If only she hadn't left her cell phone in the booth.

She realized it was missing the second she stepped into her apartment, but not only was she was too worn out from her brisk walk to get there, she also did not want to face Killian again after having only just walked out on their dinner. Briefly she considered just buying a new one — her iPhone was a few generations old and had gotten frustratingly slow — but she feared she'd miss a call from work before she could inform them of her new number. And so, much to her dismay, she knew the responsible thing to do was to go back to the diner and retrieve her decrepit phone.

Of course, that would have to wait until morning, because Emma had crashed within seconds of lying in bed.

The next morning, after having settled her stomach (damn that morning sickness — even if it wasn't as bad as her first pregnancy, it was still a nuisance from time to time), Emma solidified her plans to make one last trip to Granny's to pick up her phone. She would be quick and inconspicuous.

Especially quick, because she had a doctor's appointment to get to.

She put on the darkest sunglasses she could find and placed a wool hat over her head in attempt to mask her identity. It felt ridiculous, but the idea of Killian being there and recognizing her was too much of a risk to her sanity. Anticipating the need for a speedy getaway, she grabbed the keys to her Bug and went down to the parking lot behind her apartment to climb in.

Fortunately, when she peeked in through the front windows of the diner, she couldn't spot him. Breathing a sigh of relief, she walked in, removed the "disguise" and went straight to yesterday's table to find her phone.

It wasn't there.

No no no. Dread coursing through her, she frantically checked both sides of the booth and, when that provided no luck, crawled on her knees beneath the table to see if the phone had ended up on the floor. Still not finding it, she wondered whether it had been returned to the restaurant staff.

Eagerly lifting her head to get up, she bonked it on the edge of the table. "Ow," she grumbled.

And then she heard a familiar voice from behind her. "Alright, lass?"

Dang it. Really?!

Pulling (carefully, this time) out from under the table, she stood up and turned to glare at Killian, who was wearing his stupid grin and scratching his stupid ear.

I must keep my cool. I must keep my cool.

"I'm fine. I left my phone here. Did you see it?" she asked, raising her eyebrows.

"I noticed it after you had left, and so I gave it to Ruby to give to you should you come looking for it," he nodded towards the bar where Ruby was pouring coffee.

"Oh. Well, I suppose I'll go get it from Ruby then."

"Very good, I was just coming to ask her if you had fetched it."

"And I will do that now. So that's all settled."

"Brilliant."

Could he stop smiling at her like an idiot? Like, honestly. He should be mad at her for fleeing mid-dinner. Despite her frustration, she had to stop the corners of her lips from twitching up.

"I don't have time for this," she mumbled as she walked straight past him to the bar. She reclaimed it from the enthusiastic waitress who was evidently pleased to see the pair back at her grandmother's diner.

Grinning as she glanced back and forth at Emma and Killian (who was still standing a few feet behind her), Ruby crooned, "I'm so glad you guys made up, you make such a cute couple."

"What? No, we're not, we haven't—" Emma stammered, her heart pounding.

"Miss Swan and I are not a couple, unfortunately," he explained, winking.

Turning to gaze at Killian, she tensed. Regardless of the twist in her gut she experienced whenever she looked at him, or how carefree she felt when they got lost in exchanging their stories last night at dinner, or how she knew he somehow understood her better than anyone ever had (even though she could hardly admit it to herself), she was terrified of what would happen should she trust him and let him into her life. He knew nothing of her pregnancy, nothing of the child that he had fathered.

Soberly, she said, "I don't think you could handle it," shaking her head and exiting the diner once again, not checking to see Killian's reaction.

Sliding into her Bug that was parked just out front, she felt a buzz in her pocket. See, this is why I needed my phone back, it's probably work calling me in.

Answering without checking the ID, she put the phone to her ear. "Emma Swan."

"Miss Swan, if I could just—"

Choosing to ignore the dizziness she felt hearing his voice, she hissed, "How the hell did you get my number?"

"Used your phone to text myself. Clever, aren't I?"

"You are not one to give up, are you."

"If you want me to, will leave you alone from now on. I promise."

"Why is it that I don't believe you?"

"You should believe me. I consider myself a man of my word."

"Then why are you calling me?"

"In case you don't want me to leave you alone."

It would have been easy enough for Emma to say "Yes, go away." But, then, glancing out the passenger window, she saw him. He was standing inside Granny's, near the front window, looking out at her. Her eyes traced the hopefulness painted in his features, her pulse accelerating as she mulled over how to handle this delicate situation.

Telling Killian to leave her be would mean her life would go back to normal, to a state that she knew she could manage. She was comfortable being in control, knowing she couldn't be wounded the way she'd been in the past.

But that was then.

"Why didn't you come out of the diner after me? You probably would have caught me."

"Well, that was in case you do actually want me to leave you alone."

She closed her eyes and sighed, then pulled the phone from her ear.

Cursing under her breath, she wondered: Would it be possible to let Killian in but not give him the power to hurt her? At least, not as deeply. Granted, she now had thicker skin than ever.

Once again facing the diner, she caught his gaze and motioned for him to come over.

He approached the window that she had rolled down to the right of her, then crouched down to lean his forehead on the top of the car above the window, half smiling.

"So what is it then, Miss Swan?" he asked, his expression sanguine.

"I'm pregnant."

The reasoning behind her disclosure was twofold: First of all, if he found out and didn't run, perhaps she just might be able to trust him. A little bit.

And secondly, if he somehow became a recurring part in her life, he would figure out as much eventually.

To Emma's surprise, Killian snickered. (Why the hell is he laughing?!) "I knew I was exceptionally handsome, but I didn't know I was that exceptionally handsome."

She wanted to yell that he was being ridiculous in assuming the child was his, but the fact was that he wasn't wrong. Oh God.

"You're an idiot. I chose to get pregnant from an anonymous sperm donor." That is 100% the truth.

"I see. Interesting."

"Uh huh," she responded, her sarcasm loaded with frustration towards his casual response to the bomb she just dropped.

Killian quietly played with his fingers for a moment before asking, "Am I correct to assume that you calling me over here is for more than just telling me you are with child?"

She exhaled, looking into his eyes, searching for a hint of anything that would make her believe he didn't actually want to be with her because that would just make her life so much simpler. But she couldn't see a thing.

"Look. I'm not kidding when I say I'm having a kid. It may not look like it now but it sure as hell will soon. I'm just not in the kind of place right now where I can be in a relationship. Heck, when the baby comes, I'll probably be in less of a place for one."

His smile showed his understanding, but his eyes his disappointment. "Miss Swan, I don't wish to trouble you. I will go on my merry way and leave you be."

She shook her head as he turned to leave. "No, wait. I mean," she sighed before continuing, her voice shaking, "You don't have to leave. It would be okay if, maybe… maybe, we were friends."

Emma's stomach squirmed as she took in his expression. The smug bastard. "Well, I think that would be brilliant, if we were friends."

Him leaving was inevitable. He would leave her, just as everyone who had ever been close to her had.

But at least, for now, she was at ease knowing that being just friends could spare her some of the suffering when he did.