This chapter is based sometime in season 5B when the heroes are all in the Underworld.

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Cocoa

Killian's eyes flew open, heart pounding. His first thought was of the absence of warmth next to him. Before he had time to dwell on it, images of his dream flooded his mind.

"This is your fault, Swan."

"Killian, wait! I didn't—"

"You once believed you were an orphan. It's my job to make sure it stays that way."

He shot up, blinking rapidly and sucking in deep breaths in a hope to drown out the horrid words. He knew he hadn't said those exact words to her, but he had hurt her. He'd said horrible things. Everyday, he would wonder how she had forgiven him when he hadn't forgiven himself. He would spend the rest of his life trying to make sure she never believed those words. Well, if he got back to Storybrooke, he would.

"Swan?" His voice was hoarse. He cleared his throat and called out again. He was met with silence.

Quietly, he moved out of bed and into the hallway. A soft glow from the staircase poured into the dark hall. As he headed to the stairs, he checked on Henry, who was fast asleep in what would have been his room. Killian remembered how excited he had been at the thought of not being woken up at the crack of dawn by Neal's cries.

The light above the kitchen sink was on. Emma sat at the table, a mug of what could have only been hot chocolate clasped between her hands. She stared into the cup as though it held all the hopes for her future.

"You all right, Swan?"

She looked up, her grip tightening around her drink. Her shoulders relaxed when she saw him. "Yeah, just a little thirsty."

He nodded, walking into the kitchen and dropping a kiss on her head before sitting next to her.

"What are you doing up?" she queried, sipping the brown liquid.

He shrugged. "Couldn't sleep."

She cocked her head to the side and then looked at their entwined hands. His hand was nearly crushing hers. "You sure that's all?"

Killian loosened his grip and pressed a kiss to her knuckles.

Emma set her mug down and threaded her fingers through his hair, pulling his head up gently. "What's wrong?"

"I could ask you the same thing." He gestured to the hot chocolate mug with his head. "Hot cocoa and cinnamon in the middle of the night?"

She smiled. "Don't change the subject. What's wrong?"

"Nothing of importance, love. I want to know what's on your mind."

"I asked you first."

He sighed, knowing she wouldn't cave. "I just…" He took a deep breath. "I'm so sorry." He glanced down and then back. He needed her to know how much he regretted his actions. "When I was the Dark One—"

"That wasn't you." Her hand moved to his cheek.

"Yes, it was."

"Really?" she asked doubtfully. "Did you really mean what you said?"

"No!" he gasped. "Of course not!"

"See? It wasn't you."

Killian shook his head. "I said horrible, horrible things to you, Emma. I betrayed every single ounce of trust you had in me. Everything you've told me, every time you've opened up to me—I used it all against you to make you feel like it was your fault I was acting the way I was. Nothing I did was your fault. I made my own choices and suffered the consequences."

Emma's eyes gleamed with tears. "Don't say that, Killian. Please." Her voice was quiet, her eyes cast down.

"Why not?" His eyebrows furrowed. "Emma, darling, what is it?"

"It is my fault. I turned you into a Dark One. I didn't give you Excalibur at first. I didn't tell any of you what was going on when we got back to Storybrooke. I kept the biggest secret from you." She lifted her eyes to his, tears swimming in her vision. "I am so sorry. I acted out of fear. I let my walls come up and control my actions. I should have trusted you back in Camelot, I shouldn't have turned you…but I couldn't watch someone else I love die. I'm sorry. I took away your choice." She held his face in her hands. "You should be so angry with me. I'm sorry. I will never do anything like that again."

Killian stared at her incredulously. How could she possibly blame herself for what had happened? If he had been in her position, he was positive he would have done the same. He wouldn't ever be able to watch her die. He would do anything to keep that from happening. His hand grasped her wrist softly. "Don't blame yourself, darling. You did what you thought was right. My actions were my own."

"But if I had listened to you—"

"We both made mistakes, love. I know that. You know that. But my mistakes are not yours. Everything I did was my fault."

"Is that why you came down here? Because you couldn't stop thinking about all this?"

He sucked in a breath. "I came down here looking for you."

She gave him a look. "That's not what I meant."

"I know." He exhaled. "I had a dream—a nightmare. We were back in Storybrooke as the Dark Ones. The words I said, the way I acted—"

"Hey, look at me." She waited until he met her eyes. "It was just a dream. All that is over now. We need to put it behind us and focus on the future—our future."

