I do not own Once Upon a Time.

They docked in the port and Killian said his final farewells to his crew. He exchanged a firm handshake with Francis and a few quiet words Bernadette didn't hear. No matter, she was anxious to get back on solid land and start a new life with Killian.

The first big change was the clothing, shedding that shed their past also. The look that Killian gave her when she wore a very casual dress almost made her into a very shy woman. It was as if he was seeing her for the first time.

"You look so carefree; you should look like this more often." He said, placing a gentle kiss on her hand then spinning her around for a better view.

Bernadette actually giggled. Then she got a good look at him. Gone was the heavy black coat and the black vest and the black shirt. Now Killian, the former pirate wore a loose white shirt with a blue vest that perfectly matched his eyes. Color just made him look amazing. "I like this look. You don't look as…" She searched her mind for the right word. "Hard as you used to." And she caught herself at her word choice.

His eyebrows shot up and he winked at her. "You are aware, darling, that this is still our honeymoon?"

The couple spent their first few nights in an inn and paid the innkeeper a tad bit more to make up for all the noise that came from their room during their stay. Then it was off to house shop. Bernadette and Killian didn't need anything fancy, just a roof over their heads, something to call home.

They used his gold coins to buy a small house on the shoreline. It was love at first sight, until this point, neither of them believed in that. The house was perfect and the neighbors were far enough away to provide some privacy. Killian and Bernadette quickly made the house into a home. They acquired furniture and other personal items.

Bernadette went back to being a healer while Killian started to work for a mapmaker. It helped living and working in a town where no one knew who they were.

She went back to soft skirts, anything to distance herself from her bounty hunter past. Killian traded in his leather for much lighter fabrics. And his signature hook went in a box and only occasionally saw the light of day, or night as the case usually was. Now he had a fake hand on his left wrist.

They settled into their new lives smoothly. Afternoons when they weren't working were spent in the market, making friends with almost everyone. Killian had always been a people person of sorts but Bernadette was shocked how easily she fit into a conversation. She didn't feel so closed off anymore. But she did notice the look of longing in Killian's eyes when they passed the dock. Bernadette would just squeeze his hand a bit tighter and kiss him. Maybe that would remind him why he gave it up, make him remember she was worth it.

Their evenings were spent in a tavern, making friends with people who had no idea who they really were. These friends had no idea they were sharing their tables and lives with the feared Captain Hook and the dangerous bounty hunter Bernadette. To Irene, Louis, Nora, Arthur, Linda, and Gerald, they were just Killian and Bernadette. Just a couple who were madly in love.

Irene and Louis had been married for a few years and had two children at home. Nora and Gerald were recently married with their first child on the way. Linda and Arthur were older than the rest of the group and had five children running around their mill. Irene, Nora and Linda were such amazing friends to Bernadette she almost had to pinch herself every time they hung out. Currently Bernadette was helping Nora through her pregnancy.

"So I keep hearing these crazy things that women belong in the kitchen, is that true?" Gerald asked.

"No, women belong wherever they want to be. If you value your life, you never ever tell your woman no." Arthur answered.

"Besides the kitchen is where the knives are kept." Bernadette added.

"And you are amazing with a knife." Killian kissed her cheek. She smiled back, her hand brushed his wrist. Good memories there.

Linda stared at Bernadette shocked. "How did you two meet?"

"I knifed him in a tavern and the rest is history." Bernadette answered him.

Their friends stared at them, wide eyed. They had guessed from the beginning that there was something different about Bernadette and Killian. That they had seen and done much more than they let on. That they had experienced pain and heartbreak in their past. And maybe done some unspeakable things.

"And as for these crazy people who believe that women belong in the kitchen, they clearly don't know what to do with her in the bedroom." Killian said.

There was a laugh around the table.

"And you know what to do with a woman in the bedroom?" Gerald asked.

Killian smiled. "I don't want to brag but…" He turned to Bernadette who only rolled her eyes.

"You expect me to agree with you on that?" She asked before lifting her mug to hide her smile.

He stared at her, it was mix between hurt, confusion and shock. But he also knew that deep down, she was only teasing him. Because it did not escape his notice that she whispered something under her breath to Linda, Nora and Irene that caused them to giggle and congratulate her.

It didn't seem to matter that Killian wasn't a pirate anymore, he still was, as he called it devilishly handsome. It was a nightly thing for the barmaids to fight over who took care of their table.

"Is there anything else I can get you, anything at all?" One of them asked, leaning over the table more than was needed. Bernadette had to roll her eyes over the rim of her mug.

