A/N: Firstly, hello again. Secondly, I know it's been centuries but we're finally back, I just lost my connection with the story and really struggled to pick it back up again.
Please feel free to message me with your thoughts. It's good to be back.

Disclaimer: The show still isn't mine

Chapter 14: Suspicious Minds

Prince Charming who didn't recall he was Prince Charming, didn't seem to buy what Walsh was selling. The vague story about being a stranger lost out in the woods, miles from anywhere besides the town of which he wasn't a resident.
He needed to change up his strategy, find an in somehow, a weakness that he could exploit.

"The woman who was also attacked, she's Emma Swan right?" He said cautiously, noticing how he immediately had the Sheriffs attention.
"What about her, how do you know Emma?"
"This going to sound terrible," Walsh replied,trying to play the part of a guilty school boy, "Emma and I used to live in the same area and I had a bit of a crush on her. When she and her son took off...I kind of followed them here."

The other man's face hardened instantly and his hand twitched towards his gun belt.
"So you're a stalker," David stated coldly.
"NO! Oh god no," Walsh backtracked, "just someone who wanted to make sure she was okay."
David was still staring him down and Walsh knew that the man was in no way convinced and that he was now unnecessarily exposed and in danger of being discovered. He just needed to get to the Savior.

"Well we'll see what Emma has to say about all this," David finally announced before spinning on his heel and striding out of the room.
Things had most definitely not gone to plan. The Swan woman wouldn't call the lie straight away and he'd be caught, probably arrested. He'd have to find another way to get to her that didn't involve going through the army of people who seemed prepared to protect her, even though they barely knew her anymore.

Yanking the series of wires from his arms, Walsh paid no mind to the sudden incessant beeping of the machines, and escaped out the window, hoping there was a place nearby where he could get new clothes.
The Savior was safe, for now.

~E&K~

Killian had yet to let up the death grip he had on Emma's hand, not that the blonde seemed to mind, if anything she was holding on just as tightly. She was keeping up an animated conversation with Mary-Margaret about the children she taught, while her lad had dozed off in his chair. The lad was a trooper that was for sure, tougher than your average kid. But, Killian thought, considering his supposed background, he wasn't all that surprised.
The son of a magical kingdoms lost princess and adopted child to its evil queen, life couldn't exactly have been plain sailing.

It was still all so overwhelming. Robin Hood and Wicked Witches, could he really have forgotten this other life? Looking at the woman whose thumb was absentmindedly trailing over his knuckles, he'd like to think that it was impossible that he wouldn't remember her. Emma touched a part of him that nobody else had for a long time, could that have always been the way between them? Was his strong attachment to her now an unconscious link to the love he felt when he was meant to be Captain Hook.

It was as good an explanation as any; instant connections (or love at first sight if you prefer) whilst an enchanting notion, were not exactly realistic. Even Dave and M, the most loved up couple he knew, hadn't fallen immediately in love with each other. This other version of himself,the version who was clearly head over heels with Emma Swan, he must still exist in his head and be the reason an unconscious part of him longs for her touch and her presence.

In a flash he feels jealous of this other him. Does Emma prefer the roguish pirate to the cautious deputy. Is she only pretending to like this adaption of him in the hopes that she will get the other one back.
All these thoughts fly through his head in an instant and he realised his grip on her hand must have tightened slightly, because Emma turns to him with a questioning eyebrow raised.

He gazes into her forest Green eyes, praying that they hold the secrets to everything he wishes to know. He's not sure what answers he finds there, but something seems to settle into place when she smiles shyly at him and it feels like...
It feels like her in his arms, a wooden deck beneath their fit and the stars reflected in her eyes as they sail on a ship through a sea of clouds.

The thought hit him unbidden out of nowhere, so bright and vivid it that it throws him off balance for a moment. Was that a memory he wondered? Did he just catch a glimpse of his forgotten past? With Mary-Margaret and Regina in the room, it seemed unwise to bring it up. The image fit into the story Henry told him if he was recalling it correctly; he'd have to ask her later.

