Beta'd by Angelfan984 - one of my favorite people!

Chapter 10 - Return

The little yellow bug flew down the freeway in the general direction of New Orleans. By Emma's calculations she should arrive a little after dawn, which worked out well, the streets would be clear of any people that were out all night partying and she could get a good nap before the sun went down that evening. Then she would find her mark. Thinking of Neal as her mark kept her emotions out of it. Her tears had dried somewhere at the 100-mile mark of the trip and now anger replaced any of her old feelings of longing.

As dawn approached she slowed down in the ever-increasing traffic as normal people went to their day jobs, and it gave Emma the opportunity to actually think about where she would stay for the week. Because a week was all she was giving herself to find him and have the closure she had searched for. Would she be brave enough to stay in one of Killian's hotels? Granted she didn't know his other two. Would he even realize she was in one of his hotels? Making up her mind she turned off of the highway towards his one hotel she knew about. It was nice and affordable. And the possibility of running into himwas higher, her mind supplied evilly.

Emma walked into the lush hotel lobby taking in the details with new eyes. The ship that adorned the main showpiece in the middle of the room looked to be a miniature version of the type of ship she would think pirates would have sailed in hundreds of years ago. The walls all had different pictures of the ocean at different points, a beautiful sunset in one, raging waters in another, and her favorite the night sky filled with stars and the black waters all around a ship that was just like the one in the middle of the room. They were filled with feeling and who ever painted them loved the sea, she could feel it. Or maybe it was her own love of the sea that she was feeling.

She lingered in the lobby, not sure why, maybe with the hope she would run into Killian, even though the sun would be up soon, he had told her that he would be safe in here. After a little bit she just felt like a silly schoolgirl and decided to go find her room and take that nap she promised herself.

Killian arrived back at his spacious home minutes before the sun came up. Striding into the foyer, he was met with a sleepy eyed Derek, the boy had been a constant each morning when he returned. Some day he would make a fine Squire.

"Good morning Sir." The boy greeted him with a smile. "Father said he still could not find the girl you are looking for, he called this morning. He did say he had a good lead and that another squire may have spotted her in Dallas so he is heading there this morning." Derek unable to keep completely still hopped from foot to foot, the energy seemed to just spill over like it was over flowing.

At the news he wasn't sure how to feel, his emotions had been warring inside him since he had made the deal. He had to have missed the loophole. Loki always had loopholes. And was his happiness worth having Emma here in New Orleans and in danger? It was a very selfish part of his non-existent soul that wanted Emma here, not caring about the danger to her, only about what he will gain after it is done. He would have Liam or Milah back in his life, if only he kept Emma from her family.

It was something he was willing to do, to have either of them back. And he would use his charm to achieve the goal. Finally his annoying ability of attracting someone would come in handy and it would probably be pleasurable in the process, after all Emma had occupied his mind quite frequently since he had last seen her. And although he knew she resisted him, he also knew that he did affect her. Killian would just have to be sure to only go so far as to keep her wanting more.

"Thank you Derek." He brought himself back to the boy, "I am sure your father will find her for me." If he didn't Killian would have to search for her himself. But for now, he had to rest. The boy smiled brilliantly and then ran off and through the doors that lead to the kitchen. He could hear the warm sounds of his cook greeting him.

The months Gregory had been tortured only made him more determined to go after Hook and everything he held dear. If he had learned anything while he was paying for his betrayal it was if he was going to do this, he had to do it alone. So he sat at the table in the square that was slowly filling up with partiers and he watched the spot he knew Hook would be at some point that evening. The spot he always chose to watch over his precious humans.

His long dead wife stood at his side urging him on. It fueled his rage. She was a byproduct of his torture. When he had woken up one of the times after he had blacked out she had been there. She told him what to say and do to make Zephyra content. And it had worked, eventually. Tamara would never leave him again, she had promised.

In her tightest red leather dress, Emma walked confidently up to the doors of Sanctuary where a pair of huge men stood as bouncers blocking the door. She smiled brightly at them. "Good evening, boys." She purred, her bounty hunting personality fully intact. "Anything fun happening tonight?"

