1732 words, this chapter. Thank you so much for hanging in with me through this one!

Chapter Twenty, Conclusion, Dark Heart

After dropping Blue and Meg back at the convent, Emma and her group went to the hospital. They found Killian in the emergency room as Whale finished bandaging his shoulder.

The doctor smiled reassuringly. "He'll be fine. It was a clean wound, no complications."

Emma nodded.

Ruby stood on the other side of Killian. She smiled softly at Emma. "Hi."

Emma smiled. "Hi." She blushed. "I might as well start with you." She hung her head and sighed. "I'm so sorry, for the things I said, the things I did, for...infecting you with a...hate virus."

Ruby laughed. "You couldn't help it any more than me. I forgive you."

Emma smiled shyly. "Thank you, Ruby."

The waitress bit her lip. "So do I still have to call you Sheriff?" she asked with a grin.

Emma shuddered. "Oh, Lord. Please do not!" She laughed along with Ruby. "Just Emma works for me."

"I think it works for everyone," said Ruby. Emma smiled.

Whale gave a soft sigh. "You're all done, Captain."

"Thank you, Doctor," said Hook, easing off the bed.

Emma went to Hook. "How are you?"

Killian smiled, glancing at his bandaged shoulder. "It is merely a scratch."

She chuckled.

"I am fine, Emma."

"He should be staying over night," scolded Mary-Margaret.

"I hate this place," said Killian. He winced. "No offense, Doctor."

"None taken," said Whale. "We don't want you." He smirked.

"Good. Besides, it would keep me from my Swan. That is not going to happen," he said, smiling.

The others chuckled.

"Just take it easy," said Whale.

"That's not going to happen either," joked David.

Emma shook her head, tears forming. "Killian, God, I'm so..."

"Don't apologize again, Love. It was not you."

"No, it wasn't," said Mary-Margaret.

Emma looked at them all with tears. "I just...I can't apologize enough to all of you. I was so awful."

"It's OK," said Henry. "We forgive you." He gave her a big hug.

"Emma, it's not your fault," said David.

"No," agreed Gold. "It attacked you because of your powers. You are indeed blameless."

"It doesn't feel like it."

"You know what?" asked Belle. "I'm hungry. Let's all go and sit down..."

"And regroup," said Robin. "Excellent idea."

Ruby smirked. "It is, especially if you go to the diner, cause I'm off duty."

Whale chuckled. "You should go then and enjoy yourself."

"Uh, I'll hang out here, if you don't mind."

Whale smiled. "Not at all."

She smiled back. The rest of them did indeed decide to go to Granny's.

Emma smiled weakly at her pirate. "You up for this?" asked Emma.

Killian nodded. "I shall not leave your side."

She blushed and carefully hugged him. "I know."

At the diner, Mary-Margaret was reunited with baby Neal, who was keeping Granny company. Roland, the dwarves, and Marian were there as well. They all ate, relaxed, and filled in those who weren't at the showdown with Sister Meg.

"So Sister Meg was a victim as well," said Killian.

"Yeah, I feel sort of sorry for her," said Emma. "She's like me."

"Oh, I do apologize, lass, but I disagree," said the pirate, smirking. "No one is like you."

Emma blushed but laughed. She looked over at the dwarves and sighed. She had apologized and they accepted quickly. They were genuinely relieved that she was back.

She however, could not shake the guilt. It did help though that she had her family around. Henry was by her side and of course, so was Killian.

After a while Gold said, "Well, this was lovely, but I am quite tired. I think I shall retire with my lovely wife."

He took Belle's hand and pulled her up.

"Wait. Thank you," said Emma. She turned to all of the assembled people. "All of you, for everything."

Gold nodded and Belle squeezed her hand.

"Sure you should do that?" asked Emma, making the other woman chuckle.

"I'll take my chances, Emma," she said. "Goodnight."

They began to walk out.

"Hey, Grandpa," said Henry, running over. "Can I come over sometime and look through more of your books? They were kind of cool."

Gold's face filled with warmth and he grinned widely. "You're always welcome, Henry."

Henry smiled as Belle kissed his head. He then ran back and climbed into the booth beside Emma.

Emma yawned. "It's been a long...day." She sighed. "Not that I know what day it is. I don't even know how many I've missed."

The others chuckled.

She looked at Henry and rubbed his head. "Kid, I promise I'll see you tomorrow but would you mind going home with Regina tonight?"

He smirked. "Is it you asking this time?"

