A/N: Angst and passion ahead…this one earned its M.

Chapter 16

Sparking Tension

"Miss Swan?" Regina's surprised tone perfectly matched the cautious bewilderment on her face. She opened her front door a touch further, though not enough to allow a passerby to see inside.

"I need to talk to you," I stated, perhaps a bit obviously.

Stepping fully onto the front porch, she crossed her arms over her chest. "What sort of horrific catastrophe is it this time?" She began, before a different consideration must have crossed her thoughts. "Is Henry alright?"

"He's fine. I just need some…advice." The admission tasted almost sour, at least that's how it made me feel. Sure, Regina and I were enjoying a kind of truce, but the absolute last thing I wanted to do was open myself up to more of her ridicule.

Her sculpted brow arched. "From me? Well, this is a surprise. You must be desperate." She carefully scanned my face before stepping aside in the universal symbol of 'come in.' I waited for her to close the door before following her to the dining room. She took a seat at the head of the table and folded her palms before her, the very picture of her mayoral role. "So, what is it that you need?"

I'd thought about what to say the entire walk over but still only had the loosest of plans. It wasn't that I didn't trust Regina, but our ceasefire was too new to predict how she would react in all situations. When it came to Henry, I felt fairly confident she'd put him above everything else. But there was no love lost between her and Killian. To enlist her help was taking a chance; caution was warranted. "It's about Hook," I said plainly as I slid into a chair across from her.

She smirked. "Really, Miss Swan; I am hardly the person to be giving advice about relationships. You must have me confused with that hapless fairy."

Ignoring her comment, I plowed ahead. "Someone tried to take his heart."

"And of course you thought of me." Her expression darkened.

I shook my head lightly. "Not in that way." I tried to reassure her, offering a tiny smile. "I need to know the mechanics of it. How and why it's done."

She laughed once, sharply. "My, my; is the Savior thinking of joining the dark side?"

"No more than the Evil Queen is about joining a quilt circle," I contested.

"Touche." Her face lifted with amusement. "I assume you already have a suspect, then?"

I leaned back in the chair before clasping my own hands in front of me, not quite willing to reveal anything more, yet. "Let's just call it research."

She smirked again. "Taking a heart is almost as easy as passing a warm knife through a stick of butter once the mind is set. It presents very little in the way of a physical challenge, but mentally? That's an entirely different undertaking. It requires true conviction and the will to dominate or possess, as that's the general reason for taking it in the first place."

I leaned forward. "What happens if the conviction isn't strong enough? Or, the person gets interrupted?"

"Nothing," she replied.

"What do you mean nothing?"

She gestured with her hands as she retorted, "Exactly as I said. The hand will not pass into the chest unless the proper conditions are met."

Her explanation only added to my suspicions. "Killian…Hook, has bruises over his heart."

She shifted in her seat. "That's unusual."

"But not impossible?" I added.

"Whoever was attempting to take his heart must have exerted a lot of pressure."

"But they failed," I concluded. The hope I'd fostered that morning strengthened cautiously.

Her condescending smirk returned. "You'd know that better than I, wouldn't you?"

Once again ignoring her, I asked, "Is it possible Hook's heart can't be taken?"

I could tell my question caught her slightly off guard. Her haughty façade faded into genuine consideration. "Only a very powerful magic can protect a heart." Narrowing her eyes, she continued, "There's something you're not telling me."

I considered telling her about the bond, but at this point even I didn't fully understand it. Given its potential implications, I was pretty sure the fewer people who knew about it, the better. But, it was also clear I wouldn't get much further with Regina if I didn't show a little bit of my hand. I sighed in concession. "I suspect Gold is involved. And as he was your teacher, I figured if anyone has an insight into what he's doing, it would be you."

She scoffed. "Please. As if he shares his internal machinations with anyone. Not even his true love knows what's going on in that head of his."

"You said the main purpose for possessing a heart is to control another person."

She almost rolled her eyes. "I can't imagine he'd be interested in controlling the pirate. It's not like he poses much of a threat. Nor is he particularly useful now that he's all Team Hero." She turned to me. "No offense."

"None taken," I replied, just a bit perturbed at the ease in which she dismissed Killian.

"Though, if what you say is true, it would also be unusual for Rumpelstiltskin to have any difficulty taking the heart to begin with." She looked thoughtful again. "And you're sure he didn't succeed?"

