A/N: Welcome to the end. I hope you have enjoyed the adventures we went on and the story I wrote. I know many of you are going to kill me for how I ended the story, but don't hate me too much!
Since we are at the end, I have to give another huge shout out to Monica and Nicola who helped with the story a thousand times over. I couldn't have done it without them!
Waking up in Killian's arms the next morning was everything Emma thought it would be and so much more. It was still hard for her to believe that all of this was true, that she finally got what she used to wish for. They had had an amazing date, where he was nothing but a gentleman who doted on her and made her feel like she was worthy of something. Their dinner was filled with laughter and memories. In fact, Emma couldn't remember a time where she had more fun on a date. Sure, her only comparison was Neal, who never made her feel the way Killian did, but still, it was something. Then, coming back to her childhood home, only to be wrapped in Killian's strong arms and to feel the emotions he had for her, was mind boggling.
Halfway during the night, after the second round of sex that Killian was able to fit in, when Emma had to pee, she found herself worrying that it was all too good to be true. Everything was starting to fall into place and that was something she wasn't quite sure was possible. Maybe she was sick and this was all a fever dream and she was really back in LA with Ruby, doped up on Nyquil. Maybe she had a tumor, creating these magical scenarios in her mind that weren't real. All she knew was that there was no way in hell that this was at all possible. Her life was too fucked up for it to finally be good.
As she stood in the doorway watching Killian slumber, she did find herself pinching her arm, just to make sure this was all real. The pain was there. Emma couldn't help but smile, knowing that even though the past was screwed up, that they both had demons they had to constantly face, that they both had past lives that defined them, they had found each other. They had finally come back to what was right, what made sense.
Damn it, her mother was right. Love does find its way back to you when you least expect it. Emma caught herself using the term, and it didn't surprise or worry her as much as she feared. Love, she realized, was something that had always been lingering between them. Even when they were just friends, Emma knew she loved Killian Jones. The only difference was the fact that Emma finally knew what that love meant.
What she was feeling for him now was different than what she felt then. Sure, there was the normal feeling of joy whenever she was around him, the feeling that life just wasn't the same without him in it. But now, there was more. It was like life didn't make sense without him in it. Maybe that was why she had so many problems in LA, with her mom, with friends. Maybe without Killian to talk to, to support her, her life just didn't work.
Now that he had reappeared, at a time when she really did need him, things started to fall into place. She had made up with her mom, in fact she thought that their relationship would actually grow over the next few weeks, and that was something she wasn't prepared for. She had finally realized just how shitty her old friends were. She had finally come to terms with everything that had happened in their past.
It was all going fast though, she knew that. To think that she had fallen in love with him this quickly was a bit scary. But, she also knew that it was right. She had loved him before, so falling back into these feelings was normal. At least that is what she told herself.
She wasn't just scared because it was quick. She was scared because of what it could all mean. Yesterday, she told him to just let everything fall where it may, to go with the flow, to not worry. Now, things were different. She understood his trepidation about their relationship. She knew how much Neal's escapades hurt her and she knew that if anything was to happen with Killian, she would shatter completely. There was no coming back from this, there was nothing after.
She wouldn't tell him of these feelings, not yet. She would wait till they were on solid ground. She also couldn't help but think that these feelings were just because of the intimacy they shared the previous night. It was the post-coital glow and hormones that were making her feel this way. In the morning, in the harsh light of day, maybe she wouldn't feel like this. The emotion may still be there, but not as strong. It could also change over the next few weeks. They could find out that they just don't work together, that this time they shared was just because of a forced situation.
She hoped none of that was true, but this was her fashion. She always did this. Better to prepare for something that may never happen, then not be prepared at all. Better to hide your true feelings until everything is certain, than to jump head first into shallow water.
All of those thoughts though were for tomorrow, for a different day. For now, she just wanted to be in bed with the man who had given her the best orgasms of her life, and maybe get another one before her parents showed up.
