1956
Killian leaned on the doorway and watched the love of his life and daughter walk through the water as it lapped against their ankles. Every now and again, five-year old Alice stopped and pointed at something by her toes. Her mother picked up the object and told whatever stories or magic she knew of the shells before they returned it to the ocean.
It had taken him 20 years to find his happy ending. Now that he had it, he was never letting go.
The ship he'd spent years restoring was moored not far from the cabin they were clearing out.
When they decided to return to the place they both once called home, he offered to finish clearing her former home of anything personal. Soon, the place that had been her isolation would be sold and the last tether of darkness removed from their lives. He found himself anxiously waiting for a time when they no longer needed to look back.
Eyes the color of sea glass met his and the smile that brought sunshine into his life lit the face of the woman he loved. She turned her attention back to their little Starfish and he returned to his task.
The cabin had always been rough and dilapidated, but 10 years without even the minimal care she'd been capable of, left it ready to fall about his ears. The only place left to clean out was the corner she used for storage. Her small library that had once been so precious to them both had been left to mold and rot in the elements. Like he'd been during the years without her.
His eyes fell to the worn copy of Peter Pan sat on the shelf alone. Faded edges of the postcards he sent her over the years peeked out from the pages. Tears blurred his vision as he opened the book. In all their years apart, he'd only sent the same message - Wish you were here. All the places he wanted to take her sat between the pages of her favorite book.
One postcard fell at his feet. The lighthouse she used to keep with the same words he'd used over and over again across the front. On the back, she'd drawn an image of two children sitting reading. The spot they met to read every day.
After his wife and daughter were sleeping soundly in the soft, fluffy bedding of their rented bedroom, he returned to the spot where they'd first fallen in love. It had been love they shared, regardless of what his father or his brother thought. Love of the sea, love of reading, love of each other.
Surprisingly, the lighthouse had been turned into an art studio with paintings and sea glass art all signed by his favorite artist - Cygnus. He shook his head and rubbed a hand over his jaw. Of all the surprises for her to have. After loading her pieces into his truck, he picked up her supply box. The lock popped open and something hit the ground.
Killian bent down and picked up the small, tarnished charm. He closed his fist around the image of a swan and shoved it into his pocket. He continued loading her things until all that was left were the ghosts.
/
1945
Killian gripped her slim hand tighter. "Emma, love…" Bloody hell. He couldn't breathe. He hadn't seen her in years, but seeing her eyes rimmed red and the resignation in her shoulders made his chest ache. "Mr. Hopper? Could I have a moment?"
"Killian! It's good to see you again. I'm grateful you made it home in one piece." His family lawyer smiled and shook his hand. "If it's alright with Emma?"
Her cheeks brightened and she murmured a quiet, "It's fine."
Mr. Hopper led them to the room reserved for the defense counsel and nodded as he shut the door. Emma immediately looked at her hands. "I hear you're to be congratulated." He froze. "When is the happy day?" Her smile was still sad, but he knew she meant every word. His Emma didn't mince words.
But she wasn't his anymore.
"We haven't chosen one yet." He let out a long breath. "Emma, that's not why - you know that's not why I came."
She tilted her head and watched him with those green eyes that always seemed to see into his soul. "Killian, I've never wanted anything other than your happiness."
It was his turn to look down. "That's my line, surely." He took a deep breath and stepped closer to her. "Not a day has gone by that I didn't think about you."
"Killian?" Eloise sang from the hallway.
Emma nodded to the door. "She needs you, Killian." Her whisper cut like a dagger to his heart.
"I won't leave-"
"There you are, darling!" Eloise burst in and kissed him on the cheek. "I've been looking for you everywhere. Mr. Hopper was saying he knows someone who can marry us!"
He watched as the two women evaluated each other. Emma's eyes barely seemed to flicker, but he knew from experience how quickly she could take a person's measure with that gaze. Eloise, on the other hand, gave Emma the same inspection you would give a bug before you squash it. It was the same look he'd seen others give Emma. It still turned his stomach.
