Disclaimer: I do not own Once Upon a Time

Coming Home

Emma stared blankly out the windshield of her tiny yellow bug and up at the apartment complex in front of her. She had no idea how she wound up here, how getting in her car to find a hotel in Boston had turned into the very long drive to her hometown of Storybrooke, Maine.

Biting her lip, she cut the engine and got out, dragging her one suitcase with her. She glanced down at her watch as she dallied outside of the loft door. It was only 8 o'clock at night. They were probably still awake. Still, it'd been four years since she'd been back here. Steeling herself, she raised her fist and knocked lightly on the door. It was mildly embarrassing that she didn't even have a key. It was probably somewhere in a drawer in their apartment in Boston.

A moment later it opened. "Hey, Mom." Emma whispered.

Mary Margaret Nolan broke out in a wide smile, "Emma!" She reached up and pulled her daughter into a hug, "What a wonderful surprise." She turned, "David! Emma's here, come get her suitcase."

Emma shook her head, "No, it's okay, I've got it." Emma murmured as she tugged it in. It wasn't even her biggest suitcase, she just grabbed what she could and ran out.

"Ems!" David pushed his way toward his daughter, pulling her into a bone crushing hug. Biting her lip, Emma dug her face into her father's neck, wrapping her arms around his waist, secretly loving that every time he really hugged her one hand cradled her head like she was still a baby. And it hit at that moment, a sob escaped her lips and wracked through her body, followed by another even louder one, "Oh, Emma." Her father tightened his grip on her.

Mary Margaret frowned and rubbed circles on her daughter's back, "Emma, honey what happened? Is Neal okay? Are you okay?"

Pulling back, Emma wiped the backs of her hand over her face, even as the tears continued to fall, "He's fine. The bastard probably hasn't given two thoughts about where I am. He's too busy fucking Tamara." It was then that her eyes moved over her parents' heads. The living room was full of people. People she knew. "Oh God," she murmured, "I'm so sorry, I barged in on a party. I should've called." She rambled, "I wasn't even coming here I was going to go to a hotel in Boston and then somehow just kept, I'm so sorry." She repeated.

Pulling her into another hug, David whispered, "You never have to apologize for coming home, Ems. And you should know I plan on killing him."

Emma laughed weakly, "Yeah, once I get my wits together I may beat you to the punch." She bit her lip, "I already broke his nose, so I'm well on the way."

David pulled back, "You broke his nose?"

"I punched him in the face." Emma shrugged, "And when he tried to hug me and tell me it was okay I may have kicked him in the balls. Hard."

David couldn't help the ear splitting grin, "That's my girl." He rubbed her back, "I still fully intend to kill him."

"That's a great example you'll set for our youth, Sheriff." Mary Margaret grabbed Emma's arm, "Why don't you go clean up and I'll pour you a glass of wine. Then you can join us, if you're up for it."

Nodding, Emma waved to the group in the living room before trudging up the steps of the loft. She heard her father following her with her suitcase in tow. Closing the bathroom door, Emma stared at her reflection in the mirror. She looked exhausted. Her complexion was gray, her green eyes were dull and her hair was a mess. Sighing, she splashed water on her face, brushed her teeth and pulled her hair up into a low ponytail.

When she reentered the small living room, her father was already waiting with a glass of wine. "Thank you." She murmured.

A moment later she was pummeled by someone, "Whoa, hey there, Victor." She laughed as he spun her around, nearly knocking the wine glass out of her hand.

"Your timing is perfect." He winked at her before setting her on her feet, "And if you tell me where he's staying in Boston I'll take a few days off to beat the shit out of him." He winked, "You know I could kill him and make it look like a medical condition. Totally natural causes."

Emma rolled her eyes at her best friend from high school, Dr. Victor Whale. It was still so weird that he was a doctor now. He did want to dissect all of the frogs in freshmen bio by himself though.

"Ignore him." Ruby, his girlfriend, pulled her into a hug, "We're just glad you're back in town for a few days. And I'll be sure to pull the story out of you at a later time." She pulled Emma over to the corner where she was gossiping with Tink, another friend from high school. Glancing around she noted that Victor and Graham were speaking to a man she didn't recognize. He looked to be around the same age as she was.

"Who is that?" She finally asked.

Tink grinned, "That's Killian Jones, he's the newest hire at the Sheriff's station."

"That's the new deputy?" Emma asked as she took a sip of her wine as she briefly recalled her father telling her he hired a new deputy a couple of weeks earlier.

"So, yummy, right?" Ruby licked her lips.

"Ugh, Ruby," Emma shook her head, stifling a yawn, "you have a boyfriend." She reminded her. Emma's eyes roved over to the new deputy again, "I'm going to go introduce myself. He might as well get to know the Sheriff's daughter, right?"

"You go get that rebound girl." Ruby leered at her. Swatting her away, Emma stood up and walked over, sidling up to Victor.

