Chapter 8:

Tumblers and an Umbrella


The four of them bickered and argued the rest of the afternoon and for the better part of that evening, alternating whose side they took throughout each subject. In the end, the only thing they could settle on was that dinner was needed. In which their bickering moderately picked back up as to what to eat; Emma's choice won, claiming her injuries gave her first call. A pleased, yet entirely knowing look came from Killian. Emma shrugged him –and the tiny flip in her stomach– away. It didn't matter if he knew she was using everyone's guilt against them. Nor did it matter that he seemed to approve of her tactics. Tensions remained as they waited for the food to arrive, only to evaporate completely when everything was being plated in the close confines of Killian's kitchen. Emma watched with puzzled curiosity, it seemed to be the great equalizer. But the biggest curiosity was the openly affectionate behavior the three wolves seemed to have now. Casual touches on arms and shoulders, comforting rubs on the back if one of them got up to get a drink and moved close enough to another. Even Killian and Graham gave slaps on the back and shoulders when a joke was told, or a story from ages ago. It wasn't something she figured wolves (or Killian and Graham if she was to believe Granny's words) would do around food, but a welcome surprise even if the surprise hurt at its edges. As always, Emma was the odd girl out. She didn't have the long history they had, hell she wasn't even the same species. Sure, she had her own time with Graham and Ruby. But those five or so years couldn't compare to the decades –centuries even– that these three had. A quick shot of longing went through her chest, catching Killian's knowing look once more. Even if her eyes didn't see it this time.

With full bellies, they settled with an after dinner coffee, trying to bring their minds back to the business at hand. Ruby scooted her chair closer to Emma's, firmly rubbing the ever itching scar on Emma's back. But a phone call from Quinn took Graham away to attend pack business, halting any planning they might have gotten through now that tempers had calmed down.

He stood just behind her right shoulder (the one that wasn't throbbing) and braced a hand on gently on it; bending to place a kiss to the top of her head. "Tell me we are still family."

Emma's hand crossed her chest and grabbed his without thought. "You think I'd be this angry with you if we weren't?" His head dropped to hers again, insisting with his nose, so she indulged him. "Yes, Graham. We are still family." She missed the look given to Killian over her head, and the returning scowl. "And you are still in the dog house."

"Great. She's starting with the puns." His free hand gave a gentle tug to the hair at the base of Emma's skull. "I will check in as I can and return when I am done. Do nothing without me."

Emma held still and kept quiet as Graham left. She waited until she saw Killian's shoulders relax before she turned to Ruby. Emma was fully aware that though the camaraderie was genuine, the men had played nice for her benefit. "I have never seen Graham that touchy-feely. What gives?"

Ruby sighed, "I could give you the short version, but it would involve me explaining a few other things, and it would just be long anyway. Basic dog and wolf behavior-"

Emma waved at Ruby, "Granny gave me that run down. How does that relate to Graham?"

"Well, a dominant has to protect its own. Territory, family, food source... Graham has felt territorial over you since he met you. Neal only made it worse, so how do you think all this is affecting him?"

"So the wanting to smuggle me away to a dark room with no windows is his idea of protecting me?"

Ruby shrugged. "More or less. He knows he can keep you safe there."

"Ok, so how does that explain the touchy-feely stuff that was going on?"

"Well... I guess the best way to think of it, it's Nature's way of dealing with the constant need a dominant feels to defend. It gets stressful. Damn stressful. To balance out the aggression and whatnot, we feel an equal amount of affection to those we see as ours. Not that we own each other, but... as in Killian is my friend. Mine. You are my family. Mine. I don't own either of you, but you are mine. It is as much my job to protect you, as it is to comfort you. You see it in the animal kingdom all the time. Group grooming, huddled together in sleep when warmth isn't an issue. Scientists are only now catching on to the fact that animals mourn the dead."

"Nature's way of reminding us why we protect what's ours, love." Emma shot Killian a look, but he wasn't looking her way. He only spun his mug in a slow circle.

"Right..." Emma continued on, "So if there is a dominant, that means there are submissives?"

"Oh yeah, but they are rare. Wolves are predators, Emma. Hard to be a predator and roll over for anyone wandering through your home." Ruby glanced to her phone. "The rest can wait though. I need to get down to the diner and help Granny close up. C'mon. I'll walk you to the apartment."

Emma gaped a moment, shifting her eyes between Ruby and Killian. She wanted more. And everyone with answers had stopped talking for the night. She did the only thing left to her; she rose and took Ruby's offered arm.

They made it to the door only for Ruby to turn around to face Killian again. He hadn't moved from his chair, nor stopped looking at his mug. "Killian?"

