Killian and Emma stood hand in hand at the top of the gang plank. Killian watched her with uncertainty. It was his turn to be nervous. "What?"

"When we step off this ship, everyone is going to know about us. Your parents, Henry, Bae," Killian said, looking at her for reassurance. For a pirate captain, he actually looked frightened. "Are you sure this is what you want? Or are we just chasing after a dream?" Emma put her other hand on his, enveloping his hand with both of hers.

"We'll be okay. We'll figure it out together," she said, starting down the gang plank. She looked back at Killian, who remained immovable. "Killian, come on."

"There's just one more thing, Swan," Killian said. "Why did you do it?"

"Do what?"

"Take the bullet for me? A worthless pirate?" Emma took a few steps up the gang plank again to meet his gaze.

"You and I, we understand each other, don't we? Even when we're doing our best to hide the truth?" Killian nodded. "You said your heart was rotten, but your eyes," she said, placing a hand on his cheek. "Were filled with regret, loneliness. You don't feel those things if your heart is rotten. And like I said, I've seen another side to you." She flipped over her hand and guided his fingers to trace the faint scar across her palm. "Someone good, someone brave, someone who doesn't have to have a silly innuendo every five minutes." They both chuckled, then Emma grew very serious. "I once felt lonely too, like no one in the world cared about me, then Henry found me. I realized that it just takes someone to show you that you matter, that someone cares. I wanted to show you."

"By taking a bullet?"

"Well," she said, smiling at him. "Not my most ideal situation, but I guess protecting you was instinct. I didn't want you to die." Killian cupped her cheek and pulled her in for a kiss.

"Thank you, Swan," he said, his voice low and deep, almost in a whisper. She pressed her forehead to his and wrapped her arms around him.

"Now, what about you? Once we step off this ship, what about your revenge? What do you choose to be?" Killian looked down at her and smiled. There were still questions, there were still concerns, but in Killian's smile was a promise that everything was going to be okay, and Emma believed him with all her heart.

"I choose to be a man worthy of the look in your eyes when you smile at me."

The End

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