"I'm sure," I affirmed, feeling the steady warmth of my bond with Killian alive and well in my chest, albeit a touch strained at the moment.

She held her hands up. "I'm sorry, but perhaps you do have the wrong man," she stated.

I knew it was a possibility that it wasn't Gold, but I couldn't shake the sensation that I was right about him. It was the same feeling I had about Tamara, and like that particular situation, I had no idea what could possibly be motivating him.

Regina sighed with annoyance before stating, "I don't know how you expect me to help you if you insist on hiding things from me. Either you trust me or you don't." I looked at her, a bit taken aback by her rather sudden frustration. "Might I remind you that it was you who sought me out?"

She was right, though it didn't make it any easier. "Your mother tried to take my heart once, but she couldn't. My magic prevented it."

Her eyes lit with sudden comprehension. "Of course…the product of true love."

"What if I somehow passed that protection to Hook?"

She laughed. "Well did you? You know full well a spell can temporarily guard a heart."

"Not that I remember." I imagined she was referring to what she'd done to Henry in order to protect him.

"You must have. The only other way would be transferring magic through a soul binding, but those are only legend." Something in my face must have tipped her off. Maybe I was too quiet, or maybe my brows lifted. Regardless, the mirth on her lips disappeared from one second to the next. "You? And the pirate? Gold said it couldn't be done. He swore…not without a heart…"

Crackles of red flame appeared in her hand just as her posture hardened. She rose to her feet. "Regina, what are you – "

Her eyes were focused on her front door as she spoke. "It's time for you to go, Miss Swan."

"But I was hoping you would test my theory about his heart…" I slowly rose from my chair.

"Leave." That one word was laced with a thousand emotions. Her dark eyes bled to nearly obsidian as she fought to maintain control of them and her magic. In all the various encounters I'd had with her, I'd never seen her look more like her infamous alter-ego.

I paused by the door, looking back at her with all the fortitude I could gather, before stepping out onto the porch. Intimidating as she could be, it did not escape my notice that this was not an attempt to frighten me, but rather an inner struggle with her own emotions. Whatever I'd said to tick her off, she was no longer in a sharing mood. Though, I'd gotten more from her than I expected.

Walking back to the apartment took almost as much courage as facing down Maleficent in her dragon form. The closer I got to the front door, the more obvious Killian's emotions were through our link. I already knew from his phone call that he didn't approve of my decision to see Gold alone, and I could understand why. But he needed to realize I was not some damsel in distress waiting for him to protect or rescue me.

I noticed Mary Margaret first as I crept through the door. She was glancing at a newspaper while sitting at the kitchen counter. Sweeping my eyes over the first floor of the loft, I saw Henry and Killian seated side by side on the couch, thoroughly engrossed in a movie. As I recognized which one, my eyes shot to a very bemused Mary Margaret. "He asked what people of this realm thought about pirates. Since we don't have any of the Peter Pan movies, this was Henry's next suggestion," she whispered, holding her hand next to her mouth to hide her words. Not that it was necessary; neither of the boys seemed to notice I'd even walked in.

Killian's voice was full of indignation as he loudly commented, "He calls himself a captain?" He motioned toward the screen with his hook, openly incredulous at Captain Jack Sparrow's attempt to befuddle the Royal Navy. "He's making a mockery of the lot of us," he grumbled to Henry.

I approached the living room cautiously. "I don't know; he got the eye-liner right," I commented deadpan.

Killian's head turned toward me, finally noticing my arrival. His eyes lit up for a split second then fell, adopting a steely resolve. "Welcome home," he said remotely before pretending to reengage in the film.

This is going to be so much fun, my mental sarcasm sighed. I sat down in one of the chairs and forced myself to look at the television even though my attention was firmly fixed three foot away on a leather-clad pirate who no doubt could show the cast and crew a thing or two about sailing. I'd seen this movie in my old life, in a time when even my wildest dreams wouldn't have concocted my current reality. I dunno, Emma, you used to think Captain Jack was pretty sexy, my conscience teased. So I apparently had a type. Sue me.

The three of us watched the remainder of the movie in relative silence. Every now and then Henry would point out something and ask Killian's opinion of its accuracy. I may as well have been invisible if it weren't for the twinge of discomfort assailing my heart every few minutes. From the corner of my eye, I'd catch Killian looking away as if he'd just been staring at me rather than the screen. The whole situation could've been an amazing moment with my two loves, but I felt awkward and on edge. I knew a long talk was coming, I just hoped he'd be willing to listen.

