A/N: Hello, loves! I hope you're all doing well and enjoying the story still! I've gotten so many lovely reviews—I love you all so much and all of the sweet things you have to say about this story! This one is seriously one of my favorites I've written, so I love all of the support. I hope you all enjoy this chapter as well!

As I wrote this one, I listened to 'Laughter Lines' by Bastille, 'Home' by Gabrielle Aplin, 'Atlas' by Coldplay & 'Carry On' by Valencia. Enjoy!

January meant that Liam had to finally leave. Killian wasn't ready to let him go, and he frequently woke up with nightmares about it.

Emma had her own bouts of nightmares, so after a few nights, she started sleeping in Killian's bed with him, per his suggestion. They had made it clear that it was just in case one had a nightmare, and that it meant nothing past that. Most mornings, Emma would find herself enveloped by his warm body, and this morning was no different.

"Morning, Emma." He whispered, brushing her long bangs behind her ear.

"Morning." She mumbled in response.

"He's actually leaving today, isn't he?" Killian sighed.

"Yeah." Emma nodded, "I'm sorry."

"It's okay. I guess we should grab something to eat before we leave for the airport."

Emma simply nodded, sitting up and stretching before slipping out of the bed. She stretched once more, and Killian couldn't help but smile. He knew they still weren't technically together, but somehow, that didn't matter.

The two wandered into the kitchen together, finding Liam sitting at the table with his uniform on.

"You look great, Liam." Emma smiled. He looked up with a smile, hurrying over to hug both of them.

"I'm going to miss you two troublemakers." He whispered.

"We'll miss you, too, Liam." Killian sighed. Liam tugged away with a smile, chuckling when he noticed both of them pouting.

"I'll be back before you go back to school. Just wait until then. It'll be like I never left." Liam smiled, "With school, each other, and your jobs, I'd say you both will be too busy to even notice I'm gone."

"No, we'll notice." Emma smiled, "We'll both miss you more than you know."

"I'll miss you guys, too, I promise. But, we've Skype, and FaceTime, and all that good stuff." Liam grinned, "I promise it'll be like I never left."

"Liam, can I talk to you alone?" Killian asked.

"Sure." Liam replied, turning to Emma with a grin, "You know where the cereal is."

"Of course." She offered a small smile, sitting at the table.

Killian dragged Liam up to his room to give them as much privacy as they could get, closing the door behind himself.

"Killy, this isn't a good time to talk me out of this."

"I'm not trying to, I just... Liam, I have had so many people leave my life, and I don't want you to be on that list." Killian replied, his eyes watering.

"Killian." Liam sighed, tugging his brother close.

"I can't lose you, too."

"You won't. I won't die. I won't leave you. I promise." Liam whispered, "I cross my heart, Kill. I'll be back in August."

"I'm going to miss you so much." Killian sobbed.

"Please don't cry, Kill. In a year, you'll be with me, remember? We'll do this together." Liam reminded him.

"I don't want-"

"Killian, I've got to go. This is something I have to do." Liam tugged away, holding into his brother's shoulders tightly.

"I know." Killian nodded, wiping at his tears.

"Be strong for me, okay, Kill? Emma needs you to be. I need you to be." Liam said, then glanced to his watch, "We need to get going."

"Okay." Killian nodded, following his brother downstairs again.

"When are we leaving?" Emma asked.

"In like ten minutes." Killian sniffled.

"I'll go get ready, then." Emma spoke with a quick smile as she hurried to her room.

"Go get ready, Kill." Liam smiled, patting his back, "I'll pack the car."

The three were ready in ten minutes, as planned, so Liam drove them to the airport. The car was weirdly quiet, but no one wanted to be bold enough to break the silence.

Emma nearly reached over and grabbed Killian's hand multiple times, but she couldn't bring herself to. She knew this was going to be rough for him, and she didn't know if she could handle seeing him upset. She was going to have to, though, because after Liam departed, Emma would be the only one he had left.

"Alright, I guess I need to get going." Liam spoke with a comforting smile as he stood outside the airport with his suitcase.

"Good luck." Emma smiled, laughing when Liam hugged her tight.

"Take care of him, Emma." Liam whispered, "He'll take care of you."

"Of course." Emma replied with a smile, tugging away. Her cheeks blushed pink when Liam kissed her cheek, and she glanced away just in time to catch Killian's eye roll.

"Come here." Liam smiled, hugging his brother tight.

"Please be safe."

"Of course, Killy. Just for you." Liam whispered, pulling away with a wide smile.

"Keep Killy here in check, will you?" Liam grinned to Emma.

"I'll try my hardest." Emma giggled, causing Killian to smile.

"Alright. I'll see you in a few months—"

Killian lunged forward to hug his brother again, this time tighter and with tears streaming down his cheeks.

"Be safe, please." Killian whispered, "Come home."

"I will, Killian. I cross my heart." Liam replied softly, tugging away, this time with a sad smile, "Promise."

