Ruby arrived precisely at ten o'clock. Emma had woken up at eight and showered and dressed, pulling on a simple pair of jeans and an old black sweater. It wasn't like she was trying to impress him. She was going for comfort. Ruby entered the apartment using her spare key just as Emma was pulling her hair into a high ponytail.

"Good to see you dressed up for the occasion."

Emma rolled her eyes. "You're lucky I'm going at all."

Ruby grabbed Henry from his room, balancing him against her slender hip. Emma had left him sleeping while she got ready. Henry would have had nothing but questions for her. How was she supposed to explain going for breakfast with a man she barely knew, just because he was possibly as lost as she was? The little boy yawned sleepily. "Luck has nothing to do with it."

Emma grabbed her car keys, kissed Henry's head. "There's cereal in the cupboard for him. Don't give him the sugary stuff though." She gave Ruby a stern look. The woman was soft with Henry. If he asked, he got with her. She grabbed her red leather jacket from the back of the couch and slipped it on. "I'll be back later. Bye baby." Henry waved at her and smiled warmly as Emma shut the door the apartment behind her.

Emma stopped at the same place she had yesterday for breakfast, picking up two hot chocolates with cinnamon because she forgot to ask him how he took his coffee and two bagels with cream cheese. A bagel seemed easier for him to eat one handed. She really didn't want to have to watch him get frustrated again, just trying to eat breakfast. It broke her heart and that scared her.

Just like yesterday no answer came at the knock she gave against Killian's hospital room door. She pushed the door open and quietly slipped inside. Killian was asleep, blankets pulled up mid chest, stump hidden beneath the sheets. He wasn't as pale as yesterday which gave Emma some relief. A doctor had hooked an IV to his elbow that pumped clear liquid into his arm. Emma assumed it was because he'd gone and dehydrated himself being stupid and not eating or drinking.

She set his breakfast on the table, unwrapping the bagel as quietly as she could. His hot chocolate went beside it. It wasn't until she'd sat down that Emma noticed his drowsy eyes on her.

"Morning Swan." He used the button on the bed to incline the mattress until he was upright.

"Morning Jones." She took a sip of her drink. "How are you feeling?"

"Is that how you're going to greet me every morning?" He smirked at her mischievously. Emma rolled her eyes.

"Considering you're in a hospital it's kind of standard. And after lying to your doctors for so long I thought it might be good to check myself. So, I'll ask again, how are you?"

"Better lass, thanks to you," he said before taking a bite of his bagel. Emma felt a bit of pride flare that he was able to eat without anyone's help. "Why do you feel so compelled to take me breakfast when the hospital serves me three square meals a day?"

Emma pointed to the discarded meal of dry toast and what might have been eggs at one time sitting on the windowsill. "You mean that breakfast?"

"I was getting to it."

"Lie." He raised a brow and Emma shoved the bagel into her mouth to hide her answering grin. She was not enjoying herself that much. She was not flirting with him.

"So blunt."

"Yet you don't seem to mind."

"I don't think I'd mind anything you did," he murmured. His murmur sent a shiver down her spine. Emma gulped her hot drink to warm herself but it wasn't the cold that had caused the movement. Not that she wanted to think about the real reason.

Time to change the subject. "So, why haven't any of your friends been by? You do have friends right?"

His gaze darkened. "Yes. I have friends."

"Then why haven't they been here?"

"They don't know I'm here."

Emma balked at him even though she had known that. It seemed so ridiculous to her. "You're kidding me right?"

Killian scowled and shook his head. "Why would I want them here?"

"They're probably worried sick about you."

"Yes, but they still think I have two hands." His voice broke towards the end, wavering on the last syllable. He immediately gulped his hot chocolate, gasping when it burned his mouth.

Emma stood and moved to the room's closet without another word. She wasn't one for invading privacy but this was an emergency. Killian needed his friends.

"What are you doing?" he hissed when she pulled out his cell phone. There were twenty missed texts and about forty missed calls from someone named Jefferson and an equal amount from a man named David and another named Robin. So these were his friends.

Emma tapped the contact for Jefferson and held the phone up to her ear. Killian cursed and tried to get out of bed but Emma ignored him. Jefferson picked up on the first ring. There were other male voices in the background

"Jones? Where have you been?" his voice was panicked, rough with emotion. Good, this was a real friend.

"This isn't Killian. He's in the hospital. There's been an accident." There was shouting in the background. A door slammed.

