Another chapter so soon?! Yup. Had the entire Saturday off from everything so I've been writing since this morning.
I also want to say a HUGE THANK YOU to all of those that have read and liked and favorited and followed this story. Every time I get a review from you guys, it makes me smile and feel so much better about my work. Getting into fanfiction is one of the best things I've ever done, and I've all of your kind words to thank for that.

Chapter 13

Emma adjusted her white feather mask as she followed her brother and Graham into the hotel ballroom where the masquerade was going on. She wished Graham good luck as they parted, him leaving with August off to the bar and Emma off to find Killian. She found Ruby standing at a table with Alice, Belle, and Will.

"You look great! You're really the Swan Princess tonight", said Ruby. She was dressed in a blood red strapless knee-length gown, with brown mask.

"What are you supposed to be?" Emma looked her over. Ruby just laughed.

"Little Red Riding Hood of course!" The four friends stood and chatted for a while, promising how they would keep in touch once they all went home. Belle was in the middle of telling a story about her home in Sydney when Emma felt someone standing behind her.

"Well, well, well. If it isn't the Swan Princess." She couldn't help smiling as Killian tried to make himself sound all pirate-y and turned to face him, complete with a fake look of shock on her face.

"Oh no!" She placed a hand to her temple. "It's the most fearsome pirate captain of the seven seas!"

"And this fearsome pirate captain has come to kidnap the princess." Ruby started laughing and that started the rest of them. Killian just quirked an eyebrow at them. "What?"

"You two are the sugariest, fluffy couple I've ever been around…and I've spent time with Belle and Will here. Go away before you give us all cavaties!"

"Very funny Ruby." She just rolled her eyes and laced her fingers with Killian's. "Let's go get something to eat. Shall we pirate?"

"Of course Your Highness."

They found table and sat down as the food was being brought out. She felt Killian was staring at her and turned to see his bright blue's watching.

"What?"

"Is everything okay my love? Something seems off tonight."

"Nothing's wrong!" Emma could tell he didn't believe her.

"Emma, love, I've said it before and I will say it again: for someone who can spot a liar, you aren't very good at lying yourself." He pulled her hand to his lips and kissed it.

"I'm just nervous is all."

"What about love?" Should I tell him now? I shouldn't tell him now. I need to wait. Well the man is waiting for an answer doofus, maybe say something while he's staring at you?

"Graham is going to propose to August tonight. I just want it to go okay."

"That's understandable. I apologize for pestering you about it Swan." He looked a bit dejected, so placed a hand on his cheek and he leaned into it.

"Hey, it's okay. No worries-"

"Hello Killian." Emma and Killian turned their heads slowly, towards the female voice. Killian dropped Emma's hand as his eyes widened and his jaw dropped.

"What are you doing here?"

"I wanted to see you."

"How did you even get in here?"

"I know people sweetheart, I can get in anywhere."

"Don't call me that." Emma remained silent during the entire conversation. She started breathing a little harder because she knew who this woman was. She never expected to be in the same room with her. It didn't help matters when she turned her gray eyes on Emma.

"Why don't introduce me to this…woman?" Emma saw the coldness in her eyes as she looked down at her. Killian stood from his seat and pulled Emma with him.

"Emma, this is Milah. Milah, this is my Emma."

"Nice to meet you." Emma extended her hand which Milah ignored.

"Charmed." Milah turned back to Killian. "I'm going to go get a drink. Care to join me? Is rum still your favorite…sweetheart?"

"I told you not to call me that."

"I can tell where I'm not wanted. I'll see you around dear." Milah sashayed away with a wink. Emma sat back down and Killian joined her.

"I'm so sorry about that Emma. Are you alright?"

"Why are you asking me? Milah's come back after all this time. It's got to hurt…"

"I'm fine love, I've got you now. I could care less about her." He leaned and kissed her chastely. "However…"

"What is it?"

"It's been years. Why come back now? I think I should go speak with her and see what she really wants."

"Just be careful. You told me how it hurt when she left you."