"We should totally take the Jolly Roger to the Caribbean sometime!" Henry suggested as the credits began to roll. He turned to look at the two of us with excitement gleaming on his face.

I shifted uncomfortably in my seat, both incredibly pleased that Henry had accepted Killian so quickly, but also a bit unsure of how to react. The captain in question would barely even acknowledge me at the moment, let alone make happy plans for the future.

"Tell me lad, are there still pirates in this car-i-be-yan of yours?" Killian questioned in jest. I breathed a tiny sigh of relief that whatever his feelings toward me at the moment, he did not take them out on Henry.

"Only if you're a tourist," I laughed, trying to lighten the mood. Henry chuckled with me while Killian looked slightly unimpressed.

Mary Margaret joined us with her cell phone in her hand. "Charming just called. He's unloaded the last of our things at the new house and wanted to know if we'd like to meet him at Granny's for dinner?"

"Sounds great to me," Henry readily agreed. He hopped off the couch and grabbed his jacket from the front closet.

"Emma? Will you and Hook join us?" She glanced between us, her expression growing more intuitive with every passing second.

Once again my eyes flickered to Killian, as eager for his answer as she was. We really needed to talk. Alone. Would he continue this passive-aggressive-ignore-Emma stance or would he stay and face me?

"Thank you for the invitation, but in my current state I'm not sure I'd be the best company. Perhaps once I'm fully recovered…" he spoke carefully around the truth. Not that he fooled Mary Margaret.

"Alright, well, I'll just take Henry, then. I hope you feel more recovered later," she lifted a brow in Killian's direction before leveling a heavy look on me.

"I'm staying, too," I confirmed quietly.

Mary Margaret nodded. "I figured. We'll be back in about an hour." It was a warning more than anything else. She ushered Henry from the apartment with her hand on his back, meeting my eyes one final time. I smiled tightly and returned her nod.

The click of the door handle twisting back into place echoed through the tense atmosphere surrounding us. I didn't need a magical soul connection to feel the disappointment radiating from him in thick waves. We sat wordlessly in the living room as the end credit music eventually drifted into silence. I stood and turned off the movie then met his gaze with difficulty, unused to the heavy judgment blanketing his love for me. It was the kind of weight which drew forth an apology, whether warranted or not. But a simple "I'm sorry" wouldn't fix this, especially considering I wasn't sorry for what I'd done, only sorry in the way I'd gone about it. "I know you're upset," I began.

"Oh really? And what gave it away?" he replied, his voice sarcastic and snappish in a manner I hadn't heard him direct toward me in what felt like months.

I guess I deserved that, I thought a bit miserably. "Thank you…for being so good with Henry."

He scoffed. "What were you expecting? That I'd take my frustration out on your son? Or is it that you're surprised a pirate can be kind to children?" The irritation was heavily dosed with his hurt. I'd done that.

"No, of course not! I just, it means a lot to me that you're getting along so well." I took a step closer to him, hating our distance almost as much as his tone. "I couldn't have you there, at Gold's…" I tried to explain.

A pulse as visceral as if I'd slapped him slammed into my chest. He swallowed thickly before tightening his expression. "Is that so?" His head shook infinitesimally. "And why's that?"

It sounded like a dare, but his reactions – the small jolt of panic in our bond – alerted me to the truth and I rushed to console him. "Because I can't have you near that man until I know what he's after," I confessed, sitting stiffly on the other end of the couch.

His eyes softened by degrees though his frame remained rigid and unmoving. "We're supposed to be a team, Emma. I'm no less concerned over your well-being than you are for mine. How do you imagine I felt when I awake to not only find you gone, but gone to confront the very sorcerer who has taken my love before?"

I appreciated his sentiment and felt the guilt creeping into my consciousness, but his emotional response only confirmed my initial reasoning. "That only proves my point. You and Gold have a thin enough truce as it is. I bring you in there with your centuries-worth of anger at one another and who knows what would have happened?"

His jaw tightened. "Was Belle there?"

"Yes." My eyes narrowed with faint suspicion. "I don't see why that matters."

"It matters because it means nothing would have happened," he spoke matter-of-factly, daring to look me dead in the eyes.

