So this is my very very first CS AU ever and I'm not sure how it's going to go or if anyone is going to like it. I have at least one more chapter that's already written, but it really depends on the feedback if I continue this so please let me hear it! Good or bad! Here we go!

Chapter 1

David Nolan tried to focus on his crossword as he enjoyed his short-stack, but it was difficult when his daughter was sitting across from him, clearly distracted and bothered by something. Not that she said anything, she always tried to figure things out on herself, she had always been like that…ever since she was a little girl.

When she first started to walk she was determined to do it on her own, with no help from anyone. If she fell on her rump and he'd try to help her up, she'd slap his hands away and say, "No, Daddy! I do it!"

And now, here she was, all grown up…god, where did the time go? It seemed like only yesterday when Mary Margaret came to him that late summer night, tears and fear in her eyes when she told him she was pregnant. They had just finished their junior year in high school and both of them were terrified, but he had promised her that whatever happened next, he wouldn't leave her or their baby. Twenty-eight years later, he continued to keep that promise and had no plans to stop now.

"Nine-letter word for 'troubled'."

Emma sighed as she pushed her eggs around her plate. "I don't know….concerned?"

"Hmm," David murmured as he looked at the puzzle. I was going to put down, Emma Nolan, but…I think yours works, too."

She glanced up, giving him that look, and he just chuckled as he wrote down the answer. "You're hilarious."

He just shrugged and then tossed the paper aside. "What's wrong?"

She set her fork down and shoved it away. "I don't know."

"Yes, you do," he said as he casually reached over and forked up some of her hash browns. "The question is…do you want to talk about it? Or do you want to continue sulking?"

"I don't sulk," she said as she straightened in her seat.

"You're a champion sulker when you want to be, Em…you get that from me."

He said it almost proudly, that she couldn't help but smile. "I also get your stubbornness, which makes me think you're not going to let this go."

"Smart girl," he teased with a wink.

She sighed as she picked up her coffee. "I'm just restless, Dad," she admitted before taking a sip. "I'll get over it in a minute."

"Why are you restless?"

"I don't know, I just…I'm having one of those, 'What am I doing with my life?' kind of moments I guess." She puttered out a breath as she leaned back against her seat, glancing around the diner. "I never thought I'd still be living in Storybrooke by this time, Dad…I always saw myself going off to college, seeing the world."

David's eyes softened as he leaned forward, folding his arms on the table. "I know you did, Duckie."

Emma smiled softly at her childhood nickname he had given her because apparently when she was little, she used to waddle like a duck. "Everything changed when…"

"You got pregnant," he finished for her and gave a little nod. "I understand what you're going through."

"Yeah…I guess you do," she said with a soft laugh and then glanced up. "Do you ever wonder what your life would be like if you and mom didn't have me?"

"At first I did," he answered honestly. "But then I realized wondering was a waste of time, because you are the best thing that ever happened to your mother and me."

Her lips curved up a tiny bit. "Really?"

"Isn't that how you feel about Henry?" he asked with a raised brows.

"Of course," she said quickly, shaking her head. "I have no regrets, he's the love of my life."

"Well, then…there you go."

She let out another sigh and then looked up at her father, wincing slightly. "I'm being stupid, aren't I?"

"No, Duckie…you're being human." He took one more sip of coffee then leaned on his hip to fish out his wallet. "I have to go make my rounds, but I'll see you later at the station?"

"Where else would I be?" she asked and then with a little pout she pulled her plate back to her and stabbed at her cold eggs.

David studied her as he clipped on his badge, officially announcing he was on duty. "If you're still in this funk when I get there, we'll talk more, okay?"

"I'll be out of it, don't worry," she said and gave him a smile. "I'm almost already out of it."

"There's nothing wrong with wanting more, Emma," he said and then gently nuzzled her head before walking out.

She was being stupid, she thought as she grumpily nibbled on her bacon. She was lucky to have this life and to have parents that always supported her. She had a son that she loved and even though the father had broken her heart all those years ago…she still had all the love and support she could ever need.

She remembered how hurt she had been when Neal had left her all those years ago. When she first told him she was pregnant with his child, he was nothing but the supportive boyfriend. He hugged her, and told her everything was going to be all right and that he would support her decision no matter what.

So, it was a shocking slap in the face when he backed out of that promise after she told him she planned to keep it. The bastard actually thought she would get rid of it and then the next day she found a note in her locker at school. The asshole left her a goddamned note and didn't even have the spine to tell her to her face that he was leaving.

The note was filled with apologies and how he couldn't stay in Storybrooke…he had to get away from his controlling father. And he felt like if he stayed to be a father, he would be trapped in Storybrooke forever. He saw the baby as nothing but a curse…keeping him trapped in this town like a prisoner, when she saw the baby as a blessing…of hope and possibility.

She had told her parents that night, crying uncontrollable tears while her dad rocked her in his arms and her mother stroked her hair. They assured her that night that just because Neal had left, she wouldn't have to do this alone…she would never be alone.

And she hadn't been…and not just her parents, but also many people in this town were there for her in so many ways. Neal had broken her heart and the pain still lingered, but she had moved on…she had Henry and she raised him and loved him and did everything she could to make sure he was happy.

And that's what she was going to continue to do, she thought with a firm nod as she slid out of the booth and then made her way to the counter. "Coffee to go, please, Ruby."

"Sure thing, sweetie," she said and got quick to working on it.

