Chapter 7: Home

Emma broke down in tears, sliding down the wall until her butt hit the ground, she hugged her knees, letting the tears flow out of her.

She was still married to Killian.

"Love, I'm sorry, Emma, I didn't mean to cause you pain." Killian was kneeling beside her, dropping down to press his back against the wall next to her.

"I'm sorry." She squeaked out. "We're still married?"

"Aye."

She gulped. She didn't know how to tell him that the news gave her joy. It was like a piece of her identity had been returned to her. On the other hand, he had been stuck for ten years. A married man with no wife.

"I'm so sorry." She cried. "After everything that happened, you've been stuck being married for all these years. I'm sure that went over well on date night."

A guttural noise left his throat. "Date? The only date I've been on in ten years has been taking an over eager and hyper four-legged demanding pup to the park every Saturday by 8am."

"I find that hard to believe."

"It just wasn't at the top of my list of things to do." He joked, his brow raising, a boyish smirk spreading across his face.

"I ruined our entire marriage because I was afraid to have children with you." She said with a sigh. "I thought our lives were too dangerous for a kid. That there was no way we could protect our child when we were out there every day in danger." She shook her head in disgust. "Now, I have an eight-year-old son that I literally dragged across the country so his father could rob banks. I did everything for nothing."

He turned toward her, reaching for her hand, before seemingly changing his mind and pulling away from her. "Emma, you did what you had to do to stay alive. You sacrificed yourself for my life. You kept your son from enduring the same hell you go through every day. No matter the reason this happened, you're a hero to that little boy."

She gulped as her tears continued to come and he tentatively reached up to wipe the tear from her cheek. Her eyes closed shut when his hand touched her face, her heart racing at the feel of him near her again. He started to remove his hand and she reached up, grabbing his wrist, and holding it against her face. "I missed you every moment I've been away."

"Emma, there hasn't been a day that you've been gone, that I haven't thought of you."

Her eyes opened and locked with his. "Good." She whispered. He leaned toward her and then hesitated. His eyes drifting down to her mouth. She was holding her breath, terrified to move. Kissing had become something she avoided, it terrified her. "Killian." She breathed, breaking the trance he was in. His eyes shooting back in line with hers.

"I'm sorry, Emma." He turned away from her, his head touching the back of the wall. She ruined the moment. Neal would win again. He succeeded in destroying her safety, her passion, her sense of normalcy.

"Can I interrupt?" Dave's voice echoed in her ears, looking in the direction of the noise as he came into view.

Killian stood from his spot, Emma reached up for his hand and he tentatively offered it to her, touching her like he was about to break glass.

"We need to talk about our next step." Dave offered. "Emma needs to contact Neal and tell him where she is."

"Are you out of your fucking mind?"

"Hear me out, Jones." Dave interrupted. "She can tell him that she got picked up at the grocery store, after all her face is all over the bank footage."

"What good will that do?" Emma inquired.

"So, you tell him that they couldn't hold you, so we let you go, have him come to you and retrieve you."

"No." Killian growled.

"Killian, let him talk."

"You aren't seriously considering this? You can't go back to him. Did you tell him what you told me?"

"She did."

"And you're still willing to put her back out there after everything he's done to her, because I'm not."

"What do we do about Henry?" Emma asked Dave.

"You can tell him the cops have him and that they won't let you take him with you."

"He'll go insane. That won't be safe for any of you."

"We aren't doing this." Killian yelled. "I'm not giving you back to him. Not after I just found you again."

"We won't give her to him. He's just going to think that we are. Make him come to us, and then we bring him in."

"That won't work, you don't have enough evidence on him." Emma jumped in between the men before things could escalate.

"Let us worry about that. Killian's right, we can't give you back to him, not after everything he's done to you. He'll kill you."

"Not if I kill him first." Killian snarled.

"No one is killing anyone, that's the point of doing it this way."

