The gangplank was barely lowered before Emma launched herself in Killian's arms, Daliah still on her hip. His didn't hesitate before engulfing them both is an embrace, his face buried in her curls, her free hand clutching his head as she pressed her forehead to his shoulder, crying with no qualms now.

"Oh, God. Oh, God. Oh, God," she kept mumbling over and over, barely heard over Daliah's delightful shrikes as she wriggled in their embrace.

"Swan," he breathed, pulling back as much as he dared, cupping her face as dragging her lips to his.

She sobbed against his lips, unable to stop herself from kissing him, touching him; her hands roamed his back, his chest, tracing his face almost roughly.

"Daddy!" Daliah cried, launching herself at him, her tiny arms wrapped around his neck and her face pressed to his neck. Her tiny shoulders shook with sobs as she hugged him close.

He held her to his tight, his heart breaking. "Shh, darling. Shh, I'm home. It's okay," he soothed, rubbing her back as his eyes locked with Emma's, both of them teary eyed.

That's when she finally took him in. He looked ragged. His hair was longer, face bearded and thick, skin almost sagging, and his eyes-Oh God his eyes. They were bloodshot and wide and tortured. As if he'd been through hell and back, just to get back.

But he was back.

She cupped his face, tracing the dark circles under his eyes, blinking away her tears. "Let's get you to the hospital."

-/-

Emma hasn't let go of his hand. Not once. And Daliah hadn't let him go either. Not that he was complaining.

"You're severely dehydrated, as far as I can tell. I want to run further tests, so I suggest you stay the night," Whale said, looking up and smiled. "But I'll let you guys be for some time. Let me just set you up with an IV."

Emma smiled gratefully at him, her eyes drifting back to Killian and Daliah, unable to stop her smile as she watched the two interact. Daliah was animatedly telling him just about everything he missed. Emma felt her throat constrict and she leaned over, turning him to face her and kissing him, surprising him,

But the surprise was short lived as he tangled his hand in her hair, deepening the kiss, his teeth nipping her bottom lip.

"Daaaadyyy!" their daughter whined, making him chuckle and pull away.

"I'm sorry, princess," he apologised, his voice scratchy still. "But I need to tend to both my girls," he grinned, winking at Emma, making her chuckle.

God, how she missed his grin. How she missed him

"Hey," she tugged on his hand. "I love you."

He smiled, all star eyed and gentle faced. "I love you," he traced the back on his hand down her cheek, making her lean into his touch.

"And you, my wee lass," he playfully growled, tickling Daliah, making her giggle. God, how much she missed her daughter's laugh.

She felt the tears sting her eyes, and was thankful when the doors burst open, revealing what seemed like half the town. Or maybe it was just their family.

"Killian!" Henry exclaimed, running over and throwing his arms around his step-father. "I knew you'd come back!" he grinned.

"Aye, lad," he grinned, hugging him back, mindful of his IV. "I'm glad to be back."

"And we're glad to have you back," Mary Margret added, moving to hug him next. "You were sorely missed, pirate," she whispered, pressing a kiss to his forehead affectionately. "Welcome home."

His throat closed up as she brushed the hair from his face, smiling down at him before giving way for the next person.

"You have missed quite a few of our book club meetings," Belle teased as she hugged him as well, squeezing him tight.

He breathed a laugh, "I apologise, milady."

When she pulled back, her eyes were glassy but her smile wide. "Apology accepted. Oh, and I got you this," she held up a bag. At his raised eyebrow, she explained, "Um, your clothes… I figured you'd want to bathe and change."

His expression softened, as he swallowed around the lump in his throat… So many people, concerned for him…

"Thank you," Emma answered for him, squeezing his hand discreetly, knowing- always knowing- him. He squeezed back, his pulse jumping.

He cleared his throat, turning to David. "Dave, mate! No hug for me, I see," he teased, making David roll his eyes.

-/-

It was hours before everyone left, reluctantly. Daliah had drifted off to sleep, hugging herself to Killian's side; he and Emma were finally alone.

Her hand trembled as she pushed his hair away from his face, "You need a haircut," she mused, lips pursed.

He caught her hand, bringing it to his lip and pressing them to her knuckles. "How I missed you, Swan," he sighed.

"How I missed you," she mumbled back, resting her forehead to his. She took in a shuttered breath, "God, Killian," she whimpered, closing her eyes. "God, I was so scared."

"Hush, love. I'm here now."

She nodded, tears streaming down her face, mingling with his own.

-/-

"He is banged up, and he's still weak. He needs a lot of rest. But otherwise, he's fine," Whale smiled.

