Chapter 39 – and they lived…

Hook gingerly sat up wincing at the pain in his head.

"Easy, Captain." Felix said quietly as he stacked a pile of pillows behind the pirate.

"How did this happen?" Hook asked feeling lightheaded.

Felix stared at the hand and shook his head. "The only explanation is that the Dark One gave you your hand back."

Hook looked at him wide-eyed. "Did you know I had it back? Do the others know?"

"No! Your head was bleeding badly when we found you. We were all too worried about you. Charming wrapped you up in a blanket and carried you down here. Then more blankets were added since you were shivering. When Dr. Whale came he only examined your head. The rest of you was hidden under the blankets." Felix explained.

Hook didn't respond, he just kept staring at his hand.

"What did you and Dark One talk about?" Felix inquired.

"I think he was trying to sincerely apologize but after what he did in Neverland I didn't believe him. Maybe this was his way of convincing me he actually meant it." Hook said softly. He grew quiet as he stared at his hand.

"Are you alright?" Felix asked with concern in his voice.

Hook just nodded, and then cleared his throat. His voice was hoarse when he answered. "See this scar? I got that when I was six and stick my finger on a hot pan when cook was making cookies. This one," he pointed at another "was when I was teaching Milah how to use a sword and she accidentally nicked me." He took a shaky breath. "This is actually MY hand. He's kept it all this time."

Felix could see how shaken Hook was. He put his hand on the pirate's shoulder. Hook's blue eyes met his. "It's okay Captain."

Hook nodded. Dizziness washed over him and his head ached incessantly.

Emma entered. "What are you doing sitting up. You should be lying down and resting your head."

"Emma." Hook said with a choked voice.

She dropped the groceries on the floor as she heard the emotion in his voice and noticed Felix's hand on his shoulder.

"Hook, what is it? Felix?" she looked at the lost boy for answers when Hook didn't reply.

"It's okay Emma, he's just a little shaken." Felix responded smiling softly. He got up so Emma could sit on the bed. "I'll leave you two alone."

With her heart pounding rapidly, Emma climbed on the bed and put her arm around Hook. "What is it?"

He looked at her and smiled softly, then lifted his hand.

It took her a few seconds to comprehend that the hand he was lifting was the left one. "Oh my god! What…How…did Gold do this?"

Hook cleared his throat. "Apparently so." He continued to stare at it.

"So Belle and Neal really got through to him. But I don't get why he knocked you out?"

Hook shook his head then groaned. "Ow remind me not to do that again. I guess when he gave me my hand back I passed out. I hit my head on something." He swallowed heavily. "I can't believe I have my hand back."

"You are remembering when it all happened aren't you? When he first took Milah from you and then your hand." Emma asked gently softly running her fingers through his disheveled black hair.

He took a shaky breath. "Aye. I never thought I'd have two hands again. For the longest time I've been Captain Hook, the pirate with a hook for a hand." He laughed harshly. "I did pretty good considering." His voice hitched.

Emma wrapped her arms around him, kissed his forehead and whispered. "I have no doubt once you feel better you will put that hand to good use, Killian."

He put the newly reclaimed hand in her hair playing with the golden strands. Despite the steady pain in his head he couldn't help but tease her. "So Swan, does that mean you still lust after me even without the hook?'

Emma snorted. She lowered her face so that her lips were just inches from his. "Never have, never will." Her tongue came out and she ran it over her lips.

He groaned and just as he was about to claim those lips she moved back and cheerily announced. "Time for your medication."

"Underneath that lovely exterior I believe beats the heart of an evil villain.' Hook announced grumpily.

Emma smirked and gave him the painkiller. She got him to lie down again and lay down beside him entwining her hand with his. He smiled sleepily "Will you be here when I awake."

"I promise."

"Will you tie me up while I sleep?" he narrowed his eyes suspiciously.

"Perhaps one day when you are feeling better." she laughed as he grinned.

After Hook drifted off to sleep, Emma realized they had come full circle. When she had first met him she was afraid of love, and when he became more and more obsessed with his vendetta against Gold she suppressed the feelings he had stirred within her on the bean stalk. But when she had injured him and spent time nursing him back to health on the ship she had found herself falling for him deeper and deeper. She realized during their time in Neverland that she could count on him, he was there for her no matter what. He helped rescue Henry, he even put aside his revenge for her. Then when the opportunity came to claim that revenge he let it go. She knew when they first met he still grieved for Milah and a part of him always would but she saw him say his goodbye to Milah on the ship as they left Neverland and when Henry had reached out to him. Somehow being with Hook felt right. When she thought he didn't care and was leaving - her heart had felt like it shattered.

She stared at the sleeping pirate, his black hair, the scruff, the long black lashes and even though his eyes were closed at the moment, she could vividly picture those intense sky blue eyes as they penetrated her private thoughts. He knew her instinctively inside and out. He knew what she was thinking even before she actually thought of it. She wanted this man, more than she had ever wanted anyone. Not just physically but mentally, spiritually, emotionally. She, Emma Swan had fallen in love.

She smiled to herself. He probably already knew that. In fact he probably knew she would eventually love him long before she even had an inkling of it. She sighed and fell asleep lulled by his warm body and his breath on her hair.

Her watch beeped waking her and she realized it was time again to wake him as per Dr. Whale's instructions.

She leant over him and brushed her lips against his. His eyes opened. She grinned. "I believe that was your preferred method of being awakened?'

He growled softly. "I believe I'm on the verge of lapsing into a coma, I think you better do it again." He winked.

