A/N: So chapter two flashes forward to the next year and as promised, it brings a much-needed reunion. The song in the chapter uses "You Got Me" by Jason Chain as the lyric inspiration. In my head it's infused with more rock but it just captured the feel I wanted so much. Also the M rating is earned in this chapter because after a year of separation, I think they deserved it.

December 31st, 2015– Boston MA

"Can you believe it's been a year already? It feels like we were at Luna only yesterday. What a year." Mary Margaret mused in her soft pink dress applying the final touches of blush to her cheeks. Absentmindedly she looked at herself in the full-length mirror and her hand moved to hold her stomach. A week before Mary Margaret had told Emma and Ruby that she was pregnant.

For Mary Margaret, 2015 had truly been a charmed year. On January 1st, at 5:45 AM after Elsa had given birth to her beautiful baby boy, Seamus, David took Mary Margaret back to his home and inside she'd found roses everywhere in white and red. Things may not have gone according to plan (baby Seamus was three weeks early after all) but the answer was a resounding yes. They hadn't wanted to wait long to marry and on a warm spring day at the end of May, they'd stood in front of their closest friends and families and made vows to each other to always find each other. Whatever that meant.

"I know it feels surreal. I wish it would all slow down," Ruby replied as she adjusted the top of her sequined silver dress just how she wanted it.

For Ruby too it had been a whirlwind year. She'd found love with Graham, who after the gig at Luna had been offered a spot in the band, which he politely turned down. He loved his simple life in Boston and, honestly, he was already pretty in love with the girl he'd met only a week before in that old-style diner. He and Ruby had been dating since and he'd pulled out all the stops. Romantic weekends away, five star dinners, presents, the lot. Ruby ate all of it up, but mostly she was just happy that she'd finally found a man who saw her for her and loved her fiercely for all she was.

Emma stared at herself in the mirror and tried not to frown. This year hadn't been all she'd hoped. A year ago the world had seemed so full of possibility but now… here she was another year older and feeling genuinely alone. Everyone, and she meant everyone, was matched off except for her. And why? Because she couldn't seem to forget that magical night with Killian one year ago tonight. No man since had sparked anything near what he had with his heated glances and meticulous touch. She shook her head trying to rid herself of the memory. Tonight she put all that behind her. Tonight she got out of the year of yearning and took control of her love life again.

Smoothing out her skintight black dress with gold embellishments she checked her hair, which fell more wavy than curly these days. She looked into her own sad green eyes and willed herself to stop being miserable.

You can do this Emma Swan because you're smart, and awesome, she turned around checking out the wonders this dress did for the ass she'd worked hard to perfect in the gym this year (one solid side effect of heartache), and you're hot as hell in this dress. Killian, who?

"Did you guys hear Legal Piracy is down a drummer again? What's that like five in one year? You think it would be easier to find someone with a platinum selling album," Ruby mused as she packed her purse for the night.

"You know what?" Emma hurriedly grabbed her coat and bag and hastily made for the door before anything else could be said. "I completely forgot I told Walsh I would meet him at the office before heading over to Luna. I'll just see you guys there, okay?"

Before either of them answered she closed the front door behind her and walked down the stairs then out into the cold winter night. As she tried to steady her breathing, she watched the small puffs of cloud emitting from her and closed her eyes for a moment.

Why can't I just forget him already? She thought to herself desperately.

Killian Jones, handsome and magnetic as he was, was not an option. He was a certified rock star now. They played his music on the radio, she'd seen him at red carpets and on talk shows. He was in another universe and even when they'd passed like two ships in the night, he'd never called, never texted. Emma waited a week, then two. She'd nearly asked Graham about him when he'd announced that Legal Piracy had been offered a contract from some huge record label and had apparently flown to LA days after their performance. And then it had all made sense. She wasn't the girl you chose, she was just the girl you met in the bar on New Years.

When their album came out in June, she tried her best not to buy it but it was so good. None of that cookie cutter crap that seemed to be everywhere. It was raw and real and she'd been drawn to it, just like she'd been drawn to him. She'd take it to the grave, but five of her top-played songs were off the album on her phone currently. God she was pathetic.

