Warning: Fanfic contains spoilers for what happened in the mid season finale. I have edited this chapter to keep it more in line with what happened, with just a little bit of my spin so I could continue it. It also has speculation based on spoiler pics for 5B. Either way, this idea wouldn't go away, so I just had to write it and I'd been looking for an excuse to write something different.

Hi everyone. So, this is my first time writing for Once Upon A Time, as I usually write for the How To Train Your Dragon fandom, but after finally catching up on Once Upon A Time and reading all the theories and spoilers for the rest of the season lately, I found I couldn't resist writing something for it instead! Since this is my first time writing for Once, I really hope I did the characters justice and that you like it.

Anyway, I hope this is alright. This is my favourite show and I really wanted to do the characters justice, especially my OTP, Captain Swan :)

Chapter One: Home

"Killian!"

"Swan!"

Heart beating rapidly, Emma watched on in horror as hundreds of cloaked figures grabbed hold of Killian's arm, dragging him down into the fiery pit below their feet, as all the while, Killian struggled to get free from their claw like grip. Helpless, Emma snapped her head up to the one cloaked figure that remained motionless throughout this ordeal, with anger boiling in the pit of her stomach.

"We had a deal, Hades!" she screamed, her eyes never leaving her loves struggle for freedom. "You said if I found Killian in that god forsaken labyrinth, that you would free him! "

"Yes, I am well aware," Hades said, boredom dripping from his every word. "But where's the fun in it if I just let your boyfriend go so easily?" He stepped forward, and looked down at the saviour, a smirk crossing his distinguished face. "He could be quite useful to me, my dear."

"We made a deal, Hades, and I am not leaving without him!" Emma exclaimed angrily, as she stepped forward, arms raised, but all the while, her heart thumping against the wall of her chest as the love of her love began to vanish from sight.

"Put your arms down, you silly girl," Hades sighed, barely flinching at the rage this woman was beginning to emit. "Do you really think your magic is going to work against me?"

"Swan!" Emma heard Killian call frantically, causing her to spin around, "forget about it, just get out of here!"

"I'm not leaving without you!" Emma sobbed, unaware of the tears that were now cascading down her cheeks, as she struggled to get to him as a sea of black figures suddenly dragged him from her line of sight and her stomach dropped like a stone.

"KILLIAN!"

"S...swan!" was all that was audible as he disappeared from her sight, leaving Emma staring after him in horror, as the last sight of Killian was his frantic face as the black figures finally engulfed him, sending him hurtling into the fiery pit.

" Argh, true love," Hades said quietly from above a shock still Emma. "It's a wonderful thing, isn't it? Ah, but like how the dining embers of a flame flicker... They. All. End."

"Killian!"

Emma awoke with a breathless gasp, her heart pounding so hard against the wall of her chest that she thought it might burst out at any given moment. Tears filled her eyes, before spilling over onto her flushed cheeks, as she wildly scanned her surroundings, but she found nothing but darkness. The room was like a void, with no light that her eyes could see. The air was knocked out of her lungs as panic engulfed her and her chest suddenly grew tighter as each moment passed; her brain failing to comprehend her surroundings. The last thing she remembered was dealing with Hades down in the bleak void known as the underworld. But did that mean...?

"Emma?"

His voice was soft in the darkness, causing Emma's breath to hitch slightly in a startled gasp, as the room as the room suddenly became engulfed in a pale light. Blinking furiously, Emma's eyes slowly became adjusted to her surroundings as a candle on her bed side table illuminated her room in the loft, her olive green eyes instantly seeking the man beside her, whose own expression was anxious as he took note of her emotional state. A shuddering sob overtook her as he reached out his hand, gripping her own in a gentle grasp that Emma thought she would never have the pleasure of feeling again.

"Emma?" His voice was soft as he squeezed her hand. "Love, are you alright?"

Emma frowned. "I...I don't..."

As she spoke, memories suddenly came flooding back to her, silencing her in an instant. Killian being dragged to the underworld...her search for him... her deal with Hades...saving Killian...

"What happened?" she asked him, her voice quiet. Brows furrowed in confusion, she looked at him. "How...how did we...when...?" She trailed off.

