Title: What Could've Been (Written for CS AU Week - Day 7: Free for all)

Author: Steph aka CaptainSwanLuver
Rating: PG

Pairing: Killian/Emma

Characters: Killian, Emma, David, Mary Margaret
Category: Romance/Drama/Humor
Disclaimer: I do this out of a love for this couple. No infringement is intended.

Spoilers: Nope!

Summary: What if Emma had walked away from Killian in New York instead of drinking the memory potion? Five years later, Emma's life is miserable. One night, she makes a wish to know what her life would have been like now if she had drunk the memory potion. What happens when she wakes up in a bedroom that is not hers and finds herself married to the crazy man with the magic memory potion?

Note: Thanks for the responses to the last part! This is the end of this story. It was really fun to write! To the guest who asked where Neal is, he shows up in this last part.

You probably won't see anything from me for a while (unless a random one shot pops in my brain soon) because I leave for vacation on Tuesday and since I'm a teacher, I have to go back to get ready for the new school year when I return. Unfortunately, this means less time to write. I do have a multi-part fic I am working on right now, but I decided long ago to only post muli-part fics once I am done with them so I don't risk not finishing them due to lack of inspiration/motivation. But at the end of this story I included the summary of the new AU one I am working on so you know what to expect from me for the future and don't think I disappeared! Okay, enough from me! Hope you enjoy this last part! ~ Steph

…What Could've Been: Part 3/3...

Emma was watching TV in the living room when she heard the phone ring. She looked around for a moment, feeling as if she shouldn't answer the phone in someone else's home. Then she reminded herself that this was technically her home and Killian was not there to answer it anyway.

"Hello?" she said, as she hesitantly picked it up.

"Hi, Emma, it's your…it's Mary Margaret."

"Oh, hi," Emma said, her brow rising in surprise.

"I wanted to apologize for what happened earlier. David and I didn't mean to pressure you or overwhelm you. We're just worried."

Emma nodded. "I know."

"We'd like to get to know who you are right now, if you'll let us."

Emma smiled. "I'd like that."

Mary Margaret chewed on her lower lip nervously. "There's something else. Your little brother has been asking to see you. David and I think he's too young to understand that you don't remember him or us, so we haven't told him anything about what's happening with you. But we were wondering if we could come by tonight so you two could spend some time together. If you're not comfortable with that though, then we understand."

Emma took a deep breath, as she considered the request. "Okay, sure."

Mary Margaret smiled. "Great. We'll be over soon."

Emma hung up the phone and returned to watching TV. A half hour later, the doorbell rang. Emma brushed aside the fleeting feeling that she shouldn't answer the door in someone else's home as she walked to it. She opened the door and found Mary Margaret, David, and a little boy with dark hair and blue eyes standing in front of her.

"Hi," Emma said, managing a smile.

"Emma!" Neal screamed and ran forward, hugging her lower half.

Emma's eyes widened for a moment. David stepped forward to pry Neal off of her.

"Neal, give Emma some space."

Emma recovered quickly and bent down to Neal. She licked at her lips apprehensively.

"Hi, Neal," she said.

"I missed you, Emma. I haven't seen you in like a week." he said.

Emma swallowed hard. "I missed you too."

Emma stood and moved aside, so they could all enter. They moved to the living room and sat down on the couch. An awkward silence ensued.

Emma finally broke it. "So, Neal, um, you like dinosaurs, right?"

Emma took a stab in the dark. Most little boys liked dinosaurs.

He nodded excitedly. "You know I do!"

"I found this cool show on dinosaurs on On Demand today. Would you like to watch it with me?"

Neal nodded his head so hard she thought it would fall off. "Yeah!"

Emma found the program and turned it on. Neal stared at it with rapt attention. Emma looked at him, a smile on her lips.

