Thank you for the lovely response to the last drabble… Now for some angst!

I don't own OUAT. I do have a framed photo of Colin O'Donoghue on my bedside table (kidding… maybe).

The 21st century came with many perks.

Everyday life was significantly easier here, Killian thought. Emma had graciously taken on the burden of showing him all the amenities life offered him in Storybrooke; washing machine, coffee pot, microwave, shower (that had certainly been a fun experience). Still, there were certain things that he missed from his old life. It had been simpler then; he had been a pirate, a perpetual loner, and so he was never held accountable to anyone other than himself. Now he had people he cared about, who cared about him. For the first time in nearly 300 years, Killian Jones had a family and that was a lot to take in.

And his bed was too damn soft.

So that's how he ended up on the deck of the Jolly at 3 in the bloody morning. He'd be back by the time Emma woke up; the thought of her thinking he had abandoned her nearly killed him, but he just needed a minute. This wasn't the first time something like this had happened, and it was becoming a more frequent occurrence. He'd wake up in the middle of the night and roll over in the too-soft bed and see her laying there. Her presence always soothed him, she was his home, but in those quiet hours of the night he was faced with his overwhelming inadequacy. She was pure perfection; the sun, and moon, and stars in human form. Killian had no doubt that she was the focal point of the universe. She was kind, and brave, and selfless, and had saved all their lives countless times, and what was he? He was angry, and selfish, and crass, and broken. He didn't deserve her love, time, or fluffy feather bed. She shouldn't have chosen him. One day she would wake up and see what he was, what he is; a pirate.

And she is a princess.

When Liam died, Killian changed, as most do after such a loss. He became the man he never wanted to be, a man his brother would be ashamed of. He stole, pillaged and killed without blinking. When Milah had come into the picture, his actions did not change. Killian loved Milah, would always love her in some sense, but he was not his best self when he was with her. He continued to stumble down his dark path until Emma found him and set his life ablaze. He wanted to be better for her (and while he made mistakes) it felt so good to do the right thing. To be the man his brother wanted him to be. He needed Emma; she was his everything, but she didn't need him. And one day she would see.

"Hey," her voice called, breaking him out of his reverie. He whipped around to face her, guilt overwhelming him. She had awoken and he wasn't there; what was wrong with him?

"I'm so sorry, Emma. I didn't mean for you to awake; I… I just… I needed," he stumbled around looking for the words.

"Don't worry about it," Emma said, giving him a sad smile.

"I don't know what's wrong with me, love. You're too good for me. I…" Killian was cut off as Emma wrapped her arms around his waist, pulling him to her. He fell against her; leaning down to bury his face in the crook of her neck.

"It's okay, Killian."

"No, it's not. I don't deserve you," he muttered into her hair. She pulled back and placed her hands on the sides of his face. He felt her thumbs brushing over his cheeks and it was only then that he realized he had been crying.

"Don't. I'm going to say something and you're going to listen to me and I need you to hear me when I say it. Okay?"

"Okay," Killian whispered.

Emma took a deep breath and shut her eyes, bracing herself for whatever she was about to say. "I know you've been coming down here at night. At first I thought it was about me; that I wasn't good enough, that you were going to leave me." Killian could tell that what she was admitting was incredibly difficult for her and he went to interrupt but she quickly silenced him with a look. "But then I realized that you wouldn't do that. You would never leave me. You have given up everything for me and my family, and you've left no doubt in my mind that you're in this for the long haul. And then I realized that maybe I hadn't done the same for you. That somehow everything I felt on the inside wasn't clear on the outside; that you couldn't see how completely in love with you I am. So, let me make one thing very clear; I, Emma Swan, love you, Killian Jones, with everything I have. I am, and always will be, yours. I will never leave you. You have a family Killian; me, Henry, my parents, even Regina. You have a home. You're stuck with us," Emma laughed then and he swore it was the most beautiful sound he had ever heard. In that moment she elicited an emotion within him he didn't know existed, so powerful he nearly suffocated. He had been made with the sole purpose of loving Emma Swan. He had no words so he simply kissed her and hoped it would be enough. Hoped it would be enough to convey how much he loved her, and how damn grateful he was that she was in his life. He didn't deserve her and he never would, but maybe it was possible that she loved him enough to stay.

Killian learned to like the feather beds. He learned to sleep through the nights without waking in fear. He learned not to doubt Emma's affections.

He learned that when it comes to family, love has no limits.

Really abrupt ending I know, but wanted to crank this out because it's been in my head all day! Love you all! xoxo ~Kate