I feel I should give a bit of a warning... you might need a tissue, but then again, maybe not... Here we go.

Chapter 16

Hospital for Special Surgery
New York City, NY
Monday, Late Afternoon

Robin opened his eyes to long shadows in the room coming through the lone window. From the lack of light, he guessed it was nearing sunset, which meant he had lost an entire day. "Bugger that," he whispered, his throat scratchy from lack of use.

Turning away from the window, he saw what had to be the most beautiful sight he could imagine. Regina was stretched out on the recliner that the hospital provided for family members, her shoes off, hands tucked under her cheek, sound asleep. Her acerbic, yet somehow sexy tongue quiet, her face unguarded in repose, both layers of the many-faceted woman who had captured his heart when she had first uttered the words, "Good morning, class."

As he continued to stare, her eyes gradually opened, her dark irises met his green ones. "Robin," his name came out breathy but she sounded relieved. "Finally, you're awake." Unfolding herself from the recliner, she leaned in and gave him a kiss; just a simple meeting of lips but one that told him how happy she was he was alive. "How are you feeling?"

"Better now for seeing you." He took her hand and kissed her fingertips.

Tilting her head, she smiled at him sweetly and whispered, "Still a smooth talker, I see," before laying her hand over his forehead, as if checking for fever in a small child or, better yet, needing to touch him to assure herself that he was really alive.

Robin watched the expression in her eyes transform from amused acceptance of his playful banter to rising panic as the realization of what had happened and how significant his injuries were, and as the tears pooled in her eyes, her chin trembled slightly. "I'm alright, Regina. I don't think anything is broken that can't be fixed." He looked down at his body. "What exactly is broken, anyway?"

Regina opened her mouth to answer, but the door opened and a rather large man entered. "Glad to see you're awake. I'm Doctor Johns." Pulling on a pair of gloves, he began making a cursory examination of Robin's left leg, explaining to them his injuries. "You have a compound fracture in your lower left leg and that was surgically cleaned earlier today. You will require another surgery to put the bone back together and cast the leg, if all signs stay the same, tomorrow. Your right leg is broken in two places, one above the knee and one below, which is why the cast encompasses your entire leg. Your right arm is in a sling because you have a bruise on your clavicle, or collarbone, and we want to limit the movement for a few days while it heals. I know it sounds daunting, but you're young and healthy and your body will recover in a few months, and with rehabilitation you will be back on your feet once again." As he finished, he asked, "On a scale of 1 to 10, what's your pain level?"

Robin looked at the doctor and then at Regina. "Five or so, but manageable for now."

He pulled off the gloves and tossed them into the trashcan. "Good, we'll leave you on the current medications for now and in surgery tomorrow we'll insert screws into the bone." He wrote a few notes in the chart that was hanging on the foot of the bed and turned to leave. "Unless you have any further questions, I will leave you and your wife alone."

Once he was gone, Robin looked up at Regina and raised a brow, "Wife? Not that I'm complaining, but marrying you is one thing I don't intend to forget."

She ducked her head, a shy smile playing along her lips. "Sorry?" She pulled the chair closer to the bed so she could keep touching him. "When I got the call about the accident and your next of kin I panicked." She didn't say anything for a few minutes but sat there nibbling her bottom lip. "Are you mad?" she finally asked him quietly.

He found he wasn't able to move very easily with one leg in a heavy cast, the other suspended, and his right arm in a sling. Every time he stretched too far any direction, sharp pains would go through his shoulder, but because he needed to touch her, he settled for squeezing her fingers. "Not at all, more thankful you didn't run the other direction. I am worried about my father, though. Perhaps I should contact him."

He watched a contrite look cross her face and before she could apologize again, sidetracked her with asking her to get him some juice from the nurse and if he could use her phone to contact his father. While she was gone, he called Marco, who happened to be working at the jewelry store, and left him with two requests. The first, bring him some gym clothes so he wouldn't have to wear a bloody dress where his arse hung out, and the second was for him to see what he could find out about Killian and Emma. He was injured but that didn't mean he had to be out of the loop.

University Hospital
Newark, New Jersey
Monday, Late Afternoon

After Liam left, Killian thought back over their conversation and hoped he had made the right choice in asking his brother for help. The man before him today sounded more like the brother he had always known and less like the bitter shell that he had spoken to… was it just yesterday? He couldn't help but wonder what happened in the interim to bring about the change. He also couldn't help but worry that it might not last.

