Last chapter was pure fluff but there's a heady dose of Killian emotions to this one because that's what my muse wanted. And who am I to argue? Enjoy the conclusion, and have a very Merry Christmas shipmates!

Christmas Day, shortly after sunrise

Killian stumbled out on deck early the next morning, blinking tired but smiling eyes at the fresh fallen snow that coated everything in a fine powdery layer. He had gotten precious little sleep after escorting Emma safely back to her door last evening, but he wouldn't have traded those quiet, beautiful moments he'd shared with her on the glowing deck of the Jolly for any amount of gold or rest that could be offered him. The snow had begun to fall shortly after he'd left her, and he had stopped several times to grin foolishly up into the flakes as he made his way back to the ship, wondering if the world would be white come morning.

He was now about to step down onto the dock and make his way through the crisp cold daylight to Granny's for something hot to eat when he glanced up, catching sight of a flash of red and gold as Emma came striding up to him breathlessly.

Killian was instantly stopped in his tracks by the sight of her, marveling at the way the brilliant red of her coat stood out in the glazed white of the world around them, her hair shimmering against it in messy golden waves. The compass pendant he had given her last night bounced lightly against her chest at the end of its chain and he warmed inwardly at the knowledge that she still wore it. She was breathtaking, and he realized with a spark of joy that there would never be a single moment in his life when he wouldn't marvel over her.

She bounced to a stop a few feet from him, flashing him a beautiful smile as she fought to catch her breath. "Hey! Good morning, Merry Christmas!"

Killian returned her smile and found his voice, managing a greeting in return.

"Happy Christmas to you too, Emma. What brings you down here so early? I thought you and your family had plans…?"

Emma nodded sheepishly. "Yeah, well we do, but I had to do something first. Here…"

She pulled a long, tightly wrapped bundle from behind her back and held it out in front of her.

"After everything last night I… well I got to thinking, and then this idea just came to me and well, let's just say I didn't sleep much last night and this morning I kind of…um…got Gold out of bed and made him open his shop for me."

Killian raised his brows in surprise, opening his mouth to make comment, but he could find none suitable enough to convey his surprise at her ability to hustle the Dark One out of his bed on a cold snowy morning. Emma read his expression and her smile wilted slightly, rolling her eyes as she amended her statement.

"Okay, okay, so Belle made him open his shop for me. I'm sure he probably would much rather have turned me into something small and less annoying and gone back to bed, but he'll survive. And most importantly… I got you this."

She held the odd-shaped package out for him to take and he looked down at it, stunned and searching for words.

"Emma…I…you didn't have to, love…"

"I know. But yeah, I think I did. I wanted to. You…" She trailed off and shrugged, feeling suddenly awkward and shy. "You deserve it, Killian. Really, you do."

Killian hesitated a moment longer, amazed by the tender sincerity in her eyes. He finally took the package, feeling that odd warmth seep into his soul again just the same as it had when she'd held him close and kissed him the night before. After an encouraging nod from Emma, he deftly unwrapped the strings from around the bundle and shook it free from the paper that clung to it, gasping as its contents were revealed to him, glinting in his hand under the dazzling sunlight.

It was a sword. Not just any sword… it was the sword he'd carried since his days as a Navy lieutenant serving under his brother as captain; the very same sword he had lost to Rumplestiltskin along with his hand on the day Milah had died. He had never thought to see it again, and had almost forgotten the loss of the weapon until now…and now here it was; in perfect condition, just as the day he'd lost it.

He gripped it tightly, dimly noting that the metal was still warm from Emma's coat as a wave of memories and emotion washed over him. Killian swallowed hard, fighting to find words to say; something, anything to convey to her how touched he was by this gift, but after a long struggle all he could manage was a murmuring sigh.

"Oh…Swan."

Emma stood watching him quietly, recognizing the expression of a man who had just recalled in vivid detail a memory or loved one that he hadn't thought of in years.

"I didn't know what I was looking for when I got into Gold's shop," She said softly, almost as if she was afraid to shatter the moment with her words. "But I knew I'd find something. And the moment I saw that sword in the corner, I just somehow knew it had to be yours. Judging by the sour look on Gold's face, I'd guess it really was… once?"

Killian nodded, biting his lip and turning the blade over in his hand, his voice cracking as he answered her.

"Aye…this was mine, years ago. Liam— my brother—gave it to me when I was first called to duty on board a ship in the Royal Navy. I never thought to see this blade again…"

He ran his thumb lovingly over the intricate golden hilt. The sword had a new, softly tooled sheath encasing it's still deadly-sharp blade, but apart from that it was just the same as it was when he'd worn it last so many, many years ago. It had been his most prized possession until it—and Milah—had been taken from him, and he'd not realized how much he truly missed it until it was in his hand again. He took a shuddering breath and raised his eyes to meet Emma's, pouring every ounce of sincerity and gratitude into his expression and words.

