Before we get started, reviews!
Celticank: Thank you for the review, I am so glad you like my story! I understand where you are coming from, however I have to strongly disagree with you. The real problem with Gold is how the writers chose to use him as an escape goat and forget his entire arc after season three. Rumple has done his fair share of terrible deeds (as has any other villain in this show), and sure, some could point out the repetitiveness in his actions due to no 'punishment' given. However, neither have the other characters? Especially the 'heroes' who do something, and it gets either glorified or justified. Now, even if we don't see "punishment", we do see karma. No one likes him, he's treated terribly, life gets worse as he loses the people he loves...it all loops around, because what comes around goes around, right? Another thing I never understood is how every character completely dismissed Regina's flaws and past and helped her without even considering or giving the benefit of the doubt to Gold. I liked Regina's arc, except...everyone (including the writers? Like...how?) forgot about Gold's arc? And even before season three ended...they still left him in Zelena's prison? Continually put him last and at the end of their "help" or whatever list? So, yeah. The show went downhill from there if I am honest with myself. I still love the show due to it's sentimental value, but even I can see and point out obvious flaws and plot holes, etc.
Szczszescie: They definitely are overlooked, aren't they? I'm so so glad you're liking my story! It warms my heart and makes me even more excited to work and continue it! Thank you!
Selenity84: I love those stories, too! They show heroes are human, and they make mistakes, too (hopefully not as terrible as these guys', lol), And, right? They gave Zelena a redemption before him. They gave Rumple an amazing redemption in season three, then ignored it and made him the villain because they got lazy and didn't know what to do with such a complex character. To this day, it still irks me, as you can probably tell. He's my fav, too! I've loved the problematic dude since the beginning!
I just wanna take a second to tell you all how grateful I am for every single follow and review. You all are amazing, and every comment encourages me to write more and more.
Slamming the door in a fit of rage as she walked into her house half past five am definitely didn't hold to Emma's usual 'cool mom' vibe, but the satisfaction it brought when house shook a second after was worth it.
"Emma?"
Shit. Emma froze at her husband's distraught voice. She winced a little, still upset with him but tempered down enough to be reasonable
"Uh, yeah?" Emma kicked off her shoes and made her way over to their bedroom. Killian looked like he hadn't gotten a wink of sleep, but then again, neither did she. Thank God they were fairytale characters, because an 8am work sounded as awful as sleeping in an alley full of piss and cigarettes - which, Emma knew from experience, was not fun.
"That was quite an entrance," Killian sat up, grunting a little as he adjusted his pillow. He flicked on the lights on, which was code for we're talking about this. Excellent.
"Would you rather me poof onto the bed next to you?" Eyebrows raised teasingly, she sighed and climbed onto the bed. She moved her legs to flop over his.
"I mean, it might have been quieter." A very deep chuckle came from him, and Emma was suddenly reminded of how they first met. Once a pirate, always a pirate, she thought with a smile.
"Yeah, but smokey." She pointed out, finding a way to bury herself next to him while maintaining eye contact. Killian didn't seem to mind, wiggling himself to adjust and throw a loose arm over her.
"All the more dramatic."
Well, she couldn't deny that. The silence didn't last too long before Killian spoke up.
"So," The time came. "Are we gonna talk about it?"
Emma really didn't want to - the last twelve hours being more than enough for her - but 'communication', as her mother had once said, was the key to marriage. So, Emma sighed in distaste, but sat up anyway, taking her husband's hand into her own.
He squeezed her hand encouragingly before she began. "I...alright, look, yesterday, I couldn't stop thinking about Gold. Like...he just wouldn't leave my mind. And the situa -"
"Should I, uh, be worried or - ow!" Killian hissed as he rubbed his sore arm.
"Not like that!" Emma looked insulted. "He's Henry's grandfather! He's like two hundred years old!"
Killian smirked as Emma swatted him again, softer than before.
"Anyway," Emma cleared her throat, averting her gaze to her knees. "Seeing his dream world - seeing the look on his face - it just...struck me the wrong way, you know? I had seen that face before. I knew it so well...and I couldn't pinpoint where I'd seen it until I got home."
Emma finally gained the courage to look up. She saw Killian staring at her intently, eyebrows knitted together in concentration. She continued with a heavy sigh, shoulders raising and dropping into a shrug.
"I was him," One of Killian's brows shot up in confusion as she rolled her eyes. "I mean, that was my face," Another confused look. "The look, Killian, the look. The same look I wore every day as a kid - the same look that prevented me from killing that lost boy. The Look. Every unwanted foster kid wears that look, and most of the time, they don't realize they're doing it."