Over the next three weeks things progressed traditionally. Emma is pretty sure her parents knew about her and Killian. She was expecting one of them to at least throw a fit about them sharing a bathroom, which would in turn have them learning they were sharing a bedroom. They were hoping they were keeping that particular fact a secret, but she was starting to notice the looks her mother kept throwing at her. They tore through her in a way she didn't think possible; it was like her mother knew exactly what Emma was feeling. It was like her mother could feel Emma's worry, fear, happiness, and even the giddiness that came from the playful smiles Killian would flash her. Her father must know as well, but didn't change his behavior at all. That surprised Emma, especially since she had always been daddy's little girl.
Henry knew for sure. He had caught them about a week later. Emma thought she had woken early enough to sneak downstairs for some coffee to surprise Killian. She didn't think to use her own bedroom door. So when she quietly exited Killian's room, with his shirt on, she was not expecting her little brother to be waiting for her. He was leaning against the wall across from the room, his PJs still on and rumpled. He looked just like their dad did in the mornings. His hair stuck out in random places and his face still showed the sleep it had just woken from.
She felt like the silence between them lasted for hours, when in reality it was probably only seconds. Henry was staring at her and she was unable to read his face. Was he pissed? Was he surprised? Did he even care? There was no smile on his face, just a flat line where his lips were pressed together. His brow wasn't furrowed, but it wasn't fully relaxed either.
"Well, well, well, well, well," he finally said in a slow voice that sounded almost accusatory.
"Henry, it's not…" she began before being interrupted.
"What I think? What I think is that you have been sleeping with Killian behind my back. What I think is that you've been dating him since you got back and you haven't told me. What I think is that you owe me big, like taking me out for drinks in LA big. Definitely big enough that I don't tell mom and dad what you all have been doing in the late night hours," he said as he finally smiled, letting Emma finally be able to piece together that her brother was jokingly trying to blackmail her.
"You little shit," Emma huffed under her breath, unsure if she should take him seriously or not. She could see the playfulness in his eyes now, but something also told her that he meant business.
"Hey, how else am I really going to experience LA. The true LA. You would never take me to a real bar if I didn't have something to force your hand," he said slyly.
"Fine, but not one word to mom or dad, and I'm only taking you to the bar, I'm not supplying you with anything," she countered.
"I don't know sis, I mean, I don't think mom would appreciate her bedding getting ruined in the way it has been. Think of all those poor sheets have been through. You know how she feels about those Laura Ashley prints," he replied.
Of course he would have a counter offer. He was going to milk this for all it was worth. Even if he seemed OK with what was happening between his sister and the neighbor, he was still going to use it to get what he wanted. She had taught him too well.
"Fine, one drink," she said, extending her hand out to him.
"One drink, but if I have to hear you two again in the middle of the night, you will owe me more," he said, shaking her hand and shocking her at the same time.
"What?" she bit out, petrified that the whole house had heard them earlier.
Yesterday, Killian had taken her down to the amusement park. It was a long ride, but so worth it. She hadn't seen him that much during the week, as baseball practice and time with his family took up much of his free time. She didn't mind though. She could tell being back on the field and back in somewhat good graces with his family was helping him heal. She even noticed him and his father talking during the week at a dinner. She wondered what they would be like at the traditional Nolan/Jones meal later that day.
They had spent the day riding rides and getting wet, in a non intimate way. Sure, Killian still found a way to turn everything Emma did into a innuendo, but it made her laugh, so she didn't mind. He held her hand tight on the roller coaster, cursing her as he did. He hated them, but Emma really loved them. She loved the feeling of her hair flying behind her. She loved the feeling the loops gave her stomach when she was at the very top of them. Killian, on the other hand, called them death traps and refused to get on them until Emma made him a deal he couldn't refuse. If he got on the ride with her now, she would show him a better ride later that night.
