Hello readers, and welcome to my newest story featuring our favorite couple. This one is set shortly after the Season 3 finale. Fair warning - this story contains MUCH darker themes than I normally dabble in and it can be triggering at times. I did what I thought was necessary and authentic to the story as it unfolds, but it might make for difficult reading for some. If this isn't your cup of tea, bail out now and read another one of my fics.

Strap in. This is going to be one helluva ride...

Killian stirred, not entirely sure what had woken him. Granny's rooms were always buzzing early in the morning, with people coming and going. He started to roll into a more comfortable position, and that's when he realized Emma was on his chest.

Emma.

So last night hadn't been a dream, after all. He closed his eyes, briefly, acknowledging a profound sense of thanks to whatever deity had taken pity on his wretched soul and thrown this woman into his path. He'd lived several lifetimes, and in none of them could he have imagined anyone the like of her. And last night was the culmination of a quest that reclaimed not only his capacity to love, but it seemed to have reclaimed his very soul, as well.

She'd made him want to be a better man, not to impress her, not just to woo her, but to deserve her. And he'd finally, finally won her over.

Even though she was warm in his arms, he was acutely conscious of the fragility of what they had. Last night had been wonderful, surpassing even his wildest dreams. He'd had too many women to count across his centuries of life, but none of them - not even Milah - had matched what he'd felt when he'd finally joined with Emma. It was more than carnal pleasure. There was an ache there that had been satisfied, something shifting deep within him that made room for every bit of her, and best of all, the feeling of that same shifting within her as their bodies learned each other.

He wanted to know every single thing about her, physically, emotionally - all of it. He felt as though she could open her mouth and talk for a year and he'd never grow tired of it. His hand tightened on her shoulder, then slid slowly down her naked back. He knew he could never tire of her or her wonderful, giving sensuality that seemed to burn through him with the force of a zephyr, carrying him into a realm of pleasure he'd never felt before.

His body began to answer the call of his thoughts, and he warred with himself. He wasn't an over-eager boy, but he'd kept her up most of the night, reaching for her again even after their first tumultuous pairing. The second time had been much slower, more thorough and leisurely, taking on an almost-dreamlike feel as she'd lain atop him afterward, still filled with him, their chests moving in unison as they sought to catch their breath. She'd fallen asleep with him still inside her, and he was too content to move her.

And now he wanted her again. He squirmed a bit, trying to get his impulses under control. This is Emma, you randy dog, he reminded himself. She's not to be rolled over and rutted like you've paid for the service.

"Mmmm. Good morning."

Her voice, combined with that tiny moan and stretch had an instant effect, making it even harder to control his wayward parts.

"Good morning to you," he answered, looking down at her. "Did you sleep well?"

"Like the dead," she looked up at him with a smirk, then turned her head so she could re-settle herself on his chest. "Oh." She said. "Guess you're a little more awake than I am."

Hook flushed, feeling slightly embarrassed, but it wasn't like she could avoid it. His damned appendage was straining toward her even as she spoke.

"I've been waiting for you to wake up, but if you need more rest, I can oblige."

She looked up at him again. "Are you saying you wrecked me harder than I wrecked you?"

"You turned me to rubble, love, but never let it be said I can't rise to the occasion anytime you require my services."

She raised a brow. "Well, I am still working off a serious deficit, here. It's been months."

Hook looked more than a little uncomfortable now, and she caught it immediately, putting a hand on his chest.

"Hey, it's okay. I didn't mean anything by that. It's not like I expected you to have the same problem. You were away for a year and then I've been pretty brutal to you since we got back." She shrugged. "I don't expect you've been living like a monk all this time."

He gave a chuckle, sliding down to face her. "Leave it to you, Swan, to make me own up to myself. The truth is, love, I've got a much longer deficit than you."

She looked startled. "Really?"

"Really. Couldn't keep you out of my mind, and the body followed suit." He let out a belabored sigh. "It looks as though you've ruined me for other women. I hope you're happy."

She slid her arms around his neck, and her eyes were bright when they met his. "I am. I really am."

"So am I," he answered softly.

"So how about we work off that deficit?" She gave him a slow, sexy grin. He answered by rolling her beneath him, and pressing himself to her, making her bite her lip and move against him.

"My good lady Swan," he said, nuzzling her breasts. "I am entirely at your disposal."

