Cross-posted on AO3.

Chapter 4: Getting Along

Though it had been a few days since the break began, Marian found herself at the library, helping Belle and Killian reorganize the books.

They had been having breakfast with the others at Granny's when Belle mentioned doing the task, and Killian had volunteered to help. Though Marian thought Belle had looked a bit panicked at the prospect of being alone with Killian, even if she hid it well. Marian found that odd though considering how close Belle and Killian were to each other.

It was clear though that Killian volunteering had to do with something going on between Emma and Elsa, and it seemed Emma needed Killian to spend time away from her so she could sort whatever it was out.

Selfishly, Marian had found herself volunteering as well, which seemed to relieve Belle. Really though, Marian wanted to spend more time with Killian without everyone there, and it would be the first time that he'd be away from Emma's side since that first day they all found themselves alone in Storybrooke.

It was terrible of her really, but without Robin around, she felt freer, like she could be more herself. While she missed Roland so much that she would lie awake at night, sobbing with worry and fear, nightmares of what could be happening to him haunting her, during the day she threw herself into helping others, but also allowed herself to be lost in her fantasies of Killian. Fantasies were a good distraction and kept her worry for Roland out of her mind.

Like now, with Killian stretching to get a book from a high shelf, his t-shirt riding up, revealing a sliver of skin. Marian couldn't take her eyes off of it, imagining running her tongue across it. In her mind's eye, she could see it. She was on her knees, between Killian and the bookshelf, kissing and licking her way up his stomach as she shoved his shirt up while she rose to her feet.

His shirt discarded, Killian wrapped his arms securely around her, ducking his head to kiss her. His lips were demanding as he pressed her into the bookshelf, taking what he wanted from her, his tongue prying her lips apart, exploring her mouth.

Her hands ran through his soft, dark locks, pulling him closer to her, her chest pressed to his, desperately wishing that her shirt and bra weren't a barrier between them.

"Marian?" Killian's voice abruptly jolted her from her thoughts.

She blinked up at him, acutely aware of how wet her underwear was and how warm her skin felt. "Yes?"

"Are you all right?" Killian's brow furrowed in concern.

Marian fleetingly wondered if his brows drew together like that during sex. "I'm fine."

Killian didn't seem convinced. "Are you sure? You looked like you were in a trance. Your skin's flushed too."

At his words, Marian only flushed more. "It's just hot in here." It was the beginning of August, so it was hot everywhere. "I just need some water." She excused herself, heading over to the stairs that led up to Belle's apartment, feeling Killian's eyes on her, passing a concerned Belle on her way.

When she entered the empty apartment, she headed straight for the bathroom and locked the door. She unbuckled her belt and shoved down her shorts and panties, her fingers finding her soaked folds. Rubbing her clit quickly, knowing that Belle or Killian would come looking for her, her other hand started fingering her hole as her eyes closed and her thoughts filled with Killian ripping her clothes off and fucking her hard into a library shelf.

It didn't take long for her to come around her fingers, whispering Killian's name as she did so.

She rested against the door for a moment longer before using toilet paper to clean herself off, flushing it away before pulling her panties and shorts back on. Taking her time to wash her hands, then splashing her face with cold water, Marian calmed herself down.

Once she no longer looked like an aroused mess, she left the bathroom ready to face Killian again.

Elsa was avoiding her and Emma wasn't quite sure what to do. She and Killian had talked about it, and he promised he'd find a way to occupy his time in order to give Emma and Elsa some alone time.

It came that morning when Belle mentioned that she'd be re-organizing the library and Killian volunteered. However, once he had gone off with Belle and Marian, Emma tried to convince Elsa to spend time with her so that she could show Elsa the town and get her to talk, but Elsa had blown her off, saying that she just wanted sometime alone.

It had hurt, but Emma didn't push her.

Then Snow came swooping in and carted Emma off to hers and Killian's house with a stop over at the loft to pick up a big binder. It wasn't until they were in Emma and Killian's living room that Snow revealed the binder was full of nursery ideas.

Though she was almost six months along, with the crisis of everyone's disappearance, neither she nor Killian had spent much, if any, time thinking about the baby, which only made Emma feel guilty. How could she not think about what her baby needed? What kind of mother didn't put her child first?

