A/N: So here's the last chapter. I really like the way the story ended so I don't think I'm going to write an epilogue for it. Anything I came up with felt unnatural and cheesy. I hope everyone's okay with that. Thank you all so much for the lovely reviews and follows and favourites during this journey. I really didn't think I'd get this kind of response when I started the story. I really didn't think anyone would read it at all to be honest. So thanks for proving me wrong! And for sending me kind reviews. Those are what kept me writing at the pace I did.

I'm leaving tomorrow for a week's vacation but I'd like to do another AU when I get back as my August project. I don't have any ideas for what it could be so if any of you have anything you'd like to see me write in the CS AU genre let me know and I'll see what I can do!

Thanks again!

Cheers,

Sarah

Disclaimer: All aspects of Once Upon A Time belongs to ABC and the show's creators Adam and Eddie.

Killian led Emma into his apartment and to his bedroom, calloused hand lightly grasping her smaller one. Emma sunk down onto the bed when he paused next to it and released her hand. Everything still felt surreal, as if this day belonged to someone else and she was just watching everything go down. Killian stood beside the bed, still wary to push her limits.

"Do you need anything, Swan?" he asked gently as he fiddled with his prosthetic. David must have brought it for him when he picked him up. It wasn't the moveable one, which must still have been lost in the graveyard. While the prosthetic looked more realistic, easily passing of as a real hand from a distance, to Emma it didn't look like Killian. Emma studied the prosthetic for a moment before turning back to Killian.

Emma shook her head. She was just tired. She needed a nap more than anything. Emma pushed backwards on the bed until she was propped against the headboard, sheets rustling under her as she moved. She patted the space beside her missing Killian's proximity, his touch, already. Killian watched her face closely as he sat beside her and edged closer. He stopped when they were about three inches apart.

"How did you find me?" Emma still couldn't figure out how he'd shown up on the highway.

Killian smiled crookedly. "When it was nearing ten and no one had shown up I called Dave. He's never late so I figured something was up. He told me that you were supposed to be coming and that you'd left forty five minutes earlier. I figured you'd gone to see Milah so I got Dave to pick me up and we arrived at the park just as Milah was waking up. She told us how she'd goaded you about the highway after Dave threatened legal action for lying to a cop. I remembered where you'd been found and Dave and I got there as fast as we could. By the way, Swan, did you really knock her out?" Killian laughed, raising an eyebrow.

Emma allowed herself a small smile. "If the pain in my hand's any indication I'm going to go with yes."

Killian laughed again. "Well that was certainly one way to get her out of our lives. She practically ran away in shame after she told us about the culvert. May I see your sore hand?" He held his own out flat, still scared of Emma's reaction. But she wasn't scared of Killian. Emma set her hand in his. Killian turned her hand over and kissed each knuckle, glancing up at Emma between each kiss. Emma shut her eyes at the sensation of his lips on her sore skin. This was how she was supposed to feel when someone kissed her. Emma shuddered at the memory of Neal and Killian stopped, immediately, thinking it was his own fault.

After an awkward pause Killian turned her hand back to palm up and examined the deep scratches that ran across the base of her hand. Gravel and dirt were stuck in the open wounds, the surrounding skin red and angry. He carefully set her hand on the bedspread and disappeared into his bathroom. Emma listened to water running and waited for his return. She was almost asleep when Killian came back and took her hand again.

"I'm going to clean this now, okay, Swan?" Emma nodded and Killian dabbed the injuries with a soft wet facecloth. Every time Emma flinched as he removed a piece of gravel or dirt Killian cringed and whispered a quick apology. Once he'd finished with the first hand he motioned for Emma to give him the other one. She did as she was asked.

Hands finished Killian motioned to her legs, blood staining the knees of her pants. "You're going to have to take your jeans off Swan, if I'm to reach your knees. The ankles are too tight to roll them up." Killian was apologetic when he said it. Emma paused for a moment before complying. This was Killian. Killian would never hurt her. She trusted him too much to be afraid of that.

