A/N: Thanks so much for your kind reviews! They really do make my day. I really enjoyed writing this chapter and hope you like it just as much. It may not be exactly what you all are waiting for but I hope it's enough to kind of get you curious of where the story's going. The next chapter (or possibly the one after that, depending on how carried away I get) will give you more of the interaction I think you all are waiting for. Please let me know what you think and enjoy! Thanks!

Disclaimer: All aspects of Once Upon A Time belong to ABC and the show's creators.

Emma certainly wasn't going to be returning to Elsa's class on Thursday. No. And it wasn't because of what her friend had said. No. Emma was busy. She had a bail jumper to catch. Emma spent the entire evening staking out a bar that was her mark's usual stomping ground, waiting. She caught sight of the guy around ten, the man waltzing in like he owned the place. It never failed to both amuse and concern Emma how glib they could be. A few well-placed flirty looks and she had the guy practically hanging off her shoulder. It really wasn't hard to do and Emma knew very well the allure she could have when she wanted it. An invitation to take it to her place had him out of the bar and ten minutes later the bail jumper was handcuffed to the inside of her car. The man cursed her out the entire way to the station, struggling against the wire ties Emma had secured around his ankles and wrists once she had him attached to the holy shit bar on the roof with her handcuffs. Emma made sure the man saw her collect her bail check before giving him a smug smile and leaving.

But just because Emma was busy Thursday didn't mean she was busy Friday. Since she'd already got paid for the week for catching the joy riding, car thieving horn dog the night before Emma was having a pretty easy Friday. There was the possibility of getting a call for an easy mark later that night but for the time being she had some free time. Emma showed up around three at the health care centre and waved at Belle as she entered.

"Thought you would have come in yesterday," Belle called as Emma made her way to Elsa's class room, pleased she didn't have to worry about running into Killian, which she considered a major perk to her schedule change. Friday's were a different class, usually reserved for the people who needed a little extra attention than what the other larger classes gave.

"I was busy. Took down a car thief," Emma replied, not turning all the way back around to answer so as to hide the cringe that involuntarily showed up at the question. Of course Belle didn't know the real reason behind Emma's change in schedule but the fact that it was noticed was still embarrassing. Emma wasn't even comfortable admitting it to herself.

Emma entered the brightly lit classroom just as Elsa was setting up trays of oil pastels, the boxes they were kept in tucked under her arm. A few of the clients were starting to trickle in and find spots at the places that were ready. Elsa looked over her shoulder as Emma came in and smiled at her, as if she was completely expecting Emma to show up on a day she normally went home early if she'd had a bust earlier in the week.

"Can you grab me some more paper?" There was something about the small smile curving Elsa's lips that made Emma curious. Maybe she was happy because she'd sold an art piece or something.

Emma nodded anyways and made her way to Elsa's office, ducking around the ajar door. Inside she stopped suddenly. Because she wasn't alone. Accent man, Killian was also there, all in black denim and worn cotton. Hand grasping a pile of paper. Seemingly on the same mission Elsa had just sent Emma on.

As soon as she entered and caught Killian's attention he froze as well. Paper drifted down from his hand, scattering across the floor, a few pieces coming to rest against Emma's boots. At least she could take some solace in Killian not being in on Elsa's plan because he looked just as surprised to see her as she was to see him.

"Why are you here?" Emma blurted, filter gone in shock.

Killian shot her a look somewhere between exasperation and irritation, maybe even a bit embarrassed that he was at the class for those in need of some extra therapy help. "Because," he answered, attempting to regain his swagger while Emma swallowed her own embarrassment. "Why are you here?" Killian shot back.

"Because," Emma repeated which earned her a little smirk from Killian. They stood looking at each other, a standstill of who would act next. Emma was painfully aware of how she'd treated him and how she'd refused to give him her name, even though she now knew Killian's. But that still wasn't enough to have her back down and tell him. It wasn't worth it. Emma kept her distance from any man who hadn't known her for years and had battled to stay in her life. She could count the men she was comfortable with on one hand- Graham, her adopted brother David and Elsa's brother in law Kristophe. Emma's roster was full, no chance of new recruits. She didn't need any more in her life.

After what seemed like an eternity there was a bustling behind Emma as Elsa came into the office. "Hello Killian, Emma," she smiled, stopping next to Emma. Neither of the two responded to her greeting. Subtly she tapped Emma's back as if to urge her to actually do something. After a few more moments Elsa sighed, seemingly giving up, and grabbed a pile of paper of the shelving. "Just came to get some paper," she said, not really directed at anyone before leaving the heavy atmosphere of the office.

The mention of paper seemed to remind Killian of the pile he'd dropped at Emma's entrance. Bending onto his knees he started to try and gather all the paper. As he didn't use his stump at all, instead tucking it slightly behind his back out of the way, he had a difficult time getting the thin and spread out sheets off the slippery tile.

"Here, I've got it," Emma said, bending as well and quickly trying to grab all the paper Killian was struggling with.

"Sod off, Emma. I'm not some incapable cripple, I can do it myself," Killian snapped, instantly angry, grabbing the small pile out of her hands. The sheer fury in his voice reminded Emma of a voice she'd long tried to forget. She scrambled backwards out of panic, rational thought gone, barely avoiding falling on her behind as she tried to stand. On her feet Emma turned and left.

Elsa shot her a glance as she left the office, eyes widening immediately as she recognized the look that was painted all over Emma's face. It was one Elsa had seen many times. It was perhaps the only expression she'd seen Emma wear for the first few months after meeting.

Elsa caught Emma's arm just as she made it out into the lobby. Emma fought off the urge to rip her arm away and sprint out of the building, something Elsa had also seen from her many times. It was Elsa's voice that calmed her enough to stay where she was. "Emma, hold on. What's wrong? What did Killian do?" Elsa's voice and expression were a battle between defensive friend ready to go bury Killian in her backyard and therapist needing to protect her client's wellbeing.

Emma shook her head, trying to pull away. Belle's attention had been caught and the clacking of her heels echoed through Emma's head as she came closer to investigate. "Nothing," Emma replied. "Ne…no," she paused, taking a deep breath, "Killian, he just got angry really fast."

Elsa let go, arm falling against her side. "Oh." Recognition filled Elsa's blue eyes. Of course she would figure it out right away. Nothing got past Elsa's unassuming and clever gaze. "I know he scared you but Killian would never hurt you, Emma. There's a lot of stuff he needs to deal with."

"And I want no part of that," Emma replied firmly as Belle reached them, catching the last bit of the conversation. Belle and Emma were friends, not close like she was with Elsa but enough that Belle understood that something was very wrong and it had to do with Emma's past resurfacing.

Belle touched Emma's hand lightly. "I was just about to take my break," she said calmly. "How about you and I go get a coffee? Maybe at that new place down the road?"

Emma didn't feel like being around anyone but she knew that it would be far better for her not to run so she nodded. "Sure," she replied quietly. "I'll drive." Emma didn't miss the relieved glance Elsa shot Belle. Emma stepped away from Elsa and towards Belle's desk, eager to leave. "See you later, Els."

"See you, Ems."

Belle quickly grabbed her bag and followed Emma, who was barely in control of the tremors shaking her hands, out to her yellow bug.