She'd always wanted a sibling. She never stayed long enough in any foster home to feel connected to other children. In school, the other kids would talk about their brothers and sisters, and it was just one more thing that made her feel different and alone. She wished she had someone to play with, someone to look out for her. Of course, she never would have guessed she'd have a sibling so much younger than herself, but she still liked the idea of having one.

Neal moved closer to Emma, placing his head on her arm. She flinched for a second, then relaxed. She moved her arm to wrap around him, as they watched the program together.

Mary Margaret and David smiled, as they watched their children starting to bond all over again.

…

An hour later, Mary Margaret, David, and Neal bid Emma goodbye. As Emma opened the door to allow them to exit, she noticed Regina coming up the stairs. Regina, David, and Mary Margaret exchanged polite nods, as she reached the door.

"Oh, Regina, hi," Emma said.

"Hello, Ms. Swan. Can I come in?"

Emma stepped aside. "Sure."

Regina entered and Emma closed the door behind her. Emma led the way into the living room and they sat down on the couch.

"I'm sorry. I know it's getting late, but I was passing by and I thought I should check on you to see how you're doing."

Emma smiled. "A lot better actually. I'm starting to get used to this life." She paused, her voice softening. "In fact, I'm starting to love this life. I'm happy for the first time in a long time."

Regina nodded. "I'm glad to hear that. I wish I had been able to help you."

Emma shrugged. "It's okay. You see, I've always wondered what my life would have been like if I had drunk that memory potion. Actually, the night before this happened, I wished to know what it would have been like. And now I know. It would have been wonderful."

Regina's brow furrowed. "Did you say you wished to know what your life would have been like if you had drunk the memory potion?"

"That's right," Emma said with a nod.

Regina's eyes began to sparkle and a slow smile spread across her lips. "I know what happened to you."

Emma's eyes widened in shock. "You do? What?"

Regina began slowly. "I know you don't remember this, Emma, but you have powers."

"I know. Killian told me."

"Those powers are very strong and you didn't always know how to control them. In New York, you still had those powers, even though you didn't know it. Usually, they wouldn't work in a land without magic, but there are exceptions."

Emma's brow creased in confusion. "What are you talking about?"

Regina took a deep breath. "I think you placed a wishing spell without even realizing it."

"A wishing spell?" Emma repeated in disbelief.

"Yes," Regina replied with a nod. "A wishing spell is simple really. It only requires you to wish for something with all of your heart and soul."

"So you're saying when I wished to know what my life would have been like if I had drunk the potion I cast a spell without even knowing it?"

"Yes."

"That's crazy," she said with a shake of her head.

Regina huffed. "Crazier than finding out your parents are Snow White and Prince Charming and that you're married to Captain Hook?"

Emma shrugged. "Well, when you put it that way, I guess not. So what exactly did this spell do?"

Regina gestured with her hand. "It created all of this. It created this reality, Emma. It showed you the road not taken."

Emma sucked in a breath. "So you mean…this life with Killian and our daughter. None of it is real?"

Emma thought it was just a really crazy, amazing dream, but she never expected this.

Regina shook her head. "It's what could've been, Emma, if you had made a different choice five years ago."

Emma felt tears build in her eyes at the thought that this wonderful life never existed, not even in her dreams.

"If I had followed my gut…and my heart," she whispered.

"Yes."

Emma took a deep breath. "What happens now? What if I want to stay in this life?"

Regina shook her head sadly. "I'm afraid that's not possible."

Emma felt her chest deflate. "Why not?" she asked more sharply than she intended.

"Because this isn't real and wishing spells aren't meant to last. They are simply meant to give you what you want. Once that's done, the spell is broken."

"But what I want is this life," Emma said, beginning to feel desperate.

"You didn't wish for this life. You simply wished to know what it would have been like. And now you know."

Emma felt her heart beating wildly in her chest. She felt like she was losing everything.

"So what? I'm just going to wake up tomorrow in my bed in New York, in my old life?"

"It's quite possible."

Emma roughly wiped at her eyes, saying softly. "This life…it's too good not to be real."

