A/N - Hey again. There are flashbacks in this chapter they are in italics plus there are little spots to let you know when they start. I hope you enjoy meeting these new characters.

When Emma left work Friday, she couldn't be more relieved. She had no idea what had compelled her to be honest with this patient. Not many knew about her past. She kept to herself, hardly opened up to anyone. Most only knew she was from Maine and had moved here just over three years ago. As she entered her apartment that night she leaned heavily against the door and let out a small cry. Over the weekend she hardly left, choosing instead to curl up and press the emotions back down. She couldn't afford to break down. She had to keep moving, keep going to work and keep breathing. If she stopped long enough to feel the emotions she's kept buried she wouldn't be able to work on Monday. She didn't even want to think about what Monday really was.

- December 15th, 1936 -

Emma was flipping through the pages of her old fairy tale book when she heard his feet softly on the hardwood.

"You're early." Emma called over her shoulder towards him. She carefully closed the old leather tome and set it on her legs as he came into her line of view.

"Sometimes cliché's are true." Her husband smirked down at her as he opened up the box of pastries.

"You never bring me home donuts in the middle of the day unless something is happening. What is it this time?" Emma asked, cocking her eyebrow.

"Remember how I said no more night shifts?" Her husband asked.

"Graham, why?" Emma whined, this was the first day in three months she wasn't sick. They were supposed to be going to her parents for dinner since she felt up to it finally.

"Well, Lance can't work the night shift tonight because he threw his back out. And Peter isn't able to work it alone yet." Graham patiently told his wife. The glare he was getting was enough to tell him, he'd be bringing home bear claws for a month.

"But tonight is our dinner with my parents. They have been begging for us to come over for a month, and I've been too sick to go. Why can't Peter work alone? It's a small town, hardly anything ever happens here!" Emma complained throwing her hands up in the air.

"I know, but he has only been working for a couple weeks. And he's never worked a night shift before, this week was supposed to be the first time. I'm so sorry Em, I'll make it up to you this weekend I promise." Graham reassured his wife, his soft smile causing his cheeks to dimple beneath his beard. Emma sighed and fixed him with another glare.

"You are so lucky you brought me a bear claw." Emma said as she reached in and plucked it out of the box. Graham's smile widened to show his teeth before he leaned down and kissed her on the forehead.

"I know the way to your heart. Now since I have time this afternoon, what do you say we take advantage of it and go to lunch?" Graham asked as he took the remaining pastries to the kitchen.

"Or I could think of better ways to spend the afternoon." Emma smirked at him as she set the book back on the shelf. She took another bite of her donut and leaned against the doorway to the kitchen.

"Could you now?" Graham teased her as he walked forward and plucked the half eaten bear claw out of her hands.

"HEY!" Emma cried as he took a bite of it and tossed it over his shoulder.

"I bought plenty more." Graham chuckled at his irate wife as he pulled her into his arms. "Now what were you saying about better ways?" Emma snorted at him.

"I don't know; you took my bear claw away, not sure if I want to be nice anymore." She pouted, looking up at him through her lashes. Graham just laughed and pulled her tighter against him.

"I can think of a few ways to make it up to you." He told her before he bent down and kissed her. When they pulled back for air, Emma smirked up at him.

"Mmm, you taste like bear claws." Emma told him causing him to chuckle and swoop down for another kiss.

Monday morning, Emma managed to pull herself out of bed and made it to the hospital on time. She clenched her fist into the fabric of her cloak as she walked into the door. The smells she could normally ignore hit her in the face and caused her to nearly throw up. She hurriedly made her way to the main nurses' station to check in and get her orders. As she approached she plastered a fake smile on her face and nodded towards a doctor who passed her as she reached the station.

"Morning Peggy, what are my orders for the day?" She asked the elder woman who sat behind the counter.

"Morning Emma, sending you back up to Captain Jones; you seem to be the only nurse he doesn't upset." Peggy replied handing up the sheet to her. "Are you okay dear?" She asked the blonde nurse in front of her, quickly glancing at her face.

"Yeah, fine Peggy, just didn't sleep well. Just need to get to work and it'll be fine." Emma nodded swiftly as she quickly fled the station before more questions could be asked. As she did her rounds that morning, every soldier's face seemed to remind her of her lost love. She would hurry out as quickly as possible once she was sure they were fine. The only reprieve she had was in Captain Jones' room. His blue eyes were enough to remind her that this was someone else; someone who would get better and walk out of the hospital any day now.

"Well you certainly don't look too excited to see me today. Here I thought two days without my presence would have been heart breaking." Killian called over to her as she entered the room and crossed to grab his chart. He raised an eyebrow at her when she merely motioned for his wrist. "Not chatty today?"