They exchanged glances and she could see the one with the close shaved head try not to smile. A single eyebrow rose on the stone faced guy and he crossed his arms across his chest blocking the door more fully. "I'm sorry, we are closed." His gruff voice informed her. Emma could clearly hear sounds coming from within the building; a heavy metal song was being blasted from somewhere inside.

"Oh, that's too bad. I was looking for some fun." She smiled again and the guy that had almost smiled earlier let out a short laugh.

"Come on Dev, she doesn't look like a reporter or an officer." The younger guy faced Dev before turning back to her, "not that we have a problem serving men in blue, no problems here." A plaque behind the guy caught her attention, 'Come in peace, or leave in pieces'. Guess the name Sanctuary was the real deal, at least they wanted it to be.

"Cody, shut up." Dev responded.

"Don't tell me to shut up!" Cody responded with a push, just as Dev was pushing him back and they started to tumble down the stairs almost taking her out on their way down. The doors burst open and a beautiful girl with a streak of red in brunette hair was suddenly standing in front of a very stunned Emma. She had seen a lot in her life, but two bouncers going at it was not one of those things.

"Boys!" She chastised and another woman appeared at her side with a frown on her face.

"They are at it again." The blonde woman sighed wearily. "You'd think they'd outgrow this." She shook her head. "Do not make me come down there." She told the guys and they froze mid swing and both spun around to face her.

"I'm sorry Mama Lo." Cody said, his eyes focused on the ground. "It won't happen again."

"Cody, don't make promises you know you can't keep." Mama replied tenderness on her face. There was no way the women was old enough to be a Mama to these guys, they looked to be the same age. "Now who do we have here?" She turned to face Emma. "Well come on in hun, lets get some food for you after all this excitement, but I suppose if you are coming here then you already expected some." She laughed.

Still stunned silent Emma could do nothing but follow the woman that had commanded those guys so effortlessly. The other girl was following close behind her and Mama lead her over to a corner booth. It was the perfect place to watch the crowd. She took in the variety of leather clad men and women and was instantly glad she had chosen her red leather dress.

"Sit here sweetie, Ruby will get you something to drink." Mama told her. "I'm Nicollete, but everyone around here calls me Mama Lo." With a smile and a nod she left her alone with Ruby.

"What's your poison?" Ruby asked flipping open her order pad.

"Just a coke." Emma looked up at the brunette, the lights behind her cast her face in shadow and made a halo over her head. But something about her was familiar, not her looks, she was pretty sure she would have remembered someone who looked like her. Not that Emma swung that way, but part of her job was being observant.

"Coming right up." Ruby replied as she flipped her note pad close. "I would have pegged you for a rum and coke type of girl." She added.

"You're good." Emma laughed. "Every once in a while I do, just not tonight."

While Ruby was gone Emma took in the bar. It was multi leveled and she could see part of the second floor from her table. There appeared to be at least one pool table and if she was here for pleasure instead of work she might have played a game or two. On the main level there was a stage in the opposite corner from where she was, that was presently vacant, but was set up with a drum set and speakers like a band would come out at any minute.

It was a little past 10 and it seemed the crowd would only grow as a new group entered every few minutes. Most of the groups seemed to be regulars and were greeted warmly. The homey feeling of the bar was a shock to Emma after spending so many years doing what she did, she had seen the inside of more bars than she could count and none of them had this feel to them. She felt herself relax back into the booth as she people watched.

About twenty minutes later Ruby came back around and sat across from her. "So what is your story?" She asked with a smile.

"My story?" Emma responded a little shocked someone would ask. She circled the rim of her glass with a fingertip in contemplation. "Why do you want to know?"

"Well, for starters you've been here twenty minutes and all you've been doing is watching the people flow in and taking sips of your coke. I don't think you are waiting for anyone and you aren't a regular. So what brings you here tonight? Looking for someone?"

