…..

She had never enjoyed being fed; being a self-sufficient orphan had made Emma Swan quite an independent person and baby-feeding was probably at the top of the list of the things she hated in life. But her left arm was in a sling, broken in four places. Her right arm was not broken, but with a strain in her collarbone from the impact and with her neck still under a neck brace, bringing a spoon to her mouth proved not just a difficult feat, but a painful one.

Good thing she had a son that adored her and that was relieved as hell that he hadn't lost her too.

Killian entered the hospital room just as Henry cleaned off a drip of tomato soup from Emma's chin with the spoon. He smiled through a very large bouquet of lilies. Megan was tagging along behind him, trying to grin her best, even though the sight of his dad's girl made her gulp.

"Aw, Emma…" Killian smiled as he placed the lilies on the bedside table, next to the window. "Look at you, getting spoiled and all…"

Emma frowned and chuckled. "I swear if you hadn't just come in with a gorgeous flower arrangement I'd call the orderlies on you."

Killian sighed and grinned as he turned to her. "You know I care, darling…" He leaned in and kissed her lips gently. Both Henry and Megan hummed and sneered mildly, the slight of discomfort finally starting to sink in. "I will always mean well." He sat down. "How are you this afternoon, Swan?"

"Well…" She managed a grin. "My eyes are open. Both of them."

"And they're pretty eyes, too…"

"Seriously, guys?" Henry sneered. "Kids in the room?"

Killian raised his brows over to Henry. "It is a man's privilege to complement a handsome woman, m'boy… Not to mention a duty."

"Keep it cool, dad…" Megan chuckled uncomfortably before looking at Emma. "I'm happy that you're ok, Emma." She smiled softly.

Emma's gaze softened. "Oh, sweetie… I should be the one asking about you. How are you holding up? I heard it was quite an ordeal…"

Meg gulped and nodded. "Yeah. But it's over." She walked to Emma and touched her left fingers as they peeked out from the cast." "Does it hurt?"

"Yeah…" Emma winced. "But not as much as yesterday."

Meg grinned softly. "I'm glad. When you get better maybe we can all do something… together."

Everyone turned their heads sharply at the girl. Henry shrugged, Killian grinned (he couldn't have been prouder of his brave, strong little girl) and Emma blushed a little. "I'd… like that." She replied.

Meg grinned back and then walked to Henry. "Hey, Henry, how about you and I go to the cafeteria? Looks like Captain Hook and Emma Swan need a little time alone together."

Henry looked down at the bowl of soup in his hand. "Yeah, just give me a minute, we're not done here…" He picked up another large spoonful and fed it to his mother's mouth. "There… now you're good." He picked up the napkin and cleaned her lips. "Sorry mom. It's for your own good, you know."

"Get out of here, go on…" Emma smiled fully.

Henry nodded at her and then turned to Killian. "We'll be downstairs, captain…"

Killian winked. "Ahoy, lad."

The boy and Megan trailed out and Killian and Emma could have sworn she heard Henry say something along the lines of 'before they start smooching'.

"He's a fine boy, Emma." He smiled in the direction of the door. "Whatever may have happened to the man that fathered him, you can at least be grateful to him for giving you Henry."

Emma smiled broadly. "He's my life. I don't know where I'd be without him." She turned to look at him and held out her hand weakly. "Are you ok?"

He sighed deep and reached out with his good hand to hold hers. "As one can be expected to, I suppose. It all just stirred up a lot of old emotions that I had tried hard to suppress…" He shook his head. "I suppose these things always find a way to… how did you say it? Come back and bite your arse?"

"At least they're out in the open. Remember what we said?" She squeezed his fingers gently. "Things we keep inside tend to fester."

He nodded, blinking as he looked down at their linked hands. "I have you to thank for that."

Emma nodded back to him. "I owe you quite a lot too."

He pulled her hand up to his lips. "Aren't we a pair of fixer-uppers…" He kissed her fingers.

She smiled and laughed softly. "At least you're all in one piece."

