2


THE CASE OF MISSING YOU


June of 2017

"Holy shit, Emma?"

"Killian?"

His eyes widened at the complete sight of her.

She had a kind of understated beauty, perhaps it was because she was so disarmingly unaware of her prettiness. Her light skin was completely flawless. He doubted that she used face masks or expensive products, that really wasn't her m.o. She was all about simplicity, making things easy, helping those around her to relax and be happy with what they have. Perhaps that was why her skin glowed so, it was her inner beauty that lit her eyes and softened her features. Her tall frame and slender body were like of a Victoria's secret model. Her green eyes, were calm and emotionless. Long, wavy blonde hair, so smooth and silky, almost as if it was tailored from gold fabric.

"You've changed, Emma."

"I changed?" Emma sassed, "You grew big muscles, darkened your hair, whitened your teeth, grew taller, developed a slight accent, and oh yeah, moved to Europe for seven years and came back to America to get hit by a taxi."

He raised an eyebrow at her, her pissed off always turned him on, "You have changed, lass."

"Don't call me that, Killian." she crossed her arms and almost turned away, but she was so fascinated by the idea that he was back and right in front of her.

He stepped towards her and took a piece of her long, blonde hair into his fingers, before flinging it behind her shoulder and smirking, "You grew your hair out longer."

"I went to law school, got my degree, moved to the city, and became sheriff, Killian. And all you did was go to a dumb sea school in Europe." she rolled her eyes.

"It wasn't just any sea school, love." he said, stepping back and leaning against the brick wall, "I have my masters degree in oceanology now, and I've made tons of money over in Europe."

"Then why are you back here?"

He paused for a second. Would he give away the one reason he came back to America, the one reason he gave up his success and fortune in Europe? Her. She was the reason he had given up so much and started over in America, why he cane back seven years later and chosen to live in the city, why he almost got hit by a taxi.

"Guess that fancy school didn't teach you how to cross the streets, huh?" she said.

He looked up at her, grateful that she didn't go on with the previous subject of conversation, "Where I lived in Europe, we didn't have to worry about giant, yellow monsters-"

"Taxis."

"Yes, taxis. We didn't have to worry about taxis running us over." he said.

She raised both of her eyebrows and stuffed her hands in the back packets of her jeans, "Right, okay, well, I better get going."

He cleared his throat, "Right, of course. See you around?"

"I hope not, Killian." she said.

He raised an eyebrow and pushed his body off the brick wall, "Why not, Emma?"

"You know exactly why, Mr. Jones. Have a good day, now. I'll be on my way, and watch where you're walking now." she said before crossing the street and getting back in her squad car. She shut her eyes and shook her head, hoping that it was all just a dream and she'd wake up in her bed, and he wouldn't be standing there on the curb across the street from her, and he wasn't back in America after seven years, and that she was definitely not freaking out over him being back.

She opened her eyes.

And yes, he was still there.

She wasn't sleeping; it wasn't a dream.

He was back in America after seven years.

And yes, she was definitely freaking out.


June of 2010

She stared at her phone and contemplated dialing his number. Was it worth it? She did miss him, but he cut everything off with her. It wasn't worth the pain she was going to feel if he didn't answer. It wasn't worth her heart dropping after she hung up. Or was it?

She sighed angrily and picked up the phone, quickly dialing his number and letting it ring.

Hello?

"Killian? Is that you?"

This is my number, isn't it?

"Sorry, yeah. I'm just surprised you actually answered."

Emma, I really can't talk right now.

"Yeah, of course. I understand. Another time?"

What did you need? I have a few seconds.

She paused, "I just miss you."

There was silence on the other end for a few seconds and then she heard a long sigh.

Emma, I thought we talked about this.

"Talked about it? You said you were leaving and didn't even properly say goodbye. You just left everything hanging and left for Europe the next morning."

I didn't leave anything hanging.

"You left us hanging, Killian."

I can't do this right now, Emma. I didn't leave us hanging, I said you had to move on. It was the only way.

She stayed silent.

Long distant relationships never work, and as much as I loved you, I couldn't hold onto you like that. I was doing it for your own good. You deserved better.

"I love you, Killian."

I loved you, Emma. I had to let go, and so do you. I'm sorry, I have to go. Don't call again, live your life.

"Killian, please-"

Before she could finish her sentence, the other line cut off. She sighed and curled up into her rocking chair, tucking her head into her knees and letting the tears take over.


June of 2017

After she returned the squad car, she drove down the streets in her yellow bug. Emma seemed off, her whole mind wasn't clearly wrapping around the idea that Killian was back and that she didn't know why. But she intended to figure it out. And she wasn't going to let her feelings - her feelings from the past of course - get in the way. At least, she hoped she wouldn't.