These were just a few of the questions he kept asking himself as he worried if sending Liam to take care of Emma was the right thing to do. Not only were Liam's emotions volatile, but his fiancé wasn't one who liked to ask for help. She was fiercely independent and proud of that fact, and while he appreciated that she could take care of herself, he was concerned about her. Since he couldn't go, his brother was his only option. While he had learned to love Emma, he accepted that she often had to work through situations on her own. Liam didn't know that and as he was a stubborn mule. If he pushed too hard, there was no telling what might happen. His hope was that ultimately the right choices were made, and Liam would return with good news and this would be the start of working their way back to being a family.

Killian was also worried about Robin. It was his fault that his best friend had been in the car with him, and he couldn't let go of the fact that he had been driving the car. However, once Liam returned, he would task him with finding out what he could about Robin's condition.

cs~cs~cs

As soon as he had walked away from Killian's room, Liam had second and even third thoughts about what he was getting ready to do. But then he told himself that while there were several different options he could put into play, whether he actually followed through on any of those options was yet to be seen. Choices were still in front of him and just because Killian had sent him on a mission with a specific purpose, the interpretation of that message could be taken many ways. That was really the beauty of the English language.

After he told Killian that he would find Emma, the logistics of locating her had proven difficult and it had taken a little detective work before he had been successful. Once he had the information and was standing outside her room, he found himself pacing back and forth, worrying his thumbnail. He hadn't really thought through what he wanted to say to her or what not to say. He also didn't even know for sure if she would listen to him. The thought that Killian had told her about their conversation and the file he had gathered on her caused him a bit of concern. However, when all was said and done, at this very moment in time, his ultimate goal was to make sure that Killian was protected, no matter what the cost. If that meant Emma Swan was the best thing for his brother, then perhaps he was alright with it. Only time would tell how everything would play out.

cs~cs~cs

Helpless. Something she hadn't felt in a very, very long time and now it was the prevailing emotion that wouldn't let her go. Eyesight impaired. Her hands essentially useless. The two senses that an artist depends on to give them life. Hers, temporarily out of commission.

Alone. Another feeling she hadn't experienced in a long time, as she had accepted that her parents had given her up for their own reasons and those were not her fault. And friends were not something in short supply for she had more good friends than she had ever expected. And then there was Killian, the man who made her smile, filled her days with laughter and her nights with love and who was so close, yet so very far away. She needed to see him to assure herself he was okay after the accident. With no way to release her frustration, it kept bubbling higher and higher until she felt she might explode. But they weren't alone. They were joined by screams…hers…Robin's…Killian's, all combined…getting louder every second until-? That, she didn't know, and that was what scared her most of all.

Wondering if they had removed her bag from the car when they brought her to the hospital, she tried to turn her head enough to look at the side tables, but couldn't see anything. She really wanted her phone, as maybe…it would bring her some answers. More importantly, it would give her a kind voice, someone to give her comfort. She didn't care if she only talked to one person or several but hearing Ruby or Ashley or Elsa tell her that everything was going to be alright might make the next twenty-four hours more bearable.

There were also her injuries. Yes, the gentle giant had explained them to her and explained them well, yet she needed to read for herself that what he said was true. She gently reached up and palpated all around her face with her bandaged hands, wondering what she would see once the dressing had been removed. And her hands. Anton had said they wouldn't have to be wrapped long, but how long? If they were minor cuts as he said, then perhaps tomorrow? Or better yet, later today?

With her hands wrapped like mittens, what had become of her ring? Was it still on her finger, under the mitten? Or had they removed it? Would she ever see it again? The look on Killian's face as he had slipped it onto her finger and the way that she had felt while they made love would forever be burned in her brain.

Anton had said it could take a few months before she was herself again, but how would that affect her future with Killian and their plans? When her thoughts only brought about more questions he and not the answers, she could no longer keep the frustration at bay and it bubbled to the surface. She tried to scream and let out every bit of what she was feeling inside but she couldn't even open her mouth sufficiently, as the tiny wires holding her jaw together…they defeated her. With a weary sigh, she rolled onto her left side, hugged a pillow to her chest and wept.

cs~cs~cs

Liam pushed open the door to Emma's room and was taken aback by the sight before him. She wasn't a monster, nor the vision of Lily that was always in his head, but rather a small, indistinct figure huddled in the bed, hugging a pillow to her chest. The room was silent, but as he approached her, he could hear something that sounded like a wounded animal. Her shoulders moved, and he realized the sound was coming from her. "Lass, are you Emma? " He moved closer to the side of the bed she was facing. "Are you Emma Swan?"

