AN: Okay, back again! Here we have a missing scene/tag right after Emma accepts Killian's proposal again.

For a few, all too short moments, everything was perfect. Killian was back, looking unmistakably battered, but alive and hers again. Regina was at the vault, working to wake David and Mary Margaret, and for a moment Emma could almost believe that they would win. Still, she couldn't completely push away her concern for her once again fiancee.

The pirate in question was leaning awkwardly against the high topped counter in the kitchen, holding a bag of frozen vegetables against the bruise on his forehead. "You okay?" She put a slightly timid hand on his arm. He smiled crookedly and she could see how happy he was to be home.

"Aye, I could use a couple of your magic headache pills. I never knew losing a fight with children could hurt so much." She handed him the bottle of Tylenol, not missing his grimace of pain as he took it from her.

"I think you need more than Tylenol. Let's sit down." He had taken one step towards the sofa when she knew he was going to pass out. He gave her a vaguely panicked look, face suddenly drained of all colour as he knees suddenly buckled. It was all Emma could do to break his fall enough that he wouldn't hit his head. Hit his head again, she realized belatedly.

Maneuvering an unconscious pirate onto the sofa had become an all too frequent task, but Emma realized she had never had to do it alone. David, Mary Margaret, Henry, even Regina, one of them was always there to help her when Hook inevitably pushed himself too far and collapsed. "My mother really needs to stop cooking for you." She huffed as she at last managed to deposit him on the cushion. Although, right now I would settle for anyone in my family being awake. She glanced across at her parents, sleeping seemingly peacefully and almost wished for a sleeping curse herself.

She was exhausted. Since Killian left she had barely slept and when she did she woke with tears threatening to overwhelm her. The house seemed to large and empty without him, and even though she'd added a pile of blankets to her bed without his arms around her she couldn't seem to get warm. She sighed and brushed the messy dark hair away from his bruised and bloodied face. She hadn't meant to use magic but the power flowed through her unconsciously and the bruises faded, cuts closing. If only life were as easily mended.

Emma knew his face was probably the least of his injuries, but hesitated at healing him more. Since their time as dark ones and their stay in the underworld Killian had been reluctant for her to use magic to heal him. It was probably better to let him wake up first. She retrieved the frozen corn and after a moments debate placed it against his left shoulder. He's been favouring his arm ever since they returned, thinking she didn't notice.

He groaned, his forehead creasing with pain or worry and she kissed his cheek gently, letting him know she was there. He cautiously opened and eye and peered at her. "Swan?"

"Right here. Some engagement party you're giving me." She meant it as a joke, but she could see the immediate regret in his eyes.

"I'm sorry. This is all wrong; I wanted it to be perfect this time."

"It is. You're here. Although, you could have told me sooner that you were about to collapse. What happened?"

He smiled crookedly, reminding her of the pirate captain she had met and abandoned on the top of a beanstalk in the Enchanted Forest. "It seems we missed a few Lost Boys when we brought the others back. They didn't take kindly to my return to Neverland." Emma sensed there was more to it than he was saying, but that was a battle to fight another day. He pushed himself up into a sitting position with no small amount of pain as was evident from the sweat gathering on his forehead. "I should count myself lucky the none of the Boys were ever sailors, otherwise they would know how to tie proper knots."

"They seem to have done a good enough job." Emma remarked as he pressed a hand against his shoulder.

"Aye. Nothing a little rum won't put right."

"What else?"

He raised an eyebrow. "Have you gotten more cryptic in the time I've been gone? I shudder to think what another day would have done."

She scowled. Damn pirate, everything is so amusing when he's avoiding me. "You know what I mean. Where are you hurt?"

He paused for a moment before sheepishly admitting, "Ribs, and head, but you seem to have taken care of that. Thank you , love."

"Can I? Would you like me to heal your shoulder at least?"

"Let it be Swan, I'll heal." He smiled, but it didn't quite reach his eyes. "Consider it penance for breaking a promise. I said I would never leave you. I know it isn't my fault that Gideon redirected the Nautilus, but it was my choice to be on board."

"And it was my fault. I reacted poorly." Emma bit her lip to keep back tears. It was her fault. She knew Killian had changed from the man who murdered David's father. Looking back she could hardly blame him for wanted to burn his memory of that event. After all, she was the one who had stolen everyone's memories to hide the atrocities she had committed as the Dark One.

"Emma-"

"No! It isn't your fault, you've changed and I know that. You aren't a ruthless, vengeance driven pirate anymore, and it's time I trusted you to never become that again. I know you think you deserve what those Boys tried to do. I know you think you deserve to pay for that man's crimes, but you don't. Everyone else has forgiven you; it's time you forgave yourself."

"Love-"

"If anyone should pay for what they've done it's me. I made you doubt yourself again because for a moment I doubted you, even though you have given me every cause not to."

"It's okay love. I'm here and I'm fine." He wiped a tear away from her face and smiled. "Although, if the offer is still open, I would quite like to be able to hold you without passing out."

She laughed shakily and kissed him. "I would quite like that too."

It would be alright as long as they were together.

And there this story comes to a close. Let me know what you thought and thanks for reading.

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