Regina smiled gently. "It still can be."

Emma's eyes narrowed at her. "What do you mean?"

"Emma, when you are returned to your old life, you will retain all memories of this one."

"Why? To torture me?" she asked bitterly.

Regina shook her head. "No, so you can do everything in your power to make this life a reality."

"How?"

"You made the wrong choice five years ago, but you can make the right one when you return to your old life. And it starts with finding Hook."

"Killian? I'm supposed to find him when I get back to New York?"

Regina nodded. "You need to come to Storybrooke and drink that potion that you should have drunk five years ago. It will restore your memories of everyone and everything. And then you can pursue the life you want with Hook."

Emma smiled at that. She would get a chance to fall in love with him and create all of the memories she felt she had missed out on. She would have a chance to experience all of their firsts and their daughter's firsts.

"Do you really think I can make this life a reality?"

Regina smirked. "As your parents are fond of saying, true love always wins and love always starts with hope." She sighed and added. "I personally find that to be a bit trite, but you can take it as you will."

Emma smiled at her. "Thank you, Regina."

Just then, Emma heard the door open and Killian walked in. His expression registered surprise at seeing Regina.

"Regina, I didn't expect to see you here tonight," he said.

Regina stood. "I was checking to see how Emma is doing. I was actually just about to leave."

Killian looked at them both, feeling as if they were keeping something from him.

"Thank you," he said.

"Goodnight," Regina replied, as she showed herself out.

Killian came to sit by Emma's side, his eyes scanning her face worriedly.

"Have you been crying?"

Emma shook her head. "No, I'm fine."

"Emma, did something happen with Regina?" he asked.

Emma dropped her eyes to her hands. She wanted to tell him the truth, that she had created this reality by making a simple wish. That their life together, their daughter, didn't truly exist. But she knew it would break his heart and if tonight was the last night they were going to have together then she didn't want to ruin it with the truth.

She forced a smile. "Nothing happened. She was just checking on me, like she said."

Killian slowly nodded, but was certain she was lying.

He stood up. "Well, I'm rather tired. I think I'm going to retire early."

He moved to pick up the blanket and pillow which sat on the end of the couch. Emma placed her hand over his.

"I want you to come to bed with me," she said.

"Emma," Killian whispered, his eyes growing wide.

"I just want you to hold me," she said softly. "Would that be okay?"

Killian swallowed roughly, but managed a nod. Emma stood up and linked their fingers together, as she led him up the stairs into their bedroom. They quickly changed and Killian crawled into bed first. He held his hand out to her and she took it, climbing into bed beside him. She turned on her side and Killian pulled her close, his body pressing into hers. She reached behind her and found his hand, pulling it so his arm wrapped around her.

Emma's head fit perfectly below Killian's chin. He lowered his lips and placed a soft kiss to her neck. It felt so good to have his wife back in his arms again.

"Goodnight, Emma," he whispered.

"Goodnight, Killian," she said, as her tears began to hit her pillow.

It didn't take long before she could feel his soft breaths on her neck and she knew he was asleep. She turned around in his arms and lifted her hand to his face, stroking it. She needed to look at him one last time.

"I'll find you, Killian," she said softly. "I promise."

She then placed her head in the crook of his neck and closed her eyes.

…

Emma felt the warm sun on her face, just as she had the last two mornings. She slowly opened her eyes, hoping against hope that she would find herself lying in bed next to Killian. Her eyes fluttered open and she turned her head to the side. Her heart dropped into her stomach as she was met with nothing but empty space. Emma felt tears begin to sting her eyes as she realized she was back in her own bedroom in her apartment in New York.

She couldn't help feeling a sense of loss. For two wonderful days, she was happy. Now, she felt nothing but emptiness again.

Emma squeezed her eyes closed. She took a deep breath and remembered what Regina said. She could make that life a reality, but first she had to find Killian.

