AN: Disclaimer – I'm just a fan. I'm not a writer on OUAT! And this little bit of fanfiction is only intended to be entertainment. I own so little that it should be comical, but it's just sad.

It actually takes me awhile to write a story. I generally don't have a lot of free time, and when I'm at my computer at work, I have a nagging feeling of "big brother's always watching," so I don't even open Word for anything non-work related. That means my "to do list" notepad has quarter-written, half-written, or just little snippets of ideas scrawled down on various pages. And once home, I'm generally too tired to knit these things together. … So, time drags on and I just… HAVE to WRITE it.

Warming Up is a Canon Divergent story since this story is based on Killian (Killian alone) trying to warm Emma up after Elsa released her from the ice wall. And once at her apartment (her own place), there won't be any interruptions. I'm not very good at keeping to one POV, so in this story the POVs switch throughout. I try to touch on the physical aspect of warming up, as well as the metaphoric. While watching the show, I got tired of Emma and other characters talk about "walls coming down"; so I've basically just used another phrase that means the same thing.

M rated. So, skip this if it's not your thing.

Warming up

-X-

Somehow, Elsa had done it. Whatever David said to motivate Elsa was beyond Emma's comprehension in that moment. She found the strength to stand and walk towards the opening, but she knew her body was shutting down. It was a sobering thought; to feel herself dying. Freezing to death was not something she wished upon anyone. David grabbed her and pulled her forward only to immediately pass her into her pirate's waiting arms. Emma grabbed onto Killian feeling her knees instantly buckled. But he was ready, and Killian gracefully scooped her into his embrace. She was sure that Killian had wanted to make her weak in the knees, but she didn't think he'd wanted her weakness to involve a near-death experience.

David escorted Elsa to Granny's, miraculously leaving Emma in Killian's care. Whatever in the world possessed him to give the care of his only daughter to someone that he, at best, had reservations about, and at worst down-right hated, was beyond Emma in the moment. However, when she thought about it, perhaps David was warming up to Hook. They were speaking before Emma had been trapped by Elsa. And Charming and Hook had been together during the whole ordeal. What on Earth had they talked about? What changed between them?

Killian was focused on one thing, to get Emma home and get her warm. He had been a passenger in Emma's car often enough, and while not a proficient driver; he got her home fast and safe, both herself and car in one piece. Killian jogged around the car and scooped Emma up once again, carrying her bridal style into the building and up the stairs. They both hoped that power would be restored, but once in her apartment building, they could hear the silence as if it was a noise unto itself. Even in the short time in this realm, Killian had become used to the hum of electronics and indoor climate control. Emma reached for and furtively tried the light switch, while still in his arms. "Oh n-n-no," she chattered.

"It's alright, Love," Killian quickly thought. "We'll just have to do this the old-fashioned way." He carried her to her bed and laid her down on the comforter. He stood to strip off his coat and returned to Emma to helped her take her jacket off and boots. While leather jackets and dusters were tough material, they didn't provide warmth. There were a few candles by Emma's bed and he quickly created a spark with his hook and flint, and made short work of lighting them. He laid down behind her and pulled the blanket over them.

Frozen as she was, Emma felt safe in Killian's arms. When he carried her, she felt loved and cherished, a feeling that she wasn't familiar with. She'd been in his arms like this once before, but she wasn't sure that she should count that, since it was a Killian from 30-years ago boasting about carrying heavier rum barrels. That man truly it wasn't Killian – he was Hook. Bringing herself back to the present; Emma chattered, "I'm s-s-so cold."

"I know," Killian whispered, "you'll be warm soon, I promise."

"Just h-h-hold me, please," Emma said as her eyes drifted shut.

"Don't go to sleep love," Killian said as he began to fear that hypothermia might be setting in. "Think warm thoughts."

"Just l-like ha-happy thoughts?"

Killian understood the reference for once, and he gave her a wry chuckle, "Remember how hot it was in Neverland? It was so hot, you stripped down to that thin tank top?"

"And y-you kept all that leather on," Emma whispered. She was feeling slightly warmer. "How'd you do that? W-weren't you uncomfortable?"

Killian took a deep breath, knowing that giving Swan the complete truth was what she always wanted. "Aye, but I - ….my brace and my arm aren't very attractive. I didn't want you or anyone to see it, so I kept my duster on so that it would be more hidden. He felt Emma stiffen and then shift a little as he spoke, the power of his words washing over her.

"I'm s- sorry."

"No need. I'm used to it."

"No!" Emma turned in his arms to face him. "You shouldn't be u-used to it. This w-world, this realm, is full of people with disabilities. Why should you be singled out?"

Killian didn't answer, and she feared it was because he still saw himself as a villain. So, Emma ventured on. "You are more accomplished with one hand than most men are with two."

"Now you're just winding me up."

"A-am not."

"Emma," Killian said as he sat up straighter on the bed. "You're so cold. We've got to warm you up. I'd suggest a hot bath, but I suspect that electricity would be needed."

