Chapter 3: 'Twas the Night Before Christmas

Killian surged forward, lips crashing against hers, body pressing her to the immutable surface of her apartment door, arms binding her to him.

Good thing too. At the touch of his lips against hers, the sensation of his tongue seeking entrance, the feel of his heart racing beneath her hand trapped between them, Emma sagged and her knees threatened to buckle altogether.

Emma opened for him, moaning his name as his tongue came to tangle with hers. She rose to her toes, threading her fingers through his hair, seeking to bring him ever closer, they would never be close enough.

Her apartment complex was normally a busy bustling place, but tonight, at 11:30 on Christmas Eve night, it was as empty as Gold's black heart. Just as well. The way she and Killian were going at it, anyone passing by was liable to get quite the show—and definitely not one suited to children.

With a groan Killian pulled away, but Emma was having none of it. She wasn't done kissing him yet; not nearly. She chased his lips with her own, giving her pirate no quarter.

"Emma," he moaned, as he gave up all attempt at resistance and met her head on.

They'd just returned from the town Christmas party at Granny's. Her mom had really outdone herself with that one. The food, laughter and eggnog flowed abundantly. Everyone seemed to have imbibed the Christmas spirit, buoyed, no doubt by the fact that they'd gone a full month without a villain in sight.

It seemed Killian had enjoyed his first Christmas party. He'd particularly enjoyed the dirty Santa gift exchange, throwing himself into the spirit of the game with wild abandon. He'd put his pirate skills to good use, stealing one after another of his neighbors' gifts. Emma suspected it was more for the thrill of mayor-sanctioned theft than it was for the actual gifts he'd gained. She laughingly said as much to him as he gleefully stole a bottle of lavender-scented bath salts from under Ruby's very nose.

"You're really going to tell me you want girly bath salts?" she'd teased.

"And why not?" he'd asked with a wicked gleam in his eyes. "I happen to be well aware that you favor the scent of lavender. It was my hope that were I to acquire these salts I might persuade you to…um…help me put them to use."

When all was said and done, Killian had been left with a gift certificate for free dinner at Granny's for a week. She….well, she'd made a last minute swap for the bath salts, a fact that made Killian's eyes light up like a kid let loose in a candy shop.

When the party broke up, Killian walked her back to her apartment door where he was currently kissing her so thoroughly she could barely remember her own name.

After long moments, Killian pulled away and then rested his forehead against hers. "Best we slow down love," he said breathlessly. "Much longer, and we're bound to start a conflagration that will consume this entire building."

"Yeah," she said, equally breathless. "But what a way to go."

He laughed and took a step back. "I suppose it's time I take my leave. You're to be at your parents' bright and early tomorrow for Christmas morning festivities."

Emma took hold of the lapels of Killian's coat and gave him another quick peck. "You mean we're to be at my parents' bright and early."

He looked suddenly uncertain. "I don't wish to impose. It is after all a family event."

Emma shook her head, her heart turning over with tenderness for this man. "When are you going to learn that you are family? We all want you there, and I, well, I'd really miss you if you bailed on us. Besides, if you don't join us for Christmas morning, when am I going to get to give you my gift?"

"You bought me a gift?" His voice was awestruck.

"Of course! I have a feeling you're going to like it too."

Emma knew how much he enjoyed reading. His cabin on the Jolly Roger had been practically covered, floor to ceiling with books. She'd bought him as many of this realm's pirate tales and stories as she could get her hands on.

"There's no doubt of that, love," he said gently. "I have a gift for you as well, but I have been assured that Christmas is the day for gift giving. It would be quite bad form to spoil my surprise the night before."

"All the more reason to join us in the morning."

His smile turned infinitely tender, and he cupped her cheek. "I'd love to be there, Swan. Which is, of course, why I'd best take my leave so that you can get your rest for the big day."

Emma's eyes flitted away from his for a moment before focusing back on him. "Stay with me tonight? Henry's staying with Regina, and, well, no one should have to spend Christmas Eve alone."

Killian dragged in a ragged breath. "I'd be honored to spend the remainder of Christmas Eve with you.

Emma unlocked her apartment, gave Killian another quick kiss and then waved him in behind her. "Go ahead and plug in the tree; maybe see about starting a fire. I'll make us some cocoa."