Emma wasn't sure how she knew, but the moment the new visitor opened his mouth and she heard his accent, she realized she was finally going to meet Liam Jones. There was something about his vocabulary, the tone of his voice and the cadence of his speech that told her this was Killian's brother. The one whose wife had treated him so poorly that he had turned into a bitter man. And the one who had given Killian a nightmare because of what he had said. But, also, the brother who had sheltered Killian while he was growing up and whom Killian had once worshipped. Which Liam was she about to meet?

When she looked at him, his expression frightened her, not because it was one of anger or hate, but rather one of sorrow and empathy. She felt like she needed to take a few minutes to process his reaction, so she just gave him a quick affirmative bob of her head, since her whiteboard wasn't close.

The extent of his emotions shocked him, as he hadn't experienced some of those feelings in years, but they only served to strengthen his resolve to find out just who the real Emma Swan was. He cleared his throat and took a deep breath before saying proceeding. "I'm Liam Jones. Killian sent me." He watched as she processed that information before rolling onto her back and reaching onto the bedside table to pick up a whiteboard and marker.

Emma breathed a sigh of relief on hearing that Killian had sent Liam to check on her. It meant that he was alive, somewhere in this hospital and could actually speak with others. She picked up her current means of communication and wrote on the board, "Killian?"

Her hands were wrapped like mittens, her arm was broken and her face was completely covered in bandages, thought Liam and she wrote asking about Killian. He hated to admit it but the fact that she was thinking of his brother first was telling him something. Was he ready to be proven wrong? "You want to know about Killian?"

Once again, she gave a quick affirmative bob of her head.

"Killian has a dislocated shoulder, a twisted knee, some broken ribs and a concussion, but should be fine." He swallowed the lump that had suddenly appeared in his throat. "When I went to his room, you, Emma Swan, were all he could think about. He's worried about you, lass." When he listed Killian's injuries, he wished he could see more than just her eyes, because what he could glimpse was tortured and, if it were true that your eyes were windows to your soul, then she was nothing like his Lily. Was Nemo right, flitted through his brain. Could Emma Swan be the savior for both of the Jones boys?

Cleaning off the whiteboard, she wrote, "Robin?"

Liam frowned at the news that Robin had been in the car too, as that that was new information to him. "I'll find about Robin as soon as I can. I promise."

He tried once again to see past the bandages covering her head, and then moved on to her arm and hands. "And you, Emma, how are you?"

Emma searched his face. The man standing in front of her asking her how she felt was not the man who had been such a jerk to Killian. Who is he, she couldn't help but wonder. How could he seem so genuine and willing to help after he had spent most of the last year shutting them out? She hoped Liam wasn't pretending, as she knew that Killian really wanted him to be a part of their lives. But she was pragmatic enough to realize that with her numerous injuries and with Killian also injured, they would need someone who was on their side. Just as she started to write, "Ask Doctor," she looked up to see someone new walking into her room.

He unhooked her chart from the foot of the bed and flipped it open to read the new notes. "Good afternoon, Emma. I'm Doctor James Nolan, your oral surgeon. Earlier today, my team and I were the ones who performed the surgery to repair your jaw. Do you have any questions for me while I'm here?"

As Dr. Nolan explained the road to her recovery, Emma found herself becoming more and more overwhelmed. Two to three more surgeries on her face and then therapy for her arm once the cast was removed, and that was barring any complications. Long periods of time where she would be dependent on others, unable to work, unable to paint. What kind of life was that? What kind of life would it be for others having to take care of her? And the cost hadn't even become a factor yet. That opened up more questions and concerns, most she wasn't even ready to think about.

Liam listened to the doctor explain her injuries and the long road toward recovery that lay ahead for her, as well as for all those who were a part of her life. If she was the person that Killian seemed to think she was, he would move heaven and hell to help her and make sure she had everything that she needed to complete the journey in the easiest and most painless way possible.

As he continued to watch and listen, he could tell when the amount of knowledge that she was receiving had surpassed the amount that she could handle. He found himself doing exactly what his brother would have been doing, had he been here, taking over the questions and encouraging elaborations of specific answers when needed. Once he could no longer think of anything to ask, he stepped into the hallway while she was being examined. She hadn't minded his being there while they were talking but he didn't think she was ready to allow him to see her when she was at her most vulnerable. And if he were honest with himself, he wasn't ready for the feelings that the removal of the bandages might expose.

