A/N: Ok, so I've gotten a couple of questions about Hook and Captain Swan and so before I start chapter 8 I want to clear things up. When I started writing this fanfiction, Hook and Emma had not gotten married yet and the final battle against the Black Fairy hadn't happen yet either. So yes, there will be some things in this fanfiction not does not follow the canon season 6b. Of those things include, the Captain Swan wedding, the final battle, the Black Fairy's curse, and Gideon being turned back into a baby. In my story, Gideon is still an adult. The Black Fairy's curse had a different effect (which you will learn more about in later chapters). The final battle plays out differently, as well. Again, you guys will learn more in later chapters. And the last difference, Captain Swan. Now, I like all ships, but for this story I wanted to do something different. So I decided to not go with a Captain Swan endgame. And yes, I know that Hook is O.O.C. right now, but that will change. I'm not trying to bash the character or the ship, it's only for the purpose of this fanfiction. I have a lot planned for this story and I hope all of you will stick around to find out what's in store. Thank you for reading! Enjoy chapter 8!

Chapter 8

After the unnerving visit to the station, Zelena returned home, rattled. Killing the ignition, Zelena turned around in her seat to check on her daughter. Robin had fallen asleep during the car ride from the station to the manor. The baby girl's cheek was smooth and unscathed. Zelena had been horrified when she saw the cut on Robin's cheek. It had been the first time since losing her magic that she had felt helpless. She had been unable to protect herself and her daughter from Hook. Hook. That was another dilemma. Zelena had never seen this side of the pirate. Not that she has seen many sides of him, but she never thought she would see him put Emma in danger. Zelena was worried for Emma. As she got herself and Robin out of the car and into the house she thought about Emma. They two of them have created a new friendship that Zelena wouldn't have thought possible when she first crossed paths with the blonde. After all, Zelena had killed Emma's first love, Neal. Zelena never thought they would find common ground. She thought back to the night when she had finally cleared the air with Emma. It was the night that Emma had defeated the Black Fairy.

*Flashback*

The blended family of heroes and reformed villains had gathered together for a victory dinner at Granny's. They were all together to celebrate Emma and the defeat of the Black Fairy. Zelena had even been welcomed at the heroes table with open arms. She even started a conversation with David. They talked and laughed over Robin and Neal and the hopes they had for them. As the evening continued, the food disappeared from the platters on the table and the victors told stories and enjoyed each other's company. It was a nice and welcome change for all them to be gathered in one place with their past sins behind them. However, there was one sin that Zelena still needed to put to rest. After having their fill of Granny's food, the victors had dispersed into smaller groups. Zelena was currently sitting in a booth with Regina, who was currently holding Robin. Zelena was glad to see them bonding. The Mills sister's relationship was far from perfect and they had a long way to go before they were the sisters that their mother wanted them to be, nut they were working on it. Across the diner, Zelena saw Emma speaking with Snow White. Zelena had wanted to speak with Emma for a few weeks now. When Zelena destroyed her magic, she asked Regina to look after Robin if anything were happen to her. Regina promised just like Zelena hoped she would. If Zelena was being completely honest, she wasn't surprised that Regina agreed. Despite the circumstances of Robin's conception, she never showed any ill will to the baby and cared for her overall well being. What had truly surprised her was Emma. Zelena had not expected the blonde to volunteer a promise to protect Robin with her life. She had been touched by Emma's words. In the short time that the two women knew each other Zelena had been the cause of great strife for Emma and it touched her heart that Emma made such a genuine promise. Emma's words made Zelena realize that she had never apologize for what she'd done.

"Regina," Zelena said. "Would you excuse me for a moment, sis?"

"Of course," Regina said without looking up. Not that she was being rude, she was just so hypnotized by the baby in her arms.

Zelena smiled at the aunt and niece in front of her before getting up from her seat and making her way across the diner to Emma. As she approached Emma and Snow she could her the two women conversing. Zelena didn't catch what they were talking about, but she could guess that it was an enjoyable conversation based on their laughter.

"Pardon me," Zelena said when she reached the mother and daughter. Emma and Snow cut off their conversation to face Zelena.

"Sorry to interrupt, but could I borrow Emma for a minute."

"Uh, sure," said Emma. "Mom, I'll be right back."

"Alright, honey."

Zelena and Emma walked together to the far end of the bar.

"So Zelena," Emma spoke first. "What was it you wanted to talk about?"

The red head opened her mouth, but know words came out. She closed her mouth to try again. Once more, she couldn't find the words to say.

"Zelena," Emma questioned. "Are you okay?"

"Yes, I'm fine. It's just that I'm not entirely sure where to start."

"Well, I find it best to start at the beginning."

"Okay. I can do that." Zelena took a deep breath and tried yet again. "Emma, I..."

