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Once Upon a Time © ABC

Emma's P.O.V.

I drove my car quickly down the road to Neal's apartment. I gave a huge sigh when my thoughts crossed Killian. I know I should've been easier with the subject, and I know he took it the wrong way, but come on. He needs to get over his jealousy.

I parked my car outside Neal's apartment building and rang the buzzer for his apartment.

"Hello?"

"Neal, it's Emma. I need to talk to you," I said, shuffling my feet.

"Come on up," he replied as I heard the door unlock. I climbed the single set of stairs to the second floor and knocked on room 113. The door swung open to reveal Neal Cassidy, with a small smile on his face. "Come on in. Everything okay?" Neal asked curiously. I nodded and swallowed.

"Yeah, everything is fine," I said as I stepped inside. I looked around me. There were boxes surrounding the room and a suitcase on the bed. My intentions to speak to him about Killian completely shifted in those two seconds. "Neal, what's going on here?" I asked as I scrunched my eyebrows in confusion. He sighed and looked down at the floor, crossing his arms in front of his chest.

"Look, Emma, I, uh, I got a new job. In New York," he began to explain. "I still want to be in Henry's life, I really do, it's just that… I feel like I'm intruding here," he said as he finally looked up at me.

"Intruding?" I asked curiously.

"Yeah, on you and Hook," he said. I opened my mouth to reply, but he threw a hand up. "Yes, I know about you and Hook. The whole town had suspicions. And when you came home tonight without anyone else, I had a feeling. I was sitting in the diner when you drove past," Neal explained. I narrowed my eyes.

"You're not intruding Neal. You've never felt like that before. What else is waiting for you in New York?" I asked him.

"Emma, it's not important-"

"Neal-"

"It doesn't have anything to do-"

"Neal!"

"There's a girl, okay?!" Neal finally yelled back. He took a deep breath as both of us paused for a moment. "There's an old friend back in New York. She called me," Neal finished quietly. I was speechless for a minute.

"Wow Neal. A new job and a new girl. Anything else you're hiding from me?" I asked with my hands on my hips.

"What about you and Hook? When were you going to tell me about that one?" Neal retorted, dodging the subject of Henry.

"Right now. I drove over here because I wanted you in Henry's life. I wanted him to have a father. I wanted him to know his real father," I explained. "But instead, you're leaving me again. You weren't even going to say goodbye," I said, fighting back tears. "You were going to leave me behind again. And not only me this time, but Henry too."

"Emma, it's easier this way," he began to explain. Neal took a step towards me and I stepped back.

"That's your own opinion, Neal! You were making a decision for both Henry and me without even talking to us. Do you care at all?" I asked, almost not wanting to hear the answer.

"Of course I care Emma. It's just that I think I need to move on," Neal explained.

"So that's just it then? You're going back to New York. What am I supposed to tell Henry?" I questioned. Neal was beginning to get aggravated.

"I don't know Emma! All I know is that tomorrow morning I am leaving Storybrooke. I would love to come back every now and then to see you and Henry but I need this job and…"

"…and you need that girl," I finished for him. "I shouldn't be jealous over your new girl; in fact, I'm not. I'm just upset that you were going to leave us like we meant nothing to you."

"Emma, come here-"

"No!" I yelled, dodging his hand and causing him to step back. "I'm done Neal. I'm done with you leaving me behind, leaving Henry behind. Good luck in New York," I said as I swung the door open. I stormed down the stairs and outside. It had begun snowing now, and the cold was picking up.

I refused to drive under such conditions and instead stormed down the road to the shore. I plopped down on the rocks below me and crossed my arms firmly against my chest, partially due to the cold, partially due to my emotions. Fresh tears threatened to fall, and for once I didn't deny them. With my knees now up to my chest, I tucked my head inside my arms and cried. I was tired of being lied to, being deceived, being… let down. I watched through blurry vision as the snow melted away in the sea. I could see a mass not to far from here, something bobbing along the water. I smiled when I realized it was the Roger. Perhaps a little walk about the ship wouldn't hurt…

This time I got in my car and drove it carefully to the docks, avoiding the new snow as much as possible. Parking my car, I climbed out and walked toward the Jolly Roger. I climbed aboard deck and admired the look of the ship. She was covered in a thin blanket of white, dusted with white specks here and there. The snow crunched under my boots as I stepped towards the railing across the gangplank. I leaned on the railing and let the snow fall around me. My breath became a cloud in front of me as the temperature dropped some more. I suddenly gasped when I found an arm on each side of me, leaning on the railing, and warm breath on my neck.

"My dear, I don't believe you have the captain's permission to be aboard," I heard. My shoulders relaxed suddenly and I smiled. He nibbled lightly on my neck.

"I asked him at dinner. Does he not remember?" I asked without turning around. His head fell onto my shoulder before he shot back with a small gasp, causing me to turn around rapidly. "What?" I asked, somewhat fearful.

"Swan, you're practically frozen. Your jacket is icy. Come here, love," he said as he stepped closer to me again. He pushed the jacket off my shoulders and let it drop to the snow covered deck. I now stood in a short-sleeved shirt and my jeans and boots. Killian shrugged off his own jacket- for once, not made of leather- and wrapped it around my shoulders. The warmth of it instantly brought feeling back to my arms and I sighed happily. I slid my arms into the sleeves and picked my prized leather jacket up to hang over the railing. I turned around to meet Killian's eyes.