Hospital for Special Surgery
New York City, NY
Monday, Late Afternoon

Robin listened as the phone he was calling rang, and counted three times before it was answered.

"Hidden Gems, this is Marco," his father said. "How can I be of assistance?"

"Papa?" Robin's throat still felt scratchy from misuse and he had to pump his tongue a few times to try to get enough liquid in there to soften his tongue.

"Robin?" Marco's voice rose in concern. "What's wrong, son? And this is your usual phone number. Did you get a new one?"

Robin took a deep breath as he knew what he had to tell his father wouldn't be easy to hear. "There's been an accident." He gave Marco as much information about his injuries as possible and explained that he was going to need another surgery on his leg, currently scheduled for the next day.

Marco listened quietly until Robin finished speaking. "Were you alone?" he asked his son quietly.

"No, papa. I was with Killian and Emma. We were driving to Atlantic City where they were planning on marrying, but since the accident we've been separated. I'm concerned, as I've heard nothing about them since earlier today. Can you help?" He could feel his body tiring the more he spoke.

"Do not worry, my son. I will contact Nemo and find out about your friends. You should worry about you right now. Where are you so I can come to you?"

Robin thought his father sounded tired and decided that tomorrow would be soon enough for him to come to the hospital. "You can come tomorrow when I have surgery. Regina is here with me now."

"Regina?" His father's voice suddenly sounded less tired and very curious. "The woman whose phone you are using? "

He had to grin at how his father was being careful not asking him a lot of questions about Regina, almost as if he were biting his tongue to stay quiet. The fact that he wasn't being bombarded with questions was impressive. "One and the same." He grinned at his neutral response knowing that it would make his father wonder even more.

"And who exactly is Regina to you, Robin?"

"She's," he hesitated as the door opened and the woman in question entered, "someone special." he shared. Giving his father the name of the hospital and once again reminding him to find out what he could about Killian and Emma, he hung up the phone, allowing his arm to drop tiredly onto the bed.

"Someone special, huh?" She raised one pencil thin brow and a pink hue tinted her cheeks as she strolled toward the bed.

He dimpled and said simply in a husky voice, "Very special."

Her dark eyes locked with his light ones, exchanging emotions simmering between them that had developed quickly despite their unusual courtship. Breaking free from the web, Regina busied herself with pouring his juice. "The nurse, Glinda I think her name is, should be here in a few minutes to change your dressing." She helped him take a few sips and then set the cup on the table just as the nurse walked in. "I'm going to go get a coffee while she's here, if that's alright." He smiled at her and after kissing him gently, she left the room.

Watching her walk out, Robin was taken aback at how much being with her brought to his life. She made him feel alive and gave him a warm and fuzzy feeling, as ridiculous as it sounded. And when she was gone, she took a little sunshine with her. Your drugs are making you fanciful, he thought as the pain in his leg while the nurse was changing the bandages pulled his attention back to less pleasant things.

University Hospital
Newark, New Jersey
Monday, Late Afternoon

As soon as Liam left the room and she was alone with the doctor, Emma thought back to his reaction to her facial bandages. If that type of response was elicited when her face was covered, what would it be like once they were removed? Did she look like a monster with her lopsided face, no teeth and who knew what kind or how many scars? She had never been vain, but her looks were tied to her identity. If they changed too much, would the person inside change too?

Once the bandages were unwrapped and Dr. Nolan started examining her, she watched his face to see if she could get some idea of how severe her wounds were. The only small indication she noticed was when he touched a place along the right side of her jaw and she had winced. Was one of the possible complications that Anton had mentioned already coming into play?

After he left she wondered if Liam would come back in to see her again or if he would go back to Killian's room. She couldn't help but wish that they would allow her out of her hospital bed and into a wheelchair so he could take her with him, but maybe there were rules to prohibit that so soon after surgery. In hindsight she wished she would have asked, but having to write your all your thoughts made it rather disconcerting to communicate. Like you were being looked at differently. Like what you had to say no longer mattered.

