Chapter 24

Emma

I left Archie's office, still carrying my to-go coffee cup as I walked down the sidewalk downtown towards my house. I had wanted to take a walk today instead of driving my Bug.

My cellphone chimed repeatedly, alerting me that someone was calling me. I fished my phone out of my pocket and looked at the screen. Neal was calling me?

Surprised and slightly annoyed, but all masked with curiosity, I pressed the answer circle on my screen and lifted the phone to my ear.

"Neal?"

"Hey Emma," Neal's low, soothing voice greeted me. "You busy?"

I kept meandering down the sidewalk and frowned. "Not really, just going for a stroll. Why?"

"Henry, he is here, and he needs to speak to us. You want to come over to my place at Granny's Air B and B?"

I sighed. "What's wrong? Just tell me?" Slight panic as well as a shot of adrenaline flowed through my body. Was there something wrong with Henry? Was he hurt? Emotionally or physically? Or was there a problem?

Neal replied, "He seems fine, Emma, but he also seemed concerned. I think you should just come by. He won't tell me until you're here."

"Must be serious." I hurried my pace and turned to head in Granny's diner direction. "On my way." I ended the call and hit the text message icon to send my husband a text.

"I'll be home in a while, give me another half hour or so." I messaged him then hit send.

Once I found Neal's apartment knocked on the door, Neal opened the front door and smiled warmly at me, with that same love in his eyes. "Hey Emma. Come on it."

I forced a smile, feeling rather anxious because I was forced to wait to hear whatever Henry had to say to us.

I went inside and Neal closed the door after me and stood between Henry and me.

Henry was sitting on a flowery armchair with his hands together. He looked rather nervous. The corners of his mouth lifted as he stared at me. "Where's Hook?" Henry asked. That threw me off.

I replied calmly, "He's home with Hope. Why? What's going on Henry?" I sat in an empty chair next to him and took a sip of my lukewarm latte. There wasn't much coffee left. No wonder I felt extra jittery. Or maybe it was due to the way Neal looked at me, like I was still his favorite person. Like he was in love.

Neal came beside me but didn't sit down. Almost in a possessive way, but more like when a mother and father were talking about something important with their child. As if we were a team. I ignored him and watched Henry, who looked away, seeming edgy.

"What is it son?" asked Neal softly.

Henry exhaled in preparation. "Okay. So Violet and I are…well, we're Violet and I."

I smiled at him. "You're together?" I prompted, hoping this was all that he had to divulge to us.

Henry nodded with a half smirk. "Yes. And well, Violet wants me to move to her city. Obviously, she can't move here. And I want to. I think it's time for me to move. I'm grown up now. I've saved some money, but I wanted to borrow some more to you know, live there for a while until I get a job. I've been looking."

I let his news sink in. I side-glanced at Neal, who gave me a joyful smile. "What do you think about this?" Neal asked me with tenderness.

I shrugged and stared at Henry, realizing he meant that he was probably serious with Violet. I wondered how serious. I started thinking about if they were physical and if they had done it yet. I exhaled, not wanting to think this way. "How serious are you two?" I asked softly with a curl of my lips so he wouldn't think he was in trouble or that I would deny this.

Henry shared a glance with his father and shrugged. "Pretty serious. I mean we're dating, we both want to be together. And I do want to make it easier because her father despises me, but we decided we're going to keep seeing each other."

Neal cleared his throat and looked at me again expectantly. He said, "I think it's fine with me, but Emma, what do you think about it?"

I set my coffee down on a coffee table and said, "Well, I don't see why not." I smirked knowingly at Henry. "As long as you're being, you know, safe."

Henry's head moved back in alarm. "What?" he asked nervously and chuckled as if uncomfortable. He glanced between both of us. "I don't…I mean we don't?"

"That's enough squirming," I said, saving him because he looked like he was wiggling in his seat. "You know I had you when I was your age Henry. I don't need to know details. I just want to make sure you are."

"Uh, Yes, your mother's right," Neal said.

Henry blushed and sighed and shrugged. He was trying to act collected and conceal his embarrassment.

"Mom…." He let out a nervous breath like a laugh. "That's not even the issue here, I am. I mean we are…careful. It's just a matter of me moving there. That was not what I was trying to say. I mean there's nothing…."

I held up my hand. "It's fine. I think it's a good idea if you want to move with her, that's totally alright with me. But the real problem is, have you talked to your other Mom?"

