-K-

Killian pauses outside the manor, taking a deep breath of biting cold air as he lifts one hand to ring the doorbell, the other braced on his belt buckle. The doorbell barely finishes its chime when the door is flung open by Emma, smiling oh-so-sweetly at him.

"There you are! I was wondering what was taking you so long. I was about to deliver some sandwiches for the station for you guys."

Killian lets Emma pull him inside and divest him of his unzipped jacket, left open in his flustered haste to get to her. He knows what he has to do, and yet, he can't seem to bring himself to spoil this happy moment for Emma. This moment that hsa her growing with contented joy, where Henry's just been returned home safe and sound and the arsonist they've been chasing for half a year is finally in their custody.

So Killian lets Emma wrap her arms around him and kiss him, revels in the way her lips linger against his, like they have all the time in the world to finally be happy.

"Absolutely not."

"Lieutenant, I wouldn't ask if there was any other way. But we have only inconclusive evidence, and without a confession to seal the case, Nightshade will be out on the streets again, this time tomorrow."

Killian paces with short, frustrated strides inside the glass walls of Graham's office, is hand raking angrily through his hair.

"Out of the question. Nightshade is manipulative, and since when have we been in the business of serving perpetrator's needs and wants?"

"All due respect, Lieutenant, this is not your call to make. Emma is not a victim, and in case you've forgotten, this is her area of expertise. She's our biggest resource and the best chance we have."

Killian whirls around angrily to face Mulan, who's watching with an impassive look on her face. To insinuate that Killian doesn't trust Emma, to suggest that she's somehow not a victim when all he can see in his nightmares is her broken, despairing expression, watching him flounder in attempts to not succumb to his injuries-

"All I'm asking is for you to relay our request to Emma. If she chooses not to speak with Felix, that will be that. We won't push her." Graham says quietly but Killian knows- and he's sure Humbert does as well- that Emma would not refuse their request. Not when she knows she can help, no matter what the price.

And that's what scares Killian.

"Hey." Emma smoothes her fingers down his cheek, pulling back to look at him with furrowed brows, "What is it? What's wrong?"

Killian sighs, taking both her hands in his, careful not to let the velcro on his splint scrape her skin or catch on her sweater. "Emma…" He knows he can't escape this conversation, so he draws a breath, looking her square in the eyes, "Felix won't talk. At least, not right now. He's saying he will only speak with you."

"Me? Why? How- how does he know who I am?'

"I don't know, love." Killian admits, looking over her shoulder to make sure they don't have any eavesdroppers, "They sent me here because there… there isn't enough evidence. Not right now."

"He could walk."

Killian presses his lips together and nods, running his hands down her arms. Emma's eyes drift from his, her head bowing slightly and he stays quiet, resisting the urge to crush her against him and lets her take her time to think.

"Okay." She says finally, her voice soft and quiet and Killian squeezes his eyes shut, head tilting back slightly as his stomach drops. It's not that he doesn't trust Emma, or believe in her, but the moment she steps food into that room, he can't protect her. He won't be able to shield her from whatever horrors Felix is sure to plant in her mind. But at the same time, he knows Emma has to do this; it wouldn't be in her nature to let someone else shoulder this burden. And Mulan is right. This is Emma's decision to make for herself.

"Okay." Killian echos, pulling her into his arms, trying not to feel like he's just pushed the love of his bloody life right into enemy hands and whatever manipulative games Nightshade has cooked up in his twisted mind. He buries his nose in Emma's hair, inhaling deeply to calm himself. He's holding her so tight that he can feel the hard ridge of Liam's ring pressing into his chest, even through their clothes.

"Everything all right out here?" Mary Margaret is smiling from the doorway of the kitchen when Killian finally looks up.

"Yeah, Mom. Just fine. Listen, I'm going to take some sandwiches to the station, alright? Then we'll probably head home, catch up on some rest."

"Oh! Okay." Mary Margaret nods vigorously and bustles off to pack a picnic basket to take along with them. Emma turns back to Killian, flattening her palms over his chest.

"It'll be okay." He says for both their benefits.

"Yeah." Emma raises her eyes to his, worrying her lip between her teeth.

-/-

The deputies and the sheriff are all sitting at the desks again when Emma and Killian make it back to the station. Graham stands immediately when he catches sight of Emma and pulls her into a brief hug while Killian stands dumbly to the side, still clinging onto the picnic basket that Mary Margaret packed.