With renewed hope and determination, Emma jumped out of bed.

...

Finding Storybrooke wasn't as easy as Emma had hoped. Turns out, it didn't just show up on a simple Google search. After doing some digging, she was able to find its location. She set out right away and made it there in record time.

Emma smiled as she drove through the town. Everything was exactly as she recalled it. There was Granny's, the library, Gold's shop. She kept driving, but stopped when she reached the house she and Killian had lived in. She wondered if maybe he lived there now.

She got out of the car and walked up the steps. She rang the bell and the door opened a moment later. A young woman answered the door and Emma felt a moment of panic when she thought she could be Killian's wife. She had been miserable for five years, but there was no reason to believe he had been.

"Can I help you?" the woman asked.

"Hi, yeah, uh, does Killian Jones live here?"

The woman shook her head. "No."

Emma breathed a sigh of relief.

"He lives there," the woman said, pointing towards the water.

Emma looked where she was pointing, a smile spreading across her lips at the sight of Killian's ship floating in the water.

"Thank you," Emma replied, before hurrying toward the ship.

She quickly climbed aboard, her eyes scanning it for Killian. Her lips turned downward when she didn't find him. What she did find was empty rum bottle after empty rum bottle strewn around the deck. She noticed a ladder going below deck and she climbed down it. Emma found more of the same below, but he was nowhere in sight.

She felt her chest deflate as she walked back onto the deck and looked

out at the water.

"Emma?" she suddenly heard come from behind her.

"Killian," she breathed, fearful she was hearing things.

She spun around, a smile upon her lips at the sight of him. But he wasn't in the

modern clothing he had worn in the world she had lived in with him. He was wearing the same clothes he had worn when he had come to see her in New York.

He took a few quick steps forward but then stopped, worried she would reject any physical contact with him. Emma, however, closed the distance between them, running into his arms so hard she almost knocked him down. His eyes widened in surprise for a moment until he allowed himself to relax and enjoy the feel of her. He squeezed his eyes closed.

"God, I've missed you," he whispered.

Slowly, they parted and he brought his hand up to cup her cheek, a smile on his lips.

"So you somehow got your memories back," he stated. "Please tell me what-…"

Emma shook her head, effectively cutting him off. "I didn't get my memories back."

Killian stepped back from her, his smile fading.

"I'm afraid I don't understand. You're here. It felt as if you remembered me. It felt as if you knew me."

Emma smiled sadly. "I feel as if I've known you my whole life."

"Emma," Killian said softly. "Please, love, help me understand."

"I've thought about you everyday for five years," she said.

"You have?"

She bobbed her head. "I knew I made a mistake not drinking that memory potion the moment I walked away from you. I didn't listen to my gut or heart that day and I have regretted it everyday since. My life has been miserable."

Killian's eyes grew wide. "Please tell me you didn't marry Walsh."

"I didn't marry Walsh."

Killian breathed a sigh of relief.

"He wasn't who I thought he was."

"You have no idea."

"I have some idea." She paused and then added, "Plus, I knew he wasn't the man I was meant to be with."

Killian saw something in her eyes that he hadn't seen the last time they had been together. There was a spark. A flicker of recognition.

"Emma, you still haven't explained what brought you here."

"A couple of days ago, I was lying in bed wondering what my life would have been like if I had drunk that potion, if I had taken the road not taken. I wished to know what that life would have been like. And the next morning when I woke up the craziest thing had happened. I was in Storybrooke and we were married and we had a daughter."

Killian felt a smile curl his lips. "Sounds wonderful."

"It was. I mean, it was confusing as hell and I freaked out at first, but then I started to get to know you and our life together. I felt happy for the first time in so long. I didn't want it to end."

"Was it just a dream?" he asked.

Emma shook her head. "I thought it was, but then Regina made me realize

it was far more than that."

"Regina?"

Emma nodded. "She figured out I had unknowingly placed a wishing spell when I wished to know what my life would have been like if I'd drunk that potion. I created that reality. It showed me what my life could have been."