~E&K~

David made his way back along the corridor towards Emma's room. Though he wasn't entirely certain as to how truthful his new deputy was being in terms of her background, he knew that he trusted her a whole lot more than this Walsh guy. Either this man truly was some crazed stalker who had fallowed Emma and her son to their little town, or her was desperately lying in an attempt to cover something up. The issue then was how did he know Emma's name and why did he happen to be out in the woods at the same time?
As far as he can tell, there was nothing wrong with Walsh. Whale had come up with no reason as to why the man would have been unconscious when they found him. Things weren't adding up and somehow Emm was at the centre of it all.

Pausing outside the room, David glanced inside looking at the happy scene that lay before him. His wife and the bed-ridden blonde were deep in an animated conversation, Regina listening in though her eyes occasionally travelled towards where Robin was sat. That was another mystery; this strange man and his troop of men who seemed thoroughly out of place and unsure of any modern comforts. Henry, who looked as if he had recently woken up, sleep still clouding his eyes, seemed to be absorbed in whatever story Robin was telling, grinning at some of the man's wild gestures.

Finally, his gaze came to rest on his best-friend. Killian still looked a little worse for wears; hair stuck up in all directions and a lingering tension in the set of his shoulders, but otherwise he seemed perfectly content. His right hand was linked tightly with Emma's fingers trailing in a dream-like state over her knuckles that he occasionally raised to brush against his lips. As one such pass transpired, David noticed how a smile lit up the blonde's face, while a blush simultaneously stained her cheeks. She glanced towards Killian, bottom lip captured between her teeth, eyelashes fluttering against her cheeks. The look seemed to further eliminate the stress his other deputy was carrying, allowing him to settle deeper into his chair.

He tried not to think of the devastation that could have followed should Emma have somehow not recovered from her injuries, the devastation that could still come if she proved to be something she wasn't. Though the main part of him questioned her story, there seemed to be a voice in the back of his head calling out to believe her and protect her from any harm that may come their way. Pushing the feelings aside, David entered the room at last, coughing to make his presence known to its occupants.

He must have still been frowning, because Mary-Margaret was instantly at his side, a comforting hand resting on his shoulder.
"What is it?" she asked, guiding him to the vacant seat on the sofa next to the bed.
"I think the guy is lying about something. His name is Walsh; he claimed that he knew you," he said to Emma, "When you were back in Boston."
The blonde hesitated for a moment, before her lips tilted down and a hint of fear seemed to enter her eyes.
"We never knew anyone called Walsh. How the hell did he know me?"
Worry resonated in her every word and Killian edged closer trying to provide some degree of comfort. It seemed to work to an extent, her jaw unclenching but her free hand moving to grip his arm.

"Said you lived near each other," answered David, "I don't believe it for a second. Either way the guy is exhibiting the qualities of a stalker; he knows your name, though you clearly don't know him, and my guess is he followed you into the woods and faked being knocked out."
"Why would you say that?" Regina intoned sounding concerned.
"Whale couldn't pull anything up, The guy doesn't have a single bruise on him and-"

They were interrupted by a knock at the door, a troubled looking nurse appearing.
"I'm sorry," she said, chest heaving as she tried to catch her breath, "Sheriff Nolan one of our patients is gone. The man who was brought in with Miss Swan, it looks like he pulled out all his wires and jumped out of the window."
"That's ridiculous," said David, "We're two storeys up, there's no way he could have landed without hurting himself."
"I don't know Sheriff, security checked the immediate proximity, and there's no sign of him."

With that, the nurse rushed off again, leaving a panic stricken group behind her.
"Why would he leave?" Mary-Margaret queried, hand running soothingly up and down her husbands arm.
"Innocent men don't just run," Robin added.
"He must have known his story would come undone when I spoke to Emma. If he's gone, I was right about that ulterior motive. He's a threat."

