A/N: So, it's been a while since i uploaded and it's partly because people kept on being rude when i didn't, but also partly because being back home means that i'm back in summer (southern hemisphere whoo) which means i'm always out and about. Sorry about the lack of updates, hopefully more coming soon!

Emma woke suddenly, sitting straight up in bed, her heart racing with fear. "Killian.." She cried out, frantically feeling on the other side of the bed for her boyfriend. To her relief, she felt his body and let out a sigh. Killian stirred from his slumber and sat up slowly. "Swan, love. I'm okay." He assured her, knowing that the nightmares that had been plaguing her since their return were always the same. Him dying and her being alone forever. Without him. He pulled her down and held her close, stroking her back fondly. "I'm right here." He whispered, kissing the top of her head. She nodded, still too scared from her dream to talk or attempt to sleep again. She simply clung to him, her head resting on his chest.

Eventually she managed to speak, looking up into his bright blue eyes. "I love you Killian." Was all that she needed to say, before shutting her eyes.

"Aye, and i love you Emma." He replied in the dark, keeping her ever close to him. "And now that i'm back, i'm not leaving you again, i promise."

She eventually fell back asleep in his arms, holding onto him tightly.

When she woke, it took her a few seconds to realise that the space next to her was empty and cold. She ran her hand over the mattress and sat up, cold panic flooding through her body. "Killian?" She cried out, throwing the covers off and getting out of bed. "Hook?!" She cried again, frantically running into the ensuite. She stopped in her tracks when she found him in the shower. He turned around and gave her a sheepish look. "Um….Swan…?" He asked, stopping the flow of water. Emma let out a sigh that turned into a sob. "Oh God…" She managed to say, leaning against the wall. "I thought…" She trailed off. Killian stepped out of the shower and wrapped his lower half in a towel, shampoo still in his hair. She didn't even hesitate, instead went straight to him and wrapped her arms around his soaking wet body, pressing her head against his chest. "Don't disappear on me like that." She whispered.

He held her tightly and kissed the top of her head. "I'm sorry love, i thought i could get in a shower before you woke. I didn't think about you waking up without me…i'm sorry, i should have thought."

Emma didn't say anything more, just pressed even closer into him.

"Swan…i have soap in my eyes. I need to wash it from my hair. I promise i'm safe, okay?" He said gently, pulling her arms from him so he could be free. "I'm just going to finish my shower and then we can go on a walk together."

Emma nodded reluctantly and let him be alone while he showered. Instead, she made the bed and then headed downstairs to make them both some coffee.

When he came down to her twenty minutes later he was sully dressed and had his scruffy, just showered look to his hair. She smiled and handed him his coffee. She was sitting cross legged on the kitchen island, hugging her own mug. "So…Swan." He said softly kissing her forehead as he took his mug from her. "I can tell that these aren't your day clothes, and you'll need them for our walk."

She smiled and took a long drag from the coffee mug then closed her eyes slowly. "How about we just stay in today? I don't like it when everyone in town stares at me." She admitted softly. Killian gave her one of his cheekiest smiles and winked at her. "How do you know that they're not all staring at the worlds most dashing rapscallion?" He asked, hoping to make her laugh. She simply let out a heavy, burdened sigh and opened her eyes. "Killian…they still see me at the Dark One. I did some awful things…the dwarves won't even look at me, and everyone is afraid that i'm suddenly going to go dark again."

Killian bit his lip and sighed a little. "Well, you're not the dark one anymore, neither of us are. And it'll only take one bloody villain to convince them that they need their saviour back. That they need you back." He told her gently. "And…speaking of townspeople, i've booked you in to see Archie. You need to talk to him about your nightmares."

Emma looked at Killian, shock crossing her face. "You did what?" She gasped, placing her coffee mug down beside her. "You have no right…why would you…Killian, i don't need his help." She argued, looking hurt and angry. He felt guilty but he stood firm. "Emma, we went to hell and back…quite literally, and you're not dealing with it. You're up every night, more than once….you freak out if i disappear from sight unexpectedly, you look scared, all the time." He said softly, hoping that she'd see some sense. "I can go with you if you'd feel more comfortable, but i really think you should go. For our future, Love. I want a family with you, i want to marry you, but you're not in the right head space for any of that to happen right about now. You're a strong woman Swan, but you've lost the spark inside of you…and it's time we found it again."