"How could you possibly predict – "

He exhaled sharply before shifting over so close to me that I could feel the line of heat from his body. "You know why," he spoke quietly. His blue eyes burned into mine – that shroud of anger giving way to the intensity of his feelings for me – and suddenly I knew. For all their differences, the one thing the pirate and the crocodile agreed on completely was love. They would protect it at all costs, even if that meant swallowing their pride and stowing their anger.

"I told you before that I can take care of myself; you don't need to worry so much," I whispered.

"You were frightened," he asserted.

"For you! For Henry!" I gestured wildly.

He shook his head. "You do not value your own worth enough, Emma."

His reply hung heavily in the air like the intense atmospheric pressure before a riotous storm. My thoughts scattered, trying to formulate into some semblance of a response, but the sounding of three staccato knocks on the front door pulled my focus. Our eyes remained locked in a silent agreement; this discussion was far from done. Neither of us spoke or moved until the knocks repeated. I shook my head and marched to the door, opening it a bit more aggressively than necessary.

"Regina?" I exclaimed with genuine surprise. After the way things escalated only an hour before, I was afraid to consider what possible reason would result in her standing in my doorway.

"Might I come in?" She asked coolly.

"Yeah…I guess. Come in." I stepped back to let her pass. She looked around the apartment with only the faintest trace of disdain. As her eyes settled on Killian – now leaning against the pillar in the center of the room – her entire bearing changed, the regal queen overtaking the frosty mayor.

She assessed him seriously. "You're certainly looking recovered for someone who sustained a concussion only yesterday."

He swept his arm in front of his body in a mockery of a courtly bow. "How kind of you to notice, your majesty; must be my excellent genes."

"Or magic." She stepped closer to him and that protective guard over our bond reacted instinctively. "You're positively drenched in it. It's no wonder you're already healed."

"Healed?" I echoed.

"Yes." She turned to look at me with condescension. "Don't tell me you weren't aware of that, either?" My answering glare was all the reply she needed. With an indulgent sigh she continued, "This is why you can't just turn a blind eye on your magic, no matter how willfully ignorant you prefer to be." She tugged absentmindedly at her gloves. "Now, Captain, if you don't mind taking a seat, I'll just –"

He didn't let her finish, his face altering into an open expression of caution and discontentment. "Perhaps one of you lovely ladies would care to explain to me what you're talking about?" While the words were pleasant enough, the warning tone was not.

I glanced at him a bit warily, knowing our strained conflict had just intensified exponentially, and really reluctant to make it worse. "I asked Regina about taking hearts."

"You what?" he shouted. His disappointment rolled off him in waves.

"You didn't tell him?" She smirked. "Even I'm not that clueless about relationships."

"I was going to," I argued, looking between him and her as I scrambled for what to say. She was equal parts smug and exasperated; he hadn't appeared this hurt since I'd chained him in Anton's treasure room. Of the two, I cared a hell of a lot more about his feelings. "Look, it was a spur of the moment idea. I figured she'd be able to confirm my theory about whether or not your heart can be taken." My eyes pleaded with him silently

"And I'm supposed to what, willingly allow the Evil Queen to attempt to take my heart? Never mind the unnecessary discomfort?"

"What do you mean unnecessary?" I glared at him. "We need to know how much danger you're really in."

"Hadn't you already deduced my heart is well protected just this morning?" His eyes glinted like firelight off of cold steel.

"It was only a theory…I need to be sure!"

"Oh good grief!" Regina exclaimed before stalking over to Killian and thrusting her hand at his chest. I gasped and startled forward as his body bucked away from her abrupt attack. A telltale white light flared between his skin and her hand. She pulled her fingers away and cradled them against her chest. "Congratulations. It seems you were right, Miss Swan. His heart cannot be taken."

"Don't you bloody well ever try that again!" Killian growled. His left arm twitched as he fought to keep his hook by his side. I could completely sympathize; my heartbeat thundered through my body, though in fear rather than anger.

Regina appraised him with a glower. "Did you just threaten me? And here I am doing you a favor." Dismissing him, she turned to me and added, "Seems you've been even less forthcoming than I accused you of earlier. This bond of yours, how in the world did you manage it?"

Killian sighed loudly before striding from the room and up the stairs. I called after him but he didn't even pause. The emotion blasting through our link was almost indescribable. How did everything get so messed up? My natural instinct was to follow after him, but the raw ache in my chest was as effective as a fence between me and his retreating form.