He gazed at her, his mind filling with wonder. What had he ever done to deserve someone like her in his life? "I love you."

Her eyes widened, her grip on his hand going slack. A moment later, however, her eyes softened and her grip returned. She leaned forward and kissed him gently. After, she set her forehead against his. "I never thought I would hear that again."

"Well, if we get out of here, you will hear it regularly."

Instead of fear shooting through her, excitement did. One day, she would say it everyday. "You mean when. I'm not leaving without you, Killian."

"I don't plan on you having to."

Emma smiled. "Good." Leaning back, she snatched her cocoa from the table and took a sip. "There's more in the pot on the stove if you want. The whipped cream is in the fridge and the cinnamon—"

"—is in the spice cabinet, first shelf on the right?" He stood, raising a teasing eyebrow. "I put it there, Swan."

She rolled her eyes.

Killian chuckled and retrieved the ingredients. After Liam moved on and Henry admitted to working with Cruella, Killian had taken him to a store. He knew Henry would want time to think, and they needed food at the house. The first thing they had put in the cart had been cinnamon and hot chocolate powder. Henry hadn't stopped talking about it when they got back to the loft, telling his mother how she owed him for the rest of his life for making sure Killian bought the right brand of hot cocoa.

"Henry's going to be jealous we did this without him," Emma said from behind him.

"Aye, but we can make it up to him."

Emma groaned. "I cannot eat another piece of pie from the Blind Witch's."

Killian turned to her, steaming mug in hand. "Henry would gladly eat your slice."

She shook his head. "He eats too much sugar."

"Says Ms. Hot Chocolate."

Emma snorted. "Did Henry tell you that joke?"

"Your father." He resumed his seat.

"Of course. Dad jokes. I forgot."

"Aye, you mustn't forget the Dad jokes."

She resisted the urge to roll her eyes and stood, holding out her free hand. "Let's sit on the couch."

He grinned and placed his hook in her hand. "Of course."

She wrapped her hand around the cool metal and pulled him to his feet, leading him to the couch before sitting down. Killian followed suit, sliding his hooked arm around her shoulders and tucking her head under his chin.

"Are you going to tell me why you were down here?"

Emma muttered something into her mug.

"I can't understand you, love."

"That's the point."

He pressed a kiss to her hair. "You can trust me."

"I know." She sighed and craned her neck so she could see him. "I couldn't sleep either. Everytime I closed my eyes, I imagined you gone. I remembered waking up the night I…killed you. Henry was with me. I know he wanted to make sure I wasn't alone, but that only made me remember why." She shook her head. "I figured that hot chocolate would clear my mind."

"And did it?"

"Nope." She kissed his jaw. "You did."

Killian rested his forehead on hers. "I'm glad I could be of assistance."

She tried, and failed, not to roll her eyes. "Drink your hot chocolate before it gets cold. Mine's already warm, so yours can't be far behind."

Slowly, they drank their cocoa in silence, soaking in one another's presence. It wasn't until Emma was at the bottom of her glass that she spoke again.

"I missed this."

Killian hummed in question.

"The past month—no, two months? Three months?—however long it's been, has been insane. First the Queens of Darkness, then the author and the alternate reality, then the real Darkness, and now the Underworld—we haven't had time to just sit between it all."

"And drink cocoa."

"Exactly."

He leaned his head back, catching her gaze. "I missed it, too."

She beamed at him before burrowing into his side farther. Both of their minds were in sync as they thought about those six weeks of peace after Elsa and her sister left. Emma didn't think she had ever been happier. She had her parents, her son, and Killian. No villains, no monsters. A regular routine. Morning walks, lunch dates, late night star gazing. The more she thought about it, the more she yearned for it. It filled her with more determination. They were going to get out of the Underworld, she would make sure of that.

"Let's go on a walk," Killian said suddenly.

"Right now? It's, like, three in the morning."

He shrugged. "So? We can take care of ourselves." He grinned down at her. "What do you say, Swan? Care for a stroll?"

She laughed and let him lead her outside.

As they walked the darkened streets of what Regina had called "Underbrooke," their arms remained tight around each other. Eventually, they admitted it felt eerie walking around the realm of the dead in the pitch black and headed home.

"I rather like the sound of that," Killian said casually.

"What?"

"Home, especially with you by my side."

Her heart swelled. "You're so cheesy."

He kissed her cheek. "Aye."

"I like the sound of it, too," she agreed, pulling his arm more securely around her. "Home."

I hope you enjoyed that chapter!