Emma moved down the sidewalk at a faster pace, only half a block from the office where she had been slaving away as a PR specialist for the past five years of her life. This year especially she'd flung herself full on into work at every turn and her bosses had noticed. She'd moved up again and now led her own group at the firm running their entertainment outreach division which is where she'd met Walsh, a nice, friendly guy who made her laugh and was kind to her. There wasn't a spark, but maybe, if she tried hard enough and could completely forget about Killian there….could be? God damnit.

…

"Killian? Killian?!" Will's voice pulled Killian out of his daydream. Like all of the others it had been filled with a beautiful blonde enchantress looking stunning in gold, smelling of lilacs, and smiling like she knew something he didn't.

"What?"

He hadn't meant to snap at his friend, but he was in a crummy mood. Killian thought that his phone crashing from the spilled drinks was just a spot of bad luck that night a year ago, but then the next day a record exec had called and asked him and the band to fly out and meet about a potential contract. Life had gotten crazy and hectic and in a momentary lapse of judgment, he'd thought maybe it was a sign that he and Emma were not meant to be. It was mid February when he finally got his head out of his ass long enough to ask Graham about her. He'd given her his number and a warning, that if Killian couldn't be there for her he should leave well enough alone. Emma would get over a heated kiss at the strike of midnight. It would take time but it would happen.

Stupidly he'd let Graham convince him but he had gotten her number from him nonetheless. He pulled up her contact every day for nearly two months telling himself he should just move on but he couldn't. So one day in April he'd called…and a man had answered. Killian hung up so quickly and flung his phone across the room so as to be rid of the blasted thing. He told himself all along that a girl like that didn't wait for men like him but still he had hope. She'd inspired it in him. Now the woman was his biggest what-if in his life. He was living the dream he'd had since he was a boy, a different city every night, a hundred women if he wanted them but he never did. All he did was write and perform and think of her. Throw in eating and sleeping and repeating the whole damn process when the sun rose again and that had been his last year.

"That was Regina Mills over at Luna. Seems her band cancelled for tonight last minute and she's calling in that favor Robin owes her. You in?"

A trickling of hope started up again inside him. Maybe Emma would be there again. He'd see her and maybe they could start again… but she had someone in her life, he was almost certain. And could he bear to see her happy with someone else? He didn't know but his heart told him he couldn't stand another what-if. Not where she was concerned. He had to do it.

"Yeah, I'm in. But we're changing the lineup." Killian went to work compiling a set unlike anything they'd performed before and hoped that Emma would be there tonight and see that he'd never let her go. She was everything.

…

"So who'd you say was playing tonight?" Walsh asked Emma as they approached Luna. At the door she simply waved to the large bouncer that most everyone called Grumpy. He almost managed a smile back and waved her and Walsh in with no trouble.

"Wicked Wicked or something. A girl band I think. They're local." Emma took off her coat and scanned the room for a moment before finding her friends. She led Walsh through the crowd to where they sat at the bar but noticed the worried look on her friend's faces.

"Hey guys, everything okay?" Emma asked.

"Yes – well I mean – basically – it's basically fine – it's just – ," Mary Margaret looked to Ruby for help completing whatever thought she couldn't articulate.

"The band for tonight dropped out and the owner managed to get a big name replacement." Ruby looked at Emma for any sign of understanding.

"Okay, great do I know them?" Then the worrying looks turned to pity and Emma knew. It felt like someone had punched her in the gut. He was here. It was last year all over again. She couldn't - wouldn't do it.

"I think we should go."

Emma turned to Walsh imploring him not to ask any questions and he obliged. But just as they started moving a cheer erupted from the crowd as Killian, Will, Liam and a new drummer walked out on stage. Like a deer caught in the headlights Emma froze. He hadn't seen her yet. She could still make her get away if her feet would only move. Then it became a moot point. His arresting blue eyes found her in the sea of people and the rush of emotions on his face, most of them happy made her heart twist.

"Emma?" Walsh called to her and she unhappily tore her gaze from Killian's to face the man she'd invited here tonight. In a moment he understood that he'd stumbled into something bigger than him in Emma's eyes.

"Walsh, I-" He took her hand in his and shook his head.

"It's okay Emma. I get it. He's the guy." She looked at him with a confused expression. "The one you're in love with. The reason you've been kind of walking around in a haze all year."