Eloise took his hand and gave him a sly smile. "Come along, let's go meet Mr. Hopper's friend. Maybe we can salvage this trip and do some actual wedding planning."
Killian winced, but reluctantly followed her out. He could have sworn he heard Emma whisper, "Everyone leaves, Killian."
His father introduced him to Eloise Gardner after he'd returned home from the war. Killian's ship had been attacked at sea and his left hand permanently damaged. She was the opposite of Emma in almost every way. Eloise was the sort of woman his father always expected him to marry - wealthy, sophisticated, and connected.
But she wasn't Emma.
The following day, he arrived at the courthouse early and sat in the gallery. His stomach clenched as one resident after another testified against Emma. She sat beside Hopper in a demure navy dress with a white collar. It was the most unEmma-like thing he'd ever seen her wear and for a brief, mad moment, he wanted to laugh.
Sheriff Arthur King was called to the stand and Killian tensed. The sheriff had never been a great fan of Emma's. "Sheriff King, can you describe for the jury the manner in which you found the victim's body?"
"Friday, October 22, we received a call from Mr. Robert Gold reporting his son, Neal, missing. He didn't return home that morning and the family was concerned." Sheriff King began. "Some kids found his body out by the lighthouse on the island."
Albert Spencer, their county prosecutor, pounced on his words. "You say he was concerned. Did he have reason to be concerned about his grown son in the town of his birth?"
Killian pinched the bridge of his nose to keep from making any comments. Neal was an ass. They'd been friends as boys, but sometime after Neal's mother left town, neither of them could stand one another.
"He told his father that a young lady was claiming to be pregnant. I dare say a father or brother about town would be nettled by this, but Neal was a virile young man." Arthur explained. "There was only one person who was ever seen threatening him."
"Is that person in the courtroom today?" There was a predatory gleam in Spencer's eyes as he stared at Emma.
"She is." Arthur nodded. "Should I point her out?"
Spencer took his glasses off and glanced at the jury. "I don't believe that's necessary." He nodded at Judge Mills. "That's all, Your Honor."
"Mr. Hopper? Your witness." Judge Regina Mills was formidable, but fair. At least there wouldn't be favoritism to either side. Regina might dislike Emma, but she out right hated Spencer.
"Thank you, Your Honor." Archie stood and walked closer to the witness stand. "Sheriff King, have you had any issues with the defendant? Any arrests or warnings?"
The sheriff shifted in the seat. "There was an emergency call years ago. I don't remember the details."
Archie nodded and looked at his notes. "But you do remember the nature of the call?"
"Family squabble, I believe." Sheriff King acknowledged. "But as I said, I can't remember the specifics. Had to have been 10 years ago at least."
"And nothing since then?" Archie took his glasses off. "I've heard all the tales too. The Swan Girl. If half these tales are true, she would be a fearsome creature indeed, but I also heard tales of a young girl, abandoned and left to fend for herself on Swan Island at the tender age of seven. So, Sheriff King, I'll ask again about that call."
Sheriff King sighed. "You understand I'd be answering without all the facts in front of me?"
"I do." Archie replied. "I also trust you to recall that oath you swore a moment ago."
"That was back when my wife, Gwen, was answering phones for the the station. She said, well, she described it as a little voice, was asking for help." Arthur explained. "Gwen said she sounded scared and asked me to go check on things."
"And did you? Go check on things?" Archie pushed.
"Of course I did." Arthur glared. "Mr. Teach answered the door said his daughter was playing jokes. Said she'd run away again and asked me to help him find her."
"Were you able to find her?" He asked.
Emma was staring at her hand. She had a scar on her palm that she never told him about. "Wasn't hard. Little girl making phone calls when her house hasn't got a phone. She was at a neighbor's house, hiding. She knew she'd misbehaved and didn't want to get in trouble."