Emma stood and shimmied out of her jeans, wincing as the fabric brushed the cuts on her knees. Killian bent in front of her and started cleaning away the dirt.

"You are so beautiful, Swan," he whispered, leaning against her leg after he dropped the now dirty facecloth. "What did I do to deserve you?" Killian's breath was warm against her cold flesh.

Emma grasped his collar and pulled him up. "You found me," Emma replied in a hushed tone before pulling him against her in a kiss.

When Emma sat back on the bed, Killian smiled at her as if he couldn't believe she was there. "You don't know how much I missed that, Swan."

"I think I do," she replied before easing back against the mattress, limbs exhausted. She motioned for Killian to join her again. He sat and Emma tugged on his hand until he was nestled behind her, Emma's head against his chest. He made her feel safe. If Emma was going to sleep she wanted him to be right there with her.

Killian fiddled with his prosthetic. "I lost my other one at the graveyard," he said sheepishly at Emma's raised eyebrow. "I'm not used to this one yet."

Emma reached forwards and pulled the plastic contraption off, running her thumb over the scar on his stump. Killian's muscles relaxed under her touch. She twisted back to see him. "I like it better off." Killian smiled, still looking in awe of her presence and bent, ghosting his lips over hers. He took the hand from Emma and dropped it on the floor.

"Then off is where it's going to be."

Emma nodded and leaned back, ear pressed against his chest, listening to his heartbeat through the soft fabric of his t-shirt. It was that rhythm that lulled her to sleep.

Emma woke several hours later to the sound of voices in the living room. Killian was gone and she was tucked under his worn quilt. Emma rubbed the sleep out of her eyes and pushed herself up. Her muscles were sore and she was pretty sure she'd developed a bruise on her forehead from where she head butted Neal. Grabbing a pair of boxers from Killian's drawer so her knees wouldn't be touched by fabric of her jeans, she pulled them on and padded out of the room towards the voices.

David sat on the couch and Killian in the chair as the pair spoke intently. Killian was leaning forwards, hand and stump resting against his knees. David was wearing his police badge and gun so he must have come straight from the station. Emma leaned against the doorframe, not wanting to interrupt their conversation.

"How's Emma?" David asked quietly.

Killian rubbed a hand through his hair making it stand on end. "She'll be okay. I got her cleaned up. She's sleeping now." Killian glanced towards the bedroom door and noticed her, eyebrow climbing up his forehead. "Or not. Come here, Swan."

Emma moved towards him, perching on the arm of his chair. Killian's hand reached up and rubbed circles against her back as soon as she'd settled. Emma noticed with a smile that his fake hand was still off. Killian hated walking around without it, even at his own place, especially when he wore a t-shirt, and yet, he'd even left it off when she was asleep. She relaxed into his gentle caress.

"How are you Emma?" David asked, concern changing his face from police sheriff to older brother.

"I'm better, thank you, David. For everything." Emma tried to put as much meaning in the words as she could.

"You had us scared, Emma. Everyone is just glad you're safe now. It was all I could do to keep Mary Margaret away when she heard. I'll probably go home to three different batches of cookies and a loaf of bread." David gave her a grin which Emma couldn't help but return. "It took both Robin and I to convince Ruby to stay back though. I'm surprised she hasn't broken down the door here yet."

Emma groaned and Killian's hand stilled. "What's wrong, Swan?" Killian asked, standing and moving to face her.

"Ruby. She's my oldest friend. I need to let her know I'm okay."

Killian nodded, clearly relieved. "Dave and I can make ourselves scarce if you want to invite her over."

Emma shook her head, reaching out and catching his stump. She rubbed a thumb across it. "No. Stay. Please?"

"I won't go anywhere, love." He reached up and ran a thumb across her forehead. "Quite a shiner there." His voice went steely. "Did he hit you?"

Emma shook her head. "I head-butted him."

Killian laughed and pressed a gentle kiss to the bruise. "That's my girl."

