A/N: So to say that I am LOVING the reviews for this and the interaction the fic has inspired is an understatement. Seriously people, feed the muses because they all want to know how fluffy or cute to be. I spent all of last night outlining (at least) ten more chapters for this story, but I could see it going farther than that. Expect so much cuteness and a continuation, at least for a while, of the rhythm I've set forth, with both Killian and Emma's POVs and a piece of Killian's book for each chapter. Thanks again for reading and I hope you all enjoy!

Every moment in her presence was the makings of a gorgeous memory. The same line that she'd read in last night's gifted portion of Killian's book rang through Emma's head. The past few days had brought more snippets into his mentality, all of which shook her to her core, but that line in particular grabbed at her. He's said what she'd always felt about him so eloquently. Even the most mundane of remembrances were special if Killian was by her side in them, and after years of pushing those down, and trying to leave the past in the past, Emma was enjoying wading back into the waters of their relationship and everything they'd had together.

After that first night though, actual contact between Killian and Emma had been relatively lacking. Killian spent no more than a few minutes with her every day, but there was always something left for her in the morning and at night to show her that she was on his mind. She hadn't realized when she told him to go slow, that he would listen so well. Baby steps were the better bet, and she had no desire to see them fail a second time, to be sure, but Emma had to admit she missed him. His words kept her warm at night, but she missed the man who'd written them himself. Funny how much progress could be made in so short a time. She was healing enough to let herself miss him, something she hadn't thought possible.

"You've got that goofy grin on your face again." Emma shook her head from the daydream clinging to her consciousness and returned her attention to Tiana who now stood in the doorway of Emma's office. Try as she might, Emma couldn't make the smile go away, but she attempted to sober up somewhat.

"Yeah, I'm working on it." When the second day of this strange, bubbly state hit, Emma enlisted Tiana's help to keep her in the present. Emma needed to stay focused on the clinic, but that was a little difficult when she had romantic affairs to consider over sleep-inducing paperwork.

"It's okay, you know, to be this happy. You deserve it, Emma." Emma liked to think that was true. She did her best to be a good person and to give back to this community, but she'd grown accustomed to simple contentment. Sad as it was to admit, she hadn't been truly happy in a long time, and Killian's reappearance promised to bring her more of that. It was intoxicating and terrifying all at once. Emma just smiled and nodded, as the ringing of the phone at the front desk brought Tiana back to her station and left Emma alone once again.

Sixty seconds was all the productivity Emma managed to accrue towards overseeing the medicinal purchases she needed to make for their personal stores this month. Tiana had done all of the assessments, and the woman was never wrong, but usually Emma still checked to be sure. This time though, Emma's mind returned to earlier this morning, when she'd passed her childhood dream home that the man she loved had recently purchased.

She still couldn't believe Killian bought the place. It was for her, she knew, another sign of how serious he was about all of this, but it was just so grand a gesture. The intimidation factor of his feelings though, didn't keep Emma from walking by the house as much as she could. She'd even seen Killian working on it a few times, but when she did she rushed by quickly, hoping he wouldn't see her making a fool of herself from afar.

"Emma, I've got Ruby on the line here for you." Emma silently thanked Tiana and picked up the phone.

"Hey Ruby." Her friend huffed in response.

"Okay, I know we're not supposed to call you and chat about the implications of Killian buying you your dream house, because it puts pressure on you that you don't need, and the rest of the town is doing enough of that." Emma waited a beat for the other shoe to drop.

"Right…" As expected, Ruby then continued to talk about it.

"I totally, totally get that. Well I mean not really – because this is huge and we should all be talking about it – but I'm moving on to another element of the story. The plot has thickened, so to speak." Emma perked up at that.

"Really?" What could Killian possibly surprise her with now?

"Oh yeah. Have you seen the man Killian hired to help him get it ready for its future hominess, because I have to tell you, he is fine!" Emma laughed fully at that, allowing herself to feel it all the way down to her toes. Ruby was – well Ruby was Ruby.

"Is that so?" Ruby murmured through the phone that that was indeed the case.

"Honey I am staring at the evidence pretty damn hard right now. The man is on the front porch just working away and it's taking everything in me not to go over there. I'd use Killian as cover of course. Ask him about the house as a means of introduction." Emma gasped.

"Ruby you wouldn't." Ruby asking about the house would become an interrogation about Killian's intentions said loud enough for the whole neighborhood to hear.

