"Ems, if you pull me any harder, my arm is going to fall off!"

Her blood was boiling. How dare Ruby mention anything about Neal to him. God, and of all people, it had to be him. They were almost outside. Outside was safe. No unwanted ease droppers around.

"Emma, seriously, I'm going to fall if you keep up at this pace. Unlike some people I start drinking as soon as the party starts." Emma huffed as she closed the doors and spun around to face her head on.

"What in the hell were you saying to Jones?"

"What in the hell were you doing with Neal?"

"He's my boyfriend." Emma scoffed.

"Well he shouldn't be!" Now it was time for Ruby's blood to boil. "How could you let yourself stay in this situation? God Emma!"

"This is MY LIFE Ruby. What I do with it and the choices I make for that matter are none of your damn business."

"It is when you're in DANGER. How can you not comprehend that I care about you."

"I'm not in any danger, Ruby. It was ONCE. He knows that he'll never get away with it again, okay?" Inside, Emma was scoffing at herself now. It wasn't the first time. Flashes of him shoving her over tables and smacking her flashed through her mind, but she kept her composure. She had to be with him. He was the only guy who actually cared. He was there for her right when David started getting her to open up. When she closed herself back off, there was just that tiny sliver of herself that she kept revealed just for him. He loves me. He has to... She shook her head, she didn't want to complete that thought. Too much for one night.

"It doesn't matter what you say. I love you and I want to trust you, but you've already lied to me once. Now that you've admitted what happened, I can't be expected to just sit around sipping cocoa with him at your place. You and Neal need to Break up."

"Do we now?" All the color drained from Emma's face and Ruby was opening and closing her mouth like a fish. No. No no no no no no. This can't be happening. Breathe Emma. After taking a deep breath, Emma turned around and faced him.

"Hey, I was about to come inside. You didn't have to come out."

"Oh, I think I did." He sharply whispered in her ear. Her throat closed off and suddenly she couldn't swallow. She knew that voice. She glanced over at Ruby, who had luckily regained her composure and now was analyzing the two of them. She had to pretend like everything was fine. All she needed was a scene, and being honest with herself, she didn't trust Neal to not hurt Ruby if she kept it up with her snarky comments.

"Well thanks for coming to check on me." She smiled and kissed him on the cheek. He seemed to pick up on her change in direction and smiled his charming smile.

"Well, I was getting bored here anyway. Do you want me to walk you home?" There was that look in his eyes. A look of promise To outside eyes it would look like a drunken man getting ready to get laid. But Emma knew what he was promising and her heart and mind shrank away from him while her body stayed cool and collected.

"Sure. Let's go," Her body felt like if her muscles coiled up any more, they would snap. Everything was so tense. She bounded down the stairs and turned around at the bottom just in time to see Ruby stepping away from him and going inside. She wouldn't say anything, would she?

The walk back was very quiet and tense. She knew what she was getting, and he knew that she wouldn't run away. She had to get out of her headspace. Thinking of it made it so much worse. She started looking at the flowers. Looking at the trees. Looking at the sky. Then she decided to look at the people. She started making up stories in her head. Just seeing someone and what they want to reveal to the world often doesn't even scratch the surface of what is really happening in their lives. She was just about to count the weeds she passed when she heard it…his laugh…the sound that always manages to make her heart flutter. Damn him. Just across the yard was none other Killian Jones. Was that Robin behind him? She squinted to get a better peek and that's when her heart sank. Wisps of blonde caught in the streetlights and round, curvaceous hips swayed as they moved. He's allowed to screw whoever he wants, she thought to herself, he isn't mine. Why would he even want to be?

"Enjoying the sightseeing, sweetheart?" Neal snapped.

"What?"

"I'm already beyond pissed at you. Do you seriously want to go for gold here? Don't play all innocent."

"I'm not playing anything Neal! I didn't do anythi-" She felt a sharp pain in her scalp and suddenly her head was back and her neck was vulnerable. Before she could even try to find some way to break free, his hand was clasped around her throat. He looked around carefully for any witnesses and leaned his mouth down so that his lips brushed against her ear.

"Talk to me like that again. I dare you."

"S-" she coughed "Sorry." He laughed in her ear and Emma thought she was going to throw up. He loosened his grip and as she started to walk ahead of him, he grabbed her forearm and looked at her like she was the stupidest thing around.

"You do know that you'd never stand a chance anyway, right?"

"Huh?"

"With Jonsey over there. He doesn't go for those pathetic, stubborn types. The only thing you'd be good for is a quick fuck, and a notch on his bedpost."