The next day Emma wakes before Killian does and hops in the shower. She has to be careful because of her shoulder, but it feels better today. She gets out and dresses for class. When she starts the coffee pot Killian comes out still in just his boxers.

"Emma, what are you doing?" He rubs his eyes, still half asleep. Emma raises an eyebrow.

"Getting ready for class. I have a paper due," she pours coffee into a thermos. He walks up behind her and wraps his arms around her waist.

"Maybe you should stay home another day," Killian says then kisses her shoulder. I can't believe him.

"Nope, I skipped class yesterday. I'm going today," She slips out of his arms and starts to get her bag together.

"Your shoulder needs to heal properly. You need rest," He follows her around the apartment.

"It will be fine. It's just three blocks to the school. As much as I loved yesterday I just don't think I could lay around here all day. Especially if you won't be here," Emma sighs as she slings her bag over her good shoulder. He grabs her hand and interlaces their fingers.

"Look, I don't want you to leave the apartment while he is out there. It's not safe," he warns. She slips her hand out of his.

"All the times he has hurt me I was here. I'm a sitting target while sitting here. I need to get out. Now, I am going to be late. I'll see you when I get home from work," she picks up her coffee and storms out the door. I can't believe him. I know he's trying to protect me, but I'll be fine.

"Miss Swan! Miss!" Marshal Whitmore calls out. Him and his partner are running after Emma. She halts in her tracks. Great, now I'll really be late.

"What?" she asks.

"Since Neal won't leave you alone we have decided to follow you for the day. To see if we spot him," he explains. She rolls her eyes. Today could not get any worse.

"Whatever. I don't care. I'm going to class," she states and takes off again. They struggle to keep up with her.

"We were wondering if we could ask you a few questions about what Neal is like?" Marshal Wallace asks.

"Dirtbag. Scum of the Earth. What more is there to say?" she sighs.

"A lot actually. What are the places he's likely to go? People he would likely to hang out with?" Marshal Whitmore pesters her.

"Places any dive bar within fifteen miles of my apartment and he would hang out with the people in those dive bars," They scribble down this information on note pads. Marshal Wallace pulls out his phone and makes a phone call to someone at his office. They reach the classroom door and she stops before they go in.

"Are you coming in?" Emma asks and they nod. She throws her head back and groans.

"Fine, but no questions. Just sit and be quiet," she orders. They nod again and file in. Turns out she's not late, thank god. Their little group moves to the back. Professor Hood raises his eyebrows at the Marshals. Emma waves them away and he just nods. She pulls out her laptop and gets ready for the lecture. Emma checks her phone one last time before the professor starts. One message from Killian.

*Can we meet for lunch?* she sighs. Damn, he wants to talk. Emma doesn't want to talk. At all. The Marshals lean in.

"Is it from Neal?" Marshal Wallace asks. She shakes her head and they leave her alone. She knows she can't ignore him and as much as she doesn't want to talk she knows that he needs to.

*Sure. The diner?* She types out quickly. A few seconds later she gets an answer.

*Yes. Noon?* Emma places her paper in the basket by the front of the room. She walks back to her seat and plops down.

*Yes* she shoves her phone back in her bag. The lecture begins. The Marshalls stay quiet like they promised. Time seems to fly by as always. When class is over Professor Hood calls Emma over.

"Emma, what's going on?" He mentions to the Marshals, who are hanging back.

"These are U.S. Marshals, who are looking for my ex-boyfriend," his jaw drops and he tries to collect himself, "Anyway, they are following me to see if he shows up again. So, they might be around for a few days. I am really sorry about all of this," she says. He nods.

"No, Its perfectly fine. I hope you guys catch him soon. Emma, I haven't heard anything about your essay, but it should be anytime soon," he reassures her.

"Thanks. I'll see you next class," she says as she runs out of the class. She was going to be late to having lunch with Killian. Emma books it across campus with the Marshalls on her tail. When she gets there Killian is already waiting for her. Emma stops the Marshals before all of them go in.

