Chapter one
I've been in Storybrook for a few days now. I've gotten arrested several times, kicked out of the inn and managed to insult my kid in just a few days. All in all it's not a great start. Yet I wouldn't dare to leave. Because today I finally connected with my kid. The child I gave up ten years ago. The child I didn't think I would ever see again. And today was the first time I got to hold him in my arms again. I was so worried Henry wouldn't want to see me anymore when he heard me talking to Regina. It scared me more than I thought it would. It's so strange… I've known him for just a few days, spend just a few hours with him yet I don't ever want to leave him ever again.
It's late at night and I'm sitting in Granny's diner, enjoying my hot chocolate. All I think about is Henry. There's a soft smile on my face and for the first time in years I can honestly say I'm somewhat happy.
'Excuse me?' I hear a guy with a heavy accent next to me. I look up and look at him. He's got dark hair, a scruffy beard and ocean blue eyes and is just very attractive. 'I'm sorry for bothering you', he says and scratches behind his ear. He's shy, incredibly so.
'That's okay', I try to relax him a little.
'It's just… I saw you walking around town with Henry and I heard people talking about you. You're Henry's real mother, right?'
'That's right', I answer him softly. Every time someone reminds me of giving up Henry I get a little sad.
'I'm Killian. And I just wanted to meet the lass who we've been fantasizing about', his cheeks flush immediately, 'about what you would be like, I mean.'
'I'm Emma. Emma Swan', I say laughing. He laughs a little with me.
'Do you mind if I sit down?'
'Not at all. How do you know Henry?' I'm curious about the people in his life.
'Thank you', Killian says as he sits down, 'I do volunteer work at the school. I found him in the school yard one day, upset about something. We talked about how unhappy he was living with the Mayor. And I felt bad for him. Just wanted to give him a friend he could talk to, where he could hide from everything.'
'That's very kind of you', I say softly. It hurt to know that Henry has been incredibly unhappy living with Regina, that he needs a grown up man to be his friend.
'He talks about you a lot', Killian tries to cheer me up a little, 'he wondered what you would be like. We both did, actually', again with the scratching behind his ear. It makes him even more attractive.
'Do I live up to your expectations?' I try to joke a little but deep down I'm actually curious to know if I didn't disappoint Henry.
'He just wanted someone who would love him', he says softly. Ouch. My kid has really been unhappy. He wasn't exaggerating the other day.
'He's been really lonely, hasn't he?' I ask Killian softly. Killian just nods.
'I really tried to help him. All the Mayor did was put him into therapy.'
'Can you tell me what he's like?' this time I'm the one who's shy. I look up at Killian and see the friendliest smile on his face. Damn, this man is gorgeous.
'He's so smart, Emma. And creative. He has this amazing imagination and whenever he's allowed to give in to that, he's so incredibly happy', his smile is radiant right now, 'we've been on some crazy adventours together. He's just really incredible.'
'Wow', I say and look down. Feeling my eyes water a little. That's my kid he's talking about. Suddenly I feel his hand on mine.
'And he never, ever blamed you one bit for giving him up', he almost whispers. That does it. A tear rolls down my cheek and I quickly wipe it away.
'Thank you', I whisper back. Killian holds my hand for a few moments longer. With a squeeze he lets go.
'It's nice to meet someone who's so close to him', I say eventually.
'The whole town looks out for him actually. He walks around town alone a lot of the time so we're just making sure he's okay.'
'Well, I'll have to thank all of the people here than, won't I', we both chuckle.
'May I ask where you are from?' I look at Killian and realise I'm completely at ease. There's something about this man that makes me feel like I've known him forever. I tell him about my life. Not the horrible, bad stuff. But the normal stuff. We talk about work, Boston and just the regular things. He tells me thing about his life in Storybrook. The more I talk to Killian, the more I start to fall for his charms. Because he is very charming, at times very shy, very handsome and just extremely nice. He doesn't push me to tell him things, I just tell them because I want to. I feel like right now, only I matter. Before either of us realises it, it's very late and Granny asks us to leave.
'Do you mind if I walk you home?' he asks scratching behind his ear and looking down a little. Very, very cute.
'I don't really have a place to stay, actually. I'm staying in my car for now', he looks at me surprised, 'long story short: Regina made some new policy regarding ''criminals'' staying at the inn.'
'I really don't like that woman', he says with a hint of anger.
'Me neither. That's why I'm staying here. For Henry', I tell him softly. He smiles at me again.
'I'm so bloody happy he found you, Emma', he says with so much emotion in his voice that it shoots right into my heart.
'Me too. Good night, Killian', I say as I start to walk to my car.
'Good night. See you around, Swan', I'm surprised, look back and see him wink at me. So much for the shy guy.