Emma took a deep breath as she entered Granny's. Her parents were already in a booth waiting for her. At first, they didn't notice she came in- they were too distracted rubbing noses. As she got closer to the booth, they jumped a little when they realized it was her, then got up to greet her. Snow gave her a hug and David simply gave her a smile. They slide back into the booth, but instantly noticed the look of worry on her face.

"Is everything okay?" Snow asked. Emma gulped a little bit. Why was she so nervous to tell them?

"Um, we're all adults here, so I just wanted to tell you that something happened last night," Emma started. Both her parents were in full attention. "Killian and I are together now."

"Finally!" Snow said with a smile. "I knew it was only a matter of time."

"You're dating a pirate?" Charming asked, less than thrilled.

"Courting, actually, or that's how he put it," Emma corrected. Snow looked at David with a 'don't get upset' look, but he was already not happy. Maybe this is why I was nervous, Emma thought.

"Emma, do you understand what courting means? Are you saying you're intending to marry that pirate?" David questioned.

"We said it's something to look into someday, but we're taking it slow. I think given the circumstances, we need to take things one step at a time. And he's not just some pirate. We've gotten close over these past few weeks and he's trying to be better for me and for Henry."

"And what about when Gold comes back?" David continued. "Do you really want to put you and Henry in the middle of their revenge? You saw what happened to Belle!"

"We talked about that. We agreed that enough damage has been done and Killian doesn't want to make things worse. Once Gold comes back, he wants to offer a truce. And in the meantime, Killian wants to use his gold to help pay for Belle's therapy and memory retrieval sessions."

"That's honorable of him," Snow said, trying to be supportive. David still wasn't happy. His daughter should be with a prince, a man worthy of her. Not some vengeful pirate. Snow was always supportive in believing people could change, and Killian better not disappoint. David grunted and looked at the clock. Henry was due to go see Dr. Hopper in less than an hour, and Killian had not brought him to meet them for dinner yet. Now they were going to be rushed.

"Honorable, but not prompt," David grumbled. Almost on cue, Killian and Henry entered the restaurant sheepishly and their hair was dripping wet. Henry was wearing one of Killian's pirate shirts and pants, which were both huge on him. As they slipped into the booth, Killian handed Henry a menu, which he knew was unneeded because Henry always orders the same thing. Killian eventually looked up to three pairs of accusing eyes staring at him.

"Why were you late?" Emma questioned.

"Um..." Killian started.

"Killian took me sailing again and this time we went even FARTHER than before. Then he gave me a sword fighting lesson on the beach. We lost track of time, and when I ran off the boat I slipped off the dock and fell in the water. Killian jumped in to pull me out, and I'm okay- but I did all my homework first!" Henry explained. Killian slid down in his seat and pulled the menu up, knowing what was coming.

"You sailed AGAIN?! And fell off the dock?!" Emma said in shock to Killian.

"Killian always tells me that I shouldn't run, but I didn't want to be late!" Henry explained.

"You're taking sword fighting lessons from a pirate instead of me?" David asked Henry, a bit upset. Henry looked down, a bit guilty. He loved playing and learning from Gramps, but he had fun with Killian too. Killian gave Henry a nudge of encouragement.

"Well, he can learn from a knight, but if he wants to win, he should learn from a pirate," Killian stated. David knocked on the table with his fist in frustration, then suddenly slide out of the edge of the booth and went outside. Emma and Snow exchanged looks, then glared at Killian. "What? What did I do?" David came back into Granny's with his sword in hand. He pulled it from the scabbard then threw it over the bar. He pointed his sword at Hook. Killian rolled his eyes, then slide out of the booth, keeping his sword put away. "You don't want to do this, mate. People are trying to eat."

"Let's see if you can even pull off a fair fight," David challenged, holding his sword up to Killian. "Outside, now." Killian flashed a smile and a shrug at Snow and Emma, and Henry bolted out behind Killian and David, extremely excited to see two experienced swordsmen fight. The woman followed and held Henry back on the steps to Granny's. David and Killian were facing each other in the street, like a duel in the old west.

"Charming, don't do this. You're being childish!" Snow called out.

"Henry needs to see how true knight handles a battle. There's no need for him to learn cowardly cheap pirate tricks," David called back.

