I do not own Once Upon a Time.

New scene, I really like this one.

Killian did open up even more, later that night. They were lying away in the bed, cuddled together, his breath on her ear with Bernadette's fingers gently touched his tattoo.

"What happened to her?" She asked quietly.

"I thought you were going to ask about her, love?" Killian asked, his voice suddenly very hard.

"You asked about him, I told you everything. It's your turn now." She was curious but she was scared she went too far. Did she ask too much?

"You really want to know?" Killian didn't wait for an answer, he just wanted to get over with. He did trust Bernadette enough, he never thought he would feel comfortable around another person with his past. "I met her, we fell in love. Those were the best years of my life. Then she was killed, and died in my arms."

"And now you are seeking from the man who killed her."

"Yes."

Them we have something in common. Bernadette thought and she finally turned to face him. There was a single tear on his cheek. That was all the pirate captain would allow himself. She caught it on her finger tip. "What's this?"

"It's a memory." He answered in a far off voice.

Most women would seriously worry when a man comes towards her with a rope. Bernadette was clearly not most women and she knew it was just another lesson. The one he promised and the one he might regret teaching her. Killian dropped the rope on the floor and grabbed the end.

"I'm going to start you off with something easy, like a running bowline. Just watch." He quickly formed a loop and passed the rope through it a few times before finishing the knot. "Easy?"

Bernadette shook her head but the rope from him. "You are very fast with that, maybe you should go slower." She suggested.

Smiling he stood behind her, held the rope out in front of her. "Maybe you should pay closer attention this time."

She decided to stay quiet on all future comments, he was right behind her, so maybe it was a little difficult to focus on anything else. But she wanted this lesson. "I am paying attention."

"Of course you are." He guided her hands to complete the knot and quickly released it. "Now you on your own." To which she did, better than she thought she would have.

"I must be a quick learner." She stated.

"That you are, let's try a harder on. This one is the double overhand." The lesson continued with a few more knots, he never left his spot behind her. "I think that's enough for now, you should practice." He said, attempting to take a step back only to realize she had knotted his left wrist to the railing.

She didn't turn to him, fighting very hard not to smile. "I thought you were leaving, Captain?"

"When you start acting polite, I know I'm in trouble. And it would seem my lessons have already paid off." He spun her around to see the fakest innocent look he had ever seen. "Innocent doesn't look good on you, love."

Bernadette let the innocent look be replaced by a sly smile. "Good, because it was really hard. Now you have to get out of it if you want to leave and go back to whatever it was you were going to do." Bernadette said. Killian looked down at the knot around his wrist.

"You chose the right hand to detain me, love. Impressive." His arms were still around her and pulled her close for a kiss as he began to free himself.

At least she kept him busy with that one kiss, the kiss that turned into quite a few more, as the knot took him a bit longer than he would have liked to undo. Not that he was complaining, she had opened up more than he thought she would have and she was much more complicated than he had originally thought.

When he finally had himself freed, both arms went up her back and he held her tight. Killian pulled back, rested her his forehead against hers and whispered, "You know this means I have to return the favor?"

Warm brown eyes met his cool blue ones. "I expected as much. I can handle it."

Bernadette almost forgot she still had a patient to look after. Paul's wound was healing nicely and he had warmed up to her, as warm as one can be dealing with a bounty hunter.

"I never would have expected a bounty hunter such as yourself to have such gentle hand when it comes to healing someone." He commented.

"These hands can do more than hurt and kill a man, they can also heal him. It depends on the man what happens to him." She unwrapped the bandage, there were still scars from the stitches but beyond that, he was as good as new.

"Nothing against the captain, but you can do better than him. You deserve a good man." Paul commented quietly, unsure whether he should actually say that.

Bernadette chucked. "No, I don't. I don't really deserve anyone, not after everything I have done. Killian's just the first person to accept my flaws and somehow understands me. Right now, this is fine for me."

"You can't really believe that, can you?"

"People like me don't deserve happy endings." She replied sadly.

Later that week Killian walked into his cabin to see Bernadette passed out on the bed, a book on the floor where it must have slipped from her hand. Was the book that boring? He tilted his head to look at her, then an idea popped in his head. He did have to return a favor and this was the perfect time.

He tied a simple knot around her wrist and then around a poll near the side of the bed. A very gentle kiss was placed on her lips and Bernadette's eyes fluttered open.

