Killian nervously drums his fingers on his leg on the drive back to the station. He's certain Emma will not simply accompany them to the town line without some sort of explanation. So far he doesn't have a clue what he is going to tell her. If only he really were a writer, he could come up with some ridiculous, intriguing story.
He sighs and looks up. They're still deep in the forest. They come around a bend in the road and out of nowhere a tall, blonde woman stands right in front of their carriage, her hand outstretched towards them.
"Dave!", he yells, panicky. In one swift action, David curses, breaks and swerves. Killian gets thrown forward from a heavy impact, then everything goes black.
Killian returns to consciousness slowly. His back hurts like hell and there's the iron taste of blood in his mouth. Fantastic. This really makes the day complete. He groans. There's a scraping noise to his right. Somebody is trying to force open the entryway on the passenger side. He groggily turns to his left and sees David slumped unconsciously on the steering wheel. There's a trickle of blood running down his face.
He turns back around and suddenly there's the woman again, inches from his face. Her expression is furious, and he is taken aback, feeling a flare of anger himself. After all, she basically ran them off the road just now. She glares at him indignantly and he wonders what he could have possibly done to deserve this. He can't recall ever having met her before in his life.
"Why do you refuse to be happy?", she almost spits in his face, her voice angry.
He must have hurt his head when the carriage crashed because he has no idea what she's talking about.
"What?", he croaks, his voice hoarse.
Her expression turns exasperated. "Why do I even bother?", she mumbles. Killian is utterly confused.
"Who are you?"
She rolls her eyes at his question, then gently touches her index finger to his forehead. He feels the familiar pulse of magic emanating from her, drawing him down, down, down into the abyss.
"Killian!", Emma yells from across the hallway, relieved.
He turns around when he hears her voice, a smile already on his lips. She hugs him and he winces when her arm comes in contact with a sore spot on his back.
She pulls back to look him over, her worried expression turning soft as she sees that his injuries are only minor ones. She smiles at him and there's so much fondness, so much love in her expression that it leaves him breathless. They have been married for more than a decade now, but every time she looks at him like this, it feels like the first time.
"What happened?", she asks softly and Killian's eyebrows knit together as he contemplates the question. Ever since he regained consciousness in the hospital he's been wondering the same thing. It's all a bit of a blur.
"There was - a woman - I think?" It's more of a question than a statement, directed at David. Thankfully, his friend only suffered minor injuries as well. According to the doctor, he has a mild concussion and a small cut on his forehead, but all in all, they were pretty damn lucky.
David nods. "She came out of nowhere. It was almost like she was getting in front of the car intentionally. I don't recall ever seeing her in town before."
"Is she alright?", Emma asks, concerned, and Killian has to smile again. That's his wife, constantly worried about other people's welfare, even if she has never met them.
"We don't know. When I came to, she was nowhere to be found", David answers her question.
An alarm bell goes off in the back of Killian's head, something to do with the woman, but he cannot put his finger on it.
"What were you doing out there anyway?" There is no accusation in Emma's voice, only curiosity.
Killian turns to David, but his friend is looking at him with raised eyebrows, clearly expecting him to answer this question. Killian ponders it for a moment, then shrugs.
"It's all a bit of a blur, I'm afraid. I remember I had a reason to drive there, it seemed of vital importance at the time, but I can't recall it now for the life of me."
Emma seems undisturbed by his explanation, or lack thereof.
"Well, if it was important, I'm sure it'll come back to you. I'm just glad you're okay."
She hugs him again and he reciprocates, running his hand down her back soothingly.
"I'm fine, love, don't worry."
David clears his throat. "I'm also fine, in case anybody was wondering."
Emma pulls back and grins at him sheepishly. "I'm sorry. How are you, David?"
David turns his head away, mock-affronted, and deadpans, "Too little, too late." Killian knows him all to well not to notice the slight twitch of his lips indicating that he's trying very hard to suppress a smile.
