Author Notes: I would like to thank everyone who reviewed and favorited this story so far, it means a lot to answer a guest review, Emma is 17 in the first chapter which makes August (and Neal) 24. We are going to say the Liam is 25, and Killian is 21 at that time. Just as a heads up, this is not a Neal friendly fic, and this chapter may contain possible triggers for rape and abuse.

When The Past Comes Knocking

Emma and her boyfriend, Neal Cassidy were holed up in a rundown motel on the outskirts of Boston. Neal swore that the place reminded him of the Bates Motel from that old horror movie from the 60's. (He promised to show Emma the movie when they got to Tallahassee) The wallpaper was faded and peeling off the wall, the carpet looked like it was generations old, and the room smelled of moth balls and mold, but it was home for now.

The pair were huddled over a map of the city, getting ready to plan their next heist. Neal had stolen $20,000 in watches from his former employer prior to meeting the blonde teenager, and ditched them in a storage locker at the nearby Amtrak station. The plan was simple, he would send Emma into the station to retrieve the watches and they would fence them and head to Tallahassee with the money they would make. It seemed easy enough.

"This is it Em, no more robbing gas stations or convince stores. After we get these watches we will be set." Neal said as he pulled the blonde in for a kiss, one hand threading through her hair and the other placed firmly on her waist. He had never been this bold with her in the past, and Emma began to panic. She knew Neal was had more experience than her but she never expected him to be this adventurous this soon in their relationship.

"What are you doing?" Emma exclaimed as she tried to pull away from him, but Neal just held her tighter and began placing open mouth kisses along her jaw.

"Shush Ems, you'll enjoy it, I promise."

Her body trembled each time he touched her but she quickly discovered he either didn't notice or he didn't care. She cried out as he entered her and he mistook her pain for pleasure.


The following morning Neal and Emma headed over to the Amtrak station so they could secure the watches and set their plan in motion.

"Remember, you need to try and blend in" Neal said as he placed a kiss on her cheek and ushered her out of their vehicle. Neal waited in their twice stolen yellow VW Bug while Emma made her way into the station with the key to a storage locker and an empty purse.

The building was bustling as bodies pushed past one another in a hurry to get to work. Emma glanced around the building and caught sight of a security guard at the other end of the room. She put her head down and made her way to the lockers.

It didn't take long for Emma to find the bin that corresponded with the key. She opened the locker and all that was inside was a burlap pouch. She pealed open the corner to check the contents and removed it from the locker. She held the pouch in her hands as she turned around and came face to face with the security guard.

"Shouldn't you be in school?" He questioned as Emma began to panic. She fumbled with the pouch and tried to cram it in her purse as she ran from the officer.

In her haste to get away she stumbled and the package containing the watches fell out of her hands and slid across the floor. The security guard was right behind her so she abandoned the watches and ran for the door before he could call for backup.

Emma ripped open the door to the bug and screamed for Neal to go. When they got back to the motel Neal snatched the purse from Emma and peered inside.

"Where the hell are the watches!?" He howled as he threw the empty purse to the floor.

"I-I dropped them." Emma stuttered as Neal stepped closer to her, his eyes darkened as his hand made contact with her cheek.

"You are worthless!" Neal roared, throwing her down onto the floor where she landed with a loud thud.

"Neal stop, you don't-" Emma began, holding back tears against the onslaught.

He reached down, gripping her throat tight with one hand. "If you had just followed through with the plan this would have never happened!"

The man released her after that, slamming the door shut behind him as he stormed out of the apartment. Emma was too tired to get up, her body too sore to move, but she knew she needed to get out and she needed to go find August.