Killian felt as though he were swimming up from the bottom of the ocean. Everything was dark and still, the sounds around him muffled, as though he were hearing them through the water. And then suddenly the water cleared and he pushed through the surface.

The first thing he saw upon opening his eyes was her face, her beautiful radiant face looking down on him with hope and perhaps a bit of trepidation.

"Swan, at last!" he whispered past a throat as dry as sandpaper.

How he knew her name he had no idea, but know it he did, just as he had the strangest feeling he knew her-had communicated with her, had a connection with her.

Given the standoffish way she'd treated their one previous encounter, he expected her to pull away, to become defensive at his familiar use of her name, but she surprised him. Instead of shying away, she smiled at him, let her hand linger on his cheek a moment longer and simply said, "Welcome back."

A nurse came in at that moment, and Killian looked around in surprise. For the first time, he realized he was in a hospital.

"What-" he croaked before taking a sip of water the nurse brought him. "What happened?"

"We were rather hoping you could tell us that," replied a handsome black man who stood at a discreet distance.

"Killian, I'd like you to meet Merlin Emrys," Emma said. "It's thanks to him we were able to find you."

Killian held out his hand, and shook Merlin's. "You have my thanks."

"You're most welcome," Merlin said with a smile, "but I assure you I was only a small part of the puzzle. You owe your waking to Miss Swan here-to her and to the connection you share."

It was odd, Killian thought, that neither he nor Emma had introduced themselves to each other; it was even more odd that it felt as though such an introduction would be redundant. What had happened to them to make them feel as though they'd known each other for decades?

Soulmates, a small voice inside of him insisted.

"You have my deepest gratitude," Killian said, looking around at the two people with him, "both of you."

Emma took his hand, squeezing it gently. "Do you remember anything about...whatever it was that brought you here?"

Killian thought intently for a moment, closing his eyes to help himself concentrate. "I remember…" He looked up at Emma. "I remember you, love. I remember running into you, quite literally, and then I came across a scuffle in an alley. I tried to intervene and was struck from behind, and then...nothing."

"Killian," Emma said gently, "that was half a year ago. You were declared dead, and your family interred you in the family mausoleum. Do you know how that could have happened?"

Killian shook his head. "I have no idea, love. It is a mystery-"

Suddenly the flower vase on the bedside table crashed to the floor, making Killian jump.

"What the hell?!" Emma exclaimed.

It was me!

Killian jumped in the bed. He'd heard the voice as clearly as he'd heard Emma's exclamation, but the voice wasn't in the room; it was in his head.

"Did you….did you hear that?" he asked, eyebrows raised nearly to his hairline.

"Yeah, I think so," she said. She looked as disconcerted as he felt. "Merlin? What's happening?"

Killian turned to look at the other man in the room, but he wasn't paying them any mind. His attention was focused near the nightstand and the shattered vase. For a moment, he merely stared intently, and then he nodded, as though acknowledging someone-or something-neither Killian nor Emma could see.

"Emma," Merlin said, finally turning back toward the bed, "do you remember when you first came to me, I sensed another spirit with us? An angry and quite desperate one?"

Emma furrowed her brows. "Um...yeah, but what does that have to do with anything?"

"He's with us now," Merlin said. "He's the voice you heard, and he's responsible for the broken vase."

"Okay…"

"Killian," Merlin said, "his name is Arthur. Arthur Pendragon. He says he made a terrible decision. He borrowed a good deal of money from the mobster known as Hades. The business venture he'd gambled the money on fell through, and to put it mildly, Hades was not pleased."

"Clearly things went rather badly for him after that if he's a ghost," Killian said slowly, "but I'm afraid I don't follow. What does this Arthur Pendragon have to do with any of us?"

It was me!

This time the shout in his head was so loud it was nearly deafening. Killian scowled, glaring in the general direction of the nightstand where he assumed the spirit was standing-or whatever it is that spirits do when they're haunting the living.

"Seems like someone's impatient," Emma said dryly. "Merlin, how about you stop with the vagueness and just spit it out. Who is -or I guess who was- Arthur, and why does he insist on yelling at us?"

"Arthur Pendragon is haunting you both because he was the man in the alley, the man you tried to save, Killian."

Killian blew out a long breath. "Clearly my attempts were fruitless."

Merlin shook his head. "No, you weren't able to save his life, but he's here for a reason. Maybe you can help him now, help him move on, help him find peace."

"If there's anything I can do to help, I'm at his disposal," Killian said, "but why the bloody hell does he keep repeating 'it was me'?"

Merlin turned toward the nightstand and listened for another moment, and then he turned back to the bed, smiling.

"It would seem Arthur Pendragon is the solution to the mystery you face," Merlin said. "It was Arthur's body the authorities found in the alley. Your phone, Killian, was found beside him. Given the fact that he was beaten until he was unrecognizable, and given the fact that he bore a rather uncanny resemblance to you in life, it was believed he was you. It was his body that was shipped back to England."

Emma whistled. "That's quite the mistake."

"Indeed," Merlin agreed.

"So, how can we help him?" Killian asked. "How can we move him toward the light?"

"Arthur wishes his body to be returned back home," Merlin said, "and he wishes a message be conveyed to his widow, Guinevere."

"I can manage that," Killian said. "What precisely is the message?"

"Arthur wishes to tell Gwen, as he calls her, that he's sorry," Merlin said. "He knows his obsession wounded his wife deeply, and he wishes more than anything that he'd been a better husband to her. He wants to thank her for her constant love and faithfulness, even when he was not worthy of it, but now she should follow her heart with his blessing. Lance du Lac is a good man, and Arthur hopes they are happy together."