"Seems you've got your hands full with that one," Regina commented. "Given he's only got the one, he's well and truly screwed when it comes to you." I barely reacted to her snide taunt. My own thoughts were vacillating between panic and sadness, wondering what he was planning to do.

"What are you doing here?" I asked quietly, worrying my lip with teeth.

He lips twisted into a frown. "Is that supposed to be a joke? You asked for my help."

My eyes shifted between her and the stairs. "But what made you change your mind? You seemed pretty against it earlier."

"This bond…Rumpelstiltskin helped you create it, didn't he?" She asked.

I focused on her face dimly before snapping, "Yes. Does it matter?"

She pursed her lips again as her head shook almost imperceptibly. When she spoke again, the simmering tension from earlier was evident once more. "Why you?"

I blinked several times. "Excuse me?"

"For years I sought a way to restore Daniel. I heard of the soul bond and attempted to enlist Rumpelstiltskin's help. But he claimed it was impossible, not without his heart." Bitterness filled her tone even as her eyes were shadowed by her own past tragedies.

I pieced together the little I knew of Regina's first love, thinking back to the reanimated corpse which had nearly attacked Henry in the stables nearly a year ago. Then, like now, I'd truly seen the woman Regina once was. Love was the most dangerous and powerful magic of all. Isn't that what fairytales always taught us? Though, it didn't really offer me much insight into our current situation. Gold was not overly fond of me or Killian. Why would he care about our love? "But the bond is already formed, so why would he want the heart now?" I thought aloud.

"Why does he do anything?" She huffed. "I know you all think we're bosom friends, but he really isn't the type to confess his deepest, darkest secrets over coffee. If he did try to take your pirate's heart, it is just as likely he was testing you, as it is he had an actual purpose. And you don't even know that it was him to begin with."

She was right. When it came down to it, the only evidence linking Gold to the attack wasn't evidence at all. As great as my intuition was, it was not enough to act rashly. "Either way, he can't take Killian's heart," I commented softly. The muffled sound of heavy footsteps pacing above our head sent my thoughts warring once more. My fists clenched uselessly at my sides as I focused on taking slow, deep breaths. I pushed against our bond, trying to glimpse his thoughts, but I was met with the likeness of a brick wall.

Regina's annoyed face suddenly filled my vision and I noticed dimly that she'd been speaking. "Did you even hear a word I just said?" I tried to process what had been said, I really did, but those heavy steps left my room and traveled toward the stairs. From my periphery, Killian descended to our level and crossed to the kitchen, neglecting to make eye-contact with either of us.

I watched him closely as he filled a glass with water and drank it down in several large swigs. Outwardly, he appeared as cool and collected as usual; any trace of his previous irritation gone. But to me, he was becoming as easy to read as my own reflection. The invisible tether between us was tense and jagged like a wound awaiting sutures. I wanted so badly to cross the few steps to his side but the presence of Regina held me in place.

The glass clinked dully as he set it in the sink. Turning, he propped himself against the counter, crossing his legs at the ankle and his arms over his chest in that devil-may-care way of his. The gleam of his metal hook matched the carefully leashed anger hiding in his blue eyes. "So, what did I miss this time?" The deeper meaning of that question was not lost on me. In that moment, he was very much Hook; not my Killian.

Regina looked between us silently. Her mouth tightened into a serious line, though she didn't care to explain what had caused the expression. "As much as it pains me to suggest this, you're more likely to get the answers you need by speaking with someone who knows more about…love." She cleared her throat. "Particularly bonds. Have you thought to seek the advice of one of the fairies?"

"It's not a terrible idea," I replied, glancing to Killian to gauge his reaction to the suggestion.

He smiled, though it held all the sincerity of a kid being forced to apologize. "Whatever you think is best, darling. Or, what is that sentiment men of this realm use… 'Yes dear?'" Some of my concern bled into faint irritation. I understood he was upset, but couldn't he be mature? At least while Regina was there?

"We're home!" Henry's voice boomed through the opening front door. "We brought you guys some take out," he added before noticing Regina. "Mom?" He stepped over and hugged her. "What are you doing here?"

She smiled down at him. "I had some town business to discuss with our Sheriff." Her eyes met mine pointedly before quickly sweeping over Killian. She added, "But I was wondering if you'd like to have another sleepover?"

Henry looked to me. "Can I?"