A bad one? No, Emma shook her head. She wasn't a bad mother. It was just that Henry had likely been in danger, but her baby was safe with her and Killian. Now that there was time, she and Killian could focus on the baby more, even if Henry being missing ate away at them.

"So what do you think?" Snow asked her, showing color schemes. There were different shades of green, blue, grey, and red, but Emma wasn't keen on most. They were trendy according to her mother, but to Emma it was all very dark colors. She wanted her baby to feel calm and safe. Perhaps an ocean theme? The sea always calmed her and Killian after all.

"I think that a lot of the colors are too dark." Emma said. "I think I'd just use light blues."

"Oh, do you have a theme?" Snow asked as she gathered all of the light blue color palettes she had.

"Well, the ocean and sailing." Emma shrugged. "It's calming."

Snow hummed as she flipped through binder pages, looking for anything to match the theme. "Do you want fish? Or maybe a beach?"

"Um, I don't know." Emma wasn't really keen on fish being painted all over her son's bedroom. She knew Killian would want to paint it though. Maybe he should be here picking out ideas for the nursery.

"What about a Peter Pan theme?"

Emma gave her mother a bemused look.

"Right, probably a bad idea." Snow agreed.

"Maybe Killian should be here." Emma said. "He'll want his input, and he's going to be the one painting the room…"

"Killian paints?" Snow was surprised by that.

"He and I both do from time to time." Emma said. "He's very talented." Emma wasn't going to add the fact that she was too. Her mother's favorite painting of a sunset, which sat in hers and Killian's living room, was one Emma painted, but she wasn't going to announce that.

Snow filed away that information for later. "Well, we can still gather ideas that he can always veto later if he wants."

Emma chuckled at that, certain there would be things Killian would not like. He was a surprisingly picky person at times. "Okay."

"So, let's look at a mix of things." Snow began. "We'll start with pirate theme and go from there."

And from there they spent time looking over cribs, bassinets, light switches, mobiles, and so much more that it made Emma's head spin.

After finally convincing her mother that a break would be good, Emma and Snow made a light lunch of sandwiches and chips.

"I think I'll leave the binder with you." Snow said. "Maybe Killian would like to look at it?"

"That would be great." Emma said. "Thanks for making me think about all of this. We've been so caught up with the missing people, we've let other things slide."

"That's what mothers are for." Snow smiled.

Emma returned the smile, though there wasn't much feeling behind it as Henry once again appeared in her mind.

"Emma, what's wrong?" Snow asked.

"I just…" Emma sighed. "I wish that we knew where they were, and that they were safe."

Snow took Emma's hand in hers. "I know. I think about them every day, and I hope that they are all okay. That's all we can do right now. Hope is a very powerful thing, remember?"

Emma nodded. "I know." She pulled her mother into a hug. "I'm glad you're still here, Mom."

Snow held her daughter tightly. "Me too."

Ariel found herself on the beach, as she often did nowadays, lost in her thoughts. She looked out at the ocean, trying to sort out her thoughts. Every day now, she thought of Eric less and less, though she hoped that wherever he was, he was all right.

Yet, she wasn't as worried about him as she thought that she should be. The distance that had been growing between them, Ariel had realized, were her own feelings for him fading. Even before he disappeared, she wanted to be around him less. Should she have told him that? Should she have admitted to Eric that there wasn't any spark there anymore?

It wasn't his fault that she didn't love him anymore. It wasn't anyone's fault really. There was little she could do to control who she fell in love with. First Eric, and now Killian.

Gods, but she was a horrible friend. How could she have feelings for him and not Eric? Was it because this past year she spent more time with Killian than with Eric? Ariel had often found herself more and more in Killian's company just to hang out and talk. He was so easy to be around, being so sweet and charming and genuine.

He was also extremely unavailable. Emma was his True Love, proven by a True Love's Kiss, but Ariel couldn't help but wonder what it would be like to be with Killian. He made her laugh and was her confidant. Being around him made her happy, but he wasn't hers to have.

"Ariel?"

Ariel turned to watch Jasmine walking towards her. "Hey."