She nodded solemnly and turned back to the stage. Killian was still staring at her but gone were the hopeful happy looks of before and instead there was a mix of jealousy and…. was that sadness? Had he really been as miserable as she had this year? She looked back to Walsh and rose as high as she could in these heels to kiss his cheek.

"Thanks, Walsh." With that, he put his jacket back on, finished the whiskey he'd ordered and left the bar. Emma turned back to the stage where the set was about to begin.

"How's everybody doing tonight?" The uproar was deafening.

"We are Legal Piracy and seems we've got the beginnings of a tradition. We performed here last year and it brought us a bit of luck. Big record and all that." The cheering continued. "But we're back this year for something else."

Assorted voices from the crowd asked what it was all about. Killian smiled before replying and looked right at Emma again.

"What's it always about? A girl of course."

With that the band played the hits that had made them household names in a matter of months on top of a few selected covers. Mary Margaret and Ruby had rejoined Emma who though not dancing was clearly ensnared by the music.

"Are you okay?" Ruby asked after about forty minutes. Emma tried to nod but couldn't. She looked at Ruby and sort of shrugged in reply. As the song came to a close she looked back to the stage.

"This last song is new, and goes out to the woman who stole my heart. Emma, I don't know what you think of me. Maybe what we had didn't mean the same or maybe you're mad as hell that I never called but I hope you'll forgive me. This is for you."

He'd managed to do it again, to fully stun her into a shocked sense of half understanding. She heard the opening chords and felt the bass from the speakers but it all came just a beat to late to her ears until his voice began to sing, and his words became everything.

Something's been creeping into my head
turning my thoughts into a dizzy mess
Something's been messing up my bed
stealing my dreams and now I'm getting no rest
and I knew you were gone
guess I must be wrong

You got me walking backwards
You got me thinking sideways
You got me talking circles
You got me losing my way
You got me crossing every line
You got me just in time

Something's been hiding in my heart
twisting my soul and pulling me apart
It must be you cause no one else can do this

You got me walking backwards
You got me thinking sideways
You got me talking circles
You got me losing my way
You got me crossing every line
You got me just in time

just in time
just in time

As the song faded to its end, the crowd went absolutely crazy and the noise only got worse when Killian threw aside his guitar and jumped down from the stage. He made his way through the hoards of (surprisingly polite considering their alcohol intake) fans and didn't stop until he had Emma in his arms.

"There wasn't a day that I didn't think of you, Emma. Forgive me, love. Please."

Without a word she grabbed him by the collar and pulled him in for a passionate kiss unfit for public consumption. Emma didn't give a damn though. She poured twelve months of wanting and twelve months of doubt into that kiss, trying to find that piece of her that had gone missing when he'd left and she'd faced a new year alone again. When she pulled away, she simply looked into his lust-filled eyes and said:

"Good. And yes, always."

With that, Killian grabbed her hand and pulled her from the bar to a loud and raucous cheer from everyone. This time they left together and there was no chance in hell either was letting go.

…

"My place or yours love?" Killian asked between kisses as they sat in the back of his black limo equipped with a driver/body guard.

"Is yours a hotel?" He nodded. "Does it have a hot tub and a huge bed?" He nodded. "Definitely yours then." The driver took the queue, put up the rear window and headed off to wherever their end destination was.

As soon as the barrier was up Emma practically climbed into Killian's lap. She'd gone a whole year wondering what he'd feel like, knowing only barely what he tasted like. Tonight she was getting her fill. Pulling him in close with fingers twisted in his hair she took control of the kiss, licking and sucking in a rhythm designed to drive them both crazy. As the kiss escalated so did her desire and she rubbed herself against his leg in the most desperate attempt at friction. Sensing her want he brought one hand down from clutching at her waist and lazily drew a path down to where she wanted him between her legs. He took his time, drawing out the sensation but Emma was too riled up to stand for slow and sweet. She wanted hard and fast. Growling into his mouth and pushing herself further into him, she demanded the attention she wanted above all else. This earned a light chuckle from Killian as he pulled away from the kiss and looked into her eyes with a teasing lightness in his.

"In a hurry, Swan?"