"What?" I inquired curiously, noticing his stare on me. He wound a hand through my blonde hair.

"You're so beautiful," he said as he admired my hair. There were small specks of snow in it. I couldn't help the shade of pink that crept across my face. With one arm tucked firmly around my waist, he brushed a thumb along my cheek. "Darling, are you alright?"

"I'm okay now," I said, letting a smile slide across my face. Killian nodded. I knew he would wait for me to talk about it. That was something I had come to love about him. He didn't push, didn't demand, didn't require anything from me. He only loved me. "Thank you for the jacket," I whispered as I leaned my head onto his chest. I closed my eyes, suddenly feeling very sleepy.

"Of course, love."

"I love you."

"I love you too," he whispered back. "Will you tell me something lass?"

"Of course, Killian," I replied, not moving my head from its spot.

"There's a scar that runs across your heart; you keep it hidden from most. Where did you get it?" Killian asked as he ran his thumb right along the scar through my shirt and under the jacket. Chills ran down my spine from the fact that he bloody memorized where it was on my body.

"How'd you know about it?"

"Ah ah ah, Princess. I'm asking the questions here," Killian scolded with a light tone. I shivered and pressed myself closer to him while he patiently awaited my response as his hand lazily rested on my collarbone, occasionally tracing my scar.

"It was back in the orphanage. I was in between foster homes. One of the women there had never been the kindest, so when something set her off, it got ugly.

"I had just come back from a foster home about a week earlier. When she found out that they didn't want me, she was furious at me, calling me things I dare not repeat and blaming me for being a problem. She picked up the picture frame on her desk and chucked it at me without a second thought.

"The cut slit open immediately, not that she cared or noticed. I treated it myself, but I had to wear higher-collared shirts after that little incident. I was just 9 years old. I try not to think about it too much; it makes me think of one of many unhappy times in life," I finished. Killian brought my shirt down far enough to reveal the scar, but not enough to show off anything else. He bent down and kissed the scar.

"My darling, as long as you are in a happier part of life now, then I promise you the past is only the past," he whispered against my lips.

"Killian I'm happier than I ever could be," I started, "but I think it's your turn to tell a story. Tell me about…" I trailed off for a minute, deciding which scar to question him about. "This one," I said, tracing a scar that ran down his collarbone only for a couple inches.

"Ah, yes," Killian began, "I do remember this one quite well. It was back when Milah was on the ship with me, and we were in my quarters discussing some matter about her son. I, for one, wanted to meet the lad, but she refused, saying that it was useless to try and take him from her husband, The Dark One. She was not yet aware of her son's situation in the Land Without Magic.

"It had gotten her so frustrated that she quite literally grabbed the sword by my bed and took a swing at me. I immediately drew my own sword and blocked her attack. I certainly didn't want to hurt her, so I only blocked. Milah grew even more frustrated that she couldn't hit me, so she picked up the oil lamp on my desk and threw it in a fit of rage.

"The glass broke, a piece ended up right where this scar is," Killian explained as he traced the scar with his hand, "and she instantly realized what she'd done. Milah apologized hundreds of times over, and she helped to remove the glass and fix the wound. It would only be a couple hours later when The Dark One would come and take her heart from her," he finished, his voice dropping in volume near the end of his story. I wound my fingers around his and dove in for a kiss.

"I'm so sorry Killian," I said between kisses. He smiled against my lips.

"As long as you never leave my side, Emma, there's nothing to be sorry for," Killian whispered with a genuine smile. I nodded.

"About Neal…"

"Darling, you tell me when you're ready," he interrupted. I nodded, still wound in my pirate's embrace.

"I am. He's leaving tomorrow morning, back to New York. He said there was a job waiting for him, and another girl," I began, "so he's going to not only leave me behind again, but leave Henry behind. He thinks it's for the best, because I've got you now. But he won't listen to me; nothing will change his mind."

"Emma, love, I'm so sorry," he said and pressed me against him. I wrapped my arms around his neck as he coiled his around my waist even tighter. "Have you told Henry yet?"

"No. I don't know how to," I said quietly, not wanting another round of sobs to start. I let a tear slide down my cheek, and Killian brushed it away before it could leave my face.

"We'll do it together, alright? I'll go with you," he explained with a small smile. I nodded and returned the smile. "Now, I think we've both had enough heartbreak for the evening. Perhaps we should head back to your place and do something… a little more fun?" His voice dropped an octave near the end. I shivered and laughed.

"Are you ever going to get your mind out of the gutter?" He replied with a laugh.

"Darling, my mind has permanent residence in the gutter. But let's not forget that I'm always a gentleman?" He questioned and took a step back from me to offer me his arm. I grabbed my jacket off the railing with one hand and took his arm with the other. Together, we walked back to the apartment as the snow gently fell around us, unable to wait and see what adventures awaited us tomorrow aboard the Roger.

Anyone catch the sneak peek of this chapter on my twitter? :)

I only have one chapter left :( I'm not quite ready to leave this one behind. I really did love writing this.

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