A/N: Thanks for the reviews. I know some of you said you wanted some more fluff so I tried my best! Remember to let me know if there's anything else you want to see in the upcoming chapters since this story is at least 2/3 of the way through I'd say. I hope you enjoy!

Disclaimer: All aspects of Once Upon A Time belong to ABC and the show's creators.

The past several days had been hard on Killian but not as bad as at the start, pain wise. The doctor had taken him off morphine in favour of milder painkillers when Killian requested them, which wasn't often. Emma always rolled her eyes when Killian waved off the nurses and their syringes filled with the blissful relief Emma knew he so wanted, but she didn't push. Because he should have that one thing, especially since he felt so out of control of everything else. No more mobility had returned to Killian's hand but occupational therapy had begun to try and keep what he did have. The lack of change had devastated Killian but he hid it well and Emma didn't mention the stoic approach he had when awake, or the way he cried out in pain in his sleep. Most of the gauze had been removed from Killian's injuries since the burns had faded to shiny pink skin. Facing the scars he would bear for the rest of his life had been perhaps the worst thing of all for Killian. Because they were a reminder, and unlike Emma's scars he couldn't hide his.

Emma was seated at the foot of Killian's bed when Robin arrived. Killian was nearing the end of his stay, just one more night before being released so he had called his friend to bring him some supplies. Robin came in without knocking, swinging a bag around, sending a smile at Emma before glancing at Killian. He did a double take and raised his brow.

"Where is Killian Jones? All I see is Grizzly Adams," he said in a mock shocked tone. Emma glanced back towards Killian, stifling her laugh when she saw his stormy eyes. She hadn't told him that his scruff had grown into a full on beard, bordering on wild and untamed now. She didn't want to push him into anything that he could have once done with his hands, no problem. The look on his face told her she probably should have mentioned it before.

Killian ran a hand over his jaw and barely managed to disguise the disgust he felt at his appearance. "Wouldn't happen to have a razor on you would you Locksley?" he forced out.

Robin noticed the tone and regret flickered across his eyes. "No, but I'll go get you one," he said quickly before stepping out of the room.

Killian turned on Emma once Robin had left. "Why didn't you tell me I looked like this?" he gritted out.

Emma folded her legs under her before she spoke. She kept her voice even, trying to calm him with her tone. "There were other things you needed to worry about than your facial hair."

"I know it was because I only have one hand." Killian's voice was quiet and dejected.

Emma slipped further up the bed so she sat close enough to touch his hands. Both of them. "You have two hands, Jones. I know it doesn't feel like it now but you'll learn. Life will get easier."

"I'm going to have to relearn how to do so many things," he groaned. At occupational therapy Killian had already started learning how to button things one handed. The fine detailed movements were difficult to master all over again but Killian was working as hard as he could during the sessions. The therapist hadn't covered shaving yet, hence the beard.

"Yes. I won't try and pretend differently. But it isn't impossible."

"How did you relearn to do things?" Killian asked quietly.

Emma furrowed her brow at him, confused. She'd gotten out of the sling the day before and while her shoulder was still stiff she was fine to do things on her own. She hadn't had to relearn anything. "What do you mean?"

"After Neal. How did you learn to live again?"

"Oh," was Emma's stunned reply. She didn't have an answer for him. Not really. Not one that would make him feel better. But maybe he just wanted the truth. "I haven't. Not yet. But you learn to live with the sting. I had a flashback when I was on the phone with you before, that's why I panicked and hung up."

Killian gasped and immediately looked guilty. Emma intertwined her fingers with his. "I'm sorry Swan. I didn't know.

Emma shook her head. "I'm not telling you this to make you feel bad. I'm telling you this because even though Neal was a part of my life I can still do this-" Emma raised his burnt hand to her lips and kissed the healing skin gently, their fingers still locked together. "I can still find a way to love you, even though I'm still not positive I'm safe from Neal."

"I promise I'll keep you safe," Killian said quickly. Emma placed a light finger against his lips to quiet him. She wouldn't have him turn this around and coddle her. She was trying to make a point.

"I know, Jones. But that's not what I meant. I don't know if I'll ever shake the feeling that this is all a dream and I'll wake up in that horrible little apartment with an arm full of bruises. I don't know if I'll ever be able to hear certain phrases without remembering Neal. It's the same idea as the feelings of abandonment the system left me with. But I'm here anyways. I've learned to live with the past and even though it's still an ongoing process I haven't given up yet. You just have to find something that's going to make the pain worth it."

"What's your thing?" Killian asked, searching for something to give him some hope, something that would tell him he could learn to live with this new disability.