Promptly draping his arm over her shoulder Victor pointed to Killian, "Killian, meet the infamous Emma Nolan."

Emma rolled her eyes, "I'm not infamous."

"You blew up shack behind the football stadium." Victor quipped.

"Both of you," she pointed to Graham and Victor, who had been friends since high school, "helped."

"I was an innocent bystander." Graham grinned at her, "I did nothing of the sort."

"You just harbored a fugitive." Emma leered at him. Rolling her eyes she held out her hand, "Emma Nolan."

The man grinned at her, "Killian Jones." She bit her lip at the sound of his voice, "It was my understanding that you don't come back often."

"Try never." Victor jostled her, "This is the first time in four years."

"It's not like I have to pull your teeth to come visit in Boston." She murmured, ducking her face into her wine glass.

"There is way more to do in Boston than here." Graham agreed.

"Well," Killian bowed his head slightly, "hopefully I'll see you again before you head back down."

Biting her lip, Emma murmured, "I'm sure you will."

OUAT

The next morning Emma flipped through the newspaper silently while her mother continued to make breakfast (she'd insisted Emma rest) and her father answered a phone call. When he came back to the table he said, "So what are you plans while you're here?" He asked.

Emma shrugged, "I don't know. I'd just finished a case when," she paused and shook her head, "anyhow, I haven't committed to anything else and I really don't want to go back yet. I'm guessing you don't have any bail jumpers here you need me to track down."

David tipped his chair back, "Actually, we sort of do."

Emma's eyes lit up, "Really? Here in Storybrooke?"

"David, four legs on the ground." Mary Margaret called out from the kitchen. When David's chair was fully seated on the ground with a loud thump, she called out, "Thank you."

"Ever the teacher." Emma murmured.

"No kidding." David grinned, "Will Scarlett broke into the library. We haven't caught him, but he was seen at the Rabbit Hole last night. You know Scarlett, he wasn't going anywhere so I wasn't too concerned about it." Rolling his eyes, "Gold is pissed that I didn't send someone after him last night since he took one of his wife's precious books."

"His what?" Emma asked, "His wife and son both mysteriously disappeared when we were in high school."

"Yeah, he remarried." David looked uncomfortable for a moment.

"Who would marry him?" Emma asked incredulously.

"You remember Belle?"

Emma coughed up the sip of cocoa she'd taken, "Belle? Belle French from my high school class?" Emma asked. When her dad nodded she scrunched up her nose, "She's twenty-eight, he's older than you and Mom. That's disgusting. Not to mention the fact that he's an ass."

"Yeah, well Belle runs the library now so I was going to send Graham and Killian around looking for Scarlett, but I could really use Graham to hunt down a missing hiker in the woods," he waved his phone indicating that was the call he just took. "Think you could help Killian? He's still figuring the town out so he could probably use a local's knowledge."

Emma nodded, "Sure, can I ride into the station with you?"

Leaning forward to kiss her forehead, David murmured, "Of course, go get dressed so you're ready after breakfast."

OUAT

"He likes to hang out at the Rabbit Hole." Emma faced Killian once they were seated in his cruiser. "He's basically a stoned drunk most of the time. Always has been."

"You know him?" Killian asked as he started the car.

"It's a small town, you know everyone. He was a year ahead of me in school though, a townie who never left for college."

"Everyone leaves for school then?" Killian asked.

"We don't even have a community college here, you have to go a town over for that so everyone who goes to school eventually leaves for a couple of years. Most come back." Emma explained.

"You didn't." Killian pointed out.

Shrugging Emma pointed straight ahead, "There it is." Killian noticed she left the comment unaddressed, but didn't press her.

The Rabbit Hole was a bust. No one had seen him since the night before, reading the book he'd stolen. "So, Emma," Killian looked over the hood of the cruiser at her, "what would you suggest now."

Rolling her eyes, Emma slammed the door shut, "Let's walk down to Granny's."

"Need a donut?" He teased.

"Leroy's seen him around I'm sure, and he's probably there hiding his whiskey in his coffee." Emma moved back to the sidewalk.

"So why did your father send you with me?" Killian asked curiously.

"He wants me to be doing something rather than sitting around the apartment or bothering Ruby at the diner." Emma shrugged, "And finding people is what I do."

"What you do?" Killian questioned.

"I'm a bail bondsperson." Emma explained as she moved to grab the front door of the diner. Killian beat her to it. Arching a brow at him, he bowed lightly, "Ladies first."

"A gentleman. Shocking." She murmured, waving to Ruby who was behind the counter. "Hey there, Leroy."

Leroy looked up at her, "I heard the Sheriff's daughter came blowing into town last night. Here to start trouble, sister?"

Rolling her eyes she leaned against the counter next to him, "Looking for someone."

"Don't know em."

"Where's Scarlett, Leroy." She tapped her fingers against the counter. "He's not at the hospital and it's his shift." She referred to their shared janitorial position.

"If you're telling me I got to go in early,"

"I didn't say that, I asked where he was." Emma repeated.