"Doing what?" Everyone turned quickly to see Henry standing in the door, rubbing the sleep out of his eyes. Emma ran toward him.

"Nothing baby, we're just trying to figure out where we're going to go next."

"Can't we go back to Killian's. I want to play with Rogers." He yawned.

Emma looked at Killian who was staring at Dave. "I know what you're thinking, and the answer is no. Emma is still under arrest for Perry's murder."

"You heard her story; you can explain that. Besides, we can work out the details about how we're going to contact Neal tomorrow and how we're going to handle it. I'll bring her in to the station first thing in the morning to go over the details with the full team."

"Killian, I don't know." Their Captain looked around the room at the group.

"I'm the only one who can protect her. You know I won't let anything happen to them. You can arrest her again tomorrow if you still want to."

He hung his head in defeat. "Fine, but you contact me as soon as you get to your apartment, and I expect you in my office bright and early by 8am with a fool proof plan."

"You hear that lad, looks like Rogers is having another sleep over."

"Yay, can we have pizza again?"

"You ate pizza?" Emma asked, surprised by the excitement in her son's voice.

"I didn't think beer and canned beans would be the best meal for the lad." He said apologetically. It was then that Emma realized she would be going back to Killian's home with him. It was something that both excited her and terrified her at the same time.

They drove in silence through the darkened streets, Emma keeping an eye on Henry in the back seat. He seemed a bit calmer today, more relaxed than he had the night before.

As they got closer to the apartment, Emma peered through the window. "Do you still live in the apartment?" She turned to him with a shocked expression on her face.

"I do."

"I figured you would have moved by now."

"I have some good memories of the place, seemed a waste to leave them." He meant every word he spoke, he had tried to move a few years ago. Will had an apartment that became available next to his, he even packed up a few of his things before he ran across a box of Emma's clothes at the back of the closet and spent the rest of the evening lying in her clothing while looking at old photographs. After that he realized he couldn't leave, even if he wanted to. Not with her out there somewhere.

They climbed the stairs, Killian watching Emma with each step as she got closer to the door. He could see her hesitation as he pushed it open. It was in that moment that Rogers nuzzled against Henry's hand and then looked up at Emma who was standing in the doorway. The old dog whined, sniffing at her legs, a soulful cry howling from his mouth as he tackled the woman.

"Rogers, down." He yelled, but the dog was frantic, jumping and rubbing against Emma's body. He feared that the aggression might panic Emma, but then he looked at her face, the sheer joy spreading across her features.

"Oh, my boy, I missed you so much." She threw herself down on the floor, rolling with the dog as his tail swished back and forth violently. He hadn't seen the dog react this way since he was a puppy, the day that Emma picked him out of the litter at the pound.

"I'll order the pizza." He said, excusing himself from the room, leaving Emma and her son to the raucous reunion with the dog.

He rushed to his room, leaning heavily against his door as it shut behind him. He didn't dare dream of having her back in his life. Things were so complicated, there was a lot to take care of before he could even talk to her about what being back in his life meant.

He checked in with Dave and called in the pizza order before looking in the closet for the clothes that Emma had left in the apartment ten years ago. She was thinner now than she was back then, but the clothes would still fit.

He found a t-shirt of his that Henry could use to sleep in and walked back into the living room. He sat the clothes on the couch and looked over at Henry and Rogers who were sitting together reading the storybook Henry enjoyed so much.

"Moms in the kitchen." He said without looking up from his book.

"Thanks, lad. Pizza should be here soon. I grabbed you a shirt if you want to wear something else to sleep in."

He looked up, a large grin on his face, "Gee, thanks Killian."

He walked past the boy, reaching out to tussle his hair as he passed him. He entered the kitchen, pausing in the door frame when he saw her. It brought tears to his eyes. She was doing his dishes. His resolve crumbled as he tried to maintain his composure.

She turned, seeing him in the doorway. "Sorry, I couldn't help myself." She turned back to the dishes. "You really need to go grocery shopping, no one can survive on the crap you have in there."

