A/N: The responses I'm getting our so awesome. Thank you all for you comments and compliments!:)

I think that there is some nice fluff here in this chapter, but I can't stop thinking about the angst that is soon on its way. As the author, I hope it's surprising and not foreseeable. I'm super excited!

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Emma liked it best when Killian left all their issues behind them. In the weeks that they'd shared their true feelings with one another, she only got the carefree version of him on the rarest of occasions. So when he slipped his fingers through hers and wrapped his other arm around her waist, she smiled happily up at him.

It felt as if she'd been waiting forever. Waiting for her work day to be over. Waiting for him to pull up in the parking lot. Waiting for him to sweep her off her feet.

"It's about time that you showed up."

"I got here as soon as I could."

It was the press of his lips to her neck that made her tremble in his arms. She grabbed on to his hand and squeezed tight.

It should have been taboo. It should have made her nervous, having him this close to her when anyone she worked with could have seen. Anyone could have walked out that door and seen the man who was not her known boyfriend but her known friend, hold her so intimately. But she wasn't nervous. She was excited!

"Did you miss me?" Emma bit down on her lip to keep from smiling too widely.

It was those eyes. Those damned blue eyes that sparkled down on her. She felt the tingle that was nothing but love run through her body.

"I missed you," Killian told her, grinning like a silly idiot.

"Good." Emma nodded. "I missed you, too."

Those arms tightened around her waist, dragging her all the closer to him.

"Well that's good to know."

Emma stared up at him. She was entirely secure in his arms- the way he held on tight to her felt so good. The smile on his beautiful pink lips was genuine and unintentionally breathtaking.

She wanted him. She wanted only him. She never thought he would return her feelings. And here he was, uninhibited about how he felt about her. Holding her and kissing her. And loving her.

"Are you in a rush?" Killian asked, gently swaying them side to side, his arms never loosening in their hold on her.

"I'm not in a rush," she told him. "I just missed you. I want to be able to spend as much time together- just the two of us- as possible. Neal's doing some overtime tonight for the first time in days. That means we have some overtime for the first time in days. And is a precious commodity that does not need to be squandered."

Maybe it was the wrong thing to say. At least in that moment. Emma felt the sudden and instant tension in his arms, and there was a slight darkening of his eyes.

He was more sensitive to the situation than she was. It did make her question herself. Why didn't she feel guiltier about being with Killian than she did? Why didn't she feel more remorseful when she left work and spent her free hours with Killian and only thought of Neal as the time constraint that kept it from being any longer? Why did her dreams consist of a happy ending with Killian and not Neal? Why was it that she now fell away from Neal's touch because it wasn't Killian's?

That was her life now. And she wanted more. Not just these few hours stolen away. She wanted it all. The hugs. The kisses. The embraces. The words. She wanted it all.

"Don't do it, Killian." Emma's hands took hold of either side of his face. "Don't."

"Don't what?" And he was moving then, out of their hold on each other.

"You know what."

"I'm not doing anything," he told her. He reached for her fingers with his own as he began to walk away.

Emma held on tight, not even wanting the momentary breach of contact.

"Just don't."

Killian wasn't looking at her. He was leading her back to where he had parked his car.

"If we have a couple of extra hours at our disposal, what is it that you want to do tonight?" he asked instead.

Her answer was an intense tug from somewhere deep inside of her.

They had always done the normal things. If anyone that they knew had seen them while they were together, then they wouldn't have been any wiser to notice the change that had occurred between them. It was a bit more flirtatious. A bit more hands-on. But they had always been close.

Nights had included late dinners or drinks. Sometimes they meant walks at the park or trips to nowhere. It had been only the rare occasions when they found themselves in an apartment. And more often than not, the apartment was his and not the one she shared with Neal.

"What if I said…" She quickened her steps so that she was next to him. "I just want to relax together? It's been a long day."

He was looking her over, his eyes darting across her face.

"I'd said… that it sounds great."

And it made her smile again. God, she did…

"I love you, Killian."

She knew she said it a lot. She said it practically every chance she got. But it was because it was true.

He planted his feet firmly to the ground, his fixed gaze on her.