Squeezing her hand in understanding, Killian gave her a tender smile. "We got back last night, love," he explained gently, stroking the knuckle of her hand. "We'd barely even crawled out of that portal, when..." Killian swallowed forcefully, his expression tinged with fear, "...when you just...collapsed where you stood. You've been asleep all this time..."

"Is that why I feel like death myself?" Emma mumbled, holding a hand to her head, which was pounding like a drum.

"I would say so, love," Killian agreed, moving from his seat to sit beside her on the bed; his hand never loosening its grip on Emma's. "Your mother said you'd been so hell bent-"

A hard look met him before he could even continue that sentence. Swallowing nervously, the pirate glanced away for a moment, clearing his throat, before he returned his gaze back to the woman beside him, where emotion was beginning to cloud her eyes once again.

"What I meant to say, love, -" Killian amended quickly, his chest tightening as he spoke, "was that apparently you'd been so bloody single minded on what you were trying to do, that when we got back, it just…hit you…" He took a shaky breath as the image of Emma suddenly falling to the ground filled his mind. "One moment you were walking, and the next…" He swallowed a lump in this throat. "…the next you were collapsed on the ground, not responding to anyone's summons. For a moment-" his voice catches in his throat. "For a moment, I thought that bloody demon had decided to take you instead…"

"What made you think otherwise?" Emma asked him, her voice barely a whisper.

Despite the glistening of unshed tears in the pirate's bright blue eyes, evident even in the soft glow of the candlelight, Killian uttered a short chuckle despite himself. "Your boy, of course," he answered with a small smile. "While we were all standing around you in a panic, the lad just calmly sits down beside you, before announcing that you're just exhausted."

Emma smiled softly. "Yeah, that'd be Henry."

"Well," Killian continued, his expression turning serious once again, "once we realised that, your mother thought it would be best to get you home. She said you'd barely slept the whole time you were down there." He glanced over at Emma, who quickly flicked her eyes down to their linked hands between them, her teeth chewing on her bottom lip. "Anyway," Killian continued, not taking his eyes off her in the process, "we weren't sure when you would wake, so when we brought you home, your mother thought it would be best if someone remained with you…in case you couldn't recall what happened. She eagerly volunteered, but-"

"-but you stayed instead," Emma interjected quietly, lifting her gaze back up to meet his.

"Aye," he answered huskily. Glancing down at their intertwined hands, he gave Emma's delicate fingers a squeeze, before glancing back up into her glistening eyes. "I…I thought it might be best if it were me…especially if your memory failed you…"

Emma nodded, her voice was barely above a whisper. "You were right."

The next few moments passed in an uncomfortable silence, with their shaky breaths being the only sounds in the room. Uneasy, Killian glanced around the room, before suddenly letting out a shaky laugh as he tried to break the long silence.

"You know your parents are planning a huge party to celebrate our victory for this, Swan," he said, a smile gracing his lips. "And from what I've heard so far, it's going to be quite the celebration. I don't believe I'll be needing to eat for quite some time afterwards!" he added with a laugh.

Emma's lips twitched in what could have been a smile. "Sounds like fun," she muttered; her tone as expressionless as her face.

Killian frowned. "Emma, are you alright...?"

Hearing his voice, Emma's head suddenly snapped up, effectively cutting off the rest of the pirate's question in its tracks, as she gave him a glare to rival the Regina's in her Evil Queen days.

"Why'd you do it?" she asked him suddenly, her voice shaky.

Eyebrows knitted together, Killian gave her a vague look. "Swan, I don't know what-"

"You know perfectly well what I mean, Hook-" she emphasised the word greatly, causing its name sake to visibly flinch at the sound of his moniker. It had been so long while since he had heard his swan call him that, even when she was angry. "Why did you have to be so insistent to find out what happened in Camelot?" she pressed him, her voice rising a few octaves. "Why couldn't you just leave things alone?!"

"That's what you're angry at?" Killian asked, incredulously, as he watched Emma's eyes bore into him like a drill. "That I was determined to find out what happened to us in Camelot?!"

"It's not just that!" Emma exclaimed, although her angry expression was marred by the sadness filling her eyes, which quickly filled up, before spilling onto her cheeks. "I asked you to trust me, and you just kept going. If you'd just left things alone, none of this would have happened! None of it," she repeated, almost to herself, her voice broken.