"A serious one?"

"He's fine. He can explain the whole thing to you. Room 407." A car started up, revving over the line. Killian cursed at her. She waved him off. These friends seemed to really care. Emma would have given anything to have had friends like these before she'd met Ruby.

"Wait, who are you? His nurse?"

Emma shook her head then realized she was still on the phone. "No. Just someone who brought him breakfast." She should not have made eye contact with Killian at that moment. Not when the look he gave her sent her mind into panic mode. His eyes screamed danger at her heart. She turned to the door, his gaze hot as fire on her back.

"Okay, we'll be there in five." The line went dead. Emma put the phone back, took a deep, steadying breath and then turned to him. She settled in the chair and ate a piece of bagel.

"Why did you do that?" Killian asked, lips pursed in a scowl.

"Because, they are your friends."

"So?" He raised a brow at her answer. She stifled a scream.

"You can't be that callous can you?"

He smirked but it wasn't a nice smirk. It was a self-loathing one. A destructive one. "I think the number of times I've ignored my friends' calls answers that for you."

Emma narrowed her eyes at him. Why was he pushing friends away? They were harmless. Friends didn't rip out your heart and leave you in a state penitentiary for two years. Friends didn't run as soon as they had the chance to save their own skin. Friends protected you. Friends had your best interest at heart. At least if they were real friends, which these guys seemed to be.

"But why?"

"Why do you care?" he shot back, angry.

Emma sighed, exasperated. "Because I know what it's like to be alone."

"Because I'm sure you know what it's like to watch your family die." His voice rose to a nasty intonation.

"Well consider yourself lucky then Captain because I was left on the side of the damn road as a newborn. I've been alone since I could breathe. At least you had a family who kept you." Emma was done. She stood, slamming the chair backwards in her haste to leave. Killian shut his eyes in what Emma thought could be sadness. Like he was sorry for what he'd said. Too late for that now.

Before Killian could say anything the room door burst open. Three men toppled in, each shouting to be heard above one another as they ran to their friend. The first one in the room had a sweep of dark hair while the other two were fairer. The shortest one wore a green bandana around his neck like some sort of professional nature man. The third man was blonde and tall, regal in manner and commanding in tone.

"What happened?" the dark haired one asked, eyes sweeping Killian's thin body. Emma glanced at him and noticed his handless arm was tucked under a pillow in what seemed a nonchalant move.

"I'm fine. Just got beat up." Killian answered, hedging.

Emma shouldered her bag and moved towards the door. "Look under the pillow," she spat. The pillow was moved as Emma left the room. She could hear the enraged yelling all the way up the hall. That had been a nasty move on her part. But she was angry. Maybe she'd regret it later. But right now, it felt good.

"Hey, wait up," a male voice called. Since it wasn't Killian's, not that he'd be able to come after her anyways, she turned. It was nature boy. He caught up to Emma in a few jogged steps. "I'm Robin Locksley by the way. I- we- just wanted to thank you for what you did for Killian."

"I didn't do anything." Emma just wanted out of there. To be back home, with Henry and Ruby. To be safe from men looking to hurt her.

"You called us. Jones is proud. He didn't want us to see him like that. He's not very good at being vulnerable." Robin gave her a bashful smile, like a school boy. Emma was glad she'd called despite her anger at Killian. Robin and his friends seemed like good people. They'd take over visiting Killian and she'd never have to see him again.

"That's not my problem." What did he want from her?

Robin's eyes softened. "Look, I know this is none of my business but we heard what you two said before we came in." Emma's heart began to hammer uncomfortably. "It's why we burst in like that- to prevent Killian from shoving his foot further into his mouth. He's been hurt before. It changed him. I'm sorry he made you dredge up your own past in his anger."

"It doesn't matter." Emma tried to move past him but Robin adjusted himself so he stayed beside her.

"Look, just don't give up on him."

Emma glanced at him in surprise. "There's nothing to give up."

Robin gave her a sad smile. "Maybe not for you, but he's pretty devastated at what he said to you. It's written all over his face."

Emma shut her eyes and adjusted her purse strap. "Look, I have to go." She shot a look at Killian's closed door. "Make sure he eats." Walking as fast as she could without running Emma left the ward, not stopping until she was in the car with all the doors locked.

She dropped her head on the steering wheel, eyes closed, teeth worrying at her bottom lip. She stayed like that for a long time.