A/N: Pleeeeease don't hate me! I know this is a really touchy subject—I knew that going into this! But, I've been wanting to write Doctor!Killian for a while now, and after re-reading TFIOS, and watching The Last Song, and being in the hospital one night over the summer… I've been so inspired.

Again, I listened to 'Blackbird' by the Beatles writing this chapter, along with 'Sigh No More' by Mumford & Sons. Enjoy!


Henry's leukemia had spread quicker than the doctors had thought it would. They couldn't stop it. And Henry only had a few more months to a year left.

Emma still hadn't entirely processed it. She had taken him out of school, and he was being homeschooled by Mary Margaret. She and David had been helping them out for the past few weeks, by getting their groceries, taking care of Henry if Emma had a issue to solve, and best of all, they kept the two busy.

Killian was a great distraction as well. When Henry was in the hospital, he and Emma had coffee a few times. Talking to him made everything easier-he was sweet and understanding, he knew what Emma was going through.

He made Emma believe she could get through this in one piece.

One night, Henry got very, very sick. So, David immediately came over to rush him and Emma to the emergency room.

As the nurses buzzed around him, Emma sat in the waiting room alone, after she'd begged David to go home and get rest. She sat quietly and cried, hoping, praying this wasn't it for Henry.

"Emma?" Killian's voice asked. She looked up to see him standing in front of her, his eyebrows furrowed.

"He's so sick," was all she could choke out before she was in tears again.

She buried her face in her hands again, and it was only moments before she felt strong arms around her. Without missing a beat, she leaned into his arms.

"It's okay to be upset, Emma." Killian whispered, "But, Henry is strong. He will make it through this."

"I hope you're right." Emma spoke through tears.

"I am. I promise." Killian spoke softly, "I promise."


After what seemed like a lifetime passed, Emma was finally able to go see Henry.

"Hey, kid." She sighed as she walked in. She hated seeing him in a hospital bed with all those cords around him.

"I'm sorry I scared you, Mom." Henry spoke in a small voice that made Emma's heart break.

"No, no, don't be sorry." She replied, hurrying to the bed and hugging him tight, "You can't control this."

"I know, but I hate when you're worried." Henry replied.

Emma tightened her grip on him, a few tears falling from her eyes as she realized how thin he was. God, he was so sick.

"Henry, if you and your mother would like, we could take a walk." Killian offered. Emma had forgotten he was even there.

Henry pulled away and smiled to Emma.

"Can we?"

"Sure, kid. Just be careful of your IV pole, okay?" Emma asked, standing up straight and helping her son out of the bed. He leaned against her, wrapping his arm around her waist. She carefully walked out of the room, Killian following behind.

"You feeling better, Henry?" Killian smiled, helping him by taking the IV pole.

"Sort of. They gave me a lot of pain killers." Henry spoke with a smile.

"That's good. I promise you'll start feeling better soon." Killian chuckled, "So, aside from video games, what do you like to do?"

"I love reading." Henry grinned, "My favorite class is English."

"Really? Mine too!" Killian spoke with genuine excitement, "I loved English when I was in school. I was this close to becoming a writer."

"Well, I'm glad you became a doctor. You're making me and my mom happy." Henry smiled, making Emma blush.

"Henry." Emma spoke in an almost scolding tone, a smile on her face.

"It's fine. You two make me happy, too." Killian grinned, making Emma's heart swell.

"What do you like to do, Killian?" Henry asked, making both Emma and Killian chuckle.

"Uh, well, I play guitar a little in my spare time." Killian shrugged, "But, that's about it."

"You play guitar?" Henry smiled.

"I do. Maybe you can come over to my house one day and I can teach you." Killian smiled, looking to Emma, "If your mother would be alright with it."

"Of course." Emma grinned, "I think that'd be fun."

"Maybe sometime next week. I'm off on Tuesday, if that works for you."

"Tuesday sounds perfect." Emma smiled, meeting his beautiful ocean-tone eyes.

"Tuesday it is, then." Killian smiled.


"Mom, you look beautiful, I promise." Henry called from where he reclined on Emma's bed. She poked her head from the closet with a smile and narrowed eyes.

"What? You and I both know that you like him." Henry grinned, making Emma scoff.

"I don't know what you're talking about." Emma smiled, walking back into the closet and looking in the mirror.

