Hook… I Will Always Find You

Chapter Forty-Six

Down in the Underworld…

A few hours passed by since heroes and villains defeated Hades and rid the Underworld of his dark reign of terror together. Once again, Hook had been seriously injured when he and Emma stood against the God in their defiance, as were a few of the others after they had been knocked down. So they took the next couple of hours to try to recuperate the best they could before those from Storybrooke could return home at last. And in that time, they said their goodbyes to those who needed to stay behind, among them being Graham, Lila, and Cora.

"So… are you and Lila going to be moving on then, now that you've accomplished what you've set out to do?" Emma asked the hunter and brief partner back when the former sheriff had asked her to be his deputy until his death, while she stood beside Killian on the dock in front of the boat Lila had secured for them, as they and the others were preparing to leave.

"Actually, Lila and I have decided we're going to stay here to try to help fix up this realm," Graham replied, then leaned in and hugged the Savior who had helped him find his true self again before the Evil Queen's dark curse was ever broken. "We'd like to try to help those who've been trapped here for however long they have been to find peace and move on themselves. And if they're not ready to leave just yet, we hope to try to make living here in the Underworld far better than it's been until now."

The witch who loved the Huntsman glanced at him and smiled while she was holding his hand, then she turned her head to look over at Cora speaking quietly with Regina and Zelena as she continued, "And at last Cora's on our side. Together, we're going to try to do what we always hoped to do back when we became a part of the rebellion."

Having overheard Lila mention her mother was going to stay with them, Regina stared at them for moment before she looked over at Cora again as she asked, "Is that true, mother? Are you really going to stay here and help these people move on?"

"I feel it's the right thing to do… after all I've done that I've not been too proud of, both since I've been down here and while I was alive," the sorceress responded while she kept her eyes between her two daughters. "In time, maybe I will finally earn my chance to move on one day. Regina… I spent most of my life trying to make you in my own image and I hurt you terribly. Especially when I killed Daniel. I am so sorry. I'm so happy that you were at least finally able to say goodbye to him before he moved on from here, even if it wasn't the way you hoped to. And I'm especially sorry for how I treated your father before he too moved on. Can you forgive me?"

"Of course I can, mother," her youngest answered lovingly, then pulled Cora into a tender embrace. "I've always loved you."

The miller's daughter smiled at her and then turned to Zelena as well, as she stated remorsefully, "And Zelena… I'm not sure how I can ever apologize enough for giving you up because I was so heartbroken by what your… well, for the lack of a better word… your father did to me. I couldn't look at you or stand the thought that my child came from that man. But it wasn't your fault and I never should have given up my oldest girl. I know how much I've hurt both of you, but despite all of it… You have both grown into fine women. I know one of you is a hero and the other is a villain, but I hope that this can be a brand new start for you both. I want you to find the redemption you seek and to take care of each other, for me and for your true father. Henry would have loved you, Zelena. Like you were his own. I'm sure of it."

Regina nodded as she wiped away the tears beginning to fall, as did Zelena, then the Queen replied, "Mother's right. Daddy would have loved you. And I hope we can eventually become sisters the way we always should have been."

"If that's what you both want, there's something you need to remember," Cora responded and took both of her daughters' hands in her own as she closed her eyes encouraging Regina and Zelena to do the same, then used her magic to restore a memory she had stolen from them a long time ago.

"You were sisters once, who loved and needed each other," she finished with sincerity and remorse after the memory was restored to them both. "I thought that love… any kind of love… was weakness. I was a fool. Look at you, Regina. You stayed here to help your father and your friends. You're stronger than I ever was. And that's the strength you got from the people you love, not from me."

Regina whispered, "Thank you, Mother."

Cora then turned back to her oldest again as she continued, "My Zelena… I meant what I said earlier. I am so sorry. Sorry I never gave you the family you deserved or the love. I should have been there for you, instead of wasting my life destroying people. Maybe now you won't have to make the same mistakes I did."

