A/N hope you enjoy it, more Emma and Killian interaction this chapter :) Thank you for reading

When she met Regina for lunch the next day her friend shoved a hot cup of takeaway coffee in her hands and shook a bag of what smelt suspiciously like grilled cheese in Emma's face. "Follow me Miss Swan, I'm not having this conversation where the rabble can hear us."

Emma shrugged and took the coffee gratefully, "Lead the way your majesty."

Regina gave her some serious side eye as she pushed the door of Granny's open, jingling the bell on the door. Emma followed and they both got into Regina's car, Regina drove to the duck pond and they sat side-by-side on the bench by the water. Emma gleefully tucked into her grilled cheese while Regina picked a little at some french fries. When Emma felt like she had sated her hunger, she turned to Regina who appeared to be waiting on Emma, "So how the hell did you get all that?"

Regina raised an eyebrow, "You want to know how I got everything or is there something in particular?"

She sighed, "the police files, I need to know how you got those."

Regina dusted off her fingers dabbing a napkin to her mouth to pick up any stray grease before throwing it in the paper bag. "Graham came to me, it wasn't long after you started actually. We had an arrangement you see, before you turned up."

Emma was shocked, they were never anything but cordial to one another, and how could Graham even attempt to start anything with her if he was seeing someone else. Regina caught her confusion and placed a hand on her arm, "It wasn't serious and neither of our hearts were in it... But I was lonely, we were lonely. I was a little, as Robin would say miffed, when you arrived in town and he was smitten so quickly. But it was time to let it go and looking back on it, it probably wasn't the healthiest relationship or whatever it was."

She removed her hand from Emma's arm brushing hair from her face as she continued her tale, "Anyway he came to me. Turns out Gold had been blackmailing Graham for years with some dirty laundry, he didn't tell me what that was, and Graham had been complying with his wishes. Now that you had joined the force Gold was afraid that between you and David someone would go digging and find out what he was up to. He couldn't blackmail you with anything because by that time Sydney had already splashed your past on the front of the Mirror and Gold didn't have anything else to work with. We both know David is squeaky clean, so Gold was forcing Graham to remove all proof of his wrongdoings."

Regina took in Emma's sad expression, it was all horribly true, even if he was being blackmailed he broke the law and covered up serious crime and that wasn't something Emma thought he was capable of. "Emma he was a good man, he was just in a hard position. He came to me and gave me a copy of these records, he didn't want them to disappear of the face of the earth and he knew that if he kept them then Gold would know. He hoped that one day he would be able to get Gold, take him down when he was in a better position to do so. He also said that Gold had threatened to hurt you if he didn't go along with it."

"Me?" Emma asked in disbelief.

"Oh come on Emma, don't play the fool it doesn't suit you. He would have given anything for you, I suspect that was the only reason he came to me. He wanted to be a better man for you," Regina's face softened with those last words seeing the guilt and grief on Emma's face.

She knew he liked her, hoped they were heading somewhere but to put himself in danger to prove something to her one day. The guilt was a little overwhelming, she wasn't worth it. Sometimes she thought of her heart, covered in nicks and scars, limping on despite these heavy emotional assaults. She imagined another cut being added, another cut that would heal over eventually leaving her with another scar and hardening the surface. How would it look if you took it out? How would it be judged? Too broken? Too damaged?

She looked up blinking away tears, "So that solves that little mystery, and I know why half my records are missing."

"Anything else Emma?" Regina was trying to sound soft and caring, as much as she could anyway. It still sounded brusque.

"David is trying to track down Hordor Morraine, I guess you couldn't help with that?"

She shook her head, "He left and we didn't keep in touch, we weren't close. Like many men involved in politics he was a pain in the ass. He and Gold used to bump heads a lot though, used to bring up Bae when they argued. Told Gold he was a lousy father and a bed example for his boy and that's why he left. It wasn't pretty," she said shaking her head as she remembered days past.

"Bae, is that Bealfire?"

Regina nodded, "yes, he must have changed his name when he left, I can't find hide nor hair of the boy. I say boy but he must be about thirty now."

"And Milah is dead?"

"Yes unfortunately, you know she seemed happy. I didn't dig to far into her life but she appeared to have a partner and a good job as a photographer. Then one day someone kills her in an alley for her wallet? Its possible sure, but I don't think Gold is the kind of person to let her thrive without him. I can never remember them getting on, always arguing. Milah had a sharp tongue, mother used to talk about Gold needing to keep her in line." She bit out the last bit, Regina and her mother did not get on when she was alive, the sentiment obviously hadn't changed now she was dead.

Emma nodded, "And just for good measure what do you think he is pulling?"

"Without inspecting his imports, I have no idea. Could be illegal antiquities, drugs, stolen goods god knows. I know it isn't legal that's for sure and that its coming in through those shipments because its the only way," Regina said succinctly.

"Well we should go back, we have a code name by the way inspired by Henry. Calling him Rumplestiltskin."

Regina cackled softly, "it suits actually, spinning straw into gold, making his little deals."