"Did you know your books are boring?" She said, going to rub her eyes, only to discover she could only move one arm. "What the…? Really, you think now is the good time for this?" Part of her was annoyed while the other was amused.

"I might not get the opportunity if I wait anymore." He smiled his usual smirk and picked up the book to put it on the table. "And I have a question…" Killian pulled something out of his pocket, her vial of sleeping potion that he had taken from her a month or so ago. "What's in this?"

"Fairy dust and bluebells. Why?"

"I thought you said you don't deal with magic."

"I strictly deal with fairy dust; it was a weekly thing. Do you have any idea how much that stuff goes for on the black market? I sneak in, steal that I can in diamond or dust form and run out. Yes, I deal on the black market, I had a dealer and everything was good."

"What do people use it for?" Killian asked, curious.

"I never asked question, it wasn't my business. I only used it to keep the nightmares away." Bernadette continued to struggle with the rope. "But I haven't needed it since…" She bit her lip to stop the smile from forming on her face.

But he knew exactly when she stopped needing it. Killian kissed her again. "Your welcome, love. You were reading about other words? You could have just asked,"

"Where have you been?" She stared at the knot, trying to figure how to free herself.

"Neverland."

She turned to him. "What was that like?"

"A bloody nightmare." He answered honestly.

Bernadette's face fell. "Another realm jumper said the same exact thing about Wonderland."

"How did he jump, what did he use as a portal?"

"A magic hat." She began to work on the knot now, fumbling a bit with it. "A little help here would be nice."

"I didn't get any help; why should I help you?" Killian asked, sitting down next to her.

"I kept you occupied and quite well I might add." Bernadette stated.

"Who said I was trying that hard to get free? You're right, you were very good at keeping me occupied. You're lucky I left you one hand."

"Well, just like you, I can do wonders with one hand."

His signature smirk come across his face. "I'll keep you occupied." His hand touched her face. "Why are you interested in other worlds?"

"I want to see other worlds, this one is getting too small or too unfriendly for me. I want a fresh start somewhere. I'm weighing my options." She paused, realizing what she had said. He leaned in close to her wrist, pulling the already unknotted rope off.

"All you have to do is ask, love. Upon first meeting you, I never would have pictured this."

"You never pictured I would be so nice? Why?" She stood up, her eyes never leaving his.

"Well, you are temperamental and stubborn, among other qualities that make you so endearing."

"I am those things, but you have to admit, I am worth it."

Killian stood up in front of her, leaning his forehead against hers. "I am so glad you finally see what I see about you."

She stared back, not feeling flawed and broken for the first time in years.

"You're awfully quiet." Bernadette remarked after she and Killian had been lying in bed for a few hours.

"I'm just thinking." He replied.

She chuckled. "That's never a good thing."

"I'm wondering, why me? Why did you choose me? How did you end up here?"

Why was he wondering that of all things? The real reason was because she amused he was easy enough to rob, that she was smarter than him. But there was no way she was going to say that. Besides, that's what she had thought, things had changed since then.

"How about I give you three guesses to try to figure out why I'm here. I do doubt you will get it though."

"Oh you of so little faith." Killian chuckled. "Three guesses? Was it because I am devilishly handsome?"

"No." He was easy on the eyes but it wasn't like he was the last man in the realm.

Killian rolled over to face her, there was a dark look in his eyes. "Was it because you heard certain stories from certain women and wanted to know for yourself if they were true?"

Bernadette's eyes widened. "My, what a giant ego you have. No, that is not what drew me to you. One more guess, choose wisely."

Killian searched her face for a clue. "Was it because you wanted my treasure?"

She swallowed hard. That had been the only reason she stepped foot on the Jolly Roger of course. But that was not the reason she was drawn to him like a moth to a flame.

"No." Bernadette sat up and decided to tell Killian why. "From the moment we met in that tavern, I knew you understood loss, understood pain, what truly means to lose everything you love and have to fight to survive. And that, Killian Jones, is what drew me to you. Nothing physical or superficial. Something deeper that not many people understand." Her voice cracked at the end and she was forced to wipe a tear from her eye.

Killian Jones was lost for words and that did not happen often. He placed a kiss on Bernadette's forehead before pulling her into a tight hug.

Bernadette had not been that open and honest like this in years. But then again, very few people understood the kind of pain she had been put through.

They spent the rest of the night wrapped up in each other, two broken souls trying to fix each other.

Right? Why me?

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