Captain Swan One Shots

Letters from War

This is a new one shot written in honor of Memorial Day. 
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Title: Letters from War

Author: Steph aka CaptainSwanLuver

Rating: G

Pairing: Killian/Emma

Characters: Killian, Emma, Neal

Category: Drama/Romance

Spoilers: Nope

Summary: Killian Jones is serving in Afghanistan when his mate, Neal, is killed in the line of duty. He promises Neal he will deliver a letter to his widow, Emma, in person. But Killian and Emma soon find themselves corresponding with each other in letters of their own.

Note: I wrote this in honor of Memorial Day and all those who gave their lives to protect our freedom, as well as those who risked their lives. I hope you enjoy it. ~Steph

...Letters from War: Part 1/1...

Killian Jones stood outside her house, trying to gain the courage to knock. He had been in the army for over twelve years and had faced countless dangerous situations. But the mere thought of meeting Emma Swan face-to-face for the first time had turned him into a ball of nerves. His stomach was in knots and his palms were sweaty. He kept pressing at invisible wrinkles on his uniform. He took another steadying breath and raised his hand to knock.

He waited and then knocked again. When no one answered, he rang the doorbell. Killian felt his heart sink into his stomach as he realized she wasn't home. He should have called ahead. He thought if he had called ahead then he might lose his nerve, but he was now regretting that decision. He turned around and walked to her porch steps. He had come all this way from New York to Boston. He wasn't about to leave without meeting her. He was a patient man. Killian had waited a year and half to lay eyes on her. There was no reason he couldn't wait a little while longer.

He reached into his jacket pocket and pulled out an envelope. He ran his fingers across her name. The envelope was still sealed. It had been that way for two years. Neal had written it to Emma on their first night in Afghanistan. Six months later, he was dead.

He had died in Killian's arms. They had been driving when their jeep hit an IED. Killian was in the backseat and had survived with just some minor shrapnel injuries. The passenger had lost a foot. But Neal was the driver and he had suffered the most severe injuries.

Killian felt tears sting his eyes as he recalled cradling his bloody body in his arms. He begged him to hold on, assured him he was going to be fine.

But Neal knew what Killian hadn't yet accepted. He would never make it home. Killian could still feel his hand in his as he gripped it tightly. He could still see the tears in Neal's eyes as he looked into his own and made him promise.

He made him promise that he would hand deliver the letter to Emma. Killian told him that he could mail it to her, but Neal insisted that he deliver it in person. When Killian asked him why, he said that he knew Killian was a man of honor and would never break a promise. He knew if he promised him that he would deliver the letter to Emma in person then Killian would do everything in his power to get home safely. He wanted to give him a goal to aspire to, something to hold onto. Far too often, the men would lose a comrade and their hope would die along with him. Neal always said loss of hope can be one of the most dangerous things for any serviceman. Those who lack hope lose focus and drive and that's when tragic things happen.

So Killian had made the promise, he had granted his dying wish. And then he was gone. There were times when he did lose hope after that, but then he would take out the letter and run his fingers across Neal's familiar scrawl of her name.