9 years ago…

Emma pushed her way through a pair of tall glass doors of a towering office building. She went in and could feel her skin prick the room's air, crisp and cold from the air conditioning battling the monstrous heat outside. She made her way through tentatively. It was her first job and god forbid if she messed up this interview. Emma crossed the main entrance of the building, equipped only with a few couches, an elevator, more pairs of glass doors, and a tall, russet colored, receptionist desk. Behind it sat a tall woman with pin straight black hair. As Emma made her way closer, she read the name on the plack that was sitting neatly on the desk. It stated in bold letters the name Tamura. Emma took in a breath before coming face to face with her. Tamura looked up to see Emma, a tight smile branded on her face.

"You must be Emma Swan," she commented. Emma just smiled, her nerves wreaking her. Tamura nodded and glanced down at a clipboard that perched next to her.

"Mr. Cassidy should be out soon to see you, he is interview another applicant as we speak," she said. The smiled she kept pressed on her face was so un-natural and noticeably fake. Emma shifted uncomfortably; her interview couldn't come fast enough. But as if on cue, a pair of doors swung open to Emma's left. She turned to see two men exiting, one in a black leather jacket, similar to her current red one, and the other in a black suit.

"Thank you for you time sir," leather jacket commented, shaking hands with black suit.

"No, please, thank you for coming Mr. Nolan, I will let you know soon enough if you scored a place in one of my openings," black suit said with a smile. The man named Nolan turned away from the handshake, giving both Emma and Tamura a parting smile before making his way out of the building. Black suit turned to lock eyes with Emma. He moved towards her and held out his hand.

"You must be Ella Swan, am I right?"

"Emma, Emma Swan," Emma corrected as the shook hands "I'm here for the bodyguard job opening." The man smiled.

"Then you are in the right place, I'm Neal Cassidy, but please call me Neal," he told Emma, motioning for follow her into the interview office.

NLYGD

Present day…

Emma made her way toward the security office, relived that she could make leave from that uneasy conversation with Killian. Not only had her called her out on her attachment issues but also it was like he could see right through her, not even needing her to truly answer for him to know what she felt. God, she shouldn't be this malleably, she had know to man for two days and she was already piecing apart her motto. Emma made her way down the corridors before finally spotting the door to the security room and making her way in. She came face to face with Leroy and Tiny, who were currently facing a computer monitor.

"You needed to see me?" Emma questioned, stalking over to the two men.

"Ya, we called the manager at the stadium and they have promised to preserve the dressing room and even store the weapon in a safe place. After of course I explicitly told them to use gloves and making sure to not damage any evidence," Leroy stated. Emma nodded.

"Good," she replied "I want you and Whale to make your way over they're early in the morning and see what you can salvage."

"Don't you need us here after what happened?" Leroy asked swiftly.

"I said just you two, your crew will stay here to protect the grounds and I will stay with Killian," Emma said "And after hearing the extenuating circumstances of him and Gold's relationship, I don't plan on letting him out of my sight so easily."

"He told you?" Tiny asked. Emma nodded, shoving her hands in her back pockets.

"Yup, and just telling the story made him shift and tense up," Emma noted.

"Well that's not a surprise," Leroy laughed, "I bet he is drinking ass off right now, making it almost certain that Regina is going to fry him tomorrow." Emma sighed, running a hand thought her hair.

"I'll make sure he lays off the alcohol," she replied "I don't need a drunk man who could be considered a target wandering around the house. Especially after almost getting killed today." She pivoted and made her way to open the door before she heard Leroy call her name.

"Yes," Emma asked.

"You did good today sister," he said. This made Emma scoff.

"Except getting our guy a bruise the size of the Pacific Ocean painted on his head," she huffed and she made her way out the door to find Killian. It didn't take much effort at all in fact. She made her way to his room, or the way the others call it, the "Captain's Quarters". Emma burst though the door only to find Jones pouring himself what looked like a lethal amount of alcohol. She jogged toward him and snatched the drink out of his hand only seconds before it reached his lips.

