AN: I fully accept that some of you will be annoyed with the end of this chapter, but this is one of the first scenes I had planned… way before we knew anything and I feel that it is something that needs to happen. That being said, I do hope you enjoy it… and if you don't, I'll pass out shots to help you get through the foreseeable future.

And no worries, I won't abandon this. But we are about 2/3 of the way through the story. Homestretch, baby!

"Are you out of your mind, Emma?"

"It's a valid plan. We all get to be with Henry, she'll protect us, and she'll help me learn to control whatever this is," she gestured to her hands.

Hook, sitting next to Emma, took one of her hands in his, in attempt to comfort her.

"Protect us?" Mary-Margaret responded. "Emma, this whole curse was because she wanted to hurt us."

"I really think she's changed- or at least trying to. And honestly, if we decline and she's upset, think of how much more harm could be done."

"Emma-"

They were interrupted by Henry walking in, "Guys, what's going on?"

"Henry, I have something to discuss with you."

"Emma-"

"Look, you guys can choose what you will, but this is mine and Henry's decision."

"What is, mom?"

OoOoOoOoOo

"She invited us to move in with her?" Henry asked, sitting next to Emma on their bed upstairs.

"Yes. She invited all four of us."

"What about Killian?"

Emma didn't understand her son's quick attachment to the man, but she honestly didn't understand hers either.

She drew a deep breath to consider things and, placing a hand on the boy's shoulder, answered, "We're not stuck, handcuffed together anymore and I trust him enough that he can go about his own life and live on his own ship."

With a completely disappointed look, Henry responded, "Oh. Okay."

"I thought you'd be more excited. You'll get to see both of your moms everyday and have your own room again!"

"I do want that. But I don't want to lose Mary-Margret or David," he paused. "Or Killian."

"Kid, you're not going to lose them. I don't want to move away from them either. They're my mom and dad and I'm just getting to know them, but I have to do what is best for you. And for right now at least, I think that moving in with Regina is what's best. We just have to convince them to come too. We can call it operation Grizzly."

"And what about Killian?"

"I told you, he's free. He's probably just going to find his ship and take off," Emma's breath hitched as her emotions caught up to her thoughts and a pang spread through her stomach.

"Then why is he still here?" Henry asked, upset.

Emma had been thinking the same, but didn't allow herself to hope- and in all honesty, she didn't even know or understand what she wanted to hope for. Not wanting to go down that road, she responded, "Why is he so important to you?"

Henry fell silent. A slight pout took over his face. Not fair, kid.

He refused to make eye contact, but slowly replied, " I've never had a dad before. David is kinda like a dad, but he's not mine. He's your dad. Killian- he's- I don't know. He acted like he wanted me around. And he cares about us, both of us. Plus he's really cool and he said he'd teach me how to drive his ship and sword fight and be a pirate."

"He did?" Emma asked, holding back a smile. "You are not becoming a pirate. David would kill me if you were anything but a prince, or maybe a herdsman."

They both laughed.

"But kid, I can't keep Hook hostage. He's going to want to live in his ship. He loves that thing. But if he does want to stay, I won't stop you from seeing him as long as you two behave and Regina is okay with it." Emma hugged him.

"It's not the same," Henry looked down again. "I thought he meant more to you. I thought he was like- like family."

"Oh! Henry-" Emma fell silent for a long moment before changing the subject. "For now, why don't we start operation grizzly?"

Henry nodded in somber agreement.

OoOoOoOoOo

After they came back downstairs, they found Hook sitting in what appeared to be deep thought and Emma's parents arguing in whispers behind their curtain. Emma plopped down on the couch next to Hook and Henry followed next to her.

Hook jumped out of his thoughts and turned to Emma, "Is everything okay?"

Emma didn't know how to answer that. Her entire adulthood she had made sure she had every little detail of her life under control to make up for the little control she had over anything as a child. But it seemed that since she moved to Storybrooke, everything was constantly out of her control. It scared her and also made her feel a bit- free. She was happy even though she was overwhelmed and scared shitless.

She smiled at him and gave him a nod. Habitually grabbing Hook's hand, she added, "Now let's watch that movie Henry promised. What should we watch?"

A mischievous grin spread across Henry's face, "Pirates of the Caribbean!"

"Good idea. We'll show him what a real pirate is," she grinned over at Hook challenging him.

He narrowed her eyes, "Oh, I can show you what a real pirate is, love."

Emma shot him a warning glance and looked over to Henry, telling the pirate that it was not appropriate conversation in front of her son.

"Mom has the biggest crush on Captain Jack Sparrow," Henry interrupted their stare-off.

"How does this work exactly?"

"It's a story that you see in that box, the TV," Henry explained.

"Is it magic?"

"Kind of."

"Well, then let's see what's so great about this pirate."

