Author's Notes: Whew! If you're staying with me after the last chapter- thank you. I hope the following chapter is a little more satisfying.

Neal stayed until after midnight. He told her about going to New York after she was arrested. He pulled some strings and got a job, a rather successful one. He was now an executive in his company. He managed to get cleared for the charges and was living a normal life. He told her how he wanted to try to reconnect with his father, and with her and Henry. Emma was still processing it all. Neal still loved her, she was his first love. But Killian... They left it as they would talk more before he met Henry. Neal kept asking where the two of them stood, but Emma said she needed time. The next morning, Emma answered the door to find Mary-Margaret and David.

"We brought donuts!" David said, holding up a box. "Where's Henry?" Emma started to blink back tears and Snow immediately hugged her.

"What happened?"

"Long story," Emma said. They sat around the breakfast bar as Emma told them everything. Neal is Baelfire, he wants her and Henry back. Killian is angry and she's afraid he might revert with everything that's happening.

"No, you and Henry have made Hook a new person. He wouldn't jeopardize your safety to further his revenge," Snow said, handing Emma a mug of cocoa.

"Do you love him?" David asked Emma.

"Who?"

"You tell me," David said. Emma looked down and swirled her cocoa around. "Emma, don't make this harder than it has to be. If you love Killian, just tell Neal it's not the right time. You and Hook need to get things settled, then maybe in a little while, he can come back and meet Henry. This can all happen on your terms."

"You don't understand. You weren't there when I was with Neal. He was all I had!" Emma regretted saying that as soon as it came out of her mouth. David and Mary-Margaret looked ashamed. "No, I mean, there's unresolved history. I just need some time." The two nodded and started to clean up.

"What can we do?" Snow asked. Emma shrugged and took another sip of cocoa. "I'll talk to Regina about taking Henry. One less thing for you to stress about. Then I think you should talk to Killian."

"He doesn't want to talk to me," Emma said. Snow made a call to Regina and worked out a plan for the next few days while Emma finished

getting ready for work.

"I'll be in shortly. I want to check up on a call I had yesterday," David said as they left the loft.

"Ah, Daddy's here," Killian quipped as David walked onto the dock. Killian slide down the rope from the crows nest and landed with a thud on the deck. "If you want another duel, I can think of a better person who could use to be run through."

"Emma is going to take off work a little early while I cover for her, and she and Henry can have dinner before he goes to see Hopper. Then Regina is going to take him again for another night, then he'll come stay with us over the weekend. We couldn't convince Regina to let us take him tonight," David explained, ignoring Hook's original comment.

"What does that have to do with me?" Killian asked as he turned back to continue to work on his ship.

"Go over later," David stated.

"Is that a command, your majesty?" Killian joked. David boarded the ship and stood over him. Killian rolled his eyes and stood to face him. "Is there something you wanted to say?"

"Emma needs you."

"No, she doesn't. She's got what's his name." David grabbed him by the arm, the arm with his hook. Killian usually takes that as a challenge, but instead turned simply turned around. No need to start a battle...yet. David's expression turned fatherly.

"Hook, Emma is going through a lot. And Snow and I are there for her 1000%, but she needs something more- and that's you. It doesn't take much to see that."

"Even if that may be, I didn't make her too happy last night, and I know she spent most of the night talking to that Crocodile's son so I doubt she'll be wanting to see me." David put his hands on Killian's shoulders and looked him straight in the eye.

"I'm going to say one word: Fight." With that, David left the boat and headed back to his truck. Killian watched him as he left- he knew exactly what David meant.

Later that evening, Emma was greeted to a bouquet of flowers when she opened the door. Killian popped his head out from behind them and flashed his smile at her.

"I come baring gifts of apology," Killian said as he handed her the flowers. Emma took them, but she didn't look thrilled yet. "Okay, my plan B was chocolate," he said, revealing a small take-out box from Granny's containing a chocolate pie. Emma took that too, a little smile creeping out, but the stare still remained. "Fine then, plan C." Killian reached behind him with his hook and pulled out a pair of handcuffs. "I brought these up from your car. I know you always like me better when I'm handcuffed." Emma rolled her eyes and went back in the living room. Killian followed her and shut the door behind him.

"Killian, about last night," Emma started.

"Don't bother, lass. I was out of line. I was...I was jealous." Killian said with a sigh.

"Killian, I really need you. You're my best friend, and you're my..." Emma started to trail off. Killian looked up, extremely interested.

"What? I'm your what?" Killian said, approaching her. He was suddenly so close she could barely breath. Emma crumpled into his arms, sobbing uncontrollably. Killian wrapped his arms around her and kissed her hair.

"I'm sorry, I'm so sorry," Emma said.

"Shhhh, Emma, you don't..."

"Yes I do! Killian, you and Henry mean more to me than anyone. I never want to hurt you, never again. I'm sorry, Killian, I'm sorry!" Emma sobbed. Killian was trying to hold back tears as well. He never wanted to make her cry. Ever so gently, he brought his hook up to her cheek and captured a tear.

"What do you need me to do?" Killian asked.

"I don't know," she said, burying her face in his shirt. Killian started to stroke her hair while she continued to cry in his arms.

"You know, darling, if Milah were to walk into the room right now, I don't know what I'd do. But I believe that if I was ever unsure, you'd give me the space that I needed. So if you need me to go, I'll go. But just know if you need me, I'll be here in seconds." Emma pulled him closer.

"I don't want you to go. I don't ever want you to go," she whispered. They stood there for a long time, neither of them saying anything until Killian spoke up.

"Emma, if you'll permit me, I'd like to stay tonight." Emma nodded and looked at the clock. It was later than she realized. Killian sat on the couch as Emma slowly got ready for bed. When she came back out in her pajamas, Killian got up, got her a glass of water, then proceeded to get ready himself. When he got in the bathroom, he saw a set of sweatpants and a t-shirt folded and ready for him. Eyeing them, they must have been David's when he was here. Killian got ready for bed, feeling a bit strange wearing regular clothes, and when came out, he expected to see the couch made up and Emma waiting in the living room, but he saw neither. When he went in search for her, she was laying in her own bed.

"Is this okay?" Emma asked. Killian nodded and slipped into bed behind her, cradling her with his good hand.

"Any excuse to get in bed with you," Killian joked. Emma turned to glare at him, but then they both laughed. Killian kissed her hair and laid down on the pillow.

"Always a gentleman," she teased.

"Always." Killian said softly. Over the next hour, they laid in silence. Killian would raise his head when he heard a change in her breathing, and finally, he saw she was asleep. And just as he was about to allow himself to go to sleep too, Emma rolled over in her sleep and cuddled into him. Killian let out a slow breath. Feels like home, he thought. He gave her one last kiss on the top of her head, as if it was the last thing he wanted before he drifted off himself.