A/N: This chapter contains explicit sex. M rating for sure. Can be skipped!

Emma felt transported back to an earlier time when she stepped through the door of Granny's. The interior was nearly identical to its Californian counterpart, although less shabby. She assumed the Jones restaurant franchise had the means to buy new furniture that looked vintage versus having to purchase odds and ends from thrift stores like the original Granny had to do. There were also old pictures of Boston, rather than of the coastal California town Emma lived in. But when she closed her eyes, she could hear the waves crashing, the kids thundering down the boardwalk and nearly taste the salt.

"What do you think, love?" Kilian asked, wrapping his arms around her waist from behind, resting his chin on her shoulder like he had a thousand times before.

"It's incredible." Emma said genuinely. A kind looking hostess appeared and nodded to Killian. He flashed a smile and she grabbed two menus before leading them to a booth with tall red candles adorning the red checkered tablecloth. Killian pulled out Emma's chair and for a moment she was overwhelmed with nostalgia.

However, when the hostess left she went to open her menu and realized something odd. "Killian, why are we the only two people in here?" Emma whispered, looking around.

He grinned. "Granny's may be closed on Wednesdays."

Emma's mouth hung open. "Did you bribe them to open?"

"Not a bribe, love… more like… a favor." He smiled and busied himself by looking through the food choices.

"You're unbelievable," Emma said before grinning and setting herself upon the task of picking a dinner.

She had decided on the meatballs, an Italian classic. Even Killian, the traditionally healthier eater out of the two of them, indulged in chicken fettucine Alfredo.

"Tell me something that happened over the past few years that I don't know," Emma implored as she took another bite of her meal.

Killian thought for a moment, taking a sip of his wine. "I went back to London."

"Did you?" Emma said surprised.

"I did. This past December actually. I went back and spent the holidays with my family. It was the first time I had seen my mother and father in person since I left on graduation day."

"How was it?" Emma asked; he so rarely talked of his family.

"It was… hard. At first. And then it was quite nice. We talked about Liam for the first time in years. We all visited his grave together." Killian looked down at his food to break eye contact.

Emma reached across the table and held his hand in hers. "That sounds lovely," she said, offering him a small smile.

Killian looked up and squeezed her hand. "He would have loved you. Especially in your new career choice. Fighting the bad guys, very good form."

"I wish I could meet him," Emma added honestly.

Killian smiled back, "Thank you, love. I know. Now it's your turn. What's something I missed?"

"Well…" Emma said hesitantly.

"I'm all ears." Killian put down his fork to direct all his attention to Emma.

"Off and on, I've taken some classes at one of the community colleges in Criminal Justice."

Killian's eyes lit up. "That's fantastic! Good for you! How many courses?"

"Well, I've taken two a semester for four semesters… so eight. I stopped once I got into the Police program, I don't have time right now." Emma said sheepishly.

"Of course, but you'll be able to pick it back up again." Killian encouraged. He got out of his seat and walked around the table to kiss her cheek. "I'm so proud of you, Swan."

Emma's cheeks colored spectacularly. "You're lucky we're the only two in here, otherwise I would have scolded you for that public affection."

"I'll accept any punishment for kissing you." Killian said, sitting back down and cocking one of his eyebrows. Why did everything that came out of his mouth sound like liquid sex? Emma thought bitterly to herself. They finished their meals with polite conversation, recounting small moments that were particularly memorable from their time apart, and Emma was proud of herself for fighting the desire to climb over the table and straddle him.

Killian insisted on dessert, even though Emma couldn't finish her main course. She took a few forkfuls of tiramisu, but it was more fun watching Killian enjoy food. He understood food on a more complex level than she did; Killian eating delicious food was like a professional musician attending an orchestra.

They sat chatting over coffee until Emma remembered the restaurant was not normally open, and they were keeping the staff late. Emma started putting on her coat.

"Going somewhere? I will have to remind you that I drove us."

"Killian," she said. "They're all staying late just for us! We can talk more at home."

Killian leaned closer and whispered, "They are being rewarded handsomely."

"So it was a bribe!" Emma said triumphantly and Killian laughed.

"The chef owed me a favor, the waitress and hostess were bribed. And well enough, might I add, that you can finish your cup of coffee."

"Look at you, Mr. Hotshot Jones working for the Jones family business," Emma teased taking a sip of her hot beverage.

Killian leaned closer. "Hotshot job or not, I would pay any amount of money to enjoy your company and stare at you in that gorgeous blue dress all night." He licked his lip.

He was trying Emma's self-restraint. "How about," she said lowly, "we leave this restaurant because I'd rather be at home with you?"

Killian's face broke out in a mischievous grin. "Well that can be arranged, love." He immediately got up and pulled out Emma's chair for her, looping her purse around his left arm until she was ready to don it herself.

