Yes, so here's the next update! Sorry it took so long. Really, really sorry.

"B. Jones?" Emma murmured, her head tilted towards Killian as she, her father and Eric crowded around the note, all of them gathered back at the sheriff's station. "Are you sure it doesn't mean anything to you?" she asked, regretting immediately as she sees the tick in his jaw.

"I'm sure," he sighed, rubbing at his forehead in frustration. "Apart from the fact we share the same last name, I have no memory of a B. Jones."

"But there is a chance you are related to him," Eric added, his glare intense as his eyes met Killian's. "So, my wife- not to mention the mother of my child- is kidnapped because of her connection to you. Because she chose to associate herself with some as dark and rotten as you!"

Eric's verbal attack hit its mark as Killian visibly stiffened, the breath catching in his throat and the sting of the words so blatantly obvious for a second before he hid everything behind a cool mask, his face somber and expressionless; his walls iron clad and miles high.

Emma whipped her head towards Eric, her eyes wide at his accusations when David spoke. "Alright, that's enough!" his voice boomed, startling the rest of them. "The man you are accusing of being dark and rotten, gave up his home to save my daughter, and this town. He gave up on his revenge to save my grandson. He may have been a bad person, but that was in the past. Now? Now, he's part of my family. And no matter what, we always protect our family," his voice matter-of-face and expression angrier than Emma's ever seen it.

Eric looked furious, ready to snap right back, but she cut him off. "Eric, I know you are worried; you have good reason to be, obviously. But Killian-he's got nothing to do with this. He is just as clueless as the rest of us are. And I know that tensions are running high right now, but I've asked Regina to concoct a locator potion. We will rescue your wife."

He sighed, taking a seat on a nearby chair. "I-I'm sorry," he apologized, his voice taut with tension. "I let my anger and worry get the best of me. Killian, I- I was wrong."

The man in question offered a tight smile, the prince's words still clearly affecting him. Emma desperately wanted to reach out to him, but she knew she couldn't now. "Um, dad. Why don't you take Eric to Regina's crypt. We'll follow you guys there. Get the spell and find this bastard," she suggested, giving her dad a look.

David nodded in understanding, leading Eric out to the truck. Emma waited a beat before training her eyes on her solemn looking pirate. She wordlessly laced their hands together, tugging him to her until their hips bumped together. He refused to meet her eyes, his body rigid with tension.

"It seems that my past is always going to keep coming back to haunt us, my love. One way or another," he said, his tone so painfully self-depreciating, it made Emma's heart hurt.

Silently she urged him to look at her, giving him a small smile. "It doesn't matter. Because I'm interested in learning your beginnings, Killian Jones. The good and the bad, all of you."

He blinked, the surprise shining clear as day in his eyes. "You forever amaze me, Swan. So willingly accepting this weathered old pirate for all his faults," he teased, but she could sense the undertone of truth and fear in his words.

Her eyes softened, "If he can he can love this lost girl for all hers, why can't I for all of his?" she mumbled, pressing her lips against his, barely grazing. "I don't care what anyone thinks. You are perfect just as you are. Don't ever even think you aren't good enough. You heard my father, you're family now," she grinned at the spark returning to his eyes.

His smile reaching his eyes now, the dimples she so loves winking at her. Thumbing at one, she smiled back, "Now, come. Let's go kick some Jones ass," she winked, sashaying out the door, making him shake his head in amusement.

His Swan. Always knowing what to say to bring him back from the darkness.

-/-

"Well, Miss. Swan. Glad you could grace us with your presence," Regina snipped, her hands on her hips, Robin standing behind her smirking in Killian's direction.

Emma barely flinched at Regina's tone, ready to get to work. "What's with him?" she whispered to Killian, her eyes shifting from his to Robin, who for his part was trying his damnedest to hide his smugness.

Killian reached to rub behind his ear, his cheeks pinking slightly as he cleared his throat. "He-er, He thinks we've... reconciled," he grunts.

Emma gave him a wary look, stopping in her tracks. "But we did."

His cheeks burned as he licked his lips in embarrassment, "No, Swan. That we've...reconciled," he emphasised, not-so-discreetly looking her up and down, as realisation hit her.

"Oh," she blushed, trying to hide her face with her hair.

He grinned back, his hand interlacing with hers, "Yes. Oh." he teased.

"Well, it's not my fault we haven't reconciled," she whispered at his ear, her voice taking on a low, sultry quality making him shiver slightly.

Damn him and wanting to take things slow, he groaned to himself as they all huddled in the small space in the crypt.

"How is it, Miss. Swan, that the minute you decided to roll into town, trouble brews up?" Regina sneered, her eyes not hiding her dislike.

"Regina..." Robin started, his voice assuage her anger, but she shrugged him off, her arms crossed across her chest. "You know, when you returned, I thought maybe Henry will be happy again. That he wouldn't spend another day locked up in his room because his mother disappointed him. So, you can imagine my surprise when I came home to an extremely upset teenager."