"Try the Hole."

"Already did." Emma snapped.

Leroy groaned and reached for his coffee. Before she could do it, Killian moved it out of his reach, "The lady asked you a question, mate." Killian pointed out.

"Fine," Leroy grumbled, "he was muttering something yesterday about finding buried treasure at the beach. He was stoned. He had some book tucked under his arm."

Emma rolled her eyes, "Thanks, Leroy. Enjoy the whiskey." She pushed his cup back to him.

"It's coffee."

"Whatever you say." Emma waved at Granny and Ruby who was conspicuously pointing between her and Killian and making very inappropriate hand gestures.

Holding the diner door open, Killian suggested, "To the beach."

"You got it." Emma grinned. It felt good to be doing something productive rather than wallowing over Neal. And it felt good to have someone there to distract her. She wasn't usually one for working with someone, but it was a nice change.

Ten minutes later she was snorting at the sight of Will Scarlett snoring next to a hole he'd dug on the beach with the library book tucked under his arm. Once Upon a Time, a children's story book. "Well this is a sight." Killian muttered.

"Not really a mastermind." Emma mumbled picking the book up. "We can drop it at the library on our way to the station."

"Mrs. Gold will be appreciative." Killian commented.

"So gross. Don't say that." Emma muttered.

"You know Mrs. Gold. It was my understanding they were recently married."

"Yeah, Belle and I graduated from high school together. We were sort of friends. She was quiet. Library kid. Ruby, Tink and I weren't exactly interested in school. Neither was Graham or," She stopped.

"Victor?" Killian finished.

Clearing her throat, she replied, "Nah, Vic was the nerd that made sure we graduated."

"Oh, then who?"

"Neal." Emma had to force the name out of her mouth, "Neal wasn't too into school either."

Killian raised his eyebrows, "Ah, the bastard from last night." he murmured.

Emma bit her lip and nodded, "Screwing the next door neighbor." She commented dryly. "For the past four months."

"And you've been together for a while."

"For thirteen years next month." Emma whispered.

"Bloody fool." Killian took the book from her, "I'll deliver this to Mrs. Gold, if you'll watch our sleeping beauty." He motioned to Scarlett asleep in the backseat of the cruiser.

"Thanks."

When they had Will tucked into a jail cell fifteen minutes later, they sat across from each other with fresh coffee, "So how long are you in town for?" Killian asked.

Emma shrugged, "I don't know." She took a sip of her coffee, "I guess for a while. I mean there's nothing really for me back in Boston anymore. I guess I could look into Portland or New York or Augusta for work. Not much work for a bail bondsperson here in Storybrooke."

Killian looked into his coffee cup and then up at her, "Well maybe we could grab a cup of coffee one day." He looked up at her and watched as her eyes danced in amusement before darting to the cup in his hand and the one in hers. "Or I guess we've already done that. Maybe a drink then?" He suggested. "I mean, as friends, I'm not, I know you just, yeah."

"Hey," Emma reached across and laid her hand on his, "a drink Friday sounds wonderful." She whispered.

OUAT

Six Months Later

"Now," Graham looked over at her waving his old deputy badge at her, "you can't go blowing up anything if I give this to you."

Emma rolled her eyes and snatched it from his hand, "I can't believe dad made you Sheriff." She wasn't actually surprised. And she was really glad her dad finally retired. He didn't need to run around anymore. And if he got bored he could always come in for a day or two.

"Hey, I've been here longest and I'm good." He winked at her.

"Gross." Emma muttered. "How does Tink stand you?" She clipped the badge to her belt.

"No clue." Graham grinned, "Welcome aboard officially. Though you've been tagging along long enough you really don't need a real welcome."

She scoffed, "Tagging along, I have been very helpful thank you very much." She stuck out her tongue at him.

"Very mature, Deputy Nolan." He smacked her shoulder, "Okay, go catch bad guys."

"You mean go help Killian wrangle Scarlett again?" She quirked an eyebrow at him.

"Yeah, he stole a bunch of menus from Granny." Graham rolled his eyes.

"Of course he did, because that's just logical." She stood up.

"Hey at least we know he's still reading." Graham called out as she waved on her way out.

She found Killian standing in front of the cruiser. "Ready to go get our book thief, Deputy?" Killian asked with a smile, reaching his hand out.

Emma let out a soft laugh, allowing him to pull her into his embrace. Reaching up she pressed a kiss to his lips. Sighing she murmured, "If he's passed out again maybe we can lock him in the cruiser and find a place to celebrate quickly." She brushed her nose against his.

"Why Deputy Nolan, are you suggesting we ignore our responsibilities while on duty?" He raised and incredulous eyebrow at her.

"Wouldn't be the first time." She lightly bit his earlobe before moving to the passenger side door and getting in. She watched as Killian shook his head and walked over to the driver's side. Coming home had been the best decision of her life.

Well, coming home and having that drink with Killian.

OUAT

XOXO

MAS