Killian had barely slept since that night. It had been a little over two weeks since Killian had promised Emma that he'd bring her back from the darkness, to bring her home. He hadn't seen her since they stood in each others arms under the stars in that clearing.
The sheriff station had been receiving calls daily about possible 'DarkSwan' sightings. Killian's stomach twisted uncomfortably at the ridiculous nickname the town had given his Swan.

The ever present pain in his chest throbbing as he remembered the way she'd looked at him. "Bring me home." she'd pleaded brokenly. The light of the moon casting shadows across her ivory skin. His breath hitching as her dark eyes bore into his. The once forest-like green of her eyes was dull now, too dark. But he could see that she was just as petrified as he, not wanting this moment to end, not wanting to leave as her bottom lip had quivered and a glistening tear fell down her cheek. Killian had pressed his lips to her forehead and instinctively pulled her into his arms, the air around them was thick with building tension. He felt her delicate fingers turn to fists pressing against his vest pulling him closer to her. The slight shudder of her shoulders as a silent sob broke free made his heart ache. His hand splayed across the small of her back tracing light circles, attempting to sooth her fears.

A rustle had come from behind them and Killian's head had snapped instantly, his arm out in front of her protectively. She squeezed his hand lightly and pressed a chaste kiss to the back of his neck. In that moment his heart sank, he knew she was saying goodbye without using words. She couldn't bare anyone else to see her like this. Before he could turn and beg her to stay she was gone in a flash.

"Hook?" David's voice had sounded impatient and breathless as he leant forward resting his hands on his knees, trying to catch his breath. "Where is she?" he'd asked in between panting.

"Gone." he'd sighed heavily. Closing his eyes, his jaw clenched the twitches giving him a near instant migraine as he realised he was holding his breath, trying to calm himself and keep the anger at bay.

Killian woke up in a cold sweat, panting. He had to blink twice to remember he was on The Jolly Roger and not at his room at Granny's B&B. He'd had the same nightmare startle him awake for the past few weeks now. It starts off with that night in the clearing, the aching in his chest spreading throughout his body just remembering her lip quivering, knowing he was helpless to do anything but merely offer her the comfort and warmth of his embrace. Then the nightmare would change setting in the blink of an eye. It would replay himself watching frozen in place as the darkness entangled itself around Emma, as the darkness snuffed the light out of her. His mind would torture him with the memory of their final gaze being of each other as the darkness took over her, and every time he remembered that fact, his heart broke a little more.

With a loud sigh he threw his legs off of the side of the bed and stretched. It was light out, he noticed through the window of his cabin. He brushed his teeth and got dressed. He heard his phone ringing from the drawer beside the bed. 'Who would be ringing me?' he thought to himself, before flipping the phone open. A slight chill went down his spine as he read the name, 'Emma'.

He cleared his throat quickly, "Swan, are you alright?" he asked, a desperate tone to his voice.

"Morning, Captain!" she laughed, "meet me at the docks? I need to show you something." she said, sounding her normal self again.

"I'm actually on The Jolly Roger right now, Love. I'll be up in a sec." he smiled, just the sound of her voice could calm him down.

"Hurry!" she squealed excitedly.

"Okay." he chuckled lightly, flipping the phone shut and throwing his jacket over his shoulder.

When he got above deck, he could see her yellow bug parked just up ahead. He made sure the Jolly was secure and made his way to where the bug was parked. He still wasn't used to see Emma so… different, ever since the darkness had consumed her. Physically she looked entirely different, but she was still Emma. Still the woman he'd do anything for, still the woman he loved unconditionally.

He took a deep breath in, the taste of sea-salt on his tongue and the sound of seagulls echoed by the dock.

As he got closer, he could see the bug but not Emma. He reached the yellow vehicle and trailed his hand along the bonnet, lost in thought.

"Shall we?" Emma asked, her eyebrow raised. She was stood a few feet away from him.

Killian's train of thought got lost, his attention turned to the woman in front of him. Lips as red as blood, hair as white as snow. Her dark attire, whilst beautiful, just didn't feel like the Emma he once knew. She took a step toward him and he forced a smile.

"Go where?" he asked, his voice shaking slightly.

Emma tilted her head confused, she took another few steps until she stood directly in front of him. "What's wrong?" she asked looking up at him.

Killian sighed and looked down at their feet. She was still his Emma. "Nothing." he said, his eyes shut.

Emma carefully held onto the lapels of his jacket and kissed his cheek. "I'm not going to hurt you, Killian." she promised in a quiet voice.

He opened his eyes and could see the shame masking her face. He smiled apologetically. "I know that." he whispered. "I just missed you, that's all." he said his hand falling to her hip as she beamed a smile at him.

"Oh you did?" she asked playfully.

"Mhm, very much so." he laughed gently as she stretched up on her tiptoes and placed her lips to his.

It was so easy to forget that she was different now because around him she wasn't.

He rest his forehead against hers, the coolness of her skin a stark reminder that he couldn't shake, but his heart melted as she smiled at him triumphantly, her eyes warm and dark.

"What was it you were going to show me then, Swan?" he asked curiously, raising his eyebrow.

