I'm sorry! I'm sorry! I'm so so sorry! It's taken me forever to write this. I wanted to write this sooner but I just couldn't! Thanks for hanging in there! I'm so thrilled that even in all this time of not writing, I still have people sending me messages and likes and comments. It means the world to me! Please keep it up; it really helps motivate me to write more! I'm thinking there are at least a few more chapters and then I want this story to end where season 4b begins. This chapter has A LOT of dialogue. A lot of things are going on in this chapter and I wrote it a little longer than I had planned to to hopefully make up for the really long time without an update! So please enjoy. I own nothing.
OH! And I made a Captain Swan themed Tumblr! Please follow me. I'm currently posting older chapters of this story there (amongst other things.) My URL is: .com
Killian spotted Emma and Henry in their usual booth in the corner of Grannies. Emma looked engrossed in whatever Henry was saying and Henry seemed to be very excited, his hands flailing about excitedly as he talked to her. Killian walked over and slid in the booth next to Emma and across from Henry. Henry had a newspaper spread out across the table and had drawn red circles across different advertisements. Killian looked a bit closer and noticed they were all different apartments and housing listings. Emma took Killian's hand, acknowledging his presence, but didn't stop listening to Henry as he went on about the apartments he had found and the pros and cons of each one.
"Mom, we have to go and see these. I circled the three that I like the best. There's even one by the water!" Henry said, looking at Killian with a big smile.
"Henry, I know that I said we needed our own place. And yeah…we do. But do we need to discuss this right here and right now?"
"Why not right here and right now?"
"Because kid, you are going to be away for the weekend…I'm going to be away for the weekend. I'm not quite sure when we'd have time to look. We need to make appointments. I need to figure out how to get all our stuff from New York and there's just a lot to figure out right now."
"Wait, where are you going this weekend? I was hoping you could take a look at some of these places really soon."
"Oh. Actually, Killian is taking me on a sailing trip this weekend. I was going to tell you earlier but you got so excited about the apartments."
"Well yeah. I don't know about you but I find it incredibly hard to get any sleep at the loft with my baby uncle crying at all hours of the night." Henry scrubbed his face with his hand and then shook his head. "Is your ship ready to sail Killian?"
"Aye lad, she'll be ready for this weekend. And soon I must have you aboard so we can continue our lessons."
"Awesome" said Henry, gathering up the newspaper and stuffing it back into his pocket. "But we're going to talk about the apartments later then Mom. I'm not giving up. Four people and a baby is just too many people to have in that loft."
"Oh believe me Henry, I know. At least you sleep over at Regina's every other week and weekend. I promise you, as soon as we can we can go look at places ok?"
Henry nodded and Ruby came over to the table holding a tray of milkshakes and three plates with cheeseburgers and French fries, she handed everyone their food and then left with a wink directed at Emma.
Emma shot Ruby a look and then turned to Killian, "I hope you don't mind that I ordered for you? Grannies was starting to get kind of busy when we got here and I wanted to make sure you could eat with us."
"Not a problem Swan, I've come to enjoy Grannies cheeseburgers. But what is this drink and why is it…so thick?"
"You've never had a milkshake before Killian?" asked Henry.
"No lad. I can't say that I have."
"It's chocolate. You just drink it from that straw. It's like ice cream mixed with milk and chocolate syrup. It's really good!"
Killian took a long drink from his milkshake and when he was finished he looked at Henry with a smile "that is quite good lad."
"Well, the burgers and fries and milkshakes was all Henry's idea." Said Emma.
"Your boy has good taste then, Swan."
The three continued eating and Killian told them of the work he had completed on his ship. Henry talked about what he was doing in school and pretty soon Henry and Emma shared stories from their year in New York and were laughing at some of Killian's pirate stories. When they had finished eating and were just sitting and exchanging stories, Emma laid her head on Killian's shoulder. It was nice. This quiet moment that they had to talk and be a family, not having to rush because of some new crisis or threat in town. They could just relax and enjoy each other's company.
It was getting pretty late and Killian walked Emma and Henry back to the loft. There was just a few more days before they had their weekend plans and everyone was excited. Henry said goodnight to Killian and then ran up to the loft first, leaving Emma and Killian alone together outside.
"Thank you for inviting me to dinner tonight Swan. I quite enjoyed that."
