AN: WHOA. WAIT, WHAT? Is this an update? Less than three weeks from the last? IT'S A MIRACLE. Seriously, thank you to those who left reviews (and to the writers of the CaptainSwan movie that was the season 3 finale), and to Sandra for her tireless beta'ing. She makes this story readable. Here is chapter 5 (still can't believe I posted this fast)! ~Kate

Emma's head is swimming when she finally comes to, and she feels something wet hitting her cheeks in a constant trickle. Opening her eyes and seeing a black sky, and rain falling down she remembers where she is and who was with her when she lost consciousness. She tries to shake off her dizziness when two hands cradle her face and it's then she realizes she's resting against someone. Trying to strengthen her focus she turns her head and sees Killian hovering over her, watching her carefully.

"Don't move, Emma," he tells her worriedly. "You may have a concussion." She's too dizzy to even attempt being angry so she just asks him to help her up, and he does and then wraps her arm around his neck for stability. "Does your head hurt?"

"No." Not really anyway, but her heart is taking up most of her attention. The pain she feels there is a lot worse. "Passed out...classy."

"Distress can cause fainting…you were hyperventilating just before, Swan. Do you want me to call for an ambulance?"

"No…I'm fine," she mutters as he helps her over to a nearby wall so she can lean against it. When she does, she looks up at him though doesn't meet his eyes. She does however, notice that his lips turn downward but what does he expect? He's engaged, and didn't bother to tell her. She has every right to be upset. "How long was I out for?"

"Only for a few moments," Killian says before reaching for her hand, but the second he takes it she rips it away with a hiss for two reasons: the first being that she doesn't want him to touch her, and the second being that he took her injured hand. "What's the matter?"

"Burned myself earlier tonight while getting ready." She holds her hand against her chest, palm out and lets the cool rain act as a balm for it. It stings, but after the skin gets used to it, it begins to soothe as well. "I'll be fine. No need to worry." She wonders if his fiancée is worrying about him, having spent even a few minutes away from a new fiancé would be worrisome for her. The thought makes her stomach drop and her eyes sting. Feeling back to normal she straightens and steps away from the wall before turning around and asking, "Don't you have a new fiancée to get back to?"

The look in his eyes flashes with anger and then mixes with confusion. "This night is making zero sense to me."

"That doesn't answer my question."

"No?" He follows her, apparently not caring about her desire to stay away from him. Gently, but with a firm grasp he takes her wrist and whirls her around. "Well, maybe you might be able to answer one of mine. What on earth has you so distraught?"

"You're seriously asking me that?" The rain has increased to an almost-downpour and Emma doesn't want to do this, with him, in this weather so she tries to turn away. He doesn't let her.

"I seriously am."

"I met Milah's brother tonight."

"August," he says. "He's a good man, but I don't see what he has to do with –"

"He had the pleasure of breaking the big news!" He notices her eyes brimming over with tears, because when one starts to fall he's quick to wipe it away. "Congratulations on your engagement, Killian."

His thumb freezes on her cheek and that's when he finally seems to get it. She lets out a choked laugh and manages to give a small nod as it clicks with him. His brows dip together. "My what?"

He's still playing dumb, and she's done. "You heard me," she snaps.

His eyes widen and he starts to shake his head. "I'm not engaged, Emma. Milah is, but –"

She refuses to hear what he's actually saying and focuses on the fact that he's denied her statement instead. "So, what, then you're saying August is lying and that I'm a crazy person and just hallucinated the way your eyes lit up and you spun Milah around? Or the way you danced with her all night instead of looking for me to be a decent man and say goodbye, or the way you kissed her –"

"Not on the lips! Emma, dammit, you're not–"

"Your lips still touched her!" she yells before taking a deep breath. "Look. It doesn't matter anymore, okay? It's perfectly fine, I was just reminded of something and it's better that it happened now anyway." She doesn't care that she's drenched and will probably have a horrendous cold in the morning but she needs to do what he didn't. "It was fun while it lasted but it's over, Killian. Have a good night with your fiancée."

