A/N: So I guess people seem to like lots of updates. Being away from university for the summer makes it easy so I'll keep doing them as much as I can.
Disclaimer: All aspects of Once Upon A Time belong to ABC and the show's creators.
Henry arrived without a care in the world, excited to be staying at David's house. David had sheriff uniforms and a badge, which he'd let Henry wear when he got home. That's what Henry was most concerned with. Emma planned to keep it that way. Ruby on the other hand looked less pleased.
Emma led her into the guest bedroom, put the suitcase she'd brought on the bed and then sat down. Ruby was by her side immediately, eyes scanning her to check for signs of stress or fear.
"Are you okay? Do you want to leave here? Are you too overwhelmed? They won't be upset if you are." Ruby had seen Emma upset before. She knew her default reaction.
Emma placed her hand on Ruby's. "I'm okay, Ruby. I'm a little overwhelmed but it's fine. I want to stay here with them all. I'll be safe. David is the sheriff."
"That's the only reason I'm letting you stay here and not at my place." Ruby gave Emma a sad smile. "I'm so sorry this all happened to you at once, Emma. Or at all."
"I know. But there's nothing you can do about it. If Neal shows up David will arrest him." Robin had made her feel safe. She had no desire to leave Mary Margaret's that night.
Ruby nodded. "But what about Killian?"
Emma took a deep breath. That she was still feeling shaky about. "I don't know, Ruby. Jones nearly died. I'm angry at him. I can't believe he would do something like that to himself. Jones said nothing about Milah contacting him and giving him a hard time, or even what today was for him. If he doesn't trust me enough how do I trust him?"
Ruby shrugged. "I don't have an answer for that. The whole thing wasn't something I expected to happen. I can see Killian's motivation; understand why he drank so much. But that doesn't mean he should have done what he did. I think you being here, having your space is the best thing right now."
"Is it bad that even though I'm angry I'm still worried about him?"
Ruby shook her head with a small laugh. "No. That's good, Emma. I'd be worried if you completely hated him." Emma didn't know if it was possible for her to hate Killian.
"But I still don't think I could go to the hospital, even if this thing with Neal hadn't happened." She wasn't ready to face him, to relive the memory of finding him in the graveyard which would inevitably happen. She needed to settle down first.
"That's okay, Emma," Ruby reassured her again. "You need to do what feels right for you."
Emma nodded. Don't overthink. Do what feels right. She licked her lips. "How is he now?" Emma didn't overthink the question. It was the first thing that had come to her mind so she went with it.
"Killian is alright. The doctor has decided to keep him on fluids and oxygen all night since his blood alcohol level still isn't stable. Killian drank a lot, Emma. If you hadn't have found him," Ruby trailed off momentarily. Emma knew what she was getting at though. Killian would be dead. "But he should make a full recovery. They were a little worried about brain damage at the start."
Emma's heart stopped. No. "But that didn't happen, right?"
Ruby was quick to shake her head. "Killian's been responsive for a while. He knows where he is, who his is, what the date is. Jefferson's been talking with him." Ruby paused for a moment, thinking. "Killian feels terrible, Emma. He understands what he did to you, even in his foggy state. I'm on your side, but I just wanted to make sure you knew that this was an error in Killian's judgement, not a slight at you."
Emma drummed her fingers against her leg. The urge to make sure he was okay herself was almost overpowering. She wanted to hear his voice after the day she'd had. Killian had had a terrible day, first Liam then Milah. Doing what he did was how he coped. Emma didn't have the best coping strategies to be judging the finesse of someone else's.
Emma looked down as Ruby put something on her thigh. It was Ruby's phone. She shrugged innocently when Emma cast her a surprised glance. "I'm sure Jefferson would share his phone." She gave Emma's shoulder a reassuring pat before leaving the room, shutting the door behind her.
Emma fingered the phone. Ruby knew her so well. She knew how Emma was tempted but how the lost girl held her back, trying to keep her from getting even more hurt. Ohana, Emma. You're not lost. It was just a call, right? Just a check in. It didn't have to mean anything other than she was worried about him. She could sort out their relationship later. Don't overthink, Emma. Do what feels right. She punched in the number for Jefferson before she could change her mind.