"Do you remember how she looked when you found her?" Archie pushed again, still using that calm voice of his.
"She looked scared. I told her what happens when you play tricks on the sheriff and scare your father like that. She got those big, wide eyes like when any kid's been caught and asked if I'd already been to her house. When I told her how scared her father was, she just stopped talking. I let her think about what she'd done and took her home." Arthur explained.
Killian stared at the man. He'd known Sheriff King for a lifetime. He thought of him as an honorable man. But he'd missed it. Even now, he didn't see where things had gone wrong.
"Thank you for that, Sheriff. I have one more question about that day. Did you ever tell her that the sheriff's job was to take care of the good people and put the bad people in jail?"
"I don't recall exactly that, but I've said something similar to other youngsters over the years." Arthur acknowledged.
Killian's heart sank. Emma's shoulders straightened as Archie looked between her and the sheriff. "You said you never got that call again?"
"Nah and old Ed Teach took off not long after." Archie shook his head.
"Edward took off. Do you know if he took his daughter?"
"Your Honor, is this really relevant?" Albert objected.
"I believe there's a key point here, Your Honor, if I may continue." Archie nodded.
"Alright, but get to your point, Counselor." Judge Mills warned.
"Thank, Your Honor." He nodded. "Sheriff, do you know whether or not Edward Teach took his daughter the day he left town?"
"Ed Teach only came home to run the lighthouse and collect his salary. He always said she wasn't his anyhow. Said he came home from the war and there she was." Arthur sounded annoyed. "And before you ask, I drove him to the train station myself and never laid yes on him again."
"Why didn't he take her to the orphanage when her mother left?" Archie asked."If he didn't want the trouble?"
"She was useful after Victoria was gone. How else was he going to get his laundry done?" Arthur shook his head. "And anyways, she took the job when he left."
Archie looked down at his papers. Killian missed whatever the next question was. His eyes were focused on Emma as she stared straight ahead. She'd only mentioned her father once - 'He hurt me, but now he's gone and I'm glad'. He rubbed a hand over his face.
Was he just one more scar across her heart?
/
1931
Killian ran the last two blocks to school. The morning had run later than he expected and he and Liam missed the bus. It was still cold enough outside that the air burned his lungs each time he inhaled. At the doors, he stomped his feet and jumped when he heard something in the bushes. A pair of bright green eyes staring at him.
Liam arrived behind him and the mysterious eyes vanished. "Something wrong, little brother?" Liam asked following Killian's gaze over the shrubs.
"I thought I saw -" Killian trailed off before rubbing behind his ear. Maybe he imagined the green-eyed fairy.
At lunch, he studied his mother's book of fairytale as he ate. His book mentioned offering fairies food - especially bread. Would a peanut butter sandwich work? Carefully, he wrapped half the sandwich for later. Now he just needed to find her again.
The moment school let out, Killian ran for the bushes nearest the entrance. But his fairy wasn't there. Deciding the search was too important to wait, he continued looking. Eventually, he didn't recognize his surroundings. Fear filled him and he started shaking. How would he get home? How would Liam find him? What would he do for dinner?
Questions threatened to drown him as he sank to his knees. He was lost with no way back. A sob felt stuck in his chest.
"What are you doing?" A voice asked. He snapped his attention up to find the source of the voice. The leaves rustled and a girl in too big clothes slowly emerged. Her hair was long and stringy, her face streaked with dirt and it looked like her shirt was permanently the wrong color, but she watched him cautiously.
"I - I got lost." He wiped his cheek and stood up. She was a tiny thing with green eyes that blazed defiantly back at him. "Are you a fairy?"
She huffed and sat on a rock to stare at him. "What's that?"
He reached over to poke her shoulder. "Are you an angel?"
"I'm a girl." She wrinkled her nose at him.
"Oh." Killian deflated and the fear returned. "I don't know where I am. I've never been this far."
"It's my secret place. You can't tell nobody." She warned him hotly.