"Aye love?" He still wasn't looking up.

"Thanks for letting us use your home all day."

His brow arched and he gave them the Devil's smile, finally bringing his face up. "Aye love." But his eyes fixated on Emma. "Anytime."


"So it comes from instinct for Graham to swaddle me and kiss every boo-boo?"

Ruby laughed. "Maybe not that extreme, but yes."

Emma allowed Ruby to see her all the way to the bed, even let Ruby tuck her in. After a quick –but solo– change into pajamas of course. Knowing now what something as simple as touch could mean for Ruby, and knowing how much affection Ruby had done over the years, Emma was catching on that Ruby had been holding back a great deal. Even at that particular moment, with Ruby perched on the side of the bed, combing her fingers through Emma's hair, it was easy to see Ruby was easing Emma into the concept rather than shoving her into the deep end.

"Should I let him?"

Ruby's smile shifted to one of absolute pride. "Look at you, catching on. You always were so smart." There was a twinkle in Ruby's eyes that Emma would have to ask about later. "You shouldn't let him do too much. The more you let him do for you, the less he'll let you alone."

"Give an inch, he takes a mile?"

Ruby beamed. "See? Smart. If you value your independence, don't hand it over. That's true of most dominant wolves, not just him. But!" A finger waggled in front of Emma's nose. "Don't let that stop you from asking for help. From any of us."

"Yes Mom." There was no describing the look that crossed Ruby's face that time. Too many emotions all at once. It wasn't the first time Emma had used the phrase on Ruby, but it was the first time Emma started to feel the weight of what it meant to her dark haired friend. On impulse, (something Emma was incredibly prone to) she linked her fingers in Ruby's hand. "After this is over, how about you and me hit up a spa? Hot stone massages, mud baths, facial something-or-others… the whole nine. We'll sip margaritas and spill every detail we ever hid for whatever reason."

Ruby's brow bowed, "Every detail?"

"Except the gross ones."

Ruby nodded. "It's a date."

Emma managed to wait a full thirty-seven minutes (the last five were counted out on the edge of the bed) before she slipped out the front door.


Killian's door was ajar as Emma approached it for the second time that day. Being a bounty hunter, the immediate thoughts of trouble –bad guys with loud guns– sprung to mind. Only now, it was laced with the bad guys turning into snarling large dogs.

Oh working will be just fantastic now.

She pushed the door lightly with her fingertips, testing for resistance. It gave no creaks and she eased it again. Stepping through on the balls of her feet, trying to remain quiet. If they were wolves, they already knew she was here. If they were human, then maybe Killian had already dealt with them. And if he couldn't, he would at least know he wasn't alone.

Hang out with a few supernatural beings and I walk away with a hero complex, awesome.

The lights were off save for a few table lamps in the living room. A bottle of rum with two tumblers sat out on the coffee table in front of her. The windows Killian had been staring out of when she walked in that afternoon were now open; letting in the chilled fall air. Emma wasn't a wolf, but even she could smell the rain that was soon to fall. Besides the dishwasher running in the kitchen, the apartment was quiet. Her ears perked for the slightest twitch, her eyes straining in the dim lighting. Trying so hard to pick up everything, that she missed the very thing she was looking for. She missed the movement behind her as she crept further into the room. She missed the body inching closer, missed the hand reaching out for her. She even mistook the tingles on her scalp for nerves, when the hand shifted through the ends of her hair.

But she heard the sigh leave his lips.

Emma shifted her feet to dart to the kitchen on her right. But she was pulled hard to a male body by hands wrapped tight around her upper arms. Breath hot on her neck as his nose tucked under the shell of her ear and breathed her in. His voice was a hoarse whisper with lips dancing next to her skin. "Rule one Swan: Never run from a predator, of any variety. The instinct to give chase and capture is often stronger than the creature's reasoning. And we don't worry about the damage we create to accomplish that feat, not till much later. Rule two: Never enter a domain unarmed when you know at least one occupant has senses superior to your own. They will get the drop on you. Every. Single. Time."

Killian held Emma a moment longer before he eased her away, letting go only when his arms reached the full length of their extension. She turned carefully, picking up on his tension, though not the reason for it. She met his eyes before she remembered the rule against it. They were still blue, but paler than that evening at dinner, so Emma settled on studying his arm.

He's not wearing a shirt. He's wearing a tank in chilled weather and not a shirt. He has nice arms… very nice… painting on the wall. There is a painting behind him and I am looking at the painting now.

"Ruby was right about you." Emma ignored the smug tone in his voice.

"In what way?"