"Hey." Jasmine stopped beside Ariel and sat next to her in the sand. "I hope I'm not disturbing you."

"You're not." Ariel said. "I was just out here thinking."

"I was doing the same." There was a sadness to Jasmine's words.

"What were you thinking about?" Ariel gently asked.

Jasmine looked out at the horizon. "I was thinking about how I miss Aladdin, but…" Jasmine shook her head. "It's stupid."

"Nothing you have to say is stupid." Ariel reassured her. "You can tell me."

"It's just that…ever since we came here, I just feel like Aladdin wasn't the same man I fell in love with." Jasmine admitted.

Ariel felt bad for the girl, but also a little hopeful that someone else might feel as she did. "Really?"

"I know, it's horrible, isn't it?" Jasmine sighed.

Not as horrible as falling for your married best friend. Ariel thought. "I've lived here in Storybrooke with Eric for a year now, and we haven't been the same for a long time. There was a distance between us. I'm worried about what happened to him, but at the same time, it's freeing that he's not here."

Jasmine looked at her with a mixture of relief and surprise. "That's how I feel about Aladdin."

Ariel relaxed with ease at Jasmine's understanding. "This might sound callous, but I'm relieved that you feel that way, because I've just been keeping how I feel to myself. I didn't know how to talk to anyone about it."

"Me neither." Jasmine said. "And it's not callous of you. I'm glad to find out I'm not the only one too."

Ariel smiled. "Well, we have someone else to talk to now, so that's a good thing."

Jasmine returned her smile. "It is."

After walking around Storybrooke, Elsa found herself at the station. She stared up at the building, wondering if Emma was inside, knowing that she had to talk to her and tell her why she was pushing her away. Emma deserved to know the truth; that Elsa was envious of Anna and Kristoff and now of Emma and Killian.

Though she wasn't ever going to mention her crush on Killian; it was bad enough that Elsa was aware of her growing feelings for Killian. It was a betrayal of friendship, and her friendship with Emma was very precious to her.

Bracing herself, Elsa marched into the station, and entered the bullpen only to find Killian at one of the desks, looking at her with surprise.

"Hello, Elsa." He smiled warmly.

A flutter erupted in Elsa's stomach at his smile, and her heart sped up as he stood and walked over to her.

"What brings you here?" He asked.

"I was looking for Emma." Elsa told him, trying keep calm and her powers in check as he stopped right in front of her.

Killian's brow drew. "She's at the house."

Elsa nodded and turned to leave, but Killian caught her gently by the arm. Her heart started hammering in her chest as she turned back to face him.

"Wait, could we talk?" Killian asked.

Unable to find her voice, Elsa nodded and let Killian lead her over to the couch that was beside one of the cells. He sat her down and let go of her, sitting down as well, facing her with a concerned look.

"Elsa, I don't mean to pry, but I'm worried." Killian began. "I don't know why you've been pushing Emma away, but if you feel that you can't talk to her about it, you can trust me. I won't tell Emma anything that you don't want to tell her."

The only thing Elsa didn't want to tell Emma was the one thing that she most certainly couldn't tell Killian.

Elsa twisted her hands together, fidgeting, her eyes downcast. "I want to tell Emma everything." She admitted. "I just don't want to hurt her."

Killian placed his hand over Elsa's to stop her fidgeting, and hopefully to give her comfort.

Elsa's skin buzzed at his touch, her stomach wildly fluttering about at the skin to skin contact.

"Trust me, Elsa." Killian told her gently. "Your friendship is very important to Emma. She thinks she's done something to upset you, and it's eating at her. Whatever it is, I know that both of you can get through it if you just talk to her."

"She hasn't done anything." Elsa said quietly, her eyes glued to Killian's hand on hers. If she looked at him, she feared that she would do something stupid like kiss him.

"Then you should tell her that." Killian removed his hand and leaned back.

A strong impulse to grab his hand and set it back overcame her, but Elsa shoved it away.

"You're right." Elsa nodded. "I didn't mean to upset her."

"I know." Killian gentle tone was reassuring. "I'll stay out for a bit. Give you time to go home and talk to her."

Elsa finally looked at him, giving him a small smile. "Thank you, Killian."