###

They decided not to make their way into the restaurant for breakfast - Emma was concerned that Henry might figure out she hadn't come home the night before, and while she wasn't trying to hide what she and Hook had going, she wasn't really ready to have a full-on conversation with her kid about it, either, and knowing Henry, that's exactly what it would be.

They stopped in briefly at the apartment, catching David in the middle of a diaper change, which of course, amused Hook to no end.

"You missed a spot over there, mate," he directed, gesturing to the baby's underside.

"It's...everywhere!" David complained. "How does one baby produce all this?"

Snow looked over from the kitchen, where she was heating a teapot. "Oh! Don't forget to cover his - "

It was too late. Baby Neal christened his father right between the eyes, and Hook let out a bark of laughter.

"Looks like you need to pay more attention to his arsenal," he chuckled. "He'd had that trained on you, waiting for you to let your guard down."

David gave him a dirty look, reaching for the towel that Snow was handing to him.

"Second time today," David grumbled.

"You'll get the hang of it," Snow said, smiling. "We both will."

"Yeah, well, until then, I might need to look into some waterproof armor," David said wryly.

"At least you know his aim is good," Hook pointed out. "Imagine how handy he'll be with a crossbow one day."

Emma rolled her eyes just as her cellphone went off. She glanced down at the number. "It's Henry," she said, lifting the phone to her ear. "Hey, Henry." She listened a moment. "Right now?" She looked across at Hook, who shrugged as if to say "Whatever you want to do is fine."

"Yeah, we'll be right down. See you in a few." She put the phone back in her jacket pocket. "Henry wants us to come down to the dock. He says he's got something to show us."

"But you haven't had breakfast!" Snow objected. "At least take a muffin. We brought them from Granny's."

Hook reached out, taking a muffin and passing it over to Emma. "Go on, love," he said, giving her a wink. "You need to keep up your strength."

David gave Snow a pained look, passing the baby back to her. "Shall we take Neal for a walk down by the docks? It's not too cold out there."

Emma reached out, taking her brother out of Snow's hands. "You won't be needing a stroller," she said with a smile. "I've got this guy."

David grabbed the diaper bag, hoisting it over his shoulder. "What's in here, anyway?" he asked.

Snow shook her head. "We've got diapers, wipes, a bag for the used diapers and wipes, burp cloths, a change of clothes, gas drops, baby lotion, extra blankets – "

"Okay, okay…" David held up a hand, forestalling her.

"I packed less provisions for a month at sea," Hook replied, raising his brows. He gave Snow a cheeky grin. "Well, at least he's got a portable food supply."

Emma grabbed his collar with one hand, holding baby Neal against her shoulder with the other. "Come on, you, before you get assigned the next round of diaper duty."

Hook smiled, holding up his hook. "Not bloody likely."

She gave him a stony look. "I've seen how you can manage with one hand. I think you'll be a pro with a little practice."

"You'll certainly have to figure it out if you ever plan to have any of your own," Snow chimed in. Her remark was followed by five seconds of dead silence, as David, Emma and Hook looked at her in complete surprise.

She gave an uncomfortable shrug. "Just an observation." She herded David toward the door, and Emma followed, pulling Neal back off her shoulder and dropping a kiss on his forehead. Hook brought up the rear, staring thoughtfully at Emma's back, his mind whirling around Snow's words.

If you ever plan to have any of your own, she'd said. In truth, he never had. He'd always considered himself most definitely not the parenting type, then he'd had a brief taste of it with Baelfire. He'd mucked that up so badly, he knew he'd most likely been right about his lack of nurturing ability and he'd made sure that fatherhood was something he'd never have to worry about.

And now, here he was, spending family time with a bona fide family, feeling almost like he belonged. Well, he belonged with Emma - that much he was sure of. And with Emma came all the rest of her twisted and extended family tree. He hadn't thought of the word "family" in many, many years, and hers was just something that came as part of the package. He hadn't put any other connotation to the term beyond that.

Until now.

And damn, if Emma didn't look good with a babe in her arms.

###

They arrived at the dock less than ten minutes later, and Henry ran to meet Emma's car.

"Killian!" he said, panting. "Come quick!" He had a pair of binoculars around his neck that were bouncing as he ran. "I was whale watching and suddenly, there it was!"

"There what was?" Emma asked, confused.

Hook stepped slowly away from the car, his gaze glued to the horizon.

"Bloody hell," he swore softly. "I'd know those sails anywhere. It's the Jolly Roger."