Emma had slowed to a walk by the time she reached the little cottage where her parents lived. She punched the gate walking in, and hoped to go that the door was open tonight. She was not in the mood to break in. It was open.
"Emma? Is that you?" Mary Margaret whispered lazily from the couch where she had obviously fallen asleep.
"Go to bed, Mary Margaret," Emma said flatly, moving past her and pouring herself some water.
"Are you okay, dear?" Mary Margaret asked warily, moving slowly off the couch. Emma could tell she was nervous. She had seen Emma's breakdowns. Emma slammed her hand down on the counter. "Why are you even up?" Emma asked, trying not to be pushy and failing miserably.
"I wanted to make sure you got home safely," her mom said, raising her eyebrows are Emma's attitude. Emma snorted. "I'm 28. I don't need you to stay up and wait for me. I don't need you to do anything. I haven't been home for 10 years! I was a terror before that! I stole and got drunk and ran away from you guys more times then I can even remember and you're just sitting here and acting like it's all okay! I know how people look at me… " Emma looked away, chugging some water, trying to calm her breathing. Her breakdowns have been coming more frequently and she knew she looked crazy right now.
Mary Margaret walked behind her, wrapping her arms around her daughters. Emma stiffened, thinking of pushing her back, but she didn't. I'm not that person. I love these people. I am not that person, Emma told herself. A tear fell down her face and she quickly brushed it away before her mom could see. "Emma… You were an interesting child to say the least, " Mary Margaret laughed, "But you were ours, and we would never judge you… we love you." Emma's breathing started to slow. "Thanks mom."
"Don't worry, honey. Guys will come and go, but we are your parents and we will always be here for you." Emma smiled and stopped shaking so much. "Um… Emma… What are you wearing?" Mary Margaret asked, looking down at the tight leather dress hugging her daughter's body. "Well that's my cue to leave," Emma smirked running to the stairs and disappearing above.
/
Emma flopped onto her bed. Her eyes were stained once again with tears and her body was still shaking. She knew she shouldn't have gone out with Ruby or Belle or Killian. Killian, She thought, feeling her body tense up at the memory of him pressing himself against her, how she had practically dared him to kiss her, and how he walked away from her. She shook her head. I didn't need this. I didn't ask for this…, Emma thought to herself, wiping her face clean.
She dreamt she was sitting in her apartment, Neal held his arms around her and told she was beautiful, that she was enough. Emma turned to give him a kiss to find him talking to someone else, a tan and beautiful girl with a smile that put hers to shame. The arms around her were not Neal. She looked up into piercing blue eyes, trying to push back. "You are enough Emma," Killian whispered into her ear, holding her to his chest, where the tattoo of an anchor covered his heart. She felt the tears coming. "I will never be enough," She spat. Killian walked closer to her, revealing the tattoo on his chest, we all have pain, Emma." She found herself against his chest in an embrace and she outlined the tattoo and felt him shudder under her touch. "What hurt you…"She felt herself ask. Those blue eyes stared into her soul and she felt it, the pain of everything she'd ever done. "Stop… Please," Emma begged, pushing him back.
"I'm not going to hurt you… You are," he stepped back as Emma fell forward, a knife sticking through her abdomen, where Emma had thought she put her hand.
"Please, Neal, help me," She cried. Everyone started to back up. She felt the life draining from her eyes.
"I'm so scared on my own." Emma fell to her knees and the dream faded away.
/
"Good morning, Swan," Killian laughed. Emma lay on the couch sleepily where apparently she had slept last night. "How did I get down here?" She asked sleepily to no one in particular, "Why are you here?" Emma shot up.
"Sorry love," He smirked, "just came to return your phone, which you oh so gracefully threw before running out on me last night… you know running won't stop those feelings you have for me," He winked at her.
"Get out," Emma said flatly. David walked down the stairs to see Killian and Emma sitting on the couch, a blanket around his daughter. "Oh… Emma, I'm glad you're up, Killian just came by to drop off your phone… And he's still here… On the couch… With you," David said, staring daggers into both of them.
Killian pushed away from Emma, getting up quickly and taking a seat on the other side of the room. Emma raised her eyebrows at him and he rolled his eyes. David continued down the stairs into the kitchen, where he could watch Emma and Killian. "Is Killian Jones afraid of my father?" Emma teased.
