The best time of Killian's day, Mondays to Fridays, was between 8.01am and 8.15am, when she would pass through his booth on the way to the train. Blond hair, slender figure cut in beautiful tailored suits, mastering a power walk with her high heels, standing on the platform checking her phone or the newspaper as she waited for her train. A complete vision.

His princess.

One day, he will finally find the courage to talk to her. And it would be perfect, just like fairytales.

But as he hid his missing hand from view and got lost into her eyes while she handed him her token, he knew today was not that day.

Perhaps tomorrow. Or the next.

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It was the morning of Christmas' Day and Killian sat there on his booth, a book tucked under his elbow as he simply got lost looking at the emptiness that laid before him.

Another holiday, another day where he picked up the shift - or was asked to pick up the shift - so the others could celebrate with their families. He'd worked on Thanksgiving and he was scheduled to work on New Year's Eve as well. He'd been looking forward to having the day off on Christmas. He'd even gotten a tree for his small one bedroom apartment and set it up with brand new gold and red decorations and weaved tiny white lights in it. There was tinsel on the window frames and he'd even hung a small piece of mistletoe under his door. But then reality came crashing in when Nemo asked him to take on one more shift so Aurora could spend the night with her husband who just arrived home on leave from the Army. Killian couldn't say no to that.

So here he was, December 25th, just another day that reminded him that he, Killian Jones, was all alone.

He was so lost in his own thoughts that he didn't realize that his blonde angel had come into his booth, sliding her token for him to take.

"Merry Christmas," she greeted, her lips curved into a sincere smile.

He simply stayed there, frozen, his mouth gaping as he was unable to utter a single word to the woman that had haunted his dreams and led his fantasies for weeks. Killian ran a hand through his hair and over his face, mentally cursing himself over his sheer stupidity.

When he lifted his head again, his eyes trained on the platform, the sight brought him quickly to his feet. The blonde was being robbed, struggling with two men that had reached for her bag. He got out of his booth just as the two men knocked her and she fell into the tracks.

Killian had two choices: he could either chase the men that were running away from the platform, leaving the bag forgotten on the floor, or he could go assist the woman that had just fallen into the tracks. He hastily made his way into the side of the platform where she'd fallen.

Her body laid spread between the tracks, her eyes shut. Killian called for her, but it seemed she was unconscious. From the corner of his eye, he saw one of the trains approaching in the distance. His heart sank in his chest as he frantically looked around. There wasn't a soul that could assist him in that moment and he wasn't going to make it back to the emergency phone on time.

Killian didn't hesitate as he jumped into the tracks and leaned into the woman.

"Lass, talk to me," he said as he shook her gently, with just enough force to try to wake her up. But it was a futile attempt, it seemed the fall had caused her at least a concussion. From up close, he could see her porcelain skin and lovely features, but Killian had no time to relish on the moment. The train was fast approaching and he only had one option left. He reached for he lass with his hand and stump, pulling her out of the train's way as he shielded her body with his.

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It was a hectic ride to the hospital, the paramedics focused mainly on assisting the woman - Elsa Fisher, according to the driver's license they found on the wallet in her purse - and they paused from time to time to inquire about him. He only had a few bruises where his body had connected with the tracks as he pushed Elsa out of the way of the upcoming train, and he was mainly concerned for the wellbeing of the lovely woman that had yet to wake up.

She was rushed into the hospital the moment they arrived, doctors and nurses pouring over her with machines and tubes. Killian's steps followed them, eager to be near her in such moment. But he was soon stopped by a couple of doctors.

"Family only."

Killian tried to protest, to beg that they let him see her, or at least keep him informed of her condition, but the doctor was adamant in his words.

Family only.

He watched as the sliding doors closed and they took her into the ICU. "I was going to marry her," he sighed, running a hand through his hair and collapsing on a chair nearby.

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He wasn't sure how long he sat on that chair, but at some point, a redhead nurse - her name tag read Ariel - approached him and slowly guided him to the ICU with a soft smile. Killian walked into the room, the sight of Elsa lying on the bed, asleep, breaking his heart.

"Talk to her," Ariel said encouragingly, leading him to a chair near the bed.

Killian sat slowly, bringing his eyes to study Elsa's features. He'd barely uttered a word or two before a doctor approached and introduced himself. Killian stood and was shaking the doctor's hand when an onrush of people barged into the room. They all spread around Elsa's bed, talking to each other and demanding to know what happened. Killian made himself as small as possible as he tiptoed out of the way. He heard the doctor explained that Elsa was in a coma before one of the women - she was blonde, mid-age and sported an uncanny resemblance to Elsa - spotted him.

"And you are…?" she inquired in a polite tone.

Killian's eyes shifted from the woman to the rest of the group: a redhaired girl that seemed younger than him, an older woman with grey hair and a stern look, a dark-haired man about his age and a young boy that could not be more than ten years old.