"Can you help me get home?" He tried to control the way his lip wobbled, but failed.
She sighed and walked past him. "Come on."
He followed after her quickly. As they slipped through the trees, he handed her the sandwich he saved. "I thought you were a fairy and you're supposed to give fairies food."
"How do you know so much?" She asked with a mouthful of peanut butter.
"I read it in my book." He pulled his fairytales from his bag. "Haven't you read these stories?"
She stopped dead in her tracks and stared at her worn boots that were several sizes too big for her. "I can't read."
Killian frowned at that. "But we learn in school."
"I don't go to school." She replied sounding angry. "Papa needs me at home."
He bit his lip to keep from asking all the questions now racing through his head. "I can teach you. If you want."
She shook her head. "No one keeps their promises."
"I will!" Killian shot back. How could she think he would keep his promise?
Tears shimmered in her eyes for a moment and she blinked them away. "Can you get home from town? I don't like going there."
He nodded, somehow determined to have her trust him. Thankfully, no one asked why he needed an extra sandwich. Their housekeeper accepted it easily. So Killian was able to find Emma and give her a sandwich while she showed him the secrets of Swan Island.
They settled on a spot and Emma marked the path with special shells until he could remember. Killian was excited about having a friend to read with. She liked it best when he pretended to be Captain Hook as they read Peter Pan. Liam helped him with some of the words, writing meanings in the book so he could learn it easier. So he tried to do the same for Emma.
Once they finished the book, he gave it to her as a present. The smile on her face could have lit the night sky. She threw her arms around him and kissed his cheek, making them both blush.
By summer, Emma was ready to learn to write and Miss Belle French at the library was willing to help them. She became their accomplice over the years and Emma's only other friend.
/
1939
Emma pushed him back to his spot against the tree so she could finish her sketch. "Stop being weird." She tried to scowl, but he saw the way her lips twitched. "Are you going to let me finish?"
"One condition?" He asked hopefully as she arched an eyebrow at him. "Let me take you to the movies tomorrow."
Her mouth fell open. "In - in town? Killian..."
He leaned forward and caressed her cheek. "Please, love?"
She bit at her lower lip nervously. "I know what they say. I know what I am to them. Why would you want to be seen with me?"
Killian brushed a wayward curl from her face. Out here on her isolated part of Swan Island with the summer sun glittering across the water, she was absolutely stunning. Golden hair, sun-kissed skin and those green eyes that had mesmerized him from their first meeting. He'd fallen in love with his fairy girl almost instantly. "Emma, I just wanted one night to treat you like a princess."
"You're doing it again." She tilted her head into his hand. "What aren't you telling me?"
He closed his eyes and pressed his forehead against hers. "I leave for college next week. My father got me into an early placement in Vanderbilt's pre-med program."
"Killian, that's- that's great." Her watery smile was pure happiness for him. It nearly broke him.
"It means...it means I won't be able to visit, love." He let out a harsh breath. "He wants..."
"He wants you to have a life outside of Storybrooke." Her eyelashes veiled whatever was going through her head. "You should. You should have an amazing life, Killian. You deserve it."
"It's punishment because I told him I want to marry you." The magic of their secret hideaway seemed to shatter as she stood up.
"Killian..." She whispered with so much hope and hurt in her eyes, all he wanted to do was protect her from people like his father. The people who couldn't see how precious she truly was.
"I love you." He whispered into her hair. "It's not goodbye."
"Everyone leaves, Killian." She sighed and leaned into him when he wrapped his arms around her.
"Will you let me escort you on a proper date?" He kissed her forehead.
"O-okay."
Killian felt nervous preparing for his date that Friday. His father was displeased, but he relented and allowed him to drive the new coupe. Emma said to meet at the library, so he drove to town and knocked on the door. He had no idea why. He would have seen her home regardless of the journey. Miss French opened the door and smiled at him.
