Warning: Lots of angst.

CHAPTER 6

He was in pain. He could feel the poison travelling through his veins agonizingly slowly. But even after being in such pain and ignoring everyone's pleas to rest, he had continued to trek with David through the woods and every nick and corner of Storybrooke to find anything or anyone who could help them. One day Killian collapsed while crossing the stream and since then everyone had restrained him to the library where he helps Belle and Will with research on the curse. It was hard keeping him in – Regina had to put a protection spell, restricting him from leaving until she herself removes it and sometimes even the Charmings had had to handcuff him (like parents, like daughter).

It had been little over a week since Maleficent had cursed him and that was the last time he saw Emma. He had tried his best to find her, moreover, to find a cure to her curse so she could come back to her family and he could give her a proper goodbye. He knew he was going to die. Regina had tried everything she could and had come to the conclusion that Maleficent is the only one who can undo it. They had even seeked science, but Whale also could not help him. Accepting the fact that his 300 years were going to end, he made one last dying wish (to the Gods, fairies, whatever): See Emma one last time.

"We have found absolutely nothing! Still on square one!" Belle shouted, pushing her laptop away which landed near Will's feet who let out a "bloody hell" and ran his hands down her shoulder, trying to calm her down.

"Someone's still got her temper" Killian mocked and Belle smiled at him sadly. Even whilst dying his sass game was strong. It had been very hard on her to watch her friend this way. She had always liked Emma but never really was friends with her.

She had bonded with Killian during the six weeks that they spent in the library amidst coffee and muffins, trying to find a way to free the fairies. He had told her all about the adventures he had had and Belle listened carefully, a bit jealous as that was the life she had wanted. He had also travelled quite a lot and never grew tired or irritated of her never-ending questions about the different lands. But now due to the curse, he had dark circles around his eyes as the pain didn't let him sleep, and his mouth was usually open as it became increasingly difficult for him to breathe normally. He also walked awfully slowly and limped, but was too stubborn to let anyone help him. David, Snow, and even Regina had endlessly tried to help him by just holding him as he walked but he refused to accept help and just made a cocky remark and wiggled his eyebrows at them (though Belle used to just yell "Killian" and he would let her help him – the bookworm did have teeth).

Killian stood up to pick the laptop up and all of a sudden felt the uneasiness in his veins travel to the base of his heart. All that was heard were Belle's frantic and desperate screams as Killian collapsed on the ground and everything went dark.

Killian opened his eyes slowly, half expecting to be handcuffed with his hook missing and Emma sitting on the edge. Again? You're really into this aren't you? But instead was met by what looked like half of Storybrooke in his room, everyone with red and tears filled eyes, comforting each other. And he knew it. This was it. This was his end.

He scanned the room watching David and Snow holding each other as Snow sobbed into his shoulder while the Prince also had tears flowing down his cheeks, Belle sobbing uncontrollably and loudly in Will's arms, Ruby in Whale's, and Granny stood with the dwarves who were all standing with their heads bowed down. Killian sighed, the two people he wanted to see weren't here.

He tried to speak but coughed instead, to which Whale got him a glass of water and helped him drink it. Killian cleared his throat loudly which forced everyone to look at him, "Emma?" he asked, looking hopefully at the Charmings which led to Snow sobbing even more loudly and that was the answer he needed. She wasn't found. He would die not having seen his Swan. He would die with the last memories of his Swan walking away from him when he confessed his love to her. With her proclaiming that Neal was her True Love and that Hook was nothing but just a last resort in the romance department for her. With not one, but two failed True Love's Kiss.

Maybe this is what his happy ending looks like – he was after all a villainous pirate for 300 years and had done unspeakable things then. Villains truly don't get happy endings. He tried to change in order to achieve happiness, to be somewhat worthy for the Savior, but it seems he just wasn't enough. He didn't have a mark in the hero column.

"Henry?" Killian asked. If he couldn't see Swan, at least he could see the second person he wished to see before he died.

"Here" came Regina's soft voice from the door and she stood there with her arms on Henry's shoulder who just stared right back at Killian with a blank expression.

"NO" Henry screamed, running up to Killian's side, "You can't die! Hook!"

"I'm sorry, lad" Killian sighed.

"Mom's gonna be devasted Hook. You can't leave her too" Henry said and suddenly broke into thundering sobs. "But you're a hero. And heroes always win. There has to be a way!" he said and looked around the room hopefully, only to be met with more crying from the adults.

