"You're alive!"

Emma's eyes have somehow turned into an endless rain of tears, and she can hardly see because of it, but her heart is also near bursting with how happy she feels.

Alive.

Elsa and Ruby are alive. And half of her is scared that this is some dream. Some trick of the planet's. But here they are right in front of her. Elsa's braid might look a little more haphazard than its usual sleek sophistication, and Ruby somehow looks even fiercer under the touch of nature, but here they are, looking just the same as when she last saw them on the spaceliner.

With a laugh she pulls both of her life-long friends into another squeezing hug. Hands clutching them tight, as though they'll disappear if she lets go for even a second.

"How are you alive?" Emma asks once she finally untangles herself from their embrace. The joy that's overflowing from her leaves her voice breathless. And she wouldn't be able to wipe the smile from her face if she tried.

"How are you alive?" Ruby echoes as she looks her up and down, her smile just as bright.

"Emma, we looked everywhere for you." Elsa interjects, her eyes glistening with her own tears. "The crash site, the spaceliner, every fallen pod we could find. We… oh Emma, we thought you were dead."

"I escaped with Killian. Our pod—it landed miles from the crash site. We watched The Swan fall. We didn't think there were any survivors—I mean, we had hoped there might be. But it took us ages to reach the spaceliner and by the time we got there it was nothing more than an empty tomb."

"Killian?" Ruby asks as she leans a little to the side so she can see behind Emma, searching for the man in question. She's not really surprised that out of everything she said, that is what Ruby pays attention to. "As in Lieutenant Killian Jones?" And when she looks back at Emma it's with a raised eyebrow and a secretive smile.

"Uh…yeah." Emma answers simply, turning around to see Killian watching her with a soft smile on his lips. She motions for him to come over and then spins back around to face her friends. She knows they're probably dying for her to elaborate, seeing as the last time they saw her she was trying her hardest to push the man away, and now she's spent every second with him since the crash. They're bound to have questions, but she figures there will be time to share stories later. "We ran into each other when everything went to hell up on the spaceliner. I probably wouldn't be alive without him."

"I think you have that backwards, Swan." She feels Killian's hand at her lower back as he steps up beside her, and she doesn't miss the way Ruby's wolf eyes seem to zero in on the contact, her smirk only increasing. "I know for a fact that I wouldn't be here without you."

She leans into his touch, not really caring what Ruby and Elsa infer from their closeness, and looks up to find his eyes still swimming with the concern he's been harboring for the past couple of days. So she isn't surprised when he lowers his head, his lips brushing against her ear as he whispers words he means to be just for her to hear. "Are you alright? The pain…has the humming stopped?"

She'd been so caught up in the discovery that there were other survivors, and that Elsa and Ruby were among them, that for a moment she'd completely forgotten about the ominous and demanding buzzing. But now that she thinks about it, she realizes that both the pain and the humming itself stopped the moment they'd entered the clearing.

"No, it's gone," she says, giving her head a small shake. "Killian the buzzing stopped as soon as we got here. This must have been where it was leading us!"

Emma laughs a little in relief. It had been a painful and undesirable method for sure, but whatever magic was swirling around this planet couldn't have led them to a better place.

Killian seems relieved at the news, a grateful sigh escaping his lips as his tense stance relaxes just the slightest bit. But there is still a sense of brooding in his features and she thinks he's probably thinking too much about the whole thing. Looking for a threat that's no longer there.

"We're not the only survivors anymore." She bumps her hip into his to try and get him to smile again, and when his eyes make contact with hers she's happy to see the dark cloud in his expression dissipate. His brow smoothing and his eyes softening, and she'd like nothing more than to press up on her toes and kiss him, but Elsa's next question completely captures her attention before she can.

"Buzzing? You feel a buzzing? Like, in the air and on your skin?" Elsa's eyes are wide, and she gives Ruby a quick look before turning back to Emma. "I thought I was going crazy. No one else can feel it."

"I've felt it on and off since we landed. But more recently it's gotten a little intense."

Killian lets out a dry chuckle. "A little intense? Darling, I think it got more than a little intense."

Elsa looks confused. Her delicate features furrowing as she glances between Killian and Emma, searching for some form of understanding. "What do you mean intense?" she asks with a tilt of her head. "I've only ever felt a soft sort of humming… do you mean it's gotten stronger?"