"I would, unless you get your ass down here and drag me away."

"Ruby I'm-" The line cut out as Ruby hung up on her, "Working," Emma said to dead air.

"Technically it's time for lunch," Tiana mentioned from the doorway. Emma had a sneaking suspicion that her PA had been listening in to the call, which was only confirmed when Tiana continued. "And I wouldn't test Ruby. If she says she's going in…"

"Then she's going in. Yeah I know." Much as she feared Ruby's conduct if she didn't get there quickly, Emma also somewhat appreciated the fact that she was being called back to the house once more. It gave her a chance to see Killian, talk to him and maybe to tell him that she was ready for things to pick up a bit despite her earlier insistence on going slow before. She could definitely persuade him given enough time and opportunity, and maybe Emma could get thoroughly kissed in the process. God willing.

"The grin's back."

And here to stay, Emma thought as she closed the door and headed towards the house once more.

….

Very few things compared to the pride of fixing or building something with one's own hands. Creating a dynamic character, finding the fix in the plot line, the eventual sigh of relief when the book was finished, it all gave Killian a sort of high in his professional life, but this, working towards a life with Emma and mending the broken pieces of this house and their relationship, blew all of those moments out of the water. Killian already knew that this task, of making her fall in love with him again and to trust him fully, was the most important and potentially most rewarding work he'd ever done. It outweighed any job-related success, money made, or titles earned and knowing that fueled him to keep going, crossing item after item off of his list to get done for Emma.

"Sometimes I wonder why you even brought me on to help at all." Killian put the hammer in his hand down on the steps, taking a moment to examine the portion of the front porch he'd just mended. Then he turned his attention to Graham, a local contractor from the next town over who was assisting with a number of jobs Killian felt needed a higher level of expertise and wanted done quickly. Now that the ball was rolling, Killian didn't want this construction going on forever. Maybe he'd had years to put together the house he lived in in California, but he couldn't wait that long to give this one to Emma.

"Too cushy a gig for you, Huntsman?" Graham laughed, wiping the sweat from his brow brought on by the late summer sun.

"I've had worse. This one's got decent company and a parade of attractive women coming at all hours to stand and watch." Killian grimaced at that last bit. He felt his jaw clench at the thought that Graham noticed Emma, who was in every way not available to Graham, but then the man continued. "I'm not talking about Emma, man."

"Am I really that transparent?" Graham just grinned in response.

"You pay attention to one person and one person alone, and it's her. You've had a town full of people sauntering by for a glimpse, but you only ever see her. You've got Emma radar or something." Killian shrugged. Graham wasn't wrong after all. All of that was true.

"So if you weren't speaking of Emma, who were you musing about?" Graham nodded towards the street.

"She's the leader of the pack, and quite easily the best looking woman I've ever seen, and she's been standing there nearly ten minutes licking her lips behind those sunglasses." Killian looked over and let out a bark of laughter. Ruby Lucas was indeed staring their way and it took her a moment to break away from her ogling of Graham to see Killian. He waved at her and she did the same.

"You know her?" Killian nodded.

"She's Emma's friend." Graham punched Killian in the arm. "Fuck, what was that for?"

"You mean to tell me you could have introduced me already?" Killian rubbed at the injured spot and cursed again. Yes he technically could do that, but it hadn't occurred to him.

"Forgive me for fixating on my own love life. It's the pressing issue at hand, after all." Graham grumbled but then perked up.

"Ha! Turns out I don't need you after all. I'll just ask Emma to do the honors." Killian's head flipped back around to see that Emma now stood with Ruby talking to her. From her stance and hand gestures, Killian could tell Emma was trying to rein Ruby in some, but that would never work. Killian pushed up to a straighter standing position, trying to wipe some of his own sweat off with his shirt. Emma caught the action though, and he realized he'd unintentionally flashed her a glimpse of his body. She stood stunned, but clearly aroused, with a blush of red creeping up her neck to her cheeks and Killian's chest flooded with pride. She should like what she saw; it was all hers after all.

"Emma," He said her name lightly to bring her attention back to him. Her green eyes flashed to his and she blushed even deeper but cleared her throat as she stepped closer.

"Hey, sorry to just come over like this." Emma tucked a strand of hair behind her ear as Killian reached out for the other hand.

