37. "Wanna dance?"
Captain Swan, Season 2 divergence. This takes place in the same verse as chapter 2 #17. "Looks like we'll be trapped for a while…"
She looked around to all the people gathering around in the backyard, drinking, talking, and dancing. Her parents had decided to renew their vows and they have invited the entire kingdom town to celebrate.
There they were, the symbol of True Love, in the middle of the dance floor, enraptured with each other.
"Enjoying the celebration, Swan?" She heard his voice next to her and she turned around to meet his blue eyes looking teasingly at her. She tore her eyes away from him and her breath caught on her throat as she took in his entire view.
He was wearing a clean black suit with a pristine white shirt and a black tie. He looked devastating. She had seen him in modern clothes before, as he'd taken quite a liking on them, but never in a suit.
She was barely aware that her jaw was slightly dropping until she heard the smirk in his voice. "Some might say devilishly handsome, don't you think?"
She rolled her eyes at him and he took one long, lasting look at her. She had a green tight dress that made her look even more stunning than she already was. Gods, he loved the clothing in this realm.
"You look stunning, Swan." He said awestruck and she smiled at him.
It had been an interesting couple of weeks after they came back from the Enchanted Forest, the events that occurred in there still lingering between them. But he had kept his promise: he made sure she was safe and sound with her son and he bowed at her, telling her that they'd talk when she felt ready. And he had left their apartment. Granted, her father was giving him a very nasty look.
Something made Emma go after him. She wasn't ready to face anything, but she didn't want him to stray alone and lost in this new world. She awkwardly gave him directions to Granny's and asked him to meet her for a cup of coffee within a few days' time.
Ruby had taken him under her wing: she'd fetched him a room at the inn, got him new clothes, helped him with the basics of the new world and even suggested a few occupations he might look into it. This meant he mainly own black clothes and very fitted jeans, but Emma could recognize it was a look that suited him.
When they met for coffee, she tried to discourage him. She tried. But his smile had been so sincere and he had paid so much attention to her every word that she found herself talking to him about things. Nothing major, nothing important: just daily stupid things from her life that he seemed to listen as if they were the most important thing in the world.
She wasn't ready for anything else and he didn't push. He could recognize a wounded soul when he met one, so he just sat there and listened. He had all the time in the world after all.
He knew a confrontation with the Dark One was inevitable, but he was not looking openly for it either. And it happened a week after he'd arrived, when he was sharing a walk in the docks with Emma and they ran into the Crocodile and the petite brunette he remembered from the Queen's castle.
Emma felt him stiffen next to her and she mustered all the strength she had to stand up for him. She informed Gold that Killian (she stressed his name) had decided to reside in Storybrooke and she hoped that we could all behave like civil, law-abiding citizens. Gold had merely nodded and Belle had welcomed Killian to town.
And that was where they were now. Coffee talks and dock walks and she had told him more things she'd ever remember telling anyone. But that was as far as they've gotten.
He looked at the dance floor "Tell me, darling, this is how people dance in this realm?" He asked.
She nodded. "Why?"
"It's quite interesting." He said as he leaned in to whisper in her ear. "And a lot closer than the waltzes I'm used to."
He put his hand out and looked at her. "Care to dance, milady?" He asked, a promise of both hope and mischief in his blue eyes.
She took his hand and let him escort her to the dance floor. He pulled her tight against him, his arms circling her waist while she crossed her arms behind her neck.
"So… am I doing this right?" He asked as he slowly moved them along the dance floor.
"Very good." She replied as she moved a little closer to him. She wasn't even conscious of it, her body was in tune with his and it just happened.
He pressed her even tighter against him, her head rested on his shoulder and she sighed deeply, closing her eyes, her hand caressing his hair at the nape on his neck. She could feel her entire body coming alive just by being close to him. She could tell he was feeling it too.
"What are we going to do, Killian?" She whispered.
He sighed and buried his nose in her air, breathing her in, and then he lowered his head until his lips were on her ear. "Whatever you want us to do, Emma. At the pace you want us to do it."
"Just like that?" She asked again, as she did on the cave.
"I'll follow your lead, love. I know how I feel, I know how we are supposed to feel, but I am willing to wait until you are sure about how you feel." He said. "I have all the time in world…"
He pulled away a little to give her a sincere smile, his piercing blue eyes looking happily at her. "As long as you promise we get to dance like this from time to time, I'll be fine, Swan." He smirked. "Just take your chance with me when you are ready."
He spoke the last words inches away from her face, letting her make the last decision.
She didn't hesitate as she closed the space between them and captured his lips with hers. His hand was in her hair in a second, pulling her even closer to him
It was even better than she remembered. It was like reaching home.
He pulled away and looked marveled at her.
"I think I'm ready." She replied shyly and he smiled at her.
"About time." He whispered against her lips before kissing her again.