"Killian, will you play monopoly with me before I go to bed tonight? I swear I'll do all my homework first."

Hook raised a dark brow at the boy. Henry sighed.

"And I'll do the dishes and help Mary Margaret and Mom clean up."

"And?"

Henry groaned rolled his eyes towards the pirate, who was sitting down on the sofa in front of the tv.

"And I'll tidy my room."

"Good lad. I'll have your board game ready and waiting for when you've finished your errands."

Henry grinned at Hook, before bouncing off towards the kitchen to help clean up the dinner table. He didn't notice his mother watching their interaction from one of the bar stools. Now she couldn't deny it. Hook was picking up on the rules Henry was supposed to follow and was actually being a good influence. He was so good for Henry. And the pirate acted as if he didn't even notice it. So it made Emma think, maybe he was just being responsible to win her affections. Maybe this was all a ploy.

'He adores you!'

Flora's voice echoed in Emma's mind, reminding her that maybe she wasn't just imagining things and that Hook might actually be genuine. She was reminded how good Hook had been as of lately; how nice he had been. Maybe he wasn't up to something. Maybe he was really trying to change. And who was Emma to ruin it for him?

As her eyes trailed from the floor under her dangling feet to the back of the sofa, she sighed and stood up. Closing her eyes and taking a deep breath, she exhaled and strode over to the seating area so she could face Hook.

"Thank you."

He looked up, puzzled, the flashing lights from the tv highlighting his frown.

"For what, love?"

Emma couldn't stop herself from raising a brow. She was surprised. Hook was confused. He really didn't know what she was thanking him for.

"For Henry. I mean, for looking out for him and being a friend he's always needed. And for... being mature and responsible with him. You mean a lot to him so just... just don't screw it up with everyone here, okay? You're- you're okay now. I mean, I think I would go as far to say that I trust you- no, do not let that go to your head- and I don't feel like I have to worry about you stabbing us in the back anymore."

His eyes lit up as he stared up at her, a small smile gracing his lips.

"Just... don't give me a reason to regret saying this to you."

He stood up from the sofa and moved to stand directly infront of Emma. He was close. He was very close. She could feel his breath across her skin and felt the urge to take a step back. But she didn't.

"You will never regret this, Emma." He said quietly, almost a whisper. "You have no idea how much your trust means to me."

Emma held her breath. She was never like this with a guy. Last time she felt this way, it was with Neal. But she had never felt so fluttery that she thought she would throw up. Why was she feeling like this? Why was she feeling like this with him?

She couldn't stop her eyes from focusing on his lips. They were right there in front of her; hell, she didn't even have anywhere else to look. And she could feel his eyes on hers too. She expected him to kiss her. She wouldn't have been happy about it but she sure as hell wouldn't have complained. So when he looked into her eyes and leaned forward, she found herself disappointed when he picked up her right hand in his a left a soft kiss on it. His lips lingered, ever so slightly, as he raised his head again to look at her. To look at her shell shocked face.

And then he dropped her hand and headed up to his room, without even saying a word. Just like that, the moment was over, and had left Emma standing there speechless. What had just happened? Why didn't he kiss her? She told herself she didn't care but she still couldn't understand why it didn't happen. At least then she'd get to yell at him and tell him off. Now he got away with being sweet like that. She growled.

The next time she was in his presence, she felt awkward. She had no reason to be that way but she felt it. He carried on as usual; making Henry laugh with jokes and stories from his travels at the breakfast table.

She would have been lying if she said she wasn't even a little bit jealous of all the attention Hook was getting from Henry. Hook. No, that didn't make sense anymore did it? There wasn't a hook anymore; not the ruthless pirate or the metal weapon. Only a man who had changed for the better. So was it fair for her to call him Hook still? As long as she called him that, he would always be a backstabbing prick to her. Maybe it was time for her to get over it. Maybe it was time to meet Killian Jones; the man behind the hook.

"Killian, could you come with me to drop Henry off at school?"

There was silence at the table. With David at the station and Mary Margaret having gone to school earlier to plan ahead for today, it was just the three of them. Like a little family. And now both Henry and Killian were looking over at Emma with their eyes like saucers. Henry wasn't used to his mother being particulary friendly with his idol. Obviously, Killian wasn't either.

"What?" She asked when she saw their faces. "I need to run over to Granny's to pick up some food before she closes for her morning break. Henry will be late if I hold him up."

A large smile was beginning to creep up on Henry's face. Killian still sat there still, now frowning slightly.

"You want me to drop your son off at school? On my own?"

"Yeah? You not going to be able to handle that?"

He met her eyes, even though she was desperately trying to avoid eye contact. But he caught her and he caught the lie. Granny's morning break wasn't until ten. Inside his chest, his heart was doing a victory dance. She was trusting him. She was trusting him with her son. She was trusting that he wouldn't run off. This was progress, he decided.

"Very well, then. Come on the lad! Get your things together so we can hit the road!"

Emma swore she had never seen Henry's face light up so much like it was now. Killian made him happy. And happy Henry made Emma happy. She found herself smiling as she followed the two males out the door, and pulled on her red leather jacket to start the day. The day was starting strangely well.

A/N: Very short chapter, sorry guys. But it was a pretty damn important one. Progress for our little darlings!

Ps. I was meant to upload this the other night but I was too busy crying over the last episode. I dunno bout the rest of you but I want Killian to yell at Emma. I want to rant a bit more in depth but I won't in case some of yey haven't caught up. For everyone else, I'm sure you know what I'm talking about.

Next time: "Keep it PG, Killian."

"PG?"

"No sex, violence, explicit language."