"I don't teach cheap tricks- and NO MAN calls me a coward," Killian stated, pulling his sword out. The two's swords met with a loud clang of metal. David attacked Killian with all his best moves, to which Killian parried with ease. If the two were really facing off in a battle to the death, it would be hard to predict a winner. Both were skilled, but Killian was holding back for two reasons. One, David was giving him plenty of opportunities to fight dirty, but he wouldn't be proven wrong. Two, he was holding himself back from using his hook as a second weapon, which he had grown very accustomed to, but this wasn't a battle to the death. It was a battle of honor. David was holding back as well, but purely so he wouldn't break Hook's neck for asking to court his daughter.

The battle ranged all over Main street. David jumped on the hood of a car to gain a height advantage, while Killian evened it out by taking a swipe at his leg with his hook, forcing him to jump off the car. Okay, maybe I will use it just that once, Killian thought. David did one last combination and backed Killian up to a wall, locking their swords by Killian's neck. David pressed in a little to show he had the upperhand, and Killian just clenched his jaw. He could easily get out of this hold, but that would be cheating.

"I gave you plenty of opportunities to cheat, and you didn't take them," David said with a smile. "Okay, you have my permission."

"Was that a test?" Killian asked as David released his hold.

"No, that was just a bonus," David dropped his sword to his side and turned to go back into Granny's. "Don't hurt my daughter- or Henry!," he called back.

"Father of the year, you are," Killian yelled back, putting his sword back into his own scabbard. As they passed the women, Emma gave Killian a hard glance. "Hello, beautiful," Killian said with a smile and giving Emma a kiss on the cheek. "I think Daddy likes me!" Emma rolled her eyes and pushed him back through the door. Now Henry's appointment was in twenty minutes- great.

Emma and Killian decided to take a walk while Henry met with Archie. Emma held his good hand as they walked. The sun was setting, and Killian stopped her as they reached the edge of town, gazing out over the water that bordered the end of Main Street. He wrapped his arms around her and they watched the light dance across the water.

"Are you happy, love?" Killian whispered in her ear.

"Hmm, very," Emma replied. "To be honest, it almost feels unreal. I've always felt it wasn't in the stars for me to be happy, or to have someone." Killian kissed her temple and pulled her tighter.

"And now?" he asked. Emma turned in his arms and wrapped her arms around his neck. She played with the hair on the nape of his neck and then tilted her head up towards his. As they leaned in for a kiss, Emma's phone rang. They both closed their eyes in disappointment. "When you answer that blasted thing, tell them to start thinking of a death wish." Emma gave Killian a quick kiss on the lips before reaching to pull out her phone. She froze when she read the caller ID- Gold. She swallowed hard and looked at Killian. "What?" Emma broke from his gentle hold and answered the call while walking away.

"Hello? Yeah...I'll be right over...bye," Emma said into the phone. She turned to Killian and gave him a kiss on the cheek.

"Who was it?" Killian inquired.

"No one."

"Well, you obviously were talking to someone, so why can't you...him!" Killian's temperament changed in a nanosecond. "He's here, the Crocodile in Storybrooke. Where is he?!" Emma froze for a second- the vengeful pirate was back in an instant.

"Killian, stop!" Emma said, putting her hands on each side of his face, trying to calm him down. He tried to slow his breath, but the darkness in his eyes still lingered. He closed his eyes and tried to focus on the calming touch of her hand, but he was too furious.

"He should have stayed away. Things were fine until he came back," Killian vented.

"So, what are you going to do now? Forget everything that's happened in the last few weeks and go back to your revenge just because he came back to town?" Killian sighed and shook his head. "Killian, you talked a good game about wanting a truce and wanting to help Belle to show your sincerity. Was that all a lie?" Killian took one of her hands from his face and kissed it.

"No. It's just harder than I thought it would be...knowing he's here. Old habits die hard, I guess," he said, trying to flash one of those 'get out of trouble' smiles. Emma wasn't buying it, he was obviously still mad.

"I need to go see him- alone. Can you pick up Henry in 5 minutes from Archie's?" Emma asked. "Until then, walk with me." Killian nodded, taking her hand as they walked towards Gold's house. His stride was different from before. There was now a sense of purpose and protection in his stride and the way he held her hand. When they were a block away, Emma stopped him there. His eyes were determined and hard as he kept looking down the street towards where Gold was. "Hey," she said, turning his head toward hers and giving him a quick kiss. "If I'm not back in an hour, come find me." As she turned to go, he grabbed her back in his arms and kissed her passionately, lifting her a little off the ground. It was if he was kissing her like she'd never return.

"Be safe, darling," he whispered, recovering a little. Emma gave him one last short kiss and started towards the pawn shop, only letting go of his hand when they were out of each other's arm reach. "If he hurts you, whatever truce I was considering will be over," Hook whispered into the air.

To be Continued