~~~ EMMA'S POV ~~~

Me and my two boys have a nice late lunch at Granny's. Henry mostly catches Killian up on everything that he missed during the last five years, and I just watch them interact. It makes my heart flutter, seeing the two most important people in my life get along so well. I missed hanging out with both of them. I'm really glad, that I'll get to do it all the time once again - and hopefully for the rest of my life.

I know, that I will do everything in my power to make sure, that no one takes either of them away from me ever again. Other Savior duties be damned. I won't put the town first anymore - not after what I had to sacrifice for it five years ago. So, if I ever have to choose whether I save everyone or my family, I'll choose my loved ones. I can't care more about everyone else's happiness anymore - I have to put my own happiness first. The selfless Emma is dead.

I'm the Savior and from now on, I'll take fate into my own hands. Starting with putting my mother's mind straight.

So, when Killian and Henry talk about going sailing together soon, I see the perfect opportunity and I take it."Why don't you just go now? It's still pretty early and the weather is perfect for a little trip on the Jolly Rodger." I propose.

Henry smiles softly at me. "That sounds great, mom. Will you come with us?" He looks at me with puppy dog eyes.

I almost say yes because I do want to spend time with them, but I also know that I can't right now. I have an important talk with my mom ahead of me after all - one that can't wait any longer.

"No. I'm sorry, kid. I still have some errands to run. But you two have fun. I'll come with you next time."

Henry looks at me with a bit of sadness but soon gets over it as he starts talking excitedly about his and Killian's little trip.

Soon, Granny arrives with our check.

Then, Henry gets up to the toilet before leaving and Killian and I wait for him in front of the small diner.

I interlace our fingers and hold on to his hook with my other hand. I look deeply into his eyes. "Make sure Henry wears a life vest. And promise, that you'll both be back alive."

Killian nods. "I promise, my Swan. I'm not going anywhere. I'm afraid you're stuck with me." He gives me an adorable smile, before placing his hand on my cheek. I lean into his touch as he steps closer and places his lips softly on mine. It's sweet and thanks to someone clearing his throat in the doorway also short.

"I'm ready," Henry says from the doorway. He walks towards us and gives me a hug. "Bye, mom." Then he leaves.

"Have fun on the ship," I say to both of them.

"Don't be too hard on your mother," Killian says.

I look at him perplexed. How the hell did he figure that one out? I didn't tell him - I didn't tell anyone!

Killian smirks and pecks my lips once, before giving me a hug. "I told you, that you were like an open book, Swan."

I scoff and he pulls away. He kisses my cheek one last time and then follows Henry to the docks.

I soon start walking in the other direction to my parents' place. I just hope dad won't be there yet. It would be a lot easier to talk to just my mother for once. I don't need peacekeeper David right now.

…

As I reach my parents home and walk inside with my key, I realize that it seems to be just mom. I sigh in relief.

She's standing in the kitchen, baking a cake, and looks up as soon as she sees me enter. Something in her face changes instantly. Looks like she's still upset with me or at least uncomfortable with recent developments aka my break up with Carter.

I walk towards her and take a seat at the kitchen counter. I look at her pretty coldly. But I just can't help it. The way she acted this morning was just not okay. "We need to talk."

"I suppose we do, Emma." She says. "And now that we're alone, you can be honest with me, Emma. Did Hook threaten you to break up with Carter or what the hell is going on?"

What the fuck?!

She can't seriously be that ignorant to reality, can she? Why would Killian need to threaten me for me to be with him? And how the hell could she even think, that Killian would ever harm me? He clearly loves me a lot. He would never abuse me. It's just not who he is. He's a loyal person, who would do anything for the people he loves.

It's one of his qualities, that I fell in love with a long time ago.

"No! Of course not! It was my decision. Why would you even think that?" I ask angrily? I'm sort of dreading the answer, but I'm also curious.

