Captain Swan One Shots

It's All Over Now (But This War Isn't)

Part two...

"Sometimes I miss things the way they were before," Emma whispers to him one morning as they sit together on his ship, watching the sunrise. Her head leans on his shoulder and his arms is wrapped protectively around her shoulder, holding her close to him.

"Why's that, Swan?" Killian replies, pressing a light kiss to her temple as he turned his head.

"Before, things were so simple. I didn't live with the guilt of what happened, the worry that you'll decide you don't forgive me, the fear that our escape from the underworld was too easy... And us."

"Emma..."

"We were so easy back before everything happened. Just laughter and love and happiness. No memories of betrayal, of lies, or heartbreak. We were just us," Emma sighs. They haven't had this conversation yet and after nearly a week, it was probably time they did.

"And we still are," Killian tries.

"But there's still something shaky between us. We're still mad at each other, and for good reason, but at what cost? We're both still miserable. Killian, I fucked up. Bad. What I did was absolutely inexcusable and I don't expect you to ever forgive me for making you the thing you'd spent your life trying to destroy. But I did it because I love you more than anything. You are so much more than just my boyfriend, Killian, you have to know that. You're the first person who's ever understood, the only one who's always had faith in me. You're also my best friend and I can't lose you. I refuse to let you go. You're the one. You're it," Emma knows she's close to tears but Killian amazed blue gaze makes her smile.

He reaches his hand up to caress her cheek and she leans into his palm. "Emma, we both went through hell... Literally... To save each other. We both did terrible things but we did it for love. Everything you did was for me, just as all I did was for you. You're right. We need to let this whole thing go if we want a shot at that future together. I'm willing to put it all behind us if you are. You've shown me to forgive. And what I said all the time ago still stands. All sins can be forgiven when someone loves you. I forgive you, Emma Swan," he seals it with a kiss.

Emma smiles, leaning into him further. "And I, you," she replies happily.

After that, things get better. Before, he spent his nights on his ship, alone, and unsure if he was still welcome in that future they had planned together. But now, Emma never stops telling him he isn't just a part of her future. He is her future.

The thing with them, they've both realized, is that even after sharing True Love's Kiss on the banks of the River Styx, after splitting Emma's heart in half so they both could live, the two of them still have these sky-high walls.

However, as the final painting from the Jolly Roger is hung up in Emma and Killian's bedroom by David, as the old oak table from the Captain's Quarters is placed in front of the television downstairs, and as Killian takes his brother's ring and places it on Emma's left ring finger, they both realize something else.

The war with these walls they both fight may never be over. They both have such terrible pasts that they may never escape from. But when they have each other by their sides, things become brighter and maybe that was enough.

They were together, happy and alive and sometimes that was all they needed.