I'm so sorry for the long wait everyone! I had super ultra major writer's block and had to work on my other story as well. I've gotten a bit of the groove back for this one and Return is almost done, so I'll be able to focus on this puppy once more. Major stuff happening in the chapter after this...I'd thought about packing it in to this one, but I think it's something that deserves it's own chapter. Enjoy and thanks again for waiting patiently!


Chapter 8

"Why are you talking to me and not Emma?" August drank from his coffee cup and looked up at David and Mary Margaret who were sitting across from him at a table in a Starbucks near Logan International.

"The prison in Phoenix told us that she was picked up by her foster brother and gave us a name, yours. We tried finding her at her last known address in New York but when we went to look for her a few weeks ago, her landlord said she'd be gone until next year", said Mary Margaret.

"We've been in Ireland, filming a movie, the past couple of months. I work in costuming, distressing specifically. I had someone in my department leave and I asked Emma to come help me out like she used to when I started out."

Mary Margaret laid her hand on his.

"Is she happy?"

"She is now." August hesitated while he formed his next question and David took notice.

"Just ask."

"I'm sorry?" August looked over at David with a slightly raised eyebrow (I have been hanging around Killian way too much.)

"You want to know where we've been."

"Of course I want to know, we may not be blood, but Emma is my sister, she's family. How could you leave her on a highway?!" David's face turned red and Mary Margaret's jaw dropped, with tears forming in her eyes. After a few minutes, she spoke

"That's where she was found?" she asked in hushed voice.

"Wait, you didn't know that?" August looked from David to his wife and they both shook their heads. "What happened?"

"We were young", David began, "Not high school young, but early 20's when Emma was born. The first week she was at home was perfect. We loved her more than anything and we couldn't wait to see her smile for the first time, walk, speak, all that. The second week, Mary Margaret had a doctor's appointment and didn't want to take Emma and I had to work; I was a Sheriff's Deputy at the time. We asked a family friend, someone we'd known practically forever, to watch her for a few hours."

"When I got back from the doctor's office, Ingrid wasn't at the house. I called her house, nothing. I called her sister, my parents, David's mother, and nothing. They hadn't heard from her and that's when we noticed Emma's diaper bag and a lot of her things were missing." Mary Margaret wrung her hands together. August held up his hand to stop David from continuing.

"Wait, are you saying this-this Ingrid woman kidnapped Emma 25 years ago?"

"Yes, the only thing she left behind was Emma's baby blanket that Ruth, David's mother, made for her. If only she'd been taken with it, we might've found her sooner; it's very distinctive." Mary Margaret pulled a fluffy white blanket lined with purple ribbon and 'Emma' stitched into it from her purse. "We've been looking for Ingrid all this time and we finally found her two months ago, dying in a hospital. We didn't bother pressing charges and the week after we found her, she died. But she did tell us that she'd left Emma at an orphanage in Portland, Maine when she realized she couldn't take care of her."

"Well, she lied. Years later, when Emma was looking into her story, we read the newspaper article that said she was found on a stretch of road. She was wrapped in a random blanket with a note that said her name was Emma and to please find her a home. She's had a very hard life, I was witness to most of it. It's left her with more trust issues than you can imagine. She's only recently let herself really like a guy all because she trusted the wrong one when she was a teenager…which is a story I'll let her tell you. I'm sure you're wondering about the prison stay."

"The people in Phoenix told us she was in there for larceny, very expensive watches or something like that." David looked up as August stood and threw his coffee cup into the trash.

"You have to come back with me. It's probably better we don't have you meet immediately, you'll have to give me a few days to tell her what's happened. You are more than welcome to stay with Graham and me for now. We don't go back to set until next week so, worst case scenario that is Emma refusing to speak with you, this weekend will be perfect to meet."

"If we stay with you, won't she wonder who we are?" David asked.

"She's not staying with me. She's staying with her boyfriend and his sister just outside of Dublin. She's recovering."

"What happened?" David gave him a worried look.

"Nothing really serious. We had a bit of swine flu outbreak on set and unfortunately Emma got it. She's a stubborn one and wouldn't admit she was sick. It wasn't until she fainted in Killian's arms that she got treated. Emma was in the hospital for a couple days and the doctor told us the only thing we could do is let her rest. We'd been staying in a hotel and Emma didn't want to stay there so Killian offered his place and that's where she's been. Graham and I are staying nearby."

"Does she know where you are?"

"No." August looked down at his feet. "She thinks I'm spending time with Graham."

"Are you sure that's a good idea?" Mary Margaret looked worried. "Not telling her the truth."

"It's not ideal, but if I'd told her she would have insisted on coming and it's not good for her to travel right now. Everything will be okay, trust me."

