Disclaimer: Emma and Hook are not mine, I just took them out to play with the best intentions. The text in italics is transcript from the episode "Street Rats". It is not mine either.


What the Heart Wants

He sat alone in the darkness. The waves gently rocking the tiny boat. Somewhere behind him in the distance were the faded lights of Storybrooke. The place where his future was supposed to be, his happy ending. An ending that would be cut all too short.

Killian stared at the shears in his hand. Moonlight glistened on the golden surface. They could ensure his happiness, their happiness. He closed his fingers around them, holding on tightly. He felt his heart beat wildly. Emma had asked him to sink the shears in the sea. That she trusted they would find another way. Another way to defeat fate. But hadn't they cheated fate several times already? In his brain, and even his heart, there was this voice telling him that this time it was one time too many. That what he had said when they said goodbye in the underworld was still true – even truer now. That this time they could not find another way. They should not be taking chances. Hook knew Emma believed in doing the hero thing, that there would be a third way. He wanted to believe it too. Like he believed in her. But he couldn't help the doubt in his heart. Didn't she deserve some easy happiness, some guaranteed continuation of her story? These shears could give her all of that. They could give her more time with her family. Time she had had so little of. Untainted time at that. No more savior. Just her.

He let his eyes wander from his hand to the waves. They had always managed to calm him, even in his worst hours. But tonight, tonight they failed. Now the sea, life to a pirate, suddenly meant death. How could he bereave her of a future? How could he do that to Henry? To her parents? To himself? Even at her request.

Killian held his hand out over the ocean. Just a small movement and they would be gone. He turned his head looking back at Storybrooke. He knew Emma was waiting for him at the docks. She trusted him to do the right thing. Why hadn't she trusted him before? There was this nagging pain in his heart that she hadn't felt safe enough with him to tell him about her visions. That only when tricked could she tell him the truth. The shears would take care of that. No more visions, no more magic.

He pulled his hand back into the boat. He couldn't linger too long. Killian took a deep breath and closed his eyes. He could feel the wind on his face. A storm was coming. It felt like there was always a storm coming. Their lives were a whirlwind of experiences and emotions. And somehow they had always managed to get the ship back on course. He chose to put his trust in her, to believe that Emma was indeed right, they would find another solution. He opened his eyes, looked at the golden shears and tucked them into his jacket. But there was no harm in holding onto the small glimmer of reassurance.

"They're thousands of leagues under the sea. No one will ever find them, not even Poseidon himself," Killian said when Emma was near enough.
Her sweet lips on his were followed by her whispered "Thank you."
They could hear thunder rumbling. "There's a storm coming."
"Seems like a perfect night for a fire and some hot buttered rum."
"Yeah, sounds like heaven. I just need to check in on the old girl, secure the rigging."
"Pizza or Chinese?"
"Your heart's desire, Swan. I promise, that's all I want you to have."
That was all he ever wanted for her.

He tinkered with the rigging. The Jolly Roger was fine. He had welcomed the fact that Belle was gone when he arrived. He wasn't up to talking to anyone. He had just lied to Emma. And the shears rested heavy against his heart.

Maybe she would never need to know. No more secrets.