So sorry guys, for such a late update! I was entirely caught up in college admissions and the like. But good news it I finally got into one I really wanted! So, yay for that. Psych major.^_^

anyway, onto the new chapter.

Chapter 7

"Emma," he whispers brokenly, his throat closing up from the onslaught of emotions as his heart beat wildly in his chest, he was afraid it would burst out. Surely she could feel how her words affected him, having longed to hear them for so long, his dreams haunted by the words left unsaid.

He knew she loved him, of course he did. She broke the curse on him with True Love's Kiss, which was proof in itself, but to hear the words come out of her mouth were as unsettling as they were welcome.

Unsettling because he was still reluctant to believe all that transpired since last night to be true; that Emma was truly back for him. People only ever left him, his father, Liam, Milan...Bae. No one has come back for him, for the boy not worth sticking around for. For the brother to naive to be right. For the pirate.

Except her.

He looked down at her in all her wide eyed, golden haired beauty, his arm going around her waist as he pulled her almost roughly to him, his mouth moulding hers, swallowing her startled gasp. This kiss was everything last night's kiss was and all the things it wasn't. It was sweet as it was passionate, soft as it was rough, teeth biting into lips as tongues later soothed the sting. Her arms were slung around his shoulders, holding him to her with no intention of letting go.

His hand threaded through her hair as the other one gripped her hip almost bruisingly. His tongue plundered her mouth as he breathed her in, groaning in the back of his throat at the distinct taste that was Emma. Her lips were sin he would gladly commit his life to, he avowed to himself, holding her to him as their passionate exchange calmed down until their lips were softly grazing each other's, reluctant to stop completely.

She smiled against his lips, pressing against them one last time before she pulled away. By this time, her hands were clenched around the collar of his coat, grinning up at him. "Does this mean you forgive me?" She asked, actually afraid of what his answer might be.

He smiled down at her, his fingers messing with her hair absentmindedly, as his left hand raised to trace the apple of her cheek. "There is nothing to forgive, love," he replied seriously.

"Killian," she sighed, touching her forehead to his, staring into his to blue eyes, getting overwhelmed by the love that shone there.

"No, Emma. There really is nothing to forgive. I was never angry at you when you left," he admitted, making her meet his eyes.

She searched his eyes for a hint of a lie, but found nothing but the truth. But that doesn't mean that's all there was to the story. "Then what did you feel?" She asked before she could stop herself.

His eyes left hers, looking past her as he struggled to put into words he felt in manner that wasn't accusing. Her soft, coaxing, 'please' did him in. In the end he settled for a whispered, " Heartbroken."

His admission made her throat close up, noting how his voice cracked slightly towards the end. He tried to smile reassuringly at her, but our only made her feel worse as tears welled up in her eyes. But she stubbornly pushed them down, pulling him to her and hugging him tight, burying her face in his neck.

"I'm so sorry, Killian," she mumbled, pressing a sweet kiss near his throat. His arms immediately came around her, hand running through her hair gently, lovingly, so tenderly it made her want to cry even more. "I'm sorry for ever leaving."

He pulled back, one of his hands resting on her shoulder as the other rose to cup her cheek, wiping the lone tear that managed to escape. "But you came back. Emma, love, all I wanted was for you to find your home, even if it wasn't with me."

Her expression softened at the barely detectable tone of defeat towards the end of the sentence, turning her head slightly to kiss the palm cradling her face. "I did," she agreed. "with you. You are my home, my True Love. I'm a fool for taking so long to realise it. Neal was right."

"About what?"

"You don't have a home until you just miss it. And these three months away from my family, from you... I've never missed this place more," she confessed. "And now everything is back on track," she smiled. When she saw him hesitate, her smile flattered.

"What is it?" she asked, pulling away slightly so she could look him in the eye.

He swallowed thickly, his Adam's apple moving up and down, "When you say, 'everything' you mean...everything including...us?" he questioned, unwilling to meet her eyes.

