No matter what Dr Whale said or did, there was no way Emma was staying in that hospital. Killian feared for whoever decided to argue with Emma on this matter. Her mind was made up and there was no changing it. A compromise was worked out that Emma would stay for one final night but then she would leave in the morning.

Emma barely slept because she was so anxious to get home. The smell of the hospital made her nauseous and the constant flurry of activity prevented her from falling asleep for any considerable length of time but Killian, Liam and Jessie stayed with her all night to keep her company.

Jessie had fallen asleep while sitting on Killian's knee which meant that Killian was stuck in that bloody uncomfortable plastic chair. As long as Jessie was comfortable, he could survive one night of discomfort. Liam had fallen asleep in Emma's bed and she didn't have the heart to wake him so she let him sleep.

...

Emma was relieved when the next morning, she was finally allowed to go home. She had managed to get maybe an hour of sleep and when she woke, Killian and Liam were gone and Jessie had taken Liam's place beside her.

"Daddy and Liam said they'd be back soon," Jessie mumbled while keeping her eyes closed.

"Did you sleep okay?" Emma asked her daughter.

"Yeah but I don't think Daddy did," Jessie replied. She finally opened her eyes and Emma was faced with the brilliant blue that she'd grown to associate with Killian.

"Why's that?" Emma questioned, brushing a loose strand of hair away from Jessie's eyes.

"He was walking funny when he left," Jessie replied, suppressing a giggle.

"Really?" Emma laughed, raising an eyebrow, "show me."

Jessie laughed and jumped down from Emma's bed. The little girl tried her hardest to mimic Killian's walk. She bent her knee, laid her hand on he thigh and limped around the hospital room, dragging her leg behind her.

"I hope you're not making fun of me!" Killian spoke from the door after seemingly appearing out of thin air. He leaned against the door frame with his arms crossed and one leg crossing the other. An amused smirk was playing on his lips and his eyebrow was raised in the way that drove Emma crazy.

"Mommy wanted to see how you walked!" Jessie laughed.

"I was not walking like that!" Killian protested.

"You must have been walking like that to know that I was making fun of you," Jessie replied, still laughing. She was laughing so hard that Emma thought she may never stop. Killian laughed and narrowed his eyes slightly.

"Touché, little one," he said before turning his head to address Emma, "ready to get out this bloody place, love?"

...

Emma marvelled at the warm feeling of the sun on her skin. During her time as the Dark One, everything seemed so cold and grey, as if there was a dark mist clouding her vision. But now that she was free from the Darkness, everything seemed to come alive. The sky seemed more blue, the grass more green and the air more warm. It was a silly feeling but she felt as though she was seeing the town in a completely different way. She loved it.

Together, Killian and Emma walked hand in hand while Killian carried their daughter with his free arm. She couldn't wait to get back to the apartment, back to normal life... if such a thing exists in a town where the inhabitants are storybook characters.

"Where did you go?" Emma asked, turning her head to face Killian as they approached the apartment.

"I'm afraid Liam and Jessie made a bit of a mess in your room, love. We went to fix it," Killian replied, smiling at the memory of the fort.

"The fort?" Emma asked, "the one Jessie mentioned?"

"Aye," Killian laughed, "it was quite an achievement."

"You should've have left it for me to see," Emma said. She wanted to share every moment that Killian had spent their children during the time that she was the Dark One. Emma couldn't help feeling like she'd missed out on so much.

"I left it for as long as I could, love. You mother was quite adamant that it couldn't be there when you returned," Killian replied. He noticed the disappointed look on Emma's face and suddenly felt bad, "we have plenty of time to build a thousand more just like it."

"Yeah," Emma answered.

"Cheer up, love. We have much to celebrate," Killian begged, he didn't want Emma feeling down on a day when every person in the town had so much to celebrate.

...

Mary-Margaret had been working all day since Emma got home to prepare an extra special dinner as a celebration. She had invited Regina, Robin, Roland and Belle to join them as they'd all played a part in saving Emma.