"No I'm not. I did hear though you gave the weekend nurses a hard time." Emma commented as she jotted down Killian's vitals. She tried not to fidget feeling his stare on her. She expected him to make jokes, to deny it, not to focus on her. When she turned to leave the room, unwilling to find out why he was staring at her he grabbed her wrist.

"Wait, Emma, please." Killian pleaded with her as he gave a small tug on her wrist forcing her to turn and look at him. "Something's obviously bothering you, I can see it in your eyes." Emma closed her eyes and shook her head.

"Please, stop. I'm fine." Emma pleaded as she tried to pull out of his grip. Killian sighed and rubbed his thumb across the underside of her wrist.

"You aren't fine, lass." Killian said softly as he let go of her wrist. Emma took a shaky breath before she fled out of his room. Killian leaned back against his pillows, his ribs were protesting at his earlier quick movements. He didn't know why he cared about this girl so much, but something about her kept drawing him in. She had a fire about her that reminded him of Milah, but it was a different fire. While Milah used her fire to get what she wanted, Emma used hers to care for people.

-New York, NY July 5th, 1929-

Killian tugged at the tie around his neck as he was dragged through the barely lit doorway. While he didn't mind wearing the tie to please his mother, he would be glad to be rid of it for the night. It had been a hot July day, and the constant talk of how soon he would settle down at his birthday dinner was enough to make him want to run and never look back. He loved his step father and family; they were good to him and his baby sister. He shook his head to clear his thoughts as his buddy Jefferson pushed him forward into the dimly lit room.

"Killian welcome to what I like to call wonderland," Jefferson told him, with a large Cheshire cat grin on his face. "Where the dames are beautiful and the liquor is flowing." Killian chucked at his friend as he took the sights in. Ladies all around were dressed in all types of finery, some fancier than the rest; while the men all in suits in different stages of dress. He finished pulling his tie lose and stuck it in his jacket pocket as they took two seats at the bar. Jefferson flagged down the bar keep and got them a couple high balls.

"I can't believe you dragged me here." Killian said to his friend as he unbuttoned his white shirt a few notches.

"I dragged you here because you looked as if you could use a drink. And while this isn't the best tasting whiskey in existence, it'll at least take the edge off. You need to loosen up a bit Killian. We're young single men ready to take the world by storm and you spend your days studying." Jefferson mocked him.

"Maybe I like the idea of not failing out." Killian remarked as he took a drink, wrinkling his nose at the bitter flavor.

"We are on our summer holiday; the least you could do is pretend to have a life." Jefferson replied shaking his head. "Besides look around you, why have your nose stuck in a book when you can be looking at one of these?" Killian looked around and chuckled.

"Okay so maybe the view here is a bit better." He said as he took another swig of his drink. "I miss the whiskey back at college." Killian remarked as his eyes swept the room.

A lone pool table in the back had opened up and the pair made their way over with fresh drinks in hand. Killian quickly shrugged his black suit jacket off as Jefferson prepared the table. His eyes swept across the room through the first game. He noticed after a short time a brunette with grey eyes that was watching him. He sent over a smirk, the multiple highballs working in his favor. Jefferson noticed the short exchange and snickered at his friend.

"Fine choice, her blonde of a friend looks beautiful as well." Jefferson remarked as he watched the pair walk towards them. He lined up his shot while keeping an eye on Killian and the women.

"Hello there blue eyes, what's your name?" The brunette asked as she smoothed her hand onto Killian's red vest. Killian raised an eyebrow at her forward move.

"Killian," he responded, looking her over. He started at her grey eyes and moved down to take in her flashy brown and gold beaded dress.

"Nice to meet you Killian, my name's Milah." The woman told him, her grey eyes sparkling as she spoke to him. Killian's eyes snapped back to hers as he smiled down at her. It was in that small moment he felt himself beginning to get lost in her.

Killian shook himself out of the memory. It felt like such a long time since he'd been in New York. The moment he had met Milah in that little speakeasy he was a goner. With her grey eyes and fiery spirit she drew him in and held him tight. She had returned with him that fall to England so he could finish school. At the time he couldn't believe his luck, now he wonders why he hadn't noticed things were off a bit sooner.

Out in the hallway Emma was leaning heavily against the wall. She was trying to calm her breathing, today was not a good day. She should have stayed home and not chanced someone finally noticing the cracks in her façade. Once she was convinced her breathing was under control, she peeked back into Captain Jones's room and noticed he had his eyes shut and looked peaceful. She quickly made her way down the hall to continue her work.

A/N - Don't kill me. trust me okay. Thank you to all reviews and love i've gotten so far. I hope you enjoy it. Reviews are like chocolate.