A/N: Hey guys! New story:D I wasn't going to write this but my muse kept on feeding ideas into my head for this. Inspired by JMO's interview about Emma's character maintaining that little bit of hope, the 2x16 Rumbelle sneak peek, and a Captain Swan YouTube video I saw, it's called "You're a hell of a woman… [Captain Swan]" by angelwings4191. Go watch it, I have no idea who she is but their video is amazing! Oh and also I support the Captain Hook equals Peter Pan theory.

Disclaimer: I own nothing

Prologue:

"I've been alive for over 300 years. But my body, my soul, my heart- they've been dead for all of it. It's like I was wandering in a black hole. You know you're emotionally dead, but you just can't stop searching. Even if it's hopeless."

Killian wondered if she were able to talk back what she would say to him. Probably accuse him of being a sap. He smiled at the memories he held of her.

"And I look back, and I wonder. Maybe, all these years, looking for revenge as my final closure- maybe, I wasn't seeking my revenge. Maybe- maybe I was waiting for a little candle of hope to ignite the dark path that was my life."

He chuckled sadly. "Destiny is a funny thing. Unpredictable. If I never lost Milah, I wouldn't have lived long enough to meet you. I think you're my hope. My salvation, my angel. Captain Hook wouldn't believe it. But Peter Pan would. It's hard to imagine my life back then as a child. I had hope then. I guess I always had a problem with letting go of the past, but then again if I did let go I wouldn't still burn with the flame of hope you threw in my face. You're my savior, love. It's a bit emasculating, really. The balance between my two personalities-Hook and Peter- was Killian Jones. He died with his first love. Yet you have brought him back from the dead. Bringing back the dead is impossible- or it was, until I met you."

Killian gently stoked the side of her face, her closed eyelids showing off the long dark lashes that delicately kissed the tops of her high cheekbones. "You're a hero, sweetheart, even if you don't believe it. It's a shame, that such a beautiful woman who unknowingly steals the hearts of men wherever she goes, can't even see her own beauty."

Here, he smiled knowingly. "But I've seen your strength, your quick wit, your love. And I've seen how you're broken inside, like me. But most of all I see your hope. It's like a cycle with you. Someone earns your trust, you put faith in them. They crush it. You let another person in, and that flame of hope rekindles, brighter than before. And when they blow it out- it fades just as strongly. The flame slowly burns away at the liquid wax, unable to support itself. There's only so much hurt you can take. But it is always there. Buried, crushed, broken, maybe- but the wax eventually cools and becomes solid again, and your candle of hope is still flickering, waiting for the next match to light it. I promised you I would never be the one to blow out your candle once, on your birthday, and you looked at me and said you had no idea how that was relevant."

Killian brushed her bangs out of her face. "I was talking about your hope, love. Your faith. And somehow you've passed that candle of hope onto me. You burned away Captain Hook and managed to see that one, tiny, miniscule little piece of my dead heart that still glowed with the yearning of hope. I know with perfect clarity what you are to me. You managed to lift the veil of hatred in front of my eyes. You're one hell of a woman, and you'd make one hell of a pirate."

"Centuries have passed, but you're the only thing I've felt this sure of in my whole damn life." A lone tear streaked down his cheek. More followed. The salty liquid glistened as it fell. "And when it comes down to it I would choose you over anything. This is the one thing I'm sure of. You're the one, and I think that's the most remarkable thing about you at all. Because I never thought I'd find you."

There was a rough thump, and Killian Jones fell onto his knees sobbing over his swan.

"I think the cruelest thing about destiny- or karma- or fate- whatever it is- is that now that I've finally found you, I'm going to lose you again."

One tear dripped off his face to hers.

"The saddest part though, is that True Love's Kiss can save you. And I know you're my true love. I wouldn't have it any other way. But the feelings have to work both ways."

He roughly wiped the back of his only hand against his face and steeled himself.

"And how could someone with a heart as true as yours love someone like me?"

He grasped her hand tightly within his own.

"I could never forgive myself if I didn't at least try. Even if it is for my own selfish reasons."

He leaned even closer to her still body.

"I love you, Emma Swan."

He pressed his lips to hers.

A/N: Whew! So, this can either be a one-shot or it's the prologue, and then I'll continue it with the plot that led up to this situation happening now. If you want me to continue please let me know in a review or PM please! If not though, I'll leave it as a one-shot . Chapters would be around 2K and up words if I continued, and for the ones reading my other fic, I'm sorry I haven't updated in a while, I've just been a bit stuck with the chapter. I'll definitely update before the end of March though, I promise! I haven't given up on it!

xoxo