"What did you expect me to do, Swan?" Killian demanded, his own voice choked by emotion. "Just sit back and let you succumb to the darkness? Bloody hell, Emma, I love you! I wasn't going to sit idly by and watch the love of my life slip away from me!"

"Well, it would have been better then watch the love of my life die in front of me!" Emma screamed, jumping up from the bed away from Killian's shocked gaze. "I told you there was a reason I couldn't tell you what had happened in Camelot because I knew you would have done anything to stop me if you'd known!" More tears suddenly filled her eyes as she spoke, which quickly spilled onto her face. Wrapping her arms around herself, Killian watched on helplessly as her shoulders began to shake as her emotions began to spill out.

"If you had just trusted me," Emma croaked, lifting her eyes to meet his, "no one would have known what had happened in Camelot. You wouldn't have sacrificed yourself, and I could have kept you from that god forsaken place."

"You don't know that," Killian pointed out gently, as he approached her cautiously. "But in the meantime, I was being kept away from you. You may have been keeping me that from that awful place, but I was being kept away from you regardless." Stepping closer to her, he gently wrapped his arms around her in a secure embrace, before leaning his forehead on hers. "And what was the point of that, love?"

"But you wouldn't have died for me," Emma choked out, as a shuddering sob ripped through her body, which caused Killian's body to vibrate along with hers. Desperate, she tried to stem the flow of tears from escaping her already tear filled eyes, but to no avail, and before she could stop them, the dam had burst and she was sobbing into Killian's warm shoulder.

"Shh…it's alright, love, it's alright," he soothed gently, as he held her close to him. It wasn't long before his jacket became wet with tears as her body continued to shake in his comforting arms.

"Why did you have to be the hero in Camelot?" Emma whispered, lifting her head up from Killian's shoulder. "Why couldn't you have just stayed out of the way? None of this would have happened if you had."

"Because I love you," Killian stated simply, tightening his arms around Emma's shaking form. "And I'd do it all again if I had too. Bloody hell, Swan, I can't live without you," he added, as tears began to prick at his own sky blue eyes.

"You're a bloody idiot, Killian," she muttered into his chest. "What makes you think I can live without you?" Sniffling, she looks up at Killian, whose own emotions were struggling to stay in check. "I've lost so many people in my life. I couldn't lose you too. Why do you think I broke all the rules in Camelot just to keep you with me? Why I tried to hide it? All because you got in the way of Arthur and Merlin."

"I'm sorry, love," Killian said truthfully, as he reached up to wipe the dampness away from her cheek with his thumb with a warm smile. "I'm sorry that I put you through this. But I couldn't just stand idly by while everyone, including you was in danger. Even if it meant sacrificing my own life."

"It didn't have to go that way," Emma protested weakly, as Killian continued to caress her cheek.

"You know as well as I do that isn't the case, love," Killian told her gently. "It's just the way things are."

"I could have tried," Emma said tearfully, reaching up to cup his cheek. "Watching you die…" Her breath caught in her throat. "…It'll live with me forever. It's a miracle everything worked out this time…"

"But it did," Killian reassured her softly, as he cradled her cheek in his hand, before pressing a light kiss to her forehead. "Like I've always said, Swan," he continued, a smirk forming on his lips. "I'm a survivor. Although I must confess, I cut it fairly close this time, even by my standards."

Emma's lips twitched in what could have been a smile, but her expression remained tearful. "Don't," she pleaded, meeting his eyes with a stern gaze. "Please don't say that. We both know that it took an eleventh hour miracle this time, and you know it."

"I do, actually," Killian admitted, his tone sombre, as he gazed into Emma's eyes. "I will be honest, Swan. I thought for sure that my time was finally up. Although," he continued, a small smile beginning to make its way to his lips once again, "I never dreamed that you would come in after me. You are one stubborn lass."

Despite the tears still trailing down her cheeks, Emma smirked. "Did you really think I was going to let that bloody demon take you, pirate?" she asked him. Bringing her hands up to Killian's chest, she gently placed her hands over where his heart was with a loving smile on her face. "Do you really think you love me more then I love you?" she asked him, softly, leaving the pirate speechless as he gazed into her eyes. "Because I've got news for you, pirate, it's not true."