"My name is Killian Jones," he started in a hesitant voice, aware of the inspection he was being subjected to, and resisting the urge to hide his left arm and his missing hand. "I'm-"

"He's her fiancé!" Nurse Ariel said with a soft smile.

What? His heart sank in his chest as he noticed all the eyes in the room locked on him.

"Elsa is engaged?" the redhead said. "Since when? August, did you know about this?"

The dark-haired man replied. "I had no clue… Ingrid, did you know?"

"We- We haven't talked in a while," the mid-age blond sighed.

"I wonder if she told Emma," the redhead said, a hint of jealousy on her voice.

"We'll have to ask her when she comes back into town." The blonde gave him a big smile. "I'm Ingrid, and these are Anna and August, Elsa's siblings."

"I'm the only biological sibling, actually," Anna cut her off, waving her hands. "Elsa and I came to live with aunt Ingrid when our parents died. She later adopted August and Emma, who you have yet to meet. Have you met Emma?"

"No, I - I think there's-," he started hesitantly but the nurse cut him off.

"You should see how heartbroken he was when they didn't let him in to see her. Whispering against the glass that he was going to marry her." She sighed as if she were telling the most romantic story. Before Killian could react and set the record straight, Ariel continued. "And he saved her life!"

"What?" Ingrid asked. "They told us she fell from the platform into the tracks."

"He jumped after her and pushed her from the tracks as the train was coming."

"Did you?" August asked.

All eyes were back on him and Killian felt himself blush. "Aye, I-" but it was all he could say before Ingrid was enveloping him in a tight hug.

"We're so glad she found you. Thank you for keeping my baby alive."

Bloody Hell.

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Killian tried to leave the room several times, claiming that perhaps it was best for Elsa's immediate family to stay with her. Each time he was met with a dismissal wave from Ingrid, stating that he was as much family as the rest of them. It was only after he promised them that he'd keep in touch, taking the business cards they thrusted in his hand, that he was finally allowed to leave.

He quickly located Ariel, the nurse that had started this entire ordeal and when he told her of the confusion, she simply shrugged her shoulders, claiming that perhaps this was the way the universe was trying to bring him and Elsa together.

Determined to get a good night of rest and call to explain the truth to the family the next day, Killian headed home. No matter what he did, his apartment feel even more somber than before, and after a few hours of tossing and turning in his bed, he finally got up, put on some clothes and headed back to the hospital.

According to the nurse on call, there were no changes in Elsa's condition. Killian sighed as he sat by her bed, careful not to disrupt anything.

"I'm sorry, lass," he exhaled deeply. "I didn't mean for any of this to happen and now I don't know how to explain this to your family. My name is Killian Jones, and you've seen me each week day for the past sixteen weeks, as I work in the train ticket booth. I live on a small one bedroom apartment that has seen better days, and I collect rare books." He grimaced. "I lost my left hand in an accident almost eight years ago, and let me confess, this is not the life I thought I'd live. But this is the life I got." He ran his hand through his hair. "I wonder what life you have: you seem successful and very sure of yourself. I'm pretty sure you wouldn't have given me the time of the day even if I dared to ask you out one morning." Killian tilted his head studying her features. "Do you believe in love at first sight? You probably don't." He chuckled. "Have you ever fallen in love with someone you haven't even talked to?" His voice broke, his emotions finally wearing him down. "Have you ever felt so lonely that you spend the night baring your soul to someone in a coma?"

He waited for an answer he knew wasn't coming before he continued. "I got the chance to meet your family today and they seem lovely. I don't know what happened that you decided to pull away from them but you should know they were all here, eager to see you well. Wake up, darling, so your family can have you back," he finished as he rested his forehead on the edge of the bed.

It seemed Killian fell asleep at some point during the night, because the next thing he knew, it was broad daylight and Ingrid was gently shaking his arm.

"You spent the night here?" she asked with a mix of concern and admiration.

"Aye, it seems I did." He quickly stood up and straightened his clothes. "I'll leave you to it."

"Killian!" Ingrid called for him. "We didn't get a chance to celebrate Christmas yesterday, with everything that happened, so we thought we could have a small family celebration today. We'd like you to join us."

"I - I couldn't. It seems that it should be family only," he deflected, the tips of his ears turning pink.

"You're family. Or at least you'll become family soon." Ingrid reached for his hand and squeezed it. "Please come celebrate Christmas with us. You need to meet Emma. She's my other daughter and Henry's mother. She's been out of town for work but she's finally coming back. She and Elsa used to be really close and I know she'd like to meet you."

Killian hesitated, wanting very much to give up on the charade and tell Ingrid the truth. But he didn't think it would be a good idea to traumatize this poor family any further on the one day they set to celebrate their already wrecked holiday.

He tried to rake his brain for a reason to say no, but the idea of coming back home to his lonely apartment and frozen meal rested heavily in his heart. Perhaps it wouldn't be a bad idea to have one family celebration. For once, to pretend there was something like that in the cards for him.

Just one night. And then he'll tell them the truth.

"What should I bring?"