A/N: So, in the episode description for Season 5, Episode 2 it referred to Hook trying a "tried and true" method to take the darkness from Emma. This was what came to mind and even though it's painful, I had to write it down. Number one in what will likely be a series of one shots over the course of the season. Hope you enjoy!

Killian sat on the edge of the dock, his booted feet just inches above the dark water, the evening sky clouded over and allowing nothing but a dim light to reach him. Not that the darkness bothered him. He had lived in darkness for so many years that he had grown accustomed to its presence – indeed, he almost found himself missing it at times. It had been Emma who had finally grounded him, kept him from giving in.

And now she had given in.

He didn't know why, how…he didn't know anything. The new dark one was the only one with the memories of what had happened back in Camelot. The last thing Killian remembered was pleading with her, reminding her that if they had overcome their demons that she could overcome hers. He had silently begged her not to give in, reminded her that the darkness in her eyes was not who she truly was.

And she had listened, replacing the red-haired lasses' heart and falling into his arms.

Killian could not remember the last time he had felt such relief. And when she had taken his hand, following him first to Granny's and then to Camelot…he had hoped that perhaps everything could go back to normal. That she could be normal.

He had let his emotions get the best of him. He hadn't seen what could – what would – happen.

And it had happened.

"Hook."

The word was spoken cruelly, as though in it was wrapped an eternity of malice and anger. Killian couldn't bring himself to respond. The pirate didn't even turn, willing this to be a nightmare that he would simply wake up from.

Of course, that was only wishful thinking.

"Are you just going to sit there, playing pretend? Pretending that you know me…or perhaps pretending that everything will just go back to that way it was? It's useless, Hook."

Hook. The way she said the name was one thing, but the fact that she was even using it was another. He had grown accustomed to hearing Killian roll off of her lips and he missed hearing his real name.

He missed so much more than that.

After a moment of silence, Killian turned to face her. Emma's body almost blended into the shadows, her long dress and boots as black as the night itself. It was her pale face and almost-white hair that stood out against the black canopy.

Light against the darkness.

Darkness against the darkness.

Killian flinched involuntarily.

Emma gave the pirate a cruel smile.

"Emma…why are you doing this?" The words Killian had spoken not hours before rolled off his tongue in another plea for an answer. Why? What had they done to her that was so terrible as to cause this?

"I already told you, love. Because I'm the dark one." The way Emma used his common pet name for her in such a demeaning way was like a knife plunging into Killian's heart, twisting cruelly the longer she taunted him with it.

"That's not an answer," Killian responded, pushing himself up from the docks and standing in place, moving neither away from Emma nor towards her. There was a good three feet in between them, and despite Killian's overwhelming desire to go to her, to take her in his arms, to kiss her and tell her that everything would be alright, he knew that he couldn't.

He tried to tell himself that this wasn't her, that this wasn't Emma. But she was too real, standing there in front of him.

"It's all your getting," Emma responded, taking a step towards him and closing the distance slightly. Killian could now reach out and take her hand, could almost believe that he smelled her perfume, though he knew she wasn't wearing any now.

"Emma…" the pirate trailed off as the dark one held up a finger in a clear request for silence. She waited a moment, before taking another step towards him, so that only inches separated their bodies. Teasing him, tormenting him.

"Emma, whatever I did to you…I'm sorry," Killian could barely choke the words out, ignoring the anger that flared up in her eyes as he spoke. He didn't know what he could have done to her to change her this drastically, but he also remembered the way she had looked directly at him in that moment in the Diner. When she had told them that they had done something to her, something that none of them remembered doing.

"An apology?" she asked, voice incredulous. "You think that's going to fix anything?"

No, of course he didn't. But her words reminded the pirate of something. Something that hadn't worked the last time he had tried it, but there had been a reason then. Now…well, she had admitted it, hadn't she? Before allowing the darkness to take her. It seemed like it had only been last night, when in reality six weeks had passed. Did she still feel it? Would it work?

Killian didn't know, but he knew he had to try.

Leaning forward in a quick gesture, Killian touched his lips to hers, his hook reaching around and pulling her closer. Emma didn't pull away, returning the kiss with the same passion the pirate offered. But something was clearly off. It didn't feel right, and when Killian pulled away, he saw the same darkness in Emma's eyes that had existed only moments before.

"Why didn't it work?" The words were meant to be a thought, but somehow they escaped that realm and entered the physical one, loud and clear in the night's silence.

Emma simply smirked, a cruel look that seemed entirely wrong on her face.

"Because I don't love you," she said simply, before disappearing in a puff of grey smoke.

Killian stood on the edge of the docks, and for the first time in years, a single tear made its way down his rough cheek.

A/N: Thanks for reading! Let me know what you think! :)