AN: So here's part three (and yes, there will be more). I've decided to publish this series as its own story, so I'll be doing that whenever I post the next update. Until then, enjoy!

The place was coming together nicely, Emma had to admit. She'd spent the weekend unpacking with Henry and her parents, all while expertly dodging Killian's attempts to spend time with her. (He was growing more suspicious by the day, if Emma's perpetually ringing phone was any indication).

With the actual moving part of the process nearly complete, Emma was filled with a nervous anticipation for what came next. She had to talk to Killian. And while she yearned to show him the house and start their new chapter already, Emma dreaded giving him the move-in-with-me spiel. (She still didn't have even the slightest idea of how she was going to ask him, when the right time was of where the best place would be).

Her final push, surprisingly, had come from David.

They had just finished unpacking the last box into the living room, and Emma stood back to admire their work. "Not bad." she decided, surveying the room. For the life of her, she could only think of their apartment back in New York.

David, standing beside her, nodded his agreement. "It's just too bad that Henry and Snow aren't here to see the final product." Henry was spending the day with Regina and Mary Margaret had had a particularly sleepless night courtesy of Neal, leaving Emma and David to finish the move.

"So." David continued, his voice taking on a grave note. "You think Killian will like it?"

Emma pursed her lips, resisting the urge to cringe as she faced him. "Mary Margaret told you about that?"

David laughed in an almost pained way, glancing over at Emma. "You should know by now that your mother isn't one for keeping secrets."

"So, what do you think?" Emma wondered, shooting her father an apprehensive look. She knew that David and Killian were 'mates', but he'd never fully come around to the pirate dating his daughter. Mostly, they avoided ever talking about it (and for good reason).

David offered a half-hearted grin. "I didn't realize things were that serious between you two." he admitted, terribly father-like, "But the important thing to me is that you're happy, Emma. Even if it's with Hook."

The sentiment (while spoken begrudgingly) was touching. Emma grinned, patting David's arm reassuringly. "Thanks, Dad." she said as a peace-offering, knowing how David always lit up when she used the endearment.

"When are you going to ask him?"

Emma sighed then, having been asking herself the same question for two weeks. "I don't know." she confessed. "I've never done this before. I wouldn't even know how to ask."

David nodded, sympathetic, though there was still an air of awkwardness in the room. Emma felt a little guilty for putting him in the position of having to give love advice to his daughter. She was again reminded exactly why they never talked about her and Killian's relationship.

"Emma, Hook's crazy about you." David said, with some difficulty, "And about Henry. No matter how or when you ask, he'll just be happy that you did. What it comes down to is that you both want to take this next step. If that's the case, then none of the other stuff matters."

And that was how Emma found herself at the station that evening, chancing looks at Killian across the small space of her desk. She watched as he read over his portion of the paperwork she'd divvied up, and Emma was acutely aware that this could be the perfect time to tell him about the house. No interruptions, no distractions, she could just get it over with and ask him.

But she'd rather show him, Emma realized, making her wonder if ditching Sheriff duties for an hour was too irresponsible. The more Emma turned the idea over in her head, though, the more she liked it, knowing that the sight of their place fully furnished and set up and waiting for them would be an offer Killian couldn't refuse.
He peered up at her then, feeling the weight of her gaze. He quirked an eyebrow suggestively, but his expression softened when Emma continued to stare at him mutely. She could see the concerned Swan? forming on his lips and stood abruptly, deciding then and there.

"Let's go on patrol." she suggested in what would have been a casual tone if she hadn't already grabbed her car keys and started for the door. Killian gave her a unsure, measuring look but followed her outside, regardless. Emma hoped he couldn't see the keys shaking in her hand as she locked up the station or started the Bug.

In the car, what would have typically been a contented silence was uneasy from the tension Emma radiated, alerting Killian that something was certainly wrong. But for her sake (because he knew her all too well), he held his tongue as they drove, holding himself back from asking any questions. Killian shot her another concerned look only after Emma drove past their usual patrol route, seeming to have a particular destination in mind.

As she pulled up to a midsized, white house by the docks, Killian's brows furrowed. He had no memory of ever seeing the place before.

"Was there some kind of distress call?" he asked, tilting his head toward Emma. She unbuckled her seat belt and cut the engine, offering only a shake of her head in response. Unease hung in the air, everything silent except for the soft crash of the waves behind them. Emma could tell that Killian was waiting for an explanation, but her nerves rendered her speechless. She took a breath, leaning back against the driver's door.

