From the tumblr prompt:
suilestrange asked:
you got that right. Everything hurts. And I need someone to write something about emma breaking down after she made Walsh go Poof. and Killian just sitting at the other side of the door, his head against the door listening to her muffled sobs. And he wants to go in there to console her but it's not what she needs. So he just keeps standing there until it all goes quite and she'll sigh and get up and Thank him. because she just KNEW he was standing there, giving her space, truly saving her.
It was odd how she just stepped back into Storybrooke like the past year of her life had not happened. Well, except for keeping up the charade for Henry's sake. He still did not have his memories back, and Emma thought it was all for the best. She did not want those memories of them together to be erased, for him to find out that she had abandoned him, like she had been abandoned.
Emma walked into her office after having reclaimed her position as the sheriff. She closed the door behind her for the first time, though, needing a moment to herself in private. It felt like her heart had been replaced with a rock, and all the pain she felt of being betrayed the first time with Neal came flooding back to her. This time, it had been Walsh. And Emma was sure that there was always going to be another heartache around the corner from her. She could not escape her destiny, whether it was being the savior or being forever alone.
Suddenly, the feelings she had been keeping inside were too much for her, and she felt the trickle of a tear fall down her cheek before it became a steady stream. She leaned back on the door and slid down onto the floor, her legs too shaky to hold up the heavy weight of her heart. She curled her legs into herself and let the sob that she had been holding in for days out into her knees. It was too much. It was all too much.
All these emotions that had swirled within her were being released at once. All the feelings of guilt of giving Henry up, of anger at her parents for giving her up, of betrayal by Neal, and of deceit from Walsh. But the most she felt was the burden of being the Savior, of never having the happy ending she dreamed. It would not be possible because there was always another curse to break or person to save. It was never ending, and Emma found herself mourning the loss of the life she could have had.
Her sobs slowly formed into sniffles, and she smelled the faint scent of leather and rum coming from the other side of the door. She did not move, even though she knew he was there. It did not matter to her anymore. Hook had already seen her vulnerable back in New York, and it was nice having someone to share her pain.
Emma sighed and finally got up. She needed to stop feeling sorry for herself. She needed to be strong like she had her entire life. She turned the handle and saw him standing there, silent but offering her comfort nonetheless. A small red mark was on his forehead, and she knew that he had been leaning his head against the door.
She smiled at him as a wordless "thanks" for being there for her but giving her the space that she needed.