She blushed as she thought about it. The rest of the day was a blur to her, as her mind couldn't help but picture what was in store for them when they got back to the Nolan household. Since their night together, they indulged themselves every chance they got. They knew they had to be quiet though, as the walls in the Nolan house were pretty thin and her mother had a tendency to be nosy. She almost didn't make it an hour, she wanted to jump his bones right there outside a gross and disgusting public restroom in the park. He would have probably been down for it too. She was also tempted to pull him into one of the changing stalls near the water park of the amusement area, but decided against it as there were too many witnesses.
However, spending the next four hours watching him move around in his board shorts, his muscles flexing as he lifted the tubes up for their ride, drove her insane with need. She was going to show him a good ride that night, if she could only hold it together a while longer.
She knew he was having a hard time too, considering what she was wearing. She heard the audible gasp from him as she stepped out from the changing area, her bikini on full display. Emma knew the reason for the gasp, it was the same reason why she was a finalist for the new Victoria's Secret show. Her body perfectly filled out the yellow bikini. Her lines were toned and tanned just enough, yet she was curvy enough to be real. She remembered the compliment he gave her as he stepped into the dressing room himself. He had told her she was the most beautiful creature on the planet and he was one lucky bastard to get her all to himself.
After the water park, they gathered with the crowd at the main plaza to watch the water show and fireworks. Killian held her in his arms the entire time, not wanting to let go. She felt at peace; she felt home. Her head fit perfectly against his shoulder. Once, she had tried to do this with Neal, but his shoulder was too bony and he complained that her hair was in his face and was annoying him. Killian on the other hand, turned right into her hair. She knew he loved the smell of it. He pulled her closer as he took a deep breath, then rested his head on hers.
"This was a perfect day love, I am so glad I got to spend it with you," was all she heard before the fireworks began, causing them both to look up in awe.
After the longest car ride home of her life, she was finally able to give Killian her thanks. She thought they got home late enough that everyone had already gone to bed. She knew they couldn't be too loud, but the way Killian used his tongue against her clit, she couldn't help but shout out her first orgasm.
He had taken her by surprise; as soon as they walked into his room, he had her pinned against the door and her pants off in a flash. He was lapping at her like a man with a purpose within two minutes. His tongue was doing things to her it has never done before and she was starting to realize that he had skills she would never tire of. In the back of her mind, she couldn't help but thank Milah, since she must have taught him some of this. He was so talented with his fingers, with his tongue, and with his cock, that she knew the woman who once broke his heart also taught him how to pleasure a woman.
As his fingers came up to join his tongue on their assault of her hardened nub, she came crashing down, but he never stopped. Killian kept licking, kept stroking, two of his fingers pulsing in and out of her hot core in a desperate fashion. It was like he needed her to come again, and quickly. She knew she couldn't hold in the pleasure any longer, and she must have screamed louder than necessary.
By the end, he had made her come twice more like that, pinned against the door while he worshipped her on his knees. She would have marks in the morning along her back and her legs felt like they were going to melt away any second, but she knew he wasn't done with her. He scooped her up and brought her to the bed, where he made her come two more times as he thrusted his cock into her.
She didn't think there were any additional ways for Killian to take her, not after the week of fucking they had done. He had taken her in just about every way imaginable. She was sore, but properly so. Never had a soreness felt so right and so good. Earlier in the week, he had taken her in the shower, something Neal had never done. It was a whole new experience, and one she wanted to relive soon. As Killian moved around her, she imagined her licking the droplets of water off of his skin, just as he had done to her. Her hands instinctively went to her soaking nub. She knew she would be so sore in the morning, that she would need a nice hot bath to rejuvenate her body, but it was all worth it.
"Love, I don't remember giving you permission to touch yourself," he scolded her as he moved into position.
Killian wasn't that type of lover, but she enjoyed the little game they had. It wasn't that he didn't like her touching herself, in fact he loved it. But in those moments, he always wanted her pleasure for himself.
"I wouldn't have to if you just took me already," she scolded him.
"Aye, that is just what I was about to do," he said, sliding into her.
