I do not own Once Upon a Time.

Flashback in this chapter, more information about Graham. And more nice sibling Jones times.

Robin was ready to hit his head on the desk. The amount of security had gone up since Liam's murder. He had to keep Tara and Killian safe from any and all threats. But what made him feel powerless was he couldn't do anything, he still felt horrible he couldn't stop bad things from happening. Part of him felt it was his fault Liam was killed. He should have seen that coming. All he could do was hold a sobbing Tara.

He felt unworthy of the position. He doubted himself every day. Regina was the one who had to reassure him, he was capable and smart. He couldn't blame himself. It was not his fault.

A knock at the door stopped his doubt for a few minutes. "Come in."

Tara stood there. "Hey, did you talk to Emma? Did you give her everything she needs?"

"Yes, security footage from every camera, phone records, the visitors log. She is very thorough."

"Makes a good detective. You alright? You're quieter than usual." Tara was worried about him.

"All the craziness recently makes my interview look like a walk in the park…" Robin was comfortable enough with her to be honest.

And she chuckled. "You think your interview was hard? That was nothing compared to the guy before you…"

"You hired me a keeper?" Tara almost growled. Liam and Killian kept their heads down. They knew how their sister got when she was mad.

"A keeper of sorts. Someone to keep you out of trouble." Michael told her. He actually thought it was his best idea yet when it came to his daughter.

Tara narrowed her blue eyes at him, there were exact copies of her mother's. Then she heaved an annoyed sigh. "Under one condition, I have final say in who gets hired."

"Deal. Now you had better get going. You're meeting him at the coffee shop." Michael said.

Her eyebrows rose. "You're setting me up with him too?"

He didn't answer but a smile did cross his face.

Tara left the table and grabbed her purse and jacket before she headed out of the apartment. The coffee shop was down the street and Tara was a regular there. So she just had to walk through the door and her order was ready when she reached the counter. She had a fake smile on her face when she paid for it and then took a seat.

A keeper, basically a babysitter. She was a grown woman, a grown adult who could take care of herself and have her own back. She had been out of college for about a year, her vice had been under control since then. Tara had a habit of starting fights, enough that the press loved to find her in action or sometimes make her fight.

It wasn't like she was the only one with problems. Liam liked to race, he had a special car that he personally fixed up. Killian had a relationship with drugs. And the three of them were friends with drinking.

Why weren't her brothers getting baby sitters also?

'What time is this keeper supposed to be here?' She texted her father.

'One thirty.' Was the response.

She looked at her watch, one twenty. So the man had ten minutes to show up or she was gone.

'Watch his neck is the size of a tree and his brain the size of a peanut.' Tara sent her next text to Killian. Tara could always joke with her little brother.

'Just be nice.' Came the very un-Killian response. Liam must have taken his phone.

Before she could yell at Liam for stealing, she heard her name called out. "Tara?"

Tara looked up and to her complete shock and happiness, she recognized the voice. "Graham? When did you get into town?"

The tall brown eyed man reached her, a huge smile on his face. She hugged him tight and he responded by picking her up and spinning her around. Who cared if they caused a scene. They were just two very good friends reunited.

Tara was finally set back on her feet and she studied the man in front of her. Broad shoulders, brown hair that was recovering from a buzz cut but his eyes were exactly the same as two years ago when they had said good bye before he was shipped off to boot camp. And he was still wearing his father's wolf pendent.

And he still hadn't answered her question. She none too gently shoved Graham into a chair. "Answer my question Humbert. When did you get into town?"

"About a week ago, I had to get settled, find a place."

"And this is the first I see you? I thought you loved me." Tara slightly sounded hurt.

"You have been busy, I read the papers. What other shenanigans have you gotten yourself into?"

"Nothing out of the ordinary. I'm trying to get back on the straight and narrow path."

"Best of luck to you." Graham raised his coffee cup to her.

Tara laughed. "So tell me what has been happening to you. I have only gotten one word answers from you since you left."

So Graham launched into his latest story. It completely captivated Tara and at times she was in stitches. She had missed him so much. Graham had always been another brother to her.

