"Bring back our girl," said David, clapping Killian on the back.

"I will," said Killian, mounting the horse. "I will not fail."

-/-

It had been ten months.

Killian had thought of Emma every day that they'd been apart, just as he had promised.

Her voice, her smile, her stubbornness, her bravery, and what he'd hoped to be her love, we burned into his memory. Good, she'd said.

He'd lost track of how many arguments he'd had with Snow and David, insisting that they needed to find a way to bring Emma back. He'd lost track of how many times Regina had told him that it was impossible to get back to the Land Without Magic. Each time his heart had sunk deeper into sorrow.

Still, at the end each day, he went to sleep thinking of her brilliant green eyes, her golden hair and her Good.Hope flared in his chest, and he knew he'd see her again. Fate had brought them together, and then torn them apart. However, if it was one thing he'd learned from the Charmings, it was that True Love must be fought for, and he knew that what he felt for Emma was love in its truest, purest form.

The three hundred years of agony, darkness, and sorrow were suddenly worth it because of Emma. He had a reason to live, a reason to be a hero. He had thought of her every day for a year, and with each day he had fallen more and more in love with her.

It wasn't until the witch attacked that he was given leave to search the realm for a way to get back to Emma. And he'd found one quickly.

Killian stepped into the swirling portal in Lake Nostos.

He was one step closer to finding Emma.

-/-

"Are you okay, sir? Are you trying to find your way to 42nd street?

Killian opened his eyes. This place seemed familiar. An older man was peering down at him. "You certainly must be dedicated to your craft. I bet you passed out from rum."

Killian stood up. "Where am I?"

"New York City, where did you think you were, Neverland?"

Killian sighed. "Pardon me," he said gruffly, pushing past the man. He withdrew the compass from his pocket. He could only hope that it would help him find Emma.

-/-

It was enough to be in the same realm as her.

Killian repeated the sentiment like a mantra as he combed every inch of New York. For days he'd received countess pointed stares and questions from random by passers. He stuck out like a sore thumb.

None of this mattered though.

With every dwelling that he searched, he was getting closer to finding Emma.

Emma.

His light. His hope. His savior.

It was a familiar pattern. He'd enter an apartment complex and knock on doors until someone answered. He'd check them off his mind. 2 down. 48 to go. And so on.

Day after day. Complex after complex.

-/-

He finally found her on a Sunday.

He'd entered a post apartment complex, and ignored the suspicious gaze from the doorman. He withdrew the compass. The device had been bloody unreliable up to this point, but he though of Emma. He thought of how good it would be to see her again after so many months.

The needle swayed back and forth before finally settling, pointing towards the staircase.

Killian took a deep breath. He had a good feeling about this place. It felt brighter somehow.

-/-

Emma Swan sprinkled cinnamon over her son's hot chocolate. It was just another typical Sunday morning.

Or so she thought.

A loud banging on the door interrupted their peaceful breakfast.

"Henry, stay here," said Emma. She set down her mug and walked towards the door.

Who the hell showed up at someone's apartment at 8:15 in the morning?

Well whoever it was, they sounded desperate.

Emma opened the door only to find a devilishly handsome, leather-clad method actor standing at her door. New York was filled with all kinds of strange characters.

His smile was practically blinding. "Swan," he said.

The stranger took a step forward. Emma raised a hand and put it on his chest, keeping him at bay. She could feel the thrumming of his heart beneath her fingertips.

"Who are you?"

"I'm an old friend. Your family is in danger."

"My family is right here," snapped Emma. This guy was clearly insane.

"I know you don't remember me, but I can make you."

Then he was kissing her, and for the briefest second, Emma kissed him back before her survival skills kicked in and she kneed him where the sun doesn't shine.

"What the hell are you doing?"

"Long shot. I was hoping you felt as I did."

He said it with such sincerity, and a small voice in the back of her mind cried out for him to trust her. Don't be afraid, Emma. "The only thing you're going to feel is the handcuffs when I call the cops."

"I know this sounds crazy, but you have to remember—"

Emma slammed the door. She had to keep this psychopath away from her son.

-/-

Killian slumped against the wall. The kiss hadn't brought her memories back. David had warned him that it was a long shot, but Killian had hoped that the spark of what they'd began to build in Neverland had somehow survived.

No matter.

He'd bring her memories back with the potion Regina had given him.

Then he would fight by her side to save her family.

He had spent every day for the past year and more loving her, and he would love her for the rest of his days. She was it for him, and he would spend the rest of his days proving it to her.