"You come here anytime you like, love." He nearly finished with 'it's your house' but he didn't want to overwhelm her, and the reveal that this was indeed her property in every sense of the word was something he'd rather save until they were alone and more settled. She smiled at that, squeezing his hand a little tighter. Ruby meanwhile cleared her throat and Emma rolled her eyes, shaking her head slightly.

"The reason for our visit is that Ruby has a new found… interest in all things contracting." Killian nodded, trying to keep the laughter at bay.

"Well such questions should probably go to Graham. Ladies this is Graham. Graham this is Emma Swan and Ruby Lucas." After a brief hello, Emma pulled Killian with her away from the flirting beginning to unfold between Ruby and Graham. The little bit they did overhear went straight for dirty innuendos on both parts.

"Can't wait to get me alone?" Killian joked and Emma laughed, the sound washing over him as it always did.

"Something like that." Once around the corner, Emma pulled him towards her and kissed him, surprising Killian. It only took him a second to catch up with her though, giving her just as good as she was giving him. Pulling away from her was incredibly difficult but he had to do it all the same.

"I've been working out in the sun all day, love. I'm afraid I'll get you dirty." Emma smiled.

"Is it terribly gauche if I say I don't mind getting a little dirty?" Her fingertips came to clutch at his shirt and he groaned.

"No, Swan. It's exactly the kind of thing I like to hear, but we're taking this slowly remember?" Emma tilted her head, her eyes moving to his lips, which still tingled from her kiss. He wondered if she could hear the audible gulp he's just made as a means of holding back from her.

"I think we should revisit that idea. It's not working so well for me anymore." Killian worried for a moment that she meant all of this wasn't working for him, but her hands were still on him, and she looked at him like she wanted him, so he rallied.

"Just tell me what you want, love and I'll do anything in my power to give it you." Emma smiled, stepping back but taking his hand once more.

"I know you will." Killian didn't want the moment to end, even if they'd reached this quiet sort of interlude, so he pulled her further back around the house.

"I've been meaning to get your opinion, love, about what to do with this garden." Emma eagerly looked at the space with him and told him that the best garden flowers in her opinion were lilacs and roses for the spring, and a row of sunflowers for the summer and colored pansies that popped up in the early fall. She lent her opinion easily, and all the while Killian silently cheered his own victory. He'd already made the plans for the garden with a local landscaper, and had gotten nearly every detail right. As much as Emma had changed in their time apart, she was still the same girl at heart. The thought prompted him to kiss her hand lightly just before they came back around the house again.

"Since you've asked to speed up the timeline again, Swan, I could give you your pages for the day now if you-"

"Yes! Definitely right now, yes!" Emma covered her mouth and giggled, likely at his reaction to her unexpected outburst. He moved to grab the box with the pages today from his bag and handed it to her. When it was in her hands, Killian watched her trace her fingers over the white ribbon on the yellow box. "I probably won't read it until later still, but I like the idea that I'll have it with me today. That I'll have you with me."

What was he to say in the face of such proclamations? He first tried to convey his happiness at her want for him with another kiss, but then drew back again, keeping his eyes closed as he remained close to her. She even smelled like sunshine today, instead of just looking like it. Feeling the smoothness of her skin under his hands he finally opened up to look at her again and found her smiling.

"It's hard to be scared that you'll break my heart again when you react like that to kissing me." Killian growled a bit at that. The flare of anger was all aimed at his own past misconduct, but he felt inclined to tell her no more of such behavior would transpire.

"There will never again be a moment even edging on heart break. Not by my hand." Emma sighed happily, running her thumb across his hand with the lightest of touches.

"Okay, as nice as this has all been, we should probably pry Ruby off of Graham, or I'll never get back to work and get to read this." Killian laughed as they did just that. It took a bit of time to convince Ruby that she and Emma actually needed to go, but eventually they got there. Killian watched Emma walk away and though it would never feel natural to watch her move away from him, he was confident that he'd see her again tonight. In fact, he already had it all planned. All he had to do was wait.

…..

Chasing Emma through the trees and trails she already knew so well in the fading twilight, I willed myself to stay on my feet. It would be a bloody miracle if I didn't face plant, I knew, but through some happenstance of fate I managed to survive. Perhaps it was the melodic way her laugh filtered through the trees, or the completely enthralling image she made with her long blonde waves flowing back in the wind. Every now and again she looked over her shoulder to see if I was still with her, and I was determined not to let her down. That didn't mean I didn't thank God himself when we finally came to the clearing, and she slowed her pace to a steady walk.