Before she can make another move to get away from him, Killian has his hands on her face and his lips are on hers. "What are you –" she can't finish her question because he's kissing her again, pulling her close and wrapping one hand around her back and the other around her neck and she allows him this kiss because maybe this is his way of saying goodbye. She shouldn't let him but she does. She loves his kisses. He backs her against the wall and bends to peck the column of her throat before returning to her mouth.

As much as she hates it, she loves what he's doing because this kiss feels different than any other one they've shared before and while it hurts to know that it won't happen again, she can't seem to stop. Their lips move expertly and fit like puzzle pieces and she knows it's a shitty comparison but that's all she can come up with because that's how it is: they fit. And the pain in her heart surges again but she revels in it for the last time.

When Killian finally breaks away and allows them air, he rests his forehead against hers and stares at her with an expression she's never seen. Not from him, or anyone else. "Why would I be with anyone else when I have a beautiful woman who I'm completely in love with in my arms?" Her jaw falls open as Killian's smile appears and he presses a gentle kiss on her lips. "I was going to tell you after the gala, hopefully after dancing the night away with you, but seeing as the night hasn't gone according to plan…well…desperate times and all that."

"You spent the night with your ex, Killian." Her face falls as she tells him those words, trying to squash that feeling of bliss at his confession because he would've tried harder to look for her if he really felt that way about her. "You made that choice."

"Aye, I did, but I looked for you everywhere at the start and you weren't anywhere to be found. Milah mentioned she had something to tell me, and I love to dance, so she was who I settled for. She told me she was engaged and I was relieved to learn that Cora was lying about her wanting me to take her back. Yes, I kissed her – in a farewell kiss, on the forehead. Nothing more, nothing less, especially not when I have a beautiful woman in my life." He backs away from the wall and that hurt look is on his face again but he gives her a tentative smile. Damn him, she's already starting to melt. "I'm telling you I'm in love with you, Swan. Why can't we focus on that?"

"Killian, I might have overreacted, but the pain I felt was real and it hurt like hell and I really don't want to feel that way again," she whispers, being honest with him and shocking herself by letting herself be vulnerable around him. What this man does to her continues to baffle her.

"I swore to you I'd never hurt you and I've went and done just that." He shakes his head and Emma inhales deeply, as if trying to inhale all the strength she can before reaching out and lacing their fingers together. "I'm sorry for the confusion, Emma."

"It was a misunderstanding," she says. "You didn't mean it."

"No, I most definitely did not."

And then as if someone smacks her back to reality, she's no longer numb to the freezing rain pelting down on them and she begins to shiver, wrapping her arms around herself to conjure up whatever heat she can. "Can we go now?"

"Aye," he tells her, taking off his coat and resting it on her shoulders. It earns him a grateful smile in return. "Let's go home."

It's strange to her how quick she's forgiven him when she's never forgiven anyone who's ever hurt her in the past. And yet, she's able to put it behind her with little effort.

It also helps to know that the man in front of her is in love with her…that thought alone sends her heart into a tizzy, a wonderful respite from the agony it was feeling earlier tonight.

"So," Emma sighs as Killian throws a match into his fireplace back at his penthouse. He walks over to her once he's sure that the papers have caught flame so the logs can be lit too. "You love me, huh?"

He doesn't answer with a verbal response, but instead Killian turns her around, stepping around her until his chest is pressed against her back and sending tingles down her arms as he glides one finger up her back and to the zipper. He pauses and she doesn't want him to, so she spurs him on by turning her head and giving him a warm smile and giving her backside a tiny wiggle. Killian sucks in a sharp breath, and then he's catching her lips with his, one hand on her cheek and the other is pulling the zipper of her dress down until he has to slide the thin sleeves of her dress off her shoulders.

"Tell me you forgive me, Emma." His voice is like a soft caress and it makes her melt against him. She's only capable of responding with a quiet, "yes," and then he's gently having her tilt her head back for easier access to what seems to be his favorite part of her body.

"You're certain?"

"Yes, Killian, now please make love to me."

