Today

Killian couldn't take his eyes off the woman who was now sitting on his sofa, sipping from the tea he had offered her. It had been about a year since he had last seen her and in these roughly twelve months she had changed quite a bit. Her long blonde hair had lost a bit of its shine and she looked paler than usual. Her clothing looked worn. And there just was something wary about her entire demeanor, something he wasn't familiar with when she was around him.

But the most noticeable change had to be the baby bump. He wasn't that good at estimating these kind of things but he thought that she had to be about five or six months along.

There were so many questions swirling around in his head that he didn't know which one to ask first and therefore remained silent.

"I'm sorry," Emma said quietly.

"For what?" he asked, his voice sounding rough.

"For leaving. For just showing up at your door and pulling you into my mess. For being a fool. Take your pick."

Killian leaned forward in the chair he was sitting on, his elbows resting on his knees. "What happened?"

"I trusted the wrong person and he left when he found something better," she answered bitterly.

Killian swallowed. "The guy I've seen you with the last time we…"

Emma blushed. "Yes."

"And he also is…" He couldn't finish the question. The idea that some random guy had impregnated her and then dumped her, was more than he could take.

She nodded.

For a moment they both remained quiet, Killian trying really hard to control his anger. Then Killian stood up. "I should tell David that you're here."

Emma tensed, something Killian didn't miss.

"Emma, he and your mom have been worried sick since you left. They need to know that you're alright."

"I know, but could you please wait until tomorrow? I don't think I can deal with David's judgmental tone tonight."

Killian looked at her for a long moment. Finally he nodded.

"Thank you."

"Don't mention it." He sighed. "Where are you staying?"

Emma looked down at her hands and Killian knew that her next words would be a lie. "I've got a place to crash. Don't worry about me."

"Where?" Killian asked her again.

"I've got a car that's parked just down the road."

He was just about to ask again where she intended to sleep, when he realized what she was saying. "No."

"Killian…"

"No! Did you really think I would let you spend the night in a damn car?"

"I'm used to it."

"That doesn't make it acceptable. You can sleep in my bed, I'll take the couch."

"Killian, I can't ask you to give up your bed for me."

"Good thing you're not asking then. And before you even dare to suggest it, let me be clear that there is no way I'd let you sleep on the couch."

They stared at each other for a long moment and Killian was almost sure that Emma would continue arguing. But then she offered him a shy smile.

"Thank you."

He returned the smile. "Anything for you, love." He turned toward the bedroom. "So, while I'm getting everything ready to ensure you have a comfortable night, how about a shower? Because, lass," he said and grinned. "I've got to say you reek as if you've spent several nights sleeping in a car and far away from any shower."

For a moment he thought that he had crossed a line, because she was just staring at him. But then she started laughing and he realized how much he had missed the sound of her laughter. To him it had always been one of the most beautiful sounds.

"Well, if you insist, I wouldn't mind to get cleaned up a little," she admitted.

"Alright then. The bathroom is over there. I'll go and get you some clean towels and some clothes, then we can burn the ones you're wearing now."

"Thanks, Killian." Emma got up from her seat and stepped toward him, kissing his cheek. "I've really missed my best friend."

He pulled her into a tight hug and kissed the side of her head. "So did I," he replied, a hint of sadness in his voice. Then he let go of her. "Now go and clean yourself up."

Emma walked toward the bathroom, while Killian turned toward his bedroom to gather a few things for her to dress in and, after handing them to her, to prepare the bed for his friend.

4 years ago

He wished all those people would just leave.

He didn't even know who half of these people were, not that he actually cared. Not that he really cared about anything at all. Somewhere in his mind he wondered if he would ever care again.

Killian looked around the living room of the house he had lived the last seven years of his life and all he could feel was cold. All warmth had left the house when his mother had been taken from him just a week earlier. One moment everything had been fine, the next her heart had just stopped beating and no matter how hard he or the paramedics had tried to bring her back, she remained lifeless.

He was angry. Angry at the people who only seemed to have remembered his mother on the day of her funeral. Angry at his mother for dying without giving him the chance to say goodbye. Angry at himself for being so angry at his mother, even though it wasn't her fault that her heart had stopped beating.

Killian discovered David and Ruth talking to some of the guests, their faces showing the genuine grief they felt.

He couldn't take it anymore.

Killian headed toward the stairs to go up to his room to be as far away from the funeral guests as the house allowed. Once inside the room, he closed the door and sat down on the floor, his back against the bed. He was staring at the wall, not really seeing anything. He wasn't sure how much time had passed, when the door to his room was opened once again and he didn't have to look up to know who was joining him.

Emma sat down next to him, not saying a word. Instead she reached for his hand, their fingers entwined, and leaned her head against his shoulder. It was this silent show of support that finally allowed the tears he had been fighting all day to fall.

He turned toward Emma and she held him tight, while he cried over his loss.