"Thank you for coming in. I know it's already been a long day…"

"It's no problem, Graham. Is Felix still in the interrogation room?" Emma clutches the worn notebook to her chest, the very same one she scrambled up the steps of the manor to retrieve and spent the entire car ride pouring over.

"He is." Graham confirms.

"We're going to let him stew for a little bit." Philip explains, getting up to take the basket from Killian. "Is this from Mary Margaret?"

Emma nods, "Only the best for her beloved sheriff and deputies."

It's eerily quiet as Graham and Philip field a few incoming calls while eating their lunch and Mulan pulls Emma to the side to go over some details of the case and what they need her to do, Killian sitting to the side on stand-by. No one speaks outside of answering calls or Mulan's murmurs and the atmosphere is stilted, tense with the creeping reminder that the arsonist is within the walls of their building. Eventually, Graham checks his watch and stands, clearing his throat unnecessarily to get their attention and nods.

"It's time. Are you ready, Emma?"

"As I'll ever be." Emma replies confidently, but she doesn't meet Killian's eyes. They all file quietly back into the interrogation room and Emma pauses for a second outside of the heavy door before turning the knob calmly and striding in, shoulders set and head held high.

Killian watches as Emma takes her time to get comfortable, adjusting her chair and tucking her hair behind her ears before she finally settles her clasped hands on the table and looks Felix in the eye for the first time. Mulan edges closer to the window while Graham and Philip hang back, leaving Killian to stand just behind the female deputy as they focus on the room in front of them.

"Emma Nolan." Felix says with a note of mock fascination, eyes hungrily taking her in.

"You rang?" Emma replies coolly and Killian hears Graham settles against the wall behind him with an amused huff. Her voice is tinny over the intercom but there's no mistaking her usual fire.

"Indeed I did. And look, you came calling." Felix shoots back in his unhurried manner, never once taking his eyes away from her.

"Well, what can I say? Someone torches a house and instigates a fake call that gets my boyfriend nearly killed, it makes a girl curious, wouldn't you think?"

Felix just scoffs, looking to the side, lounging back in his chair.

Emma leans forward, "So, why don't you tell me about all those fires you started. I'm sure you must be dying to talk about all your exploits and adventures." When Felix still doesn't answer except with a leer, Emma shifts in her seat, her voice taking on a harder edge. "Okay, then. Let's talk about all those poor kids you tormented at the group home."

"You mean like Henry?"

"Yeah. Tell me about that."

Felix mockingly ponders for a moment, "Not much to tell there, I'm afraid. Just some good fun between boys."

"Mhmm. So is that why you followed him here to Storybrooke? So you two could play again?"

Felix shrugs carelessly, "Storybrooke is a good town for work. Lots of part-time jobs open up for the tourist season."

Philip is already out the door before Graham can open his mouth with a request. "Got it, boss. I'll go see what I can dig up from the docks and usual tourist traps."

"Tell me about those jobs." Emma says calmly as if she is interviewing him for a corporate position.

Felix eyes her steadily before he looks away, "Congratulations on winning our game of 'late for the party' this morning."

Emma's back is still to them but if her posture is any indication of her feelings, she remains unfazed. "Is that what it was to you? A game?"

"Everything is a game." Killian glances over at Mulan, his stomach turning and sees that Deputy Fa also has a sickened expression on her face.

"So did you tell Henry to run away or were you just lucky, lurking around in the woods?" Emma prompts but Felix only leers at her. Honestly, Killian is surprised his attention hasn't veered off to glare at them through the one-way window.

"This is getting nowhere. The kid is just jerking us around." Mulan says frustratedly.

"Give her a little more time." Killian insists and he takes the sheriff's silence as agreement, "Emma is only just warming up." Mulan turns sulkily back to the window.

"Tell me about growing up in the group home. Surely you must have missed having a mother?"

The boy scoffs, "what are mothers good for outside of giving birth and enforcing bedtimes?"

"Well, nurturing, providing comfort, soothing nightmares and tantrums-"

Felix scoffs again.

"Surely you miss yours. Isn't that why you set fires to all the new homes of the adopted kids?"

"Tell me something, do you miss your father now that he's not around to soothe your nightmares or would you rather grow up without one to know what it's like and not have anything to lose?"

