A/N: Hello! You guys are amazing - thank you so much for your prompts to keep this series going. Please do keep them coming if you have any ideas because I really do enjoy writing these stories for this series!

Thank you for all of your reviews, follows and favourites. They really mean a lot and never fail to put a smile on my face.

You are all amazing!

Colin looks amazing in his new costume by the way... wish it involved some leather and eyeliner though...

Keep Smiling!

Killian walks through their front door, closing it silently behind him. His shoulders are slightly slumped and his heart feels heavy; but he knows that this feels right - is right. He should never have considered running away when everything he has, everything he is, is right here.

He notes that all the lights are off in the house as he moves towards the kitchen table. He chances a glance at the clock, illuminated faintly by the street lamps outside, and notes that it is nearly three in the morning. He deposits his bag upon the surface before leaning down to pull off his boots, placing them neatly beside one of the chairs. With a sigh, he tugs off his new jacket and drapes it over his bag; but not before removing Emma's ring and tucking it into the inside pocket of his waistcoat, which he unbuttons.

Quietly, his fingers twisting over the sharp, but still rather dulled, tip of his hook, the Captain moves upstairs. He stops to check whether Henry is home, striding to his room. It is clear that he isn't at the sight of his neatly made and empty bed if the ajar door was not a giveaway. He closes the door and with a deep breath, walks down the hallway to the master bedroom.

He stops in the doorway, a lump - no, a sob - forming in his throat.

Emma is curled up on her side, facing his half of the bed; the covers pushed to the bottom of the bed. In her arms, cuddled to her chest, is his pillow which she grips tight, even in her sleep. He frowns and swallows thickly when he realises that even sleep cannot clear her features of her sadness. Features that are illuminated softly by the glow of the lamps on either side of their bed.

She is dressed in one of his t-shirts, the hem ridden up by her movements so it sits just above her bottom, clad only in her underwear.

Killian walks up to her side of the bed, behind her, and leans over her scrunched body. He rests his weight on his left forearm as his hand rises to tenderly caress her unbound hair. Almost immediately, Emma stirs with a sharp inhale. She turns, her eyes swollen with a combination of sleep and tears before they grow wide.

For a mere second, Killian fears that she may flinch away from his touch but his heart leaps instead. Emma forcefully shoves his pillow away and scrambles up onto her knees to pull him into her embrace.

He presses kisses to any part of her face that he can reach; her cheeks, her nose, her chin, her lips. She cannot help but laugh lightly as she does the same, her arms tightening around his shoulders. They slow their frenzied butterfly kisses and Emma buries her face in Killian's neck, holding him tightly.

Killian sways them slightly, sobs escaping from his mouth. Relief floods from him at having his True Love back in his arms.

"I'm here, Emma." he whispers, arms holding her close to him; yet, never close enough. "I'm back home. I'm so sor-"

Emma kisses him to shut him up.

She falls backwards on the bed, pulling him down on top of her with a muffled "oof!". Killian carefully shuffles, lips still linked, before rolling them so he isn't crushing his love; a dance they have now mastered together. Emma is draped across his body but that is too awkward for her; particularly in her need to know that he is here; her need for him.

She moves until she is straddling his hips; all whilst kissing him. Killian sits up then, hook digging into her waist as his hand roams over his body; her thigh, to her waist, to the back of her head - rings tangling and catching in her hair.

They continue kissing, gradually slowing their pace. Emma pulls her kiss-swollen lips from Killian's, keeping her forehead glued to his. They pant, their breath feathering over the other's flushed skin.

Emma suddenly bursts into tears, her fingers twisting in the hair at the nape of his neck.

"I'm so sorry." she sobs, repeating the words multiple times. "I should have never pushed you away or had a go at you like I did." Emma stops for a moment, sobbing harshly. "I should never have returned the ring. I regretted it the moment it came off my finger and I missed you from the second I walked away. I should have come back to you.

"I am just so, so, so sorry."

Killian hushes her, his hand cupping her cheek with the upmost tenderness.

"You didn't push me away, Emma." he mumbles. His thumb swipes away her tears. "I'm sorry because I didn't talk to you. I didn't open up as I should have done."

Emma drops her head but Killian gently raises it again, fingers gentle beneath her chin.

"I made myself believe that I was not worthy of you - thanks to my actions as the man I used to be and for keeping it from you. I let my guilt fester away and I never want that to happen again. I love you so much, Emma; that will never change."

Emma sobs again and buries her face into Killian's neck, breathing him in. Her pirate holds his princess tightly, soothing her until her sobs have ceased and her tears have dried. When she is calm, Killian kisses her ear and pulls back.

He runs the knuckle of his pointer finger underneath her eyes before removing it. He presses a kiss to her nose.

"This may not be the best timing but I need you to know that I will always be by your side, Emma." Killian murmurs, his gaze boring into hers. "I want to fight for you - I want to fight with you."

Emma's eyes glimmer with more tears, but these do not fall.

"I promise you," he continues, his hand gripping Emma's left as her right remains in his hair. "that this time, there will be no reason for you to doubt or distrust me in any way. This time, I will not give you any reason to want to remove that ring from your finger." He smiles softly. "Emma Swan, will you make me the luckiest and happiest man in all the realms and take this pirate to be your husband?"

Emma smiles widely, tears of pure happiness slipping free.

"I think there should be a Captain in there somewhere." she teases and Killian laughs lightly, still consumed by his nerves that he may be rejected.

Emma looks Killian in the eyes, willing him to see the love she holds for him in her gaze.

"I would be honoured to be your wife, Killian." she says. "Yes."

Killian grins before kissing Emma once again. It remains light, soft, and tender. When they part, Killian runs his nose against hers before his hands digs into his waistcoat. His fingers take hold of the ring and extract it.

He slides it back onto her finger and brings her hand up to his lips, pressing a kiss over her knuckles, over the ring. Killian then pulls Emma down with him so she stretches out on top of him. Immediately, she cuddles into him, tangling their legs together.

"I'm so glad that you didn't stay away for more than a day." Emma mumbles, hand playing with Killian's waistcoat, the diamond catching the light. "I waited by the front door for hours hoping you would come home before coming upstairs. It took me so long to fall asleep; the bed was too big, too empty."

Killian holds her tighter. He presses a kiss to her forehead.

"That will not be happening again, sweetheart."

Emma burrows into him more, unwilling to let him go. She smiles when Killian takes her hand in his.

"I love you, Killian." she mumbles, twisting to press a kiss to his jaw. "In fact, love is too small a word for how I feel."

Killian smiles. "I agree. Love doesn't even begin to cover how I feel for you."

Their holds tighten further, burrowing into each other as if preventing them from disappearing.

"We should sleep, Emma. It is getting rather late and I can tell you're exhausted." Killian whispers.

Emma nods.

"You'll stay?" she mumbles.

"I am going to be here when you wake, my love; and every morning after."

End note: Please review! :)