After their conversation in the woods, Killian and Henry had tag teamed her until she'd agreed to just about every Christmas tradition Henry could think of. The three of them had bought and cut down a Christmas tree, decorated the thing within an inch of its life (Killian's hook being surprisingly handy in the endeavor), hung all three of their stockings by the chimney with care, and baked and decorated what felt like enough Christmas cookies for the entire town. When Killian learned of the tradition of sending people Christmas cards, he'd even convinced her to send the damn things out—complete with a photo of the three of them sitting before the fire, steaming mugs of cocoa in hand, the lit tree in the background.

It was cheesy as hell.

She loved it.

She finished preparing their drinks—which for her consisted of boiling water and pouring it over packets of cocoa mix—and then headed for the living room.

"Well, you've made good use of your time," she said with a smile. The tree was lit, a roaring fire crackled in the hearth, and a smug pirate sat on the rug before it, surrounded by pillows.

"I aim to please darling."

She sat beside him, depositing their cocoa on the end table and settling in his waiting arms.

"I do believe you're forgetting something, love," he said, mischief in every syllable.

"Yeah, what's that?"

"Look and see for yourself."

Emma sat up and stifled a laugh. The idiot sat before her holding the largest sprig of mistletoe she'd ever seen. She leaned forward and kissed him playfully. "You're insatiable."

"Aye," he said, returning the kiss with exuberance, "but you wouldn't have me any other way."

Without warning, it all crashed over her once again. She'd nearly lost him. His heart had nearly been crushed in front of her, and she'd been powerless to stop it. The memory made her start to shake, and Emma clung to Killian so tightly he'd end up with bruises in the morning. She buried her face in his neck and breathed him in, her hand slipping beneath his shirt to rest over his heart. She needed this; she needed the confirmation that he was still there, that his heart was still where it belonged.

"Emma, love," he said, rubbing her back, "is something the matter?"

Emma forced herself to sit up and look him in the eye. If nearly losing him had taught her anything, it was that every day with this man was a gift—a gift that could be snatched from her at any moment. The fact that he might have died not knowing, not truly knowing how she felt about him was like a slap to the face. She needed to remedy that. Immediately. Emma was terrified to say the words, but it was time; it was far past time.

"Killian, I…I just need you to know something."

"Very well, Swan," he said hesitantly, "you do know there is nothing you cannot tell me, do you not?"

"Yeah," She took a deep breath and then plunged in. "It's just that…well, I don't know how to do this but just come out and say it: I love you. I love you more than I've ever loved anyone. It scares the hell out of me, but, well, I just needed you to know. Whatever happens, no matter how many evil villains try to tear us apart, I needed you to know. I need you to…"

He leaned forward and captured her lips, effectively cutting off what was threatening to turn into babbling. This kiss was different, soft, gentle, unhurried. Emma reached up between them and caressed his face with gentle strokes. This was right. This man was it for her. If he'd died up there in the clock tower she didn't know how she'd ever have survived it."

"I love you too," he whispered as he finally pulled away. "Until the end of time, I'll love you. With every breath I take, every beat of my heart, I love you. There'll never be another for me but you."

She grinned against his chest. "Better not be."

"No other lass stands the ghost of a chance against you. I swear to be unfailingly true to you until I take my last breath and long, long after."

"I know," she said tremulously. "And you can expect the same from me."

He gathered her back into her arms and they sat in silence for some time. When he spoke again, the teasing note was back in his voice. "So, Swan, how do you propose we while away the rest of this Christmas Eve?"

She sat back and gave him a grin. "Well, I was thinking we could resume that make out session we had going on outside…and then we could, kind of, see where that takes us."

"That, Swan, is the best idea you've had all year."

Notes:

-So there you have it. The kiss outside the apartment door was obviously inspired by the 4x11 kiss at Granny's.

-I wanted to add in a CS gift exchange in this last chapter, but it just didn't seem to flow right. In case you were wondering, Killian got Emma a diamond necklace (making some ridiculously romantic speech about how diamonds are like their love—hardships and difficulties only make them stronger, more resilient and more beautiful) in the shape of a swan. In addition to the pirate tales Emma got Killian, she also performed the spell Regina performed over Henry—the one that ensured his heart could no longer be taken.

-Emma didn't take down the mistletoe from over her desk at the sheriff's station until mid-January. Charming grumbled every time he saw it—and even more every time Killian and Emma made use of it. This, of course, made Killian, irreverent pirate king that he is, even more intent on using it in front of the prince. I'm not sure how, but somehow the bromance survived!

-I hope you're all having a wonderful Christmas filled with all kinds of holiday themed CS fics! Only a little more than 2 months before this hiatus comes to an end. We can make it!