Oh my heart it breaks, every step that I take
He watched in painful silence as Emma and Bae shared a goodbye. After all that had happened, all he had vowed – to win her heart, to prove that he could be a hero – and it was all being taken from him. She didn't approach him to say goodbye.
A moment of fear nearly choked him, that she would away, out of his life without so much as a word. He swallowed his pride and took those painful steps forward, needing to tell her...something, anything.
He managed to breathe her name, "Emma," reaching out to grab her if she hadn't heard, but she turned, and he could see the pain reflected there. All of the things that he wanted to do in this moment, and he felt miles away from her. He knew it would be bad form to sweep her into his arms, to plant a solid kiss on her lips, so he kept his distance, looking from her to the yellow contraption they would use to flee.
He offered a strained smile, "That's quite the vessel you captain there, Swan."
She gave a soft chuckle, her eyes sweeping over him, though those eyes were shimmering. It took her a moment to lift her eyes to meet his gaze, and when she did, he almost regretted his decision to come and say goodbye.
The world around them disappeared, the crowd behind them nothing to his mind. He studied her face, the curve of her cheek, long lashes framing her stunning eyes. He traced to line of her lips, mourned briefly that they were turned down, a frown that so often made its home on her beautiful face – a face, he thought, that deserved many more smiles.
He swallowed, met her eyes, "There's not a day will go by I won't think of you," he spoke just above a whisper, his words meant for her alone.
Her eyes held his, and he could see in them that she received his words, understood their depth, and was grateful. The air around them grew heavier the longer they held each others' gaze.
"Good," she offered, the slightest uptick in her lips.
He smiled then, understanding the offer she made, knowing that she was throwing back the same self-assured confidence that he so often provided. She smiled, too, the unspoken gratitude and regrets filling the space between them.
He saw he start to take a step forward, and before she could, he backed away, turning after a moment, unable to continue watching her prepare to leave his life, potentially forever. He felt himself crumbling, an unseen tremor taking him. He listened with growing dread as Regina explained the effects of reversing the curse, the knowledge that Emma would have no memory of him providing the final blow to his feelings. He would truly be lost to her.
Still, he stood stoically, determined to be a point of strength for Emma. When her eyes settled on him, he felt a swell in his chest. He could hear the storm coming, but still he would not take his eyes away, not until his last sight of Emma was ripped from him completely.