A/N: All of you who have reviewed, favorited, followed are wonderful people. This story took a life of it's own, which isn't abnormal for my stories. Thanks for reading. I didn't have to work today so I managed to get another chapter done. 3

Chapter 7: Haunted Past

Killian awoke lying on an unfamiliar couch. He felt numb and began to remember the events of the day before. His ship was gone. The only thing he had in this town and now he was lying on Emma Swan's couch because she refused to let him "fend for himself". Though, he appreciated how much she seemed to care about his well-being, he was still afraid of what might happen with him staying there. There was no doubt in his mind that someone attempted to kill him while he was aboard his ship and he didn't want to put Emma and her son in the middle of that. Emma kept reassuring him that whoever may have attacked him wouldn't dare attack him when they knew her and Henry were there. However, he wasn't convinced. When he finally opened his eyes he noticed a young boy sitting near him, staring.

This must be Henry. He thought giving the young boy a questioning look. "Do you always watch people when they sleep?"

"My mom told me to keep you company while she was gone," Henry stated simply.

"I'm pretty sure I would actually need to be awake for you to keep me company," Killian replied with an amused grin as he sat up on the couch.

"Mom, said you lost all of your memories," said Henry moving from the chair he was sitting in to sit next to Killian.

"Aye, lad, I did," Killian replied, rubbing the back of his neck. The kids sure did get to the point. He could tell he was Emma's son.

Henry smiled. "You still sound like a pirate."

Killian couldn't help but laugh. "Your mother seems to think it's because my memories are just buried and it's a sign that I'm still myself even when I don't remember who that is."

"What do you think?" Henry asked tilting his head to the side to look straight up at him.

"I'd like to think she's right," said Killian looking down at the floor. "I remember some things, but they mostly seem to be conversations with your mother and I get the sense that there is a lot more I'm missing. Since apparently I'm over 300 years old."

"Right," said Henry as if that made perfect sense. "Because you're Captain Hook."

Killian stared at the boy. "That's what I'm told."

"I wish you could remember," Henry stated. "I'd love to hear what it's like to be a pirate and travel through Neverland."

The boy seemed excited and Killian couldn't help but smile at that. "Tell you what, lad. If I manage to remember any tales from Neverland you can ask me as many questions as you like about it."

"Really?" said Henry almost jumping up and down in excitement. "That would be awesome. So what am I supposed to call you? Hook? Captain?"

Killian thought about it for a moment. Emma seemed to always call him Hook, but he really didn't feel like a fearsome pirate captain and the prospect of actually being Captain Hook was still strange to him. He assumed Emma must be used to calling him that so he really never said anything.

"Well, lad," he began. "My real name is Killian, so I suppose it stands to reason that you could call me that."

"Okay, Killian," Henry replied with a smile. Killian smiled back. It was actually nice to have someone call him by his real name. Something told him that it had been a very long time since someone has. Though he remembers Emma calling him that once, those memories still seem more like a dream to him.

"You said your mother asked you to keep me company while she was gone," Killian stated. "Where did she go?"

"She went to the station to try to figure out what happened to your ship," Henry explained. Killian knew he wouldn't be able to hide the worry on his face. He didn't want Emma to get herself into trouble on his account. "She thinks Gold had something to do with it, not that she would really admit that." Henry continued. "I think she's afraid he's going to try to hurt you again, but she knows that he wouldn't try to hurt us. You're worried that staying here is going to cause us to get hurt, but Mom knows what she's doing."

Killian smiled at the boy. "You're quite perceptive, lad."

"I get it from my mom," said Henry proudly.

Killian laughed and ruffled the boy's hair. "I have to admit you are pretty good company,"

There was a knock at the door and the two looked up. Killian's smile fell. Emma wouldn't be likely to knock and he was still a little on edge from what happened at the docks. He hoped that whoever attacked him wouldn't likely just show up on Emma's doorstep, but he didn't want to take any chances.

"Henry, lad," Killian started as he stood. "Why don't you go to your room? I'll answer the door."

Killian could tell that the boy was uneasy about leaving him, but ran up the stairs none the less. Killian approached the door cautiously wanting to bury any fear he had before he opened it. He swallowed hard and opened the door slowly. There was a man he had never seen standing in the doorway. He recognized something about him, but he was sure he must be imagining things. Before Killian even got the chance to speak the man spoke up first.

"Who are you?" he asked, clearly confused.

