This chapter is another missing scene. The first half takes place in 4x19, "Lily", after the scene where Emma almost shoots Lily in order to keep her from hurting her parents. The second half takes place in 4x20, "Mother", before Emma and Killian are at the docks.

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Emma turned on her heel, almost running across the street. She needed to get away from Lily. Away from the darkness. She needed to get a hold on her emotions. Keep her head.

She yanked her phone out of her pocket, quickly unlocking it and locating the contact app. The name at the top of the list was Killian's. She slammed her thumb on it. She had to talk to him. This morning he'd calmed her, reminded her of what she had to live for. She needed his soothing voice.

It barely rang once before she heard him breathe, "Emma?"

She sighed in relief. "Killian."

He must have heard the quiver in her voice because he asked, "Are you okay, love? Where's Regina?"

"I'm safe. And she's—" Emma glanced behind her. Regina was helping Lily to her feet, who shrugged her off and stormed away. "She's with Lily."

"You found her, then?"

"Yeah."

He was quiet for a moment before repeating his question: "Are you okay?"

She knew what he was really asking this time. Her voice was quiet as she spoke. "Killian, I almost killed her. I…I had a gun pointed at her. She was… she was going to get to Storybrooke. She wants to hurt my parents. I… I couldn't let her. I—"

"Hey, Emma, calm down. You're okay. You didn't do it. You beat the darkness." Despite his assuring words, Emma could hear the shake in his voice. He was worried about her. She hated that she was causing him this anxiety, but she needed to talk to him.

"You were right." Her voice cracked. "It's so easy to give in. I almost did. I could've lost everything today—Henry, my parents, you."

"Emma. Listen to me, darling. You will never lose me. I'm not going anywhere. No matter what."

A wave of relief crashed into her at his words, but she couldn't stop the feeling of uncertainty clawing its way through her. "But if I did something horrible, if I—"

"Don't talk like that, Emma. I don't care what mistakes you make. I won't leave you. I'm not strong enough."

She smiled softly. "Killian, I—" She stopped herself. She what? She lov—

Emma stopped her train of thought.

"Swan?"

She sucked in a breath, recomposing herself. "I miss you."

"I miss you, too, love. Return home quickly please."

She huffed out a laugh. "I'll try my best." Regina called her name, drawing her attention from her phone call. Lily was sitting a few yards away from the car, looking completely defeated. Emma gave Regina a nod before turning away.

"Everything all right, love?"

"Yeah, it's fine. Listen, I gotta go. I'll be home soon. Tell Henry for me?"

"Of course, Swan. Anything for you."

Her smile returned. "Bye, Killian."

"Goodbye, love."

Killian set his phone down, his heart racing. When he'd seen Emma's name light up his screen, terror had gripped his heart. He'd thought the worst. As she talked to him, he'd realized that she needed him. She needed him to ground her, chase the darkness away. He only wished he was there with her.

When he had told her to get home quickly, he had meant it with every fiber of his being. He needed her. He needed to see her, hold her. He needed to reassure himself that she was okay. Speaking with her on the phone wasn't the same as seeing her with his own eyes. There was only so much that could be said with words.

That morning at the diner when she seemed ready to go after Gold, he had been scared out of his mind. The Crocodile couldn't take her too. He had taken Milah, his hand, and years of his life. He would not let him take away Emma.

Emma returned in only a few hours, but it had felt like a lifetime. She had texted him as soon as she had crossed the townline, instructing him to bring Maleficent to Granny's. Upon finding the dragon, Killian told her about Emma and Lily before rushing off to Granny's himself. The moment his eyes had landed on her, a string of anxiety had flown out the window. Then, he embraced her. He held her tight. Her warmth reassured him that she was all right. She was here. She was safe. Then, she hesitated when her mother went to hug her and a new set of worries shoved their way into his heart. He would need to talk to her again, but by the time they were able to slip away by themselves, he couldn't bring himself to bring it up when he saw the guilt in her eyes.

"What's on your mind, Swan?" he questioned, swinging their entwined hands as they walked the streets of Storybrooke.

She brushed her hair out of her face. "Nothing."

Killian threw her a disbelieving look.

Emma ducked her head. "I'm sorry about earlier. You know, on the phone. I shouldn't have worried you."

Killian pulled them to a halt, turning so he was facing Emma. "Don't apologise, Swan. I'm honored you called me."

She raised her eyebrows. "Really? Why?"

"You trusted me with your burdens, Emma," he explained. "I couldn't be happier that I have your faith and trust."

Emma took a small step forward. "Of course you have my faith and trust, Killian."

His lips turned up. "So don't apologise, love."

She nodded. "Sorry."

He gave her an exasperated look, earning a laugh in return. "Is that all that was on your mind?"

Emma looked away, pulling on his hand and continuing their walk. "It keeps replaying in my head. I held a gun to her head, Killian. I can't believe I did that. I thought I was winning, that I was beating Gold, but maybe I'm not. Maybe I'm just falling right into another one of his stupid traps."

Again, Killian stopped them in their tracks. "Don't do that to yourself, Emma. You fought against the darkness. You won. The Crocodile lost."

She met his eyes, searching them. "Did I?"

He nodded. "Yes, love. You did. You won, just as always."

Her lips shifted into a soft smile as she tugged on him to keep walking. "You know, one day I'm going to fail and you're going to be so disappointed."

"Nonsense, Swan. You will never fail, and I could never be disappointed in you," he assured. "Unless you put that devil spice on my hot cocoa again."

Emma laughed. "I still can't believe you don't like cinnamon."

"I can't believe you and your family enjoy such a thing."

"Hey, we have taste, something apparently three hundred year old pirates don't have."

"If what you have is taste, Swan, then I don't want it." He pulled her in the direction of the docks, smiling at her.

She stared at him suspiciously. "Where are we going?"

"You'll see." He knew now was as good a time as ever to speak to her about her parents, but he wanted her to be calm. She needed to have a clear head. The sea always gave him just that. "Trust me."

Her hand tightened around his. "Always."

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