OoOoOoOoOo

By the end of the movie, Snow and David had already gone to bed in a huff, Emma was half asleep in Hook's arms, and Henry was out, sprawled half across Emma's lap and half across the rest of the couch.

When the credits started, Emma stretched and smiled up at Hook. "So what did you think?"

"I think he's a decent pirate, but nowhere near as good as the one you have right here."

"Of course you do."

He brushed her hair out of her face and reluctantly whispered, "I should probably go."

Emma's smile faded a bit. "You should probably shower for real first. Without me or clothes in the way."

"You were never in the way, love. On the contrary, you weren't in the way enough."

Emma rolled her eyes, "Look, if you need anything, let me know. And I assume you don't have a shower, so until we get this living arrangement mess sorted out, you can definitely shower here and find a warm meal here and-"

Hook looked down at her with a broken smile and cut her off, "Thanks, Emma."

"And, it's late tonight, so if you want to stay until the morning, I don't think anyone would be opposed."

"I don't want to intrude."

"But you're not. Henry is passed out on the couch, so you can just sleep in my bed tonight instead of walking all the way to the docks in the cold weather."

"Why are you doing this?"

"We have a deal. I assume you're not going off to kill Gold right now, so I still have to be your friend, don't I?"

He let out a laugh. "Right. Well, thanks."

Emma took his hand and pulled him up with her and they headed off to shower and go to bed.

OoOoOoOoOo

Emma woke up once again snuggled in the pirate's arms. Sensing she was awake, the pirate stirred and nuzzled deeper into her hair. Her hand found his very muscular and naked upper arm and gave it a squeeze. "We should get up."

He stirred again, but this time in protest.

"Hook-"

He pulled her in closer.

"We really do. I didn't leave last night in exactly good spirits with my parents.

Hook sat up, pulling himself away from her. "Right, and I best get going."

"Hook?" Emma glanced down with a look that tugged at his heart.

"What's wrong, love?"

"Look, I know you've been having a good time with Henry and it means a lot to him. And I know you didn't sign up for it, but he looks to you as a father. And I don't expect you to be, but when you go off and do- whatever it is you plan to do, just please, don't hurt him. Please, at least say goodbye."

"And just where would I be going?"

"I don't know. I trust you. You don't have to be under the sheriff's watch. You are free to do and go as you please."

"Emma, I would never intentionally hurt him or you. And we'll see each other, won't we? We're mates now, right, lass?"

Emma smiled and squeezed his hand.

Grabbing his shirt and vest, he threw them on before taking her face in his hand and letting her know he was going to take her up on dinner. Kissing her forehead, he left her alone in her room, emotionally flustered.

OoOoOoOoOo

Emma headed downstairs, dreading the conversation to come with her parents, but instead was greeted with her son sporting a giant smile. "Operation Grizzly is a success!"

"What? Already? You work fast, kid."

"I know," he laughed as he tried to push past her.

"Whoa, slow down," she stopped him. "Did you eat?"

"Yes."

"Okay. Then go upstairs and get ready. I'll talk to Regina while you're in school and we'll work it out."

"Thanks, mom," he hugged her tight before taking the steps two at a time.

Halfway up, he stopped. "Mom?"

"What kid?"

"We have enough bedrooms, can't we just ask Killian if he wants to stay with us. The worst he could do is say no."

"That's Regina's decision, she only invited the four of us. But, I mean, if it means that much to you, you can ask them both."

Henry smiled again before continuing upstairs.

Emma turned back around and exhaled. What am I getting myself into?

"Emma," Mary-Margaret called her before she could even gather her thoughts.

"Hey-"

"Look, we're sorry we over-reacted and we've decided, along with Henry, that it will be best for all of us to move in with Regina."

Emma hugged her parents, until David interrupted the moment with, "Why was Hook sneaking out of your room this morning?"

"The movie went too late," Emma tried her best innocent smile.

David was not buying it.

OoOoOoOoOo

Regina had arranged for them to move in later that evening. And to Henry's and maybe a bit of Emma's delight, Hook accepted the offer to move in as well.

They had been living there almost two weeks and had begun to get the hang of functioning as a dysfunctional family. They would all go off to work, Henry to school, and Hook would hang around the station acting as Emma's errand boy until they found him a real job. When Henry got off from school, Hook would take him out to "learn to be a pirate" until Emma and Regina finished with their magic lessons, which David and Mary-Margaret tried to avoid. Mary-Margaret and David would prepare dinner and everyone would eat together before going about whatever they had planned for the rest of the night, which often led to intense Mario Kart battles or family movie time.

Henry and Hook had grown incredibly close the past couple weeks and Emma was so thankful to Hook for being there for Henry. And she slowly was able to open up to him, tiny bits at a time- though never more than a glimpse.