"Don't worry about me Swan." He kissed her again and went to find Milah. Emma sat still for a few minutes and then decided to go find August and Graham, who she'd seen disappear outside not 10 minutes before.

Emma was in the lobby when she spotted her brother and Graham, who held August's face in his hands with a smile on his face as they kissed.

"I guess that means he said yes." They turned to see her, all smiles, and rushed to her. "Congrats Auggie."

"Thanks little sister. You'll walk me down the aisle, won't you?" he asked as she hugged him.

"Of course." Emma pulled Graham into a hug next. "I guess this means I'm going to have another big brother then, huh? I used to not have any family, and now I've got more than I can count."

"I'm sure you'll have more once Killian hears about the baby. He'll probably propose as soon as you tell him. Speaking of which, where is he?" Graham looked around.

"Milah's here. He went to talk to her."

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He found her outside by the pool, smugly sipping what looked like rum.

"What are you really doing here Milah?" She stood and turned to face him.

"He left me. I realized what I'd left behind, so I came back for you."

"I'm with Emma. I love her." Milah just laughed and sipped more rum.

"Please, she knows nothing of this life. Who was she before this? She was a nobody. A simple crew member and before that, a bail bondsman."

"Bail bondsperson." Milah just waved her hand around, dismissing the correction.

"Whatever. She's an orphan. No family, just a random brother she found in a foster home." Milah walked over to the edge of the pool, "She's been in jail for goodness sakes."

"How do you even know all this?"

"Let's just say that I met someone she used to know." Who could Milah know that used to know Emma? It came to him suddenly.

"How in the bloody hell do you know Neal?"

"He's my youngest sister's son. Met up with him when I was in Manhattan six months ago. You two were pretty new then and he told me all about Miss Emma Swan. She will never be good enough for you. Why don't you just forget her and come back to me?"

"You must be out of your bloody mind if you think that will ever happen." Milah looked over at him, a sneaking smile on her face.

"I'm sure that I can find a way to persuade you my love."

"I highly doubt that." Milah simply smiled pull him in for a kiss. Neither one of them knew they were being watched.

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Graham sat with Emma while August went to try and find out where Killian had gone off to. He returned to find his two favorite people discussing wedding plans.

"We can't get married here so I think we'll have to do it in Boston or California."

"You do it wherever you two want", said Emma. "I just hope I'm not the size of a whale by the time it happens." August dropped into a chair next to her with a laugh.

"Oh come on little sister, you're going to look beautiful."

"Uh huh. Did you find him?"

"Yeah he's out by the pool."

"I'll be right back then. I can't hold it in anymore, I need to tell him about the baby." Emma gave them each a kiss on the cheek. "Wish me luck!"

Making sure she had the card in her clutch, she walked through the ballroom and out to the lobby, following the signs towards the pool. She couldn't help feeling happier than she ever had as she walked through the hotel. She saw a life in a home in Boston with Killian sitting by a fireplace playing with toy trucks with a son that was a spitting image of him, jet black hair and bright blue eyes. And maybe a daughter in the future with her blonde hair and green eyes. She saw them playing in yard and chasing after the family dog, maybe a Dalmatian or a terrier or maybe even a cat.

Emma was so busy planning her future life that she didn't notice them at first when she stepped outside on a small landing overlooking the pool. She was looking around when she heard voices.

"I'm sure that I can find a way to persuade you my love."

"I highly doubt that." What happened next had her dreams crashed and burned into a fiery ball: Milah placed her arms around Killian's neck and pulled him down for a kiss. His hands automatically went to her shoulders and Emma thought he was pushing her away, but all she could see was him reciprocating. Speechless, Emma shrunk back into the shadows as Milah pulled away.

"See? I told you I could persuade you my darling. Forgot that orphan convict and come back to me. She'll never be able to love you like I can. Someone like her never gets someone like you. She is nothing." Emma stifled a cry with her hand over mouth and turned to go back in the hotel before she heard Killian speak. Ruby, Graham, and August were waiting for her just outside the ballroom.

"So, tell us when the wedding is, future Mrs. Jones", said Ruby. She hadn't noticed the tears in Emma's eyes, but August had.