"It's a surprise." she flashed teeth with her wide grin, before pressing her lips to his once more. She took his hand in her own. "Let's go. We'll walk there. It's not far."

"Alright, then." he said letting her lead the way. Their fingers intertwined, still her skin felt cool under his warm touch.

They walked in companionable silence, Killian stealing glances at Emma's new look every now and again as she pretended not to notice. They stopped at the end of a long row of houses.

"Okay, close your eyes." she said, her voice was low but the enthusiasm was undeniable in the smile she beamed at him.

"What? Why?" he asked unable to hide the cautiousness in his gaze.

"Because it's a surprise!" she leant up to kiss his cheek gently. "Please?" she begged quietly in his ear.

He rolled his eyes, "Fine. But you better not make me walk into a lamppost, Swan." he said warningly, before firmly closing them shut.

Emma heard the smile in his voice and squeezed his hand appreciatively. She giggled loudly, which made his heart skip a beat. Threading her arm through his, she lead him carefully down the street, stopping outside one house about a third of the way down.

She turned him so his back was to the building. "Okay, open. But don't turn around!" she said in a failed stern voice, the hint of excitement coating her voice.

He opened one eye and looked down at her squinting. "What are we doing here, Swan?"

"Well, I was fed up of having to tiptoe around my parents… and your room at Granny's is a little small, and the Jolly is great but I can't take the constant rocking all night long…" she trailed off.

"What are you saying, Emma?" Killian said rubbing his hand down her arm, squeezing her hand lightly. Tilting his head to the side, raising his brow curiously. He hadn't seen Emma this flustered since before she'd… changed.

"Well, I've never been one for the whole white picket fence thing. Ever since I was a little girl, I've always sorta hated them for how perfect they were…" she eyed him wearily, when his gaze was still searching hers she continued with a sigh, "I guess I never had a reason to want a white picket fence before…" she tried to explain. Emma felt a lump form in her throat, thankful that her face no longer flushed scarlet red since her change into the Dark One.

"Okay…" he tried to follow her hints. Emma watched as his Adam's apple bobbed ever so slightly and he scratched behind his ear with his hook. His nervous tick making her lips quirk up into a slight smirk.

"Just turn around." She said giving up with a slight sigh and covering her face with her hands.

Killian turned around slowly, taking in the view of a magnificent house and a white picket fence bordering it. His jaw dropped and she heard as he took a sharp breath in.

"This is… this is…" he was lost for words, his eyes wide and his hung open. A sudden wave of pride washed over her as she watched the pirate who was usually so effortlessly elegant with his words, stumble and fall before her. She had left the dashing rapscallion speechless.

Her smile turned into a frown as seconds went by feeling like hours, she brought her hands up to her face again. "A terrible idea." Emma said barely above a whisper behind her hands.

Killian was shocked by her assumption that he'd not like it. He turned to face her, and found her hiding behind her hands, her gaze looking toward the ground. "Hey." he pressed his lips to the crown of her head and wrapped an arm around her waist holding her close. "You've never been more wrong, Love." he said simply, shrugging his shoulders. "It's incredible!" he said smiling and contently when she uncovered her face and gazed up at him.

Her eyes narrowed ever so slightly, he could tell she was reading him. Trying to suss out whether or not he was being serious using that superpower of hers. His shoulders relaxed fractionally when she placed her hands on his chest and rest her head against his shoulder.

"Who do I need to speak with about buying this place then, eh?" he asked looking up at the building once more.

Emma pressed her face into his shoulder, trying to suppress a giggle, "That would be me." she smiled excitedly.

"What?" his eyes snapped back to Emma.

She pulled her hand out from behind her back, wiggling a set of door keys off the end of her finger.

"You're joking." he couldn't hide the smile in his voice as he raised an eyebrow at her questioningly. His dimpled grin making her heart still flutter.

"You wanna bet?" she raised her eyebrow, challenging him. "Let's go!" she said grabbing his hand and leading him up to the porch.

"Are you sure?" he asked suddenly taking a step back from the front door.

Emma looked up at him a little hurt. "Of course I'm sure. Aren't you?" she asked dropping her hand from the lock.

Killian watched the hurt paint over her features,"Of course I'm sure. Just are you sure? With me?" he asked taking a step toward her, caressing her cheek lightly.

Her eyes rolled into the back of her head at his touch. "I've never been more sure of anything." she breathed, threading her fingers through the lapels of his jacket, reaching up to kiss him.

Killian couldn't help himself, he pressed her back against the front door gently and twisted the key.

Emma smiled around his lips as she twisted the door knob allowing them entry into their new home.

Killian pulled back slightly to look around the inside of the house by the door, Emma trailed kisses along his neck and jawline.

"I'll give you a tour of the house later, Captain. Right now you just need to know that our bedroom is up the stairs, down the hallway and the first door to the right." she said in between kisses.

"Our bedroom?" he laughed, his brow raised as he kissed her forehead gently.

"Our bedroom." she repeated whispering, smiling against his lips.

That was all he needed to hear before he swept her up into his arms and half sprinted up the staircase. All the while his heart swelled at the sound of Emma's giggle in his ear.