Emma nodded and Regina dropped her back at the sheriffs station. She felt a little battered, glad that she knew the truth about Graham which at least wasn't totally bad but still upset nonetheless.

She walked into the station and into David's office, he was sat at his desk and he didn't look happy, Emma raised her eyebrows in question. He sighed, "Mr Morraine is dead."

Emma strode over incredulous to lean against the desk, "What do you mean?"

"I mean he left Storybrooke and moved to DC and six months later he was found dead, mugged outside his office, wallet missing but nothing to follow up."

Alarm bells started to sound in Emma's head, "that sounds suspiciously like how Milah Gold died."

"Milah?", David asked confused.

"Golds first wife," she pulled out the picture of the family that she had shoved in her notebook. "She was killed a few years back in London, exact same circumstances."

David inspected the picture with a frown, "I didn't even know he was married before Belle."

It was Emma's turn to frown, "Actually how long ago did he marry Belle?"

"About two and a half years ago I suppose," David said as he looked up to the ceiling as if to find the answer.

Emma exhaled slowly not liking where her head was going with this, "Well that would be about bang on the time that Gold's wife mysteriously died, without any evidence or apparent motive save for her wallet being missing."

David sat forward in his chair rubbing his face in his hands, clearly disturbed, "Emma it doesn't look good but all this its just conjecture. Its not something we can use." He looked back up at her as if pleading for there to be another explanation, "My God do you think he is really a murderer?"

She didn't really know what she thought. Emma knew in her gut that Gold was bad news, felt it every time she talked to him. But its one thing to think someone was a criminal and a whole other to think one of those crimes could be murder. And Hordor Morraine had left town, why would Gold need to kill him. Was he just tying up loose ends or did he just hate the guy? And Milah his own wife, would he really kill her to avoid a divorce or because he couldn't stand to see her happy without him? And Belle was seeing someone else now, did that mean she was at risk? Her head was spinning. Emma shook her head, "I don't know David, but we need to follow this up. Is there any way we could get phone records for Gold without him knowing? Or find out if he had travelled to DC or London at either of the times?"

David pondered this, drawing his hands up in front of his face as if he were praying and pressing them to his lips, "I know a guy kind of a PI, does a lot of consulting work for agencies. I have some money in the budget, might take a while but I could get him to look into it."

Emma nodded, "Sounds good or at least it sounds like a start."

They stared at each other, wondering what the hell they had gotten into and whether they had bitten off more than they could chew. Emma was pulled from these rather maudlin musings by the phone, soon she was grabbing her coat and heading out again as Leroy was causing rather a fuss at Granny's. She walked out assuring David that this she could handle on her own.

Leroy was on form, demanding to be served some whisky and studiously ignoring the hot black coffee that Granny had decided to provide instead. Granny herself was stood in front of him with her hands on her hips looking decidedly less than impressed.

"Good god man, this is way to early to be abusing Granny," Emma admonished as she stood beside him.

He was pretty much pickled, slowly turning his head as his whole body wobbled on the stool so he could look at her, "all I want is a goddam drink... is it too much to ask?" He sounded sulky, Emma felt a pang of sympathy for the guy, she wasn't feeling much different herself. But she wasn't pissed and taking it out on Granny and her staff.

"Leroy I'm going to give you two options. You can either leave voluntarily and I will even give you a lift home or I can drag your ass back to a cell where you can sober up there. And I really want you to take the first option, the second is a pain in the ass for me and you."

Leroy wasn't a big guy, short but stout, bald but he covered it always with a beanie. He looked up at her through thick salt and pepper eyebrows, "well sister I guess we are both going to have a shit afternoon."

Emma rolled her eyes, "fine then, can't say I didn't warn you."

She held out her hand still hoping he would come willingly, he just turned his nose up at the gesture. So instead Emma grabbed his upper arm hauling him off the stool, unfortunately it seemed that whatever Leroy had been drinking it had all gone to his legs, as they gave out underneath him and he started to crumple towards the ground. Emma caught him under the armpits just in time, "For fucks sake Leroy at least try to hold your own weight."

Emma really didn't want to have to try and get him off the floor and it seemed Leroy agreed and after a few seconds she felt him get his balance. She decided to cuff him, he could be an unpredictable drunk and once he had even attempted to escape running off down main street before face-planting into the sidewalk. He had been carted off to Storybrooke General after that for stiches to his face and Emma did not want a repeat performance. She cuffed his hands loosely behind his back and guided him out the door pausing as they made it out on the street so he could get his bearings. Emma decided they would just walk to the sheriffs station as it was just across the road and getting Leroy in and out of a car seemed like too much work. However stepping off the curb proved to be too much trouble and Leroy lost his balance, Emma managed to stop him from hurting himself manoeuvring him to land on his ass, but she was pulled to the ground in the process.

"Leroy is it too much to ask that you sort your shit out, for fucks sake!" Emma stood up wiping the dirt of her ass. She had lost her patience but she still wasn't heartless so for good measure added, "are you okay?"