Killian's face softened, knowing how sensitive the topic was. Emma had touched briefly on it, but no more than a few disturbing stories told as jokes.
"So, you're saying he's a foster kid?" It came out a little more snooty than he had planned, but at least he wasn't yelling.
"I'm saying his father is a sociopath, who he had to kill to stop, and his mother - who's destined to kill him, by the way - is currently terrorizing the town," She nudged his foot with her own. "I'm saying to give him a break. His past is messy, and is still haunting him."
"And you got all that from a look?"
"That look," She squared her shoulders. "is more deep and buried into him than that curse of his. And unlike that curse, you can't hide it. That feeling will be with him for the rest of his life. And, Killian,"
Slipping her hand into his, she squeezed, eyes serious and dilated. "that feeling is not a good feeling."
He squeezed back. "I get it."
"Nothing is more damaging to a child than knowing your parents didn't want you."
"I know," And he did. "But that doesn't excuse his actions, what he's done."
"But it excuses yours?" Before Killian could comment on that, Emma held up a hand. "Killian, everything that man has done to you is in retaliation to what you've done to him. Don't act all noble. You'd be proving Gold's point further if you did. You're a wonderful man,"
She sat up to cup his face with her hands. Her nose brushed his as lips descended to lips. Her fingers tickled his skin as the pads rubbed against his faint stubble. She pulled away then, reminding him they were supposed to be talking.
"But you haven't always been. You're track record is anything but clean, admit it." Her lips quirked sideways as she shrugged. "But neither is mine. I stole from anything and anyone I saw. This doesn't define us as much as it shapes us. Don't let old anger and resentment define you as it did before. Both of you have been hurt. Both of you lost someone you love. You two aren't as different as you think."
Quiet in shame, her husband lowered his head. "He killed Milah..."
"You killed my grandfather," Killian went silent at that, letting out a sigh as Emma lifted his chin to look him in the eye. "I know it's different, but if both my father and I somehow forgave you, I think you can forgive Gold. And just maybe he might be able to forgive you for pursuing his wife, leaving him a single father, trading his son to his sadistic father, and shooting the love of his life."
"And I'll forgive him for murdering the woman I loved?"
"Who was married," Emma pointed out, scooching off the couch with a small smile. "But exactly."
Pecking him on the lips, Emma swayed to the restroom, leaving Killian blinking on the bed. Shaking her head, the savior grabbed a towel before shutting the door to take a well-deserved shower.
- fanfic wont do dashes to separate time and I'm loosing my mind -
"Emma," Emma turned her head, easily recognizing the soothing voice.
"Dr. Hopper," She paused her steps to let him catch up.
"Archie, please." Pongo barked in protest, only stopping when Emma gave in and scratched his ears. "How are you? The town's been so busy, I haven't seen your usual stroll to Grannies in awhile."
"I'm on my way there now, actually. Though, I'm debating over a grilled cheese or the four cheese macaroni."
"That's...quite the amount of cheese."
"You're right," She patted the top of Pongo's head firmly. "I might as well get both."
Archie looked mildly concerned, but bit his tongue as he followed her into the diner. He followed her around awkwardly, Pongo sniffing anyone and anything in front of him, having no sense of personal space. Thankfully, no one seemed to mind.
After ordering at the counter - she wanted to say hi to Ruby - Emma sat down at a booth. Wiggling to get comfortable, she sipped her drink and eyed the therapist.
"You need somethin'?" Straw in her mouth, she tilted her head as Archie's cheeks burned red. For a therapist, he was awfully shy around people.
"Yes, ah," Gesturing to the empty booth across from her, he smiled nervously. "may I take a seat?"
"Be my guest," -bring out service to the test. God, she had to stop watching Disney movies with Henry. She snickered at the thought of Gold reacting that.
"You're laughing." Archie's lip twitched into a calm smile.
"Not at you," She waved a hand, then thought of the little candle dancing and waving his candle stick around. That only caused her to cough on her water. She needed to stop before she peed herself. "What's up?"
"Ah, well...town's pretty small, news travels fast…"
"And?"
He sighed, looking embarrassed and reluctant. "A few people saw you walking out of Gold's shop," He scratched his neck. "And people were just...concerned."
She rolled her eyes. Not this again.
"Concerned, huh?" Where was her food? Surely the cricket would leave if her food came. She came here so eat, not for a session. "Well, tell them their concern is unwarranted."
