So the wait's over, shipmates…what do we think of The Cricket Game? Not quite the episode we hoped for, perhaps…but I have a strong feeling that this next one is going to be all kinds of satisfying! (Insert wicked, Hook-worthy smile)

Just one more week…less, even. We can make it, right?

Sorry it took me so long to get this chapter done, guys! But here it is:

The Final Chapter: The Most Powerful Magic of All…True Love

I hope it's worth the wait! Thank you to all you darlings who favorited, followed and bore the waiting with patience that would put Jiminy Cricket and the Blue Fairy to shame! I love you all!

~Elizabeth

Killian raced through the streets of Storybrooke with every ounce of strength and speed he could force into his legs, Regina only a step or two behind him. He was gasping by the time he reached the courtyard where his precious Emma lay, but he ignored the burning of his lungs and made his way through the throng of friends and well-wishers gathered to honor and watch over their sleeping Princess.

Henry's face lit up at the sight of him and Regina. "Killian! Mom—what are you doing here?"

"I'm here to help," she said, putting a gentle arm around his shoulders.

It never ceased to amaze Killian how the powerful and ruthless Queen could be so quickly transformed into a caring and compassionate woman by a mere look from that boy. He truly had her wrapped around his finger.

"What's the plan?" said Henry, looking up at them, for all the world as if they were the heroes arrived to save the day.

"This is the plan," Killian said, flourishing his hook. "A gift from your mother, lad."

Henry looked up at her. "Magic?"

"A spell to counteract magic, dear. It should allow him to penetrate the shield my mother put up to cut Emma off from the world."

"So…it was your mother who did this?"

Regina hesitated only a moment. "Yes. She did it because she was convinced it was the perfect punishment I would have wanted for your grandparents. But…I did not agree."

Henry beamed at her. "I guess that explains Killian's new hook." He looked up at Killian, brimming with faith and confidence. "Go get her, Captain."

Killian couldn't help but smile. "Aye, sir," he said with a sweeping, elegant salute.

Snow White and Charming did not seem to have moved from the edge of the magical barrier.

"Majesties," he said as he approached them, "If you will kindly move aside…"

"What are you going to do?" Snow White said, her tone tinged with suspicion.

Killian fingered his hook. "I'm going to pierce the barrier to reach your daughter."

"And then what?" said Charming.

He paused for a moment. "I'm going to attempt the one thing that can break a sleeping curse."

"True love's kiss," said Snow White.

"Absolutely not!" Charming snapped, bristling and drawing himself up to his full height. "What makes you think you can succeed any more than any of us, pirate?"

Charming probably had about two or three inches on Killian, but Killian made up the difference in sheer commanding presence that left no doubt in the minds of those present: he was every inch Captain Hook.

"Let me ask you this, Majesty: which of us has a spell that will get one through that barrier? Wait a moment—" he brandished his hook. "I do."

With that, he stabbed the point of his hook on the surface of the transparent bubble. The magical barrier gave way before it like butter, and he slid it up and then down vertically, opening up a large enough tear to admit him. It felt like trying to squeeze past stone as he pushed himself through, and the resulting momentum had him tumbling to the cobblestoned street within the confines of the barrier. As soon as he was through, the magical shield repaired itself, sealing the tear he had made in it.

On the other side, Henry gave him what they called in this realm a "thumbs-up", a gesture of encouragement, and he nodded at him.

He approached the glass coffin with all the reverent hesitation of a sinner going to kneel at the holy altar, and in his heart of hearts he knew he—Killian Jones—was undeserving of the angel lying there in the deepest of slumbers. And yet he was the best hope for her safe return.

He bent over the edge of the coffin—and hesitated.

"Emma, darling," he whispered. "They say true love's kiss needs two to work. I do not know if I have anything more than your respect, or if I have even that. But I love you, Emma…in spite of all, of everything…I love your heart…your spirit…the fire that drives you to protect the ones you love…

I just pray it's enough, enough to bring you back to us—to me…"

Please, let this work…

Slowly, he bent down over the coffin, and claimed the snow-white lips of his sleeping princess in what was perhaps the first kiss with pure and selfless intent—in his entire life.

He felt something shoot through him and around him—a wave of energy, or magic. Warmth raced through him and at the same time a powerful breeze—like a cool westerly on the high seas—flew past him, caressing his skin and ruffling his hair. He started and drew back, in time to see a wave of golden light racing outward from him and Emma into the distance and disappearing, like a ripple on the surface of still water.

Emma's eyes flew open, and she drew a deep gasping breath, like she had been holding the air in her lungs.

Killian's heart missed a beat, and then began to pound almost painfully in his chest.

"Emma…my darling Emma…" he breathed, tangling his shaking hand in the shining gold haloing her head.

"I was hoping it would be you," she said.

Those seven words just about undid him. He captured her lips with his again, kissing both desperately and tenderly at the same time.

"I take my eyes off of you for a second, darling…"

Emma's smile was brighter than fairy dust and warmer than firelight. "Somehow I knew you would find me, and look at that—I wasn't wrong about you."

As the voices and glad cries of family and friends surrounded them, Killian gathered her to his heart and whispered in her ear, "I will always find you, Emma."