When finally the last tears had dried, he gently pulled away from her.

"Are you ready to leave?" she asked him quietly. It had been decided a couple of days earlier that Killian would live with Emma's family until his graduation from High School.

"I think I want to spend one last night here."

She looked at him for a long moment. "Are you sure?"

Killian nodded.

"Ok, I'll just tell the others."

Emma got up and left his room to look for her mother and Killian moved onto his bed, suddenly feeling exhausted from this emotional day. He had just laid down, when the door to his room was opened again and Emma reappeared.

Without a word she took off her shoes and climbed into bed with him. When seeing his questioning look, she simply said: "You didn't think I would leave my best friend alone when he's miserable."

Dressed in all but their shoes, they lay down on the bed, facing each other. Again Emma reached for his hand, lacing their fingers.

"One last night?"

Killian nodded.

He hadn't expected to be able to sleep at all that night. But at some point sleep claimed him and offered him the first dreamless night since his mother's passing.

Today

It wasn't yet six in the morning, when Killian decided to quit trying to sleep. Ever since saying goodnight to Emma he had been lying on the sofa, his eyes fixed upon the ceiling, his mind working overtime.

Killian still found it hard to believe that she really was back and he had to force himself not to get up and check if she was actually sleeping in his bed. Even harder to believe was that she was pregnant and he wondered what had happened between her and that bastard, whatever his name was. Had he left her after she had told him that she was pregnant? Or had he been gone already when she learned of her condition? Did he really want to know the answer? Because either way all he wanted to do was beating that bastard senseless for taking her away from her family – away from him – and then leaving her.

Killian lifted his head, when he heard footsteps in the bedroom.

When she emerged from the room, he couldn't help but notice once again just how beautiful she was. Especially with the tousled blonde curls and dressed in his clothes.

Every guy who was even considering leaving her, was an idiot in Killian's eyes.

"Morning," she mumbled, when she noticed that he was awake.

"Good morning, love," he answered with a smile. "I hope you slept well."

"Hmm," she only answered and Killian chuckled. Apparently even being away from home hadn't turned Emma into a morning person.

She disappeared into the bathroom and Killian sat up, deciding that he could just as well start making some breakfast. Emma joined him again, when he was just preparing some scrambled eggs for them.

"That smells great," she said and stepped closer to him.

Killian nodded in agreement, although for him it was the mix of his shower gel and shampoo and the scent that was uniquely Emma that put a smile on his face. Damn, how he had missed her…

When their food was ready, they sat down at the breakfast bar and dug into their meal.

"I think we should plan how much we're going to tell David and your mom on the phone," Killian said after swallowing a bite.

Emma looked at him worriedly. "I guess I should tell them of the pregnancy in person?"

"That would probably best," Killian agreed. "We could leave here around noon; that way David should be off work when we arrive and you can tell them both at the same time."

"You're coming with me?" Emma asked, sounding just a bit hopeful.

"If you want me to be there?"

She nodded. "But I don't want to keep you from anything."

"Don't worry about that." He would have to remember texting Milah that he wouldn't be able to see her that evening, but that should wait until after her interview. "Have you thought about whether you're going to stay with your mom? I'm just asking, because you should probably have a doctor check if everything is alright with you and the baby and if you already know where you're staying we could make an appointment before we leave." He wasn't sure but he figured that it was unlikely to get an appointment on short notice, so it would be better not to waste more time. And even though Emma seemed perfectly fine, it was better to be safe than sorry.

"I guess I'll have to," she said unhappily. "I'm not really able to afford my own apartment and my car is probably not the best place to stay. And I doubt I'll fit in there for much longer anyway."

For a moment Killian just looked at his plate, considering the idea that had begun forming in his head. He knew that returning home meant for her to be back with the family who loved her and had missed her during her absence. But it also meant feeling even more like an outsider. Ruth might be able to not show her disappointment that Emma had dropped out of school and was pregnant with just eighteen, but David probably wouldn't be. Not to mention that he was still being the 'perfect son', as Emma had dubbed him years ago. He was doing great in his classes and was still dating the same sweet and kind woman he had met in his first year in college. Killian didn't want Emma to fall back into the old habit of feeling like the failure of the family. And most of all he didn't want her to feel once again like running away is the best choice for her.

"You could stay here," he suggested calmly.

Her head spun in his direction. "What?"

"I mean, we would have to make some changes around here. Especially getting another bed, because that couch is fine for a night or two, but not for the long run. But if you want, you can stay here."

"Killian," she said, then biting her lip. "It's too much. I can't just have you change half your life, because you pity me."

"I would never pity you. You don't need pity, never did. You've always been stronger than me or your brother. But if I can do anything to make life a little easier, a little happier for you, then I will."

Emma looked at him and Killian thought he saw tears welling in her eyes. Then she said so quietly that he almost missed it: "Thank you."

"Nevermind, love." He sighed. "I guess it's time to tell your family that you're back."