That seemed to capture Killian's attention above all the rest of the conversation. In an instant he was on his feet.
"There's no way we can leave Emma and Henry alone if this man is on the loose, I won't allow it."
His tone broached no argument but still his eyes challenged anyone to disagree with him.
"Jones is right," Regina said, "We'll get Miss Swan's release forms dealt with immediately. With a prescription for meds, I don't see any reason why we shouldn't be able to move you elsewhere."
"We'll head back to Granny's then and-" Emma started.
"Absolutely not!"

Killian's voice echoed around the suddenly empty room.
"There's no way in hell I'm letting you stay alone at the inn when your injured and unprotected."
"I can take of myself," interjected Emma, an edge of irritation fuelled by her independence, filling her voice, "A few scratches isn't going to hold me back."
"A few scratches- are you serious Swan?" came Killian's exasperated answer, "Though I can see that you are perfectly capable on handling yourself, I think you know that you and your boy would be a lot safer with a bit of extra manpower."

David watched the following stare-off that passed between his two deputies; a silent conversation or a battle of wills flowing between them. Eventually, Emma's shoulders slumped and Killian looked ever so slightly smug.
"Where will they-" Mary-Margaret started to say but, once again, Killian answered the question before it was even fully formed.
"They're coming home with me. It will be good to actually use the spare-rooms for once."
Emma looked as if she wanted to ask a question, but Henry (who had watched the entire exchange in silence) quickly reached out to nudge her.
Instead she responded by nodding her head, the small smile finding its way back onto her face as Killian picked up her hand again and gave it a gentle squeeze.

~E&K~

With the issue of where they were going to stay settled, Emma watched as the central members of the town jumped into action. David took off to the station to begin trying to get information on whoever this Walsh guy was and maybe form a search party. Regina offered to get Robin and his men settled at Granny's, the man politely declined saying that they would prefer to perhaps borrow some camping gear and set up in the woods close to town. Though it seemed odd to the Mayor, he managed to follow the story that Henry had established enough for her to make sense of his proposal and agree to help get him some tents, sleeping bags and cooking supplies.
Mary-Margaret took off to sign Emma out, grab her prescription and set of pyjamas to travel to Killian's in. The petite woman pressed a kiss to her cheek and promised to be over later with Emma's stuff from Granny's.

It was hard not to reply with a 'thanks mum', Emma struggling to hold herself back. Settling for as grateful a smile as she could muster, trying to keep a few tears at bay. Henry took off to the snacks machine with a couple of dollars in search of some candy; the kid had earned it for his good behaviour. He returned with Mary-Margaret at his side, the pyjamas and pills in her hands, helping Emma up to get changed. She thanked lord for that, because the first time Killian saw her naked was definitely not going to be now, she had much higher expectations for that moment in the future.

Killian for his part, remained by her side the whole time until she was dressing at which point he called for someone to give them a lift over to his house. This in itself was a mystery to Emma. She couldn't imagine Killian living anywhere other than his beloved Jolly Roger, clearly this new curse and set him up to have as normal life as possible, nothing too piratey about it. She made sure to remind herself to ask him about his ship later, when they were alone.
He lead her from the hospital, hand once again joined with his, Henry ambling along on his other side chatting away about some book or other. Out front she recognised Tink leaning up against the side of a small green car.
"Emma this is Tina-Kate," said Killian, "Tina this is Emma and her son Henry."
"Nice to meet you," said the fairy, positively beaming as her gaze flicked between the two of them and then down to their hands, "Quite the spill you took. We're not used to that much action in Storybrooke."
Emma's mouth ticked up slightly and Henry barely managed to suppress a snort, causing Killian to shoot them both a look to keep their cool. Tink or Tina, didn't seem to notice though, instead ushering them into the vehicle and beginning the drive through town, chattering about nothing along the way.

Emma looked out of the window, watching the familiar scenery pass by and getting caught up in a sense of de ja vous. It was like being thrown back in time to the first curse, only with a few other characters thrown in and some of the main players removed. It was an odd contrast of understanding and complete lack of knowledge. She realised this must have been how Henry felt starting out Operation Cobra in the first place, with no one there who knew the truth and no one who believed him until much later on. She was glad to have him onside and equally glad to have Killian to. Though her Captain seemed reluctant, he had come back and seemed willing to listen. A part of her was hoping that her pirate was still there inside of him, the snarky voice in his head telling him to believe her and go along with it. He certainly felt like her Killian, just a bit less brash and with all the modern touches thrown in.