"Right, of course." He smiled. "So how was it?"
"How was what?"
"Talking to Gold."
Her eyes narrowed at his cheeky smile. "What are you doing?"
"Nothing!"
"Okay then."
Her food finally came: grill cheese next to four cheese macaroni. Say she didn't finish it, it'd make great leftovers. With the days events,though, she figured she'd finish it easily. Fork in hand, she was ready to indulge.
"What'd you two talk about?"
Her fork clattered onto the plate. She wanted to slam her head onto the table. Or maybe his head. "Are you serious? Do you really have nothing better to do then to pester me about my private life?"
"This is a small town, Emma, no one's life is private," Archie shrugged, patting Pongo's head. "Besides, I'm a therapist. It's my job to pester people about their private life."
"I don't remember ordering a session," Emma grumbled, taking a harsh bite of her grilled cheese. "Why do you care anyway?"
"It's not the subject I care about." He admitted.
Emma stopped chewing at that. "If I didn't know any better, Hopper, I'd say you're hitting on me."
Like a lightbulb, Archie's cheeks flared red. He coughed and fidgeted like a school boy, nervously stroking Pongo's head.
Please tell her the cricket didn't have a crush on her.
"No! It's...not like that."
"Not like that?"
Archie scrambled to speak, flustered and red up to his ears. Payback was fun.
"Emma," He cleared his throat, looking oddly sweaty in his sweater vest. "I'm not hitting on you."
"You're not?"
"No!" Emma's narrowed eyes made him sigh. "You're a lovely girl, Emma, but you're not my type."
Emma's mouth opened into a half grin.
"You got a type, Hopper?" She teased, smiling. Ohhh, yes, payback was great. "What's your type, then?"
"Emma -"
"Oh, come on, doc, don't be a prude! We all got them, It's nothing to be embarrassed about."
"Emma, can we please focus on you for a minute?" Poor guy was pleading.
"No, this is much more fun."
"Emma," He sighed.
"I don't want to talk about me," She whined, pouting. "Now, come on, what's your type? Maybe I could hook ya up with a nice lady - it's about time, Hopper, you're not gonna be young forever, you know."
"That's really not necessary…"
"Hopper, come on, don't you want a wife?" Shoving a bite of mac and cheese into her mouth, she shook her head with a smile. "There's plenty of women out there, Archie, and any one of them would be lucky to have you."
"That's...sweet of you, Emma, really. But I'm really not interested."
"In dating? Or my help? Because, I assure you, I'm great at -"
"In women."
What?
"You're gay? Hopper," Emma sighed into her arm, hand on her head. "Why didn't you start at that? This ups our chances."
Archie lifted an eyebrow. "And how so?"
Emma made a 'duh' gesture, lifting her arm and flicking her hand dramatically. "Because I like men, too. I know men much better than I know women, so this basically guarantees you a boyfriend."
I didn't -" Archie's eyes narrowed. "Hey! We're not talking about me here."
"Really? Who were we talking about then?" Snickering, she rolled her eyes. "Oh, hey, two o'clock."
"Two...it's not two it's twelve?"
"No, dumbass, look to your right." She nodded her head at the entrance, where a tall blonde walked in. He had on dress shoes and slacks, but to top it all off, a cheesy, christmas sweater.
Archie, yet again, went beat red.
"Oh, my God," He snapped his head back to her. "You've got to be kidding me."
"What, really? Come on, he's cute, right? His christmas sweater will go great with your vests." Emma was practically beaming at his embarrassment.
"It's not even christmas!"
"Exactly," She winked at him. "It's a match made in Heaven."
"Emma, for the love of God, please stop."
She snickered, grinning ear to ear. "Alright, alright, fine. We'll talk about me." She pulled a piece of her grilled cheese off and dipped it in the remaining cheese sauce in her bowl. Archie noticeably grimaced. "Whaddya wanna know?"
Clearing his throat and adjusting his glasses, Archie let out a sigh of relief. "What he talked to you about."
"Like, word by word?"
"Emma," He sighed, looking ready to leave.
"Alright, jeex, relax. I'll tell you," Waving over Ruby, Emma wiped her mouth with a napkin. "But it's a long story, so I'm getting a hot chocolate."
"With cinnamon?"
"You know me well, cricket."
Okay, so, yeah, this chapter is way late and not very long, and...yeah, I'm just sorry. It's been a crazy summer so far and finding time to write is close to nonexistent right now. But I'm trying and have not and will not abandon this story. Thanks for sticking with me:).