Sacrifice
He had never known the true meaning of the word. Liam had tried to explain many times in their youth, but he always ended his interpretation with "it is something that you must feel, brother." As a pirate, he forgot about the words, never considering giving his life for another. That was, until he met her. The beautiful blonde woman who made him question everything that he thought he knew, and who stole his heart somewhere along their journey.
"I would give my life for Henry's, if it came down to it." When she told him this, it made his heart hurt, a sinking feeling settling deep in his bones. The pirate brushed off the sensation, reasoning with himself that it would never come to that.
He was wrong.
He should have known that when the crocodile came back, it was too good to be true. His suspicions were proven to be correct as Rumplestiltskin held a pistol in hand, pointed at Emma. "The boy comes with me, or she dies." The voice that emanated from Killian's nemesis was shrill and distinctly female, and he could see the disgust in Rumple's eyes as he held the gun.
Henry stepped forward, breaking through the barrier they had created for him, fully prepared to take his mother's place. The bravery on the lad's face struck Killian hard and in that moment he knew that he could not let this happen. Not to this woman, to her son, or to her family. He had felt their love all around him in the time he had spent fighting by their sides, and he would not let another death break away at these people.
Stepping toward the boy, Hook placed a hand on his shoulder and pulled him back gently as he made his way to the crocodile. "No, I'll go." He explained lowly while placing himself in the line of fire, between Emma and the weapon, protecting her, always protecting her. Pistol digging into the skin of his chest, he repeated his words. "I'll go, but you must leave this family alone."
"Killian?" Emma's voice was weak and it cracked as she spoke, soft words whispered next to his ear. "You don't have to do this."
"But I do, my love." He replied calmly, eyes never leaving the monster in front of him as it slowly transformed into the witch that had plagued this town for weeks. "You see, this is my sacrifice."
"Oh Captain, you see love is weakness. But I will agree to your terms." The green witch said maliciously, pulling the trigger faster than anyone could react. He felt more than heard the shot as it rang out, bullet embedding his chest and forcing him to collapse. As the edges of the world faded away, he was content. A hero's death, just as he had always wanted, and as his eyes met Emma's, he knew that the sacrifice was worth it.
And when he awoke two days later, in a hospital bed with Emma in a chair by his side, he knew.
She would always be worth it.