A/N: Thank you to every who has reviewed so far. I'm sorry it took me so long to upload. It didn't turn out exactly how I wanted it to (when does it ever?) but I hope you enjoy.

Emma didn't remember much after Killian died in her arms.

David told her the story after and it brought flashes of memory to her mind, but nothing she wanted to focus on.

She didn't want to think about how she lost control of her magic, destroying the Jolly Roger and most of the docks. Didn't want to imagine how Regina took advantage of the chaos to put the manacles on the Wicked Witch's right hand. Didn't want to remember when Regina was walking the Wicked Witch proudly to jail, she'd tried to stab her sword through her heart.

Emma tried to bury her head deeper into her knees to block out the memories. The world kept ticking on while Emma Swan waited in her apartment for another chance at revenge (it was better than considering she might be under house arrest) and didn't move from the couch.

Remembering hurt too much but not remembering was painful too.

Emma saw the Jolly Roger burning in her mind and blocked out the memory of a pyre that allowed Captain Hook to be with his ship forever.

Killian Jones was dead and the world didn't seem to care.

Emma was lost in her memories when her family came home. They moved around her quietly, Mary Margaret and Henry moving to the kitchen while David watched her with concern. She was remembering her own satisfaction when her blade was so close to avenging Killian, then her shock and anger as David deflected her sword with his own. Emma was by no means a swordswoman and found herself easily disarmed by David.

"I'll do it right next time."

"Do you think that's for the best, Emma?" Emma hadn't even realised she'd spoken aloud until she heard David's reply and she looked up from her knees to see him sit next to her.

"What do you expect me to do? She cursed you again, she's a threat. She... She killed Killian." Emma was proud by how she could say that without her anger overwhelming her, she needed a clear head.

David sighed and looked at her with sadness, she was ashamed to remember she was not the only one who was grieving but her simmering anger quashed that thought.

"Is your revenge for Killian or for yourself?" David asked her quietly. The silence in the kitchen told Emma that Henry and Mary Margaret were listening intently and she barely hesitated before giving her indignant response, "Of course it's for Killian, he deserved to be avenged. He had his heart crushed like he was nothing, just a pawn in someone else's game."

David nodded like this was the response he expected, "But do you think Killian would want you to avenge him?"

Emma hesitated, unsure of where this was going. "He's dead so he couldn't really say."

David pulled her hands into his and looked at her earnestly, "Emma, Killian spent 300 years looking for revenge. Only to discover that the pursuit of it left his life empty. He realised that when he met you, he met you and realised he wanted more for himself than a hollow vengeance. You have a choice, Emma, you can take your revenge and see what the consequences are or you can take a difference path. Killian made a choice and you have to make yours."

Emma felt the tears she hadn't let fall since she walked away from Killian Jones well up in her eyes and she buried her face in her father's chest. He was stiff for a moment with shock before he wrapped his arms around her and allowed Emma to sob. She felt her mother hold her hands that were around her father's back and felt Henry hug her from behind.

Choose.

In the safety of her father's arms, with her mother holding her hands like she was trying to pour her strength into her and her son making wet patches on her shirt as he cried, Emma finally allowed herself to relive the final moments of Killian Jones' life. His bright blue eyes staring up at her like she was the only thing he wanted to see and his words lingering in the air.

As you wish.

As her family leant her strength, Emma allowed herself to acknowledge her pirate's final message. It was something he had been saying with every glance, every touch and every kiss. He said it in every way but one, giving Emma the choice to decode it.

I love you.

So Emma chose.

A/N: The end! Thanks for sticking with it. I'm sorry to those who expected Killian to come back but when I thought of this fic the only scenes I had in mind included Killian's death and final message and Emma choosing. The end is up to interpretation. I have some happier fics in mind for the future so hopefully I've gotten rid of all my angsty fic thoughts and can do more 'happily ever after' sort of things.

All the best,

Adrina Stark!