"Customarily it is the one who is answering the door who asks that question," Killian replied. He didn't know why, but he got a bad feeling about this man. It appeared that the man was at a loss for words so Killian continued. "Would you care to tell me who you are and what you're doing here?"

"I came to see Emma," the man replied, finding his voice.

"I'm sorry, but Emma isn't here right now," Killian was sure that this man wouldn't bode well for Emma. "She is a little preoccupied with the explosion at the docks."

"Explosion?" the man asked.

"Are you going to seriously tell me that you are the one person in this town who didn't hear about that yesterday?" Killian asked.

"I just came here to see Emma and my son," the man replied. Now Killian knew why this man looked familiar and he could already feel the anger boiling to the surface.

"You're Neal," Killian stated simply, attempting to keep his anger in check. This man had left Emma and it appeared he was now trying to weasel his way back into her life after 11 years. Killian thought part of him might be overreacting. After all he didn't really have a say in what Emma did with her life, but he was sure she wouldn't be happy to see this man.

"How do you know my name?" Neal asked. He appeared to be worried. Killian was thinking he should be. It was taking all of his willpower not to hit the man for standing in her doorway, but he decided that it might not be the best idea.

"Emma told me all about you," Killian replied. "And something tells me she isn't going to be happy to see you, so you might want to rethink this little visit."

"I know you," Neal said out of nowhere. Killian was taken aback. He didn't remember anything and he was pretty sure he had never met Emma's past love before. He was sure that Neal could see the surprise on his face.

"What?" Killian asked. "How could you possibly know me?"

"You were the one with my mother in the tavern," Neal replied. He appeared to be getting angry as well. "You're the one who took her away from her family."

Killian attempted to search his mind for any memory of this, but as usually the only ones he had were with Emma. Emma had told him many stories he had told her and there was only one that involved meeting a woman in a tavern.

"Milah?" Killian questioned and by the look on Neal's face he knew he was right. "You're Milah's son?" He looked down at the tattoo on his arm and rubbed it with the curved edge of his hook. Though he didn't remember anything about the woman he did know what story Emma had told him. He had loved her enough to spend 300 years to get revenge for her death.

"I grew up without a mother because of you," Neal stated, fists clenched. Killian didn't remember the circumstances of why Milah chose to leave. According to Emma she left because she wasn't in love with her husband.

"I'm sorry," Killian replied. He meant it. Though he didn't remember the circumstances, he hated to think that he had taken a mother away from a son. Neal seemed shocked by his apology because his anger was replaced by confusion and he immediately unclenched his hands. "I don't remember what happened with your mother. I don't remember anything about my life. But if I caused you any kind of pain, . . I'm sorry."

"I want to see my son," said Neal, changing the subject.

"I'm sorry, but I have no say in whether you get to see the lad or not," Killian stated. "He's Emma's son, so you would have to take that up with her and like I said she isn't here."

"You can't keep me away from them," Neal stated as if he thought Killian was going to stand in his way.

"I don't have a say in that either," Killian replied. "Emma makes her own decisions and I'm not going to pretend I get to help her make them, but you hurt her. More than I think you know. Personally, I think what you did to her was unforgivable. Emma deserves someone who loves her and would do anything to be with her. She's an amazing woman and afraid to love because of you. Emma deserves someone better than you. Someone who would be willing to fight to keep her in their life."

"Are you trying to say you would fight for her?" Neal asked.

"I'd die for her," Killian replied without hesitation. Neal was dumbfounded. Killian would admit he surprised himself with that one, but it didn't make it any less true. He was barely able to admit it to himself, but after the past few weeks he knew he felt something for her. Emma always seemed to inch away from him or get uncomfortable when he mentioned how he felt. The only thing he had admitted to her was that he would believe and trust her no matter when she told him. That alone seemed to make her uneasy. He was afraid if he told her he thought he was falling in love with her, then she would run and he wouldn't get to see her again. So that he had kept to himself, at least until now.

Before Neal could say another word Killian spoke up again. "If you have anything that you want to say to Emma, I suggest you speak with her. She is the only one who can decide if you get to see Henry or not. I believe she is at the sheriff's station."

Neal didn't say another word. He just nodded and walked away. Killian shut the door and rubbed his temple with his good hand. He really hoped that Emma wouldn't let that man back in after what he did, but he knew that it wasn't really any of his business. When he turned around Henry was standing at the bottom of the stairs.

Killian sighed. "Exactly how much of that did you hear?" Killian asked almost afraid to hear the answer.

"My dad's alive and in town, he hurt my mom, and you're in love with her." Henry replied.