They began walking out of Granny's and Emma felt like they were forgetting something. "The check!" She said, and went to turn around.

Killian wrapped his arm gently around her waist. "Taken care of before we came."

"Right," Emma said and allowed him to lead her outside. She waived to their waitress before exiting. Killian opened the passenger door for her and she sat down in a slight daze. She was silent as they started driving.

"What are you thinking, Swan?"

"This was smooth. The chain, the opening when they're closed, the check already paid for! Smooth, Jones." Emma smiled over at him.

"I'm glad you approve, it'll make it much easier to trust me when I plan our next romantic evening."

Emma groaned. "You know I hate surprises."

"Think of it as a growing experience then. I want to court you, Emma. I never got the chance to before."

How could she say no to such an earnest request? She placed her hand on Killian's thigh and smiled over at him.

They arrived back to the apartment and Emma poured them both another glass of wine. She kicked off her heels and jacket. The pair sat on the couch with Emma's legs draped over Killian's lap.

"How did I do? Where does this rank on the scale of first dates?" Killian asked, tracing his fingers lightly up and down the inside of Emma's forearm. She was totally relaxed.

"Pretty damn well. The only one that might top it was our other first date."

"The original was better than the sequel, classic conundrum." Killian shook his head in mock defeat.

"But I think the cast gave one hell of a performance," Emma added. She scooted closer and put her thumb under Killian's chin to pull his eyes to hers. "Thank you. Tonight was perfect." And before he could comment, Emma pressed her lips to his.

She placed her wine on the side table so she could wrap one hand in Killian's hair and have the other to trail down his chest. Killian followed her lead and wrapped his left arm around her waist to pull her closer, while threading his right hand in the end of Emma's blonde locks; he had always loved playing with her hair.

Killian pressed his tongue through Emma's lips and she let out a light moan. She moved to put one leg on either side of him and shifted so her body totally covered his. Her hands started to work on the top button of his flannel before he paused her wrists with his right hand.

He rested his forehead against hers as he tried to steady his breathing. "Emma." Her name was a whisper, a prayer, a confession, a secret.

"I can wait. I want to court you and build a strong foundation because I don't plan on letting you leave again."

Emma smiled and placed a chaste kiss on his lips. "I'm not going anywhere. I've waited for this for two and a half years. I'm tired of waiting, I've missed you so damn much—"

That was all Killian needed to hear. He crushed his lips back to hers with ferocity. He released Emma's wrists and traced his fingers down her bare spine, fingering the straps of her dress where they crossed over one another.

Emma felt like her entire body was conducting electricity. Everywhere Killian touched bloomed sparks, and the charge just kept getting more and more powerful. She finally managed to undo his shirt and pushed it off his shoulders. He removed his arms from her body for just enough time to discard the old flannel. As she slipped her hands under his t-shirt to gather the offensive material, Killian busied himself with kissing down the column of Emma's neck until he reached her collarbone. There, the most aggressive of Emma's bruises, which he had kissed before, was in its final stage—a light yellow with green around the edges.

"I do remember you suggesting I kiss your bruises." His voice was gravelly and laced with lust. Emma shivered.

He wrapped his arms under her and stood up. Emma tightened her legs around his waist and kissed his neck as he carried them into his bedroom. She craned her neck to get right under his earlobe, a particularly sensitive spot for him. He cursed under his breath and Emma chuckled deeply in her throat. Killian stood for a moment until he found the zipper on her dress. He unzipped it slowly, staring directly into her eyes as he did so.

Killian lightly laid Emma on the bed before placing one leg on each side of her hips. He gathered the skirt of her dress in his hands and pushed it upwards. Emma arched to accommodate his pathway and quickly the material was pulled over her head.

Emma was naked now except for her scrap of white lace underwear.

"Christ, Emma," Killian choked out. The cool air of the apartment immediately perked up her nipples to full attention. "You're so beautiful," he whispered, and ran his right hand down the middle of her torso, in between her breasts and stopping just above her sex.

"Take off your shirt," Emma pleaded. The shirt was thrown to a forgotten corner of the room.

Killian swooped down to push his lips back against Emma's. The contact of his hot skin against her cool body made them both moan. Killian pulled back to whisper in her ear. "I intend on kissing all of your bruises, and then I'm going to kiss other places." Emma could feel herself get wet at his words.

He started with her collarbone, and lightly gathered her wrists in his hand so he could kiss the several small fingertip bruises on the inside of her forearms. Emma could feel her body taunt with anticipation. "Relax, love." He said, placing her arms gently back by her sides. "We have all night."

They did have all night. Emma was truthful when she said she had pictured this over and over for the last two and a half years. Everything in her was telling her to flip them over and ride him immediately. She wanted to remember how he felt in her now.