Killian swallowed forcefully as a tear finally escapes from his eye. "Never doubted it, love," he choked out, before he suddenly pulled her to his lips in a tender kiss, which she eagerly responded too, before gently pushing him away, her eyes locking on his.

"I nearly lost you this time," she said quietly, as she rested her forehead against his. "I nearly lost you, so you have to promise…promise you'll be more careful from now on?"

Killian gave her a sad smile. "Love, you know I can't promise that…"

"At least try to promise it, then," she cuts in, her eyes pained.

Killian smiled. "For you, Swan, I'll try."

Emma smiled, a gesture which finally reached her still glistening eyes, before she suddenly pulled her hands away from the pirate's chest, to reach around her neck where she produced Killian's ring from around her neck. Holding it for a moment, she then held the glittering ring out to him.

"Maybe if I give this back to you, you might be able to keep your promise," she smiled, as she gently placed it into his waiting hand. "You did say it was the reason you were alive after all..."

"Actually, love, I believe I said it could be," he pointed out, with a grin flashing across his face, causing Emma's smile to widen further despite herself. "Although I am now inclined to believe that could be case considering everything happened after I gave it to you."

"Which is why I think you should have it back," Emma said nervously, as she wrapped Killian's fingers around the little trinket. "Because I don't know about you, but I certainly don't wish for another trip to hell anytime soon."

"It was actually the underworld, love," Killian pointed out, with an amused grin. "It wasn't quite hell per se. Although, I still wouldn't recommend it as a vacation spot, that's for damn sure."

"And I'd rather you didn't go back there for another stint," Emma said, with a watery grin towards him. So just-" she pushed his hand, with the ring clasped inside it, towards his chest, "take the ring back and keep it."

"But I don't need it anymore, love," Killian said gently, as he went to hand the ring back to her. "If I can survive down in that hell hole without it, it just shows I don't need it to survive. I'd rather you keep it." He placed the ring back into Emma's hand with a tender smile. "It's yours now."

"But," Emma said hesitantly, as she looked down at the ring. "Don't you want it back? You've had it for so long..."

Killian rolled his eyes with a chuckle. "Just keep the bloody ring, Swan."

Shaking her head in amusement, Emma took the ring and chain in hand, running her fingers around the edge of the ring and along the chain as she mused to herself quietly. Sighing, she slowly raised it up to her head level to catch a glimpse of the light dancing along the metal before she slipped it over her head. Hesitating, a thought, once a whisper, now a flowering crescendo flowed through her mind as the cold metal touched her chest through the cloth of her shirt. Glancing back to Killian, Emma gave him a small secretive smile.

"I'll make you a deal, Killian," Emma said, her smile widening on each word. "I'll keep this..." she trailed off nervously, her teeth chewing on her bottom lip. "...I'll keep this if you never leave my side again."

Killian's eyes widened in shock as his heart suddenly stuttered his chest. "Are...are you proposing to me, Swan?" he asked her, his smile growing as wide as her own. "Wait," he said with a mischievous grin as Emma looked at him with a blush forming on her pale cheeks. "Shouldn't I be the one asking you? Or are you just taking the lead from me again? Like always," he added with a cheerful grin, as he pressed their heads together.

Emma grinned. "Thought you'd be used to that by now?"

"That I am, love," Killian agreed with a soft smile. Reaching up, he tenderly cupped Emma's cheek with his hand, making Emma's heart race faster than it already was. "And I wouldn't have it any other way, either."

Emma flushed bright pink under Killian's gentle hand on her cheek, before looking bashfully way from the loving gaze he was giving her. Her heart sped up as she waited for an answer, and as she held him closer, she could feel his heart echoing hers in his own chest as his pressed a gentle kiss on her forehead. Giddy, she pulled away from him, before glancing up into his eyes, which were clouded with emotion.

"Well?" she prompted, her voice tinged with nerves as she watched Killian's face for any sign of an answer.

"Well, what?" Killian asked her, teasingly. "I don't remember you officially asking me to marry you, love. All I heard was you offering to keep the ring if I never left your side."