"You're a quick study. If you'd prefer to look at my face, even make eye contact, it shouldn't be a bother love."

She gave in, turning her face back to him. His eyes were his normal shade of bright blue. Not a bother for him, maybe. "You're not a dominant then? Granny said you were."

His eyes paled again, and his pupils dilated. "Oh, I'm very dominant, darling." His mouth exaggerated the consonants and drawled the vowels. His lips turning into a smile that could bring a nun to a life of scandal. "However, you acquiesced my dominance more than once already. My wolf isn't so demanding of rules and regulations. I can promise that no offense will be taken if you wish to look on me."

"Alright, if you say so."

He hummed to her timid response, moving away to close the door. Emma's eyes followed him, taking in the pajamas he wore and the twin glasses still on the table. The idea clicked and fell out of her mouth before she had the good sense to remember her manners. "Oh god, you have someone over, don't you?"

He chuckled. "Aye, a young lass… impetuous and impatient." He turned and linked his hands behind his back. A move that would look condescending on most people, but he made look more militaristic, as he strolled towards her again, "Feisty with a temper," till he was in front of her once more, mirth and mischief dancing on his features. "A beautiful blonde woman, adorned with green eyes, who would kill me if I didn't provide her with some decent liquor, that I had promised only a night ago."

Son of a bitch.

"Other than me Killian." Emma folded her arms, pushing boredom and annoyance as close to the surface of her emotions as she could. Praying he'd read those rather than anything else.

He canted his head to the side as if he could hear the thoughts in her head, or could read them on her skin. Emma thought he resembled a dog more than anything. She had no idea what he saw, only that his face softened a fraction before he spoke again. "No Miss Swan. No human or other creature is here."

Her eyes narrowed. "You knew I was coming?"

"Of course."

"How? Some werewolf superpower? Because I didn't even decide I was going to show up until ten minutes ago."

He laughed and made his way to the sofa and table, pouring two fingers in each glass. "No, nothing like that. You're a bit of an open book; I could see you hadn't gotten everything you wanted when Ruby escorted you home. I'm also keenly aware of your predisposition to not give up. I figured it was merely a matter of time."

"So sneaking up on me was?"

He lounged back into the corner of the couch, waving an arm to the open end, taking a leisurely sip from his glass.

Join him or silence… I've had worse propositions. Recently even. But…

She lifted her chin a touch, keeping her arms folded. Her strides purposely slow, till she stood next to his legs. Brushing them with her own as she leaned down, grabbing the remaining glass. Lifting a small toast to him, she drank it back in measured gulps. She maintained her composure as the rum burned and slashed its way down her throat. She could see it now, the wolf behind the man. How he tracked her movements, even the subtle ones. She was pushing him again. Standing, where he was sitting. Swallowing the amber liquid at her pace rather than his. She was used to dominance games. Foster care is rampant with them. Being a female and single in New York, is a daily match. She wasn't trying to win right now; there wasn't a way she could if what she was told is true. But if their attempts to take care of her needed to be regulated, so did the constant reminders of how big and strong they were. Killian didn't have the emotional ties like Graham and Ruby did, so reminding him that she wasn't worth discounting would have to suffice. She sat only when the glass was empty, but she didn't return it to the table. Instead, she curled into her end of his couch. On her side and facing Killian, she held out her glass for a refill. His mouth quirked, but he consented. His hand wrapped around hers, steadying the glass as he poured another two fingers. Emma didn't drink this time, simply held it as she rested her head on the back cushion. A move that exposed her neck to him.

She could play games too.

"You snuck up on me why?"

He had to clear his throat before talking again. "A lesson Swan. What better opportunity?"

"And you couldn't just tell me?"

"Now where would the fun be in that?" His mouth tilted in that smile he always had at the ready.

"Oh, you know... the simple fun of my adrenaline not spiking for a whole day, and sparking memories of running for my life through the park."

His face instantly fell, looking genuinely mortified for her sake. "My apologies Miss Swan. It was never my intention to cause such a reaction. I only thought to impart some basics since you're openly running with a more dangerous crowd, and the tangible is easier to recall than simple words. I forgot the circumstances in my arrogance. I ask your pardon."

Emma blinked once. Twice. "That's quite an apology."

Killian grew serious, "It was an offense. And a grave one."

She huffed out a humorless laugh, taking another drag from her tumbler. "Hell, I didn't even get a fraction of that from my ex. And I ended up going to jail for him."

"For him?"

