Emma could have watched the purple cloud bring magic to Storybrooke. She could have. It was the perfect ridiculous thing to top off a completely ridiculous day. How many times could you see that you watched a magical cloud roll over a town? Though when she first saw it, she wondered about what kind of crazy storms Maine had. She clutched at Henry as they saw the clouds rolling in, wondering out loud what it could be. Henry knew. Of course he did. He was smarter than she could ever give him credit for.

"I should…" she started, unwilling to leave him but there was someone else…

"Find my dad?" he finished.

Emma smiled at him. Perceptive, too.

"Yeah." She paused, trying to find the words to explain to Henry why his father had just run out on him.

"Henry, your dad...he..."

"Just found out who he really is."

He smiled at her.

"Please, Emma. Tell him that I don't…I don't hate him."

Emma squeezed his hand tight, and beckoned Dr. Whale over, telling him to keep an eye on Henry.

"I'll be right back, okay?" she ruffled his hair and kissed him once more for good measure before taking off.

She knew exactly where to find him. Where else would he be other than the harbour? He needed something to calm him down from the events that had just transpired, and honestly, Emma couldn't fault him for that. She found him upon the deck of the Jewel, gazing out at the sea. She couldn't help but smile she saw him. At least he physically looked okay. She couldn't vouch for his mental status. He turned around to face her as she strode up the gangplank, the squeak of the wood under her boots betraying her presence. She stepped down heavily onto the deck and after noticing how tense he was, she paused.

"Don't come any closer." He said hoarsely. He ran his fingers through his hair. Fingers that were now adorned with gaudy rings.

"I'm a bad man, Emma. I've done things…" he broke off.

"Were."

"What?" he stared at her as if she had grown another head.

"You were a bad man." She corrected calmly.

He just blinked at her in response.

She started walking towards him slowly. "I don't know what kind of person you were in the past. All I know is that you were the man who took in my son and raised him. And that kind of man can't be all that bad, can he?"

She stood in front of him, yearning to touch him, to hold him close to her, to take the pain and anguish that was reflected in his eyes.

He was silent, staring stonily at her. Finally- "are you sure, Swan?"

Gone was any trace of swagger, of confidence that she knew so well. Here was raw emotion and vulnerability. She took his hand into hers and raised it to her lips, placing a light kiss on his knuckles.

"I am, Killian."

He swallowed heavily, and then pulled her toward him, capturing her lips in a desperate kiss. He broke away after several seconds, resting his forehead on hers, his breath ghosting her lips.

"Emma, all the things I've done-"

"are in the past." She finished for him. "I'm tired of living in the past, Killian. Aren't you?"

He smiled at her, a genuine smile.

"Aye, lass."

The return of his memories had strengthened his nautical nature, she noted with a smirk.

"Listen," she said, pulling on his jacket, "I'd love to hear about your beginnings. I want to hear everything. The good and the bad."

His hand cupped her chin and raised it up so that he could kiss her once more, a gentle peck.

"So this is…happening?" he asked in a low voice.

Old Emma would have balked at the thought of being in anything that resembled a relationship. But new Emma, the Emma who had been through so much in the past few months, who had woken up the son she had given up for adoption with a kiss for chrissake, a kiss, she realized now, was exactly like the True Love's Kiss that was so prominent in Disney movies. This new Emma had hope and a sudden desire for love and friendship.

"Yup. It's a thing." She announced breezily, hoping that she sounded as calm and casual as her words were.

He moved as if to kiss her again, but Emma stopped him.

"As much as I would love to continue this," she said, as he pressed himself further onto her, and she sighed at the friction and heat that his movements were causing, "we should go check on the rest of the town."

He nodded, a twinkle in his eye.

"Aye, Sheriff. And I've got to go see my son."

A guilty expression washed over his face at the mere mention of his son.

"Oh god, I just left him at the hospital. What kind of father-"

Emma tapped his lips with her forefinger.

"He understands, Killian. He'll forgive you. Just...be there for him."

He swallowed heavily and stared down at her, searching her eyes for an indication of his son really would forgive him, and she smiled as hard as she could, almost bringing tears to her eyes in hopes that he would see how much she believed in Henry.

"He loves you, and he knows you love him."

He let out a sigh of relief and hugged her close, his anxiety draining away from him.

"He's not the only one I love." he murmured into her hair, and Emma's heart skipped a beat from his declaration.

He pulled away and looked her in the eye, a soft smile playing at the corners of his lips.

"Emma, since I met you, I've become a changed man. Even with my memories back..." he paused, and looked out into the distance, as if recalling some of those newly recovered memories. He snapped back to attention after a minute.

"Even with my memories, my feelings for you haven't changed. What's more, it's made me reconsider a few things."

He smiled at her as if she was a rare jewel, and she blushed at his scrutiny. He laughed at the sight of red on her cheeks and moved his hand up to tap her nose.

"I'll tell you all about it after we get back to Henry."

"And deal with Regina." Emma said, her expression growing grim.

"Aye. That too." His hand moved down to squeeze her hand reassuringly. "I have faith that you can deal with her. I've yet to see you fail."

He kissed her once more, this time softly. He slowly shifted away from her, but continued to hold her hand. Emma led him towards the docks, a smile growing on her face.

"Let's go save the town, Captain. Together."