Chapter 8: Warm days

Her eyes closed, Emma listened to the regular knocking echoing against her ear. She closed her fingers, softly brushing the surface on which her hand was resting. The knocking suddenly became faster. Emma opened her eyes, still listening to Killian's heart pounding. They were lying on the couch, his arm wrapped around her, her head on his chest. A smile began to appear on her lips. The beating of his heart had barely slowed down when she playfully brushed his chest again with her fingertips, which was immediately followed by an increase of his heart rate. Her face split into a wide smile and he chuckled. "Swan, what are you doing?"

"Nothing." She searched for his hand and played with it, folding and unfolding his fingers against hers, intertwining them, caressing his palm, each touch being followed by a jolt in his heart.

"The couch may not provide the best comfort, but I've just had one of the best nights of my life, with the best company I could ever hope for. There is no better way to wake up than by your side. Honestly, you being the first thing I see when I open my eyes in the morning is an amazing way to start the day."

"Shh, it's too early for flattering," she said as she put a finger on his lips. "I can't handle this right now."

He was playing with a strand of her hair when they heard a clicking noise. Emma raised her head just in time to see the door opening. His father entered and sighed with relief. "Thanks, you're here!" When Killian's head appeared next to Emma above the back of the couch, Charming's expression changed from relief to fear. "What were you doing?"

"It's not what you think! Don't worry, mate. We had to come here because the storm surprised us."

"You've been surprised by the storm? But what were you doing in the forest? Emma's supposed to be in her bedroom, recovering from the accident. I thought you'd take care of her."

"Actually, that's my fault, I wanted to go out."

"I'm taking you back to Granny's." His voice was severe, there was nothing to argue about. The sheriff's car was parked in front of the cabin. Charming opened the passenger door for his daughter, Hook got in the car behind her.

"How did you find us?" asked Emma as the car started.

"We went to see you yesterday, with your mother, and we noticed you weren't there. Then there was the storm. I came back at Granny's as soon as I could go out, you still weren't there. I tried to call you but it didn't work. Naturally, as I'm your father and the sheriff, I went to look after you during the night, but it was too dark, I couldn't find anything. This morning I thought of this cabin, and here I am."

"We tried to call you, the phone wasn't working for us either," Emma explained. Charming didn't reply anything. His gaze fixed on the stony road, he looked upset. "I'm sorry."

"I found you and you're safe, that's okay."

She was about to reply, but got distracted by a tickling on her side. Discreetly, she slipped her hand between her seat and the door, and grabbed Killian's hand to take it away from her side. Glancing at the rear-view mirror, she caught his eye; he looked quite satisfied. She pretended to look through the window so she could hide her amusement from her father. Soon, Charming parked the car outside Granny's, and grasped Emma's arm to hold her back. "Emma, I'm sorry for sounding like the annoying father, I know you're old enough to take your own decisions, but please, don't do this again, with Snow we've been truly worried." He glanced at Killian who was waiting outside.

"I know, I'm sorry, but please, don't blame Killian, I really wanted to go out, no one should be responsible for taking care of me, I can do that myself."

"Okay. I have to go to work now. Try to get some rest."

"I will. Thank you for bringing us back." She watched him leave, before a smile spread on her face, turning to Killian. "Next time, I'd be grateful if you can avoid doing this in front of my father."

"Doing what?" He asked, repressing a laugh while pretending to be innocent.

"You know what I'm talking about." She nudged him in the ribs, still laughing. "We should go eat something at Granny's. With all of this I forgot I was hungry."

"What kind of breakfast do you want to try now?" Hook teased as they walked towards the counter.

"I don't know. Oh! This looks quite yummy." Emma was looking at some guy's plate. "I'll take the same."

Soon, they were both eating some chocolate and banana pancakes. "Once again, that's a good choice, Swan. I didn't notice neither how hungry I was." He stopped talking and seemed to get away. He had a vacant look, and his smile slowly faded away.

"What are you thinking about?"