"What happened? What did that ass do? Did he yell at you?" The other two immediately converged on them as August pulled Emma into a hug.

"No. He didn't yell."

"Then what happened lass?" asked Graham, settling his eyes on her and hand on her cheek.

"I saw him kissing her, Milah. She wants him back. She said I would never be able to love him like she would, that I was nothing and that someone like me never got to be with someone like him."

"What did he say?" asked August.

"I don't know. I came back here before I heard him, probably agreed with her. He's going to think I got pregnant on purpose!" Emma started crying into August's shoulder. "I'm so sorry to ruin your big night. Please take me home before I make a scene."

"Shouldn't we find Killian and hear his side first? Maybe Milah jumped him."

"Come on Ruby", said Emma, wiping tears from her cheeks. "Don't be naïve. He's made his choice…and it's not me. And you know what? That's fine. I'll raise this baby on my own." She hurried out behind Graham and August who had stopped a cab.

"What about when he comes back and asks where you are?" Ruby called after her.

"Tell him whatever you want." Emma got in the cab and shut the door. She rolled down the window and looked at Ruby. "But don't you dare tell him about the baby. Go please." The cab took off as Ruby watched.

Ruby was sitting on a bench just outside the ballroom when she heard footsteps and looked up. A very unhappy Killian stood above her.

"Miss Lucas. Could you perchance tell me where Emma has disappeared to? I need to speak to her immediately. I've been looking all over for her and I can't even find Graham or August."

"What happened?"

"It's a private matter, I hope you understand. Where is she?" Ruby remained quiet. "Ruby, where is she?" Plastering a fake smile on her face, Ruby stood from her seat.

"Don't know. I haven't seen her since she went to go find her brother and Graham to congratulate them on their engagement."

"That's nice. I guess I'll try calling her. Thank you Ruby."

Killian watched her go into the ballroom and find Scarlett, pulling him away from Alice and Belle like she had a mission. He knew Ruby was fiercely loyal to his Swan and was certain she'd lied straight to his face. He pulled his cellphone from his pocket and dialed Emma. His call went to voicemail.

"Hey, this is Emma. Sorry I missed you, leave a message and I'll call you back!" *BEEP*

"Emma, it's Killian. I'm at the hotel and I can't find you anywhere. I need to speak with you. Please call me. I love you." He sent her a text message.

Killian: Swan…Emma. Please let me know where you are. I'm worried. You've not answered your mobile and it's imperative that I speak with you. Please call me back or text me or whatever. Please. I love you.

When he heard nothing after 10 minutes, he called again and like before, the call went straight to voicemail.

"Hey, this is Emma. Sorry I missed you, leave a message and I'll call you back!" *BEEP*

"Swan, it's Killian again. I'm getting extremely worried. Please. Where are you love?" He sent her another text.

Killian: My love. If I've done something to anger you, please tell me. And if you don't want to, at least tell me where you are so I know you're safe. Please my darling.

He tossed his phone on the bench next to him and lay his head in his hands. What could've happened to make Emma disappear? He was pouring over everything in his thoughts, not once thinking that she'd seen or heard what had transpired between him and Milah, when his phone went off. He snatched it up and frowned when he saw that it wasn't Emma, but August.

"August, mate. Please tell me she's with you."

"She is. She's just feeling under the weather. Still getting over whatever was hitting her a few weeks ago." Killian could hear something in August's voice, he was hiding something.

"Emma isn't the only one who can tell when others are lying mate. What aren't you telling me?"

"Nothing. Everything's fine. Just go home. I'll tell her to call you tomorrow, okay? She's tired and doesn't want to talk to anyone right now."

"But you'll have her call me tomorrow?"

"Yeah."

"And you swear she's fine?"

"She's fine as can be Killian. Bye." August's answer didn't sit well with him at all. He just wanted to go home and sleep in Emma's arms, but he couldn't because she wasn't there and so Killian did what he did best, and found himself at the open bar. He'd already had half a bottle of rum when Will and Ruby sidled up next to him, his face on the bar facing his glass.