Hook knew she had been broken by this Neal guy, and never really healed. She had told him how she truly loved Neal and then he had framed her to go to jail for him and he left her there alone and pregnant. She told him of how she gave up Henry because she didn't think she was fit to be a mother and it was the hardest thing in her life. She told him how she spent the last ten years alone and always running from place to place, searching for anything that resembled a place for her to belong. And he thought of telling her how she belonged where she was: in his arms, surrounded by her family.

But the more time she spent with her family and with him, he hoped, the more he could see her begin picking up the pieces. He knew his relationship with her hung in a delicate balance of friendship and something greater, but he didn't dare make a move in fear it would all come crashing down.

Emma wasn't just a woman that he wanted to take and be done with, she had been more than that almost from the start, but he hadn't wanted anything to do with that until Storybrooke. Now she was so much more. They understood each other. He saw his pain reflected in her eyes and he wanted nothing more than to help her mend and in return she had been slowly helping him mend. He never thought he'd be capable of caring, of loving, someone after Milah's death. But Emma was managing to wash the blackness out of his heart.

Even her family and some of the townspeople were accepting him. Mary-Margaret was still wary of him, but David and him had become pretty decent mates in their domination over the others at video games.

He and Henry had been spending every afternoon together, where Henry had been trying to talk him into some "Operation Dove" plan to make Emma fall in love with him. He smiled and told him he'd win her with good form, no tricks. Emma was so grateful for the time he spent with Henry, but what she didn't understand was that he enjoyed it to. Henry reminded him so much of Milah's lad, the one he had in his charge for some time. He wished the boy were his instead of some vile man's, who didn't deserve to be connected to such amazing people.

Hook and Henry had finished up for the day and decided to come home and watch the end of Emma's lesson. They saw her effortlessly bind Regina and create a tornado that trapped her and suffocated the fire Regina was creating in her hands.

When Emma set Regina free, Regina smiled and declared, "We're ready."

Emma looked at her quizzically, "For what?"

"To take care of my mother. I have the squid ink and bracelet from Gold. You and Gold are going to trap her as I douse her squid ink, which will freeze her. From there, we will get the bracelet on her and take her to the cell that the dwarves finished yesterday down in the mines. It's as strong as Gold's cell was."

"But I'm not ready."

"Of course you are. Have you seen what you have accomplished? And your magic is much more powerful than Gold's and mine; you just have to control it. And you have enough control to do this- to put this town out of constant fear."

Emma looked up at Henry and Hook. Hook motioned for Henry to come with him to Emma and they both held her hands. She nodded in appreciation, and agreed with Regina's plan.

OoOoOoOoOo

They had done it. Everything had gone to plan. Cora was locked up and a weight had been lifted off the town's shoulders. Everyone was celebrating at Granny's the place was packed. Dwarves, pirates, princesses, and everyone you could think of were celebrating together for once. United under a single cause. And the guests of honor- none other than Emma herself, as well as the Evil Queen and The Dark One.

She was having a lovely conversation with Ruby and Dr. Whale about the tornado she had created when she felt a familiar hand take hers. Looking back, she smiled at her pirate before excusing herself from the conversation.

Hook led her off to the hallway between the Inn and the Diner, before turning her around to face him.

"You were magnificent, love."

"Well, thank you," she curtsied in her mildly drunken state.

Hook grabbed her waist and pulled her in to him, horribly sober.

She looked up at him, questioning him, but not at all rejecting his actions. "Hook-"

"Emma, I know we have been dancing around us for awhile, and I love what we have now, but seeing you out there risking your life- it scared me and I couldn't help thinking about how if something happened, you wouldn't know how I feel and-"

He cut himself off by leaning down, taking her head in his hand, and greedily kissing her. He knew he should soften it, but Emma kissed back harder and just as desperate. She pulled at his collar, trying to get more of him, which he willingly gave. He walked them back into the wall and pulled her waist into his. Emma let out a moan into his mouth as he pulled on her lip, which caused him to moan in return and thrust against her. In response, she slid her hands to his lower back and pulled him in closer- if that was possible. He began kissing down her neck, giving her time to breath, even if each kiss made her breath hitch.

"Hook-"

He stopped kissing her to look her in the eyes.

"Hook, I don't know what I'd do without you. I think we should-"

Emma stopped when she heard footsteps. Straining her eyes, she saw August appear around the corner.

"A-August?"

"Emma?" August asked in return. And a man followed him from around the corner.

"Emma?"

"N-Neal?"

AN: So, how much do you hate me? Like I said, I had this planned before we even knew of the whole Neal/Bae thing, or any of that happened. From here on out, I only have major plot points planned, so I'd actually really appreciate any input, if you have it. Please review, even if it's to tell me you hate it and I owe you a shot.