Actor Killian Jones has given up on love after the death of his wife Milah. But one day he meets Emma Nolan, also widowed, and he starts to think there may be such a thing as a second chance with love.

Can their relationship survive their broken hearts from past relationships, his life in the spotlight, and the constant attacks of tabloid journalist Mr. Gold?

Darkness was closing in on her, smoke choking her lungs and the heat and noise of fire was everywhere, Emma was in full panic mode, heart thumping out of her chest, eyes wide frantically looking for her husband, "Neal!".
"Emma!" she could hear his voice over all the noise around her. "Emma! You need to let me go!"

"No! You can't leave us!" She sobbed

"Emma"

"Emma..."

"Emma...Emma look! I can see Vancouver we're almost there" Mary Margaret said excitedly shaking her friend from her sleep.

"W..what? Oh, sorry I didn't think I'd fall asleep!" Emma said groggily. She looked at her kids sleeping peacefully and sighed with relief, and a little envy, she hadn't had a good night's sleep since the accident.

Mary Margaret smiled sympathetically at her, "it's ok; you're still having nightmares?"

"Yeah" Emma rubbed her eyes, "it's been 10 months now, and I still have them every time..." Her words drifted off as she looked out the plane window. The view was stunning. She followed the sun's rays down as it shone brilliantly on the land below.
They started planning this trip almost a year ago. Every week for almost 5 years they had gotten together to watch the tv show "Ever After" bonding over their love of fairy tales. So much had happened over those 5 years, Emma had her two beautiful children, and Mary Margaret married David Nolan, Neal's brother, making her and Emma not just best friends but now sisters too! But those 5 years also saw their share of sorrow. Just 10 months ago Neal died in the line of duty. The firefighter was called out to a burning apartment building and managed to get all the occupants out safely but the building came down on him before he could exit. He died a hero, and that moment Emma's world turned upside down.

It was Mary Margaret's idea to still go ahead with the trip, her friend needed a change of scenery and going to a convention for a tv show that represented hope with a beautiful Canadian backdrop was exactly what her friend needed.

Emma gently nudged her son Henry awake, "hey buddy, we're about to land".

He sat in the make-up chair staring at his reflection; even with his guy liner you could see the tiredness in his eyes. He loved his job, it was his escape from reality and recently he had really needed an escape.

His phone buzzed next to him, he picked it up and for the first time today a small smile formed. He looked at the picture of his son, dressed up as a pirate, dark black hair, toothy smile, and dimples, with the caption "like father, like son". His smile grew sad; Liam was growing up so fast. Killian let out as sigh and looked back at his reflection, looking back was Captain Hook, his current role he was playing. He had been many things in his life; actor, musician, celebrity, husband, father, friend. However now two new titles had been forced upon him; widower and single dad. He flicked through the pictures on his phone until he got to the last one of Milah, it was from a year ago when they went on a hike. God, how he missed that smile, and her laugh. They looked so happy, completely unaware that just 3 weeks later she'd be killed by a drunk driver.
He put his phone away, time to push those thoughts away and prepare himself to portray a loved up pirate fighting for his werewolf princess.

It was a long day shooting in the cold and rain. Every inch of Killian's body ached, apart from his hands and feet which he lost feeling in hours ago. He started the long walk to his trailer stopping on his way to greet fans who had come to watch filming. It was important to him to let the fans know they were appreciated. Before he would have joked around with them and been his usual goofy self but since Milah died he'd lost that part of him, so instead he talked quietly with them, signed autographs, took selfies and gave hugs.
He reached the end of the line and saw two women next to a pram, one holding a sleeping child in her arms. It was 9:30pm and he just wanted to get out of his costume and make up and back home but kids were his soft spot, and the mother looked almost as tired as he did, who knew how long they'd been standing there. He walked towards them smiling and apologised

"Sorry to keep you waiting, thank you for coming out here to support the show."

"No thank you!" Mary Margaret said beaming "we're here for the con this weekend but wanted to come watch the filming today, we just love your show..." She rambled on.

Killian smiled then turned to look at the other woman, her blonde hair shone in the moonlight and her eyes, though heavy, were striking green, she blushed and said "my son wanted to see a real pirate, I need to wake him or he'll never forgive me" she gently nudged the sleeping boy, "Henry, he's here, wake up. Captain Hook wants to say hello", the boy shifted in her arms lifting his head up and blinking a few times before sliding down from her arms and looking up at the pirate in awe.

Killian squared down to his height and said "well hello Henry, it's a pleasure to meet you"

Henry's face lit up, "it's a pleasure to meet you, captain sir!" He lifted his hand to his head in salute.

Killian smiled then went straight back into character "tell me lad, how old are you?"

"4 years and a 1/4 sir" 4 years old, just like Liam.

Killian continued "well Henry if you're good for your mum, do your chores and work hard in school I'm sure you'll grow up to be a fine sailor one day!" He gave him a wink and stood back up, his eyes drifting towards the pram, "and who is this?" He asked,

"my little sister, Kathryn" Henry said proudly.

"Little sister..." Killian was suddenly lost in thought, "my wife always wanted a little girl..." He quickly shut his eyes and winced, he was so tired he'd forgotten where he was! He was silently cursing himself for being so candid with fans, then the mother spoke softly,

"my husband wanted a girl too..." She hesitated, questioning if she should continue, "but he died before she was born...I...I'm so sorry you lost your wife, it's...there are no words." Killian was speechless. He looked in her eyes and he saw it, all the pain and loneliness that he had been feeling too. And for the first time he'd met someone who truly understood the hell he was living. "Thank you for coming to say hi, can Henry get a picture with you?" Emma asked, changing the subject quickly.

"Of course" he replied, pulled back into reality, and did a pirate pose with the young boy. Mary Margaret got a picture with him too. Then he said goodbye but as he started to walk away he heard the boy ask his mother if he could be carried again. Without hesitation she picked him up in her arms. Killian stopped, he knew she was tired, he was tired too but he turned around and said "please, would you let a pirate carry you to your car Henry?"
"Oh, thank you but that's really not necessary, I'm sure you've had a long day!" Emma interrupted
"Please mum, please!" Henry begged
"It would be my pleasure; that is if you're ok with me carrying your son" Killian assured her.

She looked at her sons pleading eyes and agreed. Killian took him into his arms and walked them to the car.
"Thank you so much" Emma said as Killian gently set Henry, who had fallen asleep again, in the car.
"Well enjoy your time in Vancouver ladies!"
He put his hand up to wave goodbye and walked back towards his trailer, as he drove home that night his mind kept wandering back to those sad green eyes.