Killian smiled. "So we'd be married now? You'd be my wife?"

Emma nodded. "Yes."

"And we'd have a daughter?" he said, his smile widening.

"A beautiful one with my blonde hair and your blue eyes."

"Really?"

Emma bobbed her head. "Really."

His smile faded. "But none of it was real."

Emma stepped forward and took his hand in hers. "But it can be, Killian. That's why I came to Storybrooke."

Killian swallowed hard. "You want that life with me, Emma? Love, the last time we saw each other you still thought of me as a mad man."

"I don't anymore. I know as crazy as it sounds that you were telling the truth."

Killian's smile spread across his lips. "I have dreamt of this. Of you returning to Storybrooke. Of us being together. I just never believed it could happen."

Emma's brow furrowed at him. "Why did you give up? Why didn't you come back and keep trying to get me to drink the potion? I never thought you would give up on me, Killian."

Killian shook his head sharply. "I didn't. I wouldn't." He paused, licking at his lips. "I remained in New York for a couple of days following our encounter. I knew you had accepted Walsh's proposal. I decided to return to Storybrooke to confer with your parents about what our plan of action should be. But before anything could be decided a spell was cast around the town preventing anyone from leaving. And that's how it's remained for five years. People can enter, but no one can leave. I couldn't get to you, Emma, and it tore me apart. The last five years have been miserable for me too."

"I'm glad to hear that," she said with a smile.

He arched an eyebrow. "You're glad to hear I've been miserable for five years?"

"It means we've been miserable without each other. It means we belong together."

Killian grinned. "I've always known that, love." He paused, his grin fading. "This town needs you, Emma. Zelena, better known as the Wicked Witch of the West, has wreaked havoc on it."

"Killian, I still need my memories back. Do you have the potion?"

He nodded, but didn't say anything. "He went below deck and returned a moment later with the small, blue bottle."

"You kept it."

"Of course. I hoped one day I would be able to get back to you. I told you. I'd never give up on you, Emma." He paused, taking a deep breath and holding the bottle up to her. "So how about it, love?"

This time, Emma didn't hesitate. She took the bottle from him, removed the top, and downed its contents. She squeezed her eyes closed as her mind was assaulted with memories. After a few moments, they flew open and met his.

"Hook." She smiled. "Killian."

"Emma," he breathed.

Emma closed the distance between them, wrapping her arms around his neck.

"Did you miss me?" he asked in her ear.

"You have no idea," she whispered.

Then she pulled back and pressed her lips to his in a kiss. His eyes widened in shock for a moment, before he closed them and eagerly responded. They finally parted and he smiled.

"Well, that was certainly better than the last time we kissed and you gave me a knee to the crotch."

Emma chuckled. "Yeah, sorry about that."

"I'm just glad to have you back. Everyone will be, especially your family."

Emma linked her fingers with his. "We have a lot of lost time to make up for."

"Aye. That we do."

Emma smiled. "And I can't wait to get started."

...

Emma took a deep breath and slipped her hand into Killian's, as she waited for Mary Margaret and David to open the door.

When it finally flew open, revealing her mother, Emma couldn't help her smile. Mary Margaret's eyes widened in astonishment.

"Emma?"

Emma stepped forward, throwing her arms around her mother. "Mom!"

"Oh my God. I can't believe it's really you. I missed you so much," Mary Margaret said.

Emma squeezed her eyes closed, enjoying the comforting embrace of her mother.

"Emma?" she heard come from behind her mother.

She parted from Mary Margaret and spotted David a few feet behind her. Her smile widened and she rushed to him, nearly knocking him over. "Dad!"

David enveloped his daughter in his arms. "I can't believe this is happening. I can't believe you're really here."

Mary Margaret looked at Killian. "How did this happen?"

Killian smiled, then quickly explained the situation. As he finished, they heard a tiny voice coming from the bedroom above them.