She obliged and he easily turned it into a longer more intense kiss. Afterwards she sat beside him. "So how are you feeling? How's the head?"

"Better now." He smirked. "Your kisses help more than the pills."

She gave him a sideways look. "You are lying, I can see in your eyes that you are still in pain."

"I'm not lying. The kisses really did make me feel better." He held up his hand again stretching the fingers.

Snow came down the stairs with Charming following close behind. "Felix told us about the hand." Snow gushed rushing over and grabbed Hook's hand.

"It's amazing. I'm so happy for you." She said sincerely.

Charming stood behind her remembering when Emma had him babysit Hook on the ship after he'd been injured. He had hated the pirate before that but after spending time with him and seeing Emma's reactions to him; he had come to respect and like the man. They had become close and now he considered Hook his friend. When Snow let go of Hook's hand he grasped it and shook it. "Glad you are still with us and this …" looking at the hand "is well deserved."

Hook smiled, "Thanks mate."

"Killian, would like a cup of tea?' Emma asked.

He nodded, "Aye milady."

Snow laughed. "I guess we should call you Killian now."

The pirate sighed. "I'll respond to either, a part of me will always be Hook. My experiences good and bad as Captain Hook made me who I am."

"You certainly had some bad times." Emma noted as she brought him the tea.

Charming helped Hook into a sitting position. As Hook took the tea, he looked at Emma intensely "Not all bad."

She blushed remembering all the times the hook had played with her hair or held her tightly against him. She remembered particularly the time in the lagoon before Regina interrupted.

Snow cleared her throat. "I think we should go, Killian needs his rest."

"He still needs to drink his tea." Charming observed.

Snow gave him a pointed look and his eyes widened realizing that how his daughter was blushing and how they were looking at each other.

"Actually I'm getting hungry, why don't we go for dinner." He suggested.

"Great idea!" Snow patted his cheek happy that he had clued in.

"Good night!" They called out startling both Hook and Emma.

"Oh you are leaving already?" Emma asked.

Charming grinned. "Your mother thinks Killian needs some rest."

"Bye sweetie." Snow said to Emma.

"Behave Killian!" Charming warned.

The pirate put on his most innocent face. "I'm an injured man."

"And you are milking it for all it's worth." Charming observed, then with a wave he left.

Emma laughed. "He reads you like a book."

"Well it's a definite improvement over the old days when he couldn't abide the sight of me." Hook remarked.

Emma sat on the bed again while Hook slowly drank his tea. "So why didn't you tell me what Gold threatened?"

Hook almost choked on his tea. He looked at Emma with alarm. "I was afraid you would storm over to him and get yourself killed."

"So you didn't trust me." Emma accused.

"Can you honestly tell me you wouldn't have confronted him?" Hook queried.

"Of course I would have and perhaps we would have resolved this much sooner." She smirked.

Hook's expression darkened. "Or he could have killed you. Look Swan, I didn't know at the time that he couldn't take your heart. All that kept flashing through my mind was the light leaving Milah's eyes when he crushed her heart. I couldn't let him do that again to a woman I love."

Emma's eyes widened. "You love me?"

Hook froze and they stared at each other for a moment. Hook then smiled looking chargrined. "Aye, lass. I think a part of me loved you from the moment you first held a sword to my throat. I was still too heartbroken and revenge filled to realize it at the time. You interfered in what I had made my lifelong mission, to destroy the crocodile and avenge Milah. Little by little you integrated yourself in my heart until I realized I never wanted to be without you."

Emma looked a little like a deer caught in the headlights.

"I'm sorry Emma, I know you don't trust easily and I suspect your love is even more challenging to attain. But if you let me, once I'm back on my feet, I'd like to court you and sweep you off your feet." He announced sincerely.

"Hook, er Killian, I realized when you walked away saying you wanted to go back to sailing the seas, that I loved you. My heart shattered. "Emma's voice broke. "And I couldn't imagine my life without you in it anymore."

"Emma." He held his arms out to her and without a moment's hesitation she went into his embrace.

She held him tightly. "It doesn't mean that I won't at times still back away but give me time. You are helping to heal my trust and abandonment issues." She laughed tearfully. "And yes I'd love it if you courted me. I'm assuming that means date me."

She pulled back slightly and they sat with their arms wrapped around each other. His forehead rested against hers.

"Emma Swan, I love you." Hook whispered.

"Killian Jones, aka Captain Hook, I love you too."

His lips moved over hers.

The End.

A/N: and bells rang, the earth quaked, bluebirds chirped, fireworks exploded, swans trumpeted, heavenly choirs burst into songs, canons roared, magic beans glowed. And a rainbow appeared over the Jolly Roger and if this ever happens on our screen Captain Swan lovers all over the world will rejoice and blow up facebook, twitter and tumbler.

To my fellow Captain Swan lovers who have been with me and Hook and Emma on this over a year long journey I hope you enjoyed it and I hope we can all celebrate when the day comes when we have Captain Swan in love and kissing on our screens. I thank you for sharing this journey with me – I would never have thought that when I started this in March 2013 that a few short months later I would lose my dad to cancer so unexpectedly. I thank you all again for your wishes and words during the worst time of my life and for distracting me with your reviews – while I still miss him more than words can ever say - telling my version of Hook and Emma's story has been healing and I thank you all for it. Love you all and I'm sure we'll meet again over some future fan fic as my passion for Hook and Emma is far from over. There is a little off shoot epilogue to this story called "Christmas Magic" (in case you haven't read it) Oh and to end this as a proper fairytale: and they lived happily ever after.