"Wrong again, love." He smiled, holding up his stump.

"Whoa, we're a matching pair now!" She laughed again. "And me with my broken arm…"

"You'll get better…"

"It's got to mean something, though."

"I swear it's fated, Swan."

She sighed and blinked twice, looking into his eyes. "I've decided something, Killian."

"Aye, what might that be?"

She stared into his eyes wistfully. "After careful deliberation through a haze of medication and parades of nurses changing my stupid bedpan, I reached a sudden moment of insight and illumination." She swallowed. "I have decided… that I love you too."

He held her stare for a few seconds before he closed his eyes and smiled, a soft laugh leaving his lips.

"What's so funny?" Emma winced.

"No, nothing, darling it's just that…" he looked at her again. "That would be the most romantic thing you've ever said to me… if you had avoided the whole thing about the bedpan." They both laughed softly as he once again stood and leaned over to kiss her lips. "And nevertheless, bedpan or not… I love you back."

After another soft kiss, Emma grinned. "Do you think the kids will be ok with all this?"

"I think they already are."

"True. 'Operation Hailey Mills' and all that."

He nodded and bit his lower lip. "Emma…"

"Yeah?"

"There's… something I have to do. Some… final moment of closure, my brother calls it."

She frowned. "And what might that be?"

He sat on the edge of the bed, his hand still clasped in hers. "I need to go to London. I need to go somewhere I've not been in in five years."

Emma gulped. "Fine. And I'm coming with you."

He shot his eyes up at her. "Wha… in your state? No, you will not."

"Of course not in my state. I can't move, don't be ridiculous." She huffed. "You will take about a month to arrange all this… trip. And while you do, I will recover, and come with you." She rubbed her thumb on his hand. "I want to meet her as well. I want to talk to her, tell her that the father of her kid is in good hands. That I'll never hurt him or leave him. To assure her Megan will be fine."

Killian paled. "H…how did you…?"

"I thought we had established we're both like a pair of open books…"

His gaze was filled with an expression that exuded tenderness and raw emotion. He grinned a wistful grin as he caressed her cheek with the back of his fingers. "I'm a lucky man to have you."

"Yeah…. We're both lucky."

"Are you sure you want to do this?" He raised both eyebrows. "I swear I'd come back…"

Emma pressed her lips in a tight grin. "It's not that I don't trust you. I WANT to go with you."

"Why?"

"Well, for one…" She licked her lips, an amusingly sweet blush perking the apples of her cheeks. "It's friggin' England, man. Second, I want you to take me to where your gallery used to be, or show me your digs and places and…"

"That's the most unentertaining tour of London you could possibly ask for, Emma…"

She suddenly looked into his eyes, serious and warm. "And… I want you to take me sailing. On the Thames."

Killian paled. "I'm not sure I… I…"

"Well, I'm sure you can." She replied softly. "You need to get back the command of your life, Killian. You love sailing. So does Megan, but after what you've both been through, don't you owe it to yourselves to claim that love of the sea back?" When he looked back up at her, Emma was able to see his eyes shining. He looked terrified yet again, but he squeezed her hand.

"And… what if … something happens?"

"Come on, what are the odds of all this… stupid tragedy repeating itself?"

"Well, it almost did!"

"ALMOST!" It didn't happen!" She sighed deep. "Killian, you made me realize I'm a lot more than some… dumb hick waitress. You painted me! You made me feel… well, beautiful, desired and loved again. I hadn't felt that in a long, long time. I owe you that much." She reached up and barely managed to touch his cheek. "I won't leave your side, I promise."

Killian gulped and swallowed thickly, then nodded. "Fine. We'll rent a boat and sail on the Thames." He looked at her and shook his head. "But first, you need to get well." He sighed. "Should we take our respective offspring along?"

"Damn straight!"

He smiled broadly. "Then sail we shall." He leaned forward until he was bare inches away from her face. "When in bloody hell did I fall so madly in love with you?" He said, in near whisper.