Emma felt the words leave her, Regina's words swimming around her head, making the breath back up into her lungs. She knew she messed up, of course, but it never occurred to her that she disappointed him. Because she never, ever wanted to do that to him, not after what happened when she kept Neal a secret from him.

"Regina. That's enough," Robin bit out, pulling her back.

But her words had done the damage they'd intended. Emma felt the tears prick at her eyes but she held strong. Now was not the time to cry; they had a mermaid (former-mermaid) to save. But she knew, no matter what she does from this moment on, she'd have to live with the fact that she'd not only hurt her son, but also let him down- more than once. She felt Killian's hand grip hers tighter, drawing the strength she needed from him.

"Can we just get the locator spell we came here for?" David asked, his tone snippy, glaring at Regina.

"Of course," Robin answered for her, Regina too busy glaring at Emma to answer. He picked the tiny bottle, blue liquid sloshing as he handed it over to David's outstretched hand. "If you need any help at all, don't hesitate to call me. Me and my Merry Men are at your service," he smiled warmly.

Emma returned his smile, albeit a bit tightly, nodding before she left, avoiding Regina's eyes. She breathes deeply as she reaches higher ground, the whole week catching up on her. She frowns, trying to stem the tears threatening to spill because like all other things, she was a failure as a mother as well.

Killian's arm coming around her made her jump, because she hadn't heard him come up behind her. Though, she shouldn't be that surprised. "Swan, it's alright. Regina was just trying to get to you," he murmured, his lips pressed to her head.

"Were you disappointed when I left too?" she asked instead, refusing to turn around and meet his eyes.

"Emma," he breathed, his arms getting tighter around her.

"That wasn't a no."

He sighed, resting his head against her shoulder. "What do you want me to say, love? I spent every day the first month you were gone at the town line, hoping you'd changed your mind. And then I simply stopped."

"Because I failed you as well," she slumped, her tone defeated.

"No. Because I know you and I knew you'd come back when you were ready, a part of me did anyway. And going to the town line, it reminded me of how I failed to make you stay. It was too painful," he answered. "So I guess you could say I was disappointed in me."

"Stop it," she choked out.

Pulling back, he turned her to face him. "Stop what?"

"Stop trying to make what I did okay!" she exclaimed. "I hurt everyone. I just...left! Without even looking back. So stop trying to make me feel like what I did was okay, because it was not. It is not."

His brow furrowed. "How long are you going to keep doing this?" he muttered, his hand forcing her chin up and making her look him in the eyes. "How long are you going to keep blaming yourself? What do you want me to do? Agree with you? Because I'm not going to, Swan. Yes, what you did hurt people. But it's justified. And no matter what anyone says, you are warranted your reasons. If Henry's disappointed in you, he will learn to get past it. He's still a child Emma, he will come to reason."

She opened her mouth to protest, but he cut her off. "Believe me when I tell you that I was angry with you, more so when you returned because it-it was hard. But it was Ariel who made me realise that there was something worth fight for- True Love. Like it or not, love, you are my True Love; I'll never stop trying to make you see yourself for who you are."

She swallowed thickly, nodded her head at him and pulling him close for a brief hug. "Let's go find her, so I can thank her then."

-/-

"Wha-What do you want with me?" Ariel asked, shivering, as the man sharpened his blade with a whetstone.

"Oh, my dear," he grinned at her, the light reflecting off the sword, making him seem much more sinister. "You are nothing but bait. I capture you, your pirate-friend will come to rescue you and I will finally get the chance to sink this blade in his chest."

Her eyes widened, fear for her friend growing. "Don't you dare touch him!" she threatened. "He's done nothing wrong!"

"Don't make me hurt you, wench," the man growled. "Because I will not hesitate to. I would have captured the blonde saviour he's been pining after, but that is just too predictable isn't it?" he crooned, delicately stroking his fingers against her cheek, making her visibly flinch. "I wanted to make an impact, isolate him. Take away everyone he cared about. And who better than his pretty mermaid associate?"

She felt his stale breath on her face, making her pull away in disgust. "What did he ever do to you?" she snapped, her eyes flashing in anger.

"He was born," the man sneered, going back to sharpening his sword. "I once loved a woman, with all my heart and soul. And she was taken from me because of him. I held her cold, lifeless body in my arms and vowed to myself to not rest until I'd slain him. This man you call your friend," he spat, "he's the reason I lost my family. And he's going to suffer the same fate. I'm going to make him feel the same pain I felt as I take away everyone he loves away from him, kill him last so he feels what I feel. Every. Ounce. Of it," he vowed, his blue eyes dark with the lust for vengeance.

What do you guys think about the new Jones? Any speculation? Let me know in your reviews, or PM me!