A/n: Omg, this fic gave me so many angsty feels to write! I hope you all enjoy it! Btw, I have a poll up for new CS fic ideas and I'd love you to stop by my profile and vote!

Things are changing,
It seems strange and I need to figure this out,
You've got your life, I got mine
But you're all I cared about,
Yesterday we were laughing,
Today I'm left here asking,
Where has all the time gone now?
I'm left alone somehow,
Growing up and getting older,
I don't want to believe it's over.

Say Goodbye - Skillet

Emma ever so softly stroked Henry's hair away from his forehead, gazing at her son's peaceful face as he slept. He was home. After a Neverland adventure that had nearly added a year to her life, he was finally back in Storybrooke, with her, where he was meant to be.

"Mom?"

"Hey," She couldn't help the smile and happy tears that sprang to her eyes when she saw Henry's flutter open sleepily. They had been back in Storybrooke for hours now, but everytime she saw him, she had a hard time controlling herself. "I'm sorry, kid. I didn't mean to wake you up."

He beamed back at her, his expression filled with awe and admiration. "You saved me. You really saved me, after all that time…"

"Of course I saved you," she whispered emphatically, swallowing hard to keep the tears back as she continued to stroke his hair. "I will never not save you, Henry," she promised.

"Hook saved me too, didn't he?" The boy scrunched his nose in confusion, as if having trouble remembering exactly what had happened in the few eventful days before.

"Yeah," she nodded, smiling again. "I guess he did."

"Is he ok?"

"He's fine, kid. Go back to bed, ok?"

"It's the middle of the day," he protested, beginning to sit up.

"And you've only had a few hours of sleep in the last week," she countered in a firm, mommy-tone that she hadn't realized that she possessed. "Bed."

Henry rolled his eyes and grinned, lying back in bed and pulling the covers around him. "You know… I missed having a mom."

Emma could barely blink away the tears this time, and she choked back what felt like a bowling ball in her throat. "I missed you too, Henry. I'll be here when you wake up, ok?"

"You promise?"

"I promise."

~ASMG~

"What do you mean he's not here? You're his doctor!" Emma snapped, her eyes narrowing at an intimidated Dr. Whale.

"He left by himself over an hour ago, Emma. I couldn't exactly force him to stay."

"Is he well enough to do that?"

"His wounds were deep, but they're stitched and he's on antibiotics. I expect him to make a full recovery as long as he doesn't go looking for any more trouble."

Without replying, Emma turned away from the doctor, striding towards the door with purpose. She knew exactly where he was.

~ASMG~

Emma could hear Hook before she saw him. A low, lilting humming mixed with the occasional few, indistinguishable words of song rose from the ship's deck as she slowly climbed the now-familiar stairs of the Jolly Roger. The soothing and sad quality to his tone took her by surprise. She had never heard him sing. He was actually good.

She took the last few steps, watching him lovingly dusting odds and ends of the ship's deck. His hand caressed a large, jagged chip in the wood - a magic-inflicted war wound she had suffered only days before while still in Neverland.

Hook stopped his humming and swung his body around, his hand moving to his sheathed sword on his hip as soon as he heard her soft footsteps behind him. "Gods… Emma," he breathed out a sigh of relief, then groaned quietly and moved his hand to his right side. "What are you doing here?"

"What do you think I'm doing? Looking for you. Why aren't you in the hospital?"

"I've suffered worse wounds than these, love," he smirked lightly. "Besides, I can't abide that place." He shook his head, disgusted, and went back to inspecting the deck.

Emma walked towards him and gently un-tucked the tails of his shirt, lifting it carefully to reveal a nasty-looking, stitched red gash that extended from his hip and curved in to reach the bottom of his ribs. "That looks like it hurts. How's your leg?"

"Just as lovely. Why? Worried about me?" His expression and tone weren't as cocky or playful as usual, but instead had a hint of melancholy in them.

"You really should be at the hospital," she said in a warning tone, placing a hand on her hip in a typical 'annoyed Emma' stance.

"I'm not going back, lass, so you can stop trying now. Regardless, I'll be gone before long."

Emma shook her head at his stubborness, subconsciously biting her lip. "So you're just leaving?"

"I would have left a year ago if it wasn't for the little lad," he reminded her gently. "I've got my world and you've got yours, love. My work in this one is done."

"Just stay until you're better," she repeated, irritated.

"Now I know you're worried about me," he smiled, tipping his head at her. Curiosity played in his blue eyes as he searched her face for clues on what she was thinking.

"I'm not worried," she denied hotly, "I'm in debt… You helped me save Henry." Her voice broke on the last word. "I won't…ever be able to thank you enough for that, Hook."

He shrugged off her praise. "So I'm back to Hook now? I remember a night I was just 'Killian'."

His solemn, piercing eyes seemed to burn holes into her soul, and Emma had to look away to keep from imagining their night on the beach, a mere day before they had finally gotten Henry back. It had only been a week ago, but it felt like forever since they had been in that sand together. He could have told her that it had been years since she had felt his bare skin flush against her skin, lips kissing hers in a slow, passionate dance and she would believe it.

So much had happened since then, so much had changed.

"Yeah, well, that was in Neverland," Emma muttered, still refusing to meet his stare.

"Is that to say it should have never happened?"

Emma hesitated, unwilling to have this conversation now, but unable to stop. "I was-I was at the end of my rope. I didn't know if we'd ever find him. I needed…something, Killian… I needed something real." Tears glistened in her eyes and Hook looked as if he wanted to gather her in his arms and hold her.

"Well, you've got your boy back now, love," he said quietly.

She nodded. "Thank you. Really, thank you, Killian." Hook shrugged off her praise, turning his back to her and running his hand along the smooth mast of the boat. "So when are you leaving?"

"The morning, if the winds are favorable," he said, peering out at the sea behind them.

"Aren't you flying, not sailing?" She raised a skeptical eyebrow.

"All the more reason for the winds to be favorable, love," he teased lightly, sneaking a look back at her.

"You don't have to leave, you know. This is home."

"Your home, maybe. This is my home, Emma," he replied, patting the mast where his hand still sat. "It has been for over three centuries now. It doesn't matter where she takes me." He paused for a moment. "I suppose… You could say goodbye… if you come by early enough," he added noncommittally.

Emma took a few tentative steps towards him and placed a hand on his shoulder, feeling him tense beneath her touch. "Killian…"

"It's best not to drag this out, Emma," he stated, an edge beginning to form in his tone. "You know very well the only reason that you're asking me to stay is because you feel guilty that I was injured while rescuing your son."

"Ouch." She dropped her palm from his shoulder.

"I don't take it personally. It's just how Emma Swan is. Never form any attachments because everyone is going to hurt you. I get it, love."

There was a long moment of silence before Emma spoke again.

"I don't want to say goodbye."

"You don't have to say goodbye, Emma." Something about his tone made her suspicious that his words may have had a double meaning.

"…I'll be here in the morning," she answered finally. "On one condition-" Hook raised his eyebrows, waiting for her to continue. "You take the meds I bring you from Whale."

He smiled and shook his head again at her tenacity. "I suppose I can't say no… if it means I would gain your audience, one last time. Until the morning, love?"

She pursed her lips and nodded, forcing out a small smile. "See you in the morning, Hook."