Emma thought that just maybe this time- unlike all the other times- he would…

Killian wrapped his arms around her waist and pulled her closely against him.

He didn't say it. He wouldn't tell her. But she felt it. She felt it in the way his arms held her tightly, and the way he lips brushed against her neck as he buried his face right there.

Emma was slow to wrap her arms around his neck. She got it. She understood. But…

There was a lot to take care of. So she wouldn't let his refusal to tell her upset or hurt her. No. Because when the time was right- not only for him, but for them both- then he would say it. And it would mean the world to her.

.

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"The best part- out of the entire day- was the basically the sheer panic looks that Ruby kept sliding my way." Emma pulled his comforter over both of them, bringing it up to her shoulder. "It's adorable, right? In a 'violation of privacy' kind of a way though."

"If sexual harassment is something you're in to, then sure. Adorable."

She wasn't sure if his smile was for the comment on Ruby's work adventures, or if it was for the feel of her skin against his from underneath the blanket.

Emma hadn't gotten used to his touch yet. It was still something new. The way his fingers splayed widely over the expanse of her thigh, the way he pulled her whole leg to lie comfortably between his, made concentrating a somewhat difficult challenge.

They were both completely clothed underneath that comforter. Sometimes her mind drifted off to what it would be like to not have those barriers. One day…

After…

"It's not that bad." Emma closed her eyes at the feel of his legs squeezing over hers. "If we can laugh about it, then how bad can it be?"

"If it was that bad then she would do something about it, yes."

His hand was on the move. Covering her back and pulling her even closer.

She opened her eyes to see him smiling at her. And it was instant: the change from casual conversation to this overwhelming need of… something more.

It didn't happen a lot, so when it was this easy she was going to enjoy it.

Naked would be so much better, she mused, moving her hand up to caress his hair-roughened cheek. But for now, this was okay, too. His jaw had actually become one of her new favorite spots on his body. She was sure that there were even more spots that she would love to get her hands on.

"What are you thinking, Ems?"

His nickname for her shouldn't have done anything to her heart, but it did.

"That sounds like something that I should be asking you, not the other way around," Emma teased.

"What is it, Ems?" That hand on her back became his arm, pulling her all the closer to him before he flipped them both. "Are you a little jealous that Ruby is getting so much attention from your patients and that no one is paying attention to you?"

His body underneath hers felt deliciously right…

"Um… I can see why you would think that," she agreed with a nod of her head. "But… no. I'm okay with the fact that some men prefer brunettes."

Killian's grin was infectious, making her smile down at him.

"Well I seem to prefer the one," he told her softly. His fingers caught a piece of blonde hair that fell over her shoulder and tugged gently. He lifted his head from his pillow, bringing his lips up to meet hers.

She loved his kissed. She loved the firmness of his against…

"Wait a second." Their mouths had almost come together before that thought came to mind. "Wait one second."

"What?" Killian looked confused by her sudden draw back.

"I am the only blonde I've ever seen you with," she told him with a slight frown. "You do prefer darker featured girls."

His smile came back just then, his eyes shimmering up at her. His hand found the back of her head and he pulled her down to take her lips with his.

It was a soft kiss. The pressure of Killian's hand on the back of her head had helped him control that kiss, holding her mouth prisoner to his.

And she loved it. Absolutely loved everything about it and him.

"You're pretty special," he murmured when he let her go. "And I prefer you over them all."

The tingle that was just for him shot through her entire body.

"Okay." And she saw it in his eyes. She wanted the words, but she couldn't deny that she both saw and felt it. "I believe you."

Her mouth met his again, kissing him achingly slow. His hands were in her hair. She could feel him- all of him. And he could feel her.

God, Emma didn't know how long that this was going to be enough. She wanted…

She heard the buzzing of her phone as it lay on the nightstand beside the bed. She also heard her own groan at the sound of it.

"See who it is."

She wanted to ignore the buzz and Killian's mutter. Who would dare interrupt here one-on-one time with him?

Emma only spared him a quick glance before she leaned over to grab the phone.