Killian nodded, wiping harshly at his tears before taking a step back. Emma set her hand on his shoulder as Liam began walking away, giving it a gentle squeeze.

"He'll be okay, Killian." Emma spoke softly, causing him to look back to her with a half-smile.

"Thank you, Emma."

"Of course, Killian." Emma smiled, laughing when he hugged her tight. She held on, closing her eyes tight, hoping that he would be okay. She wasn't sure how to mend a broken person.

Emma drove them back to the house, and Killian immediately retreated to his room. Emma sighed and leaned against the counter, unsure of what to do to make him feel better. She wasn't great at comforting people. She supposed she could call that girl in her English class who had happily latched onto her, but then again, she didn't know her all that well. This was something she had to figure out on her own. As usual.

She spent a long while pacing back and forth, unsure how to make him feel… loved. She didn't love him in the way Liam did, or really in the way Milah probably did. Emma knew that's what he needed, and she couldn't give it to him. Not that soon. In the scheme of things, she hardly knew him.

Which was why it was so hard to help him. She had made a promise to Liam she knew she couldn't keep. She could try all she wanted, but she could never help him get through something like this. Or, at least she thought.

She had brewed some coffee, hoping the strong aroma would bring him downstairs, but that didn't seem to work. Until about ten minutes after the coffee had been brewed.

"Is that coffee?" His voice asked, causing Emma to glance up from her mug with a smile.

"Yeah. Want some?" She offered.

"Please." He sighed, sitting at the table and putting his head in his hands. Emma set her mug aside and poured him some into his favorite mug (Liam bought it for him—it was simply cream with a navy anchor and wheel on it, but Killian adored it nonetheless). She brought it and hers to the table, then sat down beside him, nudging his mug over to him. He rubbed his hands down his face before sighing and nodding to Emma.

"Thank you."

"It's nothing." Emma replied, taking a sip of hers as Killian did. She watched him over the edge of the mug, trying to read his expression. She was usually pretty good at it, but for whatever reason, Killian's expressions were different, unreadable.

"Are you, um, alright?" Emma asked softly.

"I'm fine." Killian replied quietly. Emma ran her lower lip between her teeth before setting her mug down and reaching beside her to grab his hand.

"Look, I know I'm not Liam, but… I'm here, okay?" Emma spoke softly, to which Killian nodded.

"Thank you, Emma. Seriously. I'm just… I've never been without him, you know?" Killian asked, making Emma nod.

"You have me, if you want to talk." Emma offered.

"I wouldn't know what to talk about."

"Anything." Emma shrugged. Killian simply sighed and shook his head.

"If you're going to be difficult, I have another idea." Emma spoke with a smirk. She took his hand and dragged him up, pulling him close and placing her hand on his shoulder. He chuckled as she started turning slowly, and as she did, he took one hand to reach in his pocket for his phone. He searched for a song for only a few seconds before settling on a familiar one.

"Elvis." Emma grinned, shaking her head as Killian closed the gap.

"Only one of my favorite songs." Killian whispered, smiling as Emma set her head on his chest.

"It's one of mine, too." Emma replied softly, chewing the inside of her cheek.

"I can't help falling in love with you." Killian whispered, dropping a kiss to the top of her head. Emma closed her eyes, hoping that this wouldn't ever end. Killian was more than what she needed.

Even after the song came to a close, the two continued their small circles. Emma realized that maybe she was falling in love with him, after all.

Later that night, Liam called to check in. Killian nearly dropped his phone as he excitedly answered it, and the way his face lit up made Emma grin ear to ear. She watched as he paced around the living room, a huge smile gracing his lips. The emphatic way he talked to his brother was something Emma longed for.

"Oh, do you want to talk to Emma? She's sitting right here." Killian smiled, handing her the phone despite her protests.

"Hey, Liam." She smiled.

"Emma!"

"It's just me." She laughed, "How's everything? Are you settled in?"

"Finally," Liam sighed, "It's been a long day."

"I bet. Made any friends?"

"Not really. Aren't a lot of friendly people around here." Liam sighed, "I'm sure I'm just tired and assuming everyone's grumpy."

"Maybe." Emma smiled, "Do you at least like where you're stationed?"

"Yeah, it's pretty. Kind of elusive." Liam chuckled, "Can't tell you much more than that, I'm afraid."

"No, I get it." Emma nodded, "Well, I'm glad you're settled in. I know you're happy."

"I am. I just hope Killian won't be too upset."

"I'll keep him in line." Emma smiled over to Killian, who furrowed his brows with a smile.

"Good."

"Want to talk to him again?" Emma asked.

"Yeah. Thanks, Emma."

"Of course, Liam." Emma replied, "Talk to you later."

She handed the phone back to Killian, who immediately picked up where he'd left off. Emma couldn't help but smile at Killian's joy in talking to his brother, knowing that he'd be just fine, even if he was stuck with her.