Hi all, new chapter!

For the sake of the story, Milah is mentioned and Emma has recently given birth to Henry. I only added "lieutenant duckling" to the story because this takes place when they're younger.

Remember: It takes hours to make, minutes to read, and seconds to review. Please review!

I do not own Once Upon a Time or any characters mentioned.

Enjoy.

Chapter 2

"Granny can you take care of Henry for the day?" Emma said patting her son's back. It had already been a month since she had given birth and he was the sweetest kid she could hope for. The older lady sighed but broke out into a smile as she was handed the boy.

"Of course. Where are you going?" Emma slung her backpack over her shoulder.

"Library. Gotta study." Emma brushed a kiss on Henry's forehead and left the apartment she was sharing with her roommate, Ruby. Occasionally, her grandmother would come over and take care of Henry. It wasn't home, but probably the closest she would ever get to one.

Writing furiously on a sheet of paper as she pored over the heavy medical books laid out in front of her, Emma's mind began to wander back to last night. Emma was definitely not the swooning type, but damn she had to admit that man- Killian was hot! She absently rubbed her knuckles where his lips had been and smiled. He seemed like something straight out of a dream, with his accent, that smile, his tousled black hair, and those eyes. His oh so blue eyes that rivaled against the ocean and- She jolted when she realized what she was doing. Ugh, no time for daydreaming Emma, and especially not on men! These notes won't write themselves! She picked her pen up and began to scribble wildly, flipping the pages of the books and muttering to herself.

"So the warrior princess is also a bookworm? You're just full of surprises aren't you?" Her pen clattered down on to the table as she quickly looked up. Standing in front of her with a wide grin on his face was Killian in all his beautiful glory.

"What the hell are you doing here?" she blurted out. She mentally cringed, why do I always react to people like this? He raised his eyebrows, yet another thing about him that intrigued her, the way they moved.

"Well Swan, if you must know, I'm here for studying, which I assume you are doing as well." He motioned to the seat across from her. "Mind if I sit with you?" No, no, no, tell him there's no room. Men like him are nothing but trouble. All charming at first and then ditch you behind.

"Sure," she said moving moving her books. Damn it Emma! He grinned and spread out a couple of books that he was carrying. She went back to writing, but at the corners of her eyes saw him pick up one of her books to read the cover.

"'Atlas of Human Anatomy'?" he read. Her eyes found his. "Doctor?" he guessed.

"So what?" she asked defensively snatching the book back. "You don't think I can do it?" He looked taken aback.

"I meant no such thing." Why does he talk like that? So formal! "Merely curious is all." He rested his chin in his hands and his beautiful blue eyes studied her as she continued to work.

"What?" she demanded putting down her pen when she couldn't ignore Killian's stare any longer.

"Why a doctor?"

"Why not?"

"Well you clearly seem motivated so either you are doing this by choice or to please someone." When she didn't say anything, he continued. "Parents most likely..." he said cautiously watching her and she willed herself not to move, "though you're a bit too young doing it for a child-" Her jaw clenched, another person thinking she couldn't do it!

"And what if it was for a child?" she interrupted angrily. "I'm tired of people telling me what I can and can't do!"

"You have a child?" he asked eyes going wide. Shit, did she say that? "How-" She held up her hand.

"Woah, sorry buddy. I don't do back stories." Her stomach clenched when he gave her smile as if he had a secret. This can't be good.

"That's fine, I don't need you to share. You're something of an open book." Emma's jaw dropped. If there was one thing she was good at, it was hiding her emotions. And this man she just met yesterday claims that he can read her.

"Am I?" she ventured. Show me what you got. Her work was all but forgotten now.

"Aye. Given that you have already told me about your child, you're motivated in becoming a doctor to support him. Because you don't want to abandon him the way you were abandoned." She swallowed at the precision of his words. Who is this guy? Hell, she wasn't about to give him the satisfaction that he was right.

"Who says I was abandoned?" she asked coolly. His smile disappeared.

"I've spent quite a while helping in an orphanage and I've seen the children there. They all share the same look in their eyes...the look you get when you've been left alone. You had the same look in your eyes when I first saw you." Emma looked straight into Killian's eyes. His blue pierced into her green ones as if he saw deep inside her, but she also saw the pain of being abandoned in his eyes as well. She quickly pressed her lips together so they wouldn't quiver. He must have seen her do so because he reached out and grasped her hand.

"Love has been all too rare in your life," he whispered. The contact made her shiver and she pulled her hand back.

"No, I have my son and he's all I need. I don't need parents, a man, or anyone." She got up, trembling, gathered her books and papers and walked away, and she could feel those blue eyes of his watching her.

When she had gotten a safe distance away from the library she stopped and clenched the hand that he touched into a fist. He only wanted to make me feel better, she told herself, So he knows some stuff about me, big deal. Doesn't mean he likes you and you certainly don't like him. She placed the fist over her chest. So why is my heart beating so fast?

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