Killian smiled back. "It's no problem, lass. If you ever need anything, I'm here to help."

Elsa stood and stepped away as the impulse to kiss him sprung up. "I'll see you later." She left quickly, trying not to imagine how his lips would feel against hers, feeling ashamed that her feelings for him were getting to be too much to control.

Tired of staying around her apartment with nothing to do, Guinevere headed to the Rabbit Hole. It wasn't even noon yet, but they were still taking a break on research and Guinevere couldn't stop thinking about the downfall of her marriage.

She needed a drink.

The place was empty, but Guin didn't care, striding towards the bar and grabbing a bottle of something called Havana Club and found a glass and poured. She filled the glass up and took a sip. The alcohol burned harshly in her throat, causing her to cough some of it up. She wished she knew better drinking etiquette of this realm, but Arthur refused to allow her to come to the bar.

"You all right?" Marian called out from the doorway.

"I'm fine." Guinevere sputtered. "It's strong."

"It's fifteen year old rum." Marian said as she walked closer. "Mind if I join you?"

"Be my guest." Guinevere pulled out another glass and let Marian pour it herself.

"So, do you mind me asking why you're here alone and looking to get drunk?" Marian asked as she sipped her rum. Clearly Marian had much more experience drinking than Guinevere had.

"I was thinking about my husband." Guinevere said. She took a tentative sip of the rum.

"Missing him?" Marian inquired.

"Actually, I'm glad he's gone." Guinevere said. "I think I was beginning to hate him near the end."

"Yeah, I get that." Marian agreed. "At least Arthur wasn't fucking your worst enemy."

Guinevere scoffed. "He wasn't fucking me that's for sure." Her own vulgarity surprised her.

Marian chuckled at that. "Well, here's to bastard husbands then."

The women clinked glasses.

As Guinevere took another sip, she thought about Arthur. Tried to picture him, but the only man that came to mind was Killian. She blushed, but it could've been the alcohol. In the weeks that they'd all been on top of each other, Guinevere found herself staring at Killian more and more whenever he was around. He was an attentive husband and father-to-be and Guinevere wished more than anything that Arthur had been like that. Why couldn't Arthur have been more like Killian? Killian who was so kind and charming, and so very loving towards Emma. It was clear that Killian had a big heart. If Arthur had been more like Killian, Guinevere couldn't help but think that they'd have children and he'd be doting. But Arthur wasn't Killian. "Arthur was charming in the beginning. That's how he got me to marry him, but ever since he became King, it became less about us and more about his power. I never should've married him."

"I'm sorry to hear that." Marian said. "Men should always be attentive to their wives."

Guinevere gave her a knowing look. "Do you want to talk about it?"

Marian sighed. "I should've let Robin go." She finally admitted, feeling a weight lift. "I still loved him. For me, no time had passed. I was plucked out of the past and I found my son a few years older and my husband in love with the woman who attempted to kill me."

"I can't imagine how hard that must've been." Guinevere said.

"It's certainly not hard now." Marian took a long sip of her rum. "I don't love him anymore. All I want is to find Roland again. If we find Robin with him, then Robin can go back to Regina for all I care."

Guinevere sighed. "Is it terrible that I hope that we don't find Arthur?" She fingered the rim of her glass. "It's just easier for it to be over without dealing with him. He might love power more than me, but he'd never let me go."

"That's not terrible." Marian said. "Men are terrible except for little boys and Killian."

Guinevere chuckled. "I wish Arthur had been like Killian."

"Killian's certainly one of a kind." Marian tried not to let her jealousy show. "Emma's very lucky."

Envy grew in Guinevere's heart as she pictured the happy couple. "She is."

It was another day of not doing anything and Regina knew she was going to go crazy. The first few days of this forced break, she still continued to research in secret, even though she was beginning to think that it was all in vain. Her magic, Emma's magic, even Ariel's and Elsa's magics, weren't working the way that magic should be working in Storybrooke.

Regina was starting to think that searching for any solutions at all was a lost cause. Whatever had happened wasn't something that could be undone, and now they were all stuck here. Regina wished more than anything that Robin was still here at least. That way she could have a companion; someone who loved her.