Her wanting core gave no resistance to his cock. She was fully ready for him and a loud moan escaped her lips as his cock entered her. She was laying on her side, facing away from him. His lips at her neck and his hand holding her leg over his, just high enough to allow him to penetrate her deeply. He knew just what she needed, and it was always deep and hard. She had to feel him at all times, taking her, marking her, making her his.
Within minutes she was coming again, simply from the force of his cock sliding in and out of her wet quim. Never before had she come from just a cock. She used to always need the external stimulation, but Killian was not normal. She wasn't normal with him. She shook around him as he slowed his pace to begin to build her back up.
When she came for the last time, with his fingers playing with the other hole and with him now behind her, slamming into her hard, he came too, with a cry that she was almost sure could wake the neighborhood. She didn't care though, she was in such a state of euphoria that nothing around her but him mattered.
"Henry, I'm sorry, I… we… didn't… you…" she wasn't quite sure what to say to her little brother.
She knew he wasn't so sheltered that he didn't know what sex was or even what it was like, but still. She was his big sister and it was her job to protect him, to make sure she didn't scar him for life.
"It's OK Emma. I'm an eighteen year old boy you know, it's not like I haven't heard those sounds before. All I am saying is that if I have to hear it again, you will owe more so much more, because if I heard it, you know mom and dad probably did too," he said, winking.
"I'm sorry," she began, sliding down her wall to sit in the hallway, her brother mimicking her, "I'm sorry I didn't tell you sooner about Killian and I, and I'm sorry you had to hear that."
"It's fine, really. I kind of knew something was going on with you guys when you first got home. I just figured you would tell me if it became serious. But after hearing that, I decided to use it to my advantage. Two birds, one stone and all of that." She smiled at him. He really had grown up.
"So, why don't you also make it up to me by taking me to Starbucks with you and getting me a drink? We have a lot to catch up on," he offered, as he rose from his position.
"That we do kid, that we do."
They always had dates on the weekends, leaving the week wide open for Kilian to recover from practices, time for both of their families, and time to just relax. It had been years since Emma got to just sit around and do nothing. Normally, if she tried back in LA, she would find something she needed to work on. The laundry needed doing, the dishes had to be washed or grocery shopping sometimes. Often she would find that Ruby needed her help with something. But at home, Emma could sleep in as late as she wanted and just relax during the day. Her mother did everything that Emma would normally worry about.
For the first time in what seemed like centuries she was able to actually read a book, like really sit down and read it. She normally had a book when she went on photo shoots or casting calls, but rarely was she able to get lost in them. She tried to read on the plane rides when she had a special photo shoot, but half the time it made her sick and the other half she had friends, if you could call them that, along for the ride.
She was needing to get through the latest in her favorite series, especially since the final season was about to premiere. Unlike the book, the show was religiously watched by Ruby, Lacey and herself. Half the time they had a little party every Sunday to celebrate. They would drink to their hearts desires and discuss which character was the hottest and who was going to die that week.
She was also able to actually lounge by a pool. Their neighborhood boasted a community pool. It had been years since Emma had actually been to it, refusing to go during high school as it seemed like such a juvenile place to go. Instead, her and her friends would use someone's private pool or head out on the river. Just like with her house, the pool was just how she remembered it, except for the addition of a water slide for the kids and some additional sunning areas. She used to love sitting out in the sun and just letting it warm her soul.
Thankfully, her mother instilled in her a need for sunscreen. Emma was always lathered up in at least SPF 50, keeping her skin at a perfect color and never allowing her to burn. She also never stayed out too long, just enough to lull her into a sleepy state before she would return home for a nap.
The sun felt good and refreshing. It reminded her of just why she came home in the first place. She needed to get away from LA, from the smog and congestion. Sure, Washington DC was busy and probably just as polluted, especially from the swampy politics that happened, but it was different. The air was different. Hell, even the sun felt different. Things made sense here. She needed to clear her mind, to rid herself of thoughts of Neal, thoughts of fighting with her mother, thoughts that she wasn't good enough to model. She was finding that DC was doing all of that for her. Sure, she had thought about Neal a few times she since had been home, how could she not, when she was comparing what they used to have to what she was experiencing with Killian? But, she never thought of Neal in a positive light or in a way that made her want to return to LA to be with him.