Emma parked her car in the lot of her favorite coffee shop, NYC Brewery, and went inside to order her regular. She waited in line patiently and ordered, "Medium hot chocolate with whipped cream and cinnamon."

"You got it, Sheriff."

"Emma, please. I'm off the clock." she laughed as the cashier handed her her drink for no charge, "Thank you, Belle."

"Have a good one, Emma." Belle said as Emma waved to her. She made her way over to the condiments area so she could add a bit more cinnamon in her drink and grab a heat protector. Then, she went to sit down in the corner booth or the shop, away from the crowd of people up front. She pulled out her phone and scrolled through her few notifications, some from Leroy and a few others from social media. She was interrupted by a shadow being cast over her table.

She looked up and saw none other than the rich, blue eyes of Killian Jones.

"Aye, lass. This is a nice little shop." he said before sipping his togo coffee.

She rolled her eyes and looked back at her phone, "I told you to stay away, Killian."

"I know," he shrugged, "I just had a question for the sheriff."

"Unless it includes the reason you're still here or the reason you're even back in America, I don't want to hear it."

He stared at her, hoping she'd look back up at him to see his need for her in his eyes, but she didn't, so he simply said, "Alright, I'll leave you."

The shadow disappeared as she finally looked up, acknowledging his parting and then suddenly feeling a drop in her heart, as if she didn't want him to go. She shook her head and finished her drink quickly before getting rid of it and running after him out in the parking lot - which she regretted two seconds after she called his name. He stopped and spun around, that dumb smirk on his face and his silly raised eyebrow, "Aye?"

"What was your question from before?"

"Um," he swallowed hard and stuffed his hands in his front jean pockets, "I was wondering if there were any apartment buildings that I could buy an area in. I was hoping to stay in the city for a bit, so buying a place to stay is probably a good idea, don't ya think?"

Taken aback, she slowly nodded, "Uh, sure, there's the Beatrice Apartments up in Chelsea, Park Avenue South Apartments in the city, the Amsterdam Apartments in the city and SoHo Court in the city, where I live."

"The SoHo Court, huh?" Killian said, "That place sounds a bit familiar."

"That's because you've been there before." Emma said.


March of 2010

Killian grabbed Emma's hand and pulled her up the stairs with him.

"Killian, we're going to get caught." Emma said.

He shushed her, "Quiet down, Mr. Hopper will never notice our absence."

She rolled her eyes, "He will definitely notice that two of his ten students are missing from his group."

"We're in New York, it's our senior trip. Relax a little."

"I can't relax knowing that this might jeopardize or affect either of our eligibility to graduate." she said.

He laughed and ran down the hallway, "Come on."

She shook her head, but he held his arms wide open and waited for her to run into his arms. She hesitated and hid her hand under her long sleeves, before rolling her eyes and running into his arms. He picked her up and spun her around in the air, before walking her into a room and placing her on the ground. He pushed her lightly and shut the door behind him. He grabbed her by the waist, and pulled her in, as close to him as he could, before he pinned her up against the wall behind them and kissed her. The kisses became more rough each time. She could feel his desire in his kiss and in his vigorous movements. She ran her fingers through his dark, thick hair, wanting more. Soon enough, her fingers found his top button and started to undo them, one by one, until his shirt was fully open and her hands could feel the cold area of his chiseled abs.

"Where are we, anyway?" she managed to get out between kisses.

He shrugged and pushed her hair away from her neck so he could suck her pulse point, "Some place called SoHo Court, but that doesn't matter right now."

Hi hands sipped under the bottom of her shirt and felt the cool, soft skin of her belly, his finger slightly skimming it. Then, her phone started ringing, interrupting their heated kiss.

She shoved her hand in her pocket and answered the call, "What's up, Regina?"

I know I'm not usually nice to you, but I figured I'd do at least one good deed while I'm in a different city. Hopper is on his way up the stairs of SoHo Court.

"What? How did he know we were here?"

I might have let it slip out of my mouth.

"Bullshit, Regina."

Hey, at least I tried to fix it by calling you. He'll be up there in about thirty seconds.

Emma hung up the phone and quickly began to button Killian's shirt without telling him why, "Regina called."

"I heard," he said, "What about? Was she making fun of you again? I swear I'll beat her ass."

"Just sit on the bed and open that map, look confused, would you?" Emma said as she pushed him down onto the bed. She quickly zippered her sweatshirt and sat down next to him, just as the door swung open and revealed a confused Mr. Hopper. Emma's head shot up as she sent him a nervous smile and said, "We heard this apartment building had a bathroom, so we came here."

"It was necessary to go to the fifth floor and into an apartment instead of using the bathroom in the lobby?" Mr. Hopper said.

Killian folded his map and shoved it in his pocket, before standing up and saying, "That would have been much easier than going up five cases of stairs."