Emma was looking at him curiously. He sighed. "Your father is right, that was greatly irresponsible."

"Don't do this."

Ignoring her, Killian went on. "I put you in danger. Maybe they're right, maybe I'm nothing but a pirate, maybe I'm not good to you, and maybe I should just back off so you can get some rest…"

"Stop this," she interrupted him, placing her hand on his. He looked up at her. "Listen to me, I have no idea what you're doing, but let me tell you something: you need to stop, everyone need to stop, thinking someone has to take care of me. I am the one to decide what I'm doing with my days, and I am the one to decide who I am spending them with. Yesterday, I have decided I wanted to go out. And right now, I'm deciding there is no way for you to back off."

As she was talking, a smile gradually made its way to Killian's lips. "You'd be a hell of a captain. I'm glad you said that; now I feel like I have no choice but staying by your side."

"Exactly." His smile was contagious. Emma stared at him, at his dazzling eyes, at his lips. Then, she remembered she was at Granny's, surrounded by people. She took her hand from his and focused again on her pancakes.

"Now you should get some rest." Killian said when he was on Emma's door step.

"I know. But please don't back off, and don't think you're nothing but a pirate ever again. Come back soon, okay?"

"Okay." He gave a faint smile, softly kissed her cheek and turned away. Emma realized she was actually exhausted, and her ribs were painful. She took her medicine and lay on her bed. Too many thoughts were tumbling out, keeping her awake; thoughts about the memories she had yet to recover, and thoughts about the last day, about his hand in hers, about his lips she had stared too long at Granny's, about this touch when she was trying to light up the fire, about everything he had revealed about him. She tossed and turned, tightly holding her pillow. Finally, she managed to fall asleep.

Three days passed. The weather got warmer, but Emma still spent most of her time inside, resting as everyone had advised her. Day after day, her tiredness faded away. Snow and Charming came to see her every day in the late afternoon. Henry was also spending quite a lot of time with her, and with Killian, who usually came to see her in the morning, in the mid-afternoon, and again in the evening. He didn't talk about backing off again.

On the fourth morning, Killian was by her side when she woke up. "Were you watching me sleeping again?"

"I missed you."

Emma chuckled, still lying on her bed. "We were together yesterday in the evening."

"Exactly, so I had time to miss you all night."

She turned over to face him, and smiled as soon as she saw him. "Alright. Any plans for the day?"

"Actually, yes. Well, not for today, it would rather be for tonight, if you accept. I don't really know how it works. This is not something I'm used to do. Years ago, I just, well, you know, you've met the past version of me. Even if you don't remember. Maybe that's better you don't remember." Killian paused. Usually so confident, he now sounded hesitant, some of his words barely audible. Emma couldn't help smiling, this sudden weakness was nothing but cute to her. Killian went on. "Would you accept if I asked you on a date? I mean, nothing to worry about, it would just be about spending some good time out, just the two of us, even if we already spend a lot of time together. This time it would be without being locked in a room or ending up in a storm, and with something to eat and drink. We could go out tonight. Consider this as a creation of new memories. Would you accept to come?"

"Of course I would," she shrugged, grinning. She was seeing no inconvenience to his idea. "What time?"

Resisting the urge to wrap her in his arms, he thought about the time. "As you wish. But not too late, I won't be able to wait too long," he added, giving her his lopsided smile.

"What about six o'clock?"

"Aye, that sounds good. I'll be here at six. In the meantime, get some rest." He left the room and she threw herself on her bed, thinking about the night to come, and about how she would keep herself busy during the next nine hours. A book seemed to be a good option. Soon, she was entering the library. Belle had returned from her honeymoon the day before, enchanted by her journey; Gold had taken her to places she was dreaming to visit since she had read about them.

"But enough talked about me, what about you? Can I help you with something?"

"Yes, I'm looking for a book. Do you have a good one to recommend me?"