"You've got to be kidding me," she murmured, looking away from Killian's hopeful gaze, as thousands of butterflies began to flutter in her stomach. Taking a shaky breath, the woman closed her eyes for a moment, as she gently took hold of Killian's hand and hook in both her hands. Opening them back up again, she saw Killian giving her a look of encouragement, which made her smile in turn.

"Will..." she began, her voice evidently shaking. She took another breath, before looking at him square in the eyes. "Killian Jones...will you marry me?"

Killian's face lit up as soon as the words had no sooner left her mouth. Grinning from ear to ear, he suddenly pulled her into his arms, covering her lips with his own. Stiffening in surprise, it didn't take long for Emma to relax into his embrace, wrapping her arms around Killian's neck and pulling him even closer to her, burying her fingers into his messy locks, before laying a gentle hand on his neck, before running it down his back. She could feel Killian's hand in her own hair, before it trailed down her cheek, brushing away a tear that she hadn't even realised had escaped from her blurring eyes.

She didn't know how long they stayed that way for, but when they did pull away, both of them were flushed and breathless, with smiles from ear to ear etched onto their faces. Pulling away from Emma's face, Killian cupped her face, and stroked her cheek, eliciting another tear to escape from her eye from the tender gesture. He smiled at her.

"If you didn't know the answer already, love," he whispered, breathlessly. "That was a yes."

"I figured," she answered, her chest heaving. She stared up at him, blinking her eyes furiously at the new wave of tears making their appearance in her already blurred eyes as an elated smile made its way to her lips, making Killian's heart stutter in his chest. She pulled him towards her again.

"I love you," she breathed.

"I love you, too," Killian whispered, as he placed his forehead on hers. "Gods, you don't know how much I do, love."

Emma's heart warmed at these words as she found Killian's hand between them, before taking it in her own. With a loving smile, Killian suddenly leant forward, before pressing a kiss against her lips. Emma's eyelids fluttered closed as a thousand butterflies erupted in her stomach, drinking him in as he kept hold of her lips. Dropping Killian's hand, she quickly moved her hand up to his chest, feeling the rapid heartbeat beneath her palm, causing her to smile into the kiss, which she felt him return. She could feel his arms wrap around her waist, securing her in his embrace as all the worries of the previous months temporarily vanished. They separate after a few moments when air becomes a necessity, before bringing each other back in.

Neither of them were sure how long they stood there for, but finally they separated, their faces flushed bright, and their chests heaving, but with an unwavering smile etched onto both their faces.

As she stood, and smiled, and he smiled back, the time of day suddenly them as a wall of yawns and droopy eyes. Well, for Emma at least, who suddenly emitted a wide yawn despite herself, causing her to blush even brighter than she already was.

"I'm sorry…I didn't mean…"

"It's late, love," Killian assured her gently, as he cupped her cheek. "And having slept all day or not, it's obvious you need more rest. We'll talk about this in the morning."

"You don't look so great yourself," she points out, noting the dark circles underneath the pirate's already dark eyes. She placed a hand on his cheek. "Have you slept at all since last night?"

"Not really," Killian admitted sheepishly, as he took hold of the hand that was on his cheek, before bringing it to his lips in a chaste kiss. "A doze here or there."

"You're an idiot, pirate," Emma said, with a shake of her head. She nodded towards the bed, before returning her glance to him. "Stay with me?" she asked shyly.

Killian raised an eyebrow. "Why, Swan, I'm rather surprised at you, considering all we've just been through," he teased, a roguish smile curving his lips.

"You know what I mean, pirate," Emma replied dryly, as her cheeks reddened again.

"Yes, I do," Killian smiled, as he took hold of Emma's hand before gently brining her over to the bed. "You know I was just teasing, love. Plenty of time for that later," he added with a grin, resulting in a loud snort of amusement from Emma.

"Yeah, later," she said, with a slight grin, before she looked down at the bed with a nervous bite of her lip. Despite the exhausted she still felt, she didn't think she could handle another nightmare like that again tonight.

"You can sleep, Emma," Killian said gently as he realised where her mind was at. Sitting down on the bed, he reached up a hand to gently coax her onto the bed. "I'll be right here. You don't have to worry about another nightmare."