Her subconscious told her it was all because of Killian. If Killian had not been on that plane, if kismet or fate or whatever you call it, didn't bring them together, reunite them, then she would have caved and gone back to Neal and his cheating ass within a week of being home. If nothing came of their relationship, she would always be thankful that Killian was present and helped her over that hurdle.
He had messaged her of course. When the first text came in about a day after she arrived home, she ignored it. She didn't want to read what it said, since she pretty much already knew it would be filled with his bullshit lies and promises about being better. She also knew they would probably be filled with anger and hostility at being locked out of his apartment with his shit being tossed on the front porch. She actually pictured it as Ruby explained Lacey's job during Emma's vacation.
Neal would message her, apologizing, begging to be taken back. He would then show up unannounced at her apartment, in some lame attempt at trying to be romantic. He would then find himself locked out and his stuff in boxes on the porch. He would send her a couple of very rude text messages. She actually wouldn't be surprised if he called her a cunt in any of them. She remembered him calling some stranger that once. If she had been a stronger person at the time, that moment would have been the end of their relationship. Then, anywhere from 6 hours to two days, depending on how much he drank the night before and what, he would apologize again, promising he didn't mean it, that he was just drunk and upset.
It was their final weekend in DC when Emma finally decided to look at the text messages. She was curious at what he was saying, since it had been almost three weeks and he was still texting her with no reply. She was mostly just wanting to get rid of the notifications on her screen though. She would sometimes forget everything that happened, look at her phone to see 20 plus unread messages and get excited that Ruby had sent her something, only to be disappointed to remember it was just Neal.
When she did look, she was surprised. There was nothing in the texts about an apology. The first text was him telling her that she needed to get her shit out of the apartment, since it belonged to him. She actually snorted at that one. She began to laugh hysterically when she read the second message that said if she didn't he would see her in court. She would love to see him try and bullshit his way onto a lease. Thankfully, Ruby and Lacey had made sure to get multiple copies of her lease before she left so that Emma didn't have to deal with Neal in that manner.
After a few more texts about getting her shit so that he could finally move on with Tamara, came the text that actually gutted her. He had told her that he had been with Tamara for over a year and a half and they were engaged. It wasn't that Emma was sad over that, it was just she was shocked. How could something like this was happening behind her back for so long? How was she so blind as not to see it?
A few texts later came the yelling that she predicted about the apartment being locked. She was surprised it took him a few days to get to that, considering his threats earlier on. He was so upset that Lacey and Ruby had drank all of his Cristal. Emma wasn't there for that. She knew Ruby knew about his secret stash of the expensive champagne, she just didn't think her friend would actually steal it and drink a thousand dollars worth of it.
The final texts were simpler, less angry and more final. They were simply tasks that they had to complete in order to make this real, according to him. They did have the cable together, which needed to get sorted out. His cell phone was still technically connected to hers. The internet was also under both of their names. The texts were simple reminders for Emma to fix them when she got back from "wherever the fuck she was doing whatever the fuck she was doing", in his words.
She sat back after reading through them all, exhausted from just the sheer volume of shit that their relationship was. She couldn't believe that for years, she allowed herself to be treated the way Neal treated her. She didn't know how she could have allowed herself to be so unhappy. She scrolled through her phone, looking at pictures of them over the last couple of years. Sure, they had gotten rid of the pictures in her apartment, but the ones of her phone stayed thanks to the multiple social media apps she had.
She looked at herself in the most recent selfie she snapped with Neal. It was at a bar a few nights before the incident. She took a good hard look and realized she wasn't really happy in that picture. She lit up the screen, her smile was wide and her cheeks flushed, but her eyes said it all. It was false, all of it. Every feeling she had for him was a facade.
