They were losing her again, Killian realized, staring moodily at the telltale bundle on the closet floor. The signs had been subtle over the last month or so but they were there. Dinners with her parents, that never got scheduled. Magic Lessons with Regina cut short by vague incidents that always required the lady sheriff and never her deputy. He'd tried to broach the subject with her father, but Charming had smiled and with great condescension pointed out things were more hectic in Storybrooke for Emma, then usual.

"She's making up for lost time with Henry, and getting to know her brother. Things will calm down soon," Charming had reassured him before turning the conversation to all the leisure activities Storybrooke offered as if the real problem was Killian's boredom. Daft Bugger.

Killian had wanted to ask just what time she was spending with Henry when that lad was with Regina 5 nights out of 7. He knew because his erstwhile swan had taken to sliding into his bunk aboard ship, something she only did when Henry was safely with the witch. Hardly what a father would want to hear, and the truth was, Killian wanted to believe that he was imagining the deadness in her eyes and the desperation in her touch.

The bloody orange duffel at his feet made self deceit impossible now. A Go bag, she's called it the first night she came to him, while they lay quiet and calm sharing their past pain and waiting for morning. She'd told him how she'd learn which clothes layered best and how much money was just enough.

"...and when it's full, when you have enough, you tie the zipper shut with a string. Then you can run."

Toeing the offensive bundle again, Killian decided he had never hated anything as much as he hated the barest inch of frayed lacing that hadn't been there yesterday.

Emma was ready to run.

He'd lost track of the time, staring at the bloody orange bag with its tattered straps and condemning makeshift lock, as he waited for anger and disappointment to come. It was the worst kind of betrayal, to just leave when someone loved you. He was feeling neither of those things though, when he finally broke from his stupor. Instead, he grabbed the hideous bag with his hook and sauntered out of Emma's loft with a smile.

He was feeling determined.