He nodded, looking more than a little ashamed of himself, her quick words obviously hitting a sore spot. She began trying to pull him up when she heard a lilting voice behind her, "need any help love?"

Suddenly Emma was fuming, within a second she went from a little exasperated to unreasonably annoyed. Annoyed that she was out here pulling Leroy off the tarmac, that this was a normal occurrence and that Killian fucking Jones was asking her if she needed help, as if he was going to swoop in and save the day. "You know what, no actually I don't need any of your help. I am perfectly capable of doing my job, so just carry on with your day Jones."

With this she grabbed Leroy by his shoulders and roughly hauled him to his feet, the poor man looking pretty confused as to what the hell was going on. She stared at Killian until he held up his hands in surrender then pulled Leroy back to the station. She didn't realise that Killian had followed her, so she jumped a little to find him standing behind her as she closed the cell with Leroy inside it.

"Swan what the hell was that about?" Killian wasn't annoyed merely confused. Another wave of anger crashed over her, how dare he be confused? How dare he get her number and then not use it after prattling on about how he wanted to get to know her? How dare he make her feel like this, like a stupid teenager with a crush willing her phone to ring? It was about this point that it hit her like a freight train, she had a crush on Killian Jones. Stupid pretty flirty stubbly Killian Jones... And she had yelled at him.

She realised that while she was having an epiphany he was waiting for an answer, "Nothing, I just didn't need your help to do my job. That is not the first time nor is it going to be the last time I haul Leroy's drunken ass back here."

"Hey," she heard Leroy yell defensively from his cell.

"Don't you even try to get smart with me Leroy," she snapped back, which was met with silence as she scared him into submission.

Killian's eyes were boring into her, "I saw you fall Swan and I ran over to help, I wasn't casting aspersions on your ability to do your job, I was just being polite."

"Polite! That's what you're going with?" Emma was on a roll now, completely aware that she was overreacting but unable to stop herself, all the while screaming internally to, "shut up!" It was all the frustration she was feeling over him and her investigation with Gold just pent up and exploding.

He frowned, "yes polite, although honestly love you fell over and I came over because I was worried."

His answer did take away some of her bluster but she still narrowed her eyes as she retorted, "You don't need to worry about me Jones."

"No probably not, but I couldn't help it love," he managed lopsided smile flashing his perfect white teeth.

She was still annoyed but less so, she bit her lip as she stood there silently, not trusting herself to talk without yelling again or possibly worse not yelling. Goodness knows what madness might escape her lips. And so time passed with the two of them awkwardly contemplating each other until Emma couldn't handle it any more and decided the best way to deal with this impasse was to just sit down at her desk and start filling out paperwork for Leroy's little visit.

Killian cleared his throat, "so no explanation for the outburst then? Other that that you definitely do not need my help of course." He attempted a smirk which she met with a glare.

Emma sighed, "Bad day... bad week I suppose." She spared a glance at Leroy in his cell, he was possibly the most indiscreet man in Storybrooke, "the investigation is really kicking my ass right now."

Killian raised his eyebrows, "no leads?"

"Too many," Emma admitted.

He was looking with her a hint of regret colouring his features, "I meant to text or call really, I mean I don't have anything but..."

She looked up, trying not to let her face betray the bubble of hope in her chest, "Yes?"

He opened his mouth a few times then scratched behind his ear nervously, "your boy he seemed interested in the boat, I was wondering if maybe you would like to go out on it in the weekend, I was thinking Saturday maybe. It won't be an epic journey or anything but you could bring your rods if you liked, one of the guys down at the docks gave me a few tips on good spots for fishing."

She was a little touched really, that he remembered Henry's enthusiasm about the boat and that he had asked around about fishing spots for their possible trip. It also warmed the cockles of her heart that he had factored Henry into his plans, that he wasn't just getting to know her but Henry as well. She couldn't help but look at him with a newfound appreciation, maybe there was more to Killian Jones than she thought or as much as she hoped. "Erm yeah, that sounds nice actually. Henry will be really happy, he seems to have formed an obsession with Peter Pan since he talked to you."

Killian actually cringed, "not that Disney confection I hope."

She frowned at him, "you are just as bad as him. There is nothing wrong with the Disney version, but he got out the Barrie version from the library and of course there is his own interpretation which is completely different again."

He laughed, genuinely, it was nice and she couldn't help but smile a little. "Well I do have a little surprise for the boy then," he said cryptically before smirking at the smile he had elicited. "Just for the record Swan, you are infuriatingly beautiful when you are angry, but I can't help but prefer when you smile."

She went red as a beet and looked down at the paperwork before hearing him chuckle softly, "So Saturday then, I'll text you with the time later. I assume you are okay with early starts?"

Emma nodded still looking down before she mustered the courage to look up at him scowling a little at the twinkle in his eye, "I have an eight year old, I only know early starts."

He gave her a small wave before leaving, it took all of about three seconds for Leroy to pipe in with his two cents, "sister you've got it bad."

"Shut it Leroy", she called over to him secretly suspecting that he was right and that she was in serious trouble.