It was completely different than the picture she found of her and Killian. Henry had taken a picture of them at his graduation party. She didn't realize he had gotten the picture. They had a ton of pictures of them standing near each other in family pictures, but none like the one Henry snapped. It had been taken without them knowing. They must have just come back from one of their secret little rendezvous. Emma was looking at Killian with complete adoration and Killian was staring at her like she was the sun that lit up his world. Both of their eyes sparkled with joy as they looked at each other.
Emma really couldn't believe the differences in the relationships she found herself in. It was a bit crazy to think of the changes she saw in herself when someone really cared about her. It was something she didn't want to give up when they went back to LA and it was something she was going to tell Killian about. She had made her decision; when they got back to LA, she would do whatever was necessary to stay with Killian. Screw leaving it up to chance.
She had two tricks up her sleeve for their last weekend in the area. First, she was going to tell Killian that no matter what, she was his and when they got back to LA, nothing would change. Second, she was going to tell him while doing something she hoped he would really enjoy, watching a professional baseball game.
She had hoped that bringing him to a game would spark a new love of the game in him. He had said his love for the game was starting to come back. The last three weeks had been enjoyable, at least that is what he said. However, Emma thought he was missing something. He had been focusing on his love for the game, how he felt when he threw the ball, how it felt being back on the field, but he was forgetting one large thing. He was forgetting how it felt to be around a crowd. He was forgetting how his playing could make others feel, how he could inspire young boys and girls to chase their dreams and how he was even a little part of families making memories.
She didn't tell him where they were going when they got on the train, but soon enough, he put the pieces together.
"Emma, I'm not sure this is a good idea," he said warily.
"I think it will be good for you," she began, taking his hand in hers and rested it on her legs.
"I really do. You've forgotten the best part of the game, the audience. Trust me, this will be good for you. Just enjoy the day with me."
He turned to her and she couldn't help the smile that crossed her face. He looked at her with the utmost trust, like he was literally putting his life in her hands.
She winked back at him and sat back to enjoy the train ride, knowing that soon the train would be packed and hot from the crowd.
She loved the walk to the park from the train station. It was filled with families going to their first game, drunken college guys acting a fool, drunken college girls falling over the guys acting a fool, and the hard core fans decked out in their National's gear.
She had made sure the game wasn't against Killian's actual team, but that didn't stop the random Dodger's t-shirts from being worn. Thankfully, Killian was incognito in his jeans, white shirt and sunglasses. His hair and beard had grown a bit since they arrived, which helped to keep him out of the spotlight. She could tell it worried him a bit, being noticed. However, something told her that no one would bother them today.
Emma was glad that she wore what she did. It was hotter than she expected, but that was thanks to the Virginia humidity. It was the one thing she missed about LA, no humidity. When the forecaster said the temperature would be 98 degrees, he meant it. In Virginia, when they said 98 degrees, that normally meant that it would feel like 120 in the sun. But her dress allowed her to feel cooler, plus she made sure their tickets were good enough to be in the shade.
She was thankful she remembered to bring a dress that was in the team colors, and one that was light and breezy. Plus, she loved the string back that allowed Killian's fingers to glide over her skin as he held her waist while they walked through the large crowd to their seats.
As the game began and the show got on the road, Emma couldn't help but see how stoic Killian was. He was seated straight up in his seat and looked so uncomfortable. It was like he was being forced to sit there and endure the most extreme torture any man could endure. Maybe this wasn't the best idea, and her mind started to unravel. She mentally beat herself up for subjecting him to this. She should have made sure he was OK with it.
As if he was reading her mind, seeing her internal drama unfold, he relaxed and bit and squeezed the hand that he hadn't let go of since getting of the train.
"I'm sorry, I'm letting my mind get the best of me. You're right, I should just relax and try to enjoy watching the game," he said, his voice soft and reassuring.