Hours later, after a stop at the Nolan's small studio apartment just outside of Boston, the three of them were on their way to Dublin. He called Graham before the plane took off and told him to tell Emma he'd been there if she called to ask.

"Fine, I'll tell her you were with me. I don't know what you're up to August, but I just know it's going to come back to bite you in the arse."

"Maybe, but trust me when I say this is for Emma's benefit. I hate lying to her, but this is the only way she'll listen. I'll explain everything when I get back."

"You better."

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Emma never knew sailing could be so much fun. The Jolly Roger was gorgeous: it had an all-white exterior, light colored wood deck, a single big sail, and the name written in script on the back with a small Irish flag flapping in the breeze. Killian stepped aboard first and extended his hand to Emma.

"Welcome aboard the Jolly Roger milady!"

"You're like a kid in a candy store." Emma laughed as he dropped her hand and helped Tink up.

"I've no idea what you mean Swan." He went towards the bow, sending Tink towards the stern and they started untying ropes.

"I bet you like to be called Captain when you sail, don't you?"

"Of course he does!" Emma heard Tink call from her spot at the stern.

"Of course I do! The Jolly is my ship, and I am her captain. When we are aboard, my word is law thank you very much. As for you Miss Swan, you may deposit your knapsack in the cabin." He pointed to a set of steps and a door. "There's life jackets in the small closet if you need one."

"Thanks, Captain, but I'm good." She laughed as she made her way down into the cabin. She stared at the interior as she dropped her bag on a small table. There was a small kitchen area ('Galley, Swan. It's called a galley. Shall I get you a book with nautical terms?') with a couch and she could see the doors to two smaller cabins near the bow. He had several pictures on the small walls: Killian and Tink, a young Killian and his mother, and one of Killian and the man she figured was his brother Liam, who was dressed in his official Navy blues. She was still looking around when she heard Killian call her.

"Come on back up darling, we're about to shove off!" After trading her glasses for sunglasses, she made her way back up to the main deck. She saw Killian at the wheel ('Helm Swan! Seriously!') and immediately fell into one of the seats and started laughing. "What?" was all he could say.

"You're wear- hahahahahahahaha!- I can't…I just cannot with you right now!" She threw her head back and laughed: Killian was wearing a white hate with black brim, yellow rope accents, and two crossed anchors on the front. "Is-is-is that a-a captain's hat?"

"Very funny Swan." Emma couldn't help laughing; maybe it's because she'd been cooped up for so long or simply because she was very happy in that moment, but she didn't notice when Tink snapped a picture. "Keep laughing. Tink? Would you grab the other one and give it to her please?" Emma stopped laughing immediately. Tink retrieved a standard white sailor's hat [one of the round ones that sailors of the lowest rank wear] and popped it on Emma's head.

"What is this?" She pulled the hat from her head and looked at it, smiling at sewn in script spelling out The Jolly Roger.

"My first mate has to dress accordingly, love." He abandoned the helm and walked over to her, taking her hand and pulled her up. He took the hat from her hand and put it back on her head. He cupped her face with both his hands and pulled her closer.

"Is this kind of behavior conducive to the proper running of a boat?" she asked when his lips were just inches away from hers.

"Ship Swan. She's a ship."

"Uh huh." He laughed and pulled her to him, kissing her softly.

"Hey, hey! Keep it clean you two. I've never thrown up over the side of the Jolly and I'm not sure as hell not going to start now."

Emma felt Killian smile against her lips before he placed a small kiss against them and lifted his head to give Tink a Look.

"Oi, how many times have I had to see you making out with your boyfriends?"

"Whatever big brother." Tink winked at Emma. "I'm going to read up front. Yell if you need me." Tink pulled a book and towel from her bag and went to lay at the bow. Killian pulled Emma over to the helm and sat her down on the bench seat next to him.

"What are you doing?"

"Teaching you the finer workings of sailing Swan." He pulled a set of keys from his pocket and put them in the ignition, turned them, and pressed a button that caused the engine to roar to life. He pulled a pair of sunglasses from the pocket of his deep red button down and slipped them on. Emma didn't think it was possible for him to be any more good looking than he already was, but somehow those Ray Ban's did it. She mentally shook herself because he'd been talking about the proper way to steer the Jolly from her slip.

"I feel like you need a rearview mirror on this thing."

"Once you learn to steer her properly, no such thing is needed. We'll make a sailor out of you yet, all you need is practice." He carefully maneuvered the Jolly out of the marina and into the open water.

"This feels amazing!"

"Would you like to try your hand at steering love?"

"Of course I would!"

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August stood at the luggage carousel at Dublin International, he toyed with his phone, wondering if he should call Emma. He'd already listened to her voicemail as soon as they'd landed.