She found her feelings bouncing back and forth, never staying in one place for long, but moving from one place to another with no rhyme nor reason. One minute she was still Emma Swan lying here in this bed and then next minute she felt like she had disappeared and the person in the bed was only a shell. As if her body was being used by another person and she was fighting to get out. There was a disconnect and she really needed Killian before the crevice became a chasm that might take months to repair.

University Hospital
Newark, New Jersey
Outside Emma's Room

Liam leaned against the wall outside of Emma's room, trying to assemble his thoughts, so he could correlate the woman he had built in his head with the helpless, almost broken creature in there. The connection wouldn't fit, almost oppositional, if he were honest with himself. Could he have been so wrong? Could he have let his bitterness over his past cloud his judgment so significantly that he hadn't listened to his brother's characterization of her. Was he that far gone?

As he waited for the doctor to finish the examination, he found that for the first time in months he actually wanted to be wrong. He found himself hoping that Nemo was correct and that Emma would be the one to save them all. Thinking that it might be a possibility didn't seem to be as unrealistic as it had seemed a few hours ago.

When the doctor opened the door signaling the end of his exam, Liam was waiting with questions. "How is she?" he asked quickly as he got a good look at the doctor's worried expression.

"I'm a little concerned about an infection on the right side of her face, but other than that, she's as good as can be expected. Does she have a strong support system at home?"

Liam wasn't sure how to answer that question because he had been such an arse to his brother that he really had no idea. "She is engaged to my brother, but I'm not sure about their plans. What does she need?"

Dr. Nolan started listing the specialists on his fingers, "She'll need an oral surgeon, plastic surgeon, possibly an endodontist, a prosthodontist, a dermatologist, occupational therapist, orthopedist and I would recommend a psychologist or a psychiatrist, and that's only if nothing else goes wrong. If it does, well..." His voice trailed off as he noticed the frown on Liam's face.

Liam shook his head at the situation that had landed at his feet. He could help and be considered a hero or he could hinder and be a douchebag. There really was no option. "Dr. Nolan, if this were your family, could she get the best treatment here, or would she need to go elsewhere?"

The doctor didn't hesitate for a second, his face breaking into a huge smile, "That's easy. While she could get excellent care here at my hospital, if she were my family, there's only one place I would send her and that is to Seattle Grace Hospital, in Seattle, Washington. My brother, David Nolan, is head of the Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery Department and, while I might be a little partial, he is one of the top oral surgeons in the country, even better than I, much to my dismay and his joy. And in addition, his wife, Doctor Mary Margaret Blanchard, is the head of the Psychology Department, and helping accident victims is one of her specialties. You would not have to worry that she wouldn't come away more beautiful than ever, both on the inside and out."

"Then consider it done. My brother won't like that she's so far away, but he would want her to have the best, and once he is well he can travel to be with her." As the doctor started to walk away, Liam thought of one more thing to ask. "How quickly can this be arranged and how long do you anticipate her recovery taking?"

The doctor looked at his watch. "If you have connections for a charter flight and a nurse to fly with her, she can be on her way in a couple hours. As for recovery time," he rubbed his hand through his hair as if he were tired, "two to three months should be plenty of time for her to heal completely. It all really depends on her mental and physical well-being, but she's young and healthy and should bounce back relatively quickly. I'll be in touch once I've spoken to David," was his parting shot.

Well, Liam thought, I've now committed to help her. What will Killian say when he finds out she's so far away? She will be getting the best care possible, all in one place and this was the recommendation.

cs~cs~cs

When Liam stepped back into the room, Emma was still sitting on the bed holding her communication board, but she appeared smaller, as if she had shrunk into herself even more. It was evident that the bandages around her face had been changed as they were cleaner than before, white instead of a dingy yellow from that rust colored antiseptic used to clean wounds. This time, they didn't appear to be wrapped as heavily. When he stepped closer to the bed, he could see her eyes clearly. They were a pretty green with flecks of gold and glassy from the sheen of unshed tears. Her composure after the hell she must have gone through today impressed him, making him wonder what other sides there were to Emma Swan that he had yet to meet.

When she looked up at him there was a haunted quality to her gaze, as if she were on an island all alone and was waiting for rescue, but only wanted to be rescued by someone of her choice. As he moved closer to her, he hoped she would be happy that he had taken care of everything needed for her treatment. That she would be able to get everything she needed and that as soon as Killian was out of the hospital, he could come to her. But what was the best way to bring up the subject? And how would she react? Would she appreciate that he had made the difficult decisions regarding her treatment options or would she resent his interference in her life, especially in light of his past behavior?

