So I know I am so behind in getting this posted, but don't hate me too much. It's finals week here and I'm dying. Plus tumblr has been keeping me busy (follow me the-saviors-pirate) with some fandom bs (super long story). But I finally sat down tonight, said no to studying (maybe not the best idea in retrospect), and typed this all out. I hope you guys enjoy it! The dress Emma is mentioned wearing is the one she wears on her date with Killian in S4. Loved it, so I figured I would keep it.

The awesome news is that I have nothing to do tomorrow, so I'm hoping to get another chapter posted to make up for my failures.

Review because you love me and I'm suffering?

Killian woke up in a state of complete bliss. He was spread out on the couch, comfortable and warm, with the small frame that was Emma Swan wrapped around him. He looked down at her as she slept, her blonde hair slightly tangled and frayed, her cheeks pink from the warmth of their shared body heat, her face a mask of innocence and peace. He loved seeing her this way, without the pain in her eyes that she wore everyday without realizing.

He took a look around the room noting his friends spread out in various places, all asleep. The fire had died hours ago and presents littered the room. He took in each one of their faces, trying to commit this moment to memory.

How had he gone so long without this? How was he ever going to go back to school? Back to a life without them? He curled his arms tighter around Emma in response to his thoughts. He didn't want to lose this. Them. Her.

But it was almost January, and they would all graduate in the spring. He knew that David and Mary Margaret were planning on joining him in the fall, so at least he would have them. But Emma? Where would she go? What if she wanted to move to California or New York?

Killian knew wherever she went, she would thrive. College wasn't like high school. No one would care if she were an orphan or a little sad. All they would see was an outgoing, drop dead gorgeous blonde.

He tried to imagine her as one of the many girls he had met at parties, drunk and happy, dancing to music, flirting with guys, going home with them. If she went across the country without him, would she meet someone else? Someone a lot more deserving of her then Killian? Or worse, one of the typical college boys who would only hurt her? How much longer did Killian have left to call her his?

She's not even yours.

But he wanted her to be. He wanted Emma Swan to be his. To call her his girlfriend, to be the only one who could hold her like this. More importantly, he wanted to be hers. All she had to do was say yes.

"What are you thinking about so hard?"

Killian looked down to see Emma awake, smiling lazily up at him.

"You," he smirked.

She rolled her eyes in response, though he could see her cheeks tinged red, proving she wasn't completely unaffected by him.

"You're a dork," she mumbled shaking her head.

"Aye, but a truthful one," he replied, leaning down to give her a light kiss.

Well, at least it started out as one, but Killian was starting to doubt that light kisses would ever be a thing with them.

She leaned up to press her lips more forcefully against his while he pulled her flush against him in response.

A few moments later they pulled away, catching their breath.

"Smooth moves you got there." She teased,

He raised his eyebrows and smiled, "Really? Smooth enough to make you agree to go out with me tonight?"

He winced, realizing how dumb and awkward that sounded.

Smooth enough? Really Killian?

Her nose scrunched up a bit in disgust, but she laughed, "Maybe if you don't phrase it like that."

It was his turn to shake his head at her. "Let me try that again, love."

He looked down at her, his face taking on a smoulder he knew to be quite popular with women.

"Will you go out with me tonight, Emma?"

"Did you really think I would say no?"

Killian chuckled nervously, "Can't say it didn't cross my mind."

She leaned up and kiss his cheek, cupping his face with her palm.

He turned his head to rub his nose against hers.

"Yes." She whispered.

He had never smiled so widely in his life.

Later that night, Killian found himself in a nice button up and dark jeans, pacing nervously in the kitchen.

Killian noticed his mother walk into the room and give him an appraising look. "You look handsome."

He rubbed the back of his neck nervously, "Mom."

She raised her hands in surrender, "I know, I know. I won't embarrass you."

Despite her promise, she wrapped her arms around him and said, "She's good for you."

"Aw mom, what happened to not embarrassing me?"

"I'm just saying, I think Emma is exactly what you need. I think you're going to be good for her too."

"You think?" He whispered, his self doubt rising up.

"Oh Killian, give yourself more credit. You're a good man."

Killian hugged his mom tighter, "Because of you. Who knows what I would have become if you hadn't taken me in."

"I still believe would have been good. It's just who you are. You might have been a little more rebellious, but still good."

Killian smiled, honored by her faith in him. "Aren't you going to give me a speech about what you'll do to me if I hurt Emma?"

Ruth laughed and pulled away, "That's not my job."

Raising an eyebrow, Killian asked, "Then who's job is it?"

"Mine."

David was standing in the doorway, a smug smile on his face.

"Really Dave?"

"We never got to finish out chat from your first night."

Killian remembered David warning him about pursuing something with Emma on his first night here. He had briefly considered staying away the next day, but it had been impossible. Swan was far too captivating. He was lost to her the moment he rounded that corner holding his baseball bat.