"Hello?"
"Hi Jeff," Emma answered, more than a little nervous. "Can you put Jones on?"
"Sure, Emma. He'd love that." Emma could hear the smile in Jefferson's voice. There was a rustling as the phone passed hands.
"Swan?" Killian's voice was weak, rough, and still a little drunk sounding. It was good to hear his voice though. Emma's nervousness began to dissipate.
"Hi Jones. How are you feeling?"
"Terrible," he groaned. "And not just because of what I drank." Emma knew what he was implying but that wasn't something she wanted to talk right then.
"Let's focus on your health right now, okay?"
"Okay, Swan. As you wish." Despite herself Emma smiled. She loved that line.
"Ruby says you'll make a full recovery."
"Aren't we all lucky?" Killian's voice dripped sarcasm and self-loathing.
"Don't joke about that, Jones." Emma fought back the tears. The thought of losing Killian, the words coming from his own mouth, stung more than she expected. Maybe she wasn't as angry as she thought. If she was at all.
"Sorry, Swan." Killian sighed then coughed as the rush of air irritated his throat. "I just don't know what to do, Emma." Killian sounded as if he were ready to cry too.
"Get better. That's your only job."
"For you, I will." Killian paused to let that sink in. "Are you coming back?"
Emma closed her eyes at the tentative hope in his voice. But she couldn't go. Not yet. Not with her emotions so out of control. Not with Neal running around and probably knowing where she worked. The hospital was too dangerous. But she couldn't tell Killian that. It would make him worry more about her than his own health. There was no need to stress Killian out more than he already was. "Not right now, Jones."
"Okay, Swan. That's fair." Killian sounded exhausted, even more strained after speaking for just several minutes. Emma wondered if he'd taken his oxygen off while he spoke with her. It was time to let him rest.
"Get better. Bye." Emma hung up quickly and stared at the phone as the screen dimmed. She felt better hearing his voice but the way she ended the conversation didn't feel right. Too much like she was running. She felt as if she was missing something. Emma redialed.
"Hello?"
"Call me if you get lonely. Get Jeff to leave his phone or get you yours. Bye Jones." Emma hung up again and stood.
When Emma made it back into the kitchen Mary Margaret had already spread small bowls of icing across the counter and placed a big platter of sugar cookies, cut into the shapes of stars, in the middle. Robin and Henry sat at the stools, waiting to be given the go sign. Emma moved towards her son, giving Ruby her phone back as she passed. Ruby took it with a nod and then said her goodbyes. She was meeting Victor after his shift at the hospital so had to get going.
Henry held up a cookie for Emma to see. "Look, Mommy, I'm going to make Polaris." The soft sob that escaped Emma's lips at Henry's words made Henry's proud smile falter. Henry was just as attached to Killian as she was. Emma had to get this mess figured out before Henry got even more involved. "That's right isn't it, Mommy?" Henry asked, a desperate whine sneaking into his voice. "That's what Killy told me."
"That's right Henry," Mary Margaret chimed in, catching Emma's hand and holding it. She gave it a squeeze.
Robin jumped in as well after a quick glance at Emma. "I bet I can make a better Polaris than you."
"Nuh-uh" Henry replied, reaching for the yellow icing. "I listened better to Killy."
Robin shrugged. "That's probably the truth, kid." Henry smiled, delighted. Robin grabbed the blue icing and started in on his cookie, pretending to hide it from Henry while making grand gestures at the same time in order to look over at Henry's Polaris. Henry quickly accused him of cheating and made Mary Margaret and Emma stand between them.
For the next two hours Emma became cookie assistant extraordinaire, reaching the bowls that Henry couldn't reach and helping him draw straight lines or shapes on the cookies with a toothpick and a different colour icing. She was covered in food dye by the time David got home but it was worth it to see Henry's delight, to see him totally oblivious to Neal's arrival or Killian's health.
Once the cookies were all decorated- Henry having done 75% of them, Henry took it upon himself to present them like grand works of art. Each had a name as well. Each was named after a star.
