Here's another update already! It's a tad shorter than the last one and a part of me wanted to keep going, but I'm wrapping the story up now and want to get it done! I've had so much fun writing this! Can't believe it's almost over!

Enjoy!

~Mags

Chapter 24

By the time she got to the end of the dock she pulled out her earphones and bent over as she leaned tiredly at her hands. That's what she got for sprinting the last hundred yards, but she couldn't help it…she had been anxious to see Killian.

Which was ridiculous, she thought as she straightened and placed her hand on her hips with a sigh. It was still early yet and for all she knew, he was still fast asleep below deck and…

"Are you all right, love?"

She spun around to see Killian standing on the ramp looking down at her with amusement.

"You look ready to pass out."

She smiled and immediately got her second wind as she ran to the ramp and up to him and surprised him by slipping her hands under his leather jacket and leaned in for a hug.

Since he was higher up on the ramp he towered over her so her head was tucked comfortably under his chin. He placed his hand against the small of her back and looped her ponytail through the curve of his hook. "Well, this is a nice surprise."

"I missed you."

"It's been less than twenty-four hours, love," he teased but her words struck him right in the heart. "But I missed you, too."

She tilted her head back with a grin. "Did you?"

He twirled her ponytail with his hook and gave it a little tug. "Aye."

"Good."

He took a breath as he leaned back. "Not to ruin this beautiful moment we're having, love…but is there a reason why you're all sweaty and stink to high heaven?"

She let out a shocking laugh as she stepped away…leave it to him to tell it like it was…damn if she didn't like that about him. "Sorry…I went for a morning jog…a run," she added at the puzzled look on his face.

"You were running?" he asked with a frown. "From whom?"

"From no one," she said shaking her head. "It's just…a trend here in this world…you just run."

"You just run? For the hell of it?"

"To stay in shape or clear your head…it's good exercise."

"It sounds bloody awful."

She laughed. "Yes…it can be."

"Although I don't mind the attire," he said, as he looked her up and down, admiring the way the clothes fit her like a second skin. "Do most woman dress like this when they jog?"

She rolled her eyes. "Yes…they're work-out clothes."

"I like it." He trailed his hook over her shoulder and down the neckline of the stretch material. "I like it a lot."

She lifted a brow when he slid his hook between her breasts and tugged her towards him. "Someone's awfully chipper this morning."

He smiled and shrugged as he shifted her until her back was pressed against the rail of the ramp. "You were the first person I thought of when I woke this morning…and then I come up to the deck to see you here…waiting for me."

She smiled as she circled her arms around his neck. "I was the first person you thought of?"

"Aye." He bent down and kissed her softly. "You always are…for quite some time now."

Her heart fluttered when their lips met again and then sighed as she sank into the kiss. "Killian."

He murmured her name as he trailed his lips down her neck and then sighed as he buried his face taking in a deep breath. "You really do stink, love."

She chuckled as she slapped him in the back of his head. "Shut up."

He grinned as he lifted his head and was about to bend down for another kiss, but something caught his attention. "What is that?"

"What?" she asked looking down as she followed his eyes. "Oh…that's my iPod…it's this device that…"

"I'm not talking about the machine…this world has more machines than I care to imagine…I'm talking about what's coming from it…is it…some sort of music?"

"Oh…yes." She picked up her headphones and held it up. "Most people like to listen to music while they jog to keep their mind off of jogging. It's a band called Imagine Dragons…you see…in this world they're famous singers and bands and they record their music so fans can later download their songs and put them on iPods or mp3s…and I'm sure you're not understanding any of this, but listen…"

He bent down when he realized she was reaching for his ears and then his brows furrowed as he listened to the catchy tune that flowed in his ears. The man singing had a nice voice as he sang about being on top of the world and the beats and sounds were long nothing he'd ever heard before.

"I like it!"

Emma smirked. "You're yelling."

"What?!"

She reached up and took the earphones away. "You're yelling."

"Oh…sorry…it was rather loud," he said as he reached up to wiggle his ear with the curve of his hook. "But I can see why you enjoy listening to them…do you have a lot of songs on that tiny machine?"

"About five-hundred give or take," she said as she handed it over to him so he could study it. "But it will hold at least a thousand I think."

"Remarkable…what sort of magic is it?"

"It's called technology."

"Hmm…I have this urge to take it a part and examine it."

She snagged it back. "Resist it."

"That's okay," he said with a grin as he leaned into her again. "I'll just give in to another urge."

"Killian?"

Their lips paused inches from each other at the sound of Aidan's voice and Killian sighed as dropped his head. "I forgot about the little bugger."

He turned away from her and made his way up the ramp and Emma followed closed behind. "Morning, lad," he said as he jumped on the deck then turned to lend a hand for Emma. "Sleep okay?"

"Yup…hi, Emma!"

"Hey kid." She walked over to him and put a hand on his curly head. "Wow…you're not even away from Neverland for a whole day and I can already tell you've grown."

He grinned up at her. "Really?"

"You bet," she said and then smiled over at Hook. "Hey…are you guys hungry? How 'bout breakfast at Granny's?"

"Really?" he asked with wide eyes. "You mean we can actually leave the ship?"

Killian rolled his eyes. "He's acting like I've kept him prisoner. He's been wanting to see Storybrooke."

"Well…so you should…it's your home now, isn't it?" She then looked at his raggedy clothes and worn down boots that were god only knew how old. "And then after breakfast we'll take you shopping for new clothes."

"Emma," Killian said over Aidan's whoops and cheers. "I haven't any coin from this world."

"It's my treat," she assured him and then gave him a look when she saw the look of disapproval in his eyes. "Don't be stupid, Hook…the boy needs new clothes…he's long overdue I say."

He sighed in defeat. "All right, but…"

"No buts." She walked over to him and gripped the lapels of his jacket with both hands and gave him a little tug. "I want to do this for him…for both of you…and don't tell me you'll pay me back…you don't have to."

She then reached up on her toes and kissed him before he could say another word and he responded by wrapping an arm around her and lifted her up off her feet. She smiled against his lips as the grip on his jacket tightened and then opened her mouth to him as he deepened the kiss.

"Eeeeeuuuuuwwwww."

They both pulled away and looked over at Aidan who was staring up at them while making a face. "Problem, my boy?" he asked in amusement as he still held on to Emma.

"Killiaaan….you're kissing a girl!"

Emma pressed her lips together to keep from laughing as she shared a quick look with Hook. "Aye…you're very observant, Aidan."

"But…but you're tongue was in her mouth!" He wrinkled his nose in disgust. "That can't be pleasant."

"Don't knock it till you try it, lad…when you're older," he added as he finally set Emma back on her feet.

A tad flustered, Emma cleared her throat as she soothed back some hair that came loose from Killian's fingers. "Well…let's get going…I have an intense craving for Granny's French toast."

"What's French toast?" Aidan asked as he reached for Killian's hand as they made their way down the ramp.

"It's hard to explain," she said and then smiled softly when he reached and took her hand with his other one. "But it's delicious."

As the three of them walked down the dock towards town hand in hand, Killian shared a look with Emma that sent his heart pounding and couldn't help but hope he was looking at his future.

"Aidan?" he asked although he kept his eyes on Emma.

"Yeah?"

"You might want to close your eyes."

"Why?"

"Because I'm going to kiss the girl again."

And as Killian and Emma leaned in for a kiss, Aidan let out a tiny groan of annoyance as he closed his eyes shut. "Just make it quick, will you? I'm hungry."