Ever since she confessed of hers and Robin's affair, the others had been wary of spending time with her. Most clearly sided with Marian on the issue. It wasn't fair. It was Emma and Killian's fault that that woman was even here in the first place.

But here they were, and Regina was stuck here with the people she wronged, who were only being civil to her, because they were stuck here now that Henry wasn't their buffer.

Regina hated to admit it, but it hurt that no one seemed to care about her. She wasn't sure why she even bothered with these people, but Killian had a point. They all needed to stick together.

She had no idea how to make it right though; hell, she wasn't even sure if she wanted to make it right. What she and Robin had done hadn't been wrong, not to them. They were in love and wanted to be together. Was that really so terrible? Was it so wrong that it earned her the scorn of everyone around her?

She didn't deserve this.

Still, she couldn't get Marian's angered and betrayed look out of her mind. Nor could she forget how awkward everyone was around her now that they knew. Regina had to figure out something, because no one was going anywhere in the foreseeable future.

Elsa took a breath and entered Emma and Killian's house, finding Emma on the couch in the living room going over pictures.

Emma looked up and gave her a small, hesitant smile. "Hey."

"Hey." Elsa walked over and sat beside Emma. "What are you looking at?"

"Ideas for the baby's nursery." Emma said. "My mom was here earlier and left them."

Speaking about the baby, Elsa knew that it was time to say her piece. "I'm sorry I've been pushing you away."

Emma turned her full attention to Elsa. She had been trying to get Elsa to talk to her, but it seemed that her friend just needed time to sort things out. "It's okay."

"No, it's not." Elsa took her friend's hand in hers. "I'm so sorry. It's just…for most of my life I've been alone. My powers made me scared to be around others, especially Anna. Then finally, I get control and I finally get Anna back, but she has Kristoff, and then you were like me, but now you have Killian and your son…I just feel alone again."

"Elsa." Emma pulled Elsa into a hug. "I'm so sorry you feel that way. I never meant for you to think that."

"I'm sorry you thought it was your fault." Elsa said as they pulled a part. "I just didn't want you to feel guilty for being happy, and I didn't want to hurt your feelings."

"Don't worry about it." Emma reassured her. "Look, you don't have to feel alone anymore. We're all here for you, especially me and Killian. I promise."

Guilt swelled in Elsa. You wouldn't say that if you knew how I felt about Killian. "Thank you, Emma."

"Listen, if you want, we can make more time to hang out." Emma said. "Just the two of us."

Elsa looked down at Emma's baby bump, reminded that part of Killian would always be with Emma. "Maybe after the baby is born? Right now, we should focus on him."

Emma smiled. "Okay. So what do you think of a pirate theme?"

Elsa chuckled. "It's fitting."

Belle stared at the wall, lost in her thoughts. Without any research to do, she found herself feeling useless. The point of reorganizing the library was to keep her busy, but then Killian and Marian volunteered to help and it was done a lot quicker than Belle had wanted.

Killian. Belle sighed to herself. Killian had been a lifesaver, helping her through her grief over Rumple, being there for her unlike anyone else in her life.

She hated herself for it, but somewhere along the way, during these past few months, even as Killian and Emma had shared True Love's Kiss and joined together in marriage, even with their child on the way, Belle had fallen for Killian. She hadn't meant to; hadn't wanted to, but he made her happy whenever he was around. He made her laugh and he brightened her day.

But he was so absolutely in love with Emma. She was all that he wanted; all he loved talking about really. There was no chance that Belle, or any of the others who she noticed eyeing him, would ever have a chance.

Yet, in spite of that very obvious fact, she couldn't stop thinking about him. When he had volunteered to help her at the library this morning, she'd been worried about being alone with him. She often had customers or Henry as a buffer before The Event happened, and now it had been the others who they had spent all of their time together.

But being alone with Killian wasn't an option.

There was a knock on her apartment door, and Belle opened it, silently cursing when she found Killian standing there.

What did she think of him one too many times and the fates threw him her way to laugh at her?

"Killian, what are you doing here?" Belle asked, stepping aside to let him in. Her mind screamed at her not to, but her heart and her body wanted him near.

