Look who updated two weeks in a row on time! I'm surprised, too, believe me.

Anyway, this is based during 3x18, "Bleeding Through", when Emma and Killian are at Granny's and Emma's practicing her magic. This is a little "what if" fic. What if Belle hadn't interrupted their conversation and stopped Emma from asking Killian what was wrong?

I don't own OUAT or any of its characters.

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Killian watched as Emma closed her eyes and focused on the mug of hot cocoa in front of her. He was trying to read the book Belle had given him, but it was hard to with Emma just across the room.

"Boom!" she exclaimed suddenly. She smacked her hand down on the counter and spun around, a grin wide on her face. "Granny's to-go. I should open a franchise."

Killian lifted the mug that had materialized on his book. "It's impressive." He was impressed, proud even. But he wasn't in any sort of good mood.

She slid into the booth across from him, her smile growing by the second. "You want to see something really impressive?"

He sighed, staring at her. Her smile, aimed at him, made his heart flutter.

Stop it.

She lifted her hand in the air and twisted it. A clang rang out from behind her. She giggled as Killian looked at his brace, realizing what she'd done.

"That's bad form, Swan." He got up from the table and stormed over to his hook. "Tampering with a man's hook." He snatched the hook from the coat rack and snapped it back in place.

"Seriously? What is up with you?" she demanded, turning to look at him.

He sighed again, already regretting his actions. "I apologize for my rudeness." He sat back down and pulled out his rum. "It's a long story. Too long for now." How he wanted to tell her exactly what had happened, but he could not. Not with her boy and entire family on the line. He wouldn't be responsible for hurting her in that way—in any way if he could help it.

She stared at him, her arms crossed on the table. If he didn't know any better, he would say there was concern in her eyes.

"Well, obviously something is bothering you. Want to tell me what it is?"

Yes. Yes, more than anything.

"I already told you, Swan. Long story."

"I have time."

He looked up at her. Was she worrying for him?

It didn't matter. He couldn't tell her.

"Is it about what happened in the Enchanted Forest?" she asked when he didn't respond. "Why can't you tell me, Killian?"

The way she said his name, almost like a plea, was nearly his undoing.

"It's not about that." He wasn't going to lie to her even to get out of this conversation. He was already lying to her, he wouldn't lie to her anymore if he didn't have to.

Keeping this secret from her was one of the hardest things he'd ever had to do. It forced him to keep his distance. Even now, when Emma seemed to be opening up and being herself around him, he couldn't give in.

But it would be so easy. He could say the words, tell her what Zelena had done, and she would help him figure out a way to fix it. They could keep her boy safe. He didn't need to keep the secret. He could just tell her. Everything would be okay.

Her eyes were bright even in this dim light. She looked beautiful. She always did, but there was something about the way she was looking at him, as if she cared about him—

He had to stop. He needed to get away from her or he'd do something he couldn't take back.

"I think it's time to rest," he said, getting to his feet and pocketing his flask. "Until tomorrow, Swan."

Hurt flickered across her face, and he cursed himself. Hurting her was exactly what he was trying to avoid, but maybe it was the only way to save her family.

"Hook, wait."

He stopped in his tracks, halfway to the hallway. He turned to her. She stood from her seat and walked toward him.

"What is it?"

"The Wicked Witch is out there trying to find a way to kidnap my sibling." She crossed her arms. "I need people I know I can trust around me to stop that from happening."

"Swan—"

She held up her hand. "If you can't tell me whatever it is you're hiding, fine." She lifted her eyes to his, taking a step forward. "I trust you."

His eyes searched hers. "Why?"

"Why wouldn't I?" She sounded offended by the question. "You helped me save Henry in Neverland. You found me in New York and brought me back here. You've done nothing but try to help us since we got back." She inched closer to him. "I don't have any reason not to trust you."

If only she knew how wrong she was.

They were standing so close, Killian could feel her breath. Reflexively, his eyes flickered down to her mouth. He heard her intake sharply, but she didn't back away. Did she want him to kiss her?

He didn't get a chance to find out because he stepped back, breaking the spell over them. He couldn't hurt her.

"Goodnight, love."

Again, hurt rippled through her eyes. Could he never stop causing her pain?

It ached to turn his back on her. He wanted to pull her into his arms and whisper apologies until she forgave him. He wanted to bury his hand in her golden locks and lose himself in her eyes.

He almost did. If it wasn't for the curse on his lips, he would have.

"Killian." She grabbed his hand. He froze. She pulled lightly so he would turn. "Talk to me. What's going on? What can I do?"

He wanted to weep. She held his hand loosely and looked at him with wide, pleading eyes. She only wanted him to be truthful with her. She only wanted him to trust her and he did. He trusted her more than anyone. He would gladly put his life in her hands time and time again.

He closed his eyes. He couldn't look at her. It made it too difficult. "Emma . . . ."

"No, stop it. Look at me." She waited. When he finally opened his eyes, her voice was softer. "Whatever it is, tell me. I know you want to. I can see it. Why can't you? Did Zelena threaten you?"

"Not me."

"Then who?"

He swallowed, gazing at her. Could he say it? Should he? She was looking at him with such trust. It was wrong to not repay that. It was painful not to.

"Your family."

She blinked, her brows furrowing. "What?"

His jaw clenched. "I cannot tell you or she will kill your boy. She will kill your whole family."

Her hand went slack in his. He wanted to hold it tightly, but he didn't want to scare her, so he let it fall back to her side.

"What do you mean? Why would she threaten my family to keep you quiet?"