Emma hummed with a little tug of her lips. "Somewhere between Storybrooke and Boston, I think."

He kissed her softly; after a few seconds, he pulled away and swallowed. "I'll see to the arrangements, love. I thank you." He stood up, placed a kiss to her forehead and paced back. "I have a canvas to repair, Swan. And a class to prepare for tomorrow. Might I see you tomorrow after I'm done with the bilge rats?"

She laughed heartily, wincing from the pain of her stitches but still keeping the smile on her face. "Any time is a good time."

He stopped by the door. "When Henry and my daughter return, can you tell her to come home? I need to take her shopping for a pretty ball gown." He winked at her. "School stud asked her to be his dance date."

"Oh…" Emma winced.

"What's the matter?"

"Damn Pirate Ball is on Friday…"She sighed. "I promised I'd take Henry to get his costume. Dammit."

He shrugged. "I can take him with us. He'll be well clad."

"You'd… really do that?"

"Certainly." He smiled. "After that perhaps I can lure him into helping me out with the restoration of the canvas?" He shrugged. "I have every intent on making a true-blooded artist out of that lad. He's too much of a talent to ignore."

Emma's dream was to give Henry his best shot; And a famous artist like Killian James Jones was as good a chance as any; not to mention that he was insanely hot… and her new boyfriend… and that she was crazy, head over heels in love with him.

"Thank you, Killian."

"So…" He stuttered. "You'll tell them to come to the apartment?"

"Sure."

He sighed. "Thanks, beautiful." He blew her a kiss. "Till the morrow…"

And out he walked.

Emma chuckled. "The morrow… what even is my life?"

CSCSCSCSCSCSCSCSCSCSCSCSCSCSCSCSCSCSCS

"So, as you may gather, my beloved scurvy dogs, there is much more to light and shadows than just the force of your hands." Killian said softly. "The line between darkness and light…. It's very, very thin. You need to truly, completely feel it."

Nikki Martin raised her hand. "Captain?"

"Aye sailor…"

"How did you do it? How were you able to tell where the darkness ends and the light begins?"

A happy grin came to Killian's lips. "It's all a matter of balancing the heart, Sailor Martin." He replied softly. "You might dwell in either side; one moment, you're basking under the sun, everything shines and everything glows in perfect sunlit joy. Then, suddenly, you find yourself covered in darkness, shadows and twilight conceal the gleam of the sun under a shroud of glum shades and clouds. And you dwell in that, wondering when it all became so obscure…. But then…" He nodded, biting his lips, turning swiftly to the blackboard with the chalk in his hand, drawing yet another circle and illuminating it from dark to light. "Then something happens, and before you know it, you have come to realize that it's not about being under the complete luminescence of light or the overwhelming obscurity of the darkness; it's about learning to sit in the middle and take a little bit of both. Balance your heart…. And your hand… Will follow." He pulled the chalk away and turned to Nikki with a grin. "Thus, you put down exactly who you are… what you are. Remember the class when so many of you thought you couldn't draw?" He placed the chalk down. "It's not a matter of knowing or not knowing…. It's a matter of just BEING. Art, like magic, is based on sentiment. You are what you draw, because you draw how you feel."

The class stared aghast; god only knew what the hell the captain had just said, but whatever it was, it sure sounded deep.

The bell rang and all the students started leaving the class. "Shore leave you lot! Don't forget to hand in your essay on cave Paintings… and tomorrow afternoon, the volunteers for the ball decoration crew, we meet here at three!"

Henry stepped up to Killian. "Hey."

"Hello, lad. Ready to go see your mother?" He smiled as he placed his things in his rucksack.

"Yeah, sure. But…" He swallowed. "Can I show you something?"

Killian frowned. "What may something be?"

Henry sighed and pulled out a notebook from his bag. He opened it and handed it to Killian.

The man's jaw dropped. "Blimey…"

Henry had drawn a smiling man, large dimples, hair standing on end and brown, soulful eyes, much like his own.

