Disclaimer: I do not own the Once Upon a Time franchise.

Chapter Fifteen

"Where are you?" Emma asked quietly. So far, she'd managed to put off Henry's questions about August, just saying his research wasn't going as quickly as he'd hoped, but he would be back soon. They just didn't know when.

"New Orleans." August replied, "I think I've finally lost the guy. He had to know I knew he was tailing me." August found himself tucked in a corner in the bus depot. "I'm going to make a couple of more stops. I haven't seen him since I was in Dallas. And that was two stops ago."

Emma was pacing outside of the Sheriff's Station trying to breathe deeply. August had been gone for a week at this point and she felt like she was going to throw up. "Do you have a plan?"

"Yeah, I'm going up to Louisville next. Then Chicago." He paused, "From Chicago I think I'll hit a couple more bigger stops. Boston and New York City sound like easy ones, then I'll head to Portland." He took a breath, "They just called my bus, so I'm going to go. I'll call you when I'm in Kentucky." He promised.

Graham, Killian, and David all stared out the window of the Sheriff's Station where Emma paced. Graham had called them in to discuss the schedules now that tourists were starting to float into town and they would be busier. "She's been on pins and needles all week." David noted motioning to the tense set of her shoulders and the way she tugged at a strand of her hair.

"Ever since August went out of town." Graham surmised.

Killian rolled his eyes and stepped away from the window. It felt like they were invading her privacy. And Emma Swan was a very private person, even more so than he was, "Honestly, you two, you're prying into her private life far too much." He paused, "And you have been since she arrived in town." He lectured them. "That didn't work well with me and it will be even worse with Emma." He said knowingly. "Give her space and she'll tell you all what she wants to tell you on her own time."

Killian stopped speaking when the door to the station shut. "Hey, sorry about that." Emma murmured, looking away from them nervously.

The three men looked at her for a moment and finally, Killian stepped forward, "No problem, we were done anyhow. I think Graham has finally got the schedule sorted and we have inept tourists and a pissy Leroy and Scarlett to look forward to." He chuckled, "And I'm starving, what about you, love? We're not on duty, so how about some lunch at Granny's?"

Emma studied him and then looked back at David and Graham who were awkwardly standing in the middle of the room unsure of what to say or do. "Sure, what's going on?" She asked.

Killian rolled her eyes, "They're being difficult, lass, let's head to Granny's. I believe there is a grilled cheese calling your name."

Emma shrugged her shoulders and shoved her wallet in her back pocket, "Well, I wouldn't want to disappoint the grilled cheese." Once they were outside, Emma faced Killian, "Okay, what on earth was that about?"

Killian tossed his arm over shoulder as they walked. Over the past few weeks he and Emma had fallen into a very easy friendship that was a bit affectionate, which was something he wasn't used to, but liked quite a bit, "Well, Swan, Dave and Graham are a bit like school girls. They're nosey and meddlesome and they gossip." Emma quirked a brow up at that, "They want to know why you seem so anxious. Especially since August left town."

He felt Emma tense beneath his arm, but he kept it in its place, knowing that withdrawing would only cause both his and Emma's walls to draw back up, "I'm not a big fan of travel." She lied.

Killian sensed the lie and dropped his arm to open the door to the diner for her. "Well, luckily those flying contraptions he took are very safe these days. Now, after you, Deputy Swan."

Emma rolled her eyes at his little bow and his chivalrous nature and entered the diner. She came to halt in the doorway, causing Killian to bump into her. Her eyes narrowed in on a booth in the back along the wall. "Emma, Killian, look who is back." Ruby balanced two trays as she paused, "It's the Golds with Mr. Gold's son. Baelfire. He's charming, but I think it's fake, like his dad." She rolled her eyes. "Sit wherever you want and I'll be over in a few minutes. Sorry, we're so swamped right now."

Killian stepped around Emma's still form. "Thanks, Ruby." He murmured. "Emma, love, are you alright?"

He moved to guide her to a table when, "Emma?" Echoed across the diner. Killian's eyes followed the voice. He watched as the man he assumed to be Baelfire Gold stood up and walked towards them quickly, "Emma Carter?"

Emma stepped back into Killian, "Whoa, lass, I'm right here." Killian's arm curled a bit around her waist in a show of support. He wasn't sure why the man referred to her as Emma Carter, but he didn't ask at that moment.

The man looked between Emma and Killian. "You're in Storybrooke." He finally stated stupidly.

Emma's jaw worked as her mouth opened and closed wordlessly. She wasn't quite sure what to say to the man standing in front of her. "Leaving." She finally muttered, spinning around and flying out of the diner so fast that Killian was left a bit stunned.

His eyes narrowed in on Gold's son before he turned to follow Emma. "Swan!" He called out as he chased her down the block. He caught her in front of the library. "Swan!" He grabbed her wrist to stop and spin her around to face him. "Emma, love, did you know him?"

Emma's eyes flew all over the place and he saw the panic and need to fly in them. Instead he tightened his grip on her wrist a bit, his thumb rubbing over the inside of her wrist in what he hoped was a soothing motion. After a moment her green eyes focused in on him, "Henry!" She cried out, "I need to get to Henry." She took back off down the street.

He grabbed her arm the moment he caught up to her. "Swan, my truck is at the station, let me drive you. Chances are you don't want Henry walking around and you certainly can't drive this upset." He whispered softly to her.

"Yeah, okay, let's get Henry." She agreed.

The car was silent as they drove from the Sheriff's Station to the elementary school. Killian let Emma sift through her thoughts and panic and his mind was left to wonder what the hell was going on. He could only imagine the worse, so he tried not to do that.