After only standing there a few moments, Henry appeared at her side. She still hadn't gotten used to his shaved head, something Killian had helped him do a few days prior at the hospital.

"Mom, don't be nervous. I think he likes you, too." Henry smiled.

"Really?"

"Yeah. I mean, what's not to like? You're gorgeous, and nice, and funny-any guy's dream." Henry grinned, making Emma laugh.

"You are something else, Henry." Emma smiled, hugging him closer. There was an unspoken "I'll miss you" between them, something neither wanted to speak.

"But, you love me." He spoke with a toothy grin.

"Of course I love you." Emma smiled.

"If you love me, you'll listen to me & stay in that dress." Henry spoke with an arched brow, making Emma chuckle.

"Alright, kid. You have his address, right?"

"Yep!" Henry smiled, and with that, the two walked out of her closet.


"Mom, please don't worry about this." Henry smiled as they waited for him to let them into his apartment building.

"I'm not."

"Your superpower may be detecting lies, but you are terrible at telling them."

Emma scoffed at her son, her mouth agape at what he said. But, before she could reply, the door opened.

Killian stood in front of them, a wide smile on his lips. He was in a button down and jeans, making Emma smile. Killian looked surprisingly good in scrubs, but seeing him in casual clothes was godsend.

"Hey, you found the place." He grinned, leaning forward and pressing a light kiss to Emma's cheek.

"We did." She smiled, giggling as Henry hurried to hug him.

"How are you feeling, Henry? I gotta say, the shaved head is a good look for you. Makes you look cool. All you need is a leather jacket." Killian grinned.

"Thanks." Henry laughed in response.

"Well, why don't you two come in-dinner's almost ready." Killian smiled, leading them into the apartment complex, "In the meantime, maybe I can start teaching you the basic chords."

Henry nodded with a beaming smile, making both Emma and Killian laugh.

Emma didn't think she'd ever see Henry smile so wide. Killian was good with him-he was patient as Henry tried learning how to play. She sipped on her wine as she watched them play, occasionally clapping or laughing as Killian showed off.


Killian had made some chicken dish for them that both Henry and Emma loved. Shortly after dinner, Henry was sound asleep on the couch.

"All that guitar playing wore him out." Killian chuckled, gently placing a throw blanket over him.

"Thank you, for teaching him. He loved it." Emma smiled.

"Of course." Killian shrugged, "He's a natural."

Emma giggled under her breath, moving to the large picture window and looking out.

"You have a great view." Emma noted, taking a sip of her wine.

"Yeah, I love it. I can see the whole city from here. Perfect in the mornings for coffee." Killian grinned, walking to stand beside her.

"I bet." Emma smiled, looking to him before feeling her cheeks get warm.

Killian set a careful hand on her cheek, gently turning her face until she was facing him. She felt her breath escape her, her lips slightly parting as Killian's eyes pierced through hers.

It was only seconds before she felt his soft, soft lips on hers, her eyes slowly fluttering closed. Something felt incredible about his lips, something she'd never felt before. His lips opened and closed around hers as if they had done so for centuries.

Once they tugged away, Emma pressed her forehead against his, letting out a quiet laugh.

"That was lovely." Killian smiled.

"Yeah." Emma grinned, "It was."

"Would you like some more wine?"

"Are you trying to get me too drunk to drive home?" Emma giggled.

"Maybe." Killian smiled, earning a playful shove.

"Looks like someone's ready to go home." Emma smiled, looking to Henry, who was still out on the couch.

"You know, he's a really great kid." Killian spoke softly.

"I know." Emma spoke softly, "I hope... I hope he beats this. I can't live without him."

Killian tugged her close by her shoulders, pulling her into his side.

"He will. He's strong, Emma. And, I don't care what the other doctors think. Henry has a lot of faith in himself, you have faith in him, and I do, too." Killian said, "I'm not saying this will be at all easy, but even just a little hope goes a long way."

"Thank you." Emma whispered.

"And, if you'd like, you two are welcome to stay here tonight. I could sleep on the couch, and you and Henry could take my bed."

"Oh, Killian-"

"I promise it's not a big deal." He shrugged, "Think about it, okay? For now, you and I can have another drink."

Emma grinned and followed him back to the kitchen, realizing that maybe he'd been what she was looking for all along.