A/N: I would like to thank everyone who helps make this story possible, aimeeloren, for beta'ing amongst her busy schedule. Her family for allowing her the time to do it. My family for giving me the opportunity to have some alone time to get my story written. And to Stephanie, with Just4FunVids925 (YouTube), who with her also hectic schedule, finds the time to give us great Captain Swan videos like Unsteady and Trouble, as well as beta'ing my story True North and giving me her insight on this story as well. Thank you everyone. It means the world to me.

Disclaimer: I do not own the characters in this story. They belong to the franchise of OUAT.

Chapter 25 – Know All The Things That Make You Who You Are:

It had already been a week since David and Killian headed back to Storybrooke. In that time Emma realized how much she had missed Killian. The day after the diner incident, the two of them had a long discussion over events that happened in the past. While Emma wasn't in a rush to jump back into a relationship with Killian, she knew she had missed his friendship and that how they finally parted, friends.

One topic of conversation that hadn't come up was Emma's investigation into Liam's death. A few months ago, Tamara, Neal's ex, approached her with a file. Tamara had hoped that it would lead Emma to take steps to have Neal arrested. In it was pertinent information that Liam's death had definitely not been an accident. Tamara had been disappointed to discover that Neal did not have anything to do with the matter. Emma, however, knowing how important it was to Killian, had gone on from there to try to find as much information as she could regarding the matter.

Sitting on her bed, Emma was surrounded by papers and files containing all of the information she had been able to ascertain. There had to be a lead somewhere admist all of this, Emma was sure of it.

"Emma!"

Glancing up from the paper she was reading, Emma heard her name called again. Emma jumped off the bed and raced to her open window. Tamara was down below, walking up the sidewalk to Emma's apartment waving a folder.

Emma buzzed the dark-skinned woman in and waited at the door for her to arrive. Neal's ex-wife, Milah's former personal assistant, had a humongous grin on her face as she approached.

"I've found it. The final piece to the puzzle."

"Let me see." Emma reached out and took the offered folder, letting Tamara inside. After a brief review, a sly smile spread across Emma's features. "How did you get this?"

"I found it with some of the crap that Neal never cleaned out of the storage locker."

"I don't even want to know," Emma mumbled as she walked over to her other papers strewn over her bed.

"No, you really don't. Castration would be too lenient for that bastard." Tamara settled heavily onto a chair. "The judge who signed off on our divorce papers even apologized for all of mankind after our case."

"That's pretty sad."

"Actually," Tamara said with a smile. "He and I ran into each other last week. He asked me out."

"Wow."

Tamara blushed. "Yeah, I know. After being screwed over by Neal I wasn't even sure if I wanted to go out with another man for a while but Greg, that's the judge's name, is rather nice. He's a food blogger in his spare time."

"A guy who actually upholds the law. You're at least moving up in the world," Emma said with a laugh.

"So are you."

Emma sighed. "Yeah, well, I guess after dealing with Neal the only place to go is up."

"If it wasn't only ten in the morning, I'd say let's toast to that."

"Speaking of, don't you have to be at work?"

"I was fired yesterday after Neal made an unexpected visit. He was trying to convince me to come back to him for the past week, constantly showing up at work. When I didn't agree that it would be a good idea yesterday, my boss showed up to ask if I would like to have Neal removed. I agreed and security was called. He started saying he was going to come back for me and all the people who stood in his way were going to go down too. I think my boss got scared and asked me to leave, promising me a glowing recommendation if I would just go work somewhere else. I can't believe after all that Neal actually thought I would go back to him, especially after all I went through to get the divorce in the first place," Tamara scoffed. "And after scaring my boss and getting my fired because of his crazy ass antics, I went to the police station and asked for a restraining order."

"So, I'm not the only one he's tried that crap on."

Tamara shook her head. "And I'm sure I'm not the last either." She looked at her watch. "I do have to go. I'm supposed to meet some friends across town for an early lunch. Then I have an interview at one."

"Good luck, Tamara. And thanks." Emma held up the file Tamara had brought with her.

"You're welcome. Glad it helps. Too bad there really isn't anyone to go after though."

"I think Killian would rather have the closure no matter how much it's going to hurt."

"Well, good luck," Tamara told Emma before she took her leave.

"You, too."

Emma crossed her legs, sitting on her bed, and reopened the folder after Tamara closed the door. She hoped that she could figure out a way to soften the blow. Killian was going to take it hard when he found out exactly who caused Liam's death.

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Killian looked forward to Emma's visit in a few weeks. She hadn't made any plans as of yet to move back to Storybrooke but Killian hoped that between him and Mary-Margaret they could convince her.

Looking over at his office phone, he wished he could call her. They hadn't progressed that far yet. They may have admitted they still cared about each other and resumed a sort of tentative friendship but there was still a lot to work out. Over three years of their lives had passed and a lot of changes had happened.

"Good, you're still here."

Killian turned his head to see Tink enter his office. She'd been gone when he returned to Storybrooke from Boston. They had a project coming up in Portland, Maine that she had been working on on-site creating design layouts and blueprints for.

"Where else would I be?"

Tink tapped an overly dramatic finger to her mouth. "Hmm. Six o'clock on a Friday night. If I were you, I'd be on the interstate on my way to Boston."

Lowering his eyes, he gave her a stern look, which she dismissed. "Sit down, Tink. We need to talk."

"Oh. Sounds serious," she teased as she plopped down in one of his guest chairs, unmindful of her sea-green silk blouse and perfectly pressed black slacks.

"About us getting married…"

"Are we?" She glanced up at him innocently and shrugged. "Honestly, I was thinking for a while there we'd have the longest engagement in history."