She chucked sadly and nodded. "I promise it is. I just...I think I need some time, but not too much, huh? I want to see you tomorrow. I need to."

He laughed. "Sure, no problem."

"Regina, do you mind?"

She laughed. "Of course not, Emma. I'm more than happy to have him," she said. "In fact...I wasn't wholly comfortable with letting you have him...not quite yet."

"Regina, that's not fair!" cried Mary-Margaret.

"Yes, it is," said Emma. "I would feel the same way. I do. I'm not sure...I trust me yet."

"I do," said Henry.

She gave him a soft smile and kissed his head. "Just give me a tiny bit of time, OK?"

Henry nodded.

Regina smiled and turned to Robin. "What do you say we make a night of it? Do you and Roland want to come over and watch movies?"

Roland jumped up and squealed.

"I believe Roland has accepted for me."

Regina laughed, tousling the boy's hair. "Good. Let's go then. Come on, Henry."

She saw Emma's guilty look out of the corner of her eye as she watched Henry move. "You were...ill, Miss Swan," Regina said softly. "Regardless of my concern, I do know that it was not your fault. It will take some time, but you will move on from this."

"Right," said Emma, giving her a weak half smile.

Regina laughed at her unease. "Trust me, I know you, you're a stubborn pain in my backside. You'll be fighting me for mother duties by the morning."

Emma smirked and nodded.

"Goodnight mom," said Henry, giving her one last, huge hug. "Tomorrow, promise?"

She hugged him tightly back. "I promise, Kid. I love you."

"Love you too," he said. He looked at Killian. "Take care of her."

The pirate smiled. "I vow it on my life."

"Don't do that, just...watch over her," said Henry, making everyone laugh. He then left with the others.

Emma sighed. "Move on. That's going to take some doing."

"You'll make it, Swan. I am as confident as Regina."

She smiled at him. "If you say so."

"I do."

Mary-Margaret smiled from across their booth. "Honey, why don't you come home with us?"

"No, you've been away from Neal long enough, messing with me."

"You're our child too," said David.

Emma finally felt an honest, guiltless smile. "I know. I love you guys."

"We love you too honey," said MM. "I don't like the idea of you being alone tonight."

"I won't be," she said.

Her parents stared at her, then looked at Hook, who sat very still. He seemed a bit scared, uncertain what to say.

A few moments passed and David finally said, "OK. Call us if you need us. I mean it."

"I will, Dad."

They nodded, looked at Killian, and then left.

"Did I misunderstand your meaning, Swan? Who will you be 'not alone' with this evening?"

She chuckled. "You." He raised his eyebrow but she just said, "Why do you think I bought a place with three rooms? One of them is for you."

He smiled. "Ah, that is the meaning Meg meant to convey when she said I was weaseling into your spare room."

Emma shook her head. "That...darkness stuff...was potent."

"It was indeed. It does not diminish the kindness of your considerate gesture of the room. I am touched, Swan. Thank you."

"Well, you gave your home up for me. I thought...it was the least I could do. Will you stay with me?"

"Of course. Let's go home, Emma." He stood up and held his hand out for her.

She stood, smiled, and cautiously wrapped her arms around him.

They walked to her place where she apologized again over a couple glasses of wine. She told him more about Meg and the true nature of that evil magic. When she mentioned Blue's statement that they could fight the lingering evil with love, Killian smirked. "If we must."

She looked at him. She had been smiling, but now a sob burst out and many, many tears fell. "Killian...I can't...forgive myself or forget."

"Sh. Emma. You will with time. Plus, I can help you forget," he said, wiping her eyes gently. He then softly kissed her. "I love you, Emma. I love you so."

She rubbed his cheek, whispering, "Killian." They kissed long and hard. "Stay with me."

"I thought we settled that, Love."

"No, I don't mean in your room. Stay with me in mine," she said. She blushed. "I want..." She looked him in the eye. "Make love with me, Killian."

His breath stopped. He felt a flutter inside, all over actually. "Emma, Love. I'm not going anywhere. We have time. Don't think you have to give me anything..."

"Killian, I'm ready. I was before all this happened. This isn't me trying to forget or make something up to you. I just, please, I want to be with you."

He took her hand and kissed it, then tenderly kissed her lips. "As you wish."

She smiled and pulled him to her room by his good arm and shoulder, where they gently gave themselves to each other. Then they laid in each others' arms. Emma sighed happily as she ran her fingers over his chest.

He whispered her name and began to drift off. Just before he did he heard her whisper, "I love you too, Killian," and he gave way to sleep with a smile on his lips.

The End