She feels his smile against her neck and then he's saying in a rough whisper, "As you wish."

Unlike previous nights where they'd rip each other's clothes off in a heated frenzy, tonight is different. For years Emma has never felt truly loved, and she realizes that she's never truly loved either. Not until a charming, English mayor walked into her life and turned it on its head.

Now, tonight, they're taking their time undressing, taking turns removing every article clothing and taking in everything about the other that makes them who they are.

Emma is captivated by his strong chest, but until it's over she's going to enjoy everything else about him. Like the way he knows every button to push that'll make her cry out and the way he'll skim his fingertips on the backside of her knee when she gets close so that she reaches her release that much stronger while keeping his mouth on hers and silencing her moans. He'd shown her that and ever since, he's done it for her every time. He'll run his thumb along her scar and he'll kiss it before kissing every inch of her skin and then dip his head below the bed sheet to have her soar through another climax. He'll continue until she's gasping for air and pulling him up so that they can join and create another beautiful feeling for yet another time.

After they each reach completion, she's resting her cheek on his chest and reveling in one of her favorite sounds; the way his heart lulls her to sleep after a night of passion. She really only has two favorite sounds these days, and both come from this man who's weaseled his way into her heart and wrapped himself firmly around it.

"I love you, Swan," he says quietly, as his fingers dance along her damp spine. She goes to answer but Killian speaks over her. "You don't have to say it simply because I did," he chuckles against her hair. "I wish I'd kept my wits about me and waited to express my feelings when yours weren't running so high."

"But –"

"I truly don't expect an answer, love, I only wanted you to know how I felt. But also know this: I'll probably keep saying it now that I have."

"What a romantic," she retorts in a sleepy voice that turns into a giggle when the finger stroking her back moves and tickles her side.

When Killian makes a move to hold her hand, she instinctively pulls it back the second his fingers graze her burned palm. Frowning, he gingerly picks it up and turns it over, and his frown deepens into a grimace. "What the bloody hell did you do? Does it hurt?"

"It tickles," she answers and smiles a bit as he rolls his eyes at her sass. "Tried curling my hair. Clearly, I failed."

"Well, this time you're failure isn't so beautiful, love. You're a clumsy little thing, aren't you?" He gets out of bed and Emma watches the sheets fall from his waist and attempts to stifle the feeling in her belly.

"Where are you going?"

"To get something so that I can tend to your hand since you have not taken the time to," his voice echoes from the bathroom and she can hear him rummaging around for the supplies. "Let's hope we can stop any bacteria that are going to try to wreak havoc on your body. It'd be a shame."

"What a romantic," she repeats her earlier statement a little more wryly this time as he comes back into the room chuckling and giving the bottle in his hand a little shake, she momentarily panics until she remembers that it isn't alcohol. "So…who's your ex engaged to? Anyone high up on the social ladder?"

He clears his throat and looks down before sitting beside her on the bed and takes her hand again, holding it out over the floor and then pours the hydrogen peroxide onto her injured flesh. "Mine is with yours." The peroxide doesn't sting, it bubbles though and then he's putting on Neosporin and then she lets him tenderly wrap some gauze around her hand that she's glad to have had lying around.

Her eyes nearly budge out of her head. "Neal? She's marrying Neal?"

"It appears so, yes." Killian gently knots the gauze to secure it. "There." He lifts it to his lips and gives it a kiss when he's finished. His words are kind but she can see the tense set of his jaw. "All better."

"No," she whispers, realizing something and then suddenly feeling a little breathless as she looks up at him. He looks upset but he has to know she feels nothing for Neal. Hasn't since he walked out on her all those months ago, hasn't since Killian Jones walked into her life, plopped himself down on a barstool and forced a conversation with her. She's not upset about Neal being engaged, only confused though it seems like Killian thinks otherwise. "No, I'm not all better."