"Good evening, Mr. Jones." She smirked and let him inside. "She'll be down in a moment."
His nerves felt more rattled than they had earlier. Bloody hell. A quiet noise interrupted his anxious thoughts and he whirled. Emma stood with her golden hair in curls and a pink dress that didn't look like anything he'd seen her wear. Words failed him and he held his hand to his chest as she approached.
"You look..." He whispered.
Emma's cheeks turned pink and she smiled shyly at him. "I know."
Flustered, he fumbled to hold the door open for her and practically jumped to get the car door before she did. "Allow me."
"Now you're a gentleman?" She teased.
Killian leaned closer and hummed in her ear. "I'm always a gentleman."
Emma sat beside him in the darkened theater. Their fingers laced tightly together throughout the film. He had been uncertain she would enjoy The Wizard of Oz, but he remembered how much she enjoyed reading the book together. Being tucked in the dark like this made him think of the future he wanted for them. She had seen the pain the world offered; he wanted to show her it's wonders.
After the show, he tucked her arm into his as they walked towards the town's only diner. He was so focused on her that he almost missed the way Neal Cassidy stood in front of them, finally breaking their bubble of happiness.
If Storybrooke had a town son, it was Neal Cassidy. The son of the mayor and great-grandson of the town's founder, Neal could do no wrong - at least according to Sheriff King. Liam had been relieved when he graduated and no longer had to deal with the entitled prick. Killian had fewer run-ins being younger, but each one left him with a bitter taste.
"Well, well look who left her cave." Neal's eyes held a predatory light that made Killian tighten his grip on Emma. He smirked at Emma, ignoring Killian entirely. "I always knew you were hiding a set of legs, Swan."
Emma tensed at the nickname. "We'll leave you to your evening, Cassidy." Killian nearly growled.
"I can take Swan home." Neal stepped closer and Killian moved to put himself between Emma and him. Cassidy laughed. "What's this, Jonesey? Did you already get a taste?"
Killian saw absolute red. He launched himself at Neal, knocking both of them to the sidewalk. For a moment all he could hear was the sound of his fist hitting Neal's face. There was a tug on his coat and he pulled free of the fabric as Neal tried to throw him off.
Distantly, he could hear Emma screaming his name, telling them both to stop, but he couldn't. Didn't she see it? Didn't she know how dangerous Neal was? A moment later, cold water soaked them both causing them to splutter and break away from their fight.
Emma stood with a bucket ready to douse them again. Killian had no doubt she'd use the bucket to knock sense into them if she needed to. Gods he loved her fire.
She helped Killian to his feet and glared at Cassidy. "Go home, Neal." There was a snap in her voice Killian hadn't heard in years. She kept a tight grip on his arm and practically dragged him all the way back to the library. She didn't say a word to him until Miss French opened the door and shooed them into the back. "What were you thinking?" She demanded as she cleaned the blood from his hands.
"He's dangerous, love." Killian hissed as she rubbed too hard against his knuckles. "You don't know-"
"Did you ever think that I'd be blamed?" She snapped at him. "His story will be that I started it. I-"
"Emma, all I want is to keep you safe." Killian cupped her face gently. After a moment, she closed her eyes and leaned into his hand. "I know you can take care of yourself. I just don't want you to always need to."
She looked down at the blood streaked on her own fingers. "They'll take you away." She whispered.
Killian gently washed her hands clean and kissed her knuckles. "I'm yours, love. They can't stop me from loving you."
/
1941
Killian wanted to run straight to the lighthouse on Swan Island. Instead, he dutifully went to his father's house. Part of him hoped his father would finally release him from his ridiculous family obligations. The other part of him knew his father still held a grudge against Emma because of the fight with Neal on their first date.
She'd always known that the consequence of interfering with Neal would be losing each other. He wanted to prove her wrong. They wouldn't lose each other - he was hers.