Emma came back to her bedroom with one of Belle's favourite books. Belle had suggested her different books, she had chosen the one about the adventures of a girl, an orphan crossing the realms hoping to find a family, a home. She had never heard about the author, but the writing was quite enjoyable. It was past four o'clock when she finished the book. She had no idea about how to dress for the evening; nothing in her wardrobe looked good enough. Wondering if she had some clothes left at her parents', she went there. Snow was rocking the sleeping baby into her arms, Charming was out.

"Emma! How are you?" She whispered as she softly left Neal in his cradle.

"Much less tired than the previous days, I'm really fine today. I was wondering if I had some clothes left here."

"Charming brought you everything the other day. Is there something missing, what do you need?"

"This is the thing. I don't know what I need." Snow was looking curiously at her. She couldn't prevent smiling as she told her. "Killian asked me on a date."

Snow didn't have time to reply as footsteps interrupted them. Henry appeared downstairs, facing his mother, a bright smile on his face. "You're going on a date with Killian?"

Emma opened her mouth but no sound came out. "This is adult stuff. And I thought you were supposed to spend the afternoon with Regina?" Snow asked.

"Yes, I'm late, I'm going now." Already on the door step, Henry turned around to face his mother, beaming. "Enjoy the date!"

Amused, Emma was staring at the closed door. "This kid is incredible."

"Much like you. So, Killian asked you on a date? And you said yes?"

"Of course I said yes. He has done so much for me. I couldn't refuse."

"Emma, you shouldn't accept only because you think you owe him something."

"It's not only this."

"Just remember that, whatever happens, you have to listen to your heart."

"This is what I'm doing. I want to go."

If Snow seemed concerned just a few seconds before, she was now beaming. "Everything is fine, then! Let me help choosing some clothes for you, this is what a mother can do for her daughter. Maybe I have something in my wardrobe. What do you want? A dress?"

Emma imagined herself in a dress. Feeling comfortable all night in a dress just seemed impossible to her. "Not a dress. I want something more convenient."

"You can actually wear something quite simple. I'm not sure I have what you need, though." Snow searched her wardrobe. "Look at this. Or this. I'm sure it would suit you. That would fit well if you wear this red top you had the other day."

Finally, Emma borrowed to her mother a black cardigan and red ballet pumps that, luckily, fitted her feet perfectly. Snow was staring at her, like waiting for something. "What are you up to?" Emma asked.

"I know you would do it well by yourself but, can I do your hair? Please?" Emma couldn't resist her enthusiasm and agreed. "I won't do anything complicated, but just let me do it." Emma sat in front of her and Snow started. "I should have been the one doing this all these years," she sighed, as she was braiding a small strand of hair, a hint of regrets in her voice.

"We can catch up some time now," she tried to cheer her up.

Snow was braiding another small strand of her hair, on the other side of her head. Soon, she was tying the two braids back. "That's not much, but you're beautiful, as always. Enjoy your date, Emma, you will find love and happiness, you deserve it." She said as she hugged her daughter.

"Thank you, for everything." It was almost a quarter to six. Emma didn't dawdle on the way back to Granny's. It was warm for a day in February. Five minutes to six. She put on some black trousers, her red top Snow was talking about, with long sleeves and a quite low-cut neckline, the cardigan and the shoes she had borrowed. One minute to six. There was a knock on the door. Emma rushed to open it, and jumped as she saw him facing her, leaning against the door frame, arms crossed. She had spent a part of her afternoon wondering about how she would dress, but hadn't thought for a second he would have done the same; he was wearing his usual leather pants, but his leather coat had been replaced by a black leather jacket, underneath which could be seen a nicely cut white tee-shirt emphasizing his outline.

Killian was also studying her, lingering over her red top and her hair. "Never will I be used to your beauty!" Emma was still examining him. "You like it? Your father lent me this," indicating his tee-shirt and his jacket. She noticed he had also switched his hook for his fake hand he had in New York.

"My father? I didn't expect that. It suits you well."

"Thank you, love. Shall we go now?" With a lopsided smile on his lips and his eyebrow raised, he held out his hand. Smiling back, she grabbed it and followed him out.