"I'm impressed, Jones. You did pretty well for a first timer." I grunted in response, still trying to catch my breath, which only made the smile on her face grow. She was lovely, even if she was hell bent on killing me.

"For a first timer? How often are you bringing people here, Swan?" Her eyes dimmed a bit and she bit her lip.

"Usually I come here by myself. I haven't shared it with anyone before." My heart leapt at her reply while also crying out for her. I got the impression that Emma didn't have many people she truly trusted, or friends she felt especially close to. I aimed to fix that, to serve that purpose if that was where she'd have me.

"Well I'm sure the journey here was worth it." All at once she returned to her usual self. She took off the backpack she wore and pulled from its depths two jars made of glass with tin tops. She'd poked holes in them and everything.

"Last summer I caught a hundred fireflies in one night, but you have to be patient. They take their time, and make you work for it a little. Some nights their out before the light is gone, and others they don't come out at all."

The passion with which she talked about these bizarre little insects in the middle of the woods struck me, for there was no denying how important the ritual was to her. She'd assured me that all the bugs were released back into the world at the end of the night, citing all sorts of facts about their fragility of life and their simultaneous resiliency. The way her mind worked intrigued me, and I tried to soak up each and every factoid she decided to bestow on me. Even the most mundane observations charmed me.

"Why do they light up?" I finally asked her, wondering why she hadn't answered that most obvious of questions before and she smiled again.

"Depends who you ask. Science-minded individuals will say it's a chemical reaction that happens inside of their little bodies called bioluminescence." I was impressed by her answer, but more intrigued at her inference that there might be more than just the factual, rational explanation.

"And the non-scientists?" Emma's eyes scanned the meadow before us as she answered somewhat absently.

"Some people believe that fireflies are like guardians in a way. They light up the night to show us the way when we can't see it ourselves. When I was little I used to wish on every one I saw, but it didn't matter if none of the things I wished for every came true. Just seeing them felt like magic in itself." No sooner had the words passed her lips than I noticed a blip in the corner of my eye, a yellowish light that was there one second and gone the next. Another appeared, and as if she'd willed them through sheer force of will, the whole meadow filled with off-patterned pulses of light.

Wordlessly, I watched as Emma unscrewed the cover of her jar and moved into the center of the clearing. With easy, fluid movements, that lacked any sort of painful jerkiness, Emma went about collecting the little bugs in question. More dance than hunt, Emma's golden hair twisted and twirled with her as she moved about seemingly without a pattern all in the hopes of seeing and catching more of the tiny lightening bugs. The look of entrancement on her features held me captive, and I watched as she lost herself in this meadow, but I knew, even as I moved to catch the first of my own bugs, that I'd never fall away from myself like she had. She took up too much of my world to ever give myself up fully, but I tried to be enough for her, catching my own bugs despite my lack of finesse or skill.

Every now and then she glanced my way, clearly pleased at my progress, but just as quickly as the looks came, they turned elsewhere. Those beats in time rang out louder to me than even the pounding of my heart, or the chirps of the now waking crickets. For her to see me, even in the midst of this magical moment, made me feel powerful myself, and every fly I collected I caught for her. If she wanted guidance or wishes, she could have all of mine. I had no stronger call for them than to see her happy.

Finally we stopped, closing up the jars and showing each other the assortment we'd accumulated. She'd far exceeded me as I expected, with nearly double the occupants in her container, but her enthusiasm at 'our' collection kept me smiling. Her praise and excitement, both tendencies I'd come to expect from Emma, made all of this worthwhile.

"Now, what?" I asked, expecting her to explain some new or detailed process of wishing on these curious little beings.

"Now we let them go." That was by no means the reply I expected.

"Just like that?" A small smile tugged at her lips.

"Don't you trust me?" I did, with every fiber of my being. Her hands reached out to place my hand on my jar just so, and the warmth of her touch stole my breath away. "It's best if you close your eyes for a second. You say your wishes in your head and then you let them fly. Ready?"

"Aye, Swan." She smiled again and closed her eyes. I waited another moment to close my eyes, so as to see her do so, and if I was honest, I never truly closed them, sneaking a peak to see the sweet sort of calm that clung to her as she formulated her hopes and dreams.

"Okay, on three. One, two, three." We released them all the same time, and I swore they circled Emma in particular, spiraling around her in near pinwheels of light. Her smile grew, her eyes reflecting the natural strobe light, and her hand reached out to mine. "Isn't it magical?"