Emma's eyes snapped up to his face in surprise. "How…how did you know…?"

"I was awake the whole time, love," Killian reminded her softly, wrapping a comforting arm around her shoulders as she lay down. "You were muttering in your sleep. Something about Hades and a deal?"

Emma sighed in his arms, before she went on to explain what happened, tears of angst and anxiety filled the corners of her eyes; her hands clasped together, trembling visibly; her usual, stony face now a painting of her inner demons. While listening to her account, Killian gently reached up to brush her blonde locks away from her tear streaked face away with his hook, before placing a soft kiss on her cheek.

"And the worst part is, I don't even know if that was even what happened or not," Emma went to finish, reaching up a hand to brush the tears off her cheeks.

"Not entirely," Killian assured her gently, as he stroked her hair back reassuringly. "It did look like the bloody devil was reneging on his deal, but it was just the demon playing with us." He shuddered as he recalled the memory. "We took off as soon as we could." Glancing down at his loved ones, face, he gave her a soft smile. "It was just your mind playing tricks on you, love. You can sleep."

Sighing in contentment, Emma glanced up towards him with a grateful smile. "Thanks," she said. 'I guess we'll need it tomorrow anyway."

"With the way this town throws a party? I believe so."

Emma chuckled, before propping herself up on her elbow. "Actually," she said with a nervous smile. "I was thinking more along the lines of telling the town we're engaged. Or did that slip your mind?" she asked him, her tone teasing.

"As it happens, love, it didn't," Killian smiled. "But actually, there's one favour I'd like to ask of you before we announce it."

Sitting up, Emma threw him a questioning look. "And what might that be?"

Giving her a loving smile, Killian reached up to stroke Emma's cheek. "Let me buy you an engagement ring?" he begged her, his eyes hopeful.

"Oh, Killian," Emma said gently, placing her hand over his that rested on her face. "I don't need one. I thought keeping this ring," she fingered the ring around her neck, "was the deal to get married? Not to buy a new one."

"That was your deal, love," Killian grinned, "not mine." His expression softened as Emma's eyes widened in surprise. "Just let me do one thing for you, Emma. Please?"

Looking at the pirate's pleading expression, Emma felt her heart skip a beat in her chest.

"Urgh, fine," she said, but she couldn't hide the smile twitching at her lips. "One engagement ring it is. But we're not telling anybody until you do."

"That's fair, love," Killian agreed, pulling her into his arms again, kissing her softly against her lips. "But something tells me a few people already know."

Emma pulled away with a jerk. "What do you mean? How…?"

It was then that she finally realised that they were not as alone as they first thought. As she pulled away from Killian's grasp, her ears pricked at the sounds of hushed whispers coming from the top of the stairs which sounded a lot like Mary-Margaret, David and Henry as they listened in to the conversation. Upon realising they'd been caught out, however, they soon scattered back down the stairs before Emma and Killian could even call them out, their excited whispers floating up from the lower floor.

"Something tells me our conversation up here hasn't been exactly private, love," Killian pointed out, amused chuckles escaping from both their lips.

"I forgot the walls of this place have ears," Emma giggled. "And by ears, I mean six of them." Shaking her head with a laugh, she glanced at Killian's own amused expression.

"We need to move you in to our place, already."

"Aye. That we do."

Ok, so although this was written before 'Swan Song', I have edited it to keep in line with it as much as possible so I can continue it. Luckily it was fairly vague in the first place, so a lot of no lines up to the finale :)

Alright, so the beginning sequence in the underworld with Hades was based around the Hades in the Disney version and a bit of the old Greek legends which my boyfriend, who has an interest in that sort of thing, helped me with. Even though Emma's plan is to share her heart with Killian, I highly doubt Hades is going to make it easy for her to get him back, which is what I showed.

So what did you guys think? Please remember that this was my first time diving into the world of Once Upon A Time, and I know things may not have been perfect, but I'd like to know what you think, so please review! :) Please be aware, however, that I DO NOT tolerate flames of any kind, but KIND constructive criticism is appreciated. I had a bad experience the first time I posted fanfiction way back in 2003 when I was 12, which kept me away from the site over a decade, so please be nice!