When she hadn't said anything for several minutes, Liam decided that with time being of the essence, he needed to initiate the conversation. "Emma? What's the matter, lass? Did the doctor give you bad news?"

She looked up at him and shrugged her shoulders, and then wrote on the board. "Thinking about wedding."

Her answer surprised him, making him curious as to her thought process. "Really? Why?"

Using her gauze palm, Emma erased the board. "It was to be our Happy Beginning."

He looked at what she had written and it was if a fog had lifted from his brain, releasing memories of verbal exchanges best left forgotten. He turned his head sharply in her direction and it was if all of the positive thoughts he'd been having that day, dissipated into thin air. He sneered, "That's exactly what Lily said."

When his face changed instantly after he read what she had written on the board, the fear that had begun to dispel returned in full force. It seemed she had unknowingly pulled a trigger that brought out his Mr. Hyde personality, and he was a force to be reckoned with; reasoning not an option. She didn't say anything more, for she had no idea what she could say and was worried that another trigger might bring about something worse.

Liam couldn't believe he had been so gullible. He had been ready to trust, but with just seven written words, the bitterness had returned full force. Thinking of them again, he was sucked right back into that headspace when he had walked into his apartment to surprise his pregnant wife and he was the one mighty surprised. Riding one guy as if he were her horse while using her talented fingers to jack off another, her tits bouncing up and down, and several others in the room clapping and cheering. When he had turned to run, she had caught him at the door, slipping into the diaphanous robe he had given her for a wedding gift, its color and cut doing nothing to detract from her beauty, but only enhancing it.

"Don't go, Liam," she had screamed. "They mean nothing to me. Just a way to have fun and pass time while you're away at sea. It's only you, lover. You know that to be true."

He had looked at her with disgust in his eyes. "Right, Lily, tell me another one.

And then the piece de resistance and she had uttered, "The baby can be our Happy Beginning."

He had tossed out to her that his attorney would be in contact and hadn't hung around any longer, leaving as quickly as he had arrived, his heart in shambles and his life in tatters. Now he was smarter. His heart was in pieces and the only thing that he could truly count on was himself and the only person that he could truly care for was Killian. He wasn't going to completely back down from his agreement with the doctor, however he was going to do what was necessary to make sure that Killian was protected. If she made the right choice, she could have it all. However, if she made the wrong one, well...

The fog dissipated from his brain leaving him thinking more clearly than he had in years. Getting right to the point, he explained, "Emma, I've made arrangements for you to go somewhere to get the treatment you need with all of your physicians in the same place. However, there is a compromise that you must make, and once I have your promise, I'll make sure you're able to have everything you need during your treatment."

Emma looked up at him, his eyes not quite as manic as before but still almost dead looking, so much so that she got chills from staring into them. She looked across the room thinking about what he had said. What could he have in mind? "What compromise?" She finally wrote.

He started pacing back and forth next to her bed, his movements agitated and jerky. "You have to promise me that you will go to this place and you will not contact Killian or any of your old friends while your rehabilitation is occurring."

Emma frowned at him. Not contact Killian or any of her friends? "What kind of deal is this?" she wrote angrily on the board.

"I can't take the chance that I'm wrong about you, Miss Swan. I do not wish to see my brother treated as I was treated by some orphan twit who knows nothing of love."

Emma thought about what this man was saying and realized she knew more about what love was from growing up in a Home and from the short time she had spent with his brother then he had learned being born in a home full of love with parents and a sibling. What should she do? Should she take a chance on Killian and the hope that the expense and pain of her the treatment wouldn't tear them apart, or take a chance that the promise they had made to each other would play a hand in bringing them back together?

She never wanted to feel that she was a burden to Killian. She also had no idea what she would look like once her bandages were removed and didn't want to worry that Killian was staying with her out of obligation. She wanted him to be with her because he loved her, and it was his choice. What should she do? Thinking about what she had said to him when she buried her beads made her wonder if she'd had some idea that things were too perfect and that something would mar that perfection. She had said to him, "I believe when two souls are destined to meet, when they become one, nothing can pull them apart. Today, with these beads, I thee wed for as long as this rock, this earth, this sea and the sky shall live. And I promise you that I will never forget these beads and our promise to each other and what they stand for." And then his promise had been, "And I promise to always be where you need me and to never, ever say goodbye to you. I love you Emma." But then when he asked her to marry him the second time, he had followed that up with, "And Emma, just know that if we were ever separated, I would go to the ends of the earth for you." Had he suspected his brother would try to separate them? Knowing she needed to give Liam an answer, she finally wrote, "Killian comes to me?"