"Thank you for this, Emma. Truly. You have no idea what a grand gift it is for me to hold this again."

He was rewarded with her beautiful smile and warm hand clasped over his own as he still held the sword.

"Well, it's not really much of a gift if you owned it once before. But still…I'm just glad it was right for you."

Killian shook his head. "No, it's more than right. It's perfect."

Emma gave his hand a gentle squeeze and stepped back, still smiling up at him. "Well then…Merry Christmas, Killian."

She turned and took a few steps away before stopping to glance at him over her shoulder, eyebrow raised questioningly.

"Well? Are you coming or not?"

Killian looked up, stunned. "I… what? Coming where?"

Emma laughed, the sound falling like bells on his ears in the crisp silent morning air. "To breakfast, of course! Christmas happens all day you know. First we have breakfast, and then there's the opening of gifts, and then our family dinner, and then dinner again at Granny's this evening…" She frowned slightly, cocking her head to the side. "There's quite a lot of food involved, now that I think about it. Not that I'm complaining. So how about it, Captain? You coming, or did you somehow manage to have breakfast already?"

Killian stood a moment, clutching the newly returned sword in his hand and staring at her in wonder, still unable to fathom how he could suddenly be so lucky in so many ways right now. He almost blamed the workings of whatever so-called Christmas magic Henry had rambled on about a week ago. Almost.

"No, no I've not been out to the diner yet, but… Emma, are you certain that I should…?"

Emma gazed back at him, nodding sincerely. "Of course I'm sure! Look, you shouldn't be out here all by yourself today of all days. You should spend it with family, with people that love you."

His eyes widened and he watched as the realization of what she'd just said crossed her face. She hesitated, cocking her head with a slight frown between her brows as if she was turning it over in her mind and trying to decide whether to take it back or not.

She didn't.

Instead she held out her hand, giving him a playful grin.

"Well come on, then! I mean seriously, Mary Margaret baked enough cookies and pies to last us through summer until next Christmas. This whole new-motherhood thing really got her going in the kitchen. If you don't come, we'll all get so fat and lazy that nobody will get any work done around here."

Killian hesitated, measuring her expression, not daring to hope… and yet… he nodded, offering her a warm grin as he lifted the blade still clutched in his hand.

"All right, since you insist, and the fate of the health and well-being of your family is at stake, give me just a moment and I'll come with you."

At her nod he turned away, stepping back up aboard the Jolly and quickly moving down into his cabin. He switched his grip on Emma's gift, tucking it under his arm and steadying it with his hook to free his good hand as it went to work loosening the sword belt at his hips. He deftly unbuckled it and slid the sword that currently sat at his left side free, switching it with the new/old one Emma had just returned to him. Killian carefully slid the golden-hilted sword onto his belt, letting his fingers linger on the beautiful metalwork before reaching again for the one he'd just removed. Moving over to his bed, he carefully laid the other blade…Milah's blade…upon it.

Killian gazed down at it for a long moment, brushing his fingertips along the hilt in a loving caress. He had carried this blade for a very long time, clinging desperately to every little bit of Milah he still had left to him, just as he'd carried his hatred and lust for revenge. But it was time again to pick up something he'd missed, something he'd secretly longed for even while he was consumed by his pain. Something Emma had begun offering him since she'd first met him, and something he now held in the gold-and-steel form of his old self. Honour. Purpose. Acceptance. Love…Family.

With a soft smile, Killian withdrew his hand and finished clasping the belt at his hips. This evening after he returned he would make sure Milah's blade was carefully wrapped up and tucked in its place in the chest where he kept the rest of what he'd saved from her life with him. He would properly put aside the past later, but for now…for now his future stood outside, waiting for him in the freshly fallen snow at the foot of the gangplank.

And for once, Killian Jones was ready to grasp that future and hold on with all the strength he had.

Emma's eyes took him in as he appeared on deck again and stepped down the gangplank to join her. She let her eyes drift over him, marking his unusually bright, open expression before her gaze fell to where the blade she'd returned to him hung new and shining at his hip. She smiled, tilting her head in the direction of town.

"Ready to go now, Captain?"

Killian grinned broadly, lifting his arm for her to link hers with his. "More than ready, my love."

Emma didn't take his arm like he expected. Instead she trailed her fingers down to twine in his, burying her hand in the warmth of his own. He gave her hand a soft squeeze before they stepped out together into the new snow of a magical Christmas morning…full of hope and possibility.

~Finis

Merry Christmas everyone!