"What you and Carter had was great, Emma. I mean you were basically engaged and you were so happy with him. Everything was perfect. And then you just suddenly break up with him for someone who broke your heart before and will do it again? That makes no sense to me, Emma. He must have done something to you."

Someone who broke my heart? When? When he died? Because that was clearly out of his control! He didn't choose to die, well, he sort of did, but it was me or him, so he sacrificed himself for me.

That's love - not betrayal. How can my mother just not see that?

Other people would love for their daughter to be with someone they can count on - someone who would always put their loved ones before themselves.

But she clearly doesn't. She rather wants me to be with a boring coward, who cries like a baby just because he got punched in the face a little.

"He never broke my heart! Sure, I was obviously grieving him, but that wasn't his fault. It was Hades'. And no, I wasn't happy with Carter. Honestly, I didn't feel anything for him. I was just with him because you put so much pressure on me to just move on when you should've known that I wasn't ready for that!" I hold back a tear, that is threatening to stream down my cheek.

"It doesn't matter, if he broke your heart without meaning to, Emma! Motives don't matter in this case. All that does matter is that you were hurt because of him. And his death was his fault - not anyone else's. He brought all those Dark Ones here to Storybrooke. We all almost died because of him." She almost yells but manages to keep it down for my brother's sake. He seems to be upstairs, watching some cartoon, judging by the sounds.

It's actually quite funny, that she just ignore the fact, that I said I was only with Carter for her sake. She probably just believes that to be a lie, right? Wow, she really is naive!

"So, what? You didn't die because of him. He sacrificed himself for all of you! He doesn't deserve you being so mean to him! He hasn't done anything to deserve that rudeness, and neither did I. You do realize, that hurting him hurts me too, right?" I can't help my own sadness anymore. The first tear slips down my face. What have I ever done to make my mother not care about me at all? Was it Regina's curse, which was probably my fault in some way, according to both of them.

Or what was it?

Why can't she just love me like she loves my little brother?

Am I really that unlovable?

"Do you care about me at all?" The words slip out of my mouth before I can stop them. I once again sound like the lost girl, who didn't matter and never will. I sigh. I don't think I even want the answer to my question. It'll just upset me further. She'll probably just lie to me anyway, which just proves, that she doesn't care. That she doesn't love me much.

"Of course I care, Emma!" Her voice sounds soft now. I can hear her shuffling around the kitchen until I feel her hands on my shoulders. After a moment of hesitation, I look at her with uncertainty.

Does that mean, she'll stop insulting both my boyfriend and my relationship now? Will she finally see that I wasn't happy with Carter?

"Which is why I want you to be with Carter, sweetie." Never mind. "He's a great guy. He loves you so much and he'll never hurt you. He's a good person - unlike Hook, who is a pirate and a villain. Nothing bad will ever happen to him because he's always been good."

I let my head fall in both of my hands and sigh loudly in frustration.

"Are you really that naive? Bad things don't only happen to bad people - as you should know!" I sigh again, looking for any sign, that she agrees. But there isn't one. Not a single one. "I think you live in a black and white world, where there are only good and bad people and you're the judge of who is good and who isn't. It's sad though, that you're able to forgive Regina for all she has done to our family without having the least amount of regret, but you are not willing to give Killian - who fought so hard to become a better man and succeeded at that - a damn chance - not even for my sake. I'm not asking you to love him, I'm just asking you not to treat him like a jerk, and you can't even do that for me."

I get up and start to walk to the door. "I'm sorry for wasting your time. You clearly don't give a damn about my feelings, which is a crappy quality for a mother. So, I should be on my way. You're obviously not going to change your mind and I'm tired of caring about that. If you don't want me in your life - the real me - then I suppose, I won't bother you again. I don't need that kind of negativity in my life. Goodbye, mother." I say coldly.

Then, I open the door and start to walk out, but just as the door almost shuts behind me, I feel a pull on it from the other side. My mother opens the door up again and looks at me sadly. "Emma, wait!"