Missing scene ficlet from Emma's first night home, right after Killian comes back inside from David shrugging of his help with harsh words. (very mild M rating)

He's thankful for the door at his back keeping him steady as a lightheadedness overcomes him at the whiplash of emotions hitting him all at once. It was just a few minutes ago when he'd looked around the kitchen at the family sipping at their glasses, smiling and hugging, realizing that he no longer felt like an outsider. There were no sidelong glances his way during that toast, no raised eyebrows from Regina or scoff from David, just a loving look from Emma as if he was the most important one in the room. He's was in this. He had a home, a family larger and more complicated than he ever could have imagined. He finally felt like he had a place in it.

But the words David has just spoken has simply reminded him of how far off he is from ever deserving any of it. Killian's past is something from which he will never escape, but he'd hoped David had seen his attempts to change. Shaking his head, he tries to remind himself that David is on the edge of delirious, overtired and scared. Lashing out is an understandable response in these circumstances. He's certainly done his fair share of that. Closing his eyes, he takes a deep breath, holding the air in his lungs for a moment before letting it out slowly through his nose, a trick he'd taught young sailors feeling their first bout of seasickness on choppy waters. The future he wants, the one taking shape around him, in this house, in every one of Emma's smiles, he'll weather any storm in order to grasp it. Tomorrow, he will step into that tempest, one way or another.

Leaving his coat on the hook and his boots by the door, he heads up the stairs, pausing on the landing when he hears Emma's voice drifting quietly from Henry's room at the end of the hall. The door isn't closed, but he senses the need for privacy and leaves them to their conversation. Once inside the master bedroom, he closes the door and begins to undress, dropping his dirty clothes in the hamper in their impossibly large closet piece by piece. He will do laundry tomorrow, he thinks, wash everything from the time Emma was away as if that can erase the feelings of having her gone. His hand reaches out to feel for the box hidden in the pocket of his leather duster, needing a tactile reminder of all he is fighting for.

He makes quick work of his nightly routine, clearing the kohl from his eyes and brushing his teeth. The cinnamon flavored toothpaste Emma prefers still not something he's quite used to, but it's a far cry better than the chew stick he'd used for centuries on his ship. Emma still isn't back in their room by the time he's slipping into bed, but he's content to wait. The French translation of "The Thousand and One Nights" sits on his nightstand, but he's already read Aladdin's story so many times that he could probably recite it word for word.

Emma appears just as he's pondering reading a different tale in the heavy book and he lets it fall back to the table, returning her smile as she pushes the door closed behind her.

"Sorry, Henry's still a bit ruffled by everything. I'm going to take him out tomorrow, just him and me for some mother-son bonding time."

She looks a bit apologetic, so he does his best to quickly reassure her.

"I think that's a fine idea, love. I'm sure the lad would like to spend some time with his Mom that doesn't involve anything life-threatening."

He winces at the words, but she doesn't see it, as she's just stepped into their closet and out of sight.

"Well, we're going canoeing, so I can't make any guarantees."

"Lifejackets please, Swan."

Her grumble of "I know, Captain" sets his cheeks into a wide smile and he leans his head back against the headboard as flurries of anticipation tingle beneath his skin. This is the first moment they've had alone since her return and he longs to feel her in his arms and say things only meant for her ears to hear. When she reemerges from the closet she's in one of her overlong nightshirts, the material so thin he can see her every curve as she moves towards the bathroom. He has to grip the sheets to stop from himself from vaulting from the bed to follow. As the sound of her brushing her teeth filters through the door, he turns to look at her pillow, remembering how he'd held it against his chest as he'd tried to sleep the previous night. The absence of her like a puzzle missing its central piece.

"Hey, you okay?"

Doing his best to unknit his brows, he nods at her as her hand reaches to turn off the bathroom light and she finally makes her way to their bed. He's so anxious that he lifts the quilt and sheets for her, earning him a shy smile as she crawls in beside him on her knees. Those same knees end up on either side of his lap as they both move at the same time, her hands gripping his cheeks as he steadies her waist. Her kiss is like magic, each brush of her lips releasing tendrils of worry and longing from his soul. The skin of her back is covered in goosebumps beneath his fingers and he shudders against her mouth, her responsiveness to him never failing to surprise even after all this time.

Her head dips slightly and he takes a breath as their lips part, her nose now pressed to his as she speaks on a quiet whisper.

"I'm so happy to be home."

"Aye, I missed you, my love."

He has more to say, but she kisses him again. It's not until she's beneath him, skin to skin and heart to heart do the words finally come. He whispers "I love you" against her lips as he moves within her, slowly, with such tender care that he hopes she can feel the depth of his meaning with each gentle slide of his body over hers. She clings to his neck as she climaxes, her sob muffled by her lips against his skin and his own heavy breaths. His release soon follows, slow and steady until the last of his energy is spent and he turns to his side so he can gather her tight against his chest. Emma's asleep within moments, the quick tingle of her magic cleaning their skin the last thing he feels before her gentle snores fill the quiet of their room.

Not wanting to move and wake her from her much needed slumber, he holds on tight, determined as ever to never let her go.