"Swan."
Emma had one arm in the sleeve of her coat but now she could feel the heat rising in her face. She meant to shrug off the sleeve but she just stood there gaping. He took no notice, eyeing the empty class of whiskey on the counter.
"Just what I had in mind." He made to sit but she finally got a hold of herself. He stopped when he felt Emma's hand on his chest. He was not accustomed to her touch. "Swan?" She could hear the concern in Hook's voice.
"I, uh, need to talk to you. Is there somewhere we can go a little more private?" Her voice was husky, all seriousness as she scanned the room for onlookers.
"It's snowing outside. I have accommodations here?" He offered, his concern growing. She was all out of character. She looked tired and something was off. Emma simply nodded, unmoving and unfazed by the location suggestion. She was nearly frozen in her place until she felt his hand lightly grazing the small of her back, it was just a second but it was enough to wake her up and get her moving.
Emma just kept hearing the voice of Justin Timberlake in her head, repeating the words "It's not a bad thing to fall in love with me." She turned her head to watch Hook as he ushered her. He kept glancing sideways, his concern more evident than ever, his fierce blue eyes piercing her. Were they always that blue? She asked herself. Emma felt herself noticing him, her eyes grazing his profile lazily. Of course she knew he was handsome, no one could miss that. But now she really noticed him. The tousled dark locks, the confidence in his unwavering jaw, the scar on his left cheek, and his glorious blue eyes. This realization crashed down around her while her head scrambled to pick up the pieces, her heart melted a little more. It was like seeing him for the first time, really seeing him, since Neverland.
"Swan?" Oh god, she'd been staring, completely lost in his beauty. She hardly registered there was an opening of a door or the arms around her as the floor was becoming closer to her head.
~\~
"What happened?" Emma groaned through closed eyes.
"You fainted," the soothing tone of his voice made her chest swell as she slowly remembered exactly why was she was with him. Emma opened her eyes, now realizing that she was lying down on a bed. Hook was sitting on the edge watching her every move. She could feel the heat from his grasp as she registered he was holding her hand. Her senses were all coming back to her. The smell of leather lingered around her; Hook probably had to carry her to the bed when she collapsed.
"I was about to call your parents but..." His voice trailed off, her cell phone lying abandoned on the comforter. "You woke up." A smile played at the edge of lips, not mischievous or humorous, a relieved smile.
Emma sat up suddenly, sending a wave of dizziness through her again. "Swan, are you going to tell me what this is all about?" He asked intently, placing his hand and hook on her shoulders, steadying her.
"Hook, I need to tell you something. It's not easy for me." She'd faced dragons and ogres but just the idea of telling him about her recent insight had her fainting at the sight of him.
"Go on." He was apprehensive, his hand and hook to himself and she wished he'd hold her hand again.
"What you said today, in the forest, about my heart being broken. It is. But," she swallowed, his eyes piercing her again, waiting patiently. "I needed to tell you. It's not closed." Emma watched him now. His facial expression unusually blank. But he held his composure and after a moment, nodded. He was waiting. He always waited for her to take control and let her go at her own speed.
"Hook?"
"Emma." He answered as he stood tentatively, turning his back to Emma.
She stood soundlessly, coming up behind him and slowly allowing his gaze to find her. Emma's hand moved on its own accord, finding his cheek, cupping his face. His eyes were red but he smiled.
"Killian" she breathed, almost in a whisper. "My heart is open to you." She gave him no chance to neither reply nor pull away before their lips were colliding. Hesitant at first, so unlike Neverland, all passion and longing. This kiss was soft and gentle. She felt his hand cupping her head, his other hooked arm grasping at her back, gently pulling her into him.