New story I came up with being the crazy cs fan I am. I really hope you enjoy reading my fiction as much as I enjoy writing it. Hats off to eight 0f hearts whose story, winter, inspired me to use the then/now idea. Please forgive any mistakes (second story, still learning).

THEN

Pan was defeated. Every distraction that had been keeping Emma from actually facing her own reality had now fleeted away, forcing her to make a choice. To her surprise, however, Killian never mentioned anything related to her still running task and their meetings started becoming more and more fitful. Come to think about it now, every single one of the times she has seen him this month, she has accidentally ran into him at Granny's or in the street. Their conversations have also entirely distorted into uncomfortable pointless small-talks. The worst part though is the latest way of looking at her, instead of the flirty sparkly glances and full of love gazes, which he has adopted. Glimpses bursting of melancholy and guilt which fade away as soon as she peeks back. Starting to realize his constant absence is suddenly crouching up into a bitter feeling of nostalgia, impossible for her to explain. She misses him without being able to admit it. Neal on the other hand, is trying too hard. To impress her, to flirt her, to persistently be with her. Putting too much effort to force her back to him. Too much effort to fix what has been broken. In her own mind, Emma has already made a decision. She is perfectly aware that she is not in love with Neal anymore, possibly due to the time that has passed, or, most probably, because of her devilishly handsome pirate who stands in the way. Still, it is far more complicated than that. She knows that she has feelings for Killian, but everyone expects her to choose the father of her child, the safe decision. Her deep deliberation is interrupted by a knock on the door before she can finally reach to a conclusion. A rapid thought that maybe Killian is the one waiting outside her apartment forms a hopeful smirk on her lips that she tries to suppress. She already knows Regina was going to drop Henry off after his last-night sleepover; therefore she is not surprised not to see the pirate out there. She feels a sting into her heart. It's been a week since you last saw him…

"Hey kid, where's Regina?" she asks distractedly.

"She had to run off, you know, mayor stuff…" Henry replies. Emma nods looking as if she is hearing from a mile away.

"Mom, are you ok you seem kind of... distant" he adds.

Do I really look that bad?

"I'm fine kid. Did you have fun at Regina's?" Emma is still in deep consideration. She needs to make a choice despite practically being bagged into a corner. Obviously she is not really good at hiding her feelings from her so perceptive son.

"I did. I always do, but that's not the point." That's not the point, what the hell is that supposed to mean? Panic starts forming in her face, clearly not well-concealed, when she meets Henry's serious gaze.

"Should I be scared?" she manages to choke out a little chuckle along with her oh-so-fake smile.

"Mom, I'm serious, we need to talk." Nah, he can't know. Hide it.

Talk about what?", she asks pretending she doesn't realize what this is, while taking the pizza she had ordered out of the oven.

"Look, just because I'm twelve, it doesn't mean I don't know what's been going on this entire time. Everyone is waiting for you to comment on the situation with dad and Hook and you keep pretending there's nothing to say." Oh god! But how?

"Is that so? I'm assuming you have an opinion on the matter I need to hear." Still mildly joking, or at least she tries. Maybe that is the key. Henry is the most important thing in her life so anything he says, she will do. That is how she will make her choice. Of course she is absolutely certain he prefers his dad. Here it comes… To her surprise however,

"I do. I believe you need to choose whoever makes you happy, because that's the important thing mom, happy endings. Clearly, the fact that you still haven't announced anything means that the one you prefer is Hook. What I'm trying to say here is I'm ok with that."

She is astonished, sitting there with the plates of pizza she was about to serve still in her hands, not knowing what to say. She finally mutters what she realizes she should keep from him. "It's true. I am in fact considering it. That doesn't mean I've made up my mind yet."

And before she can continue, "Because of me and my grandparents? Look, mom, I don't want you to be unhappy. If you pick Hook that doesn't mean I won't see my dad anymore and, if it does, that means he would never care about me anyway. Plus, he is a pretty decent guy and he really loves you."

She smiles at his mini speech. Such a smart kid, she thinks to herself. He truly cares about me even after I abandoned him. That still hurts her. You made the wrong choice then don't repeat the same mistake.

"You think that's what I should do then?" she asks in a noticeably uncertain tone.

"Absolutely! Besides, who else would back off and let the woman he loves be with someone else, just because he thinks that is the honorable thing to do for her?" Emma started looking too dazed at that point.

