Everyone reaches a breaking point. For Emma, that point was Neal. For Killain, that point was the Crocodile. These two people from different worlds were so much more similar than they'd ever know.

When Emma entered the Enchanted Forest on her first night after her trial, she did not go quietly. She didn't open her eyes and feel the sun on her face and feel comforted. She didn't feel the peace that usually settled over her when she entered her dream world. This time, the first time ever, she carried every bit of anger with her, every feeling of betrayal, every moment of pain. This time was different, and it was because of that difference that Emma Swan made a decision.

—-

In a place that was usually quiet until Killian greeted her in some way, today there was a din of angry yelling. Emma was not herself today, but how could she be? Today her heart had been broken. Today she had been betrayed by the only person she'd ever allowed herself to love. Today she was reminded of the reasons why she had built her walls, the reasons she didn't trust, the reasons she didn't give into hope. And the reward for her forgetfulness, her payment for giving into what her heart was feeling and ignoring the warnings in her head, was almost a year in a jail cell. Today she had been sentenced to 11 months in prison for the crime that Neal committed. Not even the sanctuary she had found here or the comfort she felt with Killian would be able to remedy that.

He had heard her, of course he had heard her - how could he not? - but he simply stood there waiting. The reason she loved Killian Jones was because he understood her. He knew when she needed space, he knew when she needed a friend, he knew when she needed a distraction. Of course she hadn't dared mention it to him, the L word, because he was a figment of her imagination, and what she had learned today was that love was a mistake.

She was leaning against her favorite tree - the one she had climbed easily on her first visit - chest heaving and breath coming out in angry huffs as she tried to calm herself down. He was to her left, watching her carefully, not interrupting or trying to calm her, just waiting. When she thought she had her breathing under control and her face was fixed into a careful mask - a mask that she knew he'd see through but that wasn't really the point - she turned to him. But instead of brushing it off as nothing, instead of keeping the walls up and changing the subject that hadn't even been mentioned, she broke apart.

The last thing she saw in his eyes before he wrapped his arms around her was not pity, but pain - as if he could feel what she was feeling - and she reveled in the feel of his arms tightening around her, unashamedly enjoying the warmth of him, the comfort of her friend. He understood her and while he didn't know what had happened, couldn't truly understand fully, she knew he understood the most basic need she had at that moment, the need for someone to just be there for her.

While she stood there in his arms she thought of her mistakes. Stealing a car from a car thief, letting him take her out, choosing him as her partner - in crime and in love, letting her guard down, letting him within her walls, loving him. Her basic human emotions had been her downfall and because of them, because of her stupid fucking heart, Emma Swan was going to jail. Neal Cassidy had been the first person she had trusted in a long time - other than Killian, she had always trusted Killian - and he had betrayed her. She didn't know how long he had planned it, she had seen no hint of a lie in his words, in his eyes, Tallahassee baby, it had all seemed so genuine. Fool, her subconscious chided, and she couldn't argue. She had let her feelings cloud her judgement and she vowed to never do that again.

When she had cried all of the tears she thought she had in her, she realized he was leaning against the tree and she was leaning against him. The fingers of his good hand were stroking through her hair and his hook - he wore it naturally now that she knew and was unafraid - was pressed against the small of her back holding her body to his. There was a moment of something more than comfort and she looked up into his eyes to find them carefully guarded. He had never made a move or even implied that he wanted more from her than friendship, and she suspected maybe he didn't - or maybe he knew this wasn't real and there was no point - but at that moment she just wanted to kiss him. So she did.

When Emma Swan's lips met those of Killian Jones for the first time, everything froze. He stopped breathing and his whole body tensed against her, the wind seemed to stop blowing, the sounds of the forest became muted, and all she could hear was the ebb and flow of her own breath that sounded much louder than it naturally should. After a moment that felt like forever, Killian kissed her back, using the arm that had been at her back to hold her even more tightly to him, while the other remained in her hair. She melted against him, a sigh escaping her lips and being consumed by his before he abruptly pushed her away.

Her hand flew to her lips feeling the swell in them as her eyes searched his. His eyes were avoiding hers but they were dark and almost angry and she stumbled back a step before steadying her footing. She felt the full force of rejection bearing down on her. First Neal, now Killian. No - first her parents, then every foster family she'd ever been a part of, then Neal and then Killian. The anger was back and she was staring her fury into his eyes, willing him to feel it. He did, she could see it, he was regretting pushing her away - or maybe he was regretting ever pulling her into his arms in the first place.

Maybe it was time for her to stop believing in magical places and fairy tales. Maybe it was time for her to grow up.

"Emma, please…" he started, seeing her resolve and trying to apologize or… something, but she was done.

"No, Killian. I get it." she said, turning from him without looking back over her shoulder. She knew she was probably overreacting, she knew that her bruised feelings were not Killian's fault, but Neals. She knew that if there was anyone in any world that knew her, that understood her, it was him. What she really wanted was to apologize for throwing herself at him, to turn around and tell him what happened and talk it through. But Emma Swan was as stubborn as they came and embarrassed as she was as a 17 year old girl throwing herself at a man who was over 300 years old, she wasn't about to turn around.

"I'm done with this place," she spat, and wasn't sure if he heard her until she felt his presence behind her and a tentative hand on her shoulder, stilling her retreat. "and I'm done with you." she almost sobbed the words, but bit her lip to try and maintain some semblance of strength, though she knew he would see right through her.

They stood like that for a long time, Emma pushing her emotions as far back as she could manage and Killian saying nothing while keeping his hand firmly on her shoulder to keep her in place, afraid to let her go, knowing if he did it meant losing her. But he didn't say anything to stop her, he didn't try and comfort her, he didn't ask her to stay, so she didn't.

Finally she took a deep breath and stepped out of his grip. "Don't follow me." she said, and was impressed with the false strength in her voice.

"As you wish" he whispered and she felt the walls she'd built to keep out everyone except Killian Jones finally close him out as well.