Henry shrugged and his eyes seemed worried now. "That's the other thing I wanted to discuss. The death sack. It was in her vault. Well, it's gone."

"What?" I gasped.

Neal's lips parted as he faced me as if I was to figure this out. He turned to Henry again. "When did this happen?"

Henry shook his head gravely. "Just like half hour ago. I went to talk to Mom, uh, Other Mom, and she told me that."

I leaned forward on my knees and said, "Why didn't you open with that news? I understand this is very important to you, Henry. Moving with Violet. But we should've known this before, as soon as you did."

Henry opened his palms. "I am telling you," he said with humor. His expression was serious now. He added, "Mom went in the vault to check on it, like she does every day. She had it sealed with blood magic as always. She doesn't know what happened or who took it."

I let out a ragged breath and traded a grim look with Neal.

Neal said, "If someone opens that thing, it could….be the end of my life. And of Robin's."

"I know," I said with a long breath. I stood up. "Guess it's time gather everyone up. Figure this out. Henry who else knows?"

"Uh, grandma does and grandpa."

Neal said to me in a lulling, sweet voice, "Can I walk you to your house? You know, just in case that-" He waved his hand in the air, "-shadow is still lurking?"

"No, I'm fine thank you. Has anyone seen it?"

Henry shook his head. "Not that I know of."

I asked my son, "So when are you planning to leave? And where's Violet?"

Henry replied with a little smile, "She's here in her room. She has a room here I mean. We were wanting to leave today. But I don't know now with everything going on."

"Her Dad expects her back today?" I assumed.

Henry said, "She is due back tonight to check in with her Dad. And I don't want her going alone with this robbery going on. I worry about her."

I patted his head even though he was an adult. I smiled adoringly at him. "If you need to go then go. WE can handle things here. Besides you may be safer, both of you." I exchanged a look of agreement with Neal who seemed on board with what I declared.

Henry rose to hug me. "Thanks Mom. I hate to leave you all in this mess, and telling Mom…"

"Don't worry about any of it," I replied. "We'll be fine."

"I agree with your Mom," Neal said as he stood next to me. "She is very wise."

He was looking at me for a second longer than he should, which I processed as flirting. I looked back to Henry. I sighed and said, "I need to get home. Tell Hook about the Death Sack."

I gave Henry a long hug and shared a smile with him and then turned to leave with only a fleeting glance at my ex.

I hurried my way through Granny's and then speed-walked home.

Killian

It had been over an hour since Emma had left to get a cup of coffee and go visit Snow. I honored that, since she was her own person. It was no secret that we were having marital problems. She had started to drift away from me since the bloody night at the new club and the way that Lily had flirted with me. I knew that Lily was trouble, but I had no interest any other women especially Lily. She wasn't alluring or attractive to me anyways. I had told Emma that, but she didn't believe me. When Lily had put her hand on my arm and wanted to see my hook, I didn't think that Emma would think anything significant of it. And I didn't pull my arm away in time either. I cursed myself for that. I was overcome with shock that her old best friend would do such a thing to Emma.

Sitting on the sofa, I watched our baby Hope laying in a donut pillow in the corner of the sofa. I held her bottle full of milk for her as she sucked it hungrily. She stared at me with intrigued blue eyes. Her little hands moved around the bottle and one reached for me.

My heart felt like warm water was pouring over it and that it may explode with joy. I leaned over her and said soothingly, "You reaching for me, are you Little Las?"

She smiled around the nipple as she wiggled excitedly, gazing at me with loving, trusting eyes.

I felt so much love for her that it overwhelmed me. I still could not believe that Emma and I had a baby. It still felt like a good dream that she married me. My heart started to plummet as I thought about how Emma had turned away from me in bed last night and rolled over and mumbled that she was sleepy, even though every night together we were always close. I had touched her shoulder, but she had not responded. She was angry with me for being wary of Neal.

I knew Neal wanted her badly. It was easy to see in the way he gazed longingly at her. I knew Emma noticed it too. It was a filthy lie when Neal told us that he wouldn't try anything with a married woman. He was a thief. I didn't have that sort of respect and trust for him, no matter if he and I were mates long ago. He would go after Emma and probably bed her if she gave him the chance. Not that I thought she would, but he wasn't going to stop trying and he made that clear the day we found him.