"August. What the hell? Where have you been? You're missing a great day. Killian took Tink and I out on his boat-" "Ship Swan, how many times must I repeat myself?!" "Whatever! Ignore Killian. I talked to Graham and he said you two were spending time together, but you had to know I wouldn't believe him. Did you forget what I could do? Just…please call me, ok? Or email me or text me that you're okay. Love you."

August tapped out a quick text as the carousel began to turn, letting Emma know that he was sorry and he'd speak to her in the morning. He slipped the phone in his back pocket and turned to the couple next to him.

"She didn't believe Graham when he told her we were spending time together. I forgot about that superpower of hers." Mary Margaret narrowed her eyes at him, something that was a spitting image of Emma.

"Superpower?"

"She's really good at telling when someone is lying to her."

"Me too." David took his place next to Mary Margaret. "It comes in handy when one is a Sheriff."

August shares more stories about Emma (but refrains from telling the story of Neal because that is Emma's to tell) while they wait for their luggage and the Nolan's tell him of the ordeal they went through trying to find their daughter. The trail on Ingrid Thommessen went cold after a month of searching. Using his pull as a Sheriff, David sent out requests for APBs to be put out for Ingrid, should she go back to using her real name. Investigators figured that she'd gotten falsified papers to change her name to avoid capture.

It was difficult to search for Emma because they hadn't known if she'd been given the same name and they had no idea what her last name was. They had given up all hope of ever finding their daughter until a hit came in on Ingrid, saying that she was back in Boston and in a hospital.

Ingrid never apologized for taking Emma and never told them why. All she told them was the story of the orphanage in Maine and that she later found out Emma had been adopted by a family with the last name Swan. Neither Mary Margaret nor David forgave her and she didn't ask for it. They believed they'd be able to one day, just not now.

Once all the Nolan's things were retrieved (August only had a carry on), they found his car in the overnight parking and headed out to where Graham's house in Dublin.

"Mary Margaret and David Nolan, this is my partner Graham Humbert. Graham, these are Emma's parents."

"It's nice to meet you both." Graham shook David's hand and kissed Mary Margaret's, who blushed. Graham gave a small laugh and whispered to August, "Wait 'til she meets Killian."

"Thank you for having us here while we figure everything out." David gave Graham a serious look.

"It's no problem mate. Emma's family to me, the sister I never had so I'd do just about anything for her." Mary Margaret chose that moment to start crying.

"I'm sorry, it's just…after August told us all the homes they went through and all that, it makes me so happy that she found a family in the end."

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Thanks to the fun filled day, Emma fell asleep quickly and slept soundly that night. It helped that she had someone holding her. After falling asleep during the latest season of The Fall on Netflix ("Killian, doesn't Graham kinda look like the guy who plays Paul Spector?" "Nah Swan. Doesn't look a thing like the man."), Killian carried her to the room she'd been staying in and after tucking her in with a sweet kiss to the forehead, she'd grabbed his wrist and asked him to stay.

She only really dreamt about August because she was still worried about him. She dreamt that he was a leather jacket wearing, motorcycle riding modern day Pinocchio. Her eyes snapped open when he turned to wood right in front of her eyes. Killian, still in a deep sleep, must have sensed her worry and his arm tightened around her waist. Right as Emma was falling asleep, her cellphone beeped with an incoming text message. When she saw it was from August, she opened it immediately.

Big Bro: I'm sorry I lied about where I was. Something came up and I needed to take care of it. Please don't be mad at me because it will all make sense tomorrow. I'm glad you had fun sailing today. Tell Killian and Tink I said hi.

Little Sis: I'm still a little pissed you Auggie.

Big Bro: I hate it when you call me that.

Little Sis: Then don't lie to me. Where were you?

Big Bro: I will tell you everything when I come over tomorrow. Right now, I really am at Graham's.

Little Sis: You better be here.

Big Bro: I will be. I love you.

Little Sis: You big sap.

Little Sis: I love you too.

"Who was that love?" Emma whipped her head around to see Killian's bright blue eyes looking back at her. She could tell he was still half asleep.

"Go back to sleep."

"Was it that daft fool who worried you today?"

"Yes."

"What did he have to say for himself?"

"He had to take care of something important and would be coming by in the morning to explain everything."

"Good. I've a right mind to give him a piece of my mind when he gets here."

"Go back to sleep Killian."

"As you wish." He pulled her to him once more. She draped an arm over him, letting her hand rest over his heart. As she fell asleep to its beat, she was completely oblivious to the fact that the coming day would change everything she thought she knew.


The Jolly Roger: boats/2015/Bavaria-46-Vision-2739267/Swanwick-Marina%2C-Southampton/United-Kingdom#.VJc5LB0MA

Just imagine the sunglasses that Killian wears as the one's Colin wore at 2014 San Diego Comic Con (the Ray-Bans). Also, major kudos to all of you who catch that subtle Jamie Dornan reference near the end.