"I'm glad. Now I know you finally had something to eat after goodness knows how long you've been killing yourself over your ship." Emma wrapped her arms around Killian's waist and pulled him closer to her.
"Well, I think the worst of it is over, love. She'll be in fine shape by this weekend. And I thoroughly look forward to spending all that time with you." Killian dipped his head towards Emma's neck and nipped at her earlobe and then down at the junction where her neck met her shoulder.
"Mmm Killian." Emma moaned and let her head fall back to give him better access to her neck. "I can't wait to see what you've got planned for me, Captain." She trailed her hands up his chest and then around his neck, holding him to her as he soothed his bite marks with his tongue.
"You can expect, oh how did you say it? Some uh pillaging and plundering, Swan?"
Emma laughed, "Oh yeah. I can't seem to get enough of that."
"Good. Me either." Killian trailed kisses up her neck and across her jaw and then finally on her lips. His hook anchored her to him and his hand splayed out across her face, moving into her hair and lightly brushing against her chin and cheeks.
Emma sighed into the kiss. Her hand coming to rest on its place over his heart. Killian's tongue licked across the seam of her lips, seeking entrance into her mouth. She parted her lips for him and they eagerly explored each other. Killian walked them backwards against the building and more into the shadows, lest someone came walking down the sidewalk or looked out of their windows, then they would get quite the view. The savior and the pirate devouring each other's mouths in the street. That would make a great headline for the paper.
Emma reluctantly pulled away first and leaned her forehead against Killian's, catching her breath. Killian left his hand in her hair, weaving his fingers through her golden tresses, coming to rest on her face before smoothing down across her back.
Emma pressed one more kiss on Killian's lips before stepping away. "I should go up."
"Yeah, wouldn't want Dave to come out here looking for you, love." Smirked Killian.
Emma laughed, "You know, I really should look at those apartments Henry found. It would make this so much easier."
"Aye love. Although, you are always welcome to stay aboard my ship as well. You know, if you ever find yourself not being able to handle it."
Killian raised his eyebrow and Emma chuckled. "Yeah. I promised everyone I'd stay at the loft tonight. Besides, you get me for the entire weekend, remember?"
"Oh Swan, I will not ever forget. But I will bid you goodnight. I'll see you in the morning for coffee."
"Hey Killian?" Emma reached out and grabbed his arm. Killian raised his eyebrow again. Damn him and his eyebrows.
"Yes Swan?"
"When Henry and I do go look at apartments. Would you like to come with?"
"Do you need my advice or something?"
"Well, I just figure you will probably be spending quite a bit of time there as well. And I don't know. I mean, I haven't talked to Henry about this or anything yet. But, when it starts to get cold out you can't sleep on your ship. Maybe you would like to stay with us?" Emma bit her lip nervously and looked down.
"Swan" Killian tilted her chin up to look at her. "Are you asking me to live with you?"
Emma smiled up at him. "Yeah. I guess that I am. I mean, I know you like staying on your ship I would never ask you to move out of there, especially after you gave up your last one for me. But you know, at least for winter so I don't have to worry about you freezing to death or anything."
Killian chuckled and then his eyes got soft and serious, just as they did after their first date when he asked her out again and he grabbed her hand. "Swan, no one since my brother has ever offered me a home before. You have no idea how much this means to me." He pulled her into him and hugged her tightly against him. Emma's eyes filled with tears threatening to fall but she relaxed herself into his arms.
After a minute they pulled apart, Emma cupped his face with her hands "as long as you are with me Killian, I am home. I spent my entire life searching for a home and I found one here. With you. With Henry. And with my parents. You worked hard to bring me back to that and helped me realize that this is where I belong. I belong here and with you beside me."
"Emma, my love. You are my home too. I would be honored to accompany you and your boy and look at apartments."
"Good. Now I really should get going. I need to talk to Henry about all this, but something tells me since he found a place by the water he is already open to the idea. He talked a lot about that one in particular actually."
"Did he? I can't wait to see it love."
"Me too. I'm excited about this." Emma pressed a chaste kiss to his lips and then turned to the door. "Goodnight, Killian."
"Goodnight Emma."
Killian stood outside as Emma headed up the stairs to her parents loft and leaned against the building for a few minutes, staring up at the stars in the sky, silently thanking whoever was out there looking down on him for helping him get so lucky.