"You," she breathed, and with that one simple word he felt more joy than he had in so many years.

Slowly, he moved forward and brought his hand up to her cheek, gently stroking it with his thumb. He watched as she began to relax, closing her eyes and leaning into his touch. Seeing her react like that, knowing it was due to his touch, was his undoing.

He curled his hand farther around her head, tangling his fingers through her hair, bringing her face up to his. He stopped then, searching her face for some kind of confirmation, which he received as the brushing of her lips against his own.

He wanted nothing more than to sink into her kiss, to pull her closer, and deepen the kiss, but he found himself pulling back. Every one of his insecurities became to resurface. Every time he's been told that he's nothing but a pirate. Every time someone told him he wasn't good enough. And he wasn't. He wasn't good enough for her and yet here she was. She had chosen him when he knew there was no logical reason for her to do so.

He pulled back enough to look her in the eye but still didn't move his hand from her hair or his arm from her waist.

He had to know.

"Why me? I'm just a pirate."

He spoke so softly that he wasn't sure she had heard him, and when she didn't respond right away he took looked away from her. He didn't want to see his own fears confirmed in her eyes. His heart clenched and his hope disappeared almost as quickly as it had emerged.

But then he felt her hands on his face, gently moving bringing his eyes back in line with hers. He prepared himself for her rejection, for the inevitable pain, for the pain that did not come.

When he looked into her face he saw something he didn't expect. Her eyes were shining with unshed tears and of all the emotions swimming behind her eyes, there was one that shined through the brightest: love.

"Emma, I-"

Next thing he knew, she had pushed forward and crashed her lips against his. Her hands moved up his chest, over his shoulders and around his neck. She hauled herself as close as she could to him and depended their kiss. And this time, responded with equal enthusiasm. He tightened his left arm around his waist, and dug his fingers even deeper into her hair.

When air became a necessity she pulled away from him and rested her forehead against his. Their heavy breathes dancing together between them.

She then straightened up and looked him straight in the eyes. Grasping the lapels of his jacket she held him close and made it known that she meant business.

"You are not just a pirate. You are who you are today because you were a pirate. Your past has shaped the man that is standing in front of my right now. Just as my past has shaped who I am. Listen to me, you are not just a pirate, you are an honorable man."

Hope had ignited in his heart again; he could feel the dying embers gaining strength.

She started to lean in again but he pulled back. He still had one last thing he needed to ask her.

"Are you sure?"

She smiled. One of her small, genuine smiles. The ones that he's become to realize she reserved for him.

"Yes, Killian. I'm sure."

And this time it was him who leaned in first, placing a soft kiss to her lips. He looked down at her one last time, took in her grin, one that he was sure was mirrored on his own face, and took her completely in his arms.

"Say it again."

He felt her grin against his neck before she leaned up to his ear and said with a sigh, "Killian."

Letting out a breath, he pulled her even closer and nuzzled the side of her neck. They weren't perfect, and neither without their own demons, but they would make it through. Together.

A/N: I own nothing. Although I wouldn't mind owning Hook…