"Emma, you don't have to do that." He stepped into the kitchen, grabbing a towel to dry the dishes she had washed.

"I know. But I didn't know what else to do with myself. It's a lot just being here."

"I'm sorry."

"Please stop apologizing."

He chuckled, setting the dish he had just dried on the counter. "I never expected to see you doing the dishes at this sink again."

"I can tell, there were enough dishes in this sink to last you a week." She teased, nudging his shoulder with hers. It was a simple gesture but one that he did not take lightly.

She looked over at him, a smile on her face giving him pause. "Rogers seemed very happy to see you, I've not seen the boy like that in ages."

"Having a pet hasn't been something we've been able to have." She frowned and then turned toward him. "Sorry, I know this must be odd just having me here again. I hope we aren't intruding."

"You could never intrude on my life, Emma." He reached out to push a stray hair from her face. He recognized the way her breathing hitched in her throat. Pausing so as not to scare her again. Instead, he put his hands into his pockets, leaning against the counter. "I'm happy you're here. I wished for it for many years."

"There are so many things I would do differently in my life, marrying you was never one of them."

They stared at each other for what felt like an eternity, neither moving from their spot on the floor. He wanted nothing more than to scoop her into his arms and show her just how much he had missed her, but he also knew that after what she had been through, it might be too much.

The doorbell rang, causing Emma to flinch and Killian to reach for his gun again when he heard Henry yell that the pizza was there. "Don't open the door Henry." He warned, moving away from Emma, and checking to ensure it was the pizza guy on the other side of the door.

They cleared the table of the mountain of case files and bills and sat down to enjoy their pizza together. He tried not to stare at her too often, but he couldn't keep his eyes from seeking her. When dinner ended, Emma tucked Henry into bed with Rogers and joined him on the couch.

"So, what's the plan?" She asked tentatively.

"You call Neal, he comes to get you, we take him down, and he pays for everything he's ever done." He said simply, leaving out the part where he tears Neal limb from limb for what he did to Henry and Emma.

"Somehow I don't think it's going to be that easy."

"You can do this, Emma. You're the strongest person I know. And I'll be there the whole time."

"I just want this to be over. But I don't even know what that's going to look like for me. I've been stuck in a nightmare for ten years, running from the cops, my past…you."

"You don't have to run anymore. I don't have all the answers, but I promise you, I'll be there for you, however you want me to be."

"Even after everything that's happened?" Her eyes were shining with tears, and he wanted to wipe every single crystal drop that fell from her face.

"Emma, I've loved you from the moment I met you. I would do anything to make you feel safe again."

"Things were so broken between us when I left." She said sadly.

"Before we were us, you were my friend and partner first. I'm not going anywhere. I've still got your back, love." He smiled at her, wanting to reach out and touch her, brush his hand against her cheek, gestures he had done so casually in the past that now were linked to anxious moments for Emma. He cursed Neal for taking away something so beautiful and making it terrifying.

"Thank you, Killian. For listening to me, and not judging me. I know this hasn't been easy for you, either."

"My discomfort is nothing compared to what you've been through. Think nothing of it."

She smiled sadly and stood from the couch. "I should go check on Henry, thanks for letting us have the bed."

He stood up, trying not to crowd her. "Let me know if you need anything. There are some more of your clothes at the back of the closet if you need something to wear tomorrow."

Her face softened and to his surprise she crossed the length between them, wrapping her arms tentatively around his neck and pulling him in for a hug. He was careful not to squeeze her too tightly, happy to simply be in her gravity, the feel of her body snuggled close to his. He ghosted his hands to her back, breathing in her scent for as long as she would allow.

He could feel her breath against his neck, he swallowed hard, waiting for her to move. When she did, it was slow, he felt her cheek brush against his jaw, a quiet sigh leaving her lips. He held his breath, unsure of how to react, ignoring his body's reaction to capture her mouth and pour every ounce of love he wanted to convey to her into a searing kiss. But he was a patient man, he needed her to come to him, for it to be on her terms.