"No?" He looks confused and takes her hand to examine it. "Maybe the burn is worse than we –"

"I love you too, Killian," she tells him abruptly and he freezes and then she's cursing herself for springing it on him like that. Before she can tell him that he shouldn't say a damn thing about doing so because he did the same to her, he's is putting his hand on her stomach to press her into the mattress, having locked his lips with hers and not giving her a lot of warning in between both actions. "Now I'm all better," she manages to get out before he's beaming and assaulting her with kisses, taking her to the stars all over again.

The next morning Emma wakes up to the sound of rain pelting the window glass. Her first thought is that she's way too cold so she decides to put on some clothes. As she goes to climb out of bed , Killian shifts and she pauses, hoping she hasn't woken him up, until she knows she has because he's reaching for her, opening up one tired eye and raising a brow.

"Where do you think you're going?" he mumbles into his pillow, wrapping his fingers around her wrist and trying to pull her back into bed. "It's still dark out, love."

"I'm just cold," she manages through chattering teeth. "Go back to sleep."

A sleepy grin spreads over his face and he says, "I'm sure I could take care of that for you."

Emma would normally say something snarky in response but she's too freezing to care. She walks over to his dresser and looks back at him to see if he's sleeping again.

He isn't.

"Help yourself," he tells her seriously, now more awake and crossing his arms behind his head as she yanks open drawers until she finds a sweatshirt and pajama pants. She's nearly drowning in the hoodie but again, she doesn't care, she's only happy to find a little relief from feeling so cold. She crawls back into bed and snuggles right up to Killian and he wraps his arms around her before he stills. "Swan, you're shivering."

"Nice deduction."

"You don't feel cold, though." He places a hand on her forehead and then lifts her chin. "In fact, you're rather warm. Why didn't you wake me if you aren't feeling well?"

"Because I'm not sick," she retorts, and then she's overtaken by a harsh round of coughing. He gives her a look and she shakes her head. She's not sick. Emma doesn't get sick, and she yanks off the covers and tries to prove it.

She fails because fifteen seconds later she's yanking the covers back up to her chin.

"I-I'm not sick," she tells him, glaring when he smiles.

"Yes, you are the epitome of a well person, love." Killian climbs out of bed and leaves the bedroom only to come back with a tray of multiple items cluttered on top of it. He rests it on the nightstand and tells her to open her mouth so he can stick a thermometer under her tongue. Two minutes later he's pulling it from her lips and grimacing. "I had a feeling you have a fever, but I think we've caught it early." He grabs a plastic bottle on the tray, hands her a fever reducer in the shape of a tiny white pill and then gives her a glass of water. "I'm sorry, Emma."

"Why?" she asks once she downs the medicine. "This isn't your fault."

"I stopped you last night and attacked you like an animal in heat during the onslaught of a downpour." He pushes a strand of hair out of her face. "You could have pneumonia because of that, and it would be my fault."

When the sun had fully risen and he knew a doctor's office would be open, Killian insisted Emma go and get treated. So here they sit in the waiting room, reading outdated magazines and watching commercials that have next to zero credibility. While they're waiting, Emma's chills fade and she starts to feel hot so she pushes the sleeves of Killian's sweatshirt up to her elbows and tries not to disturb the sleeping baby who's being cradled by his mother in the corner when she's unable to stop another round of coughing. She throws her elbow over her mouth to stifle it and turns away from the direction of the child to smother as much of the sound as possible.

"I hope I didn't wake him," she whispers breathlessly during a respite from her cough to the mother who's holding the infant closer to her now, not that she can blame the woman for doing so. All she's answered with is a curt shake of her head. The woman is probably wondering what the mayor is doing here with her and suddenly she's feeling winded, leaning her head back against the wall and closing her eyes.

"Miss Swan?" Both Emma and Killian's heads snap up to see a nurse with short brunette hair and a clipboard waving to direct her to follow her. "The doctor is ready to see you."

"Would you like me stay, or to go with you?"

"Nah, I'm a big girl." She gives him a smile. "I'll be back."

Killian is still in his seat when Emma returns a little less than an hour later with a prescription to be filled. He stands as soon as she walks into the waiting room. "Swan?"