The drawing could have easily been made by a properly trained adult.

"That's…. my dad." Henry sighed. "I wanted to ask mom if it would be ok to frame it and keep it around the house. But not if it's... crap. You're the world class artist. Is this any good?"

When Killian raised his large cerulean orbs, he was even more astounded that Henry legitimately wanted to have his approval.

"Henry…" Killian shook his head. "Even I couldn't have done this at YOUR age. This is…" He ran a hand through his hair. "I don't know what to say."

Henry's face lit up. "So… it's good?"

"It's a bloody masterpiece, why am I even bothering to teach you privately, mate? God!" Killian laughed.

"Great!" Henry took it from him and placed it back in his bag.

Killian leaned on his desk. "Was he… a good artist? Your father…"

"Yeah." He nodded. "Claimed he got it from his mother." He laughed. "My mom can't make a stick figure if her life depended on it."

Killian laughed softly. "Neither can my daughter."

"Our families are a calamity."

"Indeed, but we love them any lord, don't we?"

Henry smiled. "Thanks for taking me to get my suit yesterday, by the way."

"Not a problem."

The boy pressed his lips together. "Listen… can I… draw you sometime?"

Killian saw through Henry's intent; and he was deeply touched.

"Any time you like, m'boy."

"Good." He nodded. "We can put your drawing on the wall, next to my dad's. I'm sure mom won't mind. Come on…" He threw his school bag over his shoulder. "Meg's waiting for us outside, let's go see my mom."

Killian smiled knowingly. "Aye. Lets."

Down in the hallway, Principal McIntyre caught up with them. "Henry!" he smiled. "How are you?"

"Oh!" The boy grinned. "Hi professor."

Paul smiled. "May I have a word with Professor Jones?"

"Sure." He shrugged. "I'll meet you outside with Meg, Captain."

"Aye aye, mate. Do not deploy the sails until your captain gets there, are we clear? No rogue sailing."

Henry saluted him, a hand on his forehead. "Sir, yes sir!" And ran down the hall out the door.

Paul sighed a smile on content, his fingers on his belt. "Well, you did it." He nodded at Killian. "The boy's life was straightened out."

"Aye." Killian agreed, staring down the hall. "Not just his." He turned to Mr. McIntyre. "You need to talk to me about something, Paul?"

"Yeah, your application for a holiday." He held up the paper. "Says here you're… travelling back to England?"

"I am."

"I suppose…" Paul shook his head. "You'll not be returning to Storybrooke."

Killian frowned. "What gave you that idea mate?"

Paul shook his head. "Wait… you intend to come back… to Storybrooke?"

"Why wouldn't I? My daughter is happy here. I've everything I need in this town." He shrugged. "I'm home. I only need a couple of weeks to do a few things and then I'll be right back, Headmaster."

"Are you… taking Megan?"

"Aye. It's a family affair, it concerns my daughter too."

Paul winked at him. "And Miss Swan?"

Killian smiled from ear to ear. "My fist mate."

The headmaster nodded, smiling kindly. "I'm very glad to hear that, Mr. Jones. While you're in England, can you do me a huge favor?"

"I owe you. So yes." Killian replied with a mild nod.

"Drop by to visit my kid." He grinned. "She's till got another year to come back home. God knows she'll have a heart attack when she sees you at her door."

"Who knows? Maybe when she returns to Storybrooke, I might take in a new apprentice after Henry." He sneered uncomfortably. "The last one turned out to be a bit of a cook."

"Yeah I heard."

"Aye, I'd wager everyone did. Small town." Killian gulped. "Anyway, Paul, got Henry and Meg waiting outside for me to take them to see Emma at the hospital. My brother and his wife might be visiting as well, so we've a few chores ahead of us."

Paul McIntyre drew a deep breath. "Say hello to her for me."

"I shall. And don't worry…" He smiled as he walked away, waving his arm at the happy headmaster and winking. "I'll be around for quite a bit yet."