He looked at her sadly. Did she still doubt his feelings for her? "Because I would never let her hurt you that way."

"Why?" she demanded forcefully.

Did she want him to say it? Did she need him to? Were his actions not enough?

"I cannot stand to see you hurt, Emma. She knows that, so she exploited it."

"Tell me." Her eyes were hard. "Tell me what she did to you. I can protect Henry. I can protect my family. Tell me what happened."

"Swan—"

"Killian, if she's torturing you or hurting you, you have to tell me! Stop trying to protect me. I can handle it."

She could handle anything.

He wanted to tell her more than anything, but they didn't know how to defeat the Wicked Witch yet. How could he endanger her entire family just to make himself feel better?

As if seeing him closing back up, Emma stepped forward and grabbed his hand. "I don't want you to get hurt, especially trying to protect me. I'm not worth it. Tell me what's going on."

It pained him that she thought so little of herself, of her worth. "You are worth every single challenge I've had to endure to keep this secret from you. I will continue to protect you until my last breath." His voice was firm, almost angry. "How long is it going to take for you to realize that you're not alone anymore? You have people who love you here. You are important to everyone in this town. You are worth everything. I would endure Zelena's taunts and tortures forever if it meant proving that to you. I would spend centuries in Neverland just to get you to see that."

She stared at him, breathless. Tears glistened in her eyes. "I . . . I . . . ."

"I know you've been through terrible things in your past, Emma. I know how it haunts you. Believe me, my past stays with me every moment of every day, except when I'm with you. When you breathe, when you smile, everything else fades away. It doesn't matter what I've done or what I've lost, I can't remember any of it when you're here."

A tear slipped down her cheek. "Killian, I—I can't. I . . . I . . . ."

He brushed his hand over her cheek, wiping her tears away. "I know. I know. It's okay. I have no intention to go anywhere."

Without warning, her expression twisted in anger. "You don't know that, you idiot. Whatever Zelena's doing to you, she could kill you. Tell me what she did to you. I can help. Please."

He'd never wanted to kiss her more than he wanted to in that moment.

"She cursed me."

"How?"

He cursed himself. "I can't tell you, Emma. I can't be the reason your family dies. I can't." He lifted his foot, ready to step back.

"Don't," she warned. "Don't do that. Don't leave." She tightened her grip on his hand. "Tell me. Just tell me. Please, Killian. Just say it. I can help you. I know I can."

This was hell. It was hell not being able to tell her. She was looking at him with tears in her eyes, begging him to tell her the truth. Begging him to open up, just as he wanted her to do.

"She wants me to take away your magic."

She barely hesitated. "Why? How would you even do that?"

He squeezed his eyes closed, a tear slipping out. "Swan, I can't—"

Her hand left his and he almost sobbed, but then he felt one on either side of his face. He opened his eyes to see hers pouring into his. His heart stuttered. He could barely breathe.

"I can take, Killian. You don't have to protect me."

He couldn't take his eyes off her. He could hardly register the words on the tip of his tongue. "She cursed my lips. If I kiss you, your magic will disappear. It will be taken away."

Her eyebrows drew together. She dropped to the balls of her feet, away from him. "What?"

Killian watched her walls rise. It killed him. "She backed me into a corner and tricked me—"

"She cursed your lips?" she asked incredulously. "Why?"

He gulped. "She knew how . . . how I felt for you."

Her eyebrows raised. "'Felt?'"

He stared at her, in complete disbelief that after everything, she still doubted his feelings for her.

"Feel."

Tears sprang to her eyes again. Killian didn't know how to change that, how to help her. How could he help her when he was the one that kept hurti—

She threw her arms around his neck and hugged him. She tucked her face into his neck. "Thank you," she whispered, her arms tightening around him.

Killian stood there, shocked. Emma Swan was hugging him. Emma Swan's arms were wrapped around him, and it felt better than anything he'd ever felt before.

He slid his arms around her and held her fiercely, closing his eyes. Who knew if he'd ever have the chance to hold her like this ever again?

They stood there for several long moments before either moved. Emma was the first to pull back. Her tear-filled eyes met his. "Thank you."

When he spoke, his words were barely a breath. "You have no need to thank me."

Her eyes bore into his, as if she was searching for something. Let her search. She wouldn't find any dishonesty. She needed to finally know how much he would do for her.

For the briefest moment, her eyes flickered to his lips. He longed to pull her into a kiss, but he couldn't. His body ached painfully, both with rage at Zelena and sorrow that he couldn't do the one thing he wanted to do more than anything in the world.

Before he lost his will, he said, "You should go rest, Swan. Tomorrow is sure to be exhausting."

"We're going to find a way to get rid of that curse," she said fiercely. "We're going to protect my family, too."

He nodded. "Aye, I have no doubt you can do it."

Her lips smoothed into a soft smile.

When he stepped back, every part of him screamed at him to stop.

The door to the diner slammed open. Their heads swiveled in its direction.

"Emma! I figured out what Zelena wants to do!" Belle ran to the counter and slammed a book down.

"Really?" Emma immediately went to Belle's side. Killian watched with a small smile. She was so brave, so strong. She could do anything.

Slowly, he moved to her side to listen to what Belle had to say. Emma, though focused on Belle's words, shifted so her back fit better against Killian's chest when he stood behind her.

It was small, but it was something. Despite the terrible news Belle had brought, Killian couldn't help but feel a glimmer of hope for his future in this town, one that could include the woman at his side in his arms.

I hope you liked it! Let me know if you did! It helps to know if people are still looking forward to these updates.