Liam looked her over for a minute, and thought, That took gumption. "If Killian contacts you, then you were meant to be. Do we have a deal?"

She remembered a quote that Sister Blue had said to her, Ruby and Ashley many times when they were growing up, 'If you love something, set it free. If it comes back to you, it's yours. If not, it wasn't meant to be.' She believed she was doing the right thing. She did not want to be a burden to Killian or any of their friends. She also very much wanted to trust in their love and that somehow their paths would lead them back to each other. Looking directly into Liam's blue eyes, she nodded her head once and the deal was made.

Killian's Room
Monday, Late Evening

Liam had been gone for hours, giving Killian slight cause for concern, but since he was stuck on his arse unable to do anything about it, his only choice was to wait. He had passed time by watching the nurse change his IV bags and check his vitals and he was currently waiting for a doctor to get a complete breakdown of his injuries and, most importantly, how long he would have to be stuck in this place.

"Mr. Jones," he heard his name being called and turned to see an older gentleman wearing a white coat and a stethoscope around his neck enter the room. "I'm Dr. Gold, Chief of Orthopedics here at University Hospital. I'd like to take a quick look at your injuries."

He poked and prodded at Killian's knee, shoulder and ribs causing so much pain, Killian felt he was going to pass out. Not much of a bedside manner, he thought as he gritted his teeth and waited for the imbecile to finish. "Bloody hell, Doctor, that hurts!"

"What's the problem, Dearie? I'm just making sure your brace is snug, but not too snug, and your shoulder and chest are immobilized as well." He pulled off his latex gloves and tossed them toward the trashcan. "Everything seems to be in order. I'll just write an order for your pain medication and if all goes well you should be up and around in the next day or so.

He left the room just as quickly as he had entered and another nurse came in, removed one bag from his IV stack and then added another. "This will probably make you drowsy, Mr. Jones. Don't fight it. Your body was pretty banged up. Let it heal. Let your mind heal too." As she cleaned up and then left the room, Killian could already feel his body becoming lethargic from the medication. Following her directive, he closed his eyes and succumbed to sleep.

cs~cs~cs

Liam's footsteps alerted Killian that he was back from seeing Emma, but with the medication running through his system, his eyes were too heavy for him to do anything but continue to drift. Expecting to hear chattering from his brother about how he had been wrong about Emma and what a lovely girl she was, the deafening silence caused his senses to heighten. It wasn't until Liam cleared his throat, a sound he had made millions of times when they were growing up, that he let his body relax, ignoring the fear that was blooming inside.

As he drifted along safely with the medication, he realized that Liam had resorted to pacing back and forth, and since Liam always paced when he had a problem that needed to be solved, his senses went on full alert. Was there a problem with Emma? And if so, what was it? Killian continued to listen to the repetitive movement of his pacing and realized that Liam was muttering under his breath, a definite sign of agitation. When he heard what sounded like, "It was the best choice," his initial thought had been that something good had occurred, but then something in Liam's voice raised Killian's internal alarm and his limbic system sent out signals with his need for flight surpassing his need to fight. The question was where was this coming from and why?

The muttering soon stopped and blessed silence filled the room, which was good, as he still had the drums periodically playing in his head. He could tell that Liam was drinking something, hearing liquid moving around inside a container, as well as the crinkle of a wrapper from, if he knew his brother, a bar of chocolate. Wondering if he could guess what Liam was eating, he tried to determine if there was a pattern in the way that Liam was chewing that would give him some indication. The next sound he heard gave him his answer as his brother was nothing if not predictable. Chocolate and almonds, his brother's go-to snack. But was he eating because he was hungry or was he eating because he was worried?

Liam tossed the Hershey's with almonds wrapper in the garbage and drained the last of his Starbucks Frappuccino, recapped it and set it on the bedside table to deal with later. Had he done the right thing by offering Emma options? He knew that Killian was going to be hurt in the short run, but better he should learn what kind of person she was now than when he was married to her. The way he saw it, he had given her that 'happy beginning' she so desperately wanted. She would get her face back and Killian could get on with leading the life he was meant to live. Since he had returned from her room, though, everything that had happened kept twisting through his mind, making him question his decision one minute, but then justify it the next. Standing there looking down at his sleeping brother, the only thing he could think of was Killian, and what to say to him. "How am I going to explain to Killian what happened to Emma," he worried, just as his phone buzzed and he had to leave the room to go authorize the transfer of money to take care of Emma's expenses.