"Sit at another table, far away." They nod, go in, and she finds Killian.

"Hey, sorry. I had to talk to my professor about the paper competition after class," she says and he just nods. Damn he really is upset with me and I still do not want to talk about our fight.

"What's with the Marshals?" he asks.

"Oh they want to protect me from Neal and see if they can catch him," she dismisses them. He nods and stays silent. The waitress comes by and they give her their usual orders.

"Alright. What did you want to talk about?" she asks, cautiously.

"You just stormed out this morning. I thought we agreed that wouldn't happen anymore," he said.

"I know, but its not fair when you ambush me as I am leaving," she retorts. The waitress comes by with coffee.

"I don't want you going out alone. Emma its not safe. He's already stabbed you. What's he going to do next?" he says exasperated.

"Nothing is going to happen. Neal won't show his face with the Marshals around. His survival is more important to him than me. I promise you that," she reaches out and tries to grab his hand. He yanks it off the table. She sighs and leans back against the booth.

"Emma, you don't get it! I couldn't move on if something happened to you," he says. His blue eyes hold her gaze. She grabs his hands and holds on tight.

"And you think I could? Killian, nothing is happening to either of us. Please stop worrying," she attempts to reassure him.

"I can't stop worrying. What else am I supposed to?" he shrugs. She lets go of his hands and walks over to his side of the booth. Emma sits down and snuggles up to him. She rests her head on his shoulder and intertwine her fingers with his.

"I know and I love that you care so much. Just don't put this much stress on yourself. You have other things to worry about," she says. The waitress comes with their food. They untangle their hands and dig in.

"Do feel better that the Marshals are around?" she asks him between bites.

"A little, but I always worry about you. It helps. I'm afraid I have to eat and run. I have class than practice. What time will you be home?" He asks as he wipes his face with a napkin.

"I'll be home around seven thirty," she says as they get up from the table. He grabs her hand and they walk out. She kisses his cheek and begins to walk away. He grabs her and pulls her in for real kiss. His tongue fights with hers. She feels like her body melts into his. He pulls away slowly. Emma lip's are tingling.

"Goodbye, love. See you at home," he whispers. She just nods and turns to walk to work. Emma's fingers trace where his lips met her. She smiles and practically skips to work.

Emma works in a cute little bookstore about a block from campus. They get a lot students looking for books for literature classes and the elderly. There is nothing old people love more than books and the coffee shop across the street. The store is run by a middle aged couple. They like to work mornings and the store is only open until seven, so Emma just comes in after lunch and takes over. The hours are pretty flexible, so it works.

Tonight Emma stocks new books and runs the cash register. A typical afternoon. The Marshals stay outside the store, which she is thankful for. Just as she begins to get the store ready for closing someone walks in at the last second because her back is turned. Emma faces the customer and nearly drops everything in her hands.

"Emma, this is a cute, little store you have here," Neal says and then knocks over some books on the table. He is in a police uniform. How did he get that? He even has a gun, which really sets her on edge.

"Is that uniform how you made it past the Marshals?" She questions as she crosses her arms. Emma's shoulders twinges when she does this and she has to let the position go and rest her arms at her sides. He chuckles.

"Oh yes. It comes in handy when you want to hide in plain sight," he moves closer to her. Emma is frozen where she stands, all the books still scattered at her feet. She can't let her guard down and pick them up. The Marshals don't know he's in here. They think he's a cop. He stops right in front of her.

"You should really pick up those books," he sighs and shakes his head.

"Pick them up," he orders through gritted teeth. He places a hand on his gun. She bends down and slowly picks them up one by one. She places them on the counter next to them. With the books out of the way it allows him to move so close that their bodies are almost touching. Her body automatically stiffens at his proximity to her.