Emma lived on the remote island in the rundown shack by the lighthouse. Her father had been the lighthouse keeper and in his absence, Emma began doing the job. She earned a smaller wage than the men did, but he was relieved she could afford food and other necessities when she was alone.
There was a car parked almost at her door. He didn't recognize it, but he supposed that was bound to happen since he was in school. A shudder ran down his spine as he considered all the changes once he went to war. Neal Cassidy walked out of Emma's house and shot a smirk back at the door. He finished buttoning his shirt as he walked to the car.
Killian felt his heart shatter across the rocks. He turned back toward town. With any luck, he'd never have to return. It wasn't his home now.
/
1945
Brennan Jones sat in the chair beside the judge that morning in court. Killian could hardly believe his father was being called as a witness for the prosecution. Had Emma known the hate ran this deep?
"Mr. Jones, we appreciate you giving us your time today." Albert began. "Your youngest son Killian-"
"Is a decorated war hero." His father added.
"Of course. He was involved in an altercation with the deceased before the war, wasn't he?" Albert asked.
"Are you suggesting that my son…"
"No no, I'm only asking about the altercation. What were they fighting about?"
"What does any young man fight about? A girl. Specifically, they were fighting over Miss Teach. Killian had insisted on taking the girl to the movies. Mr. Gold informed me that she was being quite indiscreet out by the library. It's unseemly for a girl -"
"Objection, Your Honor. Unless Mr. Spencer plans to call Mr. Gold to corroborate?" Archie started. "Or Lieutenant Jones as he and the defendant were the only witnesses to the altercation in question."
"Sustained. Mr. Jones, please answer the question and refrain from anything unless you witnessed it." She warned his father.
"Very well. The sheriff came to inform me that my son and Mr. Cassidy were in an altercation over Miss Teach. My son returned home with minor injuries and I told him to disassociate himself from any further meetings with the girl from that night." His father finished looking annoyed.
"And did he?" Spencer asked.
"He did. At least until he returned to tell me he'd been called up." His father replied. "I knew he'd go see her so I went over to stop him."
"Do you know if he saw her?"
His father paused and looked at Emma with something resembling sadness. "He didn't. He informed me that evening Miss Teach and Mr. Cassidy were together and he looked forward to finishing his medical degree after he returned home."
"Thank you, Mr. Jones. Your witness." Spencer stepped away.
"Mr. Jones, you said you drove to Swan Island that day? Did you see anything unusual?" Archie asked, sounding almost excited.
"As a matter of fact, I didn't see Killian, but I saw Mr. Cassidy leaving. It struck me as odd at the time. From everything I knew, Miss Teach never wanted to speak to Mr. Cassidy." Brennan sighed. "And I did speak with Miss Teach."
"What was that like?"
"It was…odd. It took some time for her to open the door after I knocked. She looked shaken. I think she might have been crying. And…she was wearing a scarf and a heavy coat. Not at all what you expect in July." His father looked like a weary old man for a moment. "I apologize, Miss Teach, I should have asked you if you were alright when you clearly weren't."
"Did you say anything at all?" Archie asked the next question in a gentle tone.
"I told her Killian was going to the war and she shouldn't try contacting him." Brennan rubbed his forehead and looked at Killian for the first time. "A foolish mistake, I see now. She reminded me that he wouldn't see her again because of my interference. She-" Was his father crying? Killian could barely recall a time after his mother's death when his father cried. "She asked if I would allow him to write to her. She promised not to write back. She wished only to know he was alive."
"We're all very grateful that he is, Mr. Jones." Archie acknowledged. "Have you spoken to Miss Teach since that day?"
"In passing only. I gather he wrote her the occasional postcard and someone was helping him get them to her, but when we met in town, she only asked how he was and if I would pass along a postcard she painted. To my knowledge, she never broke her promise to me." He finished quietly.
Killian sat in stunned silence. The postcards were from Emma? His eyes watered and when the session took a break, he had to step outside to breathe.
