A/N: Wow. I honestly cannot believe this is the last chapter before the epilogue. This has been such an incredible adventure, and I couldn't have done it without all of you! This is probably my favorite story I've ever written, and I've written a lot of fanfiction in the past. Though, this is the first real, multi-chapter fic I've posted and allowed others to read—which was something that I was extremely wary of. But, with the responses I've gotten from you all, this is so, so worth it. I cherish each and every bit of commentary you all give me, and I am so lucky to have a lovely audience! Enjoy this last chapter!

I listened to 'Haunt' by Bastille, 'Sleep' by Azure Ray, 'Oblivion' by Bastille, & 'Sacred Heart' by Right Away, Great Captain.

Killian sat up abruptly in his bed, waking from his shallow sleep with gasps for air. He glanced around, patting the bed beside him to make sure he wasn't dreaming. Emma was still beside him, she was still sound asleep. His breath started evening out a little, and he fell back into the pillows. Emma, his Emma, his love, was still sleeping peacefully, undisturbed as she was in his nightmare. Killian wiped his brow with the back of his hand, trying to cool himself down.

Finally, he rose from the bed and walked out into the hallway, pacing for only a few moments before leaning against the wall and sliding down. He cradled his head in his hands, tears falling from his eyes. He couldn't lose his Emma. He'd already lost someone so dear to him, and losing her would be even worse.

"Killian?" Emma's voice whispered. He glanced up to see her standing beside him, carefully sitting down.

"I'm sorry, Swan, I'm sorry." He mumbled, shaking his head.

"Sorry for what?" Emma whispered, setting her hand on his shoulder.

"I'm sorry for dragging you into all of this, for making you believe that I could be your knight in shining armor, but in reality, I'm just… I'm an idiot in tin foil."

"Please don't be sorry, Killian. You got a lot of my emotional baggage, too, it evens out." Emma spoke with a sweet smile, "Besides, maybe I don't want a knight. Maybe I just want you."

He offered a sad smile, leaning into Emma's arms and closing his eyes. He felt safe in her arms, knowing that between the two of them, they could conquer entire worlds.

"I love you." He whispered.

"I love you, too, Kill." Emma replied softly, patting his shoulder, "Let's at least get back in bed. If you want to talk, or just stay up, I'll be right beside you."

Killian nodded, rising to his feet as Emma did, taking her hand in his and following her back to the bed. She curled into his side when he laid down, resting his hands behind his head.

"Emma?"

"Yes?"

"I had a nightmare that I lost you."

"You won't lose me, Killian. I promise."

"Can I ask you something?" Killian whispered.

"Of course."

"Actually, it's more of a promise." Killian spoke softly, "I want to spend forever with you, Emma, love."

"I know, I want to spend forever with you, too." Emma smiled.

"If I asked you to marry me, would you?"

Emma blinked a few times before stammering around her words.

"I mean, yeah, but, probably not for a few years. We're still really young, and—"

"Love, I wasn't talking tonight." Killian smiled, "A few years."

"Of course. I can't imagine spending life with anyone but you." Emma smiled, "I can't wait until I can finally be absolutely free."

"Free?"

"From school, from immature people, from conformity." Emma sighed, curling further into Killian's side.

"We'll be free soon." Killian whispered, "I promise."

"If I'm with you, I feel like I can be free." Emma smiled, pressing a kiss to his chest. Killian grinned a little himself, settling his chin on the top of Emma's head.

"Good." He whispered.

In the morning, Killian woke up to find Emma gone from his side. He glanced around hurriedly, trying to find her.

"Emma?" He called, pushing the sheets back and sliding out of the bed. There wasn't a response, making his heart race faster.

"Emma, love!" He called from his door, glancing out. She poked her head out of her bathroom, a puzzled look on her face.

"Are you okay?" She asked as he hurried towards her, enveloping her in a tight hug.

"Oh, love, I thought you had left." He murmured into her hair.

"Why would I leave? Killian, are you okay?" Emma asked again, tugging away.

"I don't know, last night, I woke up and we talked, and—"

"Killian, I think that was a dream. I didn't wake up at all last night." Emma spoke in a concerned tone.

"You… you didn't?"

"No…" Emma said, her eyebrows furrowing, "Killian, are you okay?"

"So, none of that was real…"

"Killian—"

"Emma, would you marry me?" Killian asked, still holding onto Emma's waist.