"You're right," the hot water heater won't run without electricity."

"Alright then love," Killian said as he guided her to sit on the bed, "we need to use skin on skin. You're so cold that your body cannot generate its own heat." He began to unbutton his vest and shirt, and Emma brought her hands up to remove her own shirt. "Let me," Killian said.

Emma didn't know what to say, while this should feel romantic, the urgency of getting her warm overrode any amorous feelings either had.

Killian was in a survival mindset, if he thought about what he was doing then he wouldn't be undressing Emma like this! Kneeling to get her pants off, part of his mind reminded him that if the situation was different, he'd be doing this much slower. Within moments, he had Emma out of her outer layers of clothes. Killian's hand and hook slowed, and his breath caught. He was looking at Emma in a thin shift and tiny corset (he'd forgotten this realm's names of the garments). But, at seeing her nearly nude he faltered. "Emma." But he managed to compose himself and pull back the bedcovers and was guiding her to get between the sheets.

He stood to strip himself. They'd just spoken about his hook and his deformity. She's just told him that he shouldn't feel ashamed, but years of feeling inadequate made him pause. He took the hook off and knew that if he touched the hardened leather of his brace to Emma, it would feel cold. He was loath to do it but take it off he did. He quickly unbuttoned and removed his shirt. He heard and mistook the gasp from Emma as further confirmation about his arm. Killian moved it behind his back.

"N-no," Emma chattered.

"I know you saw it in the hospital, Swan. But-"

"That's not wh-why I gasped, Killian," Emma managed to say as she held out her arms to him. "Please."

Killian didn't hesitate to join her in the bed.

"I gasped be-be-because you are de-devastatingly handsome," she managed while attempting to arc a single eyebrow in an imitation of him.

"What a time to notice, Swan," and Killian did a fair attempt at Emma's eye roll. "Now, roll over sweetheart."

Emma managed do so and then Killian was spooning her. The heat emanating from him was intoxicating. She felt the pull of sleep again.

"Please Emma!" Killian spoke again, "Don't go to sleep. Your body wants to shut down. I need you to fight."

"Another fight. I'm- I'm always fighting. I'm of tired of fighting." The last words spoken with Emma lifting Killian's stunted arm from around her midsection so she could kiss the end of his blunted wrist.

Killian's breath caught at the feel of her lips on his mangled skin. He had so little sensation on that skin – the loss of his hand followed by cauterization, plus centuries of wearing a brace had left few nerve endings. But perhaps Emma's magic was more powerful than she realized because he could feel her lips as assuredly as if they'd been on any other part of his body. He managed to say as his breath hitched, "Darling, please- "but he was cut off as Emma rolled over and slammed her lips to his.

"I don't want to fight this any longer. I just – I want you," she whispered as the kiss broke.

"As do I," he replied, "but not with you on death's door."

"I'm not that cold anymore," she protested, but her body betrayed her by sending another massive shiver through her. She then looked sheepish at Killian and said, "Can't sex be a way to warm me up?"

"My love," Killian cut her off with a quick but sweet kiss to Emma's lips. "The first time I have you, I'd like to make love to you. I'd like to memorize every sound and touch." As he spoke, he planted little kisses to her nose, cheek, across to her ear. As he gently bit the lobe Killian said, "As much as I'd love to warm you up with a quick and dirty fuck, I would rather have you awake and alert and already warm."

Emma's nipples were no longer pebbled from the cold. Instead, the feel of Killian's chest against her and his sensual plans caused them to pucker beneath the material of her bra. She moved her hand from his shoulder down to his chest and carded her fingers through the thick hair. And despite his best effort, Killian groaned in appreciation.

"I could have died," Emma whispered. She was remembering just how close to death she came. "Killian," she whispered, her eyes swimming in tears. He cut off any further words with a new kiss.

They didn't battle for dominance, their lips sought each other out gently, and as Killian's lips parted his tongue found Emma's. She couldn't stop the moan that left her. Their feet and legs had been tangled together, but now Emma slung one leg over Killian's hip. It was somewhat awkward as both were still on their sides, but even so, Emma's core was closer to Killian's leather pants. And despite his best intentions, Killian's cock had been warring with his mind. Emma moaned at the feel of his half-hard cock.

"You're a bloody Siren," Killian rasped out, but then in a more resigned tone, "Alright Swan, let me warm you up. Let me take care of you." Killian rolled Emma so that she was on her back. Emma spread her legs so that he was nestled into the V of her hips. Her breath shuddered at the feel of him pressed deliciously against her. Killian propped himself slightly on his left arm as he ran the back of his fingers lovingly across the top of her camisole. "These sinful undergarments Swan," Killian said indulgently. "Their quite delightful, but so, so wicked."

"I think I need more skin to skin, Killian," Emma whispered, and she pushed against Killian so that she could sit up. He crouched back on his knees. Biting her lip, Emma crossed her arms and began to bring her camisole up and over her head. Now clad in just her bra and panties, Emma's confidence faltered. She shyly looked at Killian, "Oh God! I feel so stupid. I'm not a virgin! Why do I feel this way?!"