"David!", somebody yells from across the hallway, mirroring Emma's arrival. Mary Margaret comes storming down the corridor, giving him a running hug. David makes a surprised oomph sound.
When she pulls back, he smiles at her. "I told you on the phone, I'm fine."
"I know, I know, I just had to see for myself." She looks over at Killian. "Glad to see you're okay as well."
David gives Emma a smug smile. "See? It's not that hard."
Emma rolls her eyes. "Whatever."
David's mood turns serious again. "We should get back to the scene of the accident and search for the woman. I'm almost certain I didn't hit her, but I wouldn't want to find out later that she stumbled around confused or injured in the forest and something happened to her."
Emma nods. "Agreed. Let's go." She turns back to Killian and gives him a long, deep kiss.
When she pulls back, he raises an eyebrow at her. "Not that I'm complaining, but what was that for, milady?"
She shrugs. "Do I need a reason to kiss my husband?", she grins and softly bumps her nose into his. Mary Margaret makes a face.
"Could you two stop being adorable for all of five seconds?" Her voice is annoyed on the surface, but there is a distinct note of fondness underneath it. She turns back to David. "Are you sure you're well enough to get back to work immediately? Didn't you say something about a concussion on thee phone?"
He raises his hands in a placating gesture. "I'm fine, I promise. I couldn't bear the thought of something happening to that woman because of me."
Mary Margaret smiles up at him. "I understand. Just be careful, okay? Don't overtax yourself." David nods in reply. "I won't, I promise." He leans his forehead against hers and Emma scoffs.
"Now, who's being adorable on purpose?"
Killian smiles at her, while David pulls a face at Emma.
"Shall we go?", he asks his deputy.
"Sure, but I'm driving. Your car is wrecked anyway."
David's tone is sour. "Don't remind me."
Killian and Mary Margaret look after them as the sheriff and deputy walk down the corridor and out of the hospital.
"Our dashing heroes off to save the day", Killian remarks and Mary Margaret chuckles.
"Need a lift?", she ask as the two of them fall into step next to each other, leaving the hospital as well.
"Aye, if you don't mind."
"You know, Killian, it's high time you got a car." They've had this argument many times before.
"As I'm sure you recall me saying, cars are the work of the devil. And I shall shun them wherever I can."
Mary Margaret sighs. "Stop pulling the eccentric writer card already and learn how to drive, you coward."
Killian looks affronted. "I assure you, again, I'm not afraid of driving. I am merely in favor of more classic modes of transportation. Like walking. Or biking. Or sailing. Or anything that is not driving."
Mary Margaret rolls her eyes. "At least make Emma trade in that bug for a sensible car. I will never understand why she insists on driving that thing until it falls apart."
Killian smiles at that. "As you are well aware, I am not now nor have I ever been in a position to 'make' Emma do anything. That would be like a pebble trying to change the course of the avalanche."
"I'll let her know you compared her to a natural disaster", Mary Margaret shoots back, grinning.
They exit the hospital and it's a beautiful day outside, the sun has finally come out behind the clouds and hits him full in the face, and he can't help thinking how lucky he is. He's got it all. He's got the profession he always dreamed of, being able to follow his passion rather than having to drag himself to a boring office job. He has a smart kid, who believes in doing the right thing. He has a beautiful, fierce, amazing wife.
He looks over at Mary Margaret and adds great friends to the list. In many ways, he has come to think of David as the brother he never had. His brow furrows in thought. Something is wrong with that statement.
Why do you refuse to be happy? , echoes in the back of his mind and he stops short. Where did that come from? He is well aware of how lucky he is. He can't remember ever being this happy in his life.
Mary Margaret stops a few steps later and looks back at him anxiously.
"What's wrong?"
Killian shakes his head, trying to clear his thoughts. He gives Mary Margaret an honest smile.
"Nothing. Everything is exactly as it should be."