"Of course. I thought you would be happy?" she replied, her arms falling to her side.

"I am. More than anything," he assured her quickly. Too quickly.

"Then why am I sensing a 'but' there?" she asked, apprehension getting the best of her.

He grabbed one of her hands in both of his. "Emma, I am in love with you," he assured her. "And I trust you with my life." He sighed, pressing his lips to her knuckles. "I am, however, too afraid to trust you with my heart," he admitted, his voice so quiet that she barely heard him.

His words made a hole the size of a crater in her heart, making her pull her hand from his grip as tears filled her eyes. Her lips thinned as she struggled to maintain her composure. How could she have been foolish enough to think he would ever want her back after she hurt him so many times, both with her words and actions?

"Does this mean...that you don't," she paused, her voice trembling. "want me?" she finished, her eyes closed so she wouldn't lose what little control she had over her emotions.

"What?" he breathed, his own eyes shooting up to see the pain etched on her face. "What? No! No, no, no," he protested, striding the short distance he'd created between them to pull her into his arms again. "Darling, I can never not want you. Or ever want be apart from you. Youare my home, just as I am yours." Resting his forehead against hers, he continued. "I simply meant that we take this- whatever you want this, us to be- slow. I am not going anywhere, I assure you, Swan."

She slowly opened her eyes to meet his loving, soft gaze boring to hers. "I'm not either," she promised.

"I know that, love. I just-"

"Need to be sure," she finished. "You need to be sure that I'm here for good."

When he didn't reply, but looked down guiltily, she let a small smile graze her lips. "Killian Jones, look at me," she coaxed gently. When he finally looked up, she cradled his face with both her hands, "I love you with all my heart. If it means I have to wait for you to trust me, then I will. I will always wait for you."

His eyes widened slightly, "Gods, I love you, Emma," he whispered against her lips before capturing them in a world-spinning, life-breathing kiss that made her knees weak and melt into him.

She pulled back, her vision hazy as they both grinned goofily. "Do-do you want to go get breakfast with me?" she asked, feeling like a schoolgirl with a crush, heart racing and stomach filled with butterflies.

"It would be my pleasure," he grinned back, his own heart stuttering in his chest at her answering smile, brightening up her entire face. They both walked in comfortable silence, their hands grazing but neither made a move to take it, until finally the diner came into view.

Killian looked at her from the corner of his eye, noticing the nervousness on her face to face the people she hadn't seen in over three months. He silently slipped his hand into hers, giving her a gentle squeeze, making her look up at him in surprise, before she smiled shyly at him, her cheeks red in the enticing way he's come to love. He smiled reassuring back at her as they reached the establishment.

Opening the door for her, they were met with all eyes staring at them, conversations stopping just as it did when she'd first walked in. It was his turn to glare at the crowd, far more threatening than the Saviour's as many of them almost immediately averted their eyes and directed back to their conversations.

He saw Ariel smile brightly at him from a booth of her own, Eric having joined her in the time they'd been gone. He smiled back, his eyes lighter than they had been before, his smile brighter. He guided Emma over to a secluded booth near the far end of the diner, providing as much privacy as possible.

After they placed their order, she turned towards him with a smile, her hands finding his over the table. "So," she began.

"So," he mimicked.

"You have your hand back," she states matter-of-factly.

He grins cheekily. "That I do," he replies, his grin widening as she huffed.

"Care to elaborate?" she asked, eyebrow raised.

He pretends to ponder over the decision seriously, hand rubbing his scruff. "Not particularly, no," he said, his face serious, threatening to break into a grin.

She glared at him, almost pouting but not quite. He sighed, "Rumplestiltskin...re-attached it. Sort of."

Of the hundred questions running through all that she asked was, "Why?"

"It's bit of a story, really," he mumbled, glancing down at their entwined hands.

"I've got time," she hinted, smiling at him.