Killian heard the breathless words from his brother's mouth, and his soul wrenched in agony. He had lost her without ever having the chance to make her his wife. How was he going to go on? They were meant to spend eternity together, weren't they? To be with Emma forever was what he wanted more than anything.

As the drums once again picked up their cadence inside of his head and his heart raced forward in fear and loss, he sensed his mind reaching for some undefinable place. One with no pain and no commotion. A place to heal and be healed and to find a way to move forward alone.

When he opened his eyes, he could see that he was once again standing on his own two feet, with no slings, no braces and most importantly, no pain. The ground beneath his feet felt solid and real…yet, he was unable to see anything below them, just as there appeared to be no walls, as if the room had no beginning and no ending. It went on and on, forever…just as his love for Emma was supposed to do. His surroundings were ethereal, many shades of grey that ranged from the lightest off-white to the darkest charcoal and every shade in between. Slowly, he turned in a circle, taking in everything around him and when he still had questions with no answers, he started walking.

"Killian!"

He heard Emma calling his name and quickly turned looking for her. "Emma, where are you?" He sounded panicked even to his own ears.

"Killian, I'm waiting. Where are you?"

The fear in her voice sent a chill through him. She needed him, and she needed him now. Wanting to find her quickly, he started running, looking from side to side, trying to find the woman who held his very heart and whom he did not want to live without. "Emma, I'm here," he called over and over again, so many times that his throat began to feel raw.

Suddenly, ahead of him, he saw a brighter grey area, its mist waving up and down as if it were a large body of smoky water. Walking faster, he soon reached the spot and, using both hands, pushed aside the smoke, sensing that if he could just get to the other side, Emma would be there waiting for him. Finally, just as his body was fatiguing, he could see light, almost as if it were at the end of a long tunnel and knowing without a shadow of a doubt that she was there, adrenaline shot through his system, and he ran. Quickly, surely, his feet took him closer and closer to the opening, until finally he broke through the curtain and…

There she stood.

"Emma," he cried, his voice trembling. "Emma." And with his heart in his throat, he pulled her toward him, covering her lips with his mouth. Unable to keep his hands still, he explored her body, trying to convince himself that she was real, and he was really holding her in his arms. He pulled her hips tighter to his, showing her with his body and his mouth how much he missed her and needed her. Ultimately, the need for air won out and allowing only a tiny bit of distance between them, he had to ask, "Why? Why did you leave me, Emma?" His voice broke as he tilted his head toward hers unwilling to be separated, and waited to hear her answer, knowing that when he did, it might break his heart.

She caressed his face. "I had to, Killian. I didn't want to be a burden to you," she cried as the tears finally broke free from where they had been pooling in her eyes and flowed down her face.

He swallowed the lump stuck in his throat and gripped both sides of her face, pulling her closer. "Never, Emma. You could never be a burden. You have to believe me when I say that."

She looked up, as if she were being called by someone above them, and after giving a little sigh, started pulling away. "They're calling me, Killian. I have to go."

"No, Emma," he cried, "I'm not ready to say goodbye." He gave her another kiss, this one hard and meant to leave an impression. He wanted to leave the taste and feel of his lips on her so that she would never forget him, just like he would never forget her.

She heaved another sigh as if she couldn't find the energy to push the words out, "Then don't say goodbye. Just remember your promise, Killian." Her body started floating upward as if she were on an elevator that was rising, leaving him behind.

He grabbed her hand with both of his to keep her in place, and kissed it longingly, trying desperately to keep her near him but it was slipping away. Before he lost her, he needed to tell her he loved her, one more time, and kissing her hand three times, repeating I love you after each kiss, both with actions and words, one last time before her hand slipped from his. "I'll remember, Emma. I won't ever forget my promise to you." As the tears silently made tracks down his face, she faded from sight, and he was left alone.

Okay, don't kill me, please. But do let me know what you thought. There's totally a method to my madness and I really hope you will enjoy the journey as much as I have enjoyed creating it. Stay tuned for Chapter 17 preview on Sunday and then Chapter 17 will be posted next Wednesday morning.