Thanks to zoe_leigh for this prompt. "Maybe more of Emma showing Killian her childhood items and then a nice cup of coffee to follow" The coffee is implied but you still get the idea ;) Hope you like it!

It was a cold October night, not long after Emma's birthday and she sat alone in the sheriff's station on her night shift, going through old files.

That's why she wasn't surprised when Killian quietly came into her office with a coffee in his hand and a smile on his face.

"Hello, love," he said with a peck on her cheek as he took a seat next to her.

"Couldn't sleep?" Emma asked, taking a sip of her coffee.

"Not knowing you were here alone," he replied.

Emma sighed. Ever since the Dark One curse had been lifted, courtesy to True Love's Kiss, Killian had been very hesitant to leave her side. She didn't mind, of course, but she felt like it was affecting him. The lack of sleep she was getting, the late-night shifts she'd insisted on taking to get her mind off of things... She was starting to worry for Killian.

"How long has it been since you've slept?" Emma asked.

"No more than two days, Swan don't-"

"Are you serious?" Emma demanded, feeling guilty for keeping him awake so long, but mad because she could survive for a few hours while he took a nap for god's sake! "God, Killian, stop worrying about me! Honestly, I'm completely fine. Please, go home and sleep."

Killian shook his head stubbornly. "Not unless you come with me," he said.

"My shift ends at 1:00. Go home and when you wake up, I'll be there," Emma promised.

"Emma, you've been avoiding everyone since we brought you back and I feel like you're closed off again, like your wall are back up," Killian said sadly, taking her hand in his and gently lacing their fingers.

Emma sighed. "I love you?" she said in a pathetic attempt to show him her walls weren't up.

"Emma."

"Fine. I'm just scared. I hurt you all so much and I can't do that again. I see the way Regina looks at me as if I'll go on a killing spree any second. The way my parents are cautious around me, trying not to get me mad. Henry and you hide it better, but you're both so careful around me and..." She was in tears now.

Killian leaned towards her to tenderly wipe away the tears trailing down her cheeks, then softly pressed his lips to hers.

Emma broke the kiss after a moment, got up, and walked around her desk to get the white box containing her childhood memories.

Killian looked at her quizzically as she put the box on her desk, wondering why she would want to upset herself any more.

"You said my walls are up again," she said, a small smile forming on her lips, "You've always been the easiest to open up to. And last time I showed you these, it helped me a lot. I want to tell you more about them. Maybe it'll help, you know?" She explained.

Killian nodded in understanding. "I'd be honoured to hear more about you past, my love."

Emma sat down again and pulled out the same brown box as before.

"Pick anything and I'll tell you what it is and why I kept it," she said.

Killian immediately picked up the glasses he'd seen last time. He'd wondered about these. How often had she worn them? When? Why didn't she wear them anymore? He'd seen them on her face in that picture of her and Baelfire.

Emma chuckled lightly when her placed them on her face.

"It's a good look for you, Swan," he said.

Emma laughed. "Yeah, no. I hate these!"

"You're beautiful," Killian said.

Emma smiled, picking up the picture. She didn't take the glasses off, which pleased Killian.

"We took this the day before he left me. He took me to the mall and we used the little bit of money we'd been able to get to take them. He told me that we'd be together forever and I believed him," Emma leaned in Killian's shoulder. "It's funny how someone can mean so much to you for so long and then the right person comes along and suddenly you see everything differently. What used to be sadness and pain is suddenly joy and love. As long as that person is by your side, you feel like..."

"Like nothing else in the world matters. As long as you have them, everything will be okay somehow. Your past becomes less painful when you have someone who is your new bright future, your reason to live," Killian finished when she trailed off.

"Like a pirate who will go through hell or high water for you," Emma said.

"Or a saviour who's smile brings light into your dark, dark soul and makes you forget about hundreds of years of cold-blooded revenge," Killian added.

"Someone you love more than you thought you could ever love anyone," Emma smiled up at him.

"And who loves you back by some miracle, even though you don't deserve them," Killian leaned down to kiss her.

"And suddenly everything is okay. Because you're home when you're with them. Forever," Emma finished against his lips.

The next two hours flew by quickly. Between sharing stories of their youth and a few more ten-minute kissing sessions, it was 1:00 before they knew it.

And if, once they finally got home, they didn't go to sleep for another three hours because they were busy showing the other just how much they loved them, and if they had some explaining to do when they showed up an hour late for lunch with Emma's parents the next morning, then that was their business.