"Well, sort of," Emma answers with a shake of her head. She really doesn't feel like going into unnecessary details at the moment, not when it seems so unimportant in hindsight. "A day or so ago it started leading us. I'd feel pain whenever we started going in the wrong direction—but it honestly wasn't a big deal." She hurries on to continue when her companion's eyes widen in surprise. "It led us here didn't it? But anyways, I learned how to channel it with my magic. You have magic too and that's probably why you can feel it, Elsa."

"This is all very interesting and what not," Ruby interjects as she reaches down to pick up one of the laundry bags Killian had set down. "But we can talk about magic later. Let's get you guys settled and then we can share all the juicy details about our time apart."

She leads them farther into the encampment, and as they pass several people they're greeted with a mix of curious looks and kind smiles. As they walk Emma reaches for Killian's hand and threads their fingers together. She gives it a light squeeze and smiles up at Killian when he returns it with one of his own. It had been just the two of them for so long, and though she would've remained completely happy if it had stayed that way, it's nice to find other survivors.

"Alright, here we are." Ruby stops them in front of one of the handmade shelters, beckoning to it with her free hand. "This one was mine, but I can move my stuff into Elsa's until we can make another one." There's a sly, knowing look in her eyes as she continues. "Are you guys wanting to share one? Or do you want to bunk in with us, Emma?"

Emma rolls her eyes. She's pretty sure Ruby is enjoying her little hunt for information about the two of them a little too much. "We'll share."

Ruby shrugs as though she was expecting it—and is not absolutely dying to know more details about their relationship—and ducks into the shelter to collect her things.

Elsa and Ruby leave them to their own devices to get their things settled, and Emma can't help but feel a little giddy as she steps into their little shelter. This is it. This is the home they'd set out a few days ago to find. No more walking, no more uncertainty. They have a place to settle and people to settle with, and it feels good.

Killian's already started pulling out some of their belongings, but Emma's too excited to not relish in the moment a little longer. So she slides into Killian's view and beams up at him as she wraps her arms around his waist.

"I guess we can technically say welcome home now," she says with a teasing tilt of her head.

Killian laughs softly as he drops whatever he was holding and places his hands at her hips. "Aye, that we can." He looks around the small room for a moment before looking back at her and quirking an eyebrow. Little butterflies flutter in her stomach and she doesn't think she'll every get over how handsome he is. "It's quite quaint isn't it?"

She laughs and wraps herself tighter around him until she can rest her head against his heart. "Maybe one day soon we can upgrade."

It's true, the shelter isn't very large. There's probably only enough space for them to make their bed and have just a little extra walking room, but it'll do for now.

Killian hums happily and pulls away just enough so that he can look into her eyes. She's never had anyone look at her the way he does. Like she's everything he'll ever need. She swears his eyes light up and shine brighter than the stars of every galaxy she's ever traveled through when he looks at her.

And it's overwhelming in the best way.

He doesn't say a word as he tips her chin up with his finger and lowers his head to press his lips to hers.

She loves this. Loves kissing him. Loves that each kiss feels new, as his lips explore and search her own. Every time feels like they're discovering another perfect way their lips fit together. Yet, at the same time, it feels as though the movement of his kiss is a familiar dance she's always known.

When their lips part, Killian gives her nose a gentle nudge with his own and pulls away. Cherishing the moment, Emma keeps her eyes closed and sighs before allowing her eyes to slowly drift open.

She watches as Killian licks his lips and bites back a smile before he lifts his hand to cup her face, his thumb brushing a line across her bottom lip. "I can manage things in here. Why don't you go spend some time with your friends and I'll come join you in a little bit."

"Are you sure?" she asks while smoothing her hands up his chest and over his shoulders before interlacing her fingers together behind his neck. She can't deny that right now a huge part of her longs to go out and spend hours catching up with Elsa and Ruby. But another part of her is also quite content exactly where she is. Not to mention that she doesn't want to burden Killian with setting up everything on his own.

"I'm quite sure. Reuniting with friends you thought were once dead is a big deal. I know you want to be with them." His voice is just a soft whisper of silk, and it sends shivers down her spine.

