Uncertainties or not, life in Storybrooke had become normal.
As normal as any magically-created town with fairy tale inhabitants could be, that is.
People had settled into their old routines, just as comfortable with their modern lives as they had been in the Enchanted Forest and the days had become relatively calm.
Of course people were still uncertain about the long-lastingness of resources like food and fuel as well as whether or not it was safe to cross the town line (Emma, Hook, and Henry not included), with theories varying widely, but someone was bound to try it eventually, accidental or not.
Baby Neil was 3 months old, a beaming, blue-eyed, raven-haired child who brought joy to everyone who saw him. Henry had begrudgingly agreed to return to attending school like any kid would, although he was often daydreaming about ways to bring the townspeople together with each other as well as with their old possessions which hid in the nooks and crannies of his grandfather's shop. Belle was secretly helping him; her husband had proven to be a changed man, but giving away merchandise for free would be quite another story. Killian and Emma had continued to slowly blossom in their relationship with each other and were now finally moving to a more permanent place rather than getting knowing looks from people at Granny's or feeling much too uncomfortable at the thought of staying with David and Mary Margaret. Charming and Emma were back in full swing in the sheriff's office and the father/daughter pair had become quite close during their patrols and morning coffee runs. Snow had fully embraced motherhood but was looking forward to returning to teaching in some capacity, even if it was just tutoring when Neil was taking his daily nap. Killian had become a "jack-of-all-trades" at the docks, organizing fisherman, leisure trips, and even imports/exports as he quickly absorbed the nuances of an honest life near the sea instead of a pirate's life at sea. Regina was still a fairly broken woman, but her love for Henry and surprising talent at being a rather decent mayor kept her pushing forward even when Roland's excited shout of "Gina!" every time they crossed paths felt like a knife in the heart.
After a full day of moving in (mostly furniture that David and Mary Margaret had insisted they accept as a housewarming gift since most of Killian's "housewares" had resided on the Jolly Rodger and Emma had never been one to keep large amounts of personal items), their new little apartment overlooking the bay was no longer empty. Emma wiped her hands on her jeans and looked around to find Killian who had disappeared a few minutes ago. She found him on the bed in his v-neck black t-shirt and jeans (which had taken weeks to convince him to wear instead of his typical pirate garb) resting his artificial limb behind his neck and his hand on his stomach. The Captain's eyes were closed, but even in his half-asleep state, he heard the slight motion of her entering the room and half of his lips turned in a small smile as he opened his arm to beckon her closer.
"Emma." He said simply. She pulled her long blonde locks into a messy bun and nestled against him, pleased with the fruit of their labors. She had never imagined having a true home with someone she knew beyond a shadow of a doubt would never leave her, but here she was. No matter the petty arguments or culture clashes the two had encountered, Killian had never given Emma a reason to worry it had all been a mistake- that she'd be left alone again.
It was at this particularly fragile moment that Emma allowed herself to ask what she'd normally consider a much weaker woman's question.
"Killian? Can I ask you something?" Emma inwardly swore at the timid way the request had escaped her lips.
"Of course, love, anything."
"All those months ago, when we were fighting Zelina… did you sleep with Tink?"
His answering smile was a sad confirmation. She didn't know why it bothered her after her past 8 month relationship with a flying monkey but it somehow did. Tink was here, in Storybrooke, whereas all of their other past lovers were not.
He realized she took the action for an incorrect meaning when her body tensed against him, so Killian opened his eyes and tenderly pointed her chin back toward him. "Emma," he cooed, "I was merely smiling at the memory of trying to make you jealous that day. I've never so much as kissed the lass."
"Oh." Emma's face flushed a gentle red in embarrassment but the small smile on her lips made Killian laugh.
"I know you're expecting a pirate scoundrel, Swan, but believe me when I tell you, I am yours. I was yours since the beanstalk, likely, whether I realized it or not."
Emma sighed peacefully. She could never get enough of the man's honest declarations (no matter how "over-the-top" they seemed at times) after all the deceit and abandonment she'd had in the past.
"You know, I used to think true love was only for perfect people with perfect lives, but nothing could be further from the truth. True love takes a whole lot more than a glance or ball. It's a journey," she smiled lovingly at the warm blue eyes gazing at her. "I still can't imagine our crazy, ongoing story being the subject of a fairy tale anytime soon, but I like it. I like that we somehow kept falling toward each other no matter how much everything else tried to push us away," Emma's prolific and touching words surprised even her- she really was opening up (a damn miracle at her age).
