HEY GUYS! *Smiling sheepishly while simultaneously rubbing a toe into the ground* It's been a while—over a year in fact, and I'm so sorry for that! I swear that I haven't abandoned this tale, or any of my other unfinished stories, I've just been incredibly busy. Last year was very stressful and there was literally no time for me to really write or plan out anything but, hopefully, I'll be able to bust out a few chapters here-and-there—at least, till my job consumes the majority of my time and my life...again (I work at an amusement park). Fingers crossed!

So...for future reference, if there hasn't been an update, from me, in a while, just know that it's still in the works...I'm just working and paying bills :)

Ok, now...before you read on, I just want to say that I've MISSED this story and to also restate that I'm so, so, so, SOOOO sorry once again! So, here it is! Chapter Five! —Finally, lol.

P.S. I know that it's short but I need to regroup and figure out where I want it all to go...

Love you guys!

FantasyWriterFoSho

.

.

.

.

Summary of the Previous Chapter: Gold and Emma came to a certain arrangement, regarding her abilities, and on her way out, Emma was discovered. She ended up making a break for it.

…

Chapter Five: Actions Speak Louder Than Words

…

Running hard, Emma quickly closed in on her yellow bug, her hands still aglow, but they were also now a jumble of shaking nerves. Don't listen to them, she bitterly thought as the commotion rung out behind her. They don't understand. They never did.

Her parents and Killian were closing in on her and she could feel her anxiety reach an unbearable height when she finally reached her car. Practically slamming her body into her chosen safe haven, Emma gasped loudly when her lit fingers missed the handle and scraped against the solid metal, sending an uncomfortable feeling up her arm; the likes of which she's never ever felt. Groaning when the uncomfortable feeling began to spread to the other side, she then glanced over her right shoulder and looked about, curious to see how much time she really had before they caught her.

The results almost made her heart drop.

Mary Margaret, David and Killian were literally on her tail and if she didn't leave in the next few seconds, she would have to deal with them again and that wasn't something she could emotionally handle at the moment. So, without wasting anymore time, she forcefully pulled the door open and then slammed it shut, her actions oddly smooth for someone who was suffering a panic level of high quality. Blindly looking around, she then remembered that she had safely stashed her keys in a pocket and swiftly dipped into the correct one with an eye roll. Instantly relieving the bulge in her jacket, when she tugged it out, she nearly jammed it into the ignition, before placing her foot onto the brake, the intensity of her situation grating her nerves to no end; but as soon as the pleasing and familiar roar of the engine filled the air around her, a calming sensation began to sweep over her.

It didn't last long though.

In the same moment she had placed a trembling hand on the steering wheel, the other on the shift lever and whipped her head over her shoulder, to watch herself back out, she could feel her skin begin to chill her very bones. Killian was blocking the rear of her car while David and Mary Margaret were making their way to the driver's side door, all with weary and concerned looks on their faces. Eyes wide with terror, Emma immediately reacted. Now looking ahead, she realized that she didn't need to reverse to get out, she could simply escape by another route. Determination rounding her features, she accelerated her bug forward, shooting out of her parking space onto the next road in a matter of milliseconds, leaving her parents and boyfriend in a cloud of smoke.

"Emma!" they all called out, but their voices soon faded under the loud exhaust pipe.

"We're too late," Mary Margaret whispered, her voice breaking when she tried to withhold the sob racking her shoulders.

"She's heading for the woods," David reasoned, looking first at his wife before turning to meet Killian's worried gaze. "We should get in my truck and go after her with this," he lifted up the scarf. "All we need is the—"

"—Tracking potion," Killian finished, his eyes suddenly steely. Edging away from them, he gritted his teeth. What Emma had said, before she ran off, came back to him in waves. Flicking his gaze into the general direction of his suspicion, a gnawing sensation began curving his stomach into knots. He had to be involved, he mused quietly when he thought about how close Emma had been standing next to his shop. A familiar anger started to bubble inside of him at the endless, twisted possibilities the crocodile may have concocted in order to convince her to get rid of her magic. It all makes sense.

"Hand me the scarf," he said, looking back at the couple. Stretching out his arm and opening his hand, he continued. "I'll deal with the crocodile."

Noticing the menacing lines contouring the man's features, David raised his brow and shook his head. "I'm coming with you."

"No, I can do this alone, mate."

"Don't take this personally," David began, his eyes narrowing. "But when it comes to Gold, you don't exactly play by the rules, Hook. We need this liquid and if you go in there and—"

"This isn't about me!" Killian interrupted, his emotions getting the better of him. "This is about Emma and her safety. You heard what she said! She plans of ridding herself of her abilities because of what she accidentally did to you!" Moving closer, he raised his hook, his tone serious. "The crocodile is bloody ruthless and manipulating, in all forms and in all places. Storybrooke is no different. He's planning something and I intend on figuring out what it is, with or without you."

There was a moment of silence before Mary Margaret took a few steps forward, leveling herself with her husband's form, her face surprisingly soft. "He's right, David." He gave her a look of surprise but she stopped whatever he was about to say by resting her hand on his right arm. "We could never truly trust Gold because of his actions and, right now, we have to do what's best for our daughter. So," she then turned to Killian, breathing evenly. "I think that he's our best option in getting what we want."

"We'll already have the potion when we go to pick it up," David sighed, exasperatedly. "What else do we need?"

"More information," she replied promptly. "Killian has more experience in interacting with him then we ever will. If Gold's hiding something...I'm sure that he'll know."

"And if he doesn't?" David asked, his fingers gently rubbing the material of the scarf. "If Gold's not hiding anything?"

Killian fought the urge to snap at his love's father by looking away. "If he doesn't know anything," he began, quietly seething. "And if he's not hiding anything then we'll go from there. But let me ask you this, mate...if he know's something and is planning on hurting Emma, are you prepared to handle the painful outcome when you did nothing about it in the first place?"

Pausing, David nodded his head before willingly handing the fabric over. He knew when he had lost a fight. Besides, they did make sense when it came to the Dark One. He just didn't want to risk what they had already acquired for something that they weren't so certain of. Sure, Emma was by his shop and sure, Gold will forever be that imp from the Enchanted Forest, but he'd rather have all of the facts before charging in somewhere without a plan. Exhaling loudly, he watched the dark haired man take a few steps back, his jeweled fingers wrapped possessively around the scarf he had just given him.

"Be careful."

A small smile made its way onto Killian's face, brightening up parts of his blue eyes. "It's nice to know that you care, mate."

"Don't make me regret this," David said with a smile of his own before they all resumed the seriousness of their situation. "Okay, whatever the results may be of your confrontation, meet us at the truck, which is just around this corner," he pointed to the left, which would direct him to the front of the station. "At the very least, he should keep his bargain about the potion."

"Good luck," Mary Margaret said, her hands nervously clasping around her husband's arm.

Killian nodded his head before turning around, heading back into the direction that they had come in from, his intent focused and strong. "Aye, he will," Killian muttered out of earshot, his eyes flickering dangerously when the building loomed in front of him.

"He will..."

...

Thanks for reading!

Tell me what you think!