Saying Goodbye

The Final Goodbye

It was the morning of the day Emma had been dreading most. Today was the day she'd have to let him go, let him move on. Because today was the day of his funeral.

Somewhere in the distance she heard voices. Emma gripped hold of her duvet tightly and pulled them over her body. Darkness filled the space around her. Nothing could prepare her for the day's events.

After struggling greatly Emma forced her way out of the house, dressed in black.

As she came closer to the graveyard she came to a stop. A single test trickled down her cheek and landed neatly on her shoe.

Through her blurred vision she could see Henry walking towards her. Emma began to slowly breathe in and out. She hated when he saw her like this.
"It's time." Was all he could manage. Emma moved closer to her son and grasped his hand tightly.

"Let's go." She whispered as her voice broke. Emma felt Henry's arms wrap around her waist and then he whispered in her ear "He was like a dad to me. I just wanted us all to have a future together."

Emma felt her heart shatter into a million pieces. But she held back the tears. She needed to be strong, for Henry. "So did I kid." Were the only words that could leave her mouth without her breaking down.

* at the funeral *

Everyone was there. The whole town. Emma just wanted to run away from it all. She wanted to find a corner and say goodbye in her own way. But this had to be done, for the others.

Most of the service was a blur. She remembered speaking but couldn't remember what she said. Other people spoke too, Henry, Snow, Charming, even Robin said a few words.

But none of them felt the pain she felt. None of them had an aching feeling in their heart. And emptiness surrounding them that nobody but him could fill.

She missed his soft touch, his lips against hers, his breath on her neck. She missed his presence.

He was gone.

Forever.

She would never hear his voice again. See his face. Feel his arms around her body.

Because he was gone. He was never coming back to her.

She'd failed him.

And Emma would have to live with that for the rest of her life.

Loads of people hugged Emma and told her they were sorry for her loss. But she couldn't thank them. She couldn't bring herself to say those words. She couldn't bring herself to say anything. So instead she just stood silently, letting them do as they wish.

* at his grave later on *

She had finally escaped everyone and was alone at last. The only sound that filled the air was the drizzling rain that fell softly.

Emma pulled his small silver rum bottle out her pocket and held it in her hands. It was all she had left of him.

Tears began to trickle down her face. It was time to say goodbye. In her own way.

"Killian..." She gripped hold of the rum bottle tighter. "I'm so sorry. This is all my fault."

That's when she broke down.

Her body couldn't handle all the pain and hurt any longer.

She had lost so much.

"I'm the one who was too selfish to let you go. I'm the one who turned you into the second dark one. And I'm the one who couldn't save you in the underworld."

Emma sank to the floor so she was now kneeling in front of his grave. Her hands flopped to her side and the tears started to stream down faster.

"I'm sorry I failed you. I thought I could save you, and bring you home. But how could I when I can't even save myself. You're better off without me."

She let the rum bottle fall next to the flowers and rose to a standing position. Dusting herself off as she did.

"Am I really better off without you?" A voice asked her hurtfully.

Emma spun around and there he was. Very much alive. "Killian. You're...."

"Alive. Yes." He said with a small smile.

"I don't deserve you." Emma said through sobs. Killian edged closer towards her.

"You haven't failed me. You saved me Swan." Emma fell into his arms. "It's alright love, I'm never going to leave you again." He planted a kiss on her head and cradled her in his arms.

Emma had missed this. She'd missed him holding her close and telling her everything would be alright. Even though she knew it wasn't true.

Because nothing ever goes right for Emma Swan.

She cocked her head up and eyed his lips. He smiled and said. "I know what you're thinking swan." Before crashing his lips against hers.

Emma lost herself in the kiss. Killian gripped her waist tightly and held her close to him. He never wanted to let her go again.

"Swan." He said as he pulled away from her.

Emma looked at him with a smile upon her face. "Hook."

The rain began to fall harder and faster. "I need to ask you something." His voice shook.

"Ask away captain." Emma teased. She had no idea what was coming.

"When I first met you I didn't believe in happy endings and love. I was on a dark path. But Emma, you saved me from that. You bring out the best in me and you make me a better man. I hate to think of a future without you. So that's why, I'm standing before you today. Asking you, if you'll take my hand in marriage. I don't want to spend another second apart from you."

Emma want expecting that. She stood, frozen to the spot.

"I love you Emma Swan, and I always will."

Killian's mouth was now inches from Emma's.

"I love you." She breathed. "And I want to spend the rest of my days with you." Killian slipped his arms around her bum and lifted her into a deep kiss.

Emma Swan had found her happy ending at long last.