"You stayed." Her smile is spreading but then she watches his face fall and hers starts to as well.

He blinks in confusion, seeming to forget what he was about to say when he asks, "Does that surprise you?"

"It shouldn't…"

"But it does," he says quietly, not exactly frowning but not exactly looking happy either. "Come on, love, let's get your medication before getting you home."

Killian and Emma are sitting together on the couch, with each of them sipping hot cocoa with cinnamon, her feet in his lap with a blanket wrapped around her. "So what exactly is your illness?"

"Doctor Whale said it wasn't pneumonia yet, but that it could easily turn into it. You were right."

"As I usually am." He gives her a wink and squeezes her leg with the hand that was resting on it. "Are you well enough to go out for dinner, or would you like to stay in tonight?"

"Stay in." She rubs his arm and gets up, feeling thirsty when the doorbell rings. Killian moves for it, but Emma shakes her head. "I'll get it, but will you pour me some water and take it to the bedroom?"

"As you wish, darling." He presses a swift kiss to her forehead and then he's doing as she asked and Emma is going to the door, opening it and she doesn't know why but she's stealing herself, not sure about what's about to happen but having a feeling something will at the woman standing in front of her.

"Hello, Miss Swan."

"Umm…"

Killian calls from the kitchen and asks, "Love, who is at the door?"

"Do I know you?" She can hear Killian's footsteps coming closer before she can get her answer.

"I'm sure you remember– "

"No," Killian snarls, stepping in front of Emma and blocking the woman with a black umbrella from her sight. "You don't know her, Emma. And you needn't to."

"You look really familiar," she says, ignoring him.

"No," the woman smiles in a predatory way, "you don't know me but I do hear a Congratulations is in order."

"For…"

"Your engagement, of course." The woman's pitch and smile are a little too high and forced for her to be believed."

"I'm not engaged…"

The visitor shifts her eyes to Killian before saying, "I heard otherwise."

"Well, you were mistaken," Killian bites out before placing a hand on Emma's lower back. "I'm in love with Emma, but we aren't betrothed." He mutters something under his breath that Emma doesn't quite catch, but she can tell that he looks frustrated by the woman's statement and it bothers her. "Your daughter is though."

"My Milah never told me."

"Well, we've both found a person who makes us happy," his hand wraps more firmly around Emma's waist as he speaks, "and clearly your Milah has moved on. It's time you do the same."

"I'm assuming you truly know this man then – inside and out?" she asks her, sliding her gaze back to Emma. "He's told you everything?"

"I know about his family. And that what happened to his father isn't his fault."

"What about what happened when he and Milah were together?" She feels Killian tense as the woman's eyes darken.

"What happened?" She turns to him. "Killian, what is she talking about?"

"I don't believe you do know, because I'm sure you wouldn't be standing here otherwise. It goes against what many women believe in."

"Cora," Killian warns, "I swear on all that is holy if you –"

"Cora?" She remembers the name now, and where she's met her before. Back when she and Killian first started dating.

"He hasn't told you anything, well, not everything." Her smile widens just as Kilian tenses again. "Well, isn't this awkward?"

"Emma, please go inside. I'll be right behind you." She turns around to do as he asks when Cora calls him by not Killian, but his other name.

Hook.

Emma pauses, tilts her head a little to the side and looks curiously – warily – at Killian. She hasn't heard that name in months, and by the look in his eyes, she knows that he has. "How does she know that name? You told her your story?"

"She was going to hear it one way or another, considering the circumstances when she learned it. But Emma –"

" – He's right, Miss Swan." Cora smiles a little too sweetly for it to be genuine. "We're old friends. Actually, I'm his wife's – "

"Ex-wife –"

Sucker punch straight to the stomach. "You never told me you were married to her," Emma breathes and Killian looks at her beseechingly. He'd been married, and she never knew.

"Well, isn't that something? I'm this man's mother-in-law. Milah told me all about his plans with you, Emma, though apparently honesty was never one of them. I told him what would happen if he didn't give you that courtesy."

