He woke to his phone buzzing. Growling, he rolled over and grabbed it from the trunk next to his bed. Didn't people know that he actually needed sleep? Sure, he was a pirate, but once he stated spending time with the heroes, he'd developed reliable sleep patterns and became grumpy when they were messed with.

Emma: Hey, don't freak out. I need to disappear for a few days.

Killian: Should I ask why?

Emma: Probably not.

Killian: Will you be safe?

Emma: I'll talk to you when I get back. Watch Henry, okay?

Frowning, he dialed her number, but after two rings it went to her voicemail. He tried another three times before giving up. It worried him that she wouldn't answer, but if she'd made up her mind to avoid him, she would. He just hoped that she wasn't doing anything stupid. Swan could take care of herself, but she had a really bad habit of not asking for help when she needed it.

He rolled over on his side, staring out the cabin's bay window. He'd left the curtain open and moonlight flooded the entire room. It was normally very peaceful, but as he drifted off to sleep, he couldn't shake the bad feeling he had.

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The first day passed quickly. Henry stopped by after school and introduced him to the movie Hook. The boy had laughed hysterically at the look on Killian's face every time the movie version of himself did something stupid.

"He's ruining my image!" Killian had yelped, eyes glued to the screen.

The second day passed more slowly. As did the third, fourth fifth, and so on. A week passed with no word from her. He didn't know what was going on, but he felt as if he was going insane with worry.

After two weeks he and Henry were both staying on the Jolly. Regina wasn't thrilled, but she understood that he and Killian had a bond that none of them could understand. Henry promised to come home once Emma came back, but he wanted to be there when she did. Killian had remodeled the brig into a makeshift bedroom for the lad after a week of sleeping on the pillows resulted in a backache he didn't think would ever completely go away.

Mary Margaret started bringing them supposed leftovers each night, but Killian was pretty sure that she was just cooking for them. David stopped by every morning to bring the pirate a cup of coffee and take Henry to school.

It was nice to have everyone helping out, but he just wanted Emma back. Every day apart from her, not knowing if she was dead or stranded or hurt, was pure torture. It helped to have the boy around, and he knew he had moved onto the Jolly because he was just as worried, but not just about Emma.

Exactly one month from the night Emma disappeared, Killian was once again woken by the sound of his phone buzzing. He grabbed it instantly, his hands fumbling in his hurry to turn on the screen.

Emma: I'm coming home.

Killian: Emma! I've been so worried! Where are you?

Emma: Doesn't matter. I'll be home in a few days. I have to go.

Killian: Be careful, please.

He got no response and raced to the brig to tell Henry. The lad was sprawled out across the bed, dead to the world. He threw open the grate and called down to him.

"Henry! I heard from Emma."

The boy was up in a flash, bolting upright. "You did? What did she say?"

"Said she was coming home." He climbed down the ladder. "She send you anything?"

Henry checked his phone. "Yeah. She said she loves me and will see me soon." He smiled and turned up the ringer on his phone. "Thanks for waking me up."

"Of course, lad." Killian said, patting the boy on the shoulder awkwardly and climbed up the ladder, replacing the grate and walking back to his cabin. He crawled back into bed, a huge smile on his face as he fell back asleep.

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On the thirty-third day since Emma left, Killian decided that it was time to stop moping. He texted Robin and headed into the woods to meet him, sure that some fresh air and a change of scenery would do him good. They spent the day exploring the area and even got in a swordfight, though Robin was absolute rubbish with anything but a bow.

He didn't leave until that evening, and only then because Regina showed up, all flustered and excited by something she'd found in her vault.

The cool air nipped at his face and neck as he strolled down Main Street, eager to see what Mary Margaret had brought for them. Henry was due to get back to the ship later that night. Belle had requested that he help her with a few things around the library and he'd agreed, probably thinking the same thing about a change of scenery that Killian had.

He pushed open the door to his cabin and stopped short, dropping the bag of food on the floor.

"Emma." He managed. "What happened?"

She was stretched out on his bed, looking like she'd been through a war. Her hair, face, and clothes were filthy and she was covered head to toe with scratches.

More shocking than that, however, was her hair. It had returned to it's original honey blonde.

She looked up, trying hard to focus her eyes on him.

"Killian." She smiled shakily. "I did it. I got rid of the darkness."

Before he could respond to her, her eyes closed and she fell prone against the mattress. He rushed to her side, shaking her gently. "Emma? Emma!" When she didn't react, he slapped her cheeks gently. Still nothing. He pulled his phone from his pocket and dialed the number he never thought he would.

"Regina? Emma's back and she's passed out. Please help. We're on the Jolly."

He hung up and paced the small cabin, waiting for her to arrive. When she did, he ushered her inside and she moved to examine Emma.

"Hook?" Regina asked hesitantly. "What did Emma say? Whatever this is…It is not good."

A/N: So, I hate to say it, but this story is coming to an end soon. But don't fret! I won't abandon you! I am opening my inbox for suggestions. What would you like my next story to be about? Review and I'll post again tomorrow J