"We go home now?" Daliah exclaimed, perking up.

The adults laughed, Killian nuzzling her hair. "Yes, baby. We can go home now," Emma assured her, locking eyes with Killian.

-/-

They were barely through the door before a blue blur rushed past, arms thrown around Killian, almost knocking him down.

"Uff," he huffed, eyes wide as he hugged the person back. "Elsa?!" he exclaimed. "What in the worlds are you doing here?" he grinned, pulling away.

Emma smiled, letting them reunite as she ushered Daliah in and to her bath, the child protesting the whole while.

"Well," the blonde pursed her lips in mock annoyance. "Someone got himself lost, so I came to help my best friend find him. Such a bother, this man."

Killian felt his heart soar. "Where were you?" she asked, asking the question everyone was itching to.

"I-" he hesitated. "It's a long story. One I wish not to relive." he sighed. "But..thank you. For coming. I know it was as much for Emma. I-I'm glad she had you. There wasn't a day that went by that I didn't…Gods, there wasn't a day that those two weren't a constant presence in my mind," he ran his hand through his hair. "Thank you for being there for her. For them."

Elsa nodded, hugging him again. "I am so relived that you're safe, Killian. She-she missed you infinitely. And so did the rest of us."

He nodded, speechless. "I'll let you two be. Give you some family time. You all need it. I'll see you," she smiled, kissing his cheek before leaving.

He closed the door, leaning heavily against it. His fingernails dug into the door as he saw flashes of his time in the island. Fire and steel and endless pain.

He whirled around, eyes wide and alert as he felt a hand on his shoulder. Emma was quick to take her hand back, her own eyes reflecting shock.

He relaxed slightly, reaching out and pulling her to his chest. "Swan," he breathed as she melted into him. "Emma."

She hummed, snuggling closer. She pressed her nose to his neck, "You need to shave," she mumbled, pressing a kiss there.

"Hmmm," he agreed, not moving.

She sighed deeply, pulling away reluctantly. "Come on. Let's say goodnight to Daliah."

He smiled, his hand catching her arm. She raised an eyebrow in question. He brushed her hair behind her ear, gazing at her wordlessly, a soft smile on his face and his eyes so, so light.

She smiled her secret smile at him, one that was all his, as if she understood what he couldn't say. And why wouldn't she? He was as much an open book to her and she was to him.

They stayed that way, eyes locked and a hundred conversations taking place all at once, before Emma broke their gaze. "Let's go."

"Let's."

-/-

Emma laid her head on his bare chest, trying to get her heart to stop racing.

He silently ran his fingers slowly up and down her arm, making her shiver-not just from the cold. He paused, pulling the blankets up higher around her shoulders, only softly hissing as she pressed her cold feet to his calves.

Emma closed her eyes, pressing her ear to his chest, listening to his own racing heart. She sighed softly, the soft whisper of air loud in the room. "I missed this," she admitted, her nails gently scratching his chest.

He pressed a kiss to her head, "What can I say, love? I'm a man of many talents." He chuckled as she swatted his chest, placing her hands over his heart, balancing her chin on them, looking up at him with love in her eyes and a dull ache in her heart.

"You're an idiot," she smiled. "No," she continued. "I missed falling asleep to the sound of your heart beat."

His face fell, expression saddened. "I'm sorry I put you through that, darling," he whispered brokenly, a furrow forming between his eyebrows.

"You have nothing to apologise for," she replied sternly.

"I should never have left," he protested. "It's my fault…the hell you went through."

"Killian…" she trailed off, almost scoffing. "I-I don't care about any of that. All I care about right now is that you're home," she whispered, her voice breaking towards the end. "There were days when I thought you were lost to me forever. God, I didn't know how I would have ever moved on, how I would have ever learned to live without-" she cut herself off, unable to continue through the thickness in her throat.

Her tears blurred her vision and she leaned down, pressing her lips to his harshly, teeth digging into his lip.

"Emma," he breathed, pulling back. "I survived that hell because of you and our daughter. For both of you. Every time I felt like giving up, all I could think about was Daliah having to grow up without a father. Or leaving you all alone. I-I-" he stuttered. "Bloody hell, woman. I love you so bloody much. Every day I was away from you was every day I regret. Will forever," he declared.

She had tears streaming down from her eyes steadily. "Wha-what happened to your there?" she asked, tracing a particularly nasty scar that ran across his shoulder.

"Story for another day, my love," he replied, clearly not wanting to talk about.

She simply nodded, resting back against him.

The ache in her heart dulled some more.