"Hey," Killian snapped, reaching for the glass.

"No alcohol for you tonight," Emma hissed, holding the cup away from him, "I don't need you drunk and doing god knows what." He raised a single brow challengingly before again reaching for the glass. Emma spun away from him, drowned the alcohol before he could get to it himself. She wasn't surprised when she realized it was rum, and cringed at the strong taste. Once she had emptied the glass she whirled around to stare in the face of a defeated Killian and handed him the cup.

"Bloody hell love, if you wanted a drink all you had to do was ask, not go and steel a mans liquor from right under his tongue," he sighed. Killian went to grab the bottle that contained the rest of the rum. Emma quickly snatched that too. "Really lass?"

Emma rolled her eyes. "You need sleep, not alcohol. It won't help your current state and you and I both know Regina will kill you."

"I wager you were here to guard my life, not put an end to my drinking habit," he replied, annoyance tingling in his voice.

"With the injury your head has sustained and the meds Whale most likely made you take, you drinking the amount of rum that I know you will is going to land have you dead with flies buzzing around you by morning," Emma detailed. Suddenly Emma came to a realization and stepped towards him, wrapping her arms around him. Killian raised a brow before enveloping his arms around her as well.

"It's about bloody time," he whispered in her ear. But Emma wiggled out of his grasp, taking with her a flask that he had stored in his back pocket. She held it up and gave him an annoyed look.

"I was getting your flask," Emma stated, "one, that I may say, you didn't take much liberty in hiding." Killian sighed and raised his hands to toy slightly with her long golden locks.

"Well that's a plausible excuse for grabbing me," he purred "but next time don't stand on ceremony." Emma shifted away from his touch slightly. He chuckled. "Now may I have the rum," he pouted.

"You're not drinking and that's final," Emma concluded "now get you ass to bed, it's almost one in the morning."

"Bloody hell…" he cursed before making his way from the little counter, around his bed, and over to a closet that was on the far side of the large room. Emma moved to snatch the remainder of the bottles off the bar and proceeded to leave the space, side glancing at Killian as he swung the closet door open and proceeded in stripping off his shirt. Emma couldn't help but notice his strong muscles. They glided into place, layered under a coating of smooth skin. He looked almost a pale blue in the soft lighting of the room. She ripped her eye away from him, making sure he didn't catch her staring. God, she was staring at him now? She quickly shuffled to the door, cradling Jones bottles in her hands. As she tried to open the door, juggling the alcohol, not being able to grasp the door nob. Killian noticed her struggled and stalked over to open the door for her. Emma nodded her head to give in a silent thank you. As she walked out the door she heard Killian address her.

"Swan," he called "did you enjoy the view?" Emma froze, so her stare hadn't gone un-noticed. She rolled her eyes and turned to meet his gaze.

"Goodnight Jones," she finished as she walked down the hall.

NLYGD

Emma awoke the next morning, struggling to get out of her bed. Her back ached from the terrible mattress and her head was pounding from the lack of sleep she received. She had tossed and turned, unable to fall into a slumber until the early hours of the morning. She made her way out of bed, slipped into her usual attire, and made her way out the door. She walked down the hall from her room, jogging up the stairs and knocking on Killian's door, only to find that he wasn't there. She checked his studio, the kitchen, and a few other places she figured he would be only to find no one. Her stomach began turning in fear. Leroy and Whale were already gone, left to go scour through Killian's ruined dressing room. Confused at Killian's absence, she made her way to the security office, asking Tiny if he had seen Jones only to get no report. Emma slide her way around the house, worried now, before running into Smee, who was almost out the door.

"Smee," Emma called frantically "where's Killian?"

"Gone for a walk apparently," he answered dumbfounded. Emma gave him a funny look.

"He was hit in the head with a bat yesterday, is being hunted by a crazy man, and is on enough pain medication to put down a elephant, and your telling me he went out to walk," Emma screeched. Smee shrugged.