"I don't intend to let her down." He said firmly, locking eyes with his brother.

A moment of understanding seemed to pass through them, as David sensed just how serious Killian was about this.

He nodded his head firmly, "Good."

"Killian?" Emma's voice called from the hall, moving towards them. "You ready to go?"

She entered the kitchen then, looking absolutely sinful.

She was wearing a light pink dress, that was tight on the top, but flared out at her waist, falling in a soft, almost ballerina like way to her knees. Her hair was falling around her face is loose waves, her makeup done to perfection.

The locket he had given her for Christmas was hanging from her neck as though it had always been there.

She was the most gorgeous woman he had ever seen.

He couldn't breathe.

How did he get her?

How was it possible that she was going out with him?

Finally pulling himself together Killian breathed out, "Emma, you look stunning."

She smiled, a beautiful blush coating her cheeks, "Thanks, you look very handsome."

After some awkward comments about how adorable they looked, David was able to pull Ruth off of them and allow them to make their exit.

The ride to the restaurant was comfortable, Killian grasping Emma's hand from across the console as they discussed their taste in music and movies. Often Killian would rub circles on the back of Emma's hand with his thumb, something she found quite endearing.

The soon arrived at the restaurant, a quaint italian place that surprisingly had a very nice interior. Emma was amazed to find a place this nice in their little town of Storybrooke. She had actually never eaten at a restaurant that wasn't Granny's since her arrival in the sleepy town.

Killian was the perfect gentleman, opening doors for her and pulling out her chair. Emma would be lying if she said she wasn't nervous. She had never been on a date before. All the guys she had ever been with were the more bad boy, "use them and lose them" type. But then again, she had been that way too. Her pre Storybrooke days were lonely and her heart was surrounded by thick walls, that had slowly crumbled with each day she spent here, surrounded by people who loved her. Dates were too personal, too much for the kind of relationships she needed back then.

Killian though, she knew he would have been on dates. He had grown up in this town, and she definitely knew he one of the most attractive things here. Before she had met him, she had heard rumors around the school that he was incredibly sought after, and went

on a number of dates. That wasn't even counting how many college girls he had been with over the past half year.

Her rising panic was calmed as Killian reached for her hand across the table giving her an understanding look.

"You're somewhat of an open book, Swan. Don't doubt this. Don't doubt us."

If Killian could have faith in them, couldn't she?

"Okay. I'm willing to take a leap of faith. With you, I mean."

"You won't regret this Emma."

"I know." She smiled.

Dinner went exceptionally well. The food was delicious and the conversation flowed easily. They talked about a wide variety of things, simple and complicated. Killian told her about his mother's death and how his father abandoned him when he was only three, leaving him to the mercy of the streets. However, he spent three days in the hospital due to being underfed, after being found by local authorities. Ruth, still working as a nurse at the time, heard the boy's story and took him right home, where he has been ever since.

Emma told him about her parents leaving her on the side of the freeway. About being rejected by family after family, and building walls around her heart for her own protection. She dabbled a bit in the abuse in the systems. How she was starved, beaten, and often cornered by foster brothers or even foster father's who liked the new blonde in the house.

Killian was stiff throughout the whole tale, obviously saddened and angry about the lot in life she had been handed. But when she spoke of the touches, and foster brother's that cornered her, trying to get something from her she would never give, his jaw clenched and a look of murderous rage took over his features. He asked her for more detail. Locations, names, how far things went, and such. She stopped him though, knowing that wasn't something they needed to go into right now.

Killian paid the bill and lead her out the door, wrapping his jacket around her as they went back to the car. As they arrived home, they stayed in the car, not wanting to face Ruth and David (and god knows who else) yet.

"I had a really good time tonight, Killian." She confessed.

"Me too." He responded, moving his lips over hers.

The kiss was slower than their first ones, filled with a different kind of intensity. After a night of sharing their traumas and scars, they both needed this kiss, filled with compassion and love.

Neither one of them were ready to say the words yet, but both knew that was where they were headed, if not already there.

Emma's arms wrapped around his neck as she kissed him, needing him closer. She knew she should have been afraid of what she was feeling. The desperate need for him, the butterflies that never left when he was around, the fire he set in her veins, the love that had been growing within her since she saw him with that bat.

How Killian Jones had managed to break through the walls she had spent years carefully crafting and into her heart in a matter of weeks, she would never know. But somehow, she couldn't bring herself to care. She couldn't be afraid of falling, knowing she was already down at the bottom of the cliff, looking up at how far she had fallen.

He pulled back then, leaning their foreheads together, rubbing his nose against hers in a sweet gesture. Neither one of them spoke, just stayed wrapped in each other in the silence, appreciating their quiet moment, neither one of them realizing that Killian had left his phone back at the restaurant, which was now buzzing at an incoming text.

From: Milah

So excited to see you! You better make it worth the drive ;)

Things are going to get messy. Keep a girl happy during finals and review? New chapter tomorrow if I get enough.