"I promise you, Arthur," Emma said, taking Killian's hand, "I'll find your wife, and I'll pass on your message."

Killian felt a whoosh of coldness pass him, and then it was gone. Suddenly the room felt warmer, lighter.

Emptier.

"He's moved on," Merlin said. "Thanks to the both of you, a man who was very troubled-both in life and in death-was able to find peace."

3 days later

Emma knocked softly on the doorframe, and then stepped inside Killian's hospital room. He looked up from his seat in the plush chair in the corner, and his entire face lit up at the sight of her.

It made the butterflies dance in her stomach. He was gorgeous when he smiled like that, and she had to admit, the dark-wash jeans, blue button-up and black leather jacket didn't hurt either. Lying in the bed in a hospital gown he was easy on the eyes, but up and dressed-woah!

His delighted grin turned knowing, and Emma felt her face flame. She was quite sure she hadn't been this ridiculously attracted to someone since...well, she wasn't sure it'd ever been like this.

"Looks like someone's eager to get out of the hospital," Emma said.

"Aye," Killian agreed with a nod. "I believe I've spent more than enough time in this small room. I'm eager to make the most of my last day in the States."

After waking from the coma and learning the truth of what happened to him, Killian had made an immediate call to his brother, Liam, paying no mind to the time difference that made it the middle of the night in England.

"Brother?" Killian said as soon as the call connected. "Are you sitting down?"

Emma had gotten up to leave then, not wanting to intrude on a private family moment, but Killian stopped her, squeezing her hand and begging her with his expressive eyes to stay.

Liam had offered to jump on the next plane to the States, but Killian had refused. "It's been six months, Liam," he'd said. "If my calculations are correct, my small niece or nephew is to be born any day. Elsa needs you now more than I do."

Killian listened for a moment before grinning at Emma and rolling his eyes. "Stop fussing, Liam," he murmured affectionately. "I'm not a lad anymore. I can manage alone."

"You won't be alone," Emma said with conviction. "I'll be with you every step of the way."

And she had. She'd spent every free moment here with him at the hospital over the ensuing three days until the doctor had agreed to release him. Emma had long since stopped wondering about the connection she felt to Killian, had stopped fighting against the pull she felt toward him. Whatever odd twist of fate had brought the two of them together, together they were, and Emma found she had no desire to fight against the warmth and happiness being with him brought.

But now, well now, it was all about to come to an end. Killian's flight was first thing in the morning, and afterward, there would be an entire ocean between them.

Emma's heart plummeted. There were far too many obstacles for a "relationship"-or whatever you'd call what they had-that had lasted all of a week. She didn't even know if he felt the same way about her that she did about him. In less than twenty-four hours, she'd have to say goodbye to the man who had somehow managed to burrow his way into her heart, and for all she knew that goodbye would be permanent.

"The doctor should be here any minute for a last check, and then you're out of here," Emma said, forcing the dismal thoughts from her mind. Killian being released from the hospital was a good thing. She wasn't going to ruin the moment by being glum.

"I must admit, I'll be pleased to be rid of this place," Killian said with a wry grin. "How the devil is one expected to convalesce and get his rest when the nurses come to poke and prod every five minutes?"

Emma laughed. "Quit complaining," she said. "You know you had all the nurses eating out of the palm of your hand."

"They seem to have adopted me as their pet over the past few months, haven't they? Even if the brigands who attacked me rather knocked the handsome out of me."

Emma grinned. "No one's that powerful."

He enjoyed her flirting, if his pleased grin was any indication. After a moment, he sobered. "I want to thank you, Swan, for saving me, pulling me from the coma."

She smiled gently. "Did you really think I'd let you waste away in here if I could help it?"

"I'd hardly blame you if you did," he answered. "After all, we were strangers. Not one person in a hundred who received a phone call from a dead man would put in half the effort you did to track it down."

Emma shrugged. "It was weird. I had the strangest feeling of connection to you, even though as far as I knew at the time, I'd never even seen you before. No way I could have just let you languish here."

The doctor came in at that moment, and their conversation was put on hold as he did his final examination before declaring Killian fit to go about his normal life.

"So, I went ahead and booked you a room at Granny's Bed and Breakfast," Emma said when they were once again at home. "Granny put you in the same room you'd been in during your vacation, before, you know, everything happened."

"I greatly appreciate it, love."

"I guess, um," she said, "we should go. I'll drop you off and let you enjoy your last day in Storybrooke however you'd like."

Emma turned to leave the room, but Killian stopped her with a hand to her arm. "Do you know how I'd most like to spend my last day in the States?"

She shook her head.

"I'd like to spend it with you," he said with a gentle smile. "Would you allow me to buy you lunch?"

Her heart pounded. "Are you...are you asking me out?"

He nodded, taking her hand and lacing their fingers. "If you're amenable, aye, I'm absolutely asking you out. What do you say?"

Emma stepped into his space, cupped the back of his head with her free hand, and brought his lips down to hers. If he was surprised at the kiss, he didn't show it, responding as soon as her lips touched his.

And gods did he know how to kiss. Emma was more than tempted to scrap their lunch date and simply stay here making out all day. Food was overrated compared to this.

"Alright, Mr. Jones, you're good to-oh, I'm sorry! Let me just leave this with you-"

Emma pulled away, grinning as the embarrassed nurse laid a handful of forms on the bedside table and then scurried out the door.

"That was a yes, by the way," Emma said when they were again alone. "How about we go get that lunch you promised me before we scandalize any more nurses?"

Notes:

-Well there you have it! Mystery solved and happy endings all around.

-All that's left is a fluffy epilogue in which a few surprise guests show up at an important event in Emma and Killian's lives.