A/N: Sorry for the delay. School has been so busy and I've been burnt right out during my spare time so didn't write. I've got maybe 4 chapters left of this story. I'm really excited to get it finished because I've got my next story planned out and I'm looking really forward letting you guys see it. It's a high school AU involving extreme musical talent, self harm and Granny. And for those waiting on Operation Albatross, it's coming. I just need to be in the right mindset to write a wedding scene. The support on this story has been increasing and it's blowing me away. Thank you all so much. I appreciate every favourite, follow, view or review. Let me know what you think! Enjoy!

Disclaimer: All aspects of Once Upon A Time belong to ABC and the show's creators.

Sometime after the first hour of watching Killian sleep she'd lost the battle with the pain medication and passed out herself. When she woke, disoriented and groggy once again, Killian wasn't with her. There was the vague feeling that he was supposed to be nearby. She'd gone to sleep with such a warm feeling and she desperately wanted to capture it again in her less than aware state. Emma pushed herself up, groaning when pain laced through her. She'd forgotten about the damned stitches and broken ribs. Immediately the one who she'd been looking for was standing over her, easing her back down.

"Easy, Swan," Killian murmured, settling her back against her pillow before reaching for the bed control and easing her up that way, using his prosthesis to hold her in place.

"How long have you been up?"

"A couple hours. It's past eleven in the morning."

"Did we sleep the whole night?"

Killian shook his head. "I didn't. You did. Perks of pain meds." He gave her a little wry smile, holding up his prosthesis to tell her he remembered those days. "Liam and Elsa came back just before visiting hours ended with a nurse and the three of them dragged me out of the hospital, quoting my need for a shower and proper meal. It had been a few days," he answered, raking his hand through his hair. It was then that she realized he was wearing different clothing, a soft forest green long sleeved shirt and clean but faded denim jeans, and his hair was fluffy from a recent wash. "But then the ward closed and I couldn't get back in so I stayed home until it opened this morning. I didn't want to leave," he hurried on when he saw Emma studying his appearance.

"It's fine, Killian," she answered quickly, realizing she'd been staring. But he was just so lovely and watching him made the morphine heat up in her veins. Yes, she could get addicted to this man if she let herself. "You're allowed to go home and shower and eat."

"I would have told you but you were out like a light and snoring."

"Because I was on pain meds," Emma retorted quickly, feeling her face heat up without her permission. It was as if now that Emma had truly committed to trying the thought of him catching her sounding like a warthog actually embarrassed her. Emma fought down the heat. She would not be that kind of girl.

"Sure. Because I haven't been around you sleeping before." Emma shot him a glare but it had very little heat to it. "Would it make you feel better if I said I smuggled bear claws in for you?"

"And?"

"Hot chocolate with cinnamon. I told you, lass," he said, handing over the goods. "I love you."

Now Emma's face turned red for a whole other reason. She took a quick sip of the hot chocolate, glad that Killian had had it sitting in the room for a while so she didn't scald her throat. Killian just smiled, sitting back down. And he had reason it smile. Emma hadn't run, or gotten angry or upset. She'd just blushed.

"How is your prosthesis working?" Emma asked to give her something else to focus on.

"Good. It's strange. I've spent my whole life with a hand and then a few horrid months trying to get used to living without one. And now I've got a quasi-hand and it almost makes things even harder?"

Emma nodded. "It's stiff metal. It's going to take some getting used to."

"And it's even more visible." Emma nodded again, giving him a gentle look. She didn't forget the way he'd tried to hide his hand for as long as she'd known him. None of his sleeves would be long enough to cover the steel and in a t-shirt, the entire arm portion of black plastic would be visible. And shirtless-

"But do you think you'll keep it?" Emma asked shaking her head subtly to focus, reaching over and touching the cold metal.

"I think so. And I mean, I've got my Halloween costume picked out forever now. How convenient is that?"

"Let me guess, Captain Hook?" Emma asked with an eye roll.

Killian snorted, grinning back. "They say after some physio I'll feel more confident with it."

"When do you start physio?"

"If Mary Margaret had her way, yesterday," he answered wryly. Obviously getting his prosthesis hadn't gotten Mary Margaret to calm down. "But my first appointment is tomorrow. They say you're getting discharged then too so I was thinking I could go to my appointment first and then pick you up?" Killian glanced down at his prosthesis, pulling the two hooks apart and then letting them snap closed again. "If you're hell bent on being alone then I'll drop you at your place but I'd really like it if you'd come home with me for a bit. It's closer to the hospital for your appointments."

"And the court house," a low voice said from the door, startling them both. Emma shot a glance and smiled. Graham waited there, in uniform. Killian stood, confused as to why a cop would be showing up, but looking like he was ready to protect her honour no matter what. Emma reached over, waving for Killian to sit again.

"Hello, Graham," Emma called, moving her hand to wave the officer in. "Killian, this is Officer Humbert."

Realization dawned on Killian and he jumped up again, striding towards Graham. His movements were sharp and purposeful. Every clack of his sneaker sole, every swing of his arm across the small space showed just how much of a Navy man he had been, displayed the Navy man he still was. When he reached Graham Killian stuck out his hand to which the other man took after only a moment of shock.

"Thank you for saving her," Killian said in a quiet, emotion filled voice.

"Just doing my job," Graham answered, a bit awkward. "Emma's been a friend for a long while."