Killian seemed to visibly shake himself from a stupor. "It's because, we're taking our relationship to the next level." He pushed Emma back down onto her back and kissed her. Working his way down from her lips, to her chin, jaw, and then down the column of her lovely throat. "Because sharing one's body with the person you love is a monumental action." Killian felt Emma stiffen under him, the last of his words leaving him as he'd placed a tender kiss onto the swell of one breast and his hand fingering the lace trim of the cup of the bra on the other.

Raising his head to speak to her. Even though she was catching her breath all over again, Emma noticed the way his hair hung a bit across his eyes. His beautiful eyes shown with love, "Surely you must know how I feel about you Emma." A low moan escaped Emma's mouth. "You don't have to say the words, and if you don't want me to, I won't say them either. But you must know-"

"I do!" she exclaimed. "I do. And I'm still so scared to say it and so afraid to hear it." Emma felt herself tremble as the honest words poured from her.

Instead of resuming his previous trail of kisses, Killian pulled himself up again dragging Emma to sit up with him again. His arms encircled her, and he kissed her deeply, pressing his lips to hers and moaned as she responded by opening her sweet lips so that their tongues could entangle again. He wasn't prepared for the feel of Emma's arms to join his at her back. He had no idea what she was doing, but those lovely hands were only there momentarily, and he felt Emma pull him back down upon the bed. Her tiny corset was loosened, and she smiled up at him. "Emma?"

"Yes," she responded. Together they removed the scrap of fabric and lace. But Killian kept his eyes on Emma's face. Emma bit her lip, wondering why. In another moment Emma's eyes were closed and a delicious whimper escaped from both of them as their chests touched. The space between them nonexistent. Emma's hands were buried in his hair as the warmth radiated off of him and she felt her heart melting. She knew in that moment that she could never feel this for any other man. Finally, Killian was kissing down her throat again and down to her breasts. He took one peaked nipple into his mouth and pinched the other. The whimpers that flowed from Emma's mouth couldn't have been words; they were just sounds of pleasure. Killian's tongue flicked her peak and Emma's voice caught in her throat. She wasn't able to form a coherent though.

Killian's mind kept trying to regain control. "Emma, we have to stop," but the words were spoken as he kissed down to her belly button. He heard Emma's chuckle as she realized that he wasn't doing anything to make himself stop.

"If you want to stop, then you can try," she teased.

Killian paused, resting his head on her hip and running his good hand across the top of her panties. Thinking again how delightful and sinful these scraps were. Killian dared to look up to Emma's face. And the smile he gave her was brilliant. The nearly nude goddess was breathing heavy, all of the bedcovers forgotten. "Have I warmed you up?"

"I suppose I'm still a bit ….chilled," came her breathy reply.

-X-

"Bloody Siren," Killian groused. He was a confident lover, but in all the times he'd imagined this moment, saving Emma's life wasn't in the fantasy. "Luckily you have a captain that can sail you to safer waters." He threw the bed sheet over his head blocking his view of Swan, but the added layer would help keep her body heat in. He felt it pull taunt around him, and realized that Emma had pulled it over her head too, effectively enclosing them in a tent of sorts. He removed he lacy undergarment, another sinful scrap of cloth that did little to had her femininity from him. Once doing that, he slowly explored her with his hand and mouth.

"Oh God," Emma moaned. She'd told MaryMargaret once that one-night stands were her norm as far as relationships went. And with Neal Walsh being the only exceptions, that was true. She'd had very few partners who wanted to do this, and the feeling of embarrassment was shockingly not there. Emma didn't know if it was because she trusted Killian so much or if it was because she loved him even though she didn't say the words aloud.

It was amazing to her that Killian could lean her body so quickly. He had her climaxing embarrassingly quickly. The gentle play of his tongue and the way his fingers found her g-spot deep within her.

It was as she was coming back to herself, catching her breath, that Killian crawled up so that his face was even with hers. "And now?" Killian asked.

Emma wasn't sure what he meant, and told him so.

"Are you cold?"

Emma giggled burying her face into his shoulder. "Umm, yes," she giggled out. "I can safely say that I haven't thought about freezing this entire time."

"Good," Killian kissed her gently. "Now it's safe for you to sleep."

"What?" Emma said in disbelief. "What about you?"

"I," Killian stressed, "am content with giving you pleasure and potentially saving your life."

"I'm never going to live this down, am I?"

He kissed her gently again, "The point is, you live, Emma."

-X-

Even though Emma kept pressing him and teasing him, the two didn't make love that night. Killian whispered his fears and some of the deepest secrets in his heart. Emma told him of the awful group homes that she lived in. As Killian held her tighter and let her warm tears wet his chest, he told her about his and Liam's father and how the man had abandoned them. The night waned on and as dawn's light began to filter as the candles wicked out. Emma dosed off, with Killian watching her beautiful face, hardly believing that his woman's heart was finally warming up… to his.