"What if it's too late for me?" the Wicked Witch asked fearfully as she looked into her mother's eyes.

"If being here's taught me anything, it's that it's never too late, especially for family," the sorceress answered her assuredly, then turned so she could look between both of her girls and put both of their hands together. "You never stop being connected, right up to the end. And sometimes… even after."

Cora took a moment to wipe away her own tears too and then added, "I'm so proud of you, my daughters. Go… and be happy. I love you both so much."

Regina and Zelena hugged their mother and finished saying goodbye to her, then the Queen quickly said goodbye to Graham and Lila as well before she and her sister, as well as Robin, were the first to board the boat. August, Tinker Bell, and Smee were next, while Grumpy quickly hugged Graham once again before he joined with the others. David then reached out to shake his old friend's hand and spoke his gratitude to both Graham and to Lila as well before he too stepped onto the boat among the others.

Emma and Killian were the last ones to join with their family and friends. Once she hugged Graham and Lila to show her thanks to them for all they did to help them, she took Killian's hand and started to get onboard, until Killian froze where he was standing as he stared back towards the direction of Underbrooke.

The Savior looked at him worryingly as she stepped back to move around in front of him and saw the fear still in his eyes, then she quietly asked, "Killian… what is it? What's wrong?"

"It's nothing… love," he whispered sadly. "It's just that I… Are you certain? Can you really accept me for who I am and all the terrible things I've done? Because… while true love is the rarest magic of all and it's what you and I share, it doesn't mean that you can't be happy with someone else one day. Someone who… who won't come with as much baggage as I have."

"I don't want anyone else and I wouldn't give up what you and I share for anything," she replied to him tenderly. "I love you for all you are, including the part of you who is a pirate. And so do a lot of other people…"

David suddenly cut in saying, "Including me. Not that I love you… or anything. But despite all I used to feel about you because you were a pirate, you are my friend. Or mate, I guess. I judged you too soon, Hook. And for that I'm sorry. I realize I must have added to a lot of the doubt you're feeling about yourself. I hope to be able to help make things right between us."

Killian looked over at his friend with surprise and then responded, "Thank you, mate."

At last, he and Emma got into the boat as well, then they slowly and cautiously rowed their way back towards the portal so they could make their way back home to Storybrooke, while they waved goodbye once more to their friends who stayed behind. Graham, Lila, and Cora all simply just waved back until they vanished from their view within the fog which suddenly surrounded them.

Back in Storybrooke…

Later in the afternoon, Henry walked along the beach with Mary Margaret and her son for over an hour while they talked. About life and about the hope they shared that soon their family and friends would all be home again soon. Eventually, they made their way into Storybrooke Heritage Park where their loved ones entered a portal into the Underworld nearly a week ago.

"You know… it really isn't so bad out here, if it wasn't for there being an entrance into the Underworld," the thirteen year old said again after he and his grandmother just listened to the sounds of the birds chirping in the trees around them.

"I agree with you, Henry," Mary Margaret answered. "It's too bad we ever had to find out about it."

She was about to continue to talk, when all of a sudden a fog rolled in over the pond before them just as it had the night they said goodbye to their loved ones so they could go down to find Hook. Both Mary Margaret and Henry turned to face the eerie sight before them with hope in their hearts and in their eyes, then the Princess suddenly gasped and began to cry when a boat appeared within the fog as it floated towards them. The first face she saw was that of her husband's, while Henry was happy to see both of his mothers, until his eyes fell on Killian at last, as the Captain was standing beside the Savior as well.

He immediately cried out, "Hook?! Mom! Mom!"

Mary Margaret joined in with her grandson's excitement while she shouted, "David! And Emma, and… Killian! You're back! You're all home!"