"Are you ever going to just come out and say what you want?" she asks, tired of circling around the crux of whatever matter was causing such tension in the air around them. "Or are you going to continue being cryptic?"

"I explained something terrible would happen if he didn't."

That chilling feeling of dread runs up her spine again. "Why would you do that?"

"Because she's a sad, sad woman," Killian snaps, "who clearly has difficulty with letting go of past wrongs."

"Oh, dear, you and I both know that wrongs should be righted and I plan on protecting this woman from what you've done. My daughter may pretend to have made amends with you, but I know she's still devastated, hurt, and angry with you. And my daughter has every right to feel the way she does. And she plans on letting you know it, sooner or later, as she always does." Cora looks away from Emma to stare directly at her beau. "Isn't that right, Killian?"

He stares at Cora for a beat, swallowing hard and glaring at the intruder menacingly. "Emma, go inside."

"No. No, I want to know what she's talking about." Turning angry eyes on Cora she asks, "she threatened you, you just threatened him?"

"It's not a threat, it's a guaran –"

"Enough! Emma, please…let's go inside. You aren't well, you should be in bed, so go. I'll be with you in just a moment."

"No, just explain to me what the big deal is, Killian. Now."

He grits his teeth, and shakes his head and she frowns. "You have to understand, I made a choice. It wasn't the best one, but –"

"Killian," her voice is shaky and that terrible feeling in her gut, the one that felt like she wouldn't last with Killian is back, the one that's telling her everything is about to go terribly wrong. "You're not an old car. Stop stalling."

"Yes," Cora adds. "Please do get on with it."

"Cora, you are not helping!" he snaps.

"No? My apologies."

"Darling, are you alright?" Killian looks at her worriedly. Her vision is blurring but she tries to shake it. Killian gently takes her by the shoulders, bends down to look at her eye-to-eye and his are swimming with concern.

That question seems to break her out of it because no, she isn't alright. She's freaking confused as hell and she wants an explanation. "For Christ's sake, will someone just tell me what the hell is going on!"

"Should you tell her, darling, or should I?"

Killian's lip curls, but he stays silent.

"Fine," Cora smiles brightly. "Well, Emma. Once upon a time, Killian and his wife – at the time – were discussing the possibility of starting a family. That same night, when Milah revealed shortly after sharing their thoughts that she was already pregnant, he panicked –"

" – anyone would. Married or not, it's a big deal," Emma interrupted, side-eyeing him though giving him a reassuring smile. It fell when he swallowed hard, and cast his gaze downward. Obviously not exactly the reaction she was looking for, she looked back to Cora and told her to get on with it.

"She was able to find it in her heart to forgive him for not taking the news with gusto. When circumstances weeks later led to a miscarriage, however, he up and left her. He refused to pick up the pieces with her during her time of grieving, and he left. She hasn't truly moved on…she's lying to, Hook. You never had a family. And I'll make sure you don't either."

Killian's eyes are closed when Emma looks at him, but catches sight of a tear slipping down his cheek. He wouldn't leave like that. Killian isn't that type of man to abandon a woman. She'd thought so once, but she knows better now. "No." Instead of asking Cora, she looks directly at Killian. "He wouldn't do that. Tell her you wouldn't just abandon her after losing a child, Killian."

"Emma, it was a long time ago," he says and she reals back as if she's been slapped because he isn't telling her he stayed. The look in his eyes tells her he did the exact opposite. He'd left someone during one of the darkest times in their life. "It wasn't the right time for me –"

And just like that she's firing questions at him, stunned and angry. "So you left her while she was grieving? What if that had happened to me? If I'd gotten pregnant? Hell, would you leave me too before or –"

"No!" he shouts, looking at her desperately, "Of course not. Though it isn't something I think we ever have to worry about, love. Milah was trying, I wasn't attempting the same feat, but she got pregnant. We knew we wanted different things and that's how our relationship failed. Tensions ran high and the stress of it was too much on her pregnancy. I'm not proud that I left. I felt awful and still do, but I can't alter time and change what happened but I can tell you that I didn't want to be a parent then, and my feelings on the topic have not changed since then."