I considered the tension radiating between Killian and I, knowing another argument was looming in my near future. "Yeah, Kid. Just, try to get your homework done."

"Let me just grab my stuff." He called, already racing up the stairs.

Mary Margaret and David joined us in the kitchen area, placing a large brown paper bag in the refrigerator as they greeted Regina. She nodded curtly to both of them before stepping out into the hallway.

"Do I want to know why she was here?" Mary Margaret asked, once again trying to assess the atmosphere she'd stepped into.

"She was actually helping us try to figure out something to do with the bond," I explained.

Her glance lingered on Killian for a long moment before she turned back to David. "We were thinking about staying at the new place tonight. It's already furnished, and our stuff is there…"

Killian straightened and moved to stand behind me. His presence turned out to be even more distracting than his absence. "Um yeah, that makes sense." I swallowed as I realized it meant Killian and I would be alone. Isn't that what you wanted? My mind posed.

Henry shot down the stairs and wrapped me in a quick hug before heading to the door. "Pick me up tomorrow afternoon?" He asked.

"Absolutely," I agreed, smiling for his benefit.

He grinned and waved back at us. "See ya later, Killian!"

My heart skipped a beat. Killian? Apparently they had bonded more than I thought.

David took in our strained posture. "Is there something going on here?"

"Whatever do you mean, mate?" Killian challenged, somehow able to channel the playful rogue despite the emotions roiling through us both. I felt the curve of his hook rest against my hip. David's eyes narrowed.

"We're fine. Really. We'll probably just watch a movie and go to bed early." I tried to placate him before again remembering I wasn't a child. My chin jutted forward a touch.

"Of course everything's fine," Mary Margaret smiled as she tried to lead David toward the door.

He resisted her, his eyes focused on me. "I know this is new for you. For all of us. But Emma, please remember that he's not the only one that loves you. And if something were to happen to you, he wouldn't be the one having to suffer with that loss."

My mouth opened slightly, preparing to speak, but how did you respond to that?

"Next time, don't be so convinced you have to go it alone," he finished before he laced his fingers with Mary Margaret and the two of them left.

It was so silent in the apartment that I could hear the tightness of Killian's breathing. It matched my own. For the second time in only an hour, I had to gather my courage to face the man I loved. I turned slowly, letting his hook fall away from my side.

"You told her about the bond," he stated immediately. His voice was sharp and filled with disappointment.

I looked up swiftly, a bit surprised at his sudden start. "Not really. She guessed."

He shifted his weight to his other foot. "That wasn't entirely your decision to make."

"She's helping us." I shrugged. It sounded lame even to my ears.

"For now."

My brows lifted. "Are you saying you don't trust her, or you don't trust me?"

"Well actually, I've said neither. Though, perhaps it is you who lacks faith in me?"

I huffed. "Don't be ridiculous. I trust you."

He crossed his arms over his chest. "Do you? Do you really?"

My hands rose into the air. "Of course! We've already been over this!"

"Aye, you've explained about the crocodile, and while I still don't agree with your decision to exclude me from the interrogation, I can at least understand your motivation. But what danger did I face in seeing the queen?"

"I didn't even think – " I started to say but he cut me off.

"Exactly." He opened his mouth slightly as if preparing to say more, before snapping it shut and shaking his head.

"No. Finish what you were going to say," I prodded, intensely curious as to what he intended to say. What was so bad that he'd edit himself mid-argument?

He smirked, but it wasn't in his usual charming way. It was the type of cutting arrogance I'd once smacked him across the face with a compass for. "I really don't think that's the best idea, given your current mood."

I crossed my arms as my eyes darkened. "Oh trust me; I want to hear this."

He scoffed. "And there's that word again; trust."

"What do you want from me?" I cried, stepping forward into his space.

"For you to remember that we are in this together! That what happens to you affects more than just you!"

"I know that!"

"Do you, lass?" He closed his eyes and exhaled slowly through his nose. His jaw barely moved as he spoke; "It has taken all my patience to prove to you that I will not desert you; that I will stand by you no matter what, in whatever role you wish me to play. Last night, I'd hoped you'd finally accepted that truth – my truth – of how much I bloody love you; one that would have surely caused the entire bridge to appear in the echo cave had I spoken it." Blue eyes filled with a raging sea met mine. "Not one day later and you march back into battle without me. Completely disregarding me once more."

I breathed out sharply. "Stop being so damned dramatic. I handled it just fine without you."