"Snow!" Charming cried back and was the first one to jump off the boat as he immediately rushed over to pull his wife and their son in close to hold them, then kissed her tenderly while the others climbed down into the shallow water over the bridge which opened up to them again so they could make their way back to shore. "I've missed you, so much. You know what… I think you need to go back to being Snow again, instead of Mary Margaret. Not that it's not a beautiful name, but you'll always be Snow to me. You are a strong and an amazing woman who inspires people every day. Who always inspires me, our daughter, and our son and grandson. And Snow White's name does that all on its own. You are meant to be who you were born to be. So… let's be Snow White and Prince Charming again. The way we always were and not just David and Mary Margaret."

"I'd like that… Charming," Snow whispered and then continued to kiss her husband before they turned again to their daughter and Killian as they both were suddenly pulled into an embrace by Henry, causing Killian to let out a weak groan in pain from his unhealed injuries when he did so, despite his effort to stifle it.

The Savior's son quickly pulled back while he looked between them and then stated happily, "You did it. I knew you would, but it didn't take away any of the fear I felt after you all left. Killian, I… I'm so glad you're back. You have no idea how much I missed…"

However, the boy was cut off when all of a sudden, Killian gasped painfully as he raised and grabbed his right wrist while Emma grabbed it as well upon seeing a strange mark become burned into his skin, then she questioned, "What the hell is that? Killian?"

"It's the mark of Charon," Henry quickly replied as he observed it as well, while Regina came over upon hearing the commotion and pulled her son into her arms to hold him again, then Robin and the others all came over to join them too. "I read about it in school. In one of my classes when we studied a little about Greek Mythology. It's a mark burned into the souls who enter up into the living world without a body. You're… you're still… Mom… you couldn't bring him back?"

"There were complications while we were down there," Emma responded worryingly and then looked between her parents as well. "A lot of them. What does this mark mean, Henry? Will it go away?"

It was then that Belle and Gold both appeared among them after they had decided to come out for a walk as well, then the former Dark One answered, "It should once you get Hook back into his body. If I remember right from my own time in the Underworld… Hook's passage into this world is very brief before his soul is taken back down by the ferryman, who will appear tonight when the moon reaches its zenith. You should go, Miss. Swan. Captain… It's good to see you again. Let's just hope that whatever complications you all encountered down there are no longer a problem."

Emma nodded at him and Belle, then once the beauty quickly pulled her friend whom she believed she would never see again into a gentle hug as she whispered the words 'welcome home' into his ear, the Savior turned back to Killian while he simply nodded his head and together they, Henry, Snow and Charming, Gold and Belle, Regina and Robin, Tink, Grumpy, August, and finally Smee all walked together to the harbor where the Jolly Roger remained docked with the Captain's body still protected onboard.

Once they boarded Killian's ship and walked down into the Captain's quarters, Emma and Killian stood over the bed where his body laid still and cold before them, yet perfectly preserved. Truth be told, the sight was eerie for both of them. However, Emma didn't think on it too long as she turned around to Regina again with a look of determination on her face.

She then spoke once more saying, "Regina… it's time. I'm going to share my heart with him, so I need you to take it out of my chest and split it in half."

"All right," the Queen replied and took a brief moment to compose herself before she raised her hand to Emma's chest above her heart. "Just try to breathe and hold still. This is going to hurt a little."

"I know," the Savior responded, as she thought back to when Regina had taken her heart out so she could use it for the test of true love, then turned her head to look up into Killian's eyes while he looked down into hers. "I'm ready."

Regina finally reached inside and pulled the precious glowing organ out once more, then carefully split it in half like she had done with Snow's heart in order to bring David back from the dead as well. Emma gasped when she did so, while Killian immediately pulled her into his arms to hold her against him to steady her. But once the Savior's heart was in two halves, the dark haired woman pushed one half back inside of her chest where it belonged, then gently laid the other into Emma's hands.

The Savior then raised the second half of her heart over Killian's body and then as gently as she could, she pushed it inside. The moment upon doing so, Killian's soul suddenly vanished from among them and Emma waited anxiously for the man she loved to wake up. Yet a minute passed and nothing happened.