"I can't believe you just abandoned her like that," Emma breathes, putting a hand to her head and trying to stop the feeling of being stuck on a merry-go-round. "Shit. Just get out."

Hand on her arm she vaguely hears Killian beg her to go back inside but his voice is sounding farther and farther away. "Emma, please…."

"GO!" she screams, ignoring Killian and leveling her heated stare at Cora. This bitch has walked into her life and is threatening to ruin everything she could have hoped to one day share with the man standing next to her. She wants her gone. Tired, frustrated and hot tears run down her cheek when she suddenly pauses, white dots flickering in her vision again. She reaches for something to use as an anchor, a wall, anything, but the room begins to spin faster. The last thing she sees before everything goes dark is Killian rushing toward her.

Emma wakes up in bed with Hook watching over her. Blue eyes locked on green, and he gives her a tentative smile. "You're awake." He takes a wash cloth and runs it over her forehead, watching as she swallows thickly and slowly becomes more alert. "How are you feeling?" He watches Emma attempt to keep her eyes open, and he knows she must be exhausted. Her body is drained from both illness and emotional exhaustion and she seems barely able to keep her eyes open.

"Do I have to get up?" she mumbles.

"Who said anything about getting up?" He laughs. "You've lost consciousness for the second time in two days. You've earned at least half that time in bed to rest."

"I like that." He laughs at her slurred words, sleepy eyes fluttering. "Good plan…"

And then she's asleep, and he's not certain about her thoughts on him and what's taken place and he won't know until she's awake, better, and coherent for longer than sixty seconds.

He knows she needs rest but it still takes him by surprise when hours later and the sun is setting that she is still fast asleep. Cora had left ages ago, he'd made sure of it and instead of continuing to sit by Emma's side like he'd prefer, he dials Milah's number. He's going to do what he should have done years ago. His ex-wife answers on the third ring, sounding surprised, but with no malice in her voice.

"Killian?" she says in greeting and the first thing he tells her is that he's sorry. When he left, he didn't say a word. Didn't give her a farewell, much less an apology, but he's giving it to her now because it's what she deserves.

Five minutes later the phone call ends with him saying, "Goodbye, Milah." A beat passes as she gives her response, and he shoves his cellular device back into his pocket.

"Killian."

This time his name is used by another voice, the one that warms his heart and makes it drop at the same time. He turns around and there she is, leaning against the doorway with her arms crossed, his sweatshirt past her knees. She still looks fatigued, but every bit as beautiful as she did at the gala he never got to enjoy by her side. "Forgive me," he begins, gauging her to see how she feels about everything that's taken place, "but I have to ask…how long have you been standing there?"

"Long enough to know you and your ex-wife got closure." And then she's approaching him, wrapping her arms around his waist and pressing a kiss to his chest. "That couldn't have been easy."

"Not at all, but it needed to be done. She needed to know that I regretted what happened and haven't stopped. I needed to apologize for not handling things the way I should have."

"And now?"

"And now…I think we're both able to move on." She nods, her cheek still pressed against his chest and he feels her squeeze him. "I was anticipating your wrath."

"Can't do a whole lot with it, you know?" She shrugs and looks up at him. "All anger ever does is eat away at you, and I'm not going to let it. If you wanted to tell me, you would have but it's clear that you didn't –"

"It's not that I didn't want to, Emma," he argues vehemently and cradling her face. "I didn't know how to go about it. I told you about my father, with a lot less effort than I thought would be needed but with Milah…nobody knows we were married."

"You're a political figure," she scoffs and he understands her doubt because he still isn't sure how they succeeded. But they'd found a way. "How is it nobody found out?"

"It wasn't easy, just like keeping my relationship with you a secret isn't easy, but no one learned and and then we were over before I really started to take politics more seriously. Like I said," he runs his thumb over her jawline, "It was a long time ago. I didn't think I needed to explain until Cora was literally at my door and ambushing you with the news. I have to apologize to you as well. I'm sorry I didn't tell you I was previously married."