No, what bothered me the most was that she still had deep feelings for him, almost like a soultie. A root. Everyone remembered their first love. I credited her that. But even though she denied it, I could see it in her eyes when he was around her. She cared deeply for him. I wished I could shake the feeling that it irked me.

She loved me; I knew that. But I also worried about them, because even though I trusted Emma not to do anything or act on feelings, I knew she still loved him deep in her heart. But I needed to let that go. I would try my best to do so, because I wanted our marriage more than allowing my jealous, insecure feelings get the best of me, like I had before.

I knew it hurt Emma that I seemed to not trust her, but I did. I simply didn't want Neal around her. Was that so selfish? I knew they would always share the parental rights and concerns of their mutual son. I searched within for what truly caused me chagrin about Neal and Emma. IT was that I didn't wish her to speak to him, and I needed him to stay away from my wife.

At least I had her, and I knew Emma was not a cheater. She had never once cheated on me, and I had never on her. Even when she thought I was dead a couple years ago, she told me she had never touched anyone else. In fact, she never had been with a man since we started dating. So why was I so insecure now?

My thoughts were interrupted by a knock at the door. I lifted an eyebrow at Hope. "Er, I'll be right back little lady. Someone is here to visit. Let me ensure it is safe first. Before I take you over there…" I picked up a small pink blanket and moved it under her bottle to prop it up for her to drink her milk. "Not that I could with one hand." I whispered in a baby voice. She smirked at me as if she knew.

I said aloud, "You are wise among your months, Little Hope." I babbled at her in a light tone.

I hurried towards the door, wondering why someone was here yet Emma was not. I had left my phone on the counter whilst preparing Hope's breakfast and forgot to check the phone, but answering the door was more important at the moment.

I unlocked the door and opened it. There stood Snow with an amused, bewildered expression. "Hi Hook!"

I cocked an eyebrow at her. "Er, Good morning Snow."

"I turned my key in to Emma so I can't get in." She grinned. I recalled when she had come inside unannounced and disrupted Emma and I once.

I arched my eyebrow knowingly. "As I recall."

"Right." She glanced past me, probably hearing Hope's coos. I knew she knew she had interrupted our pancakes that morning when she burst in, right before Emma and I were married.

I smirked at her and looked past her. No one was behind her. I was perplexed. "Where is Emma?"

"I was about to ask you the same thing!" She blinked her eyes in confusion. She glanced inside. "Isn't she here?" She looked mystified now.

I was stunned, confused that Emma wasn't with her and furthermore, that Snow was looking for her. Wasn't Emma supposed to be visiting her?

"No," I replied evenly. "She told me she went to see you this morning."

"Oh! Uh, when? Because she didn't come over." Her brows thinned.

I exhaled and stared upward, realizing that Emma hadn't gone to see her mother. "About an hour and a half ago, she told me she got coffee and would go to your place to see you. Have you been home this morning?"

Snow gawked at me like I was crazy. She shook her head slowly. "No, I was home all morning." She exclaimed, trying to sound cheerful, but she was just as bewildered. "Maybe I missed her?" She looked past me and then around herself awkwardly.

"I highly doubt it. Come in. Hope is right on the sofa." I opened the door wider and pointed to my daughter.

Snow bounded in and exulted in a shriek as she went to scoop Hope up. I smiled, wanting to chuckle at how thrilled Snow was to see her granddaughter. Although I was too befuddled as to where Emma was. She had lied to me. It had to be the only explanation.

I shut the door with another exhalation and sauntered to my iPhone. I noticed Emma had texted me. I read it but didn't feel any better. So, she wanted more time alone, or wherever she was. "Bloody hell." I said to myself. I looked over at Snow who was cradling Hope in her arms, seated on the sofa.

She patted Hope's back as she looked at me as if noticing I was there again. "Is there something wrong?"

She watched me holding my phone.

"I don't know," I said as I was about to call my wife and ask her where she was.

The front door jumbled, so whoever had keys was opening it. I set down my phone as Emma burst in and closed the door. When she saw me and then Snow sitting with Hope, she froze. She ticked her eyes to me guiltily. She looked like a child who had been caught grabbing the cookies or pop tarts.

"Emma?" I asked softly, but the conviction was audible in my tone. I stared at her knowingly.

She stood there, dumbfounded as she slowly closed the front door and then swung her eyes to Snow, who exclaimed.