Killian's heart broke. Henry truly was the Truest Believer. Only he would believe that the notorious Captain Hook was a hero and deserved to live to attain a happy ending. He truly is Emma's son.

"Henry" Killian spoke, "Lad, you need to be strong. You need to take care of your mother. I know you, and your grandparents are never going to give hope and will try their hardest to get Emma back. And you will succeed" he looked up at the Charmings who offered him a soft, tear stained smile.

He slowly lifted his hand to Henry's hair and slightly tousled it. It hurt like hell but he didn't care, it was the last time he would get to do it. "I have yet to see you fail. And when you do succeed, well that's when you and Emma and everyone else here can have their happy endings"

"But…but her happy ending is with YOU! Your story with mom in the past is written in the book and…mom" Henry looked towards Regina, desperation written all over his face, "Please mom, please, help me. You can find a way to save him. After Neal, he's the closest thing I've got to a father and I can't lose him"

Killian's eyes widened and he finally let the tears flow. Henry and him had spent quite a lot of time together and he knew for certain that the lad liked him but he never had expected him to view him as a father figure.

Regina looked back, helpless, and walked towards them. She raised one hand on Henry's shoulder while the other was softly placed on Captain Guyliner's hand. "There's nothing I can do. I've tried everyth-" her voice faltered and she took a deep breath, "I've tried everything but there's nothing"

Killian smiled at her softly. "Henry it's ok. Let me go. Your mom will find someone. She'll find her True Love. Trust me lad, the Savior's True Love can't be a pirate. There must be someone out there who is worthy of her love, and whom she will actually love" Killian said, his own voice faltering as since the kiss in Neverland he had wanted nothing more than for Emma to love him back. But it seems her love just wasn't in his destiny.

"That's not true" David spoke, wiping away his tears. "Killian" he said and Hook raised his eyebrow, Dave had never called him by his first name.

"David" Killian said, mocking him back as even Killian usually called him 'mate' or 'Dave'.

"I know that I come off as if I don't like or trust you but that isn't true. Yes, I disliked you a lot in the beginning because of your flirtations towards Emma as I was aware of your reputation amongst women. But then the day you saved my life in Neverland, I realized that you in fact weren't just a pirate. You were so much more. A…a man of honor. Since that day, you've saved my daughter in so many ways that I could never thank you enough". He paused, and Snow squeezed his shoulder. "I do remember what a certain Prince Charles told me you know, and I believe him". I'd go to the end of the world for her, or time.

Killian smiled at his mate, "Thank you Dave. I had told you a long time ago that we were getting along! I knew that you always liked me but were just as stubborn as your daughter into admitting it"

Everyone in the room smiled and Killian's heart broke. He had always imagined his death to be by the hands of the crocodile after failing in his quest for revenge, or some vile creature but not like this. Not by being surrounded by people who actually cared about him and were saddened to watch him go. If only one more person showed up.

Emma. Please, one last time. I love you.

"So the miserable 300 year old life of the pirate is finally coming to an end?" Emma's cheery voice made everyone in the room gasp. The atmosphere had been depressing and cold, but Emma's chirpy tone along with the really revealing red dress made it all just wrong.

Regina tightened her hold on Henry and spoke in a firm tone, but a hint of sadness was still present in her voice, "What are you doing here? Are you finally back to your senses and gonna save your Killian?"

"What? No" Emma laughed and it was a terrible sound as in the background all that could be heard were the loud sobbings of Henry and Belle, "I'm here to watch the pirate in the last moment's of his torturous and excruciating anguish and just before he takes his last breath to tell him that I never loved him"

TO BE CONTINUED

Notes: - Angst. I love it.

- Next chapter will obv have lots more of angst.

- I was a bit effy with Emma's lines in the end. I mean saying the last line about "I never loved him" etc seems extremely cruel so just to clarify, she is INCAPABLE of feeling any of the affectionate/lovey dovey emotions towards anyone. That's why she almost killed her father (but at the last moment, pulled back *wink wink).

- I will explain in later chapter(s) of just why Emma's behaviour towards Hook is much more cruel and hateful as compared to her behaviour towards others. reason 1. Have i mentioned i love angst? Reason 2. coming up so stay stuned

- I love you all and all your lovely reviews :)

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Leave reviews :) Pretty please!