A/N: Hey guys! as usual I want to thank every one who reviewed, followed and favorited :) I am probably setting a pace of updating I won't be able to keep up in once I get back to school, but I hope the writing will flow anyway. More present-storyline in this chapter! I really enjoy writing it. this one's a bit short though. Anywaaaaaays... I hope you enjoy where this is going ^_^

She was quite surprised to find him waiting in the hallway between their apartments when she returned from the station, late at night. He seemed to be half asleep, sitting against the wall and looking rather miserable in his exhaustion.

"How long have you been waiting here?" she asked, apparently waking him up. He rubbed his face with his palm and ran his fingers through his hair, which was rumpled anyway.

"About an hour or so," he answered and got up. "Thank you, again, for letting me stay here, lass," he said, quickly recovering from the tiredness that took over him moments before. She sighed. "You're welcome, Jones." She said. "Not telling you where the alcohol is, though."

He grinned. "I'll find my way to it sooner or later, Swan. I have learnt that if I don't find the alcohol, the alcohol finds me." The things were said in a light tone, but she knew better than that. She had seen and heard him drowning his sorrows more than once. It seemed to be his way of dealing with his emotions, and she couldn't really blame him. It was extremely easy.

She gestured at the couch.

"This is your home for the next… how many days?"

"It's only for a week, Swan, unless you'll ask me to stay longer." He winked and she rolled her eyes, but not without a hint of a smile.

"It seems fair that I will pay for the groceries as long as I'm here." He said. She smiled and threw a blanket on the couch. "Okay."

"I'm gonna go take a shower," she said, disappearing behind the first door in the hall.

When she came out, wearing pajama pants and a large T-shirt, she found him waiting in front of the door.

"I was hoping I could brush my teeth," he hurried to explain himself. She nodded.

"Good night, Jones." She said.

"Thank you, Swan." He said once again. "Honestly." He could actually see the need for a reason, any reason, swirling inside her head, and was very grateful when she just nodded awkwardly and got into her room, locking the door behind her.

Emma left the tavern early in the morning. Her guts squeezed with protest when she thought of the man she was going to meet.

He was already there when she arrived. A hood covered his features.

"Only a coward hides his face in a meeting he called for, Sir." She said in a cold tone. A deep chuckle vibrated in the morning air as the hood went off to discover the face of her adoptive grandfather, King George.

They met, as he requested, in his winter palace.

"Offer our guest some water," ordered the old king. Emma coughed.

"I'd prefer something stronger, if you please. Do you happen to have any rum?"

The king laughed again. "You truly are a pirate, aren't you?"

"I came here to talk about the deal you offered in the letter you sent me. You promised peace with my parents' kingdom if I could get you a certain item, right?" she accepted the glass of rum from the hands of his servant and swallowed it in one quick movement.

"Yes, your parents. How are they really?" Asked the old man, a spark of… Something in his eyes. She couldn't really tell what.

Delight, maybe? But why the bloody hell would he feel delighted?

"Wouldn't know." She shrugged. "Haven't seen them in years."

"A pity, actually." He said. Yes, it was definitely delight. She began to feel disturbed. "You are very much like your mother. I secretly hoped you'd be less naïve, though."

And suddenly, she remembered.

How her mother told her she was poisoned by the very same grinning old man who stood in front of her.

How he prevented her from having children.

She clutched her stomach impulsively. His smile widened. "Yes, you cleaver girl. Exactly. "

Her eyes filled with tears. "Why would you do this?" she whispered.

"Well, to do your father some quality damage of course." He replied. "But I also invited you here to tell you about a curse I plan to enact with the help of a lovely lady named Regina, surely you've heard of her. I hold nothing against you personally, so I suggest you take off on this lovely ship of yours. Pain for your father, you being safe. I think it's a win-win situation."

"What will it do? The curse." She weakly asked. He smiled calmly, only convincing her more in his insanity. "It will rip everyone apart from their happy endings," Was his answer.

A few minutes later she was on her way back to the tavern, still stunned and emotionally unstable.

She can never have kids.

And everyone was about to lose their happy endings.

What a great way to start the day.

What do you think? let me know :D