A/N: Seriously, thank you all so much for all of the love I'm receiving! You all are too kind—but, I'm glad you're enjoying this as much as I am! Keep on reading—since we're really getting down to the last few chapters, things start getting… interesting. Enjoy!

(Also, here's another divided chapter!)

As I wrote this, I listened to 'Coming Home' by Skylar Grey, 'For Emma' by Bon Iver, and 'Flowers In Your Hair' by the Lumineers.

Killian couldn't seem to choose the right moment to ask Emma to Prom. Every time he tried asking her, it seemed like something always came up. Either Mary Margaret came up, or it was during a class change, or she was in a bad mood—he couldn't get it right.

Finally, he caught her at her desk one afternoon. He leaned against the frame of the door, watching Emma type away at her computer.

"Emma, do you have a moment?"

"Kill, I wish I did, but I'm trying to work on this application." Emma sighed, running her hands down her face.

"For what?" Killian asked curiously, sauntering over.

"I'm getting a new job, I can't stand the one I have now."

"Where are you looking?"

"Everywhere." Emma groaned, slamming her head on the desk. Killian only smiled and set his hands on her shoulders, gently rubbing them.

"You'll find a great fit, I promise, love. You've gotta be patient, though." Killian spoke softly as she raised her head to look at him.

"You think?"

"Of course, Emma," Killian smiled, taking her chin in his hand, "You're charming and lovely."

"Yeah, okay." Emma laughed.

"You are, I promise. You may come off as a little rough, but you should have no problem getting a job, dear."

"Thanks, Killian." Emma smiled.

"Emma, love, can I ask you a question?" Killian asked softly.

"Sure." She replied, tucking some hair behind her ear.

"Will you go to Prom with me, love?" Killian smiled hopefully. Emma's eyes fluttered a little, trying to process what he asked her.

"Prom?" She repeated.

"Yes, you buy a pretty dress, take lots of photos, dance the night away—"

"I know what it is, I just… Prom." Emma whispered.

"Do you want me to do something larger than just this? I mean, I can bring you a cake and balloons, if you so prefer."

"No, this was kind of perfect, I just… I don't think I really want to go to Prom." Emma admitted.

"Not at all?" Killian asked, embarrassed for even trying.

"I'm sorry, Killian." She replied, "It's not for me."

"You aren't even willing to try?" Killian spoke in a hurt tone. Emma fully turned to face him, setting her hand on his cheek.

"Kill, you know I like you a lot. I just… Prom isn't for girls like me." Emma explained.

"Why does it have to be for a specific type of girls?"

"Because I'm not girly. I'd rather go shoot something than get my nails done, or buy a leather jacket over a dress." Emma said, "I'm not cut out to go to Prom."

"Emma, please. For me?" Killian pleaded, "I'll buy you the most gorgeous dress, we'll eat a lovely dinner, we can dance the night away… Please, Emma, I want to enjoy this with you."

Emma blinked a few times before rubbing her thumb up and down his cheek.

"You really want to go that badly?"

"It's not even that—it's just something I want to do with you." Killian spoke softly, "I… I know it sounds kind of ridiculous, but I want to do everything with you. You make me feel like I can do everything, and I've never thought that until I met you."

"I'll go with you." Emma finally smiled.

"Wait, really?" Killian beamed.

"Yeah. This means a lot to you, and I don't want to let you down." Emma replied, laughing when he hugged her tight.

"You've no idea how much this means to me, Emma." Killian whispered, pressing a kiss to her cheek.

"I think I've got a little bit of an idea." Emma smiled, breathing in his strong cologne. He smelled like home.

Killian tugged away only to pull her close again, his lips crashing ungracefully into hers. She laughed at him when he missed her mouth the second time.

"Smooth, lover boy." Emma smiled, "Now, go do something. I really need to finish this."

"As you wish, love." Killian smirked, unceremoniously falling onto her bed. Emma rolled her eyes with a smile, turning back to her laptop.

"Mm, your bed smells like you."

"No, it smells like you, since you insist on laying on it all the time." Emma spoke highly, trying her hardest not to smile.

"I suppose." Killian replied, grabbing Emma's pencil cup, emptying it of pencils, then proceeding to toss the cup above his head.