"No but Killian Jones is afraid of getting fired," He snapped back. Emma's mouth fell open. "So you can flirt with me, corner me against a wall, watch me sleep TWICE but you won't actually do anything because you're scared of my father," Emma continued to tease.
"I'm not scared of him, " Killian remarked, getting up and moving over to Emma. He lowered his face so that their mouths were practically touching. Emma's face blushed instantly and she tried to look away but he grabbed her chin to pull her back so they were staring at each other, hazel eyes meeting blue eyes. "Well, Swan. Since you didn't ask for it but we both know you wanted it, you can find my number in that cell of yours," He smiled that crooked smile of his.
"Well Killian it was a pleasure to have you!" David yelled from the kitchen, staring into the living room at them.
"The pleasures all mine," Killian said looking at David and then back at Emma before making his way to the door. David watched him close the door before he turned on Emma. "So. Where were you last night and uh, why did Killian have your phone," David asked, trying to act nonchalant, but Emma could see his jaw clenching.
"I went out with Ruby and Belle. I just happened to run into him last night. It's not like I have a lot of friends here dad… I have to hold on to the ones I can find, even if they work for you," Emma stated. David's jaw unclenched. "I just want you to be careful. Killian is a great worker but he is a womanizer and I'll be damned if he hurts my daughter," David said, pulling milk out of the fridge and pouring way too much into his cereal bowl. Emma gave her dad a kiss on the cheek and felt him calm down instantly. "I know how to take care of myself," Emma told her father, "Not even Killian Jones can change that." David smiled and pulled Emma in close.
She was starting to see a pattern in this town. A lot of hugging, and kissing, and everyone knew everything about everyone. But Emma didn't want gossip. Something about her dream last night had felt so real, and she wanted to know Killian's story… Why was he here?, Emma thought. The thought had barely crossed her mind when David had started answering it.
"He was found at sea. Holding on to a board from an old ship called the Jolly Roger. He was the only survivor. That was 5 years ago. He's been a drunk ever since, but a good worker and a good man at heart. I know you think you've found a friend in him and I understand that, but there are some things that are better off not asking about." Emma nodded. Of all things she could understand that.
/
Killian walked through the streets, checking his phone every so often to see if Emma had called him. She's not going to call you. You're a drunk and she finds you toxic, He thought to himself, punching a wall of one of the shops. He didn't know what it was about her but he just kept coming back to her. It was only fate that he had been the one to find her phone sitting on the ground by the door. Her phone had read 10 missed calls from some guy named Neal and Killian had felt like he had been kicked in the stomach at the thought of Emma with another guy. He needed to know though. He had to.
Walking down the street he made his way into Granny's diner, where Ruby sat behind the counter, flirting with some guy. He rolled his eyes. Did he really want to resort to talking to Ruby, He thought. Scratching the back of his neck and pushing her hair back. He decided against it and had turned to walk out when Ruby's voice rang through the shop. "Killian Jones. To what do I owe the pleasure," She yelled sarcastically, leaning against the counter, waiting. Fuck, He thought, but he turned around anyways, here goes nothing. "I have a predicament I think you can help me with, love," Killian said smoothly sliding into one of the chairs as Ruby leaned across. He scratched the back of his neck again, a nervous tick he had picked up as a child. "It's about your friend Emma… Is she uh, is she seeing anyone," Killian asked softly, looking anywhere but at Ruby. When he did look back at her, her mouth lay open in shock. "I knew it!" She yelled.
"This was a bad idea. Sorry to bother you, love," He said, getting up and moving away from her but Ruby grabbed his arm. "I'm just surprised is all," Ruby said, "That's actually why she's back… Her boyfriend of 10 years left her for another woman."
"What was his name?" Killian asked.
"Neal. Why?" Ruby asked quizzically. Killian sighed, rubbing his hands across his face. "Well… he called her about 10 times yesterday… when I had her phone… and I may have answered one," He whispered. Ruby's mouth opened even wider. "KILLIAN!"
"Eh, I was drunk, but uh, he was not happy to have another bloke answer the phone," Killian laughed. Ruby rolled her eyes. "Oh god… Maybe he wants her back," Ruby whispered. Killian's stomach dropped. "If he didn't before… he probably does now," Killian got up and pushed his hair back. "Did he hurt her?" He asked.
"Yeah… she's a mess, Killian," Ruby answered. Killian nodded. "Then let's see him come back. I think I'd like to have a little chat with him myself."