"Oh come on now, its not that bad," he teases. His hand wraps around her throat. She sputters on the small amount of air she has left. Emma starts to hit him and do everything she can to get him off of her. Nothing works and he just stands there and laughs like the psychopath he is.

"Emma, calm down I'm not killing now. When I kill you it will be painful and slow. Now, I'm leaving a bruise, a brand if you will, to show you are mine. So your precious, little boyfriend knows he couldn't protect you," he finally releases her from his grasp and she crumples to the ground gasping and sputtering for air. He smiles and walks out of the store without another word.

When Emma finally catches her breath she grabs her phone and calls Marshal Wallace. Emma tells him everything that's happened and they tell her to stay there until the come for her. She begins to slowly clean up everything Neal knocked over. She locks the front door and begins to close up the store as usual. She goes into the bathroom and look at what damage had been done. Bruises were starting to form around her neck, just like Neal promised. Surprisingly she don't feel the need to cry. Maybe she's becoming used to this, which is a terrifying thought. About ten minutes later the Marshals come.

"Everyone is on the lookout, but he seems to have slipped away again," Marshal Whitmore says. She just nods, too tired to get mad or put up a fight.

"Alright I just want to go home," she says and wraps her jacket around her tightly. Emma makes the short walk home faster than normal. Now, its almost eight. Killian must be going out of his mind sitting at home waiting for her. He's going to freak out when she tells him, when he sees what Neal has done.

When Emma walks in Killian's back is to her in the kitchen. He's working away at dinner. She takes her coat off and makes her way to the kitchen.

"There's my love. Sorry dinner's late I fell asleep after practice and I was out. Did something keep you at the store I thought you'd be home before-" he finally turns around and sees Emma. His eyes widen and he brings her into his arms. The tears begin to flow, maybe she was in shock before and that's why she didn't cry. She's not sure, but she knows she needs Killian.

"Emma, what happened? Where are those damned marshals? Do we need to get you to the hospital? Emma, please say something," he pleads with her.

"The Marshals are looking for him. We don't need to go to the hospital. I mean I think you know what happened," she says tears still in her eyes. Killian wipes away her tears.

"Yeah I do unfortunately. Are you alright? What do you need?" he asks worry and concern written all over his face.

"Dinner and you," she smiles. He places a kiss on her head and goes back to the food. Emma sits down at the table. A few minutes later he scoops out pasta on to two plates and pours sauce on top. He brings plates over and sets them down. They dig in and eat quickly and quietly. Emma offers to clean up, but Killian doesn't allow that. Despite his efforts she ends up drying the dishes because the dishwasher broke about a month ago and it's too expensive to fix.

"Did he say anything?" he asks.

"Nothing worth repeating," she says as she dries a plate.

"Emma… I want to know," he insists. He hand her another plate. She starts to dry it. He doesn't need to know. It will just tear him apart.

"I'm telling you that you really don't want to," she begins to put the dishes away. He stops her. His electric blue eyes search her face and she caves.

"He said that he wasn't killing me today. That this was to show you that I was his, that you couldn't protect me," Emma says while looking down. Unable to look in his eyes. He leaves her side, goes to their room, and slams the door shut. She sighs and follows him. He's standing at the window with is back to her.

"Killian-"

"He's right. The damn psychopath is right. I can't protect you. I'm not good enough for you," he keeps his back to her. She walks over and places her hand on his shoulder. He shakes her off, but Emma makes him face her.

"No, stop. Killian, please. Don't blame yourself. What he says doesn't matter," she pleads with him. Killian just shakes his head. Emma grabs a fistful of his shirt and pulls him to her. Her lips meet his and their teeth briefly clash. He wraps his arms around her waist and holds her tight. Emma pulls away.

"Please don't ever think you're not good enough for me," she whispers. He nods and she lies her head on his chest. Emma just wants this all to be over. She wants them to go back to normal. Back to where their biggest problem was when he would ask her to marry him again.