About an hour before the guests were due to arrive, Killian, Henry and Liam sat around the kitchen table playing a card game that Emma had never heard of. She needed a few minutes alone with her pirate and she knew that this would be the only time to steal him away.

"Killian," Emma said, walking towards where her boys were sat. She laid her hands on Killian's shoulders as she reached him.

"Aye, love?" Killian asked, tilting his head back to look at Emma.

"Come with me for a few minutes?" Emma asked.

"But Mom, we're in the middle of playing and Dad is loosing for the first time all afternoon!" Liam protested.

"It's fine lad, your grandfather will stand in for a few minutes," Killian replied. He laid his cards down and stood from the table, "we'll play again when I return."

Emma took Killian's hand and led him towards the door. He grabbed his coat on the way and turned back before he left.

"And don't look at my cards, you two," he warned before leaving the apartment with Emma.

...

Emma led Killian away from the apartment and through the town. Killian had a confused look on his face but he went along with what Emma was doing without any questions. It took a while for Killian to notice that Emma was leading him towards the docks.

Before they reached the spot where you could see all of the docked ships, Emma stopped.

"Swan?" Killian asked, confused.

"You'll get your answers soon enough," Emma replied with a smirk. She covered Killian's eyes with her hands and urged him forward. Progress was slow but they got there in the end. Emma whipped her hands away from Killian's eyes and stood back to watch his reaction.

"Gods!" Killian explained. He was faced with his pride and joy. The Jolly Roger. He turned to Emma, "how?"

"That doesn't matter right now," Emma replied, smiling. She watched as Killian turned back to his ship with a smile so broad that it almost reached his eyes. She could see that he was bouncing on the balls of his feet, itching to go aboard, "you're not just gonna stand there all day looking at it are you?"

Killian needed no further encouragement. He sped off like a child on Christmas Day. He ran up the gangplank and onto the deck. Everything was exactly the same, which was something he didn't expect to see. It was like she'd never been away.

"You're not just going to stand there and look at me on my ship are you?" he called to Emma, mocking her as he leaned over the side of his ship.

Emma joined him on deck and was immediately swept up in his arms. Killian lifted her off of her feet and spun her around for a few seconds. They laughed as Killian stumbled sideways and almost sent the pair of them overboard.

"Thank you, Swan," Killian smiled as he set Emma back down on the ground.

"Well you cant be Captain without your ship," Emma smiled. She grabbed the lapels of his jacket and pulled herself closer to him... if that was even possible.

"Aye," Killian laughed, "but I don't understand how you did it."

"It was during one of the times when I was in control, I thought that if I could get something back that was associated with a person that I love, then it might help keep the Darkness at bay a little longer," Emma explained, "and it worked."

"Gods Emma! How can I repay you for this?" Killian asked.

"Have you seen the two children we have? I think that's reward enough, don't you?" Emma laughed, "plus, I kind of love this ship too."

"She is a beauty, isn't she?" Killian asked.

"Aye," Emma laughed, teasing Killian.

"Hey!" Killian exclaimed, "you mock the man that just saved you? Shame on you, Swan."

"Shut up and kiss me!" Emma laughed, shaking her head.

"As you wish," Killian whispered and closed the remaining few centimetres between their lips. In that moment, he was so filled with love for Emma Swan, he didn't think he could ever feel love so strongly but Emma just kept surprising him as usual.

I have no idea why this chapter took so long to write and I can only apologise. I wrote the first part almost a week ago now but then I didn't know where to go with it. I tried every day to carry on but I was forcing words out and I didn't enjoy writing that way. Then I literally sat down 20 minutes ago and the rest of the chapter seemed to write itself.

I also want to thank the reader that reviewed every single one of my chapters in a fair bit of detail. You have no idea how helpful and encouraging your words were so thank you!

I'll try not to make the wait this long again but thanks for reading!