"That's what a note said that he left on his dresser," but Emma was far from listening. She burst through the door, leaving Smee in the dust of her tracks, running out to find Killian. She jogged around the entire estate, with no sight of him, the fear in her stomach only growing. It took her a bit before she spotted Killian's black hair, only a bit outside the grounds. She sighed slightly in relief, the fear being replaced with anger and frustration.

"Jones!" she yelled "Are you kidding me?" He whirled around and smiled at her presence.

"I thought I would lure you out soon enough," he laughed. Emma stared at him, irritation bubbling through her.

"You got attacked about twelve hours ago and you think it was a good idea to go walking?" she rambled.

"Ahh, worried about me are you love?" Emma huffed with anger. "And it happens to be so that my head doesn't hurt has much, thanks for asking," he sassed, "I took a nice amount of aspirin."

"You bastard," she laughed indignantly, "you did that on purpose didn't you?" Killian simply smirked at her.

"Had to think of someway to get you back for steeling my rum," he shrugged.

"So you broke my rule about not leaving the house, or going anywhere without me," she hissed, "real smooth. Let's go." She gave him a slight push as they headed back toward the house. A silence hung in the air until Killian finally broke it.

"So why don't you let your self get close to the people you work for?" he questioned. Emma felt a shiver run down her spine. Is he still harping on this?

"That's none of you business," she replied. Killian laughed.

"Fine, if you don't want to talk about that, lets talk about something else," he stated "family?" Emma scoffed.

"You really don't understand this whole 'not getting close thing'," she stated.

"Humor me love," he sighed. Emma took in a sharp breath, shifting uncomfortably.

"I have no mother or father, but I do have a…" Emma paused for a moment before stammering out the rest. "A son. His name is Henry. What about you?"

"My mother died when I was very young, my father left around the same time, leaving just me and my brother," he stated. Emma raised her brows.

"A brother?" she asked.

"Ah, ah, ah, the way this works is I ask a question then you Swan. And I do believe it's my turn." He thought for a moment. "Boyfriend?"

"None," Emma snapped almost too quickly. "So a brother?"

"Yes, his name is Liam. He owns a little boating shop up north. He can be very irritating and he's bloody stubborn too," Emma cracked a small smile. Killian eyed her slowly before blurting out "have you even been in love Swan?" Emma shot her eyes up from the gravel to lock them with his. Her face now had a stern expression painted on it. Killian could see a hint of fear in her eyes, but within seconds it was covered with another brick of her massive wall.

"No," she replied coldly "I have never been in love." She looked away from him, seeing that they had made it back to the house. Emma could feel her phone buzz in her pocket. She took it out to see Leroy's name pop up on the screen.

"I have to take this," she told Killian. She moved away from him slightly before accepting the call.

"Leroy," Emma greeted.

"Sister," he said back "we just got done looking through the dressing room. The security team is going to show us the security tapes here in a moment. "

"Did you find anything?" Emma asked, a little part of her needed to hear some good news.

"We found the spray can that wrote the message as well as a black glove that could have fallen out of the attackers pocket. It's possible when he wasn't using the pair; he lost it, so there could be a chance for prints. We also have the weapon that hit Jones but there is no way to test any of it. We don't have the material."

"It's ok, I know someone that can help," Emma mumbled a quick goodbye, telling him to go view the security footage, before hanging up. She opened her phone's keypad a pressed 7. She lifted the phone to her ear; listening to the phones soft ring. Only a few chimes in did a smooth voice greet her.

"Graham, it's Emma" she stated, "I need a favor."

And voila! There's the next chapter! I apologize for not posting the last few days, my life got a little bit hectic so I couldn't find the time to write. But I do plan on writing the next chapter tomorrow so there is a possibility I will be posting it soon. So again, I thank all of you who review/favorited/followed the story, I appreciate it greatly and love you all! I hope you all enjoyed this chapter and please comment!