Emma waited patiently for Zelena to say what she needed to say.

"I wanted to say... I wanted to apologize for killing Neal. I know that an apology cannot make up for the grief I caused you, but I am sorry none the less. And I can never make up for what I've done."

"Zelena. We've both done terrible things to one another. I sped up your pregnancy, kidnapped you , and plotted to trapped the Darkness inside of you and sacrifice you to destroy it. I say we've hurt each other enough. I'm willing to forgive you and leave the past in the past, if you are."

The former Wicked Witch was nearly stunned into silence. "Can you really forgive me so easily?"

"Oh, trust me. It's not easy at all, but look around you Zelena. Everybody here has hurt someone else here and vice versa. If all of us here held on to the past we wouldn't be here, united as friends and family."

A small smile graced Zelena's lips. "I suppose you're right. You're right, the past should stay in the past. I'm sorry, Emma. For everything. And I forgive you."

Emma returned the smile. "I forgive you, Zelena. And I'm sorry, as well."

Zelena felt a weight being lifted off of her soldiers. She was so glad that she and Emma were able to start over. She hoped that she could start over with the other heroes here. Emma and Zelena spent the next hour laughing and bonding. Emma even told Zelena some of her more bizarre stories as a bail bondsperson.

*End Flashback*

Ever since that night she and Emma had become quite close and Zelena cared greatly for her friend. Which was why she was so worried about Emma. Her friend was in a potentially dangerous situation and Zelena didn't know how to help her. She knew Emma could take care of herself, but that didn't stop her from worrying.

Zelena went upstairs to her bedroom and placed Robin in her crib. Down the hall, she could hear chatter down the hall, so she decided to investigate. She walked down the hall and could hear the noise coming from the spare bedroom. Zelena remembered that the room had been made into Danielle's room. Now that, was something to think about. The young girl who may or may not be her little sister's long lost daughter by her sister's lost first true love. Zelena was positive that Regina was experiencing a roller coaster of emotions. She reached the room and peaked through the open door. Regina, Henry, and Danielle were sitting on the carpeted floor together, huddled around a large book. Zelena couldn't see the title of the book, but she could see that the pages were filled with pictures of horses.

"Hello all," Zelena spoke up to make her presence known. "What's going on in here?"

It was Regina who answered her question. "Oh, just reading this book of horse facts." Regina spoke with laughter in her voice.

"Sounds fastinating."

"It is!" Danielle said. "Did you know that the Arab horse is thought to be the oldest breed of horse! They appeared over 4,500 years ago!"

"No dear. I didn't know that." Zelena smiled down at the girl. "Regina dear, could I talk to you for a moment?"

Regina looked into her sister's eyes and could see that there was something that was bothering her. "Sure. Henry? Danielle? Would you excuse Zelena and I for a moment?" Regina stood up from her spot on the floor and followed her sister out of the room.

"Is everything alright? What did Emma forget to have the paperwork completed, again?" Regina's later question was said in light hearted mocking, but Zelena didn't pay it any mind.

"What? Oh no, the paperwork's fine. I left it down stairs in your home office."

"Then what's troubling you Zelena?"

Zelena's eyes glanced over to the bedroom that they had just exited from. She lowered her voice before speaking, she didn't want Henry to accidently over hear what she was about to say.

"I really think you need to speak with Emma. It's about Killian."

"What about Killian?"

"I can't say."

"Zelena..."

"Something happened at the station and I promised Emma I wouldn't say anything."

"Zelena..." Regina enunciated each syllable of her name.

"Regina, please. Besides you, Emma is the only real friend I have in this town and I can't lose her trust."

Regina sighed. "Fine," she said. "What would you like for me to do?"

"Your Emma's best friend. I think she's in trouble. Killian is definitely not himself, and I think that Emma will open up to you about it. Just give her a call tomorrow. Please?"

Regina remained silent, mulling over Zelena's words.

"Regina?"

The brunette Mills sister took a breath. "Alright. I'll give her a call tomorrow."

"Thank you, sis."

Regina nodded her head. "I'm going go downstairs to the kitchen and start prepping for dinner. Would you care to join me?"

Zelena agreed and linked her arm through Regina's. The two sister's descended the staircase together. They entered the kitchen and got to work. The Mills women worked together in silence; both lost in their own thoughts. Regina was considering different scenarios in which Emma was in trouble. And each one was worse than the last. She was sure that she was over thinking it. Surely Emma would come to her if there was something terribly wrong. Right? Zelena was mulling over her own thoughts, also. She wasn't sure how to help Emma and she wondered if she had done the right thing by talking to Regina. She hadn't told her sister the specifics of what had happened at the station, but she was sure that Emma would be upset. The sisters finished making dinner and Zelena set the table while Regina went upstairs to get the kids. As Zelena finished setting the table, Henry and Danielle came bounding down the stairs. Behind them was Regina, carrying Robin. The baby girl was wide awake and her tiny hands and fingers reached up to grab at her aunt's hair. Regina would laugh whenever her niece managed to grab hold. Seeing them together pushed Zelena's stressful thoughts of Emma and Hook to the back of her mind. She smiled at her little family. They were complicated and they had a rocky past, but they were hers. The Mills sat together at the table and ate chicken alfredo and laughed. Inside this happy little bubble, no harm could befall them.