"I might have eavesdropped a small part of a conversation…" Henry adds when he notices.

He gave up to give her her best chance? Wow! Good form indeed, but why?

"He did what?" Emma starts welling up. No, suck your tears back in!

"Well that's what I heard anyway. Just so you know, I'll be studying all day and grandma is coming home any minute now, so…" Is he trying to send her to Killian?

"Don't get too brave, kid. I'll see what I'm going to do. Now eat." And with these words, she sits next to him to share what appears to be her happiest meal ever. You know exactly what you are going to do.

cscscscscscscscscscscscscscscscscscs

NOW

Another typical day. Wake up, make breakfast, drive Henry to school, study a case… Her life in New York is perfectly happy, but sometimes there is something in her heart that makes her feel almost like… like something is missing, but what? She has everything she could wish for, her son, a job, a cute apartment. Allowing herself to procrastinate and abandon her new case for a moment, Emma walks to the kitchen for a hot cup of hot chocolate with a dash of cinnamon, second cup for today, but whatever. Before she can even find her cup in the cupboard, she hears a knock on the door. Ugh, who can it be right now?She answers looking somewhat annoyed, after all, someone is getting between her and her hot chocolate and she does not appreciate that. Someone she doesn't even know apparently, but then… Emma looks at his eyes and she is shocked by a tide of morose feelings running through her. Beautiful, melancholic eyes mimicking the deep color of the ocean and ,somehow, she knows them, him so well… the raven dark hair, the staring-straight-into-her-own eyes, the cute grin on his face, the missing hand replaced by a false one. "Swan, at last", words that do not yet reach her ears, come out of that stunning grin while she keeps staring. Something is wrong with his clothes… a simple grey sweater and a pair of plain usual jeans, he is missing his leather. "Uhm, love?" And then she snaps out of it.

"I'm sorry, what?", she manages to mutter.

"I just… are you feeling alright love, you seem a bit disoriented.", he looks concerned. She realizes she feels dizzy; she is probably shockingly pale right now.

"I'm fine, and you are?" she inquires.

"My name is Killian Jones I wanted… I was wondering if I could come in and talk to you about something…", he answers.

Her eyebrow rises and she is finally fully conscious again. "You're asking me to trust a stranger and let him into my house?", disbelief visibly growing in her face.

"Well… it's about… I would like to talk to you about a case…my case. I don't know if that counts at all but I give you my word, love, you can trust me. "

He's a man of honor. You can trust him, you have in the past. Wait what?"Anyway, I suppose you could come in. You should know I can easily kick your ass if I suspect anything odd." And all she gets for a reply is a subtle chuckle out of Killian before he enters her house with a proud smirk. "It's Emma by the way!", she notes as she closes the door behind him.

"Oh, I know!"

.

This is so unusual to Emma. She allowed this complete stranger with his snarky comments and suspiciously missing hand into her apartment just because she feels she has met him before? But you know him so well! How can you not remember? All this time, while she is sinking into her thoughts, she is partly taking notes on Killian's case which seems rather interesting. A murder in a small town. It would be an uncomplicated investigation and simple was all she needed right now.

"The problem is Mr. Jones, you are asking me to leave New York to help with this case. I have a son who will not be very pleased with a new travel since we just moved in New York." Mr. Jones, did you seriously just call him Mr. Jones?

"I understand what I am requesting sounds absurd, however, I am hopeful that you will take my emergency into consideration." he looks hurt. She is now truly considering it, he is probably right, an assassin wandering in a small town sounds worrying. Besides, it could be a fairly effortless case to work on in comparison to the one she was studying before he entered.

"Very well then, I suppose I could provide you with my exceptionally professional and precious services" she jokes

"I am honored to be receiving them milady" he jokes back curtseying as much as he can considering he is sitting.

Just like old times… what? What old times? "Now that everything is arranged, I'm seizing the opportunity to ask, have we… met before? Because you seem familiar and I am trying to figure out where I know you from. Did you use to live in Boston, or were you ever on a visit there?" she is now really hoping to solve this mystery before his case.

"No, I don't think we have." a cold and rather peculiar reply.

Come on, you know him so well… don't you remember? Remember what? What is there to remember?

A/N: So, this was the first chapter. I am planning on spreading it in multiple ones all with a then/now theme and increasing the number of words. Please let me know what you think in the reviews, I am still new and I don't feel that confident yet. Thanks for reading! :)