You Are Loved

Chapter One

Emma stayed with Killian as much as she could for two days after they returned to Storybrooke while he was still unwell, suffering from his anguish and nightmares that were worse than before. When she couldn't be with him, Henry and her parents would take over until he no longer needed their critical care. Once he was recovered enough to be able to walk on his own, or at least as best as he was able to, Killian left the house he and Emma shared only days before disappearing again to stay on the Jolly Roger alone, with hardly an explanation.

The woman who loved the handsome pirate captain pleaded with him to stay with her so she could help him through his pain, but he pulled away as he simply, quietly asked her forgiveness. Emma didn't go after him despite how much she wanted to because she understood that he needed the time and space to try to get his head clear again. He feared appearing weak in front of her and in his eyes, she knew that he believed he was weak to have let this happen to them.

Four more days passed with few words between them aside from the nightly phone calls Killian made to Emma to assure her that he was alright, which was a lie. But she was grateful for his attempts to make her feel better anyways. Finally after six nights, Henry came to see him and entered the Captain's quarters, not expecting Hook to grant him an invitation as Killian had told him was required for those that stepped onboard a pirate ship in the former Author's alternate world. However, he did because Killian couldn't help, but admire the fifteen year old's defiance.

Henry spoke first saying brusquely, "Look, I'm sorry that I couldn't wait for you to be ready, but by you pushing my mom away from you while you're struggling, she's struggling just as much. She really needs you, Killian. And I know that you would certainly heal a whole lot faster if you would just put aside your own pigheadedness to try to heal alone."

Killian smiled sadly, then turned his head to look up at the boy from his bed as he responded, "Aye. I realize you're right. And I want to go to her."

"You don't want her to see you so vulnerable," the teenager answered for him, noticing the sheen of sweat and the fever that continued to cling to him. "I get it. I hate it when everyone's concerned about me too, but that's just it. You may still be sick and not back to yourself, but you're not weak. You know what Grandpa once told me when we were down in the Underworld, when I was worried about telling you guys what was really going on with me? He told me that some people would give anything to have a family like ours, which you are definitely a part of, because whatever's going on with you, with me, we both know that we always have someone we can talk to."

"That's good advice and it obviously worked for you," Hook replied as Henry took a seat beside him. "Dave has been known to have good advice from time to time."

Henry nodded as he responded, "Let it work for you too. I'm always here to listen if you want to talk, but more importantly, so is my mom. She's the Savior. Helping people is what she does, remember?"

Killian looked into the young man's eyes as he gently patted his knee and then he answered, "Thank you for being my voice of reason, Henry. And you're right once again. You're wise beyond your years, something I should have told you long ago."

"You did," he replied with a smile. "Not in those exact words, but you've always treated me as more than just a teenager, better than everyone else here. I appreciate it and I'm really glad that you're back, alive… again. You better not die anymore. I don't think we could handle it again for a fifth time."

"At least I'm a survivor," the Captain responded cheekily, then became serious once again as he placed his one hand over his half of Emma's heart. "Your mother has ensured it so. I can feel her love for me and it's the same love I feel for her."

Henry stood up and then turned back to his friend as he said in agreement, "That's true love all right. I knew that you two would get to this point eventually, though I wish it didn't take going down to the Underworld to save you to get you here."

Hook stated, "Indeed. Your mother is impossible, as you know."

"Can I ask you a favor, for when you're completely up to it of course?" Henry asked as he looked around the quarters.

"If you wish to ask me if I would take you and this fine ship out for another adventure on the high seas, then my answer is yes," Killian answered with sincerity. "I need to speak with your mother tonight, but tomorrow… if you have no plans?"

The sixteen year old immediately replied, "That'd be great, but you're still not fully recovered yet and…"

Killian responded quickly, "Nonsense. Despite the many dark days and nights I've spent aboard her, she's also given me peace. If I can find the words to confess my fears and pain to Emma, then this ship can heal me the rest of the way. I'd be happy to take you out."

Less than an hour later…

"Good evening, love," Killian spoke quietly as he walked into their bedroom in their home as Emma was preparing for bed, after he had spent the last several nights again onboard his ship despite Emma telling him he didn't have to hide his nightmares from him any longer. "I hope I'm not intruding."

"This is your home too," she answered quickly as she rushed into his arms and held him tightly for as long as she dared to without hurting him. "I wish you could understand that."

He raised her head gently with the side of his hook while he ran his fingers through her hair and leaned in to kiss her, then replied, "Aye, I know it is. I only meant to say that if you'll have me lie with you again tonight, then… I miss you terribly when I'm not with you. I know you think it unfair that I'm afraid to tell you all about my misery, but Emma I…"

She laid a finger over his lips to stop him from talking and responded, "You don't have to explain, but your nightmares will only go away if you talk about them. Your father can't hurt you any longer because you defeated him by surviving and I won't let him or Liam harm you. I miss you too, Killian. And I love you. Please never shut me out again."

"I won't," Hook sincerely answered and then kissed her again. "I love you too, Swan. I don't know what I would have done if my father or the villains would have hurt you. It would have destroyed me."

"Let's just enjoy tonight together and tomorrow we'll have the celebration my parents are throwing," Emma replied and laid down on their bed beside the man she loved. "Oh, did you talk to Henry? He was really worried about you."

Killian responded, "Aye. I'm taking him out on my ship, our ship, tomorrow. Come with us."

Emma smiled, then answered, "Aye. I would love nothing more to go out into the ocean with my pirate and our son."

"Our son?" he asked as he looked at her with surprise, but also with a newfound affection. "I mean… Don't get me wrong, Emma. I love Henry as if he could be my own, if I knew what it felt like to have a child of my own, but I had no idea that you felt in such a way to grant me this honor."

"You and I share a heart, as I told you when you first awoke on your ship," the Savior replied as she pulled him close to her and gently placed her hand over his chest where his half of her heart beat more calmly than it's done in days, as if to give him the last bit of strength he needed to fight off what remained of his fever once and for all. "I can feel how much you love him and how much you truly love me. It's far more than anyone ever could have and ever will love either of us, except for perhaps Neal, though only in regards to Henry. I never believed true love was possible for me, but now because of you I know it is and if our love can survive the darkness and the Underworld, then our love will last forever."

Killian leaned in as he kissed her lips softly, then put his hand over hers while pulling her against him with his other arm and whispered, "Emma, I wanted to do this properly. I haven't even the suitable ring yet and I wanted to talk with your parents for their blessing when I felt that you might be ready, but I fear I might still push you away, especially after I finish sharing the rest of my dark tale with you, but…"

Tears came to her eyes while Emma quickly kissed him to stop him from babbling on and then responded joyfully, "My answer is yes. I'm not afraid anymore. I know I love you as much as you love me and I wouldn't ever want to spend the rest of my life with anyone, but you. I will happily marry you."

"Then, we have much to talk about tonight," Hook answered while tears fell from his own eyes as well. "To get past our sorrow. And tomorrow night at the celebration, we can announce to everyone of our engagement."

"That sounds… perfect," the Savior replied while he continued to hold her in his arms.