When nearly two minutes ticked by, Emma turned to Regina and Gold with tears in her eyes as she fearfully cried out, "What's going on? Why didn't it work? Where is he?!"

Regina was about to state she didn't know, until Belle swiftly reached out to grab Emma's arm while the beauty stared down at Killian's body and exclaimed, "Emma, look… his chest is moving. He's breathing."

"Perhaps because Hook's soul has been trapped down within the Underworld all this time… one final ingredient is needed to fully bring him back to life," Gold answered for the Queen. "Perhaps, Miss. Swan… now might be a good time for you to share true love's kiss with the man you love."

"It'll work, Emma," David replied as he looked at her while he laid his hand over his daughter's shoulder. "You and Hook passed the true love's test. You have proven that you are each other's true loves. Prove it to him now… again."

His daughter nodded, then turned back to look down on the face of the man she loved until she leaned over him as she took his face into her hands and at last, she tenderly kissed his lips. All of a sudden, a pulse of light magic created from her kiss elicited from within her and Killian as it washed over everyone aboard the Jolly Roger. No more than a few seconds passed by this time, before the man she loved suddenly gasped awake just as the Savior hoped, and she cried tears of relief and of joy the moment in which Killian's eyes opened and turned so he was looking up into hers.

Killian smiled up at her and then weakly he whispered, "Emma… You did it. You… you saved me."

The Savior couldn't help but laugh upon hearing him utter the same words spoken from her mother and father, no doubt thanks to him having heard her parents' love stories dozens of times, then she joyfully responded, "And I always will. I will always find you, Killian. Just promise me you won't make that sacrifice for me again. I can't ever lose you like that again."

"I wish I could, love, but… ah!" he started to answer while he tried to sit up with Emma's help, until he suddenly let out a sharp cry in pain, as Emma quickly realized his injuries, which had transferred from his soul to his body upon his awakening, had yet to be healed by her now that Hades was dead and the God's magic cast over Killian to keep the heroes from healing him now was gone.

"Hold on," she stated gently and raised one hand gently over the dagger wound he received in their defeat of Hades, while she laid her other over the side of his face, then emitted her healing power as she allowed it to flow through her and into him. "You'll be better in no time."

Finally, the bleeding wound within his abdomen slowly healed, along with all of the lashes, cuts, and bruises he had received from the God's and Captain Silver's cruel torment while he had been their prisoner. Upon being restored, Killian stood from the bed while he looked down where the knife had once been and when it was gone and he felt his strength return to his body at last, Killian looked up again into Emma's eyes and smiled at her until she leaned into him again for another kiss. Everyone else around them again all cheered, except for Gold. Even though he was happy to see all had worked despite his and the pirate's past, he kept himself more reserved and simply smiled when his wife looked over at him.

Smee then happily exclaimed, "Welcome back, Captain! I hope you know that there's no better man I would rather serve under than you."

Hook looked over at his first mate as he reached out to shake the bigger man's hand and then answered, "Aye… Mr. Smee. I do. And your loyalty has been proven time and time again even before you risked your life to join the others on this quest to save me. For which I am deeply grateful."

"I wouldn't do it for anyone else," Smee quickly replied, when Leroy wrapped his arm around the pirate's shoulders, then together they walked off to return to town to make the announcement to everyone that they were all home, while everyone else soon followed once they too welcomed Killian back as well.

"Oh… wait," Killian said suddenly while he pulled the woman he loved back towards him when she started to follow, after everyone aside from David, Henry, and Snow with Neal all left them alone, then he pulled his brother's ring he was still wearing from around his neck since Emma returned it to him to help her find him again, and laid it once more in her hands. "This ring belongs to you, Emma. I appreciate that you restored it to me so you could find me, but you have. And now… I'd like it if you would continue to wear it so you will always be reminded of how much I love you."