"Well, I played my part. I would have gone anyway, or got a year of community service. I helped him finish a job lifting these watches. He let me hang on to one while he went and sold the rest. We were going to run off together with that money. Change our names... have a home..." Emma stared into her glass, watching the memories float around. "But he set me up. I got caught with the one he gave me, and he took off on his own. I got eleven months. And that wasn't even the worst of it."

She was too busy watching her past to see his eyes flare white. "This would be the Neal Ruby mentioned before?"

"Mmm. But that was... god, almost eleven years ago now."

"You were a minor?"

"Yep."

"Ruby said Graham knew of him, I thought you were only here for five years."

"Neal ended up being a bounty. He was using a different name that time. I let myself get talked into a drink so he could explain what happened." She shrugged. "I needed closure. I drank one too many, caught up in things, and he went to the bathroom and ran. Left me with the bill and the repair of the window he shattered."

When she remained quiet, he pressed her to finish. "The story doesn't end there, what did you do to him?"

"Nothing."

"Nothing?" His voice held the same disbelief her pride had.

"Nothing. When he first set me up, I used to think that maybe he got picked up too, and the ADA was lying to me. Or maybe they rolled him and he gave me up under pressure. But leaving me at the bar showed me that he was just a grade 'A' bastard. So I let him go. He'd screw up again, get caught for something else. I had what I needed."

"I'm sorry love."

Her smile was sad and thin. "Me too."

His hand reached up, scratching behind his ear. She saw him use that move a couple times now. A nervous tic that was far too endearing. "I seem to have diverted you from your original intended conversation. How about you tell me what had you sneak off to seek me out."

"You mean it's not obvious?" Did I really just say that?

Killian sat up and forward. "There are many things, Emma, which I can construe as 'obvious' for seeking me out." His hand reached out, brushing back a few fallen stray wisps at her hairline. "Late at night... all by yourself… knowing that doing so would invoke the ire of a certain Alpha. You'll have to be a bit more specific."

She watched him. In a single moment, his flirting was flying past her limits at record speeds and in his face she was staring at something gentle, almost affectionate. He was a living duality. Her mind was having trouble deciding where he functioned most. She refused to acknowledge what confusions he did to the rest of her. So she pulled back as much as cushions would allow, sipping on her rum to put something between them. Ever perceptive, he smiled as he sat back to his corner of the couch.

Might not be so bad being an open book to someone…

Emma began shifting her perception of him as something other than a pheromone soaked madman. But as her assumptions of him began to settle in a certain way, "You, my darling Swan, want to know everything I have on Walsh, and any plan of attack I might currently have in place or am working on." Killian shot her a wink with that Devil's grin.

then again.

"I need to be in on this Killian. I need to be there when he goes down."

"No you don't love."

"You can read me so well, you know what I need?"

"Yes." Her eyes flew wide, challenge bright and sharp on her tongue. "Before you neuter me Swan, you are outgunned for this particular fight, and this fight isn't to disarm him and take him to the police. This ends in his death."

Emma scoffed. "And here I thought you said you knew what I needed."

He leaned forward again faster than she could react to. A hand taking hold of her chin, giving her eyes no choice but to look at him, or close them all together. Her pride would never allow the second option. She got to see the vibrant blue hold a golden ring around his pupils. White and silver flecks started to appear, merging into streaks and splotches. Until all there was, was the pale white of his wolf looking back at her.

"You want to see this ended, the way you couldn't for Neal. You want to prove you aren't an easy target for the dregs of society." His voice grew hard, the authority pushing down on her. It was a sensation she found herself becoming all too familiar with. "You want to show this new, big, bad world that you shouldn't be overlooked because you aren't one of us. You want to show Ruby and Graham you can take of yourself, to both keep your independence and make them proud. You. Want."

The push evaporated into the air, the blue returned, his thumb stroking softly on her jaw. "What you need, is to realize no matter how much you want to handle Walsh, you won't survive it alone. What you need, is to realize that risking yourself like you don't matter will only cause more suffering. What you need, is Walsh dead." His thumb stroked dangerously near the corner of her mouth. "And what we need is to stop as much damage from reaching you again."

Her eyebrow went high. He had valid points, for rational thinking. "So I should do as Graham likes? Hide in a corner till someone chases away the big bad wolf? To take on faith, trust, and pixie dust that it's over with?" He her go, retracting slowly as she went on. "I understand their worry. But I need to be there for the end of this, or I'll always worry. I don't care that he dies, I just care that I get to watch the life drain out of him."

"Bloody stubborn woman." He huffed, shifting away for his drink.

"Granny always said that she'd be surprised if I didn't have the blood in me. Some days I wish I did."

