Set between 4x03 and 4x04. What happens after Emma and Killian's kiss in the street and the next day when she asks him out.

Disclaimer: The characters in this story belong to their creators and ABC. Thanks for letting me play with them in my head.

"Well love, you don't have to worry. If there is one thing I'm good at, it's surviving."

Long after Emma had returned home, Killian's words kept running through her head. It had been easy to believe him when he'd wrapped his arm around her waist and pulled her to him. His lips meeting hers in a kiss meant to erase any doubt about his intent. He wanted this, he wasn't going anywhere.

But now, as she stared at the ceiling, her head started taking over again, rather than her hormones. Or was it her heart? She'd always ended up alone. Her whole life. Every relationship had ended the same way; get close, think that things might just work out this time, start believing it. Then BAM, everything goes to hell, once again.

Yet, something with Hook felt different. He'd definitely had plenty of chances to go away. In fact, he had gone away. But then he came back. And despite all her attempts to push him away and keep him at arm's length since then, he hadn't left again. He'd been patient, even when she treated him like crap and he really did seem to just GET her. All of her. He'd called her out when he needed to and been supportive the rest of the time. He gave her space, but yet was always there when she needed him to be. And, he was absolutely gorgeous, she couldn't deny that. As she finally dozed off, she thought, "Maybe, just maybe, this time, things will be different. After all, I found my parents. I found my son. I found a place to call home. Maybe I can find a love too."

When Emma woke the next day, she decided that she was going to go ahead and try this 'thing' with Hook. But how? She and Hook couldn't just keep making out in front of Granny's, as enjoyable as that was. They needed to do something that normal people who were interested in each other did, like date. Hook was right, everything they'd done had been related to chasing some villain or saving the town. Could they really just be like two normal people and go on a normal date?

After getting dressed, Emma went downstairs. Henry was already seated at the counter, shoving cereal in his mouth. "Morning kid", Emma said as she gave him a kiss on the top of his head. She went to the coffee pot that David and Mary Margaret had left for her and poured herself a cup. She eyed Henry over the rim of her mug as she took a sip. She was trying to think back to the year in New York. How had she broached the subject of dating Walsh with Henry then? That seemed infinitely easier than this as she recalled. She was lost in thought, when Henry dropped his dishes into the sink with a clang and she jumped. "Sorry," he said. "You seem preoccupied this morning. Thinking about the Snow Queen?"

"Hmm, what? No, actually.", Emma signed. "Might as well just go for it", she thought to herself. "I was just wondering," she said casually as she took another sip of coffee. "What would you think if I went on a date with Hook?"

Henry stared at her for a moment. "You, and Captain Hook, on a date", he asked with a smirk.

Why did everyone smirk at her? "Well, when you put it like that…"

"I don't know. I mean he WAS a villain and if he'd just given you the magic bean in the first place, I probably wouldn't have been kidnapped and taken to Neverland. And there's the fact that he's been trying to kill my grandfather for over 100 years." He paused and started packing up his books for school.

"So that's a No, then", Emma asked, trying not to sound disappointed.

"But, he did come back and help you to rescue me from Pan, and he came for us in New York, and helped defeat the Wicked Witch. He seems to have stopped trying to kill my grandpa. And he has been pretty cool telling me stuff about my dad and teaching me how to sail. So, I guess I'm okay with it."

"Really?", Emma asked. This time trying not to seem too pleased.

"Yeah, if it's something that you want to do, then yeah. Now, give me a ride to school cause I'm such a great son", he said as he slung his backpack over his shoulder and opened the door.

Emma smiled and shook her head. She took one last swallow of coffee, put the empty mug in the sink and followed Henry out the door. Yeah, things were looking up in her life, despite the Snow Queen. Maybe this thing with Hook would work out too.