Snow let out a quiet and gentle sob out of awe upon hearing the man's expression of love for her daughter, then she swiftly spoke again in apology saying, "I'm so sorry. We'll… we'll leave the two of you alone for right now. Just come on over to Granny's when you're ready. I know that there are a lot of people who will be happy to see you again, Killian. I know I most certainly am."

The Princess leaned in to kiss his cheek, then followed with Belle's earlier sentiment when she sincerely whispered, "Welcome home."

David expressed how he felt once more as well with a simple handshake and a pat on Killian's shoulder, while Henry finally embraced Killian again like he had before upon his arrival. The thirteen year old hugged his mother as well, then joined with his grandparents when they left the Captain's quarters at last.

"I suppose we should probably follow before too long, though… I wouldn't mind taking a hot shower to help rid myself of what little remains of the ache and the stench of the Underworld," Hook then expressed to Emma again after the others were gone.

"Then let's get you back to the loft so you can," Emma responded, then together they walked hand in hand back to the Charmings' loft so they could both do as he suggested before they returned to town to meet up with everyone else, who were all happy to have their heroes as well as Killian home.

Four nights later…

Archie was in his office as he was once again preparing to go home, when he opened up his bag he carried in with him to work that evening and found his patient's file which he had taken out from his office several nights ago to be able to go over it while at home. The doctor then pulled it out and opened it up to read through his notes he had taken from his few sessions with Killian over the last couple of months before his death and now resurrection. He smiled while he stared down at the papers when he realized that his friend's fears he had come to him with were behind him now. However, when Archie turned to his filing cabinet to place the file back where it belonged, a knock sounded at the door again and he recognized the familiar rap of metal striking it instead of one's fist.

The doctor quickly put the file away, then moved to his door and opened it up to his visitor while he stated, "Good evening, Killian. It's good to see you. Please… come in and have a seat."

The Captain smiled as he walked past the smaller man when Archie motioned for him to enter inside, then the psychiatrist followed and sat down in the chair across from where Killian took a seat once again on the couch while he continued by asking, "So… what brings you here tonight? How have you been doing since… well, since everything that you went through down in the Underworld? Have you been sleeping alright?"

"About as well as one can after going through… I guess what I had," Killian answered him honestly. "That's kind of why I've come to see you again. I do apologize for always coming as you're preparing to leave for the night. I suppose I've just been hesitant…"

"You needn't apologize to me about that ever, Captain," Archie replied in sincerity. "And you don't have to be concerned or worried about whatever it is you wish to discuss with me. You know I won't tell anyone anything about what we talk about here. And you needn't feel ashamed about feeling so uneasy since you've been back. Anyone would be. So please… tell me what it is that's troubling you. Have you been having nightmares since your return?"

Killian nodded and looked down at his hand and his hook, then finally he reluctantly and softly responded, "Aye. Hell is certainly an apt name for a world such as the Underworld, as it is most certainly… hell. It isn't so much the physical pain and torture I suffered down there that's been troubling me. Although, trying to forget all that has been difficult too. But rather… I suppose it's more the emotional torment I can't seem to shake. Hades… he knew exactly what hurt me the most and he never stopped trying to break me. The trouble is, I was already a broken man when I arrived down there. And while I'm grateful Emma loves me so much that she and her family… our friends were willing to risk everything for my sake… I'm still not so sure I'm deserving of their sacrifices they made for me. I'm still broken, Cricket. There's a large part of me that wishes I wasn't a part of this world any longer, having lived for nearly two centuries longer than what anyone is meant to as it is. What if the reason I came back, was simply for Emma's sake? And why… why can't I feel good about how my coming home with her is for my own sake as well?"

Archie listened intently while his friend spoke and when Killian appeared to finish, he continued to look at him while he answered, "I certainly understand why you're so deeply troubled and why you've come to see me again. Which I'm grateful you have, because I want to help you figure out all of your concerns and help you get past them. However, none of these questions can really be answered well enough to help you do so tonight. So… I would like you to come to see me more often than you did before. Will you be willing to do that?"

