelming that it enabled Killian to forget about the mystery painting entirely until Emma was leading him back into the living room for the big reveal.

"So two of these arrived at the shop today…" Emma said when she was just in front of the painting, with her hand still in his. "And one of them featured a picture from a source standing in this very room."

"So this is from Aladdin then?" Killian asked aloud with a quizzical tone as he pieced the puzzle together.

"You look surprised," Emma said and Killian nodded.

"I am. I only sent him one picture but you said you got two…"

"This isn't one of me and my friends. It's of you and me."

"You and me?" Killian parroted and Emma nodded.

"That's what they tell me. I thought I'd wait to look at it with you though. It only seemed right. But my friends got ahead of themselves, thus the beautiful tape adornments you see here."

Killian chuckled at her humor, and ran his thumb across Emma's knuckles in a light brush. He then brought her hand up to kiss gently, looking into her green eyes and seeing that same warmth that was nearly always there with Emma.

"Why don't you do the honors, love?" He asked and Emma immediately obliged, tearing the paper again and revealing the intricate painting inside.

Killian knew going into this that the picture would be of him and Emma (and likely from the wedding since Jasmine and Aladdin had access to it), but he didn't expect just how striking the image would be. The camera lens had been trained on the two of them dancing, and the expression on both of their faces was unshielded in any regard. It was clear as day that there was real love between them, and Killian found himself mesmerized by not only how beautiful Emma was, but how she'd been so free in that moment. There was nothing like a wall in sight, and he was on the receiving end of that look. It filled him with this sense of rightness that he couldn't readily express, but he held her hand tighter in an unconscious attempt to tell her that he didn't take her love for granted.

As with the other Street Rat originals he'd seen, there was another layer above the incredibly vivid photo and the aura surrounding Emma and him was similar to that one with the couple that had been so passionate in his exhibit at the gallery. But this time the colors were different. Now where there had once been crisp reds and bright orange, there were shades of blue that burned to white. It was amazing, and still the details went further than that, for Killian could see these tiny traces of gold that practically swirled off the page. It was tantalizing, and he could see at one moment three things – the ocean, a flame that burned brighter than before in the hottest shades of blue, and this overwhelming aura of serenity.

Bringing his gaze from the portrait to the woman who made all that love between them possible, Killian immediately saw the tears in Emma's eyes. The sight of them pushed him to action, and in seconds his arms were around her and his lips were at her temple, brushing a gentle kiss there as he whispered his query.

"Are you alright, Emma?"

"Yeah," she answered and nodded. "It's just so real. It's like the way I feel about you in every moment caught in one fleeting glimpse."

"So it's not just my dancing that provokes feelings of love on your behalf?" Killian teased and Emma laughed wiping away her tears as she shook her head.

"Hardly," Emma whispered.

"Well that's good to hear, for I simply don't have the stamina to be dancing as often as I want your love."

Both of them laughed at his ridiculous joke and then they came together for another kiss that felt just as gorgeous as that piece of art before them. Actually, Killian would argue it was better for the simple reason that he was living it. Yes, Aladdin had captured a glimpse of what Killian and Emma shared, but Emma's words were right. This wasn't a one time kind of thing. They were more than mere moments, and right now, right here, it was easy to feel that.

"So what are we going to do about this?" Emma asked when she stole her lips away again too soon for Killian's liking. He took a second to leave the fog that kiss induced, but even when that was done he was still at a loss and his brow furrowed in response.

"I don't take your meaning, Swan."

"Well technically this picture – and the moment it depicts – belongs to both of us. But this isn't exactly the kind of thing you share custody of. Unless you want to come grab it every other week…" Emma said, and though there was a humor in her voice, Killian could feel the underlying intensity she was feeling. It made him wonder if maybe she wasn't thinking of moving things faster between them as he was. Could she be hinting at them moving in together? Or was he reading too far into this to satisfy his own wants? There was only one way to find out.

"I think I'd much rather let the painting stay right here, especially since I'm hoping a day will come when I can do the same."

"Your lease is up in two months, right?" Emma asked, confirming to Killian that he'd been right on in guessing her meaning. He nodded, desperate to hear what she'd say next. "Maybe we should think about what to do before then."

"Maybe we should," Killian chorused before turning up the ante in the hopes of convincing Emma that in two months time they should be moving towards each other instead of staying as they were. His hands ran along her skin and his eyes dipped towards her lips as he fought the urge to kiss her. "And maybe I can show you tonight just what kind of future it might be, should we move in the direction I'm hoping."

"I might need a lot of convincing," Emma countered with a seductive smile and then Killian was pulling her into his arms and bringing her to bed, claiming that he had forever to make his case.

Post-Note: So like I said before it's literally all fluff over here (which is just the way I like it). And yes – they are moving at lightening speed because it's only been a few months and I am hinting at moving in together. But really what did you guys expect? I'm hardly the slow burn type. Anyway I have some plans for the next few chapters and I am thinking that the proposal will be here maybe two chapters from now? Not entirely sure on that yet, but I do know I am so excited to keep this story going. Hope you all enjoyed and thank you so much for reading!