"You mean you kept attempting to resist my irresistible charm, Swan. It was inevitable." The tip of his tongue mischievously darted out to the side of his lip in a characteristic Hook mannerism.
She should be exhausted. She should be sleeping. She probably should be taking a shower. But the lightness of her heart was making her feel as if she'd downed 10,000 cups of coffee at Granny's. It seemed Killian was wide awake as well once the teasing began. Emma imagined all the fun evenings they would have in their new home. Oh! What about making Killian watch Hook and Back to the Future? The movie night possibilities were endless- he'd probably never seen a single one. Maybe they could make it a family thing- Henry would love it, too...
"Where'd you go, lass?" Killian's amused smile brought her back to the present in startling clarity. It was time to kiss this pirate senseless, he had most certainly earned it today.
Much later, the two watched the evening sky slowly darken over the water, snuggled on their new couch (courtesy of Gepetto). Hook looked down at the beautiful woman in his arms and decided it was his turn to ask a potentially embarrassing question.
"You know, love, I've been wondering something for quite some time myself. If you are indeed my 'true love', why did the kiss in New York do nothing?" He grimaced at the reminder of the dual pain of her lack of recognition and the knee to his tender regions.
"That is strange considering our feelings now." Emma pursed her lips and pecked him on the cheek, "but come to think of it, Mary Margaret and David -mom and dad- kissed quite a few times in my early days in Storybrooke, but they didn't remember being Snow and Charming. Maybe even true love's kiss has some limits when there's a curse forcing your mind full of different memories."
He seemed to lighten up at the revelation, no longer worried that their love wasn't as permanent and strong as he had hoped. "You're incredible, Swan."
"Don't you forget it, pirate."
"Never, love." Killian's infamous scoundrel look entered his glittering eyes, "Now, princess, shall I plunder some booty for the second time in our new dwelling?"
Emma rolled her eyes despite being amused by his ridiculous flirting. "Aye aye, captain," she purred seductively as her hand went up to her forehead in a mock salute. She had learned over the course of their three months together that fighting the whole pirate thing was so not worth it.
Suddenly the steamy pair was interrupted by a knock at the door.
"DAMN!" Killian cursed at the unwelcome noise.
"Shhhh!" Emma giggled, kissed him one last time, and untangled herself from him to walk to the front door. She was surprised to see Mr. Gold through the peephole.
"Gold?" Emma sized her son's grandfather up as she swung open the door.
"Hi there, dearie. Hope I'm not interrupting anything."
Killian scowled under his breath from the couch before turning on the sarcastic charm, his favorite stance when dealing with the Crocodile. "Nothing we can't continue later on just as easily, mate."
"O.K," Emma put up her hands in a calming gesture and tried to diffuse the situation before it rapidly escalated, "What can I do for you? Are you looking for Henry?"
"No, my dear I came to see you. Or rather to give you a housewarming gift," he leaned on his cane with one hand as his other pulled a small object from his breast pocket.
Emma wasn't so sure she wanted a gift from the crafty and still mysterious man who helped her hone her magic from time to time, but she simply waited patiently for him to continue.
"For the princess." Gold held out a chain with a single blossom pendant, a tiny version of a strange yellow flower Emma had never seen before.
"Ttthanks, Gold. It's really… pretty."
"Well don't sound so surprised, dearie. I've got much more fashion sense than that ancient man you call your soul mate." He directed his next comment toward Hook, "Perhaps I should give you the name of my tailor?"
Killian leapt up at the insult and was moving quickly toward the front door, a blazing look in his eyes.
Emma stepped closer to Gold, accepting the gift and blocking Hook's access to the older man. There was no sense in breaking the stalemate between the two now… or ever.
She smiled questioningly at the curious jewelry, amused that he'd thought she would ever wear such a delicate and feminine necklace. Sure she'd danced at a ball in the Enchanted Forest, but Emma was still a jacket and jeans kind of woman. Almost as if reading her mind, he leaned in and whispered, "If I were you, I might consider, say, wearing such a thing while using magic to find something that's been lost." Before Emma could even register that she'd heard him, he was turning around and walking away. Killian pushed the door shut enthusiastically and promptly pinned Emma against the wall, their previous activities apparently still fresh in his mind.
How was she supposed to focus on the cryptic message when a handsome pirate was distracting her so successfully?