At least Killian knew to be polite about the situation. "No, lass we are fine here. But maybe my wife needs something. Do you, dear?"

Bernadette shot the barmaid an icy smile. "I am fine, thank you for asking." The barmaid walked away, clearly annoyed. "She had better watch herself, something could happen to her."

"If I didn't know you better, I would say you were jealous." Killian pulled her into his lap and whispered into her neck more than her ear. Anything he could do to further drive home the fact that he was off the market.

Bernadette looked at him straight in the eye. "I'm not jealous. I'm just protective of what's mine."

"And I'm yours?" He cocked an eyebrow at her.

Her hand grabbed his; his right hand was where he had to wear his wedding ring. "Yes, you are mine and I'm yours. We are stuck together forever, whether we like it or not. And you never get jealous when some other man looks at me?"

"You mean the man who can't see afterwards?" He asked, only half-jokingly.

"Violent much?"

"Protective, love." He placed a tiny kiss on her nose.

"Should I get the table another round of drinks?" Bernadette looked at the table and stood up not waiting for an answer. Killian just watched her go.

"What did you do right to get her?" Louis asked.

"I have no bloody idea." Killian answered honestly.

Not even five minutes later, a body actually flew across their table, sending their mugs flying in every direction. Killian looked up and saw Bernadette cracking her knuckles and her face was shockingly innocent.

She came back to the table, balancing a tray of drinking on her hip. Everyone was staring at her, speechless. "What, he was asking for it." She shrugged.

Then a heavy hand fell onto her shoulder. Bernadette turned and delivered a swift punch to the man's face.

And Killian was at her side instantly, the dagger he usually kept in his boot was now out. "You would do well to keep your bloody hands off my woman." He growled.

The man on the floor only looked up, slightly defeated. Obviously he had wanted another round.

Bernadette and Killian looked up to see a group of men from another table and walking towards them.

"Oh look, he has friends." Killian mused.

"They always have friends." Bernadette responded, her own knife was ready in her hand. Yes, she still kept a dagger or two on her person.

And the fight started, it was like waking up from a dream and being dropped back into real life. Blades slashing, blood dripping, items being broken left and right.

Bernadette and Killian had each other's back they were supposed to; it was in their wedding vows.

Most of the patrons had fled at the first blow. Their own friends had taken cover under their table.

Killian stepped an inch away from Bernadette to address them. "It was nice catching up with you. We should do this again sometime." Then he picked up Bernadette by the waist.

"What were you two in a past life?" Irene asked, wide eyed.

Killian smiled, his smile was very reminiscent of his pirate days. "You don't even want to know." He fought his way to the door, dropping a small sack of coins on the front desk. "Sorry for the mess."

Then he took both himself and Bernadette out of the tavern and into the night air.

"Well that is one place I doubt we will be welcomed back in." He commented, placing her back on her feet.

Bernadette was actually giggling. "We should do that again. It was fun." She spun into his arms.

"Fun? We need to work on your idea of fun, lass." He was slightly shocked at her giddy attitude. She hadn't had that much to drink.

"You know my idea of fun. And you can't say you didn't enjoy that, Captain." Bernadette teased him, looking at him with wide eyes.

He stared at her for a moment, the rush of the fight, the burst of confidence. There was something amazing about it. And he was forced to chuckle. "Aye, it was a bit of fun." Her attitude was contagious. "It was like the good old days."

The sound of oncoming voices forced Killian to pull Bernadette further into the alleyway. She had to push her face into his chest to silence her giggles. Gods, she missed this life: the fighting, the running, the hiding, everything she couldn't do because she had settled down.

The voices passed but Killian did not release her. His hand touched her cheek and then his lips touched hers for a passionate kiss. She was caught off guard.

"Killian, what are you doing?" She pulled back slightly.

His hand sank lower and suddenly she was very turned on. "Reliving the glory days." Now his lips were on her neck

"We never did anything in an alleyway before." She argued.

"Maybe we should have." He said, his breath very warm.

"Really? Right here, Killian? You know we have a house within walking distance?"

"I'm making up for lost time. And I doubt either of us could last until we got home."

Bernadette flipped him into the wall. "If you want to ravish me properly, Captain, you will do so in a real bed."

"Demanding little thing, aren't you?"

"And you wouldn't want me any other way."

Look at that, real friends! I was completely inspired by the line in Pirates of the Caribbean At World's End "You can't say you didn't enjoy it." The things that just pop into my head, at work nonetheless.

Reviews?