Many apologies for the shortness of the last chapter- and apologies for those of you who this chapter will upset! please review and let me know what you think!


Hook felt frozen, but he refused to surrender- his slow decent through the clouds meant he was nearly there- home, with Emma. He was ready to die, if it meant that she would live.

The pre-sunrise sky, was bright in this world, Hook noticed as his beloved ship broke through the cloud. In the distance, he could see the speck of land that would soon become Storybrooke. So close to her. The ship was slowing, preparing to return to its place in the water. Hook untied the rope that bound him the his ship, and returned to the Helm, determined to enjoy what little of the ocean he had left. Soon he would be allowed to stare into those deep pools of green that Emma dismissed as eyes- they were not simply eyes, they were the most beautiful eyes that had ever captivated him, across all the lands.

It felt like bare seconds before he was floating into the harbour, the Jolly Roger guiding itself into the still empty dock. Killian hurried to his cabin, gently wrapping the jars in cloths and packing them into a bag, he put gently over his shoulders- fearful he would break the glass and all hope would be lost. He gave his ship one last parting glance, wishing her well in whoever her next captain would be. And then, he was gone from the harbour- walking as fast as he could to the hospital, wishing he had at least paid attention to how to steer one of those infernal metal contraptions, at least he would get there in a moment.

The hospital was silent- the early morning visitors were yet to arrive. He found Emma's room once more, and almost knocked Whale flat in his hurry to enter.

'Whale! Come man, you must hurry!' Hook swung the bag from his back. 'We must find a way to get this into her'

'Hook... she's not going to be the same person if you wake her up' Whale said gently 'She has suffered too much damage to her organs, for too long'

'You have to try! I didn't sail to other worlds to be defeated on the doorstep!' Hook was angry, and he had no problem displaying it. 'You must mix the powder, into the water. And then you must get it into her, through that bag you have attached to her arm, or through her mouth'

Whale stared at him for the longest moment, before he accepted the bag and hurried into Emma's room. She looked thin, drawn- almost skeleton like. Hook nearly collapsed by her side 'How long have I been gone?'

'Almost 3 weeks' Whale responded gently, mixing the two ingredients together. It fizzed and bubbled, then turned a brilliant purple. 'Are you sure?'

'The giant said it was their remedy, what other option do we have?' Killian stroked the hair away from Emma's face, and kissed her lips gently and whispered her name 'I'm here love, I'm here, come back to me'

Whale, syringe in hand, readied her vein, and without further warning, pushed the bright liquid into her system. 'I hope you're right'

The response was almost instantaneous. The heart monitor began beeping regularly, strong, full beats. Her lungs searched for air, as she gasped around her ventilator tube. Whale removed it as quickly and gently as he could, while pressing the call button for nurses. She didn't open her eyes.

'Emma, darling, wake up' Killian pleaded, his mouth at her ear 'You must wake up now'

Whale injected her again, and made a whispered order to a nurse to call her family. Emma's eyelids fluttered, her leg jolted. She gasped for air again, and her hands clenched.

'Her blood pressure is levelling, temperature returning to normal' a nurse said evenly 'kidney function returning' Whale injected her again, and again, her body regaining its will to live. Still her eyes remained closed.

'Her bodily functions are all normal, Doctor' the nurse announced, ten minutes later.

'Emma, wake up' Killian whispered, kissing her soft lips again.

'Give her time Hook, her body has just recovered itself from the brink of death' Whale rested a hand on his arm 'She will wake up. You've saved her'

Killian closed his eyes, sighed, and straightened himself 'Aye, that I have mate, I am a regular hero' he smirked, no longer would he be weak 'I shall meet her family and tell them the good news' he left the room, each step he took away from his love tearing him further in two. It wasn't long until he heard the Charming family rushing down the halls.

'Killian!' Henry called, and ran to him 'You're back'

'Aye lad' he ruffled the boy's hair 'you didn't think I could abandon you did you?'

'How is she?' David asked, and Killian then recognized how much of him was in his daughter. He had lost weight, and he looked exhausted 'Is she going to..'

Hook rested a hand on his shoulder 'Aye, she will live. She hasn't awoken yet, but she will' he voice broke, and he looked at the floor, ashamed that he was tearing up in the face of his death, of losing Emma all over again.

'Hook, what is it?' Snow asked, her gentle tone forcing him to meet her eyes

He cleared his throat 'I'm just pleased I made it back in time'

'We can never thank-you enough, Killian' David smiled

'Mind if I had a moment with the boy? I will send him to you momentarily' he asked, and Henry's grandparents nodded, moving past them towards Emma's room.

'Whats up?' Henry asked

'I need you to tell your mother something, for me, lad' Hook crouched to Henry's height

'Why can't you tell her?'

'Because I have to go' he answered shortly, not wanting to give the lad too many ideas 'Please boy, just do me this one favour- tell your mother that I love her more than any other' he gave Henry a look that silenced his questions

'I'll tell her the moment she wakes up' he agreed, in awe of the pirate 'she loves you too'

Killian ruffled the boy's hair affectionately 'Thank-you lad- run along now' he stepped past the boy, and walked onwards without looking back.


He knew how to get to Rumpelstiltskin's shop without raising his eyes from his boots. His heart begged him to return, but if he saw Emma awake, alive, he would never be able to give himself up. He pushed the door, and stood in the middle of the hop, looking around at the trinkets and treasures, his last view of this world.

'Rumpelstiltskin' he called, fighting every urge to leave.

'I'm right here dearie' Gold entered from behind his curtain, leaning heavily on his cane. 'I'm so glad you have decided to show some honour'

'The Swan girl is recovering. I may be a pirate, crocodile, but I always pay my debts' Hook stood tall refusing to show fear in the face of his enemy.

'How nice that you will leave her with such fond memories of yourself' Gold smiled, and it was the smile of the cat who'd got the cream. Triumphant, after hundreds of years. 'You've made a valiant opponent' Hook didn't speak 'Any last words?'

'No' he shook his head, filling his mind with thoughts of Emma.

'Very well' Gold smiled. Hook gasped as the cold hand slithered into his chest, wrapping cold dark fingers around his heart.