I knew she was talking about the scene before us, but I could only see her and affirm that it was. Emma had no idea that it wasn't the fireflies around us illuminating my world but her. Holding her hand, as if it were the most natural thing in the world I admitted to myself the truth I'd been facing since first stumbling upon this girl next door – I loved Emma Swan, and nothing and no one would ever, ever compare.

…..

Wiping away tears from her now stained cheeks, Emma wrapped her arm around herself where she sat in her office chair. Unwilling to wait until getting home today for today's taste of his perceptions, Emma devoured the latest installment as soon as Tiana left for the day. Reading Killian's words tore her away from the physical reality of her office, and Emma felt like she was living and breathing the memory of that first firefly hunt together.

Emma hadn't been to see the fireflies since their last summer together, but every now and then the lightening bugs would leave their glen in the forest and find her elsewhere in Storybrooke. She still loved to see them, feeling the second hand magic every time that she did, but she also thought of Killian when they came. Their presence became bittersweet once he'd left, and now, through the story and his return, Emma felt that part of her life and her childhood clicking back into place too.

He thought she hadn't felt his presence every single second that they'd been out there summer after summer, but she did. All of her wonder and her amazement in seeing the lightening bugs only heightened with him around her. She'd felt the same charge of emotion, and a distinct feeling that she finally had someone who understood and accepted her. She had other friends as a kid, yes, but none so willing to try her quirkier interests on for size as Killian did. He just got her, and now she knew for sure that understanding came from a place of love.

Now nearly desperate to see him, Emma went about closing down the clinic as quickly as she could, fumbling even to lock the door on her way out. Her feet pounded on the pavement as she walked in the direction of Liam's house, where Emma knew Killian was still staying. Soon enough she was climbing up the steps and knocking on the door. It was like high school all over again, except this time she couldn't just climb in his window or walk in with little more than a yell to announce her presence. That extra time to wait only increased the energy pulsing inside her. It felt like a small eternity passed before Elsa appeared, opening the door to Emma.

"Emma, you made it!"

"I – what?" Was she expected tonight? Had she and Elsa made plans for dinner she didn't remember? Emma wracked her brain as Elsa smiled.

"The picnic for you and Killian. He's been getting it ready all afternoon."

"A picnic?" Killian came to stand behind Elsa, seeming a little out of breath, as if he'd rushed to the door to intercept his future sister in law.

"Aye, love. I figured we might like provisions for when we watched the show this year." Elsa excused herself as Killian stepped out onto the porch with Emma. She knew she was still gaping at him, but she simply wasn't computing things just yet.

"How did you know I would come?" Killian gave her a shy smile, and that was it, she was toast. Whatever he said it almost didn't matter. She loved that look of boyishness that came to light on his handsome face.

"I simply dared to make my firefly wish before we saw them, and this time it came true. At least I hope it did." He reached for her hand, which Emma readily took.

"I don't know what to say, except… tell me there's grilled cheese in that picnic basket." He laughed at her attempt to lighten yet another beautiful gesture from him.

"Yes, there is."

"Okay, then." They walked together down the steps and onto the sidewalk, when something occurred to Emma. "Hold on a second."

"Emma?" She shushed him playfully.

"Just trust me and wait here." Emma shimmied the gate in front of her old house until it opened and snuck around to the porch steps of the place she used to call home. It was a long shot, but the last place she remembered putting these was – yes, right here. Emma removed the two jars from under the stairs, blew away some of the lingering dirt, and brought them back to where Killian stood waiting for her.

Now armed with the everything they needed, Emma and Killian went on to have a wonderful night, filled with more talking and eating than actual hunting for fireflies. The magic in the air held firm though, even all these years later, and Emma found herself making a wish as she lay in the field with Killian on the soft picnic blanket. She wished that all of this would last forever, and that every year they would do this together. She wished for no more time apart, no more missed moments, and no more what-ifs. And as the lightening bugs danced in the darkness, Emma truly believed that her wish would come true.

Post-Note: It's firefly season where I live, and I knew last week after seeing the first of the lightening bugs that I had to include a story like that in this fic. There's something so intriguing about their whole existence, and at least for me they really were a childhood fascination. I hope that you guys liked the chapter, and would love to hear what you all thought about it. Seriously all your kind words are so appreciated. I can't even articulate how much I love getting them! I hope you all are having a lovely weekend, and thanks again for reading!