A/N: I'm essentially saying f*it and posting these two chapters to catch y'all up to a better stopping point. I hate leaving you with so little new stuff.

~The Awakening~

Killian hastily made his way up the stairs and through the halls, barely registering that he passed someone on his way. He knew what he could do now, how he could help. And a way for him to explore his own heroism to boot. After his failure to protect her in the first place, he had to do this. He had to find it, he had to try. No matter how dangerous.

Just in case… he had to say goodbye.

The guards didn't even try to stop him this time, and the single guard inside didn't seem startled in the least. Killian did a double take, did the guard seem… happy to see him?

He shrugged off that unimportant detail as he crossed to the chair. He moved it back around to the opposite side, where he had seen Snow crumple in dismay over the state of her daughter. He sat, knees right up against the bed. He leaned in, picking up her limp hand in his good one, letting his hook sit idly on his knee.

He took in her pale image. Golden curls, stationary against the pillow. Lips parted just enough to let out her shallow breath.

He didn't notice the rushed scrape of charcoal against parchment from the corner of the room. He didn't notice that another man had entered the room directly behind him.

"I don't know what the next few days have in store for me." He began in a low tone. "I found something that may help this situation." He took in a ragged breath. "I don't know if you can hear me, love, but I had to say this before I-" He breathed out, closing his eyes tight, bringing her hand to his lips where he planted a small kiss.

The room was engulfed in a blast of energy, sweeping outward, never ending as it swept the realm.

Her eyes blinked open.

Killian instantly knew what that meant, and he sat shocked, unable to believe it. No spell could have faked that, no matter the caster.

"Go fetch Snow, and Regina." A voice behind him said in a formidable tone. It was then that Killian realized he wasn't as alone as he believed. David had stepped in behind him, witnessing the event. He was holding a dinner tray, which struck Killian as odd.

The scraping sound drew his attention to the corner of the room where Roland was huddled, drawing rapidly with wide eyes constantly glancing up from the page he was tirelessly working on.

Thank you for reading!