"Oh good, you know my last name. You're going too slow. I need more. I need you." The teasing disappeared and replaced was both lust and pride in his eyes. His hand moved to her thigh and inched beneath the hem of her dress.

"You have me, love. You have everything. But the first time I take you I want you in my bed, stripped down and bared to me. I want to do what I please with that stunning figure of yours and I want those bright green eyes and that perfect mouth telling me everything I need to know about how to make you come."

Well the dirty talk was a damn good start. A shudder coursed through her body but his words, though flattering and lovely and exactly what any sane girl would want to hear, were not what she wanted. What she wanted was him to use those magic fingers that made such sensational music and to play her like he did his guitar. She wanted to ride his fingers to completion. It'd never sate her, but it might take some of the damned edge off.

No doubt sensing this, Killian yielded and pushed his hand past her barely there panties and into her waiting heat. She mewled her pleasure and ground down on his hand, wanting more. He cut off her pleas with a swift kiss then a stern warning.

"Your delicious little sounds are mine, Swan. If you want me to make you come here you'll need to be quiet. Can you do that?" He asked.

Emma nodded as she bit her lip and the pulse in her throat peaked a bit more. His fingers resumed their perusal, brushing against her swollen clit. To ease the want to cry out she pulled him back in for a kiss as he inserted first one and then two fingers inside. Just as she'd thought he was a master, playing her quickly to the most fulfilling orgasm she'd had since… well, ever. The need to scream grew too strong and she pulled away from his mouth and moved to his shoulder where she bit down as she came around his fingers. The growl that escaped him was surely louder than he'd meant it to be but made her orgasm stretch just a bit longer. When the waves of ecstasy finally passed she looked into his eyes and watched him trying to reign himself in.

"We're approaching now sir," the driver's voice came through the intercom, pulling Emma slightly out of the heady, post-orgasm haze.

She was still hungry, and Killian only stoked the fire when he pulled his hands from under her dress and licked his fingers clean in front of her. It took everything in her not to jump right back on top of him, but she settled for clutching his other hand as they exited the limo and made their way through the lobby of the gorgeous hotel. They were the only two people in the elevator together and Emma anticipated more physical foreplay but Killian tilted her chin up to look into his eyes before confessing to her.

"Before we go any farther, I need to apologize – to explain. I was a fool Emma and I was scared. I didn't know at first how to deal with the attraction between us when everything else in my life started moving so quickly. I've regretted it every day since letting you leave that night. Because when you left, you took my heart with you." Emma placed her hand to his chest and felt her eyes pool a little bit with all those unshed tears of the past year.

"I'm sorry I can't give it back." She paused and for a moment he worried that she wasn't feeling the same way as him, but then she looked up into his eyes and smiled. "You'll just have to take mine, I guess."

"I love you, Emma Swan."

The words fell out of his mouth and she inhaled sharply as he said it, clearly surprised. Then she pulled him close again and showed him exactly how much she loved him too. Then for good measure, when the elevator doors opened she whispered her own 'I love you' against his lips. With that, he swept her up into his arms and walked her through the luxurious suite into his bedroom.

Once passed the threshold, he lowered Emma to stand on the ground and turned her to her side so he could pull down the zipper of her snug-fitting dress. As the teeth dragged downward, Emma's anticipation built and she inched her leg up in the hopes of speeding things up. When he was done she stepped out of the dress and stood before him in nothing but her heels, and matching black lace underwear. Killian barely bit back a moan at the sight of her and reached out but she stepped back before he could. Puzzled he looked at her face and found her shaking her head.

"Now you," she instructed as she stepped forward again and pushed the leather jacket from his shoulders.

Emma was slow and measured, torturing him as her fingers lightly danced across his pecs. Fed up with the teasing he pulled the black V-neck he was wearing up and over his head as she undid the button of his dark jeans. As she pushed them down and lingered over his hip and down further Killian audibly gulped. This woman was barely touching him and he felt near ready to die from pleasure. How would he survive making love to her?

Swiftly he discarded the remnants of his clothing and then it was Emma's turn to lose her head for a minute. Staring at his gorgeous cock, she felt herself grow wetter and begin to wonder if he'd even fit. It had been such a long time. Never one to back away from the challenge though, she moved forward and took it in her hands, earning a heated hiss from Killian.