When they arrived at the school, Killian offered to check Henry out while she got him from his classroom. Emma moved almost robotically down the halls to Henry's classroom. She'd never thought this would be a problem that haunted her. When she opened the door, she found the students had pulled their desks in little circles and were working on an art project as Mary Margaret floated around the room. Henry was paired up with Grace, Roland, Alexandra, and Leo. And he looked so happy.

"Emma?" Mary Margaret's voice was questioning as she took in Emma's pale and tense form. "Is everything okay?"

Emma shook her head, "Henry," Henry's own eyes were wide, "we need to head home early today. Let's go." She moved over to his cubby and picked up his backpack. "Now." She didn't respond to Mary Margaret's questions as she motioned for Henry to follow her.

Henry nodded and gave Grace a hug and whispered something to her before moving toward his mother. Emma grabbed his hand, "Momma, what's wrong? Is it Uncle Auggie?"

"Emma, he's all set." Killian stood in the doorway, "Hello, lad, let's get you home." He murmured.

He gave a confused Mary Margaret a wave as he ushered the two out the door.

The car ride was silent again as Killian drove them back to their apartment. "Shit!" Emma spit out before slapping her hand over her mouth at the foul language. She did her best not to curse in front of Henry. Outside of their apartment complex stood Baelfire Gold.

Killian took a sharp turn, "Let's go to my place for the afternoon, shall we?" He asked. He didn't wait for permission, just winding through backroads until he reached the harbor along the outskirts of town.

He helped Henry out of the truck and took the young boy's backpack before leading them down the gravel driveway up to the front door of his cottage. Once they were inside, Henry turned to face his mother, "Momma, what's going on?" He asked.

Emma drew the boy into a hug and tugged him out to the back porch to talk quietly without Killian, "Okay, Henry,"

"He's here, isn't he?" Henry asked, his eyes darting inside to where Killian was trying to busy himself.

Shaking her head, Emma replied, "No, Walsh isn't here." She watched as Henry breathed a sigh of relief. She pulled him down to a chair and took his hands, "Do you remember when you asked me about your real dad?" She asked. Henry nodded, "And I told you that he didn't know Momma was pregnant. That I met him, made some bad decisions, and then went to jail?"

Henry nodded again, "And then Uncle Auggie took me until you were out."

Emma wasn't sure how on earth a seven-year old was able to process all that, but she continued, "Well, your real dad is here. He's Mr. Gold's son."

Henry frowned as he took in the information. "Uncle Auggie told me something once." Henry finally spoke, "He said that you went to jail because of my real dad."

Emma's eyes widened. She'd never told Henry that and hadn't known August had. Emma cleared her throat, "That's partly true. He committed a crime before I met him, but once I did I offered to help him hide the crime –"

"Because you loved him?" Henry cut in.

"I did. Very much." Emma admitted, "I got caught, he didn't." She said, "I went to jail and never heard from him again. But Henry, Momma did do something bad, it wasn't just him." She wanted to be honest with Henry, even if he didn't look at her the same way. She always tried to be honest with Henry. The last thing she ever wanted was for him to find out about her past from someone else and then hate her for lying to him.

Henry struggled with what Emma knew was anger. "Well, I don't want to see him." Henry told her, his arms crossing, "You wouldn't have done that to anyone. He was mean to you." That was a response Emma hadn't been expecting.

Emma swallowed hard and drew her son into her lap, "You don't have to meet him, Henry. I just didn't want him to find you. At least not until I had talked to you about him. Chances are Mr. Gold told him I have a son and he figured that he could be your dad." She whispered. Henry let out a yawn and snuggled into her chest, "I'm going to protect you Henry. And Uncle Auggie will be home soon."

Henry yawned again and asked, "Can I take a nap?"

Emma nodded and scooped him up, even if he was nearly too heavy for her. Killian saw her coming and opened the door. "There's a guest room down the hall to the left." He murmured and Emma nodded and moved that way to tuck Henry in.

When she came back out a few minutes later, Emma found Killian putting together two sandwiches. "We never ate." He informed her.

Emma took a seat at the small kitchen table, "I should tell you what's going on." She finally said.

"If you wish, lass." Killian sliced the two sandwiches in half and put them on plates to bring to the table. Afterwards he got them each a glass of water and sat down.

"That man, Baelfire Gold," she noted Killian tense at his name, "I knew him a long time ago." She told him.

"I gathered that, love." Killian took a bite out of his sandwich and waited for her to continue.

"When I knew him, he was going by a different name, Neal Cassidy." She ran her finger over the rim of her water glass, "He's Henry's father." That was what Killian had thought. And based on her reaction, the man didn't know Henry existed. Emma looked over his head, "You figured that out though."

Killian scratched the back of his head, "I surmised as much based on your reaction to seeing him and then needing to get to Henry." Very carefully, so as not to startle her, Killian reached across the table and wrapped his hand around her wrist, "You and your lad can stay here as long as you'd like." He told her, "I think you should until August returns at least. If you give me a key, I'll go fetch your things. I can tell Gold I'm visiting Mary Margaret and Dave." He motioned to the house, "And I own the cottage, and it was never Gold's." At Emma's quirked brow, "Dave, Graham, Victor, Robin, and I built her, so Gold has no right to be on my land."

Emma felt her shoulders drop in a bit of relief. "Thanks, Killian. I should call August and tell him what's happened."

Killian nodded and looked down at his mostly uneaten sandwich, "Will you leave now?" He was afraid of her answer to the question because he really didn't want her to go anywhere.

Emma shrugged and stood up, picking up her cell phone, "I don't know, Killian. I just don't know."