As my words escaped my mouth, something akin to a wince stabbed across our link. I wasn't sure if it was from me or him, but I instantly regretted it. His reply was swift and cutting, driving that regret deeper into my chest. "Dramatic am I? For someone in a relationship you've clearly forgotten there are two parties involved, darling." He stepped backwards, moving away from me as he spoke. "But if you are so inclined to steer this particular vessel all on your lonesome far be it for me to stand in your way. Shall I leave you my brace? I'm sure there are any number of attachments suited for your pleasure, or perhaps you'd prefer to chain me to the bed, seeing as that's all I'm apparently useful for."

"That's not fair!" I exclaimed, hating the tears stinging at the corner of my eyes. He wasn't supposed to get angry. He'd just told me he'd never leave me, never give up. Had I pushed him to his breaking point? He has feelings, too, Emma, my mind scolded gently. Our bond had never felt so violently alive. My chest was throbbing with the heat of our words and our emotions. I felt myself standing on the edge of a knife, so tempted to push him away before he could hurt me. But I didn't want to lose him. I loved him. I would fight this time. For him.

"I do want you! But I don't know how to do this." I gestured helplessly between us. "My entire life I've been alone. I'm going to make mistakes. I'm sorry. Please, I…I'm sorry!"

His body trembled with the immensity of our combined feelings for a long moment. Then, suddenly, he shuddered as whatever seething emotion he'd bottled within decided to just let go. He crossed to me in three labored strides, lifting his hand once, twice, before settling it on my cheek. "You stubborn lass. I've lived three hundred years in solitude. Surely, if I can learn to put that aside in order to be with you, you can relinquish your twenty-eight years and trust me."

"I'm sorry," I mouthed again, feeling a traitorous tear escape down my cheek. He wiped it away with his thumb. "I'm sorry," I said again, repeating it as I moved my face to his.

"I'm sorry, too, love," he spoke just as his lips crashed into mine. What started as a tender acceptance became a fueled recommitment. I laced my fingers into his hair and welded my mouth to his, our teeth clacking together before he thrust his tongue past my lips. His arm was a steel band at my waist, holding me so tightly against his body that I could feel his heart pounding against my chest. The sharp tip of his hook teased along my lower back, scraping underneath my shirt and sending tremors racing down my spine.

My hips rolled against him, seeking proof that I was still very much his. He growled deep in his throat and my knees nearly buckled. It was too much yet not enough. I wanted him, needed him…loved him. "Killian, I want you so much," I exhaled in a rush. Using his body, he pushed forward, causing me to step backwards until my legs felt the couch. He latched his mouth to the column of my neck, the coarseness of his beard scratching against my skin. I gasped as he sucked hard on my pulse point, knowing – but not caring – that it was going to leave a mark.

My fingers searched desperately for his skin, reaching between us to undo his vest and the few buttons of his black shirt. He pulled his mouth away long enough for me to shed him of his pirate armor before claiming my lips again. I rubbed my palms up his finely muscled torso then down his back before slipping them underneath the leather of his trousers to grab his firm behind. His hips jolted forward, giving me all the proof I had wanted. I shifted back, yanked my shirt over my head and quickly unclasped my bra, adding both to the growing pile of clothes on the floor. His blue eyes dilated to the point they were nearly black, sending sinful anticipation charging throughout my body.

A low keening noise vibrated from my chest as his mouth closed around one of my breasts. His tongue swirled around the peak, hardening it as a flow of desire rushed to my core. "Killian," I cried. His hand moved to the zipper of my jeans, ridding me of my pants and underwear faster than I could even comprehend. I reached for him, sliding my palm over the bulge in the front of his leathers. He grinned slyly at me, his mouth red and kiss-swollen, his eyes shining and his cheeks bright. "How shall I take you, love?"

I tugged his pants down his narrow hips and took him between my palms. "Hard," I challenged, returning his look of unabashed hunger. "Make me feel it. Show me just how much I'm yours." I leaned in to kiss him lightly on his beautiful mouth – a total contrast to my words – before turning around so my back pressed against his chest. Lifting my arms over my head, I wrapped them around his neck and arched back, feeling his erection hot against my backside.

"I'll not take you as…him. Never," he vowed as his fingers trailed over my ribcage.