"So, you never had any intention…"

"Of marrying you? No." At his glower she waved a hand as if it didn't matter. "Don't get me wrong, Killian, but I was half hoping when I actually said 'I do' the guy I was marrying wouldn't be in love with someone else."

Killian rose from his chair and walked around his desk to perch on the edge. "Why didn't you tell me she called?"

Once again, Tink tried to look innocent but Killian knew better. "There are a lot of shes in the world, would you mind specifying which one you are referring to?"

"Emma, damn it. You know bloody well she called and you never told me."

Tink shrugged one shoulder. "She asked me not to."

Killian threw his hands up in the air in frustration and rose from his desk. "Well, then. I'm glad you're just my employee and the two of you are such great friends. Next thing I know I'll discover the two of you in your office giggling and braiding each other's hair."

Tink patted her blonde hair. "Braids are not exactly my thing."

"Not the point, Tink."

"What is the point, Killian?"

"Emma called and you never said a word."

Tink stood and walked over to him. "I think you're pissed because you didn't think of it. So, yeah, Emma gave a crap about you. You, however, seemed content to wallow in your misery. Poor Killian who loses everyone he's ever cared for. Well, Emma isn't dead; she was in Boston. Love isn't easy but it should be fought for. And, you," Tink jabbed a finger into Killian's chest, "decided it was easier to just turn your back on it. So, no, I didn't tell you she called because you didn't deserve to know."

With one last glare, Tink turned and began to stalk out of his office.

"Tink?"

"Yeah?" she threw over her shoulder as she reached the door.

"Thanks for kicking me in the arse."

Tink smiled over her shoulder at him. "You're welcome. It's because of that I make sure to wear comfortable shoes every time I come to work."

Killian glanced down at Tink's pink stilettos. "They don't look comfortable."

Tink held out a foot. "To me they are. Go home, Killian. I'll see you on Monday."

"I thought we were having dinner tomorrow."

"I made other plans."

Killian strolled over to Tink. "With who?"

She smirked at him. "Please, Killian. It's not like you're jealous."

"Still."

"I'm going out with some girlfriends for a bachelorette party."

A grin spread over Killian's face. It was at that exact moment that he knew whatever plans he and Tink had for their future were something that had been fabricated for his benefit, and maybe, Emma's. "Have fun."

"I plan to."

Killian leaned against the doorjamb of his office and watched Tink walk down the hall. He was alone again. For the first time in a long time, it didn't seem so bad.

CSCSCSCS

Emma watched Ruby look over the file folders filled with the papers Emma collected on Liam's death. Sitting in Ruby's apartment, it seemed like a perfect opportunity to share what happened to someone else, if only to practice what she would have to say to Killian. Of course the folder that contained the most damaging of information still remained in her bag. There were certain things that only Killian should be privy to.

Glancing up, Ruby asked with a frown, "You're going to Storybrooke to tell him, aren't you?"

"Of course, I am."

"When?"

Emma sighed and sat heavily in the kitchen chair across from Ruby. "I don't know."

"The sooner the better."

Emma cradled her head in her hands, as she rested her elbows on the table in front of her. "I know. I just need to figure out how. That's why I came here."

"Just give him the folders, Emma," Graham said as he walked into the room after checking on their dinner. He and Ruby had moved into their new house earlier this month. Graham and Ruby had been dating for a year before he popped the question on Christmas morning. Ruby wasted no time after that to search out the home of their dreams. He laid his hands on Ruby's shoulders, looking at the information in front of them. "I know I'd rather read it myself than let someone deliver the death blow."

"I agree," Ruby chimed in smiling up at her fiancé. "But, do it soon. He deserves to know."

"This sucks." Emma folded her arms on the table and laid her head atop them.

"You wanted to help find the truth," Graham told her. "You could have left it alone."

Emma raised her head and looked up at the couple. "Not after Tamara brought the original folder to my apartment. I know she was trying to get back at Neal, but after I read about how Liam really died..." She choked up. "I…I just had to find out the truth. And I knew that Tamara was my best bet on discovering it."

"That proved to be true," Graham observed waving at the paperwork before them.

"My question is, why didn't Killian or his team of investigators look into her?" Ruby asked curiously.

The three of them looked at each other. Then Graham spoke up. "I would like to believe that he thinks like I would. That the woman I married wouldn't have been manipulative enough to have my brother killed and then hold my hand as I grieved not saying a word. The same woman who married him less than a year after she ordered for Liam to die for finding out the truth about her company's secrets."

Emma sighed, knowing that her friends didn't know even have the whole truth. "My thoughts exactly."

"Still doesn't change the fact that he's going to be devastated by the news, Emma." Ruby reached out across the table and held onto Emma's hand. "Maybe you should mail it to him anonymously."

"No. I need to be the one to tell him." Emma shook her head. "I don't know why but I need to be the one to do it."

Graham nodded his approval. "Maybe it's for the best."

"Why don't you call Mary-Margaret and David and have them meet you there? They can give you both support."

"No. Killian won't want anyone else to know."

"Then why did you tell us?" Ruby inquired.

"I had to tell someone." Emma rose from her chair and began to compile the papers back into order inside their folders. "I needed to know that I can do this."

Graham walked over to her and hugged her. "You can do this, Emma. You can do just about anything. But, my advice, don't sit on this too long. If you found this out, then someone else might be able to. And I think Killian would much rather hear it from you than a stranger."

"Thanks, Graham." Emma smiled up at him and stepped out of his embrace. "I appreciate the vote of confidence. I need to go."

"Emma…"

Emma turned to Ruby. "Yes?"

"Do it this weekend. Don't wait until you after you graduate."

Emma nodded. "I'll leave first thing in the morning."