A/N: As I write this we are now officially on hiatus from our favorite show, Once Upon A Time. Season 4 had a lot of ups and downs, but it also provided us with some wonderful CS moments. I hope that you enjoyed them as much as I did. If you haven't had the opportunity to watch Season 4, I hope you enjoy it when you do get a chance. Another huge thank you to my beta, aimeeloren, for making sure that this chapter is the best it can be. And to Stephanie, who created the video this story is based on. I apologize for taking so long to post this chapter but I have been really sick all week long. I am happy that I already had this previously written and beta'd in enough time to post this at all. If I had to count on me writing fresh for this week, I would not have had a chapter for you at all.

Disclaimer: I do not own the characters. They belong to the franchise of Once Upon A Time.

Chapter 26 – I Know That Goodbye Means Nothing At All:

Emma couldn't believe she was doing this. Taking a deep breath, Emma steeled herself for her first meeting with Killian since learning the truth about who killed Liam. Hell, this could go fifty shades of wrong. Lifting her hand, she knocked on Killian's front door, wishing she could leave the files on his doorstep and run.

Killian no sooner opened the door then Emma blurted out, "We need to talk."

"When a woman says that I've found I'm rarely in for a pleasant conversation." Killian waved her inside. "Come in."

Emma walked inside but stopped in the entryway watching Killian close the front door behind them. He turned toward her, his hands shoved into the front pockets of his jeans. Shifting uncomfortably from foot to foot, Emma debated how to begin. 'Milah killed Liam' wasn't the best ice breaker.

"You look good," Killian said to finally break the lingering silence between them.

Emma ducked her head before looking back up at him. "Thank you."

"Would you like to go to the living room and sit down?"

"Not really but you might."

He gave her a quizzical look before he led her over to where they could sit. Killian settled on his couch and waited.

When Emma began to pace but not say anything, Killian began to worry. "What happened?"

"Nothing." She gave him a guarded look but at least she stopped pacing and sat across from him on the loveseat. "Actually…"

"You can tell me anything, Emma. Go ahead."

"No, I can't."

Killian stood and walked around his coffee table so he could sit next to her. He took one of her hands in his own. "Emma?"

"Graham's right. I can't do this." She abruptly stood, forcing Killian to let go of her.

Before he could even ask what her friend Graham was right about, she left. He followed her out of his house and watched her go to her car. If she wasn't stooped inside the opened passenger side door retrieving something, he would have thought she was leaving without telling him a thing.

He leaned against the railing of his front porch as Emma returned carrying a leather satchel. Killian might have been unsettled about what Emma wanted to tell him but he couldn't help looking her over. Emma's tight blue jeans accented her in all the right places. When she was bent over in her car, his mind imagined his hands tucked inside her back pockets as he pressed her against his hard length, devouring her mouth with his own. Her black t-shirt under her dark red jacket only accented her pale hair and skin, making him wish he could touch her as he once had. Gods, he wanted this woman. Killian's erection grew heavy in his jeans, begging for release.

Emma came closer and Killian knew he couldn't hide behind the railing forever. Balling up his hands he shoved them into his pockets to avoid Emma noticing just how much her presence excited him. It also kept him from reaching out and hauling her into his arms for the kiss he'd been dying to give her since the last time they met.

He followed her back into his house, kicking the front door closed behind them. When he entered his living room, Emma was removing file folders and lining them up on his coffee table. She had never come off as a neat freak but Emma seemed borderline obsessive over how they were placed.

When she finally glanced his way, she patted the spot on the couch next to her. "Sit. Please."

Killian complied, becoming edgy over her wary tone. "What's this?"

"Something you need to read."

Killian began to reach for a file until she stopped him. He looked over at her and saw a worried frown creasing her face.

"Not yet," she told him. "Are you still trying to find out how Liam died?"

Killian shook his head. "I gave up a year ago. There haven't been any new leads for years. Why did you find something?"

Her head dipped. Her eyes found a spot of interest on his hardwood floor. "Would you want to know even if it may not be what you want to hear?"

Killian turned toward her and grasped her chin, raising her face. "What aren't you telling me, Emma?"

"Don't make me tell you, Killian," she pleaded with tears in her eyes. "It's all right there." She waved at the papers on the table. "If I were you, I'd start in order from left to right."

She rose and he let her go. "I just want to tell you one thing." He gazed up at her waiting to hear what she wanted to say. "Tamara, your wife's personal assistant, got these from Neal. They had been married and after their divorce, she thought I'd help her get back at him with these. Instead, after I discovered it was about Liam's death, I did all I could to find out as much as possible. The last folder is the one she brought me yesterday morning. If you really don't care about who was responsible for Liam's death, don't read it. Maybe the rest will give you enough closure."

"So, you're saying I shouldn't look inside the last folder?"

Emma shook her head. "No. I'm asking you not to read it."

A corner of his mouth quirked up. "You know, if you want someone not to read something, you shouldn't make it so intriguing."