Looking at the screen and seeing Neal's text quickened her heart. Not for the obvious reasons of being unfaithful to her boyfriend of more than two years. No. It was because she didn't want the reminder. She didn't want Killian to get side-tracked and guilt-ridden in the way she knew he was prone to be.

"It's…"

She had been half atop him when he moved from underneath her, sliding to the other side of his bed.

"Neal."

It was as if something magical had been broken. Emma didn't have time to think about her sadness because the phone buzzed in her hand again. She read the text once. And then twice. And then for a third time. Her eyes darted from the words and to the time.

9:39

"What is it?"

Emma turned to look back at Killian to see him make his way to a sitting position. His glare was questioning and full of concern.

"Um… he's not… staying over," Emma told him softly. "He's getting off at his regular time."

"In a few minutes," Killian murmured.

"Yeah," she said with a nod. "Um…"

She didn't want to go. They were supposed to still have hours left together. Now, it was minutes. It wasn't that she had to be home when Neal got there. It wouldn't be out of character for her. She just couldn't be here. Doing this…

"Yeah."

They had both gone silent. After everything that they had just experience.

Emma watched as Killian stood up from the bed.

"Okay, let's get ready," he told her firmly. "I have to drive you back to work to get your car."

Emma nodded. She watched him for just a moment longer. The way his fingers combed through his hair, his head held down as he moved across the room.

She stood up, her movements slow.

"I'm ready."

He nodded. "Okay."

"To tell Neal," Emma clarified, knowing he hadn't understood her.

It caught his attention, his eyes flying up to hers.

"You said that before."

"And… I meant it," she assured him, her eyes growing wide. "I'm ready. If… you are."

She wanted him to be ready. It wasn't just her relationship she would be ending. It was their friendship.

"I need you to have an opinion about this, Killian," she said firmly and resolutely, leaving no room for misunderstanding.

"You… said it before, Emma," he reminded her softly. "And… are you… sure?" It was a deep frown that creased his forehead. "Are you sure? Because it can't be taken back. Once he knows, he knows. If…" It was a frustrated sigh that escaped from between his lips. "If this is… just… some… some thing, Emma- something that is over in the matter of days or weeks- hurting Neal can't be undone."

"Days?" Had he actually said that? "A matter of weeks?" Her eyes slid up across to the bed. "Some thing?"

"Emma."

"That's not what this is to me, Killian!" And maybe she was a little upset by his poor choice of words. "Is that what this is for you? Some tryst with your best friend's girlfriend?"

"Emma, you know that's not true."

"I know that?" It sounded incredulous, her eyes growing wide as she looked at him. "How do I know that when you look scared to death to move forward?"

"You're making light of the situation if it doesn't scare the hell out of you, Ems!" And maybe he was getting upset, too.

Her gaze narrowed on his, the heaving of his chest and frantic eyes stared back at her.

"I am scared," he confessed. "I'm scared that I'm ruining everybody's life by being with you. Nothing is going to be the same. And if this doesn't go the way we want it to, then what?"

He was scared. Killian was scared of making the wrong decision and…

Emma swallowed the lump in her throat and moved quickly towards him on the other side of the room.

"Killian." She went into his opened arms, her own arms flying around his neck and holding on tight.

"I love you," she murmured into his neck. "I love you so damned much."

"I…" He chose not to finish his thought. Instead, his arms closed fiercely around her.

Yeah, she felt it…

"I'm going to tell him."

"Maybe I should."

Emma moved back a fraction to look at him.

"It's my admission to make. I kissed you. I told you." She bit down on her lip to keep her smile from spreading. "I seduced you, Killian. It wasn't the other way around."

His lips twitched into a smile and his arms tightened around her. "It didn't go exactly like that."

"Well," she said, giving a tiny shrug, "it was mostly like that."

Killian's mouth swooped over hers, kissing her quickly.

It was those moments that told her it was true.

"I want to do this," she murmured against his lips. "I want to leave Neal. For you. I want to be with you, Killian."

He nodded, his eyes locking on hers. "I want you, too."

She wanted more. And she was going to have it. But for tonight, that was enough. Because she knew him. She knew what he wanted. And it was her. It was them.

Emma closed her eyes as she laid her head on his shoulder. This was her future. She knew it was true.

"Soon."