"I also want to be in here with you," she muses as her fingers begin twirling with the bits of hair that curl at the nape of his neck. And maybe she's lingering in here with him on purpose. She knows she'll be bombarded with questions about her relationship with Killian the second she exits this little shelter. And maybe she just wants to hold on to this quiet moment with him a little longer.

"Well, love, I'm never opposed to spending more time with you, so stay if you wish. But I'm sure they've missed you just as much as you have missed them."

She knows he's right. And she really has missed them. It's also probably better to get any embarrassing questions out of the way while he's in here doing other things anyway. "Alright," she sighs. "Though just so you know the first thing to pass Ruby's lips is going to be something ridiculous like whether or not you're a good kisser."

A playful grin spreads across his face at her words and he raises his eyebrows a few times at her flirtatiously. "Is that so? And what's your answer going to be?"

She can't help but give him a mischievous look of her own as she smirks at him. "Wouldn't you like to know?"

Emma squeals in delight when Killian suddenly wraps his arms around her and lifts her completely off the floor, all while pressing a hungry kiss to her lips. There is much more heated passion in this one than their previous kiss and she's helpless to the little moan that escapes her.

When he sets her down she's completely breathless and maybe more than a little dazed as she blinks up at him.

"That one was for reference." He says simply as he smirks at her.

"Reference?"

"You know, for when Ruby asks if I'm a good kisser."

She laughs. "Ah I see. Well I think I may need another one then." His eyebrow lifts in question and she gives a tiny shrug. "Well, you see the more experiences I can draw from, the more accurate answer I can—"

She's interrupted by the sweetest of kisses, and all she can do is hum in happiness.

The soft orange glow of dusk greets Emma when she steps out of the tent. And despite the warm color of the sky, she can already feel the air getting colder. It nips at her skin and sends a shiver down her spine. This is usually the point of the day where Killian or herself will light a fire and then he'll either hold her as they sit in front of it, or they'll curl up together beneath their blankets to keep warm.

It seems like a lifetime ago when she used to insist on sleeping on the other side of the fire from him. Dooming herself to a near sleepless night with muscles that ached in the morning from the tension they held while she shivered for hours on end.

She spots Elsa and Ruby lounging in front of their tent, a small fire blazing between them. She reaches them at an unhurried pace and settles herself cross-legged in front from them.

"That was quick," Elsa observes.

Picking up a random twig, Emma spins it between her fingers and shrugs. "Killian said he would get everything set up. He wanted to give me a chance to come out here and be with you guys."

Elsa lips tip up in a kind smile. "That was nice of him."

"So about Killian…" Ruby practically sings. "If I remember correctly the last time we saw you, you were pretty set on avoiding all entanglements with the man."

Emma tries her hardest not to roll her eyes. She was expecting this after all, and Ruby's eagerness is something she loves about her, she's never one to wait patiently when she wants to know something. "We crash landed on an isolated planet together, and have spent every second together since. I doubt even you would resist."

"Oh I know I wouldn't resist," Ruby says with a wolfish grin and a playful raise of her eyebrows.

This time Emma does roll her eyes, and takes the stick in her hand and throws it at Ruby's head for good measure. Ruby's laughter is the only response she gets and Emma can't help but smile slightly in return.

"We're happy for you, Emma," Elsa adds as Ruby's laughter dies down. "He seems good for you."

-CS-

They don't have much in terms of possessions, so it doesn't take Killian much longer to get everything squared away after Emma leaves. He takes his time making up their bed, because it's the first time they won't have to immediately destroy it the following morning. After that task is done, organizing everything else around the small room takes practically no time at all.

He finds Emma relaxing by a fire with her friends. There is barely a slip of sunlight left above the horizon, but the rays from the fading light have a way of bringing out the warmer tones in Emma's hair. She's far more mesmerizing than the sunset, and just the sight of her warms his soul like the sun warms his skin.

It's not the first time he realizes he's in love with her. And that he has been for some time.

She smiles up at him, her eyes crinkling in what looks like pure happiness, when he sits down next to her. "Hi," she whispers before leaning against him and resting her head on his shoulder.

He presses a gentle kiss against her hair as she nestles a little closer. "Hello, my love."

