Love, Love is a verb

Love is a doing word

"Mother, are you coming?" Liam asked.

Emma stared at the empty space for a moment longer before turning to her son and walking towards him, "Yes, of course."

Liam smiled before turning to run off toward the castle, while Emma took all the time in the world to go up the stairs because she was so enveloped by her thoughts.

Her pirate had come back for her. The moment she had waited for, for years, and yet, something inside of her tore. She was not sure what it was, but it tore at her heart and she could do nothing to sooth it. All she could think about was how she had to just wait out his stay, and hope that the did not come back, because gods know that she would not be able to stay away from him.

"Emma," Bae said, pulling her out of her thoughts as he embraced her and kissed his wife, "I'm so glad to be home."

Emma looked at her husband and masked her inner turmoil, "I'm happy you're finally home. Two months is too long of a voyage."

Baelfire's smile lowered into a frown, "I just remembered I have to go into town for some business, It'll be a night, is that okay?"

Emma gave him the best smile she could, "Of course, the kingdom comes first."

"That's my love," Baelfire said before looking at Liam, "Take care of your mother, will you."

"Always!" The boy chirped as he walked with Bae to the stables.

Emma sighed, as she watched her son and husband walk off, thinking about how that could've been Killian and Liam…

"Don't fill your mind with fantasies Emma," She whispered to herself as she entered her chambers.

The door slammed shut behind her making her jump around.

"But love, fantasies are make this world turn 'round," Hook said stepping out from the shadows.

"Killian, what are you doing here?" Emma asked her nerves calming down, "I thought you left."

"Like I could leave you again," Hook said stepping towards her, "I just didn't want to get seen by your husband.

"Wouldn't want him getting the wrong idea." He said, wiggling his eyebrows.

"Yes, we wouldn't," Emma said defensively, "I…"

"You what? Love him?" Hook said stepping forward, "You and I both know that's not true. That your heart will always belong to me as mine does to you."

Emma stepped back, and looked him squarely in the eyes, "What if I didn't love you anymore."

Hook paused for a moment, searching her eyes for truth in the words, "You are a bad lier love."

Emma took a step forward her gaze strong, "What if I said you were dead to me."

Again Hook searched her eyes, and saw how empty her words word, "Then I've nothing to live for."

"That's not true," Emma said glaring, "You'd do anything to stay alive, you're a pirate."

He shook his head, "No, Emma. I would have nothing to live for because even though I left you, I knew I would always be in your heart."

"How could you be so sure?" she asked.

"Because you are like me, we love with everything we have," Hook replied softly, looking at his hook,"We love even if it means we get hurt."

Emma followed his gaze to his hook, and this time she stepped forward to touch it, "Killian tell me what happened."

Hook opened his mouth to speak but shut it quickly, "No, it's nothing interesting."

She sighed and turned away walking towards her mirror, "What did you come for?"

Hook lifted his eyes to watch her looking at him through the mirror, and he stepped close behind her.

"Killian?" She asked as he stepped forward and placed his hand and hook on her hips and kissed her exposed shoulder, making her shudder, "What did you come for?"

"I came," He said punctuating with a kiss, "for you."

Emma's eyes fluttered close, "What- what do you mean?"

He pulled away and spun her to look her in the eyes, "I came to take you away."

At those words Emma's eyes shot open and she pulled out of his grip, "Take me away? But I have a husband, a life… A son."

Hook looked at her and saw that she was only hanging onto this life style by a thread, "A husband you don't love, a life you despised. Is that really how you want to live?"

"But Liam?" Emma choked out.

But Hook knew better, he knew the secret she tried so hard to keep.

"I'm sure his father will care for him," Hook said evenly, watching her, observing her reaction.

Emma shook her head, "But he needs his mother. His father… Oh, his father would be a mess."

"Is the boy even his?" Hook asked, testing to see how far her lie will go.

Emma's eye shot to him, "What!"

"I asked," Hook started lazily, "Is the boy even his?"

"How dare you!" Emma started, storming towards him and raised her hand to slap him but Hook caught it.

"Please Emma, you can't believe that his own father wouldn't recognize him," Hook started, "And Liam? You and I both know you named him after my brother. Tell me the truth."

Emma's eyes searched his face for a tell that he was bluffing but she found none, "Tell me what happened to your hand."

"No."

"Suit yourself," She growled heading towards the door that lead to the grand hall, "I'll just call the guards."

"Wait..."

"What?" She turned around as her hand reached the handle.

"The Dark One. He took it from me," Hook started, look down ashamed.

"Why?"

Hook looked up and sighed scratching behind his ear, "I had gone to Neverland after I heard you had a child, and month just after I arrived the Dark One found me and told me he knew of our dalliance and that the boy was actually our son."

Emma gasped and shook her head, "How did he-"

"I don't know," Hook replied shaking his head, "But he said that if I wanted the boy to be safe, I had to stay away from you, and he took my hand as a reminder. I could not see you for as long as he lived."

"And he died just last year," Emma gasped as all the clues started to fit together.

"I traveled realms to come back and see you the moment I could."

"Oh Killian," She cried, "I'm so sorry. For everything. All I've done is caused you pain."

"You've nothing to apologize for," Hook said holding Emma tightly, "I would do it all again if it meant that you and the boy would be safe."

Emma raised her teary eyes to look into his, "But you didn't even know for sure if the boy was yours…"

"But I knew he was yours and that was all that mattered," Hook replied kissing her forehead, "Emma I want you to know that there is nothing I wouldn't do to keep you safe."

That was when the teardrop that changed the entire course of their lives, fell to the ground.