"Oh, Killian, I don't—we're nowhere near ready—"

"Love, I'm not talking about right now." Killian clarified.

"I mean, yeah, I'd like to think I'd say yes in a few years. I do want to spend the rest of my life with you." Emma replied, still confused as Killian pulled her close.

"I love you." Killian whispered.

"I love you, too." Emma replied softly.

"Even if I'm no knight in shining armor?"

"You are, Killian. You're my knight." Emma smiled, pressing a kiss to his temple.

"Good." He whispered before tugging away and holding Emma at arm's length, "You look morbidly gorgeous."

"I'll take that as a compliment." She spoke with a forced smile, causing Killian to return the favor with a half-smile.

"As it was intended." He sighed, "I suppose I ought to get ready as well, then."

"Hey," Emma spoke softly, stopping him before he left, "It's okay to be upset, okay?"

"Okay." Killian nodded, turning away and walking back to his room.

"Killian." Emma said just before he walked into his room, causing him to turn around again.

"What?" He exhaled.

"Come here." She said, causing him to bite his lip and sulk over, his head down. Emma took him into her arms, holding onto him tightly as he dug the pads of his fingers into her back.

"I'm sorry, Emma, I'm so sorry—"

"There isn't anything to be sorry about, Killian, I promise." Emma whispered, "Just breathe, Killian."

"I can't—I can't breathe." He spoke softly. Emma closed her eyes as his sobs wracked his body, trying to be strong enough for both of them. Killian felt his phone buzz in his pocket, so he tugged away, only to see his mother's phone number. He shut his phone off, hastily wiping at his tears.

"Hey," Emma said, taking his chin in her hand, "We are going to get through this together, Killian. I won't let you be alone again."

"I love you." He exhaled.

"I love you, too, Killian. We will make it through this together." Emma promised, moving her hands to his cheeks, "Go get ready, and we'll have some coffee together, okay?"

Killian nodded, smiling a little as Emma pressed a kiss to his forehead. He offered a sad smile before heading back down to his room, closing the door behind himself.

Time to get ready.

After the two had gotten completely ready, Emma made some coffee, and the two sat at the table in silence.

"Emma."

Her name caught her off-guard, but she looked to Killian regardless.

"Yeah?"

"Do you really think my eulogy sounds okay?"

"Of course," Emma assured him, reaching over and taking his hand in hers, giving it a gentle squeeze, "It's honestly beautiful, Killian."

"Okay." He nodded in response.

"Hey," Emma spoke softly, rubbing her thumb over his knuckles, "You can do this. I believe in you, Killian Jones."

"Thank you, Emma." He replied softly, looking down to his lap.

"You're strong, Killian, I swear." Emma whispered, moving closer and setting her hand on his back.

"I feel like I'm going to get up there and start crying."

"That's okay, Killian. I promise." Emma replied, "Just… Look at me, okay? If you feel like you're going to lose it, look at me. I promise I'll offer the most reassuring smile I can."

"What would I do without you, Emma?" Killian asked, his dark eyes meeting hers.

"You'd beat on. Just like you always do." Emma replied with a smile, rubbing his back. He leaned forward just a little, pressing his forehead against the corner of hers. She felt his warm breath on her cheek, making her smile a little.

"I love you."

"I love you, too, Killian." Emma whispered, "I believe in you."

He offered his signature half-smile that made Emma smile in return. She tilted her head and pressed her lips to his chastely before tugging away.

"We need to get going." She whispered, earning a single nod from Killian.

Emma sat beside Killian during the service, at the front of the church. Killian kept a tight grip on her hand, occasionally looking to her. Emma always offered a soft smile and a gentle squeeze, promising him that she was always going to be right by his side, through even the toughest times.

"And, now, Killian will come up and speak some words about his brother." The minister said, and Killian swallowed hard, his throat dry. Emma gave him one more assuring squeeze before watching him rise to his feet and drop her hand. He walked up to the podium, and Emma could tell from where she was sitting that he was shaking.

"I'm sure Liam has told you all who I am, but if not, I'm Killian, his younger brother." Killian started, and Emma knew just by the long pause before he continued that it would be harder than he thought to get through this.