Wait, she had come to the coffee shop for a reason. "Guess what, my father hired me a keeper. I was supposed to meet him here at one thirty and its now…" She checked her watch. "Almost three. Well, that's just rude and inconsiderate. No call to say he's late or realized he didn't want to be my keeper…"

"Tara…" Graham cut her off but she kept talking.

"This only makes him look horrible and unreliable…"

"Tara…"

"I was stood up by someone who thinks he can protect me…"

"Trinity!" Graham finally raised his voice and slammed his hands over hers on the table.

She jumped slightly. "What?" He looked at her sheepishly, with wide eyes. Then it dawned on her and she slid her hands back. "My father hired you." She said evenly. She wasn't sure how to feel about this. "When and how did this happened?"

"It's a funny story actually…"

"Humbert…"

"I stopped by your place a few days ago to say hi and ran into your father. It was his idea…"

"I see." Tara stared at him.

"I guess he assumed I would be a good candidate. I know how you get. Anyone that was hired, you would use your charms to get whatever you want."

"You think I'm charming?" Tara asked, actually batting her eyelashes at him.

To which Graham held up his finger. "No, stop it. I have known you for far too long. I know all your tricks."

Tara leaned back in her chair and sized up her best guy friend in the world. He made some good points. They knew each other since grade school. He knew how much she could handle and when to step in. But she was not going to hand herself on a silver platter. No, if he really wanted the job, he had to fight for it. "My father agreed that I had final say in who is hired as my keeper. My one condition is you have to take me down in the boxing ring." Tara told him.

Graham's eyes widened at her. "Tara, are you out of your mind? I am not fighting you."

"Chicken? Besides, you know that being my keeper is going to involve lots of fights. What do you say Humbert?" She challenged him.

He sighed. "You are on, Jones."

"Good. Meet me at the gym in thirty minutes." Tara stood up and walked out of the coffee shop.

She walked home to find it empty. She quickly grabbed her gym bag and boxing gloves. On the way out, she pulled out her phone.

Liam picked up. "How did the date go?" He asked good humored.

"Graham's back in town and looking for a job. He might get it but he has to fight me for it."

"Graham's back that's great… wait… he's who Dad hired?"

"Not if I have anything to say about it. Come down to the gym and watch me take him down."

"Well, at least it will be entertaining. Should I bring Killian?"

"Of course." Tara hung up the phone and headed to the gym. When she entered, she was greeted by almost everyone in there. Tara had been going there for so long, it was her safe place back in her teenage years.

She walked into an empty ring ten minutes later and prepared herself for a fight. Her gloves went on last.

One, two.

One, two.

A few practice shots couldn't hurt. How was she going to play this? Was this even a good idea?

Graham entered the gym about five minutes later accompanied by Liam and Killian. They looked so happy to see each other. The three of them walked right over to Tara.

"You ready to go down, Humbert?" She asked, good-humored

"I was planning on going easy on you. But with that attitude, I changed my mind."

Tara just laughed as Graham put on his gloves. They then stood facing each other. Liam and Killian were below, they had no idea what was going to happen, the fight could go either way.

No countdown to start their match, though Tara had him on his back in three seconds.

"Not much of a challenge here Graham. I'm disappointed." She told him.

He stood up and stared her down. "You fight dirty. What ever happened to that pathetic good form talk your family does constantly?"

"Hey!" Yelled both Liam and Killian.

"That's my family, not me. And remember who taught me to fight dirty?" Tara smiled and gave him a mock salute.

"I regret that so much." Graham said.

They fought a bit more, putting on an excellent show. Then Graham finally knocked her down and she actually stayed down.

She could have gotten up; it was so easy. But instead Tara looked up at him, considering her options. Maybe Graham having her back was a good idea.

Then a bell sounded and Graham just stared, realizing he had won. He let out a whoop and raised his hands over his head.

Tara moved into a sitting position and watched his celebration. Then she held out a hand to him. "Are you going to help the lady up?"

He turned to her with a confused grin. "Oh, now you're a damsel in distress?" But he did offer her a hand up.

Tara walked to the edge and took the water bottle that was offered to her. Then she felt a tap on her foot. She bent down to meet Liam's eyes.

"You let him win." It wasn't a question.

"Don't tell him that." She had a smile on her face.

If there was one person in the world that Tara Jones trusted with her life, it was Graham.

So wondering where Graham is? He and Tara are super close.

Review?