Emma knew it was going to end badly, probably with him hitting himself in the head with the damn thing, so she sighed and turned to him.

"Want me to do this later?"

"You know me so well." Killian grinned, setting the cup back on her desk.

"You are so needy, you know that?"

"Yes, love, I do." Killian replied with raised brows, almost proudly. Emma shook her head before getting onto the bed and crawling to lie in front of him, her back to him. She felt his warm breath on her neck, shooting a chill down her back.

"Mm. See? This is nice."

"Yeah, but it's also keeping me from—"

"Stop worrying for five seconds, would you?" Killian whispered, stroking her hair back behind her ear.

"I can't. It's in my nature to worry."

"Let me help, then." Killian replied softly, pressing a rough kiss to her neck. She fought a squirm when the sensation warmed her body, closing her eyes and letting herself relax, as Killian had suggested. His kiss was rhythmic, soothing, and it didn't bother Emma that he was leaving his mark.

"Feeling better, Emma?" Killian rasped in her ear, earning a nod in response, "Good."

She closed her eyes again as he started another one, this time further down her neck, closer to her shoulder. Emma didn't ever want him to stop.

"What happened to you?" Mary whispered as she hurried to catch up with Emma.

"Nothing."

"Did someone hurt you?"

"No."

"What are these, then? Are they—oh, Emma, are they hickeys?" Mary whispered in shock, causing Emma to furrow her brows.

"Why do you say it like that, like it's some kind of sin?" Emma scoffed.

"You didn't do a great job of covering them, you know."

"Why does that matter? Everyone seems to know that he and I are together." Emma replied.

"I don't know… most people cover them."

"Whatever. I'm not most people."

"Did something happen yesterday?" Mary asked, and Emma wanted to snap at her, but she knew that Mary wasn't trying to be invasive, she just looked out for Emma. She wouldn't admit it out loud, but she liked that Mary did that.

"No, I mean, he asked me to Prom, so he and I—"

"He what?" Mary beamed, "Emma!"

"What?" Emma raised a brow.

"He asked you to Prom?"

"Well, yeah, I mean, we are kind of a thing." Emma replied, confused as Mary practically bounced in front of her, "I don't really understand what's going on right now."

"Emma! We have to go dress shopping!" She squealed.

"Okay, I'll go dress shopping, but why are you acting weird?"

"She gets kind of motherly sometimes." A male voice said from behind. Emma turned to see none other than David.

He was taller than most guys (including Killian), standing well over six feet tall. His mousy brown curls smattered his head, and his soft blue eyes were more than inviting. Nearly every day, he wore his Lacrosse Varsity jacket, a token of being the best, he'd claimed. Emma had only met him a few times, but the times she did, he and Mary's eyes nearly never left each other's. It was like nothing else in the world even existed. She found it a little weird.

"Yeah, I've noticed." Emma smiled as he wrapped his arm around Mary's shoulder.

"We still need to do a double date." David grinned.

"I'll ask Killian when I see him next. I think he'd like that a lot." Emma offered.

"We'll see you later, okay, Emma? I'll text you to find a good time for dress shopping!" Mary exclaimed as the two diverged into a classroom. Emma sighed and shook her head, tugging the collar of her leather jacket closer to her neck.

"Something wrong, love?" Killian's voice asked, causing Emma to jump.

"Please don't scare me." Emma sighed, her hand on her chest.

"Sorry, love." Killian replied, wrapping his arm around her waist and pressing a kiss to her cheek, "How's your day been?"

"Pretty good. I just saw David and Mary—they're still asking about that double date."

"We'll just have to appease them, then." Killian grinned, "I'm glad your day is well. Is your neck okay?"

"It's fine, I just… people have been staring."

"Sorry."

"No, it's fine, I should have covered them up." Emma shook her head, "It wasn't your fault."

"Okay." Killian replied, offering a relieved smile, "Any plans later?"

"None that don't include you." Emma grinned, earning a laugh from Killian.

"Nice one, love. Well, then, I don't think it would be too much to ask for you to curl up under some blankets and watch a movie tonight?"

"My schedule just might allow for that." Emma teased, "Oh, this is my class. I'll see you later?"

"Is that even a question, love?" Killian grinned, causing Emma to smile as he pressed a kiss to her lips, "See you later."

