3 years later
"Hey, Stranger, how's it going?" she teased, as she made her way into his trailer once more, like she always did.
Killian pushed aside the papers he'd been staring at for the last hour, to pull his best friend in for the warmest and tightest of hugs. "How are you doing, Ems?" he asked, breathing in her familiar scent once more.
"Not too bad," she chuckled, pulling back to get a good look at him. "Apparently, much better than you have been."
Killian huffed out a laugh, as he nodded his head to the small table tucked into the corner. Emma followed him over to it, before taking the seat opposite his. "What's going on?" she asked.
"I've missed you," he deflected. But it was a painful truth. Killian's life the past three years had changed dramatically, but the part he missed the most was her constant presence in it.
The first year back on set, without Emma, had been the worst kind of torture. Every day he'd walked back in to his trailer, expecting to see her sat there, waiting for him. And every day, the silence in it would taunt him.
Sure, they still messaged, emailed, and called. They met for coffee, or dinner, whenever their schedules would allowed it. And Emma had returned for a couple of episodes each year, when she was free.
But it wasn't the same.
"Stop stalling, Jones, and tell me what's on your mind," she commanded.
Killian picked up the papers that had been taunting him all week, before he handed them over to her. Emma flicked through them briefly, before understanding dawned on her face.
"Have you signed them yet?" she asked softly.
"Nope," he sighed. "I should. I should have signed them the moment they arrived. But I just…. I can't."
"Hey," Emma reached out a gentle hand, to run down his back. "It's okay, Killian. I understand."
"You do?" he asked, a little skeptically.
"Sure. I mean… I haven't been divorced before, but I think I can see why this is so hard for you. You still love her."
Killian hung his head, almost as if he were ashamed of that fact. "Yeah, I do," he agreed. "I mean, I know I demanded this. And I know that I hate her for what she did to me. For how she made me feel. But…. she's the only person I've ever loved, Ems. It's just hard to sign these and know that it's all gonna be over."
Emma slid in a little closer, to wrap her friend up in a gentle hug. "I know, Killian. And I don't think anyone expects you to stop loving her, as a result of this. But… for your own peace of mind… ask yourself if this is the right thing to do. Because, whatever decision you make, you're gonna have to live with it."
He tilted his head down to rest against Emma's shoulder, just basking in her comfort, for the longest of minutes.
Emma had been the first person Killian had called, that fateful day in October, when he'd returned early from a night shoot to find some arsehole's dick in his wife's mouth. She'd dropped everything to fly out to Los Angeles that night, to console her friend. She'd listened as he'd told her the whole sordid affair. She'd been patient with him, as he tore apart the hotel suite he'd rented, taking his anger out on it, as he yelled everything he wished he could have brought himself to yell at Milah. And she'd been there to hold him, as he finally cried himself to sleep, mourning the loss of his marriage.
She'd also been there the next morning, with a soft smile, coffee, and a promise to stay as long as he'd needed her. Emma had stayed an extra three days after, to help Killian process what had happened. Never once did she push him to do something he didn't want to do. Instead, she'd just sat and listened, as her friend talked it all through, and came to the decision himself.
She'd finally left the day he contacted a divorce attorney, to begin the procedure.
"Ma thinks I should have signed theses the second they arrived, to be free of the, 'toxic bitch' once and for all."
"But your Ma isn't in love with Milah," Emma explained gently. "Do you think you could make it work?"
"No," he replied instantly. "I don't trust her. I'm not sure I could ever trust her again." There were still moment where he closed his eyes and saw that image, burned behind them.
When he'd returned to his apartment, after Emma had left, Milah had tried to beg him to stay. She'd suggested couples counseling. She'd told him it would never happen again. She'd even promised to do anything he wanted, as long as he forgave her for her mistake.
But Killian couldn't take her up on any of her offers.
It had only been three days, but every day, since that night, he'd woken up to wonder what his wife was doing. And, more importantly, who it was with.
She'd broken his trust, and he knew that going back to their marriage, as if nothing had happened, wouldn't be an option. Forgiving her would mean trusting her, and he simply couldn't do that. Forasmuch as Killian hated her for what she'd done to their marriage, he wouldn't condemn her to a relationship where she was essentially leashed to him, for the sake of his own sanity.
So, instead, he'd told her to take the car and to leave.
"Then, I think you know what you need to do," Emma explained patiently.
Killian turned to her, to place a sweet kiss to her forehead, before he pulled the papers back over, and signed where he'd been instructed to.
It felt so strange that one simple signature could signal the end of his marriage. And while a large part of him wanted to mourn it, another part was relieved that this would finally be the end of it all.
No more negotiations.
No more begging for second chances.
No more comments from his mother, about how much better off he would be now.
Instead, he could finally focus on getting on with his life.
And, what better way to do that, than to celebrate his birthday, with Emma by his side once more.
"Wanna go grab some coffee before we have to head to wardrobe?" he asked her.
"Always," she chuckled, as if getting coffee was the most natural thing to do, after one signs their divorce papers.
"Lead the way, Swan."
Thanks for reading.
