AN: Surprise, an early update! Hope you enjoy! :)

Skyeward MusicLover: Thank you! :)

baratta: Will do. :)

Anonymous Reader for ever: Thank you so much, your review made me so happy! I'm very pleased that you like my story that much. Also, your role-playing story sounds very interesting. Thanks again! :)

Killian walked away from the clearing, feeling lost. He didn't know where he was going, he was just walking, trying to leave his heartache behind. When he reached the docks, he wasn't surprised. He needed a place to forget, so his heart had led him to the thing that had helped him heal when Milah had died: his ship. But things were different this time. Before, the lust for revenge had kept him going, this time there was no one he could hunt down, no enemy that he could face. He had nothing left to live for.

He stood on the deck of his ship, staring down into the ocean. It was still and clear today, and reflected the blue sky beautifully. Nothing should be beautiful now. He thought. How can beauty exist in a world where Emma doesn't? As he looked into the water, it seemed to become more and more inviting, beckoning him. He smiled slightly. "I'll see you soon Emma." He murmured. He looked at the water for another moment, before jumping into it.

He hit the water in a flurry of bubbles. They quickly subsided, and he could feel himself sinking. He didn't struggle, or try to swim, he simply let himself go. After a short time, his lungs began burning for air, but he didn't care. He was about to see Emma again, if it took a little pain for that to happen, so be it. He felt something wrap around his chest, pulling him further under. He smiled, silently thanking whatever it was that was aiding in his demise.

Killian's head suddenly broke through the surface of the water. He coughed and sputtered instinctively, until he began to realize what had happened. Someone had saved him, and that someone was still clinging to his chest from behind, dragging him towards the shore. "No." He growled. "No, no, no!" He began flailing, trying to connect with the person who had the audacity to save him.

"Stop!" His savior cried, but still he fought them. "Killian, stop it!" They cried again.

"No, let me go! Emma's dead, I-" A sudden stinging pain on his face silenced him.

"Killian, look at me! I'm not dead!" His savior demanded. He did, and he couldn't believe what he saw. Her blonde hair was drenched, plastered to her head, her green eyes were bloodshot from the salt, and her hand was still raised from slapping him, but it was definitely, "Emma?" he gasped. "You're alive?"

"Yes." she replied. "I'm alive. Now that we've established that… What the hell were you thinking Killian?! I gave my life so that everyone, so that you would live, and you were just going to throw that away?! Why would you do that? How could you do that?!"

"Because I can't live without you Emma!" He screamed, grabbing her shoulders. He closed his eyes for a moment, giving himself a chance to calm down. He sighed, and then continued more softly. "I have been in love with you since the moment I met you Emma. How can you expect me to go on without you, when you're the only reason I've kept living? You made me the man I am today. Without you, darling, I can't live. You have become more than just a part of my life. You are my life."

Emma stared at him, her eyes full of tears. "Oh Killian." She whispered. "Do you really mean that?"

"I just tried to commit suicide over you, love. Does it look like I'm making this up?" He replied with a smirk.

Emma made a sound halfway between a laugh and a sob. "No." She said. She put her hand over her heart, over half of Killian's heart. "We share one heart now. You risked so much to try to bring me back. If this hadn't worked, you could have died. You're my life too. I love you so much Killian."

"And I you, my beautiful Swan." He murmured, before leaning forward and capturing her lips in a passionate kiss. After they broke the kiss, they stood in the shallows for a long while, simply enjoying the feeling of being safe in each other's embrace.

"You really scared me when you jumped." Emma said, breaking the silence. "Please promise me you will never do anything like that again."

"I promise, love." Killian replied. "As long as you promise to never pull another stunt like what you did in the clearing."

"Deal." Emma responded. "Should we seal that promise?" She asked hopefully. As a response, Killian once again kissed her.

"I also promise to treat every moment I spend with you as a gift. I-"

"A gift." Emma murmured, cutting him off. "I almost forgot!" She cried, pulling away from him so that she could reach into her pockets.

"Alright then. I was in the middle of saying something romantic you know." Killian said, only half teasing.

"I know, I'm sorry. But I need to give this to you now." She replied, pulling a flask from her pocket.

"A drink? You know I never turn down a good drink, but why is it important that I get it at this very moment?" Killian asked, confused.

"Because, it's the key to you being able to talk to someone who really wants to see you again." Emma replied.

"Who?" Killian asked.

"Your father."

"My father?" Killian asked incredulously. "Why does he want to see me? He abandoned me and my brother when we were boys. Why would he care now?"

"He didn't abandon you Killian. He had no choice. But it's not my place to tell you that. Let him tell you." She held the flask out.

Killian hesitated for a moment, then slowly took the flask from her grasp. He took off the top, and took a small sip.

"You see him?" Emma asked after a moment.

"Nothing." Killian responded. He put the flask to his lips again.

"Don't waste that laddie." A voice said behind him. "You may want to see me again in the future."

Killian whirled around. "Dad?" He gasped.

AN: Next update will be up in the next few days! Until then. :)