Speaking of...

"Woah," Henry gasped as they pulled up outside of a large house.
The place was vaguely medieval looking, it had a turret for christ sake, with a big front yard full of well maintained shrubbery, and a set of stairs leading up to the grand front door.
Tink snorted and Killian chuckled, scratching behind his ear in embarrassment.
"It's not much," he said, stepping out of the car, "But its home."
"Not much!" exclaimed Henry, "This place is huge! I'm hoping this means I won't have to share a room with mom then? No offence."
"None taken," she managed to mumble, still taking in the beautiful facade and wondering how she'd never come across it before. It was exactly the kind if house she'd imagined herself having as a kid, all the way down to the white picket fence.
"What do you think, love? Will it do?"

Killian was gazing at her, an edge of nervousness in his voice as if a negative opinion from her could break him.
"It's beautiful," she breathed, enjoying the way he let out a relieved sigh before offering her his arm to escort her up the steps and into the warmth of his home.

~E&K~

Mary-Margaret had shown up not long after their arrival, Henry still charging round the place like a maniac trying to cover every square foot and discover all the secret corners. With their stuff in their hands, Killian had lead them to two adjacent empty rooms on the second floor.
"You'll have to share a bathroom I'm afraid and the linens probably need a bit of airing, maybe I should open some windows or..."
He trailed off into an uncontrollable ramble that Emma attributed to his nervousness.
It was really quite adorable.
"...I should just get new curtains and-"
"It's great Killian, really," she managed to cut in eventually, "perfect even. More than we could have asked for. I am so incredibly grateful that you were willing to take us in."

A blush rose up high in his cheeks, extending to the very tips of the ears.
"Simply good form Swan. Couldn't exactly leave you and your lad in a vulnerable state."
"Still," she said, "Thank you."
Measuring his reaction, she took a step closer and placed a lingering kiss to the very corner of his mouth, noticing how his head turned slightly as if his lips were automatically searching for hers.
Henry muttered something along the lines of 'gross', vanishing off into his new room to unpack, leaving Killian and Emma alone, very much in each others personal space.

"I think I remembered something earlier," Killian whispered, his breath ghosting across her face, eyes fixated on her lips, "You were in my arms and we were sailing through the sky aboard a ship; I'm assuming it was mine."
Emma gasped slightly, a brilliant smile taking over her whole face, "Yes. Yes that happened, we were coming back from Neverland on the Jolly Roger and...I can't believe you remembered."
She appeared to light up in her joy, eyes wide as they gazed into his as if he was all she wanted to look at for the rest of her life.
Without really thinking of what he was doing, Killian surged forwards to crash their lips together.

He quickly stiffened, realising what he had done; but, as he went to pull away, a guttural moan tore from Emma's throat and she grabbed the back of his head to hold him in place. Their mouths moved against each other in a dance that felt entirely new to him whilst also being achingly familiar. Somehow he seemed to know how to draw a noise of contentment from deep within her chest with his teeth tugging at her lower lip, just as she seemed to know that me would emit a low groan as she tugged at the hairs on the base of his neck.

It wasn't until Henry yelled, "Awesome! Secret floorboard," that the two managed to pull apart.
They were both breathing heavily, as if they'd just run a marathon, foreheads resting against each other, bodies still twined.
"I should let you unpack," Killian whispered, taking a half step back and allowing his arms to release her.
"Of course," Emma answered, hesitating slightly, before turning to her suitcases.

Had they still been looking, he would have seen her grin and she would have seen his completely fuck-struck expression; fingers lingering over his lips before he forced himself to leave the room in search of some food for them all to eat.

A/N: So there we have it. Again sorry it took about a billion years, hopefully updates will get a bit better in terms of timing. We'll see if school lets me. Stay beautiful my dears, HOPEFULLY I'll be back soon x