Brennan sat on a bench nearby and Killian joined him. "I'm so very sorry, my boy. I did you a great disservice. You still love her, don't you?"
"I'm not sure. I don't think I ever stopped, but…" Killian took a deep breath. "Da, I was at her house. I saw him leaving. She was crying? I should have gone in. If I'd gone to see her…"
"She wouldn't have allowed you, my boy." His father finally met his eyes. "It…never occurred to me that she wouldn't want him there. I knew something was wrong, but I missed what was in front of me."
Killian shook his head. "What are you talking about?"
"She knew the sheriff wouldn't respond. Not after she'd been denied help the first time she asked. She wouldn't have let you in because you would have killed him." Brennan sighed.
The next witness was Neal's friend, Peter Banning. "The last time I saw him, he had a charm on his neck. It was a swan. He said it was from her." Peter spat.
"And where is this charm now?" Spencer asked.
"Whoever killed him has to have it, wouldn't you think?" Peter sneered at Emma as she continued staring straight ahead.
All Killian heard about the next few days was that charm. He remembered seeing it hanging by Emma's easel. She said it belonged to her mother. She kept it to remind her not to trust people. How had Cassidy gotten it?
Unfortunately for Spencer, every witness who mentioned it also mentioned going through her house before the murder and after. That made all the evidence collected mishandled and the prosecutor was forced to throw it all out. Killian finally allowed himself to breathe when Neal's fiancée admitted that the knife wound had been from her, except he was already dead. She just wanted to make sure.
When the judge read the verdict "Not guilty." Emma sagged against Archie and wiped tears from her eyes.
She was free.
Killian walked to her house the way he had thousands of times before. She was standing in the middle of her home. It had been ransacked by so many people, her things thrown everywhere. Broken plates and sea glass lay in shards at her feet.
He watched her for a moment before he knocked. "Hey, beautiful."
She whirled and looked at him with fire in her eyes. "Where's your wife? She was delightful."
"She's right here." He said. "At least, I hope so."
Emma frowned at him. "She-"
"Eloise went home. Her home. She left three days ago when I wouldn't leave the courtroom." He shrugged.
"Why are you here, Killian?" Emma whispered.
"Because my father isn't the only Jones who needs to beg for your forgiveness." He looked down at the debris between them. "If you like, I'd kneel at your feet, but I'm hoping you won't make me."
"You're an idiot."
"Aye."
"You left me."
"I did, but I'm here and I never want to be apart again. Can you forgive me? For being a jealous idiot? For never writing what I should have to you all those years? For being a coward because I was too afraid I'd find you happy with someone else?"
"You're many things, Killian Jones, but coward is not one of them." She shook her head and hugged herself. "What did you want to write?"
"I love you."
"That's what you wrote." She scoffed quietly.
"I wrote I wish you were here. That's not the same thing." He smiled.
Emma rolled her eyes. "You were in the war? And wished I was there?"
Killian scratched behind his ear, "I wished we could have seen what those places were like before the madness. I wanted you back in my arms."
"I wished I was there too."
Tears rolled down her cheeks and he closed the distance. He handed her his handkerchief and pulled her into his arms. "My love, there wasn't a day I didn't think of you. I want to make you happy."
"I love you too." She whispered into his chest.
/
1956
Killian was out on his sailboat, The Jolly Roger, with his wife and daughter. Emma had been quiet since their short return to Storybrooke. He wrapped his arms around her waist and kissed her neck.
"Shouldn't you be sleeping, Mrs. Jones?" He grinned.
She relaxed in his arms. "Ghosts were keeping me up."
"Anything I can help with?" He tightened his hold on her.
Emma shook her head. "They've moved on." She turned and brushed a kiss to his lips. "I'm pregnant."
He cupped her face and kissed her. "Truly?"
That night, after his girls were asleep, Killian crept up to the deck. He looked down at the swan charm in his palm and dropped it into the ocean. The ghosts could stay gone.
