A second. A minute An hour.
All Emma knew was that the dead silence that followed felt like eternity.
Hook's expression was mixed. Confused, but understanding. Annoyed, but sympathetic. Happy, but sad.
"Why?" He asked, his eyes big and puppy-like.
"My whole life," Emma began, she could feel herself tearing up already. Her eyes were melting into his.
"I felt alone. Before I came here, before Henry showed up. I couldn't understand why people would have more kids when there were so many that needed families. I spent years being ferried around the foster system, that was normality to me, but seeing everyone else in normal families - I mean real normal families - it made me realise I shouldn't be living my life how I was. Killian, I had a dream where all those feelings came back and hit me in the face all at once. I think it was telling me something. Telling me to do what I wanted someone to do for me. Why use magic when we can help someone without a family?" She sighed and stood up to pace the room, the wooden floorboards creaking beneath her feet. Her head hurt and she wasn't thinking straight. All she could think of was that dog. The barking was unbearable...
"Emma!" Killian cried, he caught her just before she hit her head on the chest of draws. Her eyes rolled and when she came round, she burst into tears on Killian's shoulder. He held her for hours, kissing her and assuring her that everything would be okay.
xxx
The phone rang and woke her up. Regina grumbled as she stretched for the lit up object.
"Why the hell am I being disturbed at 7am?" She snapped, her ruling and controlling side always showed through when she was tired.
"Regina, I'm sorry -"
"Hook?"
"Yeah, Regina please, listen I -"
"I can't believe my ears. The pirate is ringing the evil queen?" She chuckled down the phone, almost as though she had won some sort of long-standing bet.
"Look, I need your help."
"You must be desperate."
Hook sighed sarcastically. He knew Regina had changed, but she always seemed to joke with him, like she was still against him for some reason. It seemed she was only civil with him for Emma's sake - and for Henry's. He began explaining Emma's theory, and Regina immediately knew what to suggest. Hook was going to contact a foster home and book an appointment for Emma if it was the last thing he did, although he still wasn't sure about the idea himself. He just needed to know how to do it. Regina, therefore, was the best option he had.
xxx
Emma's face was totally worth it. She was delighted to hear she was being taken to the same home that Henry was picked up from, and that someone had already been chosen to meet the couple.
"She's not that young." Hook said, sounding awfully cautious.
"I was told she's thirteen, but we should get on with her just fine."
For some reason, Emma didn't really care. She always thought she'd wanted a second chance to raise a child, but she thought now that maybe all she wanted was to save a child from a miserable life in foster care. After all, that's all she'd ever wanted.
xxx
Obviously word had got round. As soon as Ruby got her eyes on Emma she practically pounced on her;
"CONGRATULATIONS!" She squealed, hugging Emma tight. "I must help you decorate her room, Granny says if you need a place you can rent the other flat above the diner!"
"That's settled, then." Hook smiled, showing all his shiny white teeth. "Thank you Ruby, your parents can finally get rid of us hey, Swan?" He winked.
"God Hook, I don't want to even think about tacos any time soon." All three of them giggled and decided to spend the rest of the day shopping for décor. Of course, with Ruby's generous help, the room was themed red, covered in fluffy cushions and fresh furniture for all the new things the couple were planning to buy.
After a weeks work, they were finally able to stand back and admire their creation.
"It's gorgeous!" Ruby beamed, and pulled Emma and Hook in for a group hug. The couple exchanged promising looks, happy and hopeful that the next stage of their plan would fit everything together perfectly.