"I, um, I took a long time writing out this eulogy. I wrote a lot of different versions of it, too. It was hard, for whatever reason, for me to put my brother into words… And it wasn't until probably the fourth version I'd written that I realized… I couldn't. There are so many things Liam was that would take me hours to list off. And, I can't only pick a few to say, either. That would be selling my brother short." Killian said, and Emma offered a proud smile at his strength, "I know he's looking over me, over all of us, right now and just scoffing. He hated making everything about himself—and that's something I still strive for every single day. I'm doing my best dance, putting on my best face, working my hardest to prove to myself I can get on without him. But, truth of the matter is—I can't. I will never let the image of my brother escape my mind. I won't let go of him. None of us will, he will always be right beside each person in here, constantly pressing you to be strong. He was honorable, he was selfless, he was confident—yes, he was all of that, but above all, Liam was strong."

Killian had to stop and compose himself before continuing, wiping a few stray tears. Emma felt a hand grab hers, and she looked to see Mary sitting a few spots away in the same pew. She offered a teary smile, to which Emma nodded and mouthed a 'thank you'.

"I will continue to be strong, I will beat on—for myself, my girlfriend, my friends, but most importantly, for Liam." Killian spoke carefully, and Emma smiled, knowing what awaited at the end of the eulogy, "And, Liam, I know you're watching, so this is for you."

Killian grabbed one of the chairs from behind himself and set it in front of the podium, standing on it and raising a shaky hand in salute to his brother, tears streaming down his face. He closed his eyes for only a moment before reopening them and taking a deep breath before finishing out his eulogy.

"O, Captain, my Captain." He spoke loudly enough to receive an echo from the walls.

Emma bit her lip and looked around, meeting Killian's eyes before rising to her feet and stepping to stand on the pew. She rose her hand to her forehead in salute, not even caring about the hundreds of pairs of eyes on her.

"O, Captain, my Captain." She repeated, earning a soft smile from Killian.

Moments later, the room erupted in the saying as more people rose to their feet, and Emma felt her heart swell. She loved Liam as much as she loved Killian—he saved her, and she would always keep that with her.

"O, Captain, my Captain, our fearful trip is done." Killian spoke loudly, his voice faltering more and more with each word, "The ship has weathered every rack, the prize we sought is won."

He stepped down off his chair and rubbed a hand down his face to wipe away all of the tears. Somewhere, he knew Liam was smiling, and for that, he would be strong.

The burial was not any easier. Emma stood by his side, gripping his hand tightly in hers, unable to keep her own tears at bay any longer. Killian only broke from her when it was time to actually bury him, after his mother had already tossed some dirt over the casket.

Emma watched him take the shovel from the pile of dirt and scoop some up. He walked to the grave with a teary smile, carefully spilling the dirt over the coffin. Killian handed the shovel to Emma, who looked at him with glazed eyes. She didn't want to do this—this was final. This was an end. Regardless, she made her way to the pile of dirt, the shovel feeling like the weight of a thousand worlds in her hands. She took a scoop of it, letting it hover over the coffin before finally turning her hand and letting the dirt spill out. Emma closed her eyes tight, letting a few tears fall before handing it off to one of Liam's friends, walking back to Killian. He opened his arms for her, pulling her in and setting his head on hers.

She and Killian stayed until the very end, not wanting to leave, even after the tombstone had been placed.

"I love you." Emma whispered, "I hope you understand that."

"I do, Emma. I love you, too. Very, very much." He replied softly, letting go of her to place red roses at the base of the stone.

The two stood there for only a few moments before Killian turned away, wrapping an arm around Emma's waist as they walked away. She ran her hand up and down his back as they walked through the cemetery, a solemn, lonely moment for just the two of them.

Later that night, when they were lying in Killian's bed, Emma couldn't stop thinking. And, Killian noticed.

"What's wrong, Emma?"

"Nothing, I just… Looking back on this year, we've gone through… a lot."

"Aye, love, we have." Killian replied softly, brushing a curl behind her ear.

"And, I can't thank you enough." Emma said, her eyes moving to meet Killian's.

"Love, you don't have to thank me for anything." Killian smiled.

"I do, Killian." She replied, "Without you, I would have moved foster homes again, I wouldn't have made the friends I did in Mary and David. Days would have passed like years."

Killian simply smiled and gently ran his thumb up and down her cheek.

"You kept me out of trouble. You gave me a reason to believe in love again." Killian whispered, "Emma, I would have been a ship lost at sea without you."

Emma giggled at that, snuggling her face into his chest.

"So, what's next for us, then?" She wondered, "We have one more year before we go off to college."

"I don't know, love." Killian shrugged, "But, wherever it is you go, I'll find the places where you hide, Emma."

"Will you?"

"Always."