"Bloody 'ell Jones. You're pissed." His mask was pushed up in his hair (which was sticking up everywhere, what with him running his hands through it), his vest was unbuttoned all the way and his shirt was undone very low for what was appropriate.

"What…wh…what do you want you bloody knave?" His words were slurring together horribly.

"What's wrong with you, you ponce?" retorted Will.

"I…I…I'm juss worried 'bout Emma mate. Brother of hers says she is unwell and she won't return my calls or texts." Killian pulled the bottle to his lips and took a healthy gulp. "D'you happen to know anything?"

"Nah mate. How 'bout we get your drunk arse home, yeah?" Killian stood and brought the bottle to his lips again.

"Yeah, yeah." He tried taking a step but stumbled and almost fell over. Ruby took the bottle from his grasping hands and Will put one of Killian's arms over his shoulders and helped him walk out to where Smee was waiting with the car. Smee helped Will load Killian into the backseat. They thought he was out but all of a sudden he sat up and ripped the rum bottle from Ruby's hands. Will stepped back when Ruby leaned down to whisper in Killian's ear.

"I hope you remember this in the morning. I hope to God there's an explanation for what Emma saw. I hope she was being hasty. If I find out she wasn't, her brother and her father will be the very least of your worries."

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Emma read and reread the note she'd written for her brother as she sat on her bed:

August,

I can't do this. I can't stay here one more day. I can't face him. I won't risk my baby's health. I'm going back to the States. I'm going to my parent's place. Don't tell Killian where I am. Just tell him that I called you and I'm okay. Please forgive me for leaving so suddenly. I'm so happy for you and Graham and I don't want to taint your happiness. Please try and understand why I'm doing this. Don't tell Killian about the baby.

Your Little Sister

Emma folded the note and wrote 'August' on the front, setting it against her pillow along with the house key Graham had given her and the one Killian had given her to his place. She finished packing away things into her two suitcases and zipped them up. As soon as they'd returned to Graham's, she shut herself in her room and started looking for plane tickets to Boston. Luckily, she'd found one leaving in a few hours, so she bought the ticket and pulled together her necessary IDs and packed two suitcases with what she could.

Emma booked a car to take her from Logan International to her parent's brownstone so they wouldn't have to go pick her up. She had no idea how she was going to tell them what happened or about the baby. Would they still want her to stay with them, single mother? Of course they will! They love you, you're their daughter and they love you more than anything. Yeah, that's what Killian told me and look how that turned out. Shut up.

She went to pick up her purse and found the card she'd made up for Killian inside. She felt a few tears roll down her cheeks when she opened it. Was she doing the right thing, leaving and not telling him? Of course you're not! He deserves to know his child! He lied to me. He hurt me. He deserves nothing else from me and certainly not my child. He will never know this baby exists.

Emma's phone chimed with a text from the cab company telling her that the cab had arrived to take her to Dublin International. She replied with a short message saying that she'd be right out. Looking at the card again, she shut it and tossed it into the fireplace. She slung her purse over her shoulder and picked up her suitcases, making her way downstairs as quietly as possible.

Emma paused in front of the master bedroom door and said a quiet goodbye to August and Graham, whose snores could be heard from inside the bedroom. She continued downstairs and quietly opened the front door, the driver saw her and hurried up the walk and took her bags. She thanked him and locked the front door from the inside and went to the waiting car.

"Dublin International, correct miss?"

"Yes sir. As fast as you can."

"Going home?" he asked as he turned onto the street leading to the main motorway.

"Yes."

"When do you plan on returning to Ireland?" Emma looked in his eyes via the rearview mirror.

"Never."

You didn't think I would just let everything be perfect did you? I warned you there would be angst. I will say that yes, the baby will be perfectly fine and nothing is going to happen to Emma. I don't plan on her putting it up for adoption, so relax. I had to do this because I find it boring when everything is just automatically perfect. There will be a happy ending sure, but it's how they get there that makes the story. If you don't like it...sorry?
I've got the next chapter mapped out in my brain, but I'm going to take a few days off from writing so that my batteries can recharge. Hopefully I'll have something for you by next weekend or middle of next week.