"I just came to check on you." Killian said as he walked in. "You've been very quiet today. You want to talk about anything?"

The last thing that she wanted to do was talk. Yeah, I'm in love with you and I want to be with you, but you're married to your True Love, so admitting anything to you would ruin our friendship. "No, I'm fine." Belle headed over to the couch and sat down.

Killian followed her, causing Belle's heart to skip.

Why did he always have to sit so close?

"Belle, you know you can talk to me about anything." Killian reassured.

Not this. Belle closed her eyes and took a deep breath. "I'm just worried that we'll never find out what happened."

Killian had a feeling that she was lying, but didn't press her on the subject. Instead, he pulled her into a hug.

Instinctively, Belle wrapped her arms around him, holding him tight. She couldn't have all of Killian, but she'd take what Killian could give, even if it was just meant to be platonic. But as they pulled away, her body gave in, and her lips found his.

Killian stiffened, tensing up when he felt Belle's lips on his. Before his brain fully processed what was happening, his body reacted, forcefully shoving her away.

A look of horror came over Belle when she realized what she had done. "Killian…"

Shocked that his best friend had just kissed him, angry at her for doing so, feeling betrayed that she would do such a thing, Killian ran from the apartment.

Belle's eyes watered as she watched him leave, feeling their friendship shatter into a million pieces.

Ever since The Event happened, Aurora found herself crying every day. It made her feel so weak and helpless; she hated it. She had to do more; her son and her husband were missing. Yet, they were failing to find answers at every turn.

This forced break from finding answers had found Aurora isolating herself inside of hers and Phillip's home. For the past few days, she'd done nothing but try to keep herself busy by cleaning the house top to bottom, but at night, she laid awake, restless with worry, crying over her missing family.

Finally, tired of being alone, Aurora walked along a street, heading to Main Street, hoping that someone was at Granny's, and she wouldn't be alone.

Not looking where she was going, she didn't see Jasmine coming out from a small house.

Jasmine herself wasn't looking either, running straight into Aurora. "Oh, I'm so sorry."

"It's fine." Aurora said. "I wasn't looking."

"I wasn't either." Jasmine said.

There was an awkward silence between them as neither made to move.

After a moment, Jasmine spoke. "I'm sorry…about the whole break thing."

Aurora was surprised by that. These past few days, she realized why she couldn't stop looking. If she kept researching, she kept herself busy, and she wouldn't have to think about the fact that she might never see her family again. "No, don't be. I…I was out of line. I'm sorry."

"You had every right to be angry." Jasmine tried to tell her.

"No, I don't." Aurora said. "I'm not the only one with a husband and child missing, but I just…I can't handle it. I can't…" A dam broke and tears began. "I have no idea what to do. I just feel so helpless."

Jasmine herself felt helpless as Aurora started to break down. Taking the woman in her arms, Jasmine led Aurora into the house, and sat her down in the living room. "It's all right." Jasmine soothed.

Aurora held onto Jasmine as she just let it all go.

Emma hummed along with the song on her Spotify, swaying to the music as she cooked dinner for her and Killian, Elsa having opted to go to Granny's so she could get to know the others better. As she hummed to the music, she felt the tickling in her stomach more, knowing that her baby was moving. She wondered if her baby boy was dancing along with her.

"Are you dancing with Mommy?" She cooed, gently patting her stomach. Her smile was wide when the baby moved again, almost as if he was responding to her voice. Emma started singing the lyrics of the song to him.

She didn't hear the door open.

Killian watched his wife swaying and singing in the kitchen as she cooked, her happiness radiating off of her. His heart ached with the thought of ruining that happiness, but he couldn't not tell her. Belle had kissed him, and he needed Emma to know. He couldn't keep that a secret; not from Emma.

Emma felt arms wrap around her as Killian buried his face into her neck. "Hey there, Daddy." Emma chuckled. "The baby and I were dancing, care to join us?" She turned around, forcing Killian to look at her.

Emma's smile fell as she took in Killian's turmoiled expression. "Hey, what's wrong?" She'd never seen Killian look so upset before.

Killian braced himself for the worst. "Belle just kissed me."

Yeah, so that happened. It gets better...if you like angst.

Reviews are welcome. Be kind.