"Patience," Killian whispered as he kissed a nasty bruise on her hip bone. Emma squirmed. He continued his ministrations.

"Did I miss any, love?" he breathed into Emma's ear as he bit down lightly on the lobe some time later.

"No," Emma managed to whisper.

Killian pulled back and kissed her hard on the mouth. Emma swept her tongue over his bottom lip and he moaned. He eventually managed to pull back from Emma's kiss and slinked down her body once more. He nudged her legs apart with his nose and kissed her inner thighs.

"Killian, I—" She wanted to end the teasing now, to have him slide inside her.

"Please, let me." He looked so utterly wrecked peering up at her through his dark lashes in between her legs.

"Okay," Emma consented.

Killian bit the corner of her lace underwear and pulled them down her legs with his teeth; Emma moaned at the sight. Once he had discarded the garment, he returned to his position between Emma's legs. He licked once over Emma's entire entrance and her whole body contracted. The careful passion Killian had been administering so far was starting to strain. He could feel, and taste, how desperately Emma wanted him, which was driving him crazy.

Emma's body was more responsive to his touch than he remembered, probably because of their absence and built up anticipation for the moment. After only a few minutes of careful licks and nibbles, paired with a finger thrusting gently in and out of her, Emma climaxed, moaning Killian's name.

Watching her back arch, hair tangle around her breasts, and feeling her thighs wrap around his shoulders made his control splinter even more. His erection was now straining against his jeans. Emma's hands, still laced through his hair, tugged him up to her. She kissed him intensely, tasting herself on his tongue. While their mouths were busy, she pushed down his jeans and boxers.

"Emma, I need you." He finally choked out. He felt like his entire body was aflame.

She pushed his shoulders to the side until he understood her intentions. He laid on his back and let Emma sit on top of him. "I need you too," she said, leaning down to place a languid kiss on her lips. She raised her hips and Killian used his hand to guide himself to her entrance. With their lips still pressed together, Emma slid down, effectively taking every inch inside. They both moaned into each other's mouths.

"God I missed you," Killian said roughly as she started to move, slowly at first to readjust herself to his size. None of the men she had been with since their break up had filled her like he had. Her tempo was the sweetest torture, going just quickly enough for him to start building, but not fast enough that the friction provided relief.

Once she started to gain speed, she moved off her elbows to be seated fully upright and gain more leverage with each thrust. Killian gripped her hip with his hand while his left arm curled around her thigh on the side of his torso. Quickly, she felt a second orgasm building. The deep angle allowed Killian to hit her most sensitive spot each time.

"I'm close," she moaned, grinding her hips more roughly with each passing second. The sight of Emma riding him and the intense heat and tightness of her had Killian close within moments of her announcement.

He began thrusting his hips up to move just a bit more deeply, and Emma made a louder moan. "Don't stop," she begged.

He didn't plan on it. "Come with me," Killian moaned. And with three more thrusts, both of them were orgasming. The hardening of his cock made Emma's climax more powerful, while her tightening around him created a deeper feeling. Killian finally felt like he was whole again.

Afterwards, Emma's arms collapsed and she nuzzled her face into the crook of Killian's neck. She kept him inside until he slipped out, and then she moved her legs next to him staring into the blues of his eyes.

"That was incredible," Emma sighed. Sher let her hands wander until she was running the tips of her fingers over the details of his face, trying to catalog this memory.

Killian traced her hip with his hand. "You are incredible."

They were both silent for a moment as their breathing slowed and the warm feeling of being together settled. They used a towel to clean up before settling back into Killian's bed, taking care to pull down the sheets and place the pillows.

Emma paused. "Before, when you said you wouldn't let me leave again."

"Aye. I meant it, love."

Emma swallowed. "I'm not perfect. I've worked hard and I'm a better person now. I'm a better person for you and because of you. I'm not saying I'll never feel like running, but I can promise that I will never, ever take choice away from you again. I promise to talk to you. To figure it out together."

Killian smiled, a truer and deeper smile than he had the few months they lived together. "That's all I could ever ask for." He kissed Emma's forehead caringly. "And I'm not the same as I was when we first started our dalliance. I've grown up quite a bit, and have responsibility—I'm a better man now. I'm more worthy."

"You were always worthy."

"I was irresponsible and rash, love. I'm glad I had this time to mature; catch up to you," he teased. Emma smiled and buried deeper into his side.

"Tired?" He asked again.

"No," Emma said. But her eyes were shut and body limp.

"You and your early bedtime," he laughed.

"You chose date night for Wednesday; I have training tomorrow!" she defended, albeit in a slightly incomprehensible grumble.

"Rest," Killian soothed, running his hand through her hair. "I'll be here when you wake." The path of Kilian's fingers and the sound of his heartbeat lulled her to sleep.