Killian takes an instinctual step forward, arms uncrossing to ball his fists at his side. Inside the room, Emma's spine stiffens minisculely.

"I'm genuinely curious. Please, enlighten me." Felix sweeps a mocking hand forward

"How does he know this about Emma?" Killian mutters, and Graham also shifts beside him.

"Emma is well-known around town. It's not entirely impossible that he picked up a few pieces of gossip while working here or picked up a newspaper three years ago." Graham says quietly, though he doesn't sound too sure. Philip slides into the room, a scrap of paper in his hand.

"Boss, I got something."

Graham steps aside to hear Philip's report and Killian moves forward until he's shoulder to shoulder with Deputy Fa, who's equally as tense as he is.

"I'm more interested in your relationships." Emma counters evenly though if Killian's not mistaken, there's a note of strain in her voice.

"She's not trained for this."

Mulan grimaces in agreement but remains silent as they observe the two figures sitting at the table. They might as well be stalking circles around each other for the way they hold themselves, gazes locked in a fierce stare down.

"I'd rather hear about your relationships, Emma Nolan." Felix drawls, "I want to know if your father's death left you feeling like an orphan like the rest of us, lost, broken... and how that's affected your relationship with your dear lieutenant. Do you think if Killian Jones had died, you would have been able to move on?" Felix tsks, "Such a shame he pulled through. I would have enjoyed tearing him away from you too."

Killian grits his teeth, an uncomfortable feeling settling in the back of his mind, his entire being on edge as Felix's words turn over and over in his head.

"Well, he didn't die. I bet that makes you feel even more insignificant now that you've failed." Emma counters, but her voice isn't as confident as it was when she first stepped foot into the room.

The boy shrugs, his face twisting into a smile that makes the slashing scar across his face appear even more crude, "Not really. I can see in your eyes you're already broken, even if the lieutenant did live."

"We need to pull her out." Mulan says suddenly, causing Graham and Philip to pause in their murmuring and look over.

"You know, I was delighted when I found out you had fallen for the new lieutenant," Felix lets out a short laugh, "I did not think you would be so stupid to care for another man that would be so easily disposed of."

"Get her out." Killian barks, the pieces clicking into place and Graham surges forward, but Felix is too quick, too cunning.

"It seems you all fell into my little trap, didn't you? It doesn't matter. The game is complete. Even if Killian Jones lives, my experiment is done. You all couldn't leave well enough alone, and look where that got you. Clueless adults, chasing around the frozen woods, looking for a special boy, never seeing what was right in front of them until it was too late. That's what you get for your lack of imagination. Sure, Captain Nolan was something of a fluke, a glorious mistake, if you will, but in the end, it triggered a new game for me. One I could really appreciate while I watched you chase after your own tails. It's just too bad you caught up with me before I could sell the rest of my tale to Tamara."

Graham raps sharply on the window and Emma stands, though Killian isn't sure if it's from the sound of his knocking or from her own influx of emotions as realization crashes over her.

"Go to hell."

Her voice is icy cold, tight to the point that it's in danger of snapping and Killian moves towards the door, catching Emma as she bursts out of the room and into his arms. Felix's laugh echoes behind her until the door slams shut, where it's repeated over the tinny speaker until Mulan mutes it. Emma pitches forward in his arms suddenly, barely making it to the small trash can in the corner of the alcove before she's heaving, shaking uncontrollably in as he holds her upright, one arm around her middle, the other smoothing her hair away from her face as he murmurs soothingly in her ear.

"Emma…" Graham approaches them cautiously, hand outstretched and Killian growls, curling his body protectively around Emma's shrunken form until the sheriff backs off.

"He'll talk now. Now that he's gotten what he wants, he'll want to brag about his conquests." Emma says dully, head still bowed. Mulan calmly hands Killian a cup of water and sets a box of tissues on the ground next to them before turning to her colleagues.

"Let's give them some space."

It isn't until they've all vacated the room that Killian realizes Emma's no longer shivering in his arms, but shaking with silent sobs and he pushes down his own rage to cradle Emma against him as they kneel on the cold hard floor of the sheriff's office.

-/-

Killian resists the urge to run his hands through his hair, not wanting to get the butter stuck in his hair, but the inability to do so only fuels his frustration more. He glares down at the offending bowl of popcorn and unmelted chocolates and finally admits defeat, carrying the bowl over to where Emma sits wrapped up in blankets on the couch.