"Aye," the pirate captain replied with understanding. "I can do that."

"Good," the doctor responded, then stood so he could move over to join his friend on the couch while they continued to talk. "Now… The truth is, most of these questions you're seeking answers for… are only answers you can find for yourself. I will definitely be here to help you find them every step of the way. But at the end of the day, we all have to decide how it is we truly feel about our own selves. I know that you're grateful for the sacrifices made for you. And I know how much you love Emma, even more so for her making the same kind of sacrifices for you, that you made for her. And that is one of your answers right there. Or at least part of it. You feel you didn't deserve their sacrifice to come down to the Underworld to save you. But Killian… You did more than just give your life for us in Camelot that day. I know some of it was also because you've come to despise the man you are and that you couldn't live with yourself any longer, but we all also saw that you did so to make sure we were safe. You rid this world of the darkness when no other Dark One before you has ever come close to even wanting to achieve such a feat. And that's incredible. If someone with your kind of conviction and strength to do something so incredible isn't worthy of being saved from Hell itself, then who is? No one. I wish I could have come myself to help the others save you too, but… I would have just been in the way. I'm so glad to have you back with us again. You're a good friend to us all, Killian. And you're a good friend to me."

Killian looked into the man's eyes for any sign of deception Archie might be using to try to deceive him or to simply make him feel better, but when he saw none, he smiled while he let out a quiet sob in relief and quickly wiped away a tear from his eye, then finally he answered, "I never expected anyone would ever feel towards me the way you and everyone else here in Storybrooke do. Not after I was abandoned by my own father to become a vile slave for the next sixteen years of my… very young life. Not after I was a villain for over two hundred years so I could quench my thirst for revenge against the previous Dark One before me. And then… even after I thought I did know how people had come to see me as a hero, Hades went and destroyed any belief I had in myself. You've no idea how truly grateful I am to hear you say what you've just said, doctor. And to know in my heart you speak the truth. Thank you."

Archie smiled at him and reached out to take his hand while he patted his shoulder as well, then replied, "You're very welcome, Kilian Jones. You're a good man. I look forward to continuing to get to know the real you. I'm grateful that I can again. It's wonderful to have you back."

"Again… thank you," the pirate captain responded, as he stood up again from the couch and then moved towards the door to leave. "I suppose I should get going. Emma's waiting for me down the street at Granny's. She wanted to pick us up some dinner for later. It will be a quiet night at her home this evening. Just the two of us."

"That sounds wonderful," Dr. Hopper answered while he walked Hook to the door. "Just feel free to call my office anytime so we can setup a time for our next session. You're also always more than welcome to stop by, or join me for a meal at Granny's as well."

Hook shook Archie's hand again as he stepped outside of the office, then stated, "I'd like that. And I promise to call. Good evening, doctor."

As Killian started down the street towards the diner, the man of conscience called out to him saying, "You can call me, Archie! Friends always call one another by their first names!"

"Archie then!" Killian called back, then smiled and continued walking.

A few minutes later, when Killian entered Granny's, he found Emma sitting in one of the booths talking with Tink, as well as August and Marco who were sitting across from her. When the Savior saw the man she loved walk in, she immediately stood up to greet him as he came over to join them and then took a seat in the booth beside her and the fairy.

"Welcome, my friend," Marco said sincerely while he reached out his hand to pat the man's who was even older than he was. "How have you been doing since you've been home again?"

Hook glanced over at Emma until he turned back to the two men in front of him and simply replied, "Much better. Thank you. It's good to be home. How have things been here?"

The woodcarver responded, "Uneventful. Quite so. None of you have missed much of anything while you've been gone. For which, I am grateful. It's not often we have this kind of quiet around here with the number of villains who keep on making an appearance."

"You're right about that," August answered quietly. "Let's hope that this peace and quiet lasts a bit longer before the next villain arises. Tink… how would you like to join me for a ride on my bike?"