"For a while it was to isolate myself from anyone who could hurt me because that way no one could let me down but myself but it's- it's changing now."

"What is it now?"

Emma felt herself blush. She glanced down at their hands, still together, when she spoke. "You."

"I'm your thing? Even now."

Emma looked back up. Self-depreciation and awe fought for supremacy in his gaze. "You are still Killian Jones, no matter how many working hands you have. It's you that's healing me. Not the dexterity of your fingers."

"I'm pretty sure my fingers could still do some serious healing," Killian said, his voice dripping insinuation as he wiggled his good hand in front of her. Emma made a show of rolling her eyes and pushed him backwards a little bit. She needed a bit of space to cool the heat that curled deep in her belly from his words. Killian leaned forward again and brushed his lips across Emma's. She let him kiss her despite the panic she was fighting off at the lust she felt for him because he had made a joke about his hands that wasn't self-depreciating. The relief of that squashed everything else.

"You two are disgusting," came Robin's voice from behind them. Emma broke away, embarrassed, not willing to look at him and see how much he had actually heard. Robin thumped down on the bed beside them and held up a razor and a small can of shaving cream. "All the gift shop had. Guess you're going to have to lose everything, Grizzly Adams."

Killian looked towards Emma, as if he wanted to see if she was okay with him behind clean shaven instead of scruffy. Emma gestured towards the bathroom instead of answering either way. The scruff would grow back. She just wanted Killian to do this, to prove it to himself. Killian nodded and took the supplies, sliding off the bed and moving to the bathroom.

Robin and Emma waited on the bed, ready to help but only if asked. The bathroom door shut behind Killian and they waited, listening to the water run before turning away.

"You're doing good," Robin told her with a smile. "Jones looks good."

Emma raised an eyebrow. Killian still didn't look great. His hand had healed but he was still plagued by nightmares do he looked tired and drawn. That was going to be the longer battle, rather than healing the burned skin.

"What I mean," Robin clarified at Emma's scepticism. "Is that he could be so much worse."

"That's not exactly comforting."

Robin shrugged. "Not much about this situation is."

Emma nodded, glancing back at the closed door. "How do you think he's doing in there?" She wanted to go in there with him, to help. Killian was so quiet inside the room. What if he was struggling? The idea of him upset and locked in broke Emma's heart.

"Nothing's broken yet so I'm going to go with alright." Robin didn't seem concerned so Emma tried not to be either. Robin knew Killian better, had been closer to him longer. A pang hit Emma. She could have been that close to Killian if she hadn't run all those years ago. She would know better how to help him if she had been there before, in his other rough patches. And Neal wouldn't be holding you back, that nasty part of her mind murmured. Killian would have loved you instead. Emma shook her head, forcing the thought away. She had made her choice and she had to live with it, whether she regretted it or not.

They waited for about ten minutes in silence. Emma was just about to force her way into the bathroom when it opened and a clean shaven Killian stepped out. The skin around his chin was a little red with razor burn but other than that he looked like the Killian she had met at their date, their reunion. Killian paused a few feet away, putting his hands out, gesturing for their opinions.

"There's Jones," Robin laughed. Killian turned to Emma, eyebrow raised.

Emma stood and moved towards him. She reached forward and ran a hand across his smooth cheek. "Nice job," she murmured, kissing him softly. She pulled back enough that just their noses were touching.

"It took a while but I did it." Killian's breath was soft on her face, the breeze his words made causing her eyes to flutter closed.

"See, that's just the first thing you'll find out that you can still do."

"I'll probably never knit though," he murmured, a small smirk flickering at the edge of his mouth.

"Well I can't either so I'm not concerned," she replied, kissing him again quickly. Robin made groaning sounds behind him. Killian pulled back and cursed him lightly.

"You want me to kick you out?" Killian asked, leading Emma back to the bed.

"Wouldn't be able to if you wanted to," Robin answered, eyebrow raised in challenge. "You know I've always been a better fighter."

Killian nodded, accepting his answer. "But I'm pretty sure Emma could kick your ass."

Robin appraised Emma, eyes lingering on the area of her shoulder where her bullet scars were hidden. From behind her she felt Killian bend down and press a kiss to her shoulder, but not where the bullets had entered. No, instead he pressed three little kisses along her scars from Neal, not that Robin would know that. Robin sent her a look of respect that paired with Killian's kisses made her feel strong, rather than weak as a touch to that spot usually made her. Robin grinned as he answered Killian, "Yeah, I'm pretty sure she could."