No more wallowing, she told herself as she waited. So what if she felt like she was missing something in her life? It was time to get over it. She was blessed and she loved her family and life and…okay, sometimes she felt a little lonely, but that was a lot safer than feeling heartbroken.

She's dated a few times after Neal, had a few flings here and there…but she never let it go any farther than that. She couldn't let herself get emotionally involved that way…she didn't think she could ever survive that kind of pain again.

"Here you go," Ruby said and then smiled as she leaned on the counter. "So…did you hear who's back in town?"

"No," she said as she casually blew in the drinking hole to before taking a careful sip.

"Killian Jones."

Emma choked on her coffee and burned her tongue. "Son of a bitch!"

K&E

She had planned to go to the station, catch up on some much needed paperwork she'd been neglecting, but instead she found herself sitting at the edge of the docks. Her feet dangled below the water, swinging back and forth as the gentle sea breeze teased and tugged at her hair.

Killian Jones was back in town.

She knew him almost all her life, however she could count the number of encounters with the man on one hand. She hardly knew him, yet…the thought of seeing him again left her absolutely breathless. Would his piercing blue eyes still send butterflies through her stomach? Would the soft lit of his voice still send chills up her spine?

She closed her eyes and took a steady breath as her mind went back, thinking of those small, yet powerful encounters. She had always known who he was; everyone did from the moment he arrived to Storybrooke with his family. His parents were born and raised in Ireland and came to their town when their two boys were just kids.

At first they seemed like the perfect family, happy and excited to start their new life here in Storybrooke. But everything had changed when Killian's father up and left with no explanation…as if one day he decided he didn't want to be a husband and a father anymore.

His mother hadn't taken the rejection well and chose endless bottles of alcohol as a source of comfort. She didn't know exactly what he went through during that time, but she did know his older brother had taken over as the responsible one, always taking care of his younger brother.

The Jones brothers were practically inseparable and for many people in the town, they were known as the troublemakers…the bad boys. She herself had always been intrigued by them…especially Killian…but she never thought of them as bad. Just…misunderstood.

He was a year older than her in school and was always aware of him in the halls or in class. Sometimes, when she had been walking down the hall hand in hand with Neal, he'd be there…leaning against the locker and their eyes would meet and she would suddenly feel exposed. Like he was seeing right through her and know all her deepest, darkest desires.

She had been fifteen when they first talked to each other and she remembered it perfectly. She was having dinner with her parents and she was on her way to the station to get her dad so they could walk to Granny's to meet mom who was saving us them a booth.

When she walked in she saw her father sitting on the edge of the chair, leaning his elbows on his legs, talking to a sulky, sixteen-year old Killian, who sported a bloody lip and a chip on his shoulder….

"Oh…sorry," Emma sputtered as her eyes fell on Killian. "I didn't mean to…"

"It's all right," David said as he got up from his seat and went over to give her a quick kiss on the cheek. "I'll be ready in a minute…I just have to make a quick call."

"It's okay," she said as her eyes shifted to Killian and felt something flutter in her stomach when he gave her a little smirk. "Granny's isn't going anywhere."

David nodded and then walked over towards his desk, pointing to Killian along the way. "You stay right there."

Killian rolled his eyes, but did as he was told, stretching his legs out in front of them and folding his ankles as he crossed his arms, defiantly over his chest. "Bloody ridiculous," he muttered under his breath. "And what are you staring at, Blondie?"

Emma was shaking inside, but she didn't dare show it as she gave him a careless shrug. "Just wondering who you pissed off."

"More like the other way around," he said in a soft, yet threatening tone.

"So, who was it?" she asked as casually as possible as she took a few steps closer.

"Just some asshole."

"There are a lot of those in this town, could you be more specific?"

He looked up at her and she could see a hint of amusement in his eyes. "The asshole with the broken nose."

Her brows lifted. "You broke someone's nose?"

"Aye…bled like a stuck pig and cried like a baby."

She was dying to know who it was, but she didn't want to seem too eager. "Did he deserve it?"

He sighed as he scratched the back of his ear. "This may come to a surprise to you, Blondie, but I don't go around looking for fights. I punch a guy?" He gave a little shrug and gestured with his hand. "He deserves it."

"Okay, Killian," David said before she could respond. "Your mom wasn't home."

"Shocking," he quipped with a mocking look. "You might want to try the Rabbit Hole, mate…chances are she's having quality time with her good friend Jack Daniels."

David cleared his throat as he shared a quick awkward look with Emma, before placing his hand on his back. "I did get a hold of your brother, though…he says to come on home."

"Fine," he grumbled as he got to his feet.

"Do you need a lift?"

"I'm capable of walking."

Whatever David was going to say next, was cut off with a soft curse when the phone rang and he went rushing over to fetch it. Killian shrugged on his leather jacket, gave his collar a little pop and gave Emma a wink as he walked by. "See you around, Blondie."

"I have a name, you know," she said as she turned on her heels.

"Is that so?"

"Yes, that's so…I'd prefer it over, Blondie."

"Well, considering we probably won't speak again, it doesn't really matter now, does it?"

"Hey," she called out as he pulled the door open. "You might want to put some ice on that cut…it looks like crap."

He glanced over his shoulder, grinned and raised one intriguing brow. "Aye…but it's better than a broken nose."

The door slammed behind him and she stood there hoping that he was wrong and they would in fact talk again.

She eventually got her wish…one year later.