Taking her hand, he slipped down on one knee. It wasn't easy. She could see the way his face flinched from his wounds - the open gash on his thigh was weeping a slow trail of crimson blood. But though his face was darkened with the dirt of battle he was smiling. At her.
"Emma-"
She swallowed, heart racing.
"Life is not always what we think it will be. I thought mine was over." He tightened his grip on her fingers, "Until I met you."
She sucked back a cry. In the distance the sound of timbers burning crackled in the air as the makeshift band of firemen tried to put out the remaining fires.
"You have given me purpose. You have made me a better man, my love. And hell, I don't deserve even one ounce of you," his head dropped and hung low. He dug the curve of his hook into the ground, pushing it back and forth - gathering his thoughts.
Reaching down, she fanned her fingers over his face, his eyelids slipping closed as they moved. She smooth back his unruly hair as he looked back at her, eyes shining.
"For some reason, I'm alive. After all this," he raised his hook at the devastation that was downtown Storybrooke. Rubble. Ruins. "And I think I know why."
Bringing her hand to his mouth, he kissed it softy.
"You, my love, you are my reason for being, for living… I've lived so I can love you - like you deserve to be loved. Let me love you. Marry me."
Her mouth dropped open and she sucked in a breath, tumbling at once to her knees so they were face to face. Wrapping her arms around his neck. she pulled him into a warm embrace.
"I never wish to be parted from you again Emma. Be my wife."
She eased back, nuzzling her nose against his cheek and softly kissing him on the mouth.
"Is that a yes?" he asked.
"Yes," she murmured into his lips, "Yes, yes, yes…"
And tears of laughter mingled with tears of joy as they sank into each others embrace and dared dream of what the future may hold.