Emma's head shot up at Ruby's last question. How could she know? "I am actually." She responded deciding that she could trust the woman. She opened her purse that was more of a decoration than a purse and pulled out Neal's photo. Sliding it across the table she said, "have you seen this guy lately?"

Ruby took in the picture as Emma read the emotions flash across her face. "Uh, yeah. But are you sure you want to find him? He isn't someone I would go looking for." Ruby looked up at Emma and held her gaze as though she was trying to send a silent message. But all she had heard was that Neal had been here and it seemed Ruby knew him well enough to be wary of him, which probably meant he came here a lot.

"I have unfinished business with him." Emma shrugged trying to contain her rampaging emotions.

"Honey, if I were you, I'd leave that business unfinished. You don't want to go looking for that kind of trouble." Ruby stood up from the table and put on a bright smile, "now would you like that drink?" With a silent nod she confirmed that she would indeed like that drink. One step closer to finding him, all she had to do was hang around here for a few nights.

Two evenings later, Killian stood in his usual spot watching the crowds for Daimon's. The activity was on the low side that evening and he was growing bored. His squire still hadn't turned up new information about Emma and he was growing impatient. Maybe it was time to go looking for her. Ash might understand.

Moments later he caught sight of a blonde head moving in the crowd, she had just left one of his hotels and his breath caught in his throat. Emma? The woman moved like her, with purpose and fluid. But she didn't dress like her. He caught a few glimpses of what she was wearing, and it was all black and appeared to be leather.

Without fully thinking it through he was scaling the side of the building and landing in the alley before he knew it. Then he was one with the crowd following the woman. It might not be her. For months it hadn't been her. But something urged him after her. She left the main street on foot and he followed keeping to the shadows, blending in.

Not once did she look back at him, but his body didn't seem to care if it was Emma or not, it was screaming at him to catch up to the woman and tuck her away into an alleyway to find out. And if it wasn't, maybe that would be even better, he could pretend. His silent pace quickened and he was feet behind the woman. The leather of her pants clung to each curve and he could hear the slight brush of them as they moved together with each step. The smell of Emma washed over him, a scent that was fully Emma, and then she glanced over her shoulder and she was more beautiful than he had even remembered.

Stunned he stopped in his tracks, forgetting to cloak himself to her sight. She spun towards him and kicked his legs from under him. Then he was gasping for breath flat on his back on the hard concrete, her booted foot planted firmly in the middle of his chest. "Hey beautiful." He gasped out trying to smile at her but sure he was failing.

"Killian?" Emma's sweet voice floated down to him, and it was even better than his dreams all these months. "What are you doing here?"

"What am I doing here? What are you doing here? I thought I told you to stay away." He responded an urge to protect her rising in him, even though this was exactly what he had wanted. Her foot left his chest and he climbed to his feet to face her fully.

"This isn't about you." Emma told him, her voice hardening. "I've got some place to be." She said turning back the way she had been going and starting to leave him again.

"Wait. I will come along."

"I work alone." She quipped over her shoulder.

"Now that didn't work out too well for you last time you were in the Big Easy." Killian reminded her. As his steps fell into rhythm with her own on the empty street. "Thankfully this time you have me to protect you."

"Look, I can't get much information out of people with you hanging around." Emma informed him with a laugh. "And I do not need protecting."

"Och, lass, I see now, it isn't just people you are getting information out of, it's men." He challenged. Jealousy filled him at the thought. He had never been one for jealousy, it was a useless emotion, so he wasn't sure why he was feeling this possessiveness over a girl he barely knew.

"Jealous?"

"Bloody hell woman, I am trying to help you out here. Just allow me to come along and I will watch from a bit away as you get your information." There was no way he was letting her out of his sight. Not that night, or any others until he got that artifact.

"Fine." She agreed.

A/N ~ Yay! They are back together. ^.^ Sometimes I drag it out (the being apart thing) but I'm trying to expand my writing abilities and I've been reading up on different tips. I hope you enjoyed the chapter. I'm working on the next one right now. Hopefully it will be up by Christmas at the latest. But honestly I have tons of wrapping to do, so if it isn't I apologize now.