"I won't last that way, Swan. Get on the bed. On your back." She did exactly as he said, heating even more from the authority of his tone. Who knew she'd be into this bossy in bed thing?

"That's a good girl. Now, hands to the headboard."

This pulled a curious glance from Emma, but she obliged him, the thrum of her blood telling her that the idea made her hot even if she wasn't used to it. Once she'd done so, Killian came to her, hot and ready and took control. Starting with her mouth then moving along her jawline down her throat and into the valley of her breasts he kissed and sucked and Emma almost forgot to breath. On instinct she pulled her hands down trying to tangle her fingers in his soft hair but he pulled back.

"Not yet, love." He looked at her with seriousness and despite her half-inclination to just claw at him and beg him to fuck her already she followed his order.

"Fine. But turn around is fair play, Captain," she teased before letting him return to his slow, meticulous work.

Unclasping the front hook of her bra, and freeing her to a fleeting but cool rush of air made her already hard nipples tighten just a bit more, and in them Killian quickly found a pleasure point for Emma. Taking one into his mouth and sucking and nipping sent her soft purring into full-blown moans. He attended to both breasts with reverence with his mouth and with is hand, and when he was quite satisfied that the lady was teetering on the edge, he abandoned his pillaging and trailed kisses lower, down the flat plains of her stomach, to her hip, then the other, and slowly, torturously slowly, he pulled down her panties and opened up her legs for his eyes to feast upon.

"God you're so wet, love."

Emma mumbled some mostly incoherent but sarcastic remark about the stupidity of his pirate mind if he thought that she wasn't at this point but then his lips kissed the inside of her thigh and all words flew from her mind. Grasping as tightly as she could to the headboard she tried by force of will to keep her hands from straying. But when his tongued swiped her slow and thorough she lost all ability to do so. Her hands flew from the headboard to his head and tangled in his hair, angling him closer to what she desperately craved.

The action made something in Killian click and his perusal went from one of slow exploration to heated licks and forceful mastery. When she thought she couldn't stand anymore, she felt him press a finger into her as his mouth focused on her bundle of nerves and she catapulted over the edge, free falling into what she could only describe as a blinding white sort of magic. Faintly she could hear the gravelly call of his name on her lips but it took a moment, maybe two for her to come to again after such a climax.

When she regained her senses she found that Killian sheathed a condom over himself. Now, somewhat sated and clearheaded for the first time in, well a year really, Emma took the reins, pulling him towards her and then surprising him as she hooked her leg around his and flipped them over so he lay beneath her she smiled at him and his clear surprise.

"The first time, I want to ride you. Hard. Think you could handle it?" she traced the defined muscles on his abdomen and watched the harsh rise and fall as he anticipated her on top and only grew more flushed from his desire.

"Maybe you're the one who couldn't handle it."

And just like that, the challenge sparked, and all of her desire flourished back to its full force. Emma covered his mouth in a hard, fast kiss and then pulled away when he wanted more to align herself better over him. Slowly she moved him fitting him like a hot, tight glove. Killian was biting back curses until finally a long and loud "fuck" broke free as she took him to the hilt and then paused a moment to luxuriate in the feeling.

"Emma, love - for the love of God, move. You're likely to kill me if you don't." So she did, twisting and lifting and moving back down the two of them found their rhythm and chased a finish they'd both been craving for a year. There was no slow and steady left, jus hard and fast, panting and moaning and the sleek shining of sweat on their skin as they both seemed ready to catch fire from the inside out.

When Emma was completely transfixed by the sensations and started to lose the pacing a bit, Killian flipped them again and took control, fucking her so good and so deep that she thought she'd never get over it.

"Come, Emma." The command set her off and moments later he followed. Then, foreheads pressed together, with him still inside of her, she kissed him. Pulling away she whispered, "no more leaving."

"Aye, never again, Swan."

Post-Note: Looking back now I have to smile at this story. I don't recall how I came up with it or what was going through my head when I wrote it, but I do know it set the stage for so many more stories this year. Also I really just jumped right in there with the smut, which looking back I wouldn't have expected. Anyway thank you all for reading and I hope you enjoyed!