For a mere second, her lips ghosted across his jaw and despite his resolve, he turned his mouth to hers, catching the corner of her lips with his and for a moment she melted into him, returning the kiss. His hand moved on its own to her back and she tensed, pulling away suddenly.

"I'm sorry Emma, I shouldn't have…" He immediately withdrew from her arms.

"It's ok. I just…It's not…I'm not really…"

He stilled her, "Emma, I understand. There's much to be done tomorrow, you should get some sleep, make sure Henry is alright." He gave her a genuine smile, trying not to show the sadness he was feeling for the woman who was broken standing in front of him. She had suffered greatly, given up so much of her life, and all to protect him. The weight of that information sitting heavily on his heart as he watched her make her way back to the bedroom they once shared.

He settled into the couch, staring at the ceiling, going over the details in his head for tomorrow.

Emma was safe, she was home, and Neal Cassidy was going to burn for everything he had caused.

Emma quietly clicked the door shut behind her, leaning her head against the wood, her eyes squeezed shut. Sighing she peered through her lids, the soft light of the bedside table lamp illuminating the room. She could see Henry sleeping peacefully on her side of the bed, Rogers resting at his side.

Her side of the bed.

The room looked exactly the way it had when she left. She couldn't believe he had kept the same bedroom furniture they had bought after they were married. She walked slowly around the room, her fingers grazing the wooden tops, lightly touching the assortment of cologne's he had strewn across the dresser.

A photo sat at the end of it, Robin and Killian in their dress blues receiving a medal. She traced the lines of his face, his jaw set firmly as he stared straight ahead. She turned toward the closet, sliding it open and running her hands along the clothes hung there. He was still the same Killian, dress shirts, t-shirts, everything in their place sorted by color.

At the bottom of the closet was a box, she pulled it from the floor and sat it down on the end of the bed. Opening it revealed the clothes she had left behind. She pulled the items out, picking something to wear for morning and setting them next to the bed.

It was strange being back in her room, but also inviting. She felt like herself for the first time in years just being here, knowing that Killian was in the next room and he would let nothing get past him. She was protected, safe.

She slid under the covers, Rogers adjusted, leaning his chin against her arm. "Hey buddy." She whispered softly. "I missed you."

"Mom?" Henry turned in his sleep, his eyes cracked open slightly.

"Everything's fine. Go back to sleep."

"They aren't going to make us go back to dad are they?" He asked, sitting up on his elbow and looking at her with apprehension.

"No baby, you never have to go back to him."

"But what about you?"

She shook her head. She had no idea what was going to happen tomorrow. If Neal were to get near her, to find her, she knew he would kill her. "It's all going to be over tomorrow."

"But you aren't going back to him, are you?"

"No, honey. I just need to get him to come out of hiding, so they can arrest him."

"But Killian will keep you safe right? He said partners have each other's back and that he would always protect you." She smiled, not at all surprised that the boy had learned to trust Killian so quickly, she had always known that he would be a good father.

"Yes Henry, Killian will keep me safe. Try and get some sleep."

He rolled onto his back. "I like him. He's nice."

"Yes, he is." She sighed, laying her head on the pillow, and immediately being surrounded by his scent. This was his side of the bed. She turned on her side, hugging the pillow tightly. When she looked up she was met by her own image. It was a photo from the night they had gotten engaged. He was taking so many pictures of her, teasing her, she had been laughing, tears at the corners of her lids, staring down at the ring he had just given her. It had always been his favorite photo of her.

Even after all this time, he still had it on his nightstand next to the bed. He had seen her every night that he had gone to bed for the last ten years.

She didn't dare speak it out loud, fear still rising in her throat every time she thought about seeing Neal again. She wanted to wish it into existence, the thought forming in her brain. She couldn't say it. She didn't deserve it. But she felt it.

She was home.