He mostly listens throughout their fireside conversation, and he would be lying if he said most of the time his attention wasn't on Emma. He speaks up once or twice as Emma recounts the journey they've had since the spaceliner, but for the most part he leaves her to do the talking.

They learn how Elsa, Ruby, and everyone else at the encampment survived. Turns out everyone that survived had been in a pod. No one who remained in the main ship lived, and majority who were strapped away in pods didn't either. Their pod had still been attached to the spaceliner has it had descended towards the planet, only being ripped away as the ship picked up speed. Luckily their pod was one of the few that deployed its parachute. Most weren't that lucky.

The survivors at the spaceliner had spent their first week searching for survivors and trying to find a way to send out communication. When they realized, much like Emma and himself had, that it wasn't possible, they'd gathered what they could and started walking until they settled here.

He knows that he and Emma definitely had a longer, and at times more challenging, journey, but he's grateful that their first days after the crash were relatively peaceful. He can imagine only too well what sort of chaos and despondency would have saturated the air surrounding The Swan directly following its fall. He can see it in the way Elsa's eyes reflect a deep pool of sorrow when she talks about those first days. Haunting memories that he's fortunate enough not to suffer.

"Most of us think that rescue is unlikely at this point, especially with no means to send out any communication," Elsa continues after she's caught Emma and Killian up on everything that's happened. "Though there is a small chance, your parents will stumble upon us. I can't imagine they'll ever give up looking."

Emma sighs, "I don't think they will either. Though I hope at some point they do—just because I don't want them to spend the rest of their lives making themselves miserable because they can't find me. I want them to be happy."

"Knowing your parents," Ruby says as she pulls her gaze from the flickering flame to look at Emma. "I think they'd rather hold onto the hope that you're still alive and can be found, than think that you're lost to them forever."

Killian feels Emma fidget against him before she sinks a little further into his embrace. He knows thoughts of her parents make her sad. He knows all too well the pain that comes from knowing you'll never see a loved one again.

"Hey," Ruby continues in a brighter tone, and it's obvious she's trying to lighten the mood. "At least you're done hiding away on spaceliner after spaceliner. The Dark One can't reach you here. Your parents can stop looking for that dagger."

Killian straightens just the slightest, listening intently. He knows very little of the connection Emma has to the Dark One, and his interest is piqued by every piece of that puzzle he can collect.

"I somehow doubt that was what my parents intended." There's an underling trace of irritation beneath Emma's tone, and the hardness of it matches the tension he can feel in her muscles.

"Dagger?" Killian asks curiously, he's aware that Emma is getting upset but it's the first he's heard of such a thing.

"The Dark One's dagger can control him," Elsa supplies before she gives a brief reprimanding look to Ruby that Killian would've missed if he'd blinked at the wrong time.

"It's not important anymore." Emma stands and wipes the dirt from her pants. "I'm tired. I'm going to bed."

He watches as she opens the flap of their tent with a little too much vigor and disappears inside it.

"I think I'll retire as well," Killian tells the women next to him, turning to smile politely at them briefly before standing up and following after Emma.

He enters to find her already tucked away in their bed, her back to him. He sighs as he sits on his side and takes off his shoes before pulling back the blankets and slipping beneath them.

Once he's situated comfortable on his back he immediately feels Emma turn around and tuck herself against his side. He wraps an arm around her and traces the ridges of her spine as they lie in silence.

"I miss them." She finally murmurs in the darkness, and he can hear the tears in her voice.

He pulls her a little closer and rests his chin atop her head. "I know. And you always will. But missing someone is part of how we remember them, even if it hurts."

Silence settles over them again for a few minutes, the only sound is Emma's quiet sniffles as she wipes at her eyes.

"It's too dark," she sighs.

Killian chuckles softly and her sudden change of direction, "Too dark?"

"It's too dark in here," she clarifies. "I guess I'm just used to falling asleep under the stars now. I kind of miss it."

Killian presses a kiss to her hair and hums. "We'll have to make it a tradition to periodically go out and sleep under the stars then."

"I'd like that," she sighs.

It feels like hours before Killian feels like he's tired enough to actually fall asleep, and he can tell by the pattern of Emma's breathing that she stays awake as well. But neither of them says anything as they lie together and simply enjoy the comfort that being with the other brings.

I'd love a review :)