"Please, Killian. Please don't read the last one." Emma dropped to her knees and held his hands. "It'll hurt you more than Liam's death ever did."

"Liam's death has haunted me for almost a decade."

"I know."

He leaned toward her, wrapping her in his arms. "I can't promise you that I won't read it, Emma."

"Then, I'm sorry." She pushed back from him and stood.

"Can you stay while I read?" he asked her as she began to head for the door.

She turned back to him. "I'd rather not."

"Because you know what's in there."

She nodded, her fingers tanging together. He could feel her nervous energy as she tried to slowly back out of the room.

"Please," he begged, which he rarely did. "Just while I read the first part. After that we'll go from there."

Killian watched as she began to think over his proposition. With a small sigh, she lowered her eyes for a brief second. A smile spread over Killian's face as she came back and sat down next to him.

"Only the first folder and then I need to go."

"Agreed."

Emma should have never stayed. One folder led to another than another. As Killian read, his hand slipped into hers seeking support. She could tell a few times that he held back tears as his spine stiffened. Being an orphan, Emma would never feel the pain of loss over a family member but she suspected it must be hard.

When all that was left was the final folder, he turned toward her. Emma wrapped Killian in her arms. To find out your brother was killed because he found out the head of the company may be corrupt was hard. Liam died because he had wanted to expose the company for hiring depraved captains to smuggle girls into the United States and England from Eastern Europe to sell into slavery. When Liam was offered a quarter of a million dollars up front for a special trip to pick up and deliver women from India on his own ship, he was appalled. Liam had turned it down and began his own investigation into how high up in the company the corruption ran.

Killian pulled back and Emma ignored the errant tear running down his face, not wanting to embarrass such a proud man by wiping it away. He gave her a brief smile of thanks.

"Emma…"

"Yes?"

"I need to know what is in that last folder."

Emma took a deep breath. "Let's just say that the head of the company was well aware of what was happening and arranged to have Liam killed." Emma picked up the manila folder and held it to her chest. "Now, can we burn this and forget all about it?"

"No."

"Damn it, Killian. You don't want to know what's in here."

"Liam's killer should be brought to justice," he told her gruffly.

"She's already dead," Emma blurted out. She could feel her eyes grow wide in shock as to what she had revealed. Emma covered her mouth with the file folder, hoping it would prevent her from saying anything else.

"Who was it, Emma? You said that almost as if I would know who she was."

Emma rose and backed away. "I can't. I can't be the one to tell you."

"Then give me the bloody folder," he demanded. For once in all the time Emma had known Killian, she was scared.

Killian stood and stalked over to where she had escaped. He held out his hand. "Give me the folder, Emma."

She shook her head. "I don't want to hurt you and if I give you this that is exactly what will happen."

He rocked back on his heels and took in Emma's heartbroken face. Killian understood her reasoning but he had to know who was behind Liam's murder. In his own way, he had always suspected Gold had a hand in it but Emma had said she. So, it couldn't be Gold.

But then, the papers had been in Tamara and Neal's possession. How would they get them? What she did they know who would be tied to Liam? Suddenly, it hit Killian like a freight train. Milah.

"My wife killed Liam?" he asked incredulously, already knowing the answer.

"Killian, I…"

"Yes or No, Emma?"

"I can't…"

"Get out," he tried not to scream but his voice came out gruff. His jaw was clenching uncontrollably.

"But…"

"Get out and leave the folder, Emma."

She walked past him and set the folder back on the coffee table. He watched her open her mouth to say something before she turned and walked out of his house.

Killian walked over and picked up the folder Emma had been so protective of. Flipping it open, the first words he noticed was his wife's name as owner of Mist Haven Shipping.

He sat down and perused the papers. Inside there were letters Liam wrote to her begging her to investigate the matter of slave trading. There was also a fax to a woman named Zelena, asking her to eradicate the problem of a snitch within the company. Zelena. Liam had told Killian the day he died about her. He had met her when he visited the United States on business. After a whirlwind romance that lasted about a month, while he was in port, Liam had decided he was in love. Liam showed Killian the ring he procured to propose the following week when he returned to the States. Killian had known his brother had met someone during his trip. However, his brother had always been somewhat secretive about his relationships. Killian long suspected because Liam wanted to be sure of someone before introducing her to his younger brother after all the people who had walked out of their lives. But before any of that could happen, Liam passed away. No, Liam had been murdered, just like Killian had always suspected.

Zelena had appeared at Killian and Liam's house bearing flowers and advice after Liam's death. She had been the one to encourage Killian to apply to the university in Storybrooke to finish his degree. To allow himself time to heal without having to face constant reminders of Liam every day.

Milah and Zelena had killed his brother. Milah had already met her own end. Killed as tragically as his brother. Fate somehow having a hand in dealing out retribution. But, Zelena… She was still out there somewhere. Killian knew he'd find her and have her pay for the loss of one of the greatest men Killian had ever known.