"I wish you had."

"Aye, I know." He presses a kiss to her forehead. "But better late than never, I suppose?"

She gives a small nod. "What did Cora mean when she said, 'Milah told me all about his plans with you, Emma?'"

"You needn't worry about it, love." Classic Killian smirk. "At least, not yet."

"You're not planning my death are you?" she asks, amusement twinkling in her eyes and he relaxes for the first time since Cora's bombardment nearly ruined everything about his relationship with Emma. "I don't have to sleep with one eye open, do I?"

"No," he chuckles. "No you do not."

"Good." Emma pushes up on her toes and presses her mouth to his and he loves the taste of her lips. Finally she realizes that the light in the room is nonexistent save for the slowly dying fire burning in the fireplace. "I still can't believe I slept the day away."

"I told you, you've earned it."

"This is the longest I've ever stayed here," Emma says, walking away and towards the fire, and while she gets warmer as she moves for it, he grows colder with the lack of her. "I should probably go home before I wear out my welcome."

"Nonsense," he tells her, taken aback by that statement. "Emma, you are the farthest thing from a nuisance. You are…"

"A pain in the ass?"

"-Putting words in my mouth," he answers with a laugh. "No, I was going to be unbelievably melodramatic and say you're my everything." She shakes her head because she knows he's pulling her tail. "But luckily you saved me from that ludicrously embarrassing moment."

"Yeah. Luckily." Emma smiles then she's back in his arms, warming him from the inside out. She sighs heavily and then looks at the clock on the wall that's directly behind Killian. "But seriously, I should go."

"Are you well enough to leave?"

"I'll be fine. I'm not a child, just sick. You can do me a favor though?"

"Name it."

She smiles again and it lights up his world. "Walk me out?"

"As you wish," he holds out his arm and she wraps her fingers around it. "Do you have everything?"

He shuts the door behind him, locking it and then getting into the elevator with her. "I'd rather leave my clothes here for now. Nothing screams Walk of Shame like wearing a dress two days in a row with smeared makeup and ratted hair."

"You're stunning." He can't help the frown that pulls at his face and she playfully swats at him.

"You're such a liar," she laughs, and he kisses her temple. He's relieved that she seems to be feeling much better. Her narcotics must have been the heavy duty kind.

"Feeling better, I see."

"Much." The doors open and then she's running from him. "Catch me if you can!" she shouts in a peal of laughter before bolting for the door where a doorman is quickly running to open it for her as she ducks out of the building.

When he runs outside to catch up with her, he watches Emma briefly pause only to look each way before darting into the road. He sees her cross it, but as soon she steps out onto the sidewalk he hears the sound of a revving engine and then sees a black Porsche evading traffic and it's speeding right in her direction.

His heart plummets into his stomach.

"Emma, look out!"

Just as she stops to look at him, the vehicle roars up onto the concrete and slams into her. In horror he watches as her body flies onto the hood, bounces over the roof and then crashes into the asphalt on a harsh roll.

"EMMA!" He shouts for any of the passersby to call for medical assistance, sprinting without heed over to her. Falling to his knees, he fights nausea upon seeing her bloodied and battered form. He's afraid to move her too much, not wanting to cause further injury so he bends over Emma's body and gently lifts her face so that he can attempt to examine her. She moans in pain and his stomach rolls again at hearing her broken voice. He can't imagine what sort of agony she must be enduring in this moment. Her eyes are small slivers, and then her eyelids are closing and he's desperate to keep them open. "N-no, no, look at me. Look at me!"

"K-Killian…" her voice is choked and she needs to spend her energy fighting to stay awake, not speaking.

"Shh, love. You're going to be all right. Just – HEY! Keep your eyes open, Emma!" he shouts as sirens can be heard in the distance and he forgets to be gentle and tries shaking her to bring her back to consciousness. "Stay awake, Emma, stay with me. Look at me! SWAN!"

AN: Thank you for reading, and please review! Hope to see you next chapter! ~Kate