"Emma!" Snow said as she bounced Hope in her arms. Hope was looking over at Emma, as if older than a month old.

Emma swallowed noticeably and set her keys down on the table near the door. She placed her hands on her hips as if she was in control of her emotions and the situation. "Mom. I…was looking for you. I need to talk to you both." Emma faced me; her lips pressed together.

I eyed her carefully, letting her know that I caught her in her little lie. I sauntered over to her and said, "But first, I need to talk to you Emma."

She inhaled sharply and then looked at Snow. She said, "I'll be fine here with Hope. You guys talk." She fluttered one hand in the air as if shooing us off.

I caught Emma's eyes again. She sighed in surrender and nodded once as she stared at me. The knowing shame was there in here eyes.

I pointed with my eyes for her to go upstairs with me. She followed me as if sludging sulkily. I wanted to spare her mother hearing us.

Once we arrived at our bedroom, she said, "Killian, I know I told you I was at Snow's." She held her palms outward. She sunk down on the edge of the foot of our bed and perched her elbows on her knees and gazed up at me as if she knew she was in trouble. But I didn't want her to feel like this. So full of guilt.

I closed the door and walked towards her and stood right in front of her. I said, "Why did you tell me you were at Snow's then?"

She let out a long breath and looked away at the wall. She frowned and inhaled slowly as if she was about to fess up. "Because I was somewhere else. Yes, I got coffee as I said. But no, I didn't go to my parents'." Her voice was a whisper.

"And where did you go, Love?"

She glanced down at her hands and played with her wedding rings on her left hand. "Well, I went to go see Archie," she whispered. She stared up at me with honesty.

Archie. That would mean that she was receiving therapy. "Archie. Why are you doing that?"

"Isn't it obvious?" she whispered without anger. She tossed up her hand and sighed. "I went to go see him because I was at therapy. I needed to talk to him because well, clearly we are having problems trusting each other."

"Ah. And yet you lied to me about this morning," I said evenly.

Her eyes tightened as she dropped her chin and shook her head. She deliberated for a few moments.

"Why would you lie to me about it?" I asked softly. "You could just tell me rather than making tales up."

"I was going to. I promise." She lifted her soft, shameful eyes to me.

"You should just tell me outright. You must not be ashamed of going to see a therapist."

She didn't reply.

I sat down next to her and said calmly, "Is it about us?" I tried to catch her eyes.

She lifted her gaze to me and then nodded solemnly. I didn't speak. She said, "I was going to ask you if you wanted to go to him with me actually." She stared at me sadly.

I caught on to her meaning and nodded once. "I reckon that wouldn't be a bad idea."

She looked at me somberly.

I said, "You shouldn't lie to me though. It hurts me that you did. It caused me to worry about you. I didn't know where you were."

She averted her eyes. She seemed distraught.

I whispered, "Emma, I don't want to lose you." I paused for a while but she didn't answer. "I will go with you to see Archie. I realize that we are not doing so well. And I notice you withdrew from me especially last night."

She stiffened and side-glanced at me, seeming rather remorseful. "You don't trust me."

"I do trust you. As I have said, it is Neal that I do not trust."

She nodded and looked me in the eye and frowned. "Nothing is going on with he and I," she whispered as she usually did.

"Then why do you pull way from me?" I reached and placed my palm on her shoulder and rubbed the space between her shoulder blades on her back.

"It has nothing to do with Neal," she replied. "It's just the tension between us. That's why I spoke to Archie and he suggested that we make an appointment as soon as possible to see him together."

I thought about that and nodded gravely as I stared at her.

"So, is that what your text message meant, that you needed another half hour?" I asked.

"No, actually," she said.

Her phone began to chime over and over. She had a phone call.

She reached for her in her jeans pocket, puzzled, as she looked at her phone screen. It said 'Neal'.

I lifted an eyebrow at her and glanced at it as she shot me a perplexed look.

She didn't answer it. She rolled her eyes and sighed.

"Why would he be bloody calling you?" I asked.

She lifted it to her ear and said curtly, "Hello?"

I could hear him say "Hey Emma."

"Hi. What's up?" she said shortly yet politely as she looked out the window.

I rubbed my face with my one palm, irritated at the boy for calling her.