Behind them David cleared his throat. "Emma, I don't want to pressure you, but whenever you're ready we need a statement. Neal's in prison for assault and harassment but we're going to need you to tell us everything to make sure he stays locked up. The deputy collected his statement when we brought him in. Really, he hasn't got a leg to stand on. Neal's just a jealous ex who wanted you back, whatever the cost. Running from the law made him mean, Emma. I'm really glad we got him."

Emma glanced down for a moment. She'd been putting off thinking about reliving the event. But if it could put Neal away and out of her life for good, she'd do it. Just not right then. "Tomorrow?" Emma's voice was quiet when she asked. David nodded and Emma turned to Killian. "Will you come with me?"

Killian guided her onto his lap. He wrapped his arms around her and leaned forward. "Wild horses couldn't keep me away," he whispered against her ear, lips grazing the outside edge of her ear as he spoke.

David stood and adjusted his belt. "I should be getting back to everyone. They're desperate to know how you are. I'll see you two later." He moved towards the door. "Oh, and, Emma? Call Ruby before she shows up and scares Robin again."

David left grinning and Emma sent a text to Ruby with Killian's phone, telling her to come over. Killian went into his bedroom to put extra blankets on the bed. He wanted Emma to be warm when she went to sleep that night. Emma didn't care as long as she got to sleep in Killian's arms. Ruby arrived ten minutes later, hands filled with a tray of hot chocolates and a tub of Ben and Jerry's. Emma had to laugh as Ruby rushed over and hugged her as best as she could while still holding the food.

"I was attacked, Ruby. Not dumped." Emma was a little embarrassed at all the attention. She'd be fine. She was already feeling more like herself.

Ruby shrugged then hugged her again. "It's ice cream. It's multipurpose. Don't complain." Ruby paused, eyes filling with tears. "Oh, Emma, I'm so glad you're alright. I don't know what I'd do if something happened to you."

"I'm okay, Ruby. I was just a little shaken up. Don't worry." Ruby nodded, brushing away a tear. She handed Emma her hot chocolate then moved to the kitchen to collect bowls.

"Hey, Killian!" she called coming back to Emma and scooping out generous servings of coffee ice cream. "You want ice cream?"

"Sure," Killian called back, coming in from the bedroom. Ruby rushed over and hugged him. Killian paused, surprised, before patting her back.

"Thanks for saving our girl."

Killian grinned and moved to join Emma on the chair again. "My pleasure."

Ruby left two hours later after making Emma promise to call her tomorrow after her appointment at the police station. Once Ruby was gone, and Emma was exhausted again she led Killian back to the bedroom. He had added two extra blankets, which Emma sunk into gratefully. She pulled Killian down beside her.

"Thank you, Killian. For showing up when you did," Emma murmured against his chest.

"I wish I could have been there sooner. Neal should never have touched you."

Emma shook her head and kissed his shoulder. "I'm not talking about that, Killian."

He looked down at the use of his first name. "When then, Emma? I don't follow."

"I mean in my life. And Henry's. You gave us a family I didn't think we'd ever have. You gave Henry the father he desperately wanted." Emma ducked her head against his chest, scared to see his response at such a confession.

"I've never seen him as anything but my son, Swan." Emma gasped at the warmth in his tone. She could decipher no lie in his words. Everything he said was genuine. "Why do you think I spoke to you that first day Henry ended up in my room? Henry reminded me of the son I wanted and thought I could never have after Milah left me thinking I was worthless. And then when I lost my hand the whole dream was crushed. Until Henry and his beautiful mother showed up."

"Really?" Emma asked, completely awed. Emma's most secret of wish since she had had Henry was that Henry would have a father who loved him, someone who earned her little boy's admiration and trust. And here was Killian, wanting the same thing. Admitting the same thing.

"Really," Killian answered kissing her softly.

Emma pushed herself out of bed, exhaustion suddenly gone. She had found her ohana in the Merry Men and a man who loved her son as much as he loved her. There was only one thing missing now. She turned to Killian and held out her hand. "Let's go get our son, Jones."

Killian smiled as bright as a solar flare and let Emma pull him up. "I thought you'd never ask."