"I would like that very much," the Green Fairy replied eagerly, then stood up again after Emma and Killian did as everyone prepared to leave for the night.

Emma looked over at Killian and smiled when they both sensed something going on between their two friends, then turned back to the others as she responded, "We need to get going too. It's good to see you, Marco. And thank you."

Marco nodded and walked out with his son and Tinker Bell, while Killian turned to Emma again as he asked, "What was it you were thanking Marco for, love? Is he going to be working on some sort of project for you?"

"Actually… he's been working on something for me since we've gotten back," the Savior answered once they left the diner and began walking down the street arm in arm. "I asked him if he could carve me a new piece of furniture. Come with me. There's something I'd like to show you."

"Where are we going?" he asked in confusion while she began to pull him along down a street that was mostly unfamiliar to him.

She looked over at him as she replied, "You'll see."

At last, they came upon the house which Killian had purchased for Emma and him before the events of the Underworld, and before Camelot, and before their time within the Author's alternate reality they had all been banished to. Once they arrived, the Captain just stared up at it in surprise until he finally just lowered his head to look back into his love's eyes.

He shook his head in confusion, then questioned, "What are we doing here, love? I wasn't… I'm not so sure that things can move forward as I hoped. This house…"

"Move in with me," she quickly asked him before he could finish, as she reached up and gently began to twirl her fingers gently through his hair.

"What?" he uttered while he continued to look at her in confusion, not understanding what it was she was really asking him despite her words being very clear.

The Savior smiled at him as she more somberly continued, "Move in with me. I know everything in life is uncertain, but sometimes you have to walk out the door and hope there's not a bus."

Killian let out a small chuckle and she then quickly added, "I mean… I have a closet full of red jackets. I feel like I could make some space for some black leather."

"Well, when you put it like that, then I would love to move in with you," the man she loved responded sincerely, until his eyes saddened again and he looked away while he struggled to think things through.

"Killian?" Emma whispered in worry when she saw the struggle within him appear on his face.

Before she could ask him what was wrong, he answered, "Emma… I would love more than anything to do so. I hoped to ask you to move in with me before all of this happened. Before the Queens of darkness made their appearances and tried to help Gold to darken your heart. It's just that after everything… I'm not that same man anymore, Swan. My feelings for you have certainly not changed other than that they've only grown stronger. But I'm not the dashing rapscallion I told you I was when we were in New York, or the man who ran head first into danger against a Snow Queen to try to keep you safe…"

The Savior swiftly raised her hand over his mouth to cut him off before he could go on putting himself down and then replied strongly, "Yes… you are, Killian. You've only forgotten because of what Hades and the darkness have put you through. Look back to all you did for me while we were still down in the Underworld. You stood up to Hades then? You were the one who said we needed to destroy Hades in order to save everyone from his wrath. You stood at my side when you and I were about to be killed by that three headed beast and the Olympian Crystal when Hades had it aimed right at us. Don't continue to put yourself down. The piece of furniture I asked Marco to make for me… it's a wardrobe similar to the one he built out of the magical tree so my parents could save me from the dark curse. Just not magical of course. I want to be able to fill it with our things. Our jackets, the things from my childhood which I showed you from that box I still have, and the chest from your ship filled with what you hold most dear too."

"What I hold most dear aren't in a box or a chest, Swan," Killian responded to her in sincerity.

"I know," she answered quietly again, then leaned in close so she could kiss him until she finally just continued to hold his body against hers and finally continued to talk. "We now share a heart, Killian. And we've proven to ourselves that our love is true love. If you weren't still the man I fell in love with, I would have been too afraid to take this next step with you. You know that. But I am ready. So, please…"

The Captain embraced the woman he loved tighter while he looked up at the house again and then whispered, "Aye, love. How can I say no when you've restored to me my happy ending?"

Emma raised her head so she could look into his eyes again and said, "I never told you then, but you're my happy ending too. You always have been. I love you."

The End