Across town, Emma pulled into her driveway. She was still rattled by Killian's unexpected visit to the station. She pulled her arm out the jacket sleeve and inspected the blood stained gauze that was wrapped around her bicep. Emma still didn't understand why her magic didn't heal her. She had been able to heal Robin with no problem, but when she tried healing herself, nothing. Well, not exactly nothing. She could feel her magic inside her, but she was too rattled to focus it. Perhaps she would try again later.

Emma exited from her car and entered into her home. She was hesitant when walking through the threshold because she didn't know what to expect. When she entered the living room, Emma got her answer. There was Killian sprawled across the sofa. That must've been where he landed when Emma teleported him here from the station. She kneeled down on the floor next to his head. Emma gently shook him awake.

"Hey Killian," Emma said softly. "Wake up. Come on, get up. We need to talk."

Killian groaned and his eyes blinked open. His eyesight was cloudy and unfocused. He clutched his hand with his good hand.

"Ow," Killian groaned again. "My bloody head."

"Wait here a minute," Emma told him. "I'll go and get you some aspirin." Emma got up from the floor. She left the room and went into the kitchen where she kept a medicine cabinet. She placed two aspirin in the palm of her hand and filled a glass with water. Emma returned to the living room. Killian had sat up to a sitting position on the sofa. She handed him the glass and pills.

"Thank you, love."

"Sure."

Killian quickly swallowed the pills, washed them down with the water and then sat the glass down on the coffee. Emma sat down on that same table across from Killian.

"Killian," she started to say. "We need to talk."

"About."

Emma stayed silent for a moment and contemplated where to start. "What's the last thing you remember? Before I woke you up."

Killian pinched the bridge of his nose and squeezed his eyes shut. "I was at Granny's, having a drink."

"How many drinks?" Emma interrupted.

"What is this? An interrogation?"

Emma frowned. "No. I'm just trying to help you Killian. I know that you've had problems with alcohol in the past, but you're a different man now. So, I'm trying to understand what made you relapse."

"I'm fine, Swan. No need to worry about me."

"Well, I am worried. You were drinking in the middle of the day and you don't remember what happened during the last few hours."

"My guess is someone drove me here from Granny's. What's the big deal?"

"You hurt a baby! Killian, that's the big deal."

Hook was shocked to say the least. "What are you talking about, Swan?"

"You showed up at the station today and you were pretty drunk." Emma told Hook what had transpired. How he'd accused Zelena casting a spell on Emma. That he'd broken glass vase and a piece of glass had left a cut on baby Robin's cheek.

"Oh my god."

"She's fine. The cut wasn't deep and I healed her."

"Thank goodness. I can't believe... Wait a second? You said the little lass was hurt by a piece of glass from a broken vase. Aye?"

"Yes. That's right."

"How did the vase break?"

Emma eyes suddenly became very interested in the floor.

"There's something that you're not telling me love. I know there is."

The blonde woman remained silent.

"What aren't you telling me?"

She took a deep breath. "When you were at the station you grabbed my arm and I pulled away. Then you tackled me with intent to drag me away from Zelena. The vase broke when tackled me."

"I can't ... I can't believe I attacked you."

"Killian, that wasn't you. Not the real you. Besides, I'm fine." Emma stretched her arms out. "See, I'm fine." She gave him a small grin. Hook would have been convinced if Emma hadn't winced in pain when she moved her arms.

"Swan, take off your jacket."

"My jacket? But why?"

"Swan."

Without saying another word, Emma carefully peeled her jacket off. When the leather garment was removed she sat in awkward silence as Hook took in the bloody gauze.

"I did that?" Hook's voice came out in a whisper. "I did that to you?"

"It was an accident. You didn't mean..."

"Stop trying to downplay it, Emma! Whether it was an accident or not, I never should have put you in a situation where you were in danger."

Emma leaned forward and took Killian's good hand in her own. "Hey. I don't know what's been going on with you lately, but I want to help you. I think that we should go and see Archie."

"Aye, love. Perhaps the cricket can help."

"I'll give him a call in the morning. For now, I think it's best that we get some rest."

Killian and Emma climbed up the stairs to the bedroom. Once there, they changed into their pajamas and crawled into the large. The moment their heads hit the pillows, they were out like a light.