"I know I've been distant lately." Emma began, "But there's a good reason, and I thought it might be easier to show you than try and explain it."

Seeing no change in his expression, Emma went on. "I found a place."

It dawned on him then, and Killian peered out the windshield with a sober look, seeing the residence in a new light. "So this house..."

"Is mine." Emma finished for him, tilting her head. "Well, as of this Friday, anyway." she amended, trying to catch his gaze again. Killian glanced back at her, his concern dissipating, leaving only a curiosity as to why Emma's nerves clearly hadn't. She gave a half-hearted grin. "Let me show you inside." she urged, pushing open her door. Killian followed suit, coming around the front of the car to take Emma's hand. She led him up the cobblestone pathway, watching him take in the view.

So far so good, she thought, noticing the small upward turn of his lips as his gaze swept along the freshly-planted flowers. (She had to remember to thank Belle for those gardening books).

When they reached the front door, Emma plucked its key from among the others on her key ring, realizing as she did that this was a moment. It was their first time walking into (what would hopefully be) their place. Simultaneously comforted and unnerved by the thought, Emma forced her hand not to tremble this time. Killian squeezed her other hand, still bewildered by her tenseness but detecting it-wanting to rid her of it-nonetheless.

Emma pushed the front door open, leading Killian through the threshold. She watched his face change as he noticed the fully furnished living room, the tidy kitchen space.

"You've already settled in, then," Killian said, surprise and something else in his voice, something that made Emma's heart clench.

"I wanted to surprise you with the final product." Emma explained. It was admittedly true, though for a more meaningful reason than Killian believed. He had no idea how much his reaction meant to her, how important it was that he liked the place.

In another fit of nervousness, Emma began to ramble about the house, reciting the spiel given to her by the realtor days before. Killian was amused by her uncharacteristic babbling, the flash of his smile in the dim light making Emma relax a little. He did seem to like the place, commenting on certain niceties with what Emma assumed was genuine appreciation. Leading him through the hallway, she pointed out her (their) bedroom and then Henry's, absently explaining the rest of her decor plans. Killian listened intently, nodding along and offering up his own suggestions. It made Emma smile, hearing him talk about the house, blind to the fact that it was his future being planned just as much as it was her and Henry's.

When they had exhausted all the rooms, Emma felt her anxiousness flare up again. She knew that there was no more putting it off and led Killian back out to the living room, deciding to bite the bullet.

"I saved the best for last." Emma informed him with a faint smile, leaning against the balcony doors and grasping both handles. "Ready?" she asked, excitement and fear making her heart pump faster. Killian nodded, finding her barely restrained enthusiasm really quite endearing. Emma gave him a measured look and opened the balcony doors, urging Killian to follow her back out into the cool night air.

She saw the awed, wistful look cross his face as Killian's eyes took in the view; he hadn't noticed before just how close the building was to the water. Now, he drank in the sight of the waves crashing to shore, filled his lungs with the familiar aroma of salt and sea. Emma squeezed his hand this time, holding the gaze when his eyes slid over to hers. As she hesitated, a voice in her head (suspiciously close to Henry's) urged her to be brave.

"What do you think?"

Killian darted his eyes back to the water for a moment, offering Emma a smile when he looked at her again. "The rather spectacular view aside, it does appear to be an excellent home." Damn the way her heart stuttered at the last word.

"I'm glad you think so," Emma said, voice shaking and stomach flipping. She released his hand, leaned both arms on the railing before facing him straight on. "Because it's yours, too, if you want it to be."

Killian went still. "You're asking if..." he hesitated, and Emma recognized the flicker in his eyes. It was something she knew well, something she'd carried for the better part of her life. The part of Killian telling himself not to believe, trying to squash down the hope.

"Killian," Emma said (she felt confident now, something about that look in his eyes making all her doubt evaporate), "Will you move in with me?"

She could see his Adam's apple bobbing as the breath caught in his throat, a surge of affection filling her, because she also knew that feeling; the disbelief that anyone could want you around that long. Emma thought (not for the first time) that she loved him, her ridiculous, wonderful pirate, unable to grasp just how much she wanted him around.

"As you wish." Killian said quietly, and then he was kissing her as though his life depended on it. His hand pushed against Emma's spine, pressing her closer, touching every line of their bodies together. Emma reached up to cup his jaw, everything fierce and desperate except for the tender way they held each other. She breathed him in, his usual taste of salt and spice mingling with the sharp tang of the ocean. As they melted together, a single word crossed Emma's mind.

Home.