Hello, my lovely loyal readers! Sorry that this took so long! I've been so busy with work that I just couldn't find the time or the inspiration, but I finally found some tonight! I hope that you're enjoying reading this fic as much as I enjoy writing it. I absolutely love this story, and basically, I plan on continuing to write as long as you continue to read and maybe even after that, lol. The original episode that this fic came from does have an end coming soon, but I have so many more ideas and ways that I could develop this story throughout the remainder of the second season where it's set that I'd really love to keep writing and I'd like to hear what you guys think about that idea. I can't wait to hear from you!

"What are we doing here?" Rapunzel asked as Killian pulled her to a stop outside a closed door at the end of a seemingly abandoned hallway in the hospital.

"Just trust me," he urged her, his blue eyes bright with anticipation as he slowly opened the door, gesturing for her to lead the way into the dark room. Taking a deep breath and having no idea what could possibly await her, Rapunzel reluctantly walked inside, turning a corner and gasping as her eyes immediately filled with tears.

Lying in a bed, eyes closed, was Eugene. His chest rose and fell in a constant rhythm, but the heart monitor next his bed showed no rhythm…no signs of life at all. Rapunzel remained frozen, unsure what to do or think, as her father stepped up next to her and without thinking she reached out for his hand. Taken a bit by surprise, Killian looked down at his daughter's hand in his before he squeezed it tightly.

"He has no pulse. His heart isn't beating, but he's still breathing. No one has an explanation other than…magic," Killian explained softly, feeling Rapunzel turn to look at him as their eyes came to adjust to the darkness of the room.

"But he was gone," Rapunzel said, voice nearly breaking. Killian felt a sudden tight grip on his heart at the mere thought of the pain that Rapunzel felt in the moment that she lost the man that she loved. "How did this happen? Who brought him here?" she asked moments later, temporarily distracting him from his own thoughts.

"I did," a voice said from the doorway as they both turned to see exactly who they both expected to find.

The moon rose high in a night sky that had since become empty again, all the lanterns gone after the passing of another year. Eugene's lifeless body lay next to the tree where he was left behind. Rumplestiltskin walked out of the shadows, alone, and waved his hand over Eugene's stab wound so that it sealed, but he still showed no signs of life. Rumplestiltskin then lifted his body up, swinging it over his shoulder and carrying it off into the night.

Killian released Rapunzel's hand, storming forward towards Gold, but Rapunzel quickly placed herself between them, pressing her hands against Killian's chest to keep him from advancing.

"I need him to explain," she pleaded with her father, her blue eyes desperate. After a moment, Hook took a step back, his hand still tightened into a fist at his side.

"This doesn't change anything," he said softly, voice low and dark.

"I know," Rapunzel answered simply before she turned to face Mr. Gold, who began to explain immediately, as if he'd only been waiting for their full attention.

"I healed his wound that night. I took you to the castle, and I went back for him. But I could only heal a part of him. I couldn't heal his heart. Only you can do that."

Rapunzel's eyes filled with temporary hope before she came to a devastating realization and tears slowly fell down her cheeks. As Killian watched from the other side of the room, it took everything in him not to kill the Crocodile right then and there.

"But my magic is gone," Rapunzel said, glancing over at the heart monitor screen.

"The magic is within you, Rapunzel. Your hair was just the outlet. You have to find a new way to channel it. But you have to believe that you can," Gold said softly.

Taking a shaky breath in, Rapunzel turned and walked over next to Eugene's bed. She reached out and took his hand in hers, fighting back more tears at the lack of warmth she found there and closing her eyes. For several moments, nothing happened, the sound of Eugene's shallow breaths the only sound in the room. She closed her eyes even tighter, squeezing his hand hard, when suddenly the same glow that once came from her hair began to emanate from her hands. The glow flowed up Eugene's hand and into his chest, glowing the brightest over his heart. Rapunzel watched with tear-filled eyes as the light grew brighter and brighter, finally dissipating as the heart monitor began to beep and Eugene opened his eyes. His shocked, confused gaze immediately fell on Rapunzel as his eyes adjusted to the darkness.

"Rapunzel?" he asked quietly, as if he couldn't believe what he saw.

"Eugene?" Rapunzel asked, the same tone of disbelief in her voice.

"Did I ever tell you I have a thing for brunettes?" he asked teasingly, his voice weak but his brown eyes bright.

Rapunzel smiled, tears streaming down her cheeks as she leaned over and he pulled her into an embrace, his arms tight around her as he buried his head in her shoulder. After a moment, she pulled back, met his gaze, and crushed her lips against his. Taken aback, Eugene composed himself after a moment, tangling his hand in her hair and pressing his lips even tighter against hers.

With smiles on their faces, Killian and Mr. Gold watched the scene play out before them, until each remembered the other's presence in the room, and Killian immediately stormed over, grasping Gold's shirt and pulling him outside.

Once in the hallway, Killian shoved Gold against the wall, the dull end of his hook pressing hard into his shoulder.

"Well, isn't this familiar," Gold observed as Killian pressed hard enough to illicit a wince from the Crocodile.

"What you didn't doesn't change what happened between us. You murdered my love and kept my daughter from me. But today isn't the day for revenge. Just know, Crocodile, that I'm still coming for you," he growled as Gold smiled, leaning in closer.

"I'll be waiting," he answered with a sneer, pushing Killian back and disappearing down the hallway.