"I should have asked you first," she whispered, looking sad.
"No, it's fine. It's something I need to face, and I am glad that you are the one I am facing it with. It does feel good to be back in the ballpark. I forgot the energy that comes with the game that the minors don't have. It's quite reenergizing." The confession took her a bit by surprise, but she was glad he was willing to do something like this.
She relaxed a bit as well, and they actually enjoyed most of the game. They didn't really talk much, but Emma kept her eyes on him almost the whole time. She couldn't have told you who was at bat or what the score was, all because she was overwhelmed by him. She wanted to make sure he was doing OK, but the smile on his face as he seemingly started to let everything go told her she had made the right choice. She hadn't seen him so happy in their three weeks. She was glad she was part of getting that smile back on his face.
The game sped by and before they knew it, the game had ended and it was time to leave. Emma had thought multiple times that she would tell Killian how she felt, but as she watched him watch the game, she couldn't find the right way to tell him. She knew that if she said she wanted them to make it work, that baseball would take a back seat to their relationship. She knew he would give her everything, do anything, just to be with her. She would do the same for him.
She couldn't find it in her heart to tell him. She wanted him to go back to the game, wanted him to be happy again, and she couldn't be the reason that that was being taken away from him. She knew he would be happy with her, but she would end up resenting herself, or he would. She couldn't bear that. The game made him too happy and she didn't want to get in the way of that.
However, there was one thing they could do. Well, one thing she could do. They weren't scheduled to be on the same flight back to LA. Killian was scheduled to take an early flight on Sunday morning, while Emma was scheduled to take a late night flight, not getting into LA until close to midnight. She didn't want to spend that time without him, didn't want to leave without him. She wanted to end this trip the same way she started it; sitting besides Killian on the plane.
"What would you say about me rescheduling my flight to match yours?" she asked him, getting his attention from the crowd leaving the stadium.
"I was actually wondering the same thing love," his smile bright and sly. He was clearly hiding something from her.
"You already did, didn't you?" her question made his smile brighter.
"I may have already called Graham and told him I need to fly out later, something to do with my erratic mother and her wanting one last meal together, or something along those lines. He was happy enough to make the accommodation, said I sounded good and that maybe the few extra hours will be just as good as the time I've spent here already," he said, squeezing her hand and pulling her into his side.
"I hope that's ok," he added, a bit unsure.
"It's more than OK, I'm glad actually. I didn't want to leave without you," she whispered, wanting to add she didn't want to go on without him either.
Hugs were given freely. Emma's mother and Adelaide weren't crying, which surprised her. Her mother has always been strong, never really crying except for at monumental occasions, but she expected some tears for Emma's going away. Who knew when they both would be coming back to DC and she doubted her mother would fly to visit, so she expected something.
"Promise to come home soon darling, the both of you. We've missed you two so much, and you certainly keep us on our toes," Adelaide said as she pulled Emma into a hug.
"I will try, I promise," she agreed.
"And keep my son safe. I know you two have grown close, just make sure you are both happy, and you'll never let me down," she whispered.
Emma wasn't quite sure how to respond, but deep down, she was happy that Adelaide seemed to know about her and Killian and was supportive of whatever they were. It was hard for them to not put a label on anything, but it was even harder keeping everything secret. Emma wasn't close with her mother, but she knew if she told her about her and Killian and things didn't work out, Mary Margaret would be heartbroken. It would break both of the mother's hearts and their families relationship might never recover. She couldn't do that to either woman.
As they walked towards security, she felt a slight brush against her hand and the shock told her it was Killian's.
"Are you OK love?" he asked in a slight whisper.
"Yeah, I'll be OK," she smiled, grabbing his hand once they were out of view of their parents.
As long as she had him, she was going to be fine; they both were.
A/N: So I know I kinda left it off without a real ending, and that was for a reason. I plan on returning to the story in a little with a whole new series of chapters that follow their adventures in LA and elsewhere. Let me know if you would be interested in reading it!