This has been bouncing around in my head for days and I had to get it out. My interpretation of Killian's thoughts during his last few minutes in the mid-season finale.

Pain

That was the first thought to enter his mind. Blinding, searing, burning pain tearing through his abdomen. He remembered the same pain from his death at the hands of the Prince in the Author's twisted reality.

Emma

The second, and most important thing to register. Her body pressed to his, holding him close as she sobbed into his shoulder. On instinct his good hand came up to comfort her. To wipe her tears away and cradle her cheek, hoping she understood what he meant to say.

It's okay, Swan.

In a familiar gesture their foreheads met, him never taking his eyes off of her, watching her pain. He'd caused this. His words in Regina's home, their malice meant to push her away from the darkness that was destroying him. Words he could never take back. His weakness had almost destroyed everything she loved, had almost destroyed her, but he refused to let it take anyone but him. He deserved Hell after all he'd done, but her family would never join him down there. Not by his hand.

A blinding light illuminated the world around him, that proverbial end-of-the-tunnel, harbinger of death. However, it faded as quickly as it had come, and in its place it left the most beautiful sight he'd ever seen. Emma, his Emma with her golden hair flowing down her back, familiar red leather jacket back in its rightful place.

Hello beautiful, I've missed you.

More searing pain as she pulled Excalibur from him, watching as the blade dissolved into nothingness, feeling the last of the darkness slipping from him. The wound on his neck opened once more, weakening him further, taking him away from her faster.

Something's not right.

He could still hear it calling to him as if it hadn't been destroyed, simply moved. Looking over Emma's shoulder his eyes growing heavy, he caught the beady gaze that had haunted him for centuries.

Crocodile.

He did this. He took it back. Took back the darkness and the power, despite his pure heart and his fresh start, the bloody coward still chose the darkness. About to warn the others his legs began to fail him, his pointing finger failing to indicate the new danger. Emma's arms caught him, lowering him gently into the soft grass as she continued to sob over him. He wanted to tell her. Tell her that Rumplestiltskin had fooled them all again. Tell her that it was okay, he deserved this. Tell her that he loved her, that he would never stop loving her, and that he would never stop being grateful that she loved him in return.

But his voice wouldn't work. Lips wouldn't move. Eyes wouldn't open.

Let me go, Swan. Find your happy ending, even if it's not with me. Don't let those walls go back up. Let go, my love.

When Killian Jones woke the next morning, he did so to the familiar sight of Storybrooke's crumbling clock tower, the faint memory of a dream still in his head. A beautiful woman with tears on her cheeks and love in her eyes.

Should I find the time and proper inspiration, I may eventually turn this into a multi-chapter story, but for now this is it. Let me know what you think. May this hiatus go quickly and 5B bring CaptainSwan some much deserved, long-term happiness.

-AthenaRowena.