He watched her walk into the classroom before sighing dreamily.

"She's perfect." He whispered to himself.

Later that night, the two did just as Killian had suggested—and they managed to finally do that double date they had promised Mary and David.

"Are you seriously building a pillow fort?" Emma grinned as she put the popcorn bag into the microwave.

"Yeah! If we're going to have guests, we should treat them well!" Killian smiled from under some sheets.

"You're an idiot." Emma laughed softly.

"But, I'm your favorite idiot, right?"

"Always." Emma smiled.

"Good to know." Killian replied with raised brows, "But, I kind of already knew."

"Oh, did you?" Emma laughed.

"I did!"

The doorbell rang before Emma could reply, causing Killian to scramble to his feet and to the front door.

"You're a puppy, you know that?" Emma laughed, watching him excitedly open the door, "You aren't badass like you think you are."

"You keep on thinking that, love." Killian spoke with a smolder before opening the door and greeting their guests.

"Hey, guys!" Emma called from the kitchen.

"The house smells wonderful!" Mary exclaimed, hurrying into the kitchen.

"It's just popcorn and coffee, nothing special." Emma laughed.

"Hey, I'm totally down for junk food!" David smiled as he walked in, greeting Killian with some bizarre handshake that was too complicated for Emma to think about for too long.

"So, Emma," Mary giggled as she averted her eyes from the boys, "When do you want to go shopping?"

"Any time is good, I guess." Emma shrugged, "I don't have anything going on this week but filling out those damn applications."

"You'll find a better job, honey. I promise." Mary Margaret smiled, setting her hand on Emma's arm.

"Thanks, Mary." Emma replied with a half-smile.

"The movie's about to start!" Killian exclaimed from inside the fort, making both girls laugh.

"We'll be over in a second." Emma smiled, grabbing the popcorn from the microwave and pouring it into a large bowl, "Mary, can you get the coffee mugs?"

"Of course!" She exclaimed as Emma left the kitchen and walked into the living area. She rolled her eyes and got down on her knees to crawl into the fort.

"I'm actually a little impressed at your fort-building skills, Killian." Emma smiled, laughing as he tugged her close by her waist, "Hey! I almost spilled the popcorn!"

"But, you didn't, love." Killian grinned, pressing a kiss to her cheek as she set the popcorn bowl on the blankets. She shifted in Killian's warm arms, smiling when he shifted along with her.

"You're an idiot." She mumbled.

"What was that, love?" Killian whispered with a smile, gently tickling her sides.

"Stop!" Emma spoke with a squeaky laugh—a laugh that certainly wasn't her usual laugh.

"That was new." Mary Margaret giggled as she crawled in, pushing the tray with four mugs of coffee and creamer on it. David pulled her close, making her giggle as well.

"Killian, you are ridiculous." Emma grumbled as she grabbed her coffee mug.

"Mm, am I?"

Emma rolled her eyes with a smile, giggling softly when he pressed a kiss to the top of her head.

"So, what movie are we watching?" Mary asked.

"Breakfast Club!" Killian and David exclaimed in unison, making the girls laugh.

"A true classic." Emma smiled.

After the first movie, there were two more. Mary Margaret and David left after the last movie, so Killian and Emma retreated to Emma's room so she could finish her applications.

"Emma, love, it's past eleven. Why don't we work on this tomorrow?"

"It'll never get done if I keep putting it off."

"Doing it tomorrow would be a better idea, though."

"You're the procrastinator in my head, Killian." Emma smiled as she typed.

"You were never one, I assume."

"I wouldn't say never, but hardly. I usually like doing things as I get them." Emma replied.

"Darling, it's getting really late. I'm sure if you do this tomorrow morning, you'll be fine." Killian smiled, turning her desk chair around. Emma smiled up to him as he leaned down to kiss her—or so she thought. He quickly wrapped his arms around her, causing her to flail to try and get out.

"Killian!"

"What, love?" He laughed as he carried her down the hall, "It's bedtime for us."

"You are ridiculous." Emma sighed as he set her down on his bed.

"If ridiculous will make you stay, I'll be all kinds of ridiculous." Killian grinned.

"Just go to sleep." Emma smiled, whacking him with his pillow.