He sighed, clearing his throat. "It was about a month after you'd returned to New York," he began. "I was returning from quite the night at the Rabbit Hole with the lads, so it's safe to say I was more than a bit inebriated. And lonely," he added with a shrug, making her wince to herself. "I was walking past his shop when something caught my eye. My hand," he almost spat.

"He had it bloody displayed, like-like a trophy! All preserved and exactly like it was when he cut it off. Minus all the blood, of course," he said with a grimace on his face. "As I said, I was very drunk and it was late, so I broke into the shop and...stole my hand back."

This made her raise her eyebrow incredulously. "You...stole you hand."

"Yes," he sighed. "Your father found me the next day, sprawled across a park bench, cradling the hand, apparently. Safe to say he was a bit amused, but the Dark One wasn't. Belle, however, being the lovely lass that she is, convinced him to re-attach it."

"That was nice of her," she replied, squeezing his hand.

"Aye. It took a while to get used to, but it wasn't unappreciated. Especially with the new job."

"Job? You got a job?"

"Well, I could survive on the remaining gold only for so long, Swan. Aye, your father was kind enough to help me acquire one. As harbour master."

"That's great, Killian!" she enthused, making him smile in return, his cheeks flushing. "Guess breakfast is your treat then," she added slyly, making him roll his eyes.

Just then, their food arrived, Ruby winking at Emma on her way back, making her blush before digging into her eggs. They conversed amicably throughout breakfast, slipping back into their playful banter easily, as if they never stopped.

"Well," she began, pushing her now empty plate away from her. "I better get going. I promised Henry that he could come apartment hunting with me," she said, remembering the hurried phone conversation she'd had with her son before she left the loft.

"Planning on settling here then, Swan," he teased, although there was a slight anxiety in his tone.

"Definitely," she replied solemnly, "My parents and brother are here. And my son. There's the pirate, who I pine for," she teases back, a genuine smile gracing her face.

"Is there now?" he asked, eyebrow raised. "Devilishly handsome, I presume?"

"Oh, yes. Very. Also, kinda dorky."

He frowned at that. "I do not know what that term means, Swan. But from that glint in your eyes, am I correct in assuming that it's not very appealing?"

"It's appealing. As it turns out, I find dorky guys sexy," she whispers, making his frown change into a smirk. "But I really have to get going. I'll see you later?" she asked, getting up from the booth.

"Most definitely," he assured her, squeezing her hand in goodbye. He would have kissed her, but they were taking it slow...unfortunately.

He watched her sashay out the door, gulping heavily at the purposeful sway of her hips, if her teasing glance over the shoulder was any indication. He was drawn out his stupor by Ariel, who slid into the booth opposite him, the one Emma had just vacated.

"Looks like everything's back to normal," she commented, smiling widely.

"Seems like it," he agreed, turning to face his friend. "Thank you, Ariel."

"Whatever for?" she asked, confusion clear on her face.

"For reminding me that I have something worth fighting for- True Love."

"You'd have done the same," she replied simply.

"Only I didn't. So, thank you."

"You're welcome. I'm happy for you," she smiled kindly, her eyes crinkling at the corner.

"I am too," he sighed. "Very much so."

After breakfast, he left for work, coming back very late in the evening. He'd been disappointed that he hadn't run into Emma after that morning but he was the one who'd asked for space. So, if he wanted to see her, he had to seek her out.

He'd been contemplating on whether he should go knocking at her door so late in the night when he heard a frantic knock on his own door. For a moment his heart sped up hoping it would be his blonde Saviour, but he didn't give himself time to ponder too long, practically throwing the door open.

"Eric?" he asked, taking in the dishelved appearance of the prince. "What is it?" he asked, a bad feeling raising in his chest.

"It's Ariel," he chocked, his eyes unnaturally wide with worry and fear. "She's missing."

Reviews make me update faster! Also, send me your theories about Ariel's mer-napper, cause I'd love to hear them!