Killian laughed. "She didn't mean her own blood darling, though I'm sure that was implied also. Many wolves mate with humans. If the pregnancy goes to term, the offspring are born human, but carry the blood of a werewolf. Those children tend to have all the personality traits we do. Hard headed, territorial, short tempers..."

She didn't know her own parents. The idea that she might be part werewolf was too much to consider. Besides, she was never that lucky. Outside had begun the plit plat of heavy raindrops; Emma let the conversation fall so she could listen and absorb his words. He might be the duality, but Emma was the one that felt like she was being pulled in two directions.

"If you swear to me Swan, that you won't go gallivanting off on your own... if you swear you'll think of your family before you chase your vengeance, I will share all I know. I will keep you apprised, and involved as much as I can. But you have to understand, there are rules at play that stop me from telling you everything. You'll have to trust me."

She pursed her lips contemplating the offer. She wouldn't get half of it from either Ruby or Graham, but her time with Killian didn't even amount to a full day yet.

But the bastard grinned like he heard the words spoken out loud. "Things will be smoother if you do."

"Ok, fine. Give me what you have on hand right now, I have about another two hours before Ruby finds out I'm not in bed waiting for her." A sly smile of her own crept over her face. "She promised I could be the big spoon tonight."

Killian hit his knee on the table trying to stand up, nearly dropping his glass. He was trying to scowl. "Bad form love."

Emma giggled.

Killian tucked the sound away with the others.


A rooftop in a New York rain might not be the best place to take up vigil, but there wasn't much other choice. It gave him the best view. Even if it was from across the street. The rain muffled their voices, but the open window gave him an unhindered view. His would-be-assassin was grabbing and touching what was his. Flirting with her, tempting her. Giving her liquor to make her less resistant.

She would be punished of course for the insubordination, but he couldn't fault her completely. It was him. The Council's retriever. He would die. The asshole would die and he'd make his pet watch. Show her who was stronger, who was better.

She was the one. She was his.

A rustling of wet fabric came from behind Walsh, but he didn't stop watching. A woman stood next to him, clad in a long dark trench coat, hidden under an umbrella. She was shorter than Walsh by a few inches, keeping the details of her face unknown with that bothersome umbrella she used rain or sun. The most Walsh ever saw was piles of dark hair pinned up. He liked her this way, where he could imagine her face the way he wanted it to be rather than the way she usually showed him.

"You see? She is still here. They just hid her from you. From your gifts." Her voice was aged, refined, and smooth. Walsh had decided it would be what Bourbon would sound like if alcohol could speak.

"You didn't tell me he was here, or that she was with him." Anger bubbled in his skin. Every raindrop hurt, irritating the sensations crawling through him.

"Why does that worry you? Is it so easy to take from you?"

"She was mine! She is MINE! And he stole her away, made her confused." He still watched them. Body dancing to rush in and take her to the home he had set up for them.

"Would you storm the building, make her yours again?"

"She has too many guards. Why did you tell me where she was if you won't help me reclaim her?"

"All things to those that wait. They'll be making a move soon, and when they do, they'll be vulnerable. She'll be vulnerable. You can strike then."

"Too much waiting."

Her laugh was cold, falling harder than the wet drops on his head. "My darling boy, has Grandmother ever steered you wrong? Why do you still doubt me?"


A/N: Posterity Note: In the early stages, this fic had one bad guy. Simple and done. Maybe 10-12 chapters total. And then I got hit with walking pneumonia. I was spiking fevers and the crazy dreams that came with. One insomniatic, antibiotic induced, fever dream later... it wanted to be bigger. I've mentioned word vomit yes? There really isn't any other way for me to describe this fic, because it just keeps coming up.

Nouqueret: Actually no, I don't own a dog. I've been around them yes, extended family members having several as I grew up, but I only saw them once or twice a year at best. There were two as "family pets" during my teenage years, but they belonged to my older brother and mother respectively. I didn't get to spend a whole lot of time with either.

Potterfreak2: Quite a few people have said similar about Graham needing to be put in his place, so it leaves me feeling like I've written him poorly. I hope this chapter has explained him a bit more, and if it hasn't, I will rant for ages to help explain Alpha Graham Humbert. Or, if nothing else, he just wants Emma safe. And he's willing to have her hate him, if it means she's ok because of his actions.

Colinodonewithyou: About that perfect length thing… I'm sorry to say that they do get wordy as the chapters progress. Someone –who has been with me throughout the whole thing– insists that longer is always a good thing. I try to argue, but she's horribly biased in favor of this fic. Nothing short of me killing these characters would make her squick at this thing. (No, I'm not killing them… the tragedy piece I wrote like that is safely tucked away from the public.)