Authors Note: I was writing a story beforehand but do to some personal dilemmas I got a block. When I finally came out of it and reread what I had already wrote, I thought it was utter crap. So I thought it was best to start over. I apologize to any of you who might have been following that particular story and hope you'll forgive me. Hopefully I do a much better job this time. Once and CaptainSwan has pretty much taken over my life. No regrets there. I hope you all, my shipmates will enjoy.

Disclaimer: Purely done for creative fun. Adam & Eddy own this world along with my heart might I add.

Prologue

"The perfect halo of gold hair and lightning"

Choices. A series of choices is what led Hook here. And as of late, none had been part of the end he had vowed by his means to make. Matters turned complicated.

The air in his chest was limited, dwindling by the second, but even if he were somehow able to set himself free from the curse the surface above him was becoming further and further away. The current pulling him deeper beneath the waves.

It wasn't supposed to go this way, Killian thought.

Revenge had led him down a path he believed he could walk straight and true, conquering his demon with an equally rotten heart in his hand to pay for the one that had been stolen, only to end up with an empty hook instead.

Three voices roared about in his head. All of which belonged to him. The loudest, screaming in absolute torrid anguish of his failure. A much clearer, a much calmer and steadier voice announced with finality how tired he was from its burden.

It was the smallest voice however that struck him the hardest. Sounding almost broken and even a bit helpless in it's declaration. The words repeating over and over behind his unblinking eyes. Yet he couldn't fathom as to why, it didn't matter at this point. He was too far gone to be saved. With that in mind Killian waited for the inevitable dread that should have accompanied this moment. Not by fear but with an honest curiosity. It never came. Which didn't surprise him in the slightest.

And why should it? After all, to die would be an awfully big adventure wouldn't it?

The lack of oxygen became even heavier. Gripping his bones, pulling harshly at his skin from underneath, lungs gasping from within. His body seeking breath and finding none just as his knees hit the sand. No longer could he feel the frigid temperature of the water engulfing him, even as he tasted it, catching in his throat. Burning the eyes he was unable to close.

Tick Tock. Tick Tock. Tick Tock.

It was coming, his time was just about to run out. A renown pirate drowning in the element he sailed. The irony was not lost on him. He'd have laughed if he could.

So wrapped up was he by the idea of what death could bring Hook failed to notice the break in the water. And just before his sight became blinded by a blur of dark twisting hues, golden strands floated into his view. Shining brightly in these murky depths like a beacon to bring him back.

Killian understood then why she was The Savior.

Despite the unrelenting pressure, the hands and embrace that wound around his underarms and front, felt like a salve to his rigid posture. The uneven ocean floor no longer supported his weight. Only she did. Only Emma.

Heaving both herself and him back to the world above. He marveled at her strength. Tiny thing like her, it was something to behold. If only he could witness it fully, but he could feel her powerful kicks behind his locked legs, her iron grip crossed about his chest. Holding him against herself without a flinching remorse for his added weight, with a speed and ferocity that would have rivaled his own. Emma battled with the tides surrounding them as she moved higher to bring them past this sentencing.

Just before that final stretch up Killian swore the use of motion had returned to his limbs.

Bellowing thunder greeted the pop of ringing ears and echoed gasps as their heads burst through the surface. Relief pounding against his ribcage. The words, resounding a final time as he sputtered and coughed up seawater violently with her deep collective breaths at his ear.

I'm not done yet.

No, he certainly wasn't and neither was she it seemed.