"Who's that?"

Their heads shot up. Emma smiled at the little boy who was looking down at her. He made his way downstairs and came to stand by his parents' sides.

Emma blinked back tears as she realized she had never met her brother. On the way there, Killian told her that her mother had been pregnant with him when he had come to visit her in New York. She had missed out on all of this time with him. In the reality she created, she had only gotten to spend a few precious moments with him.

Mary Margaret bent down to her son. "Do you remember all of those pictures we showed you of your sister, Neal?"

"You mean Emma?" he asked softly.

David nodded. "That's right. This is her. She's your sister."

Neal looked up at Emma and smiled widely. She waited for him to hug her, even craved it if she was being honest with herself. Instead, he held his hand out to her.

"Nice to meet you."

Emma chuckled and knelt down in front of him. She shook his hand. "Nice to meet you, too, Neal."

"You look just like your picture," he said.

She smiled. "And you look just like I imagined you would."

Killian exchanged a look with Mary Margaret and David. They offered him grateful smiles.

Emma licked at her lips, as she looked into the blue eyes of her little brother. "I bet you like dinosaurs, don't you?"

Neal nodded excitedly. "I love them! I have a lot. Want to see?"

Emma bobbed her head. "I'd love to."

Neal held his hand out to his sister and Emma slipped hers into it, as he led the way upstairs to his bedroom.

David put his arm around his wife's shoulder and placed a kiss to her temple. "We have our girl back."

Mary Margaret nodded with a smile. "Yes, we do. Our family is finally complete."

…

~Five years later~

Emma felt the sun on her face and then something else. Wetness. Her eyes flew open and she laughed at their dog, Pluto.

"World's best alarm clock," she said, ruffling the fur on his head.

Emma smiled to herself as she thought about her life now. It was everything she had hoped for and more. It was even better than the reality she had wished herself into because this time she got to live it from the beginning.

She and Regina were able to rid the town of Zelena and she was enjoying her job as sheriff working beside Killian. She was still being the best savior she could be. It was never easy, but it was always rewarding.

But her favorite role was, and always would be, that of wife and mother.

She heard the shower running and quickly got out of bed, a smile on her lips. She made her way to the bathroom and opened the door. She licked her lips at the sight of Killian's bare body behind the sheer shower curtain. Emma quickly shed her pajamas. She took a step forward and pulled the curtain back, her eyes scanning her husband's gorgeous body.

His head whipped in her direction, his eyes widening in surprise for a moment.

"Would you like some company?" she asked.

Killian grinned. "Do you even have to ask?"

His arm shot out and snaked around her waist, hauling her into the

shower with him.

Emma giggled as he pushed her up against the wall and began to assault

her neck with kisses.

...

Some time later, they finally finished getting ready. They went into Lia's room and found her wide awake. She was standing in her crib.

"Mama! Dada!"

Emma smiled as she reached into the crib to pick up their daughter. She pressed a kiss to her cheek as Killian stroked her hair.

"Good morning, sweetheart," Emma said.

Emma found Killian staring at her and her face reddened.

"What?" she asked.

"This life we've created together, Emma…It's more than I could have ever hoped for."

She nodded with a smile. "It's more than I could have wished for."

Killian leaned forward and pressed a kiss to his wife's lips. "I love you, Emma."

"I love you, too, Killian," she replied.

"Mama! Dada! Kiss! Kiss!" Lia yelled.

Emma and Killian simply laughed. Yes, reality was so much better.

…..…..The End…...

Thanks for reading this story! Hope you enjoyed the last part and please let me know what you thought! Below is the summary for the multi-part AU I'm working on.

Tentatively titled "Love & Lies":

Summary: Emma Swan is the star of the failing soap "Love & Lies". Killian Jones is the star of their rival soap. In order to raise ratings, Killian is hired on Emma's show. They immediately clash. Will sparks eventually fly too?