"Sorry, Mr. Hopper." Emma said before standing and walking out of the room beside Killian. She snickered under her breath as Killian hit her butt on the way out.

"Do it again, Mr. Jones and Ms. Swan, and neither of you will see a graduation cap." Mr. Hopper said as he rolled his eyes and broke in between them, walking down the staircase and heading back to the rest of his group.


June of 2017

"Oh yeah, I forgot about that trip." Killian laughed.

"We almost didn't get to graduate because of your stupid idea!" she laughed with him then, even though she knew she didn't really want to. There was no way that she wanted Killian to be in any part of her life.

He continued laughing, "You didn't think it was a stupid idea at the time, in fact, I remember you being the one pressuring me."

"Hey, that's not how it went; you brought me to the place." she laughed genuinely then, her big and white smile finally making an entrance.

He stopped laughing, "There's that smile."

"What smile?" she asked innocently.

He pointed as he cheeks grew a light shade of pink, "The one where you get all nervous, but then you're genuinely happy."

She cleared her throat and immediately hid her smile, "Anyway, good luck finding an apartment."

He shook his head and frowned at her, his hand leaving his pockets and his arms crossing over his chest. He sighed, "Emma."

"What, Killian?" she said, turning away slightly.

"Why is it that everytime I remind you of a happy time of our relationship, you change the subject?" Killian asked.

She bit her lip and then pursed her lips, "Are you serious right now?"

He nodded and raised an eyebrow.

She stepped back and dug for her car keys in her coat pocket, "Because it doesn't remind me of happiness."

"Why not?"

She looked up at him, her mouth dropping and her eyes widening. Did he really think he was that innocent? Of course he did. He always was overly self confident. Emma sighed and shook her head, then looked down to the ground and said, "Because you broke my heart when you promised you wouldn't."

"Emma-"

"Killian, I have to go. I really don't want to talk about this now," she sighed and turned away from him, beginning to cross the parking lot to her yellow bug, "Or ever again. Goodbye."

"Emma, let's not do this."

"Not do what?" she paused but didn't turn to face him.

He sighed and rubbed his head, "Let's not fight over what we lost."

"We didn't lose anything," she said, "You gave up on it."

And it was true. Killian did give up on it.

He gave up on them.

He gave up on her.


Emma parked in her assigned spot before standing from her car and shutting the door behind her. She flipped her voluminous curls out of her face and zipped her leather jacket up halfway, before crossing the parking lot and walking into her apartment building. She nodded to the lobbyist and headed up the stairs to her floor, before digging her key out of her pocket and arriving to her door. While struggling to open the door, she was intrigued to hear the lobbyist coming up the stairs, talking about how beautiful and amazing the SoHo Court was. She hurriedly opened the door and ran inside her apartment, before shutting the door behind her and locking it.

What was she doing? Why was she acting thirteen again? Was she so paranoid that she couldn't bare to see the lobbyist and who she was touring the SoHo Court with?

Obviously.

She heard some muffled chatter out in the hallway before she unzipped her jacket and threw it across her couch. Rolling her eyes, she sighed and went into the kitchen to eat a small snack. When she picked up an apple from the fridge, she heard a knock on her door. After placing the apple on the counter, she brushed her hair behind her shoulders and trudged to the door. Emma opened it and saw her lobbyist with a big smile.

"Can I help you, Ruby?" she said.

Ruby sat on her hip and crossed her arms, "Hello to you too, Sheriff. What's with the chip on your shoulder?"

Emma shook her head, "Sorry. What did you need?"

Ruby raised an eyebrow, "I wanted to introduce you to your new neighbor."

Emma opened the door a bit more to see the person standing next to Ruby. She rolled her eyes and sighed, "You've got to be kidding me, Ruby."

"Do you have a problem with Mr. Jones?" she asked.

Killian smiled at Emma and shoved his hands in his pockets before shaking his head, "No issues. Just old friends, that's all."

"Emma?"

"Fine, we're fine. I'm not being a friendly neighbor or anything. We know each other and that's it. Goodbye, Killian." Emma said.

Ruby nodded and made her way down to hallway and into the elevator, leaving Emma and Killian alone in the hallway.

Killian sighed, "Listen, I know you're angry-"

"What don't you understand about staying away?" Emma said.

"Emma, let me explain-"

She rolled her eyes, "I may be the sheriff, but that doesn't mean I have to be nice to you. Goodbye, Killian. Please, oh please, do not talk to me."

"I don't understand where this is-"

"Killian, go."

He nodded and stuck his key into the door across the hall from hers, before looking back at Emma, who was already shutting the door, and stepping into his new apartment.

This was it.

The first step to redemption and the first step to getting Emma back.

Or so he thought.


A/N: Getting a bit more angsty for you all. Hope you all are enjoying this. Leave me a review.

Kisses.