"I'm sorry, love. I couldn't get it to mix- and then the popcorn started clumping…"

Emma just smiles hollowly up at him, her mug of cocoa hovering just below her lips, untouched. "It's fine, Killian. Just...sit."

He does so, settling in next to Emma where she holds the cocoon of blankets open for him and slinging an arm around her shoulders. It occurs to him too late to wash his hands but Emma's already tucking the blankets around him, so he settles on trying to absorb the grease with a napkin. Killian watches as Emma forces down a clump of half-melted chocolate and popcorn to appease him, but it only makes him feel worse, that nothing he does will be able to erase that haunted look from her eyes. She's been like this, listless and a shell of herself since they left the station abruptly.

"Emma, I'm so sorry, we never should have-,"

"Emma, we're looking into your father's case right now, we'll figure out if what Felix said is true or just another ploy-,"

"Emma, let me call your mother for you-,"

"Stop." Killian snaps, holding his free hand up and their mouths clamp shut instantly, even though he has no authority in the sheriff's station. "I'm taking her home. I assume you can manage without us?"

"No." Emma says, loudly and clearly and Killian backs down instantly, letting her take control. "We can stay." She insists but she's still trembling at his side, his arm around her waist holding her up just as much as her own two legs.

"Perhaps it's best if you didn't. Felix will be able to sense that we are worried about you." Mulan says and Killian thinks it's the most gentle tone he's ever heard her use.

"No, I have to be here for this. I need to see him go down for everything he's caused, for him to experience all the consequences of his actions and his little 'games.'" Emma says roughly and Killian turns his head into her, grasping her hand in his.

"Emma, love, vengeance is tempting. The darkness always is." He murmurs, willing her to calm down with strokes of his thumb against her clammy skin, "Resist it. Take care of yourself and your family and we will take care of him. This is not your burden to shoulder alone." Killian advises and Emma finally tilts her head to look up at him. "We can come back later, I promise. If you want to, we can be there every step of the way as long as they let us. But you are shaking, my love. Let me take care of you." Let me in, he pleads with his eyes. He doesn't want to overstep and tell her what to do, but Killian can see clearly that she will wear herself down to the bone unless she lets him help her. But the decision has to be hers, 100%.

"Fine. Let's just get home." He thinks he sees relief in her eyes when she finally relents, her fist bunching the fabric of his shirt as she clings on to him, trust radiating from her every pore as she surrenders herself to all the feelings she's been keeping at bay before her eyes harden again and she turns back to Graham. "You'll keep us updated?"

"Every step of the way." Graham vows.

They end up turning on the TV, just for something to fill the silence in the apartment, the sitcom's laugh track a dull roar in the background as Emma sips at her cocoa, more out of obligation than enjoyment. Eventually, she finds a movie on and they watch that until she nods off with her head on his shoulder.

Killian finishes the movie without falling asleep for the first time.

-/-

He wakes to a dark apartment, confusion coloring his senses as he comes to. The blankets are tucked meticulously around him and the bowl of popcorn is missing from the coffee table. Incidentally, the woman at his side is also missing. It doesn't take long for him to figure out that Emma is no longer in the apartment and a quick check of his phone tells him exactly where he can find her.

"You're sure about this?"

"Positive, love." Killian assures her, eyes trained on the road.

"How could you know?"

He tosses a glance at her, blue eyes and silvery blonde hair illuminated by the soft lights of the dash, "I know."

Elsa purses her lips, looking back to the road where snow is falling like a whisper in the night. "They're really that predictable, huh?"

"Believe me, as you get to know Scarlet better, you'll get used to these quirks. I might have spent my childhood growing up with him, but Emma and Will spent a lot of time healing together and that will bind two people closely together in ways others won't be able to fully understand."

Killian pulls into a spot in the empty lot, "It's better if we continue on foot."

Elsa reaches behind her and grabs their supplies before getting out of the car.

"How are your sister and Kristoff doing?"

"Holed up at an undisclosed location, making a game plan. Will was going to meet me there but when he never showed…"

Killian grimaces, "Don't take it personally."

"I'm not." Elsa replies quickly, sounding affronted before she adjusts her tone, "I was just worried when he stopped answering his phone."