"K. Thanks. Don't want it. Bye." She tapped the end button and looked at me. The guilt was back in her eyes again as she stared at me, her lips thinning. She pursed them, as if ready for the onslaught of questions.

"You don't want what, exactly?" I asked patiently. I didn't want to be the controlling husband that so many wives I knew of had fled from their husbands because of. It would damper our marriage if I showed I didn't trust her.

She dropped her eyes and looked up at me. She seemed like she knew something. "I, uh, was at Neal's earlier. I left my coffee cup."

My head swam and my vision blurred. I felt like my body heat was blazing and my nerves were about to make me panic and worry about Emma. Instead of blaming her I practiced being calm and collected. I sighed and looked upward for a moment. "And why would your coffee cup be at Neal's home?" I asked sullenly.

She gazed at me contritely and placed her hand on my shoulder. "I know what you're probably thinking, but it is nothing like that. After Archie's, I had my to-go coffee cup. Neal called me…"

I rolled my eyes and raised my eyebrow at her as if to say I told you so. But I kept silent to listen to her story.

She continued contritely, "He told me Henry was at his place and that Henry needed to speak to both of us together at once. So, I went over. Only Henry was there with us the entire time. That is when I texted you that I needed another half hour."

I nodded once to show that I would trust her, even though something inside screamed that Neal was up to something. It was too perfect to invite Emma over to his home where she left her coffee?

"And what did Henry say?" I asked rationally.

She told me about Henry desiring to move to be with Violet and that the Death Sack was stolen.

I exhaled and said, "Bloody hell." I rubbed my forehead with my fingertips. "So that was what Neal wanted? Only to tell you about the abandoned coffee cup?"

She nodded emphatically. "Nothing else, I promise. Nothing was going on behind the scenes. You can even ask Henry. I was never alone with Neal. I swear on my life."

I considered that. She seemed very convincing and honest. I said to her, "So what shall we do about the Death Sack? If there is no evidence? My bet is on the Crocodile. He would take it."

She lifted a shoulder and said, "I think so. No one's seen the shadow demon. Not since we arrived via the portal. But we need to find it. If it was opened…or fell into the wrong hands…"

"We can question Gold. Perhaps concoct a truth serum. That's something no ones ever tried with him."

"Good idea. I'll ask Regina," she said with hope and determination in her eyes.

I sighed. "Look, I realize we have this ever-impending doom over us. But perhaps we should schedule with Archie. Perhaps today." I suggested.

Her brow creased as she stared at me in uncertainty. "I agree. Do you want to go see him before we torture Gold and figure out who took the Sack from Regina's sealed vault?"

"I think we can spare an hour." I paused and reached for her hand. "The fact that you didn't mention this significant thing about going to Neal's home and the two things that were uncovered at his place about the Death Sack and about Henry leaving with his girlfriend, makes me believe that you were hiding the fact that you were there in the first place."

She averted her contrite gaze and said with guilt, "I didn't want to upset you. Again, I was going to tell you. I promise." She locked eyes with me. She seemed so upset.

"You don't want me to think that anything is going on, yet you hide this, which makes me wonder why. You are concealing the fact that Neal looks for any bloody reason to call you. Even over a leftover coffee cup that you obviously were finished with and didn't want. Just like him. Or is he overly considerate?"

She tilted her head to the side and said, "I'm finished arguing, Killian. If you can't believe me that I don't care for him and yes I notice he hits on me, but the only man I want is you, then I hope that Archie can help us because I'm out of ideas on how to save this marriage." She locked her lips together. Her eyes were saturated with grief.

I curled my fingers around her upper arm to pull her closer. I hadn't meant to accuse her so harshly. "Emma…I-"

She pulled away from me and stood up with a hard look at me. She said, "It's just the same argument over and over. Yes. I was embarrassed I went over there. But you're telling me something that I already know. It's obvious you don't trust me entirely."

"Love, please…I do."

"No. You don't." She said coldly. "I'm going to call Archie. Meet me there in an hour. I'll ensure that we get a slot then."

I rose and swiftly walked towards her to catch her arm, but she wriggled out of my reach. "I'll go alone. I need to cool off." She hurried out of our bedroom and said flatly, "I'll have Mom babysit Hope."

I closed my eyes and sighed in despair. All I ever did was drive my wife away and I prayed under a stream of curses that Dr. Archie knew how to repair this broken relationship. That was what it was beginning to be.