I turned my head so he could see my face and smiled. "I'm not asking for Hook, Captain Jones." I concentrated on flooding our bond with all my love, acceptance and blatant desire before pushing back against him. Flexing his hips once, he stepped forward, pressing me flush against the couch.

"Lean down, lass," he whispered hotly in my ear. The cool steel of his hook traced delicately along the entire length of my spine a moment before he spread my legs and - without warning - thrust hard into my body. He stilled immediately and I groaned at the intrusion, reveling in the delicious burn of being stretched almost to the point of pain. This was the feeling I craved after our tense words; this feeling of being entirely consumed by him. I clenched my lower walls and his answering cry of pleasure fueled my desire.

He pulled out slowly, making me feel every inch before he snapped his hips forward once more. "Is that hard enough for you, love?" His voice was coarse with his own passion. "Am I making you…feel it?" He teased. I laughed once, not so much in humor but in outright bliss. He thrust again and again, each time coming faster than the last. The fingers of his right hand dug into the sensitive flesh of my hip, holding me in place.

I clung to the cushions, just trying to find leverage to push back against him though he was very much captaining this voyage. He leaned over far enough that I felt the rough hair of his chest graze against my back, his rhythm never faltering. "Being with you this way…this is home, Emma."

My breath hitched at his words and suddenly I needed to see his face, needed to look into his eyes so he never doubted again how very much he had come to mean to me. I pushed up just forcefully enough that he got the hint. He straightened to encircle my waist before pulling me with him to the carpet. I twisted around to face him, placing a palm against his chest to encourage him to lie back before aligning our bodies and taking him in once more.

I rocked my body over his as I held his eyes captive. So much emotion shone from his blue depths that despite the feelings of rapture, hot tears began trickling down my cheek again. This wonderful yet terrible bond of ours had become almost a third person in our relationship. It had the power to bring us so close that we could literally feel each other's pleasure, but also the painful throb of disappointment. In his eyes, and in his heart, Killian loved me beyond measure. But I'd also hurt him more than I thought was possible.

I leaned down, rolling my hips as I clutched his shoulders. I kissed him greedily, trying to connect with him even more than we already were. His arm came around me as he shifted up, adjusting us so that I essentially sat in his lap. His lips smoothed away my tears before trailing all over my face. "Shh, Emma, it's alright, love." Using his hand and hook gently, he encouraged me to rise and fall in a slow, sweet rhythm.

We pressed our foreheads together and watched the play of emotions unfold in each other's eyes. His breath fanned across my face in soft pants, mixing with mine until it was impossible to separate them. "I love you," I whispered against his lips. He smiled and flexed his hips to meet one of my slow rocks, his sweat-slickened skin sliding against my chest and stomach.

"We're in this together, Swan." He nuzzled against my neck as he increased our pace. Deep inside, the crest of passion and emotion threatened to consume me. His fingers smoothed my hair away from my face as his eyes sought mine again. "Do you hear me?"

"God, yes, Killian!" I cried as every muscle in my body seized with delicious agony. My nails clung to the skin of his back as I rode out the most intense orgasm of my life, feeling his love, passion and devotion in every move of his body and radiating through our bond.

His breathing turned ragged as I felt the tide rising within him, too. "Emma," he rasped. His arms tightened around me, lifting me just enough to allow his hips to piston in hard thrusts before his head fell back and I felt his release surge through his body and into mine. An expression a poet might describe as tortured rapture touched his features. He shuddered as he exhaled, long and deep. It was the most beautiful sight I'd ever seen. Is this how he sees me? I wondered.

I laid tender kisses against his collarbone, trailing down as far as I could toward his heart. His fingers threaded in my hair once more and I lifted my head to meet his gaze. As his thumb swept over my cheek, I realized my tears had never stopped. He stirred emotions in me that my soul just could not contain. His faith, his trust...and most of all his amazing heart: the only home I'd ever need.

"At last," he thought before sealing his lips to mine once more.

A/N: Thank you all so much for reading, reviewing, favoriting, and following this story. I absolutely love hearing your thoughts and comments and am continuously humbled by your support. Seriously, at times your comments are the necessary fuel for my muse. I take this fanfic writing probably more seriously than I should, devoting hours into getting something 'just so,' so it really does mean a lot to me to hear that you are enjoying it. Thanks again to my writing partner (and I'm proud to say dear friend) Yettoseeyoufail.

We are nearing the finish line my friends…less than five chapters to go (I think.)