Killian had fought against every fiber in his being to listen to Emma. When Gold appeared, she had made the ludicrous request that he stay put, but then followed it up with a plea to trust her. So he stood by, and looked on as she rushed in to fight his battle. He was promptly floored by her magical emanation.

The blast didn't hurt, physically. Most of his pain came from from the frustration of being completely aware of his surroundings, but unable to see or move or speak. He heard Emma take credit for his sleep state, and tearfully leave him in the care of Snow and David. He heard Snow reassure him in the ambulance that everything would be alright. At that point, she was speaking more for her own benefit. He knew that it would work out quite well.

As soon as he had hit the ground, Killian realized he was free, as if some sense had been suddenly knocked into him. Revenge reaped destruction and eventually death. He had been resigned to this truth for hundreds of years, and considered his willingness to die to be quite noble. But the memory of those years felt like just a couple of hours compared to his time in Storybrooke. The difference being, in Storybrooke he had begun trying to live again. In Storybrooke, his self-destructive tendencies were a slap in the face of woman who needed him to stand and fight with her, not waste his life and her heart trying to find peace for an age old memory.

Emma wanted him alive, and whether she knew it or not, she was making sacrifices to keep him that way. He was amused when he noticed the repetition of a certain theme. She always seemed to be tying him up - to a tree, in the giant's treasure room, in the hospital, in a long list of arrests, and now here, trapped in his own mind. He wondered if he would miss that, once he was finally awakened. It stood to reason they would no longer need to play that game.

He delighted himself, imagining the new games they would play. All that was left for him to do was wait. And waiting was something he'd become rather used to.

Emma slept in the chair next to Killian's bed until morning light peeked through the blinds, and David peeked through the door with a cup of coffee. Emma was bleary-eyed and cramped, and happy to see coffee, but not much else.

"Have you tried kissing him yet?" David asked, earnestly.

Emma glared at him. She was not expecting encouragement from David, of all people. But he was serious, and there was no malice in his tone. She swallowed, then was momentarily distracted by the shuffle of feet in the hallway. Snow and Henry were hiding behind David. Once spotted, they decided to tiptoe into the room. The only greeting Emma could muster was to stand, and then immediately lean on Killian's bed. Henry walked over and gave her a hug and a bright smile.

"Do you feel better?" He asked, kindly.

"I'm not the patient here," Emma responded, a little indignantly.

"Well Killian looks fine. He kind of looks happy. You look sick."

Emma, Snow and David couldn't help but smile at Henry's honesty. Emma was a sight for sore eyes, while Killian continued to look ruddy and peaceful. They watched him breath, each getting lost in their under-rested thoughts. Except Henry. He nudged Emma with his elbow.

"You have to go for it. You can't leave him waiting all day."

Emma gave Henry a close-lipped smile, and a nod. She stood up straight, and turned to face Killian, taking a step closer to the head of the bed. She reached a hand to his shoulder, and stood still, looking at his face. Her cheeks began to burn as she felt Snow and David's eyes on the back of her head.

Everyone held their breath when Emma finally leaned over, and pressed her mouth on Killian's. Suddenly, and silently, the room was filled with a mystical gold glitter. And then, just as suddenly, Emma leaned back to see what she'd done, and everything returned to normal.

"It's about bloody time." Killian's eyes were open, and he smiled from ear to ear, gazing at Emma.

Snow let out a little sob of emotion, hiding her mouth behind her hands. This drew Killian's eyes to his other visitors, momentarily.

"Secret's out then, eh, love?"

Emma nearly leapt forward, capturing Killian in a constrictive hug. He continued to grin, closing his eyes for a moment to breath in the scent of her hair. He noticed that he was without his hook, and proceeded to sit up and wrap both arms around Emma's waist, tightly.

At that, Snow could do nothing but stare, and silently blubber. David rolled his eyes at his emotional wife, and proceeded to usher her and Henry out of the room, shutting the door behind them, this time.

Emma didn't want to let Killian out of her grip, but she eventually had to release him in order to see his face once more.

"I'm sorry, Emma." Killian spoke directly, looking deep into her eyes.

"You're sorry? Sorry for what? I did this to you." What little moisture could be found in her body was getting ready to pour from her eyes once more, but Killian shook his head at her.

"You took whatever evil Gold was trying to throw at me and turned it into a catnap. A rather comfortable one, at that." He smirked for a moment, then eyed her seriously once more.

"I'm sorry you didn't know for sure."

Emma looked down for a moment, thinking of her speech from the night before. Of course he had heard. She smiled and climbed into his bed, confidently.

"I wouldn't have believed you if you'd told me. Lucky for me, we passed the crazy true-love magic test."

She was sitting close to him now, sliding her boots under the sheets with little regard for cleanliness.

"Lucky for us. Now that you've woken me, I'm feeling fit. Are you ready to take me home?"

"Where is home?" Emma had not ever considered how normal life and dating a pirate would coincide.

"Home is the Jolly Roger." Killian lifted his hand to indicate he was not finished. "And the Jolly Roger's home is any port that Emma Swan deems fit."

"I can come live on your ship?" Emma's face shone with a youthful excitement that she hadn't felt or show to anyone in eleven years..

"Naturally." Killian reached over and brushed some of Emma's golden curls behind her shoulder. "Henry as well, I should think, unless you're worried I'll be a poor influence."

"No. But I might hear differently from Snow and David. Oh God, and Regina."

Killian winced as if he had just stubbed his toe.

"Ah yes. It seems I've grown a rather convoluted family, overnight."

"I know you feel. You'll get used to it."

Killian jokingly gave her a less than enthusiastic glare, to distract her from his wandering hand, which was snaking around her narrow hip, into the waistband of her jeans.

Emma yelped and arched her back automatically at his touch, then cupped his face with her hands, brushing her nose playfully across his before dotting his lips with gentle kisses. Killian pulled her over top of him, easily, as their kisses deepened. Suddenly, Emma pulled back, propping herself up over his head with straightened arms.

"So this is it? No more revenge?" They had left one very important matter unspoken up until then.

Killian's gaze shot up at her through his eyebrows, a smouldering reprimand for the interruption.

"Aye, love. No more revenge."

"Just like that?" Emma was breathless.

Killian looked at her quizzically, wondering if she'd forgotten how exactly they came to be making-out in a hospital in the first place.

"Like magic," he quipped.

Emma smiled down at her true love, Killian Jones. A myriad of hardships suddenly seemed worthwhile now that she could credit them with leading her to this moment. Killian Jones propped himself up on his stump to reach the lips of his true love, Emma Swan. He could finally lay to rest the three-hundred year vendetta that had sent him searching for death, only to discover a brand new life. They easily ignored a timid knock at the door as they christened Killian's hospital bed with their true love's maiden voyage.

~ The End ~

A/N: This has been so much fun! I'd like to say I'll write more CS stories, but I feel like I've said all I wanted to say about these characters, at the moment. I'll have to keep watching OUaT to see if more inspiration hits. Viva Captain Swan :)

I really loved reading your comments. Thank you for the support! I can't believe I will be able to mark this COMPLETE!