"I'm still here, boys," Emma called, irritated but mostly embarrassed. She could look after herself. Killian stepped back with a nod, shooting her a wink. Emma rolled her eyes in response.

"Sorry, Emma. How are you feeling?"

"Sore. But are we going to talk about why you're actually here when you're obviously on duty?"

She was starting to feel antsy. No one had ever told her what had happened to Tom. Most of the memories she had from the casino were a jumbled mess. She remembered the gunshots and Tom's anguished cries but not where the bullets had landed. Was Tom still alive and going to stand trial for what he'd done? Or was he dead? Had Emma nearly gotten killed for no justice?

"So perceptive," Graham drawled. Killian offered the chair he'd been using then sat on the bed next to Emma. Killian laid his hand against Emma's leg, stroking it through the sheet with his thumb. She took a deep breath and Killian squeezed her calf in response. It was only Killian's hand that stopped Emma from shouting for answers.

"So what's going on with the man Emma caught?" Killian asked before Emma could start demanding. Sometimes it scared her how he knew what she was going to do before she did.

"Tom has been apprehended. He is currently being treated for injuries to his shoulder and knee."

"You didn't kill him?" Emma asked shocked. She'd heard the gunshots and assumed they'd been aimed at Tom's chest.

"Did you really think I would, Emma?" Graham replied, sounding a bit surprised. "You put too much work into this case not to have this man sent to jail for a very long time. His court case will be heard in a few weeks. Tom is being held on cases of fraud, child abuse and neglect and attempted murder."

Emma rushed out a heavy breath. Emotions swirled inside her. Fear made itself felt first. It was like she was six years old again. It was the first time she'd reported a foster care home and also the last. Because she hadn't been taken out, instead the foster parents being put on probation and it had made everything worse. She'd been beaten the next day. It was also the first time she'd run away. But it wasn't the last.

After the fear came the loneliness. She was fourteen and sitting on the lawn in front of Tom's abandoned house, waiting with her foster brothers for the van with the social worker to show up. The social worker had stooped to comfort the younger of the two boys who'd been crying and had patted the older on the back. But no one had done anything for the sullen girl who had a record that scared even the bravest social workers. No one was willing to risk a reaction from Emma and sitting in the back of the van she realized she'd caused that. She'd let life get to her and break her. In that moment she'd never felt more alone.

And then the sadness welled up to crush Emma with memories. This time she was sixteen and faced with the reality that she was aging out of the system and had never been adopted. No one wanted the girl who was too hardened and too scared to be nice. No one could deal with the outbursts of a girl who'd immediately explode if someone touched her, said something to her, looked at her wrong. No one understood that she was trying to protect herself from the world who seemed to hate her. She'd spent many nights up, looking out the window debating her situation until one night she'd decided it was no longer was going to wait. Emma ran away the next night. If no one was going to choose her then she wasn't going to wait until the very end. It would have crushed her beyond repair had she waited around until her eighteenth birthday and been kicked out, alone and broke. At least running away she could make the choice to be alone and broke on her own time. She'd met Neal not long after and everything had gone to shit.

But underneath all the other emotions, quiet but firm was the relief. The sense of pride. Emma had done it. Yes, she was now well into her twenties and no longer that terrified lost girl being thrown around as she tried to find a home but she'd gotten her justice on the system that had tried it's best to destroy her. She'd nearly died doing it but she was still alive and was going to be able to testify. She could put Tom away, possibly for life with all the counts she could testify for. Emma was no longer that girl Tom had known. Now she was independent. She was really good at her job (stabbing aside). She had an actual home. She had her car. She had friends. She had Killian.

"Swan?" Killian's voice cut through the onslaught. She focused on him and realized her eyes had gone blurry. She was crying. "Are you okay?"

Emma nodded, wiping furiously at her eyes. "When do I testify?" Emma asked Graham who was now looking a bit uncomfortable. He probably thought it was his fault.

"Three weeks. I'll call when we get closer to question you, okay?" Graham stood. "I should leave you two. Feel better, Emma."

Killian stood and walked Graham to the door before shutting it and turning back around to face Emma. "Are you okay? For real?"

She took a steadying sip of her now long cold hot chocolate. "Yeah. I'm okay. It was just a lot there for a moment. It made all this feel really real. I didn't mean to cry. Honestly, I'm just really relieved."

"It's okay to cry," Killian replied, coming back to the bed. This time he didn't sit next to her feet. He slid gently into bed right beside her. Emma laid her head against his shoulder, feeling the tears run across her cheek and onto his shirt. "You've been through a lot in your life, love. This is a natural response."

Emma nodded, cheek pulling at his soft shirt. "But you know what they say. One door closes?"

"And one door opens," Killian finished. "This is a hell of a door to close. Congratulations, love."

"Help me keep it closed?"

"My pleasure." Killian kissed the top of her head. "But you may want to give me some of that bear claw so I can keep my strength up."

Emma snorted out a wet laugh before shoving a huge chunk into her mouth. "I think I can keep it closed myself, then."

"I've no doubt you can," Killian replied, sincere. "But I'm still hungry." Emma rolled her eyes and handed over the other half of her bear claw. Once Killian had eaten it she bent over and kissed the sugar off his lips because if sharing her food wasn't a sign that she was letting this man into her heart she didn't know what was.