"Accountability was never one of Will's favorite traits. He has it, but he doesn't like to be overt about it."

"I gathered." Elsa says quietly and Killian thinks that there's a deeper note of understanding in her soft tone.

"There," Killian points, "See?"

Elsa nods, holding the bundle closer to her as she squints through the darkness and the falling snow visible only in the dim light provided by the lamps lining the path.

He knew all along the moment he saw Elsa's text where he would find them, but his heart still thumps with hurt when he sees the pair of them, two lone figures in the stillness of the cemetery, one leaning against a headstone, the other sitting across from their companion. Beside him, Elsa, places a gloved hand on his arm, silently reminding him of the same words he spoke to her in the car. Taking a breath of air that stings his lungs, Killian proceeds forward.

"Uh oh, we've been caught." Will slurs, tilting his head up to look at them, wobbling a little until his hand shoots backwards to catch himself. Elsa stoops, placing a firm hand on his back so he doesn't fall.

Emma just takes another swing out of the flask, winking at Killian in a less-than-composed manner. "It's okay, Scarlet. I think we can add a couple more people to our drinking club."

"How long have you been out here?" Killian asks measuredly, trying to keep a good-natured note to his voice.

"An hour… two… three?"

"Not three." Killian corrects, taking a blanket from Elsa and wrapping it around Emma's shoulders. She has to sit up so he can get it past her back to tuck around her front, but as soon as he does, she leans heavily back against David's headstone.

"You make shitty popcorn." Will grouches as Elsa does the same for him.

Killian eyes the bowl sitting between them next to another empty flask. "Well to be fair, it is half frozen."

"Why don't we go back into town and get some warm soup into you." Elsa soothes, rubbing her hands up and down Will's arm, pausing only when Will lurches forward to take the flask from Emma's hand.

"I want a steak." Emma declares.

"With mashed potatoes." Will chimes in, nodding eagerly.

"I think Dad wants some peas to go with that too. And an ice cold beer."

Will gives a belly laugh while Elsa and Killian exchange looks over their heads, "Don't be stupid, Nolan. Dave is dead, he can't want peas."

Emma goes slack jawed for a moment, scrutinizing Will before she joins in the laughter, "Oh my God, I forgot, he's dead. Dad's dead." She laughs, her eyes squeezed shut in mirth until, not that surprisingly, her uneven breaths start faltering and turning into desperate gasps, "He's dead because he was murdered. Some kid murdered him. For fun."

Will's laughter fades and his face instantly sombers, eyes welling with tears that Killian can see even in the dim lighting. "Aye. We don't know the kid murdered him, though."

But Emma is inconsolable now, her hands reaching up for Killian, pulling at him while he simultaneously bends down to her, gathering her into his arms and lifting her up with a grunt.

"You shouldn't be lifting heavy objects." She blubbers, even as she winds her arms around his neck (he's thankful she and Will at least remembered to wear hats and gloves before getting sloshed) and Killian smiles, though her head is buried in his neck and she can't see it.

"Aye, lass. But I think this can be an exception. You weigh practically nothing, even with all that whiskey in you."

Elsa helps Will up, who has a long look on his face, though the tears have stopped. "Do you still want that steak?"

"Y-yes." Emma gasps, her lips cold against Killian's skin and he tugs the blanket tighter around her, leading the way back towards the car. Will stoops, placing the last flask of whiskey up against David's headstone and gives it a final pat before letting Elsa wind her arm around his, letting him stumble against her until he catches his bearings enough to trail behind Killian.

"Got everything?" He asks Elsa in a low voice, and she nods, hugging the bowl of popcorn to her chest with her other arm, the other flask tucked in the pocket of her coat.

"Maybe we should ask Mary Margaret to cook that steak for us." Will mumbles.

"No." Emma says, her voice suddenly clear, "No, let's give her one more night of peace before we tell them. Just one more night."

Killian doesn't have to look back at Elsa to know she's already taking care of it with a quick text to the sheriff's office. It's possible that Felix was bluffing, that David Nolan's death is still a circumstance of bad electrical wiring and a series of unfortunate accidents. But even if it isn't, there is no rush to alarm everyone and flip their worlds upside down again. It can wait until morning, after they have a chance to investigate.

Things might look better in the morning.

Maybe.

A/N: So sorry about the delayed update! I hope it was worth the wait!