"My eyes are damp from the words you left,

Ringing in my head, when you broke my chest."

– Youth, Daughter

Emma bit her lip; mind wandering as she attempted to fix Henry's lunch, as much as she tried to focus on the task at hand she couldn't stop her errant thoughts from distracting her. Too many ideas were clamoring for attention in her head, unwanted memories of a certain pirate floating to the surface of her consciousness. Screwing her eyes shut Emma attempted to stem the flow of images that were currently bombarding her. But no matter how hard she tried; blue eyes still haunted her as thoughts of Killian Jones shadowed her every waking moment.

"So I'm going to go and see Neal today, after school."

Henry suddenly materialized at Emma's elbow and the blonde clear jumped out of her skin.

"Oh?" Emma responded, trying to remain as neutral as possible but failing miserably as her voice rose an octave higher than its normal register. The kid might have been oblivious to the intricacies of courtly love but he wasn't an idiot.

"Yeah…" Henry nodded slowly if he were dealing with a toddler. "You can come to if you like, Neal said he didn't mind."

"Right." Emma's hands had ceased to move, the sandwich she was preparing for Henry half made on the chopping board.

"Mom?"

The word managed to jolt Emma back to the present – she still wasn't used to it, she often had to resist the urge to pinch herself whenever Henry used the noun.

"I…" Emma stuttered as she just about managed to place a slice of ham across the buttered bread. "I don't know if I'll have time today."

Ever since Mr. Gold had plucked his son from out of the Enchanted Forest using a feat of magic that had consigned him to a mortal life Emma had only seen Neal twice. The first on his immediate return and the second when Henry insisted they go out to dinner to celebrate. She knew she was only delaying the inevitable, and Neal would undoubtedly figure something was up based on the lukewarm reception he had received and Emma's current campaign of avoidance. But the blonde was finding it increasingly hard to present Henry's father with the truth, continually making excuses not to see him. The truth of the matter was avoidance was by far the easiest of options, especially whenever she was around Neal she felt like she was lying by omission.

"Oh," Henry muttered, somewhat put out. "Is there anything wrong with you two?"

Emma bit her lip her eyes fluttering shut as she stifling the urge to sigh. "Everything's fine between the two of us Henry."

"Then why have you been avoiding him?" Henry questioned. "I'm not blind Mom. And I know Neal doesn't like to talk about that sort of stuff with me, but he does ask about you…"

This time Emma did sigh, her hands resting against the wooden counter top as she attempted to form a coherent sentence to tell her son. "I need you to know Henry, that Neal is great and I'm really happy that you're getting to know him. It's just that right now, aside from that the fact that he's your dad, I don't know where else Neal fits into my life."

Henry frowned, attempting to distract himself by watching Emma slice his sandwich into quarters and place it into his lunchbox.

"I'm just really happy that I have both of you around." Henry whispered as he lent forward before impulsively wrapping his arms around Emma's stomach. He didn't need the words, his simple action expressed everything he could possibly say and for a second Emma relaxed.

"Thanks kid," the blonde whispered before placing a chaste kiss across the top of Henry's head. Clearing her throat Emma brushed away the moisture from her eyes and she gave her son the largest smile she could muster. "Now, time for school."

With Henry disappearing through the front door Emma took a large gulp of her rapidly cooling coffee as she leant against the kitchen counter, she had just managed to navigate the first minefield that was the subject of Neal with Henry. She wasn't about to admit to her son that she was having indecent thoughts regarding Captain Hook and that it was sending her emotions into overdrive, but she had managed to explain her avoidance of Neal didn't stem from some hatred of the man.

"Dammit Henry," the blonde whispered as she caught sight of the forgotten lunchbox. Quickly grabbing the offending object Emma made for the door.

Yanking hard on the handle Emma was granted access to the outside world, but rather than an empty hallway she was greeted by something entirely unexpected and not altogether unpleasant. Hand raised as if readying himself to beg entrance to her chambers stood Hook. Gone was the leather and sword, instead he had adopted dark jeans, practical boots and a grey button down shirt. His rings and beard however were there to stay, as was the eponymous hook.

"Emma!" the pirate exclaimed, his blue eyes widening, clearly taken unawares.

"Jones," Emma replied somewhat frostily.

"You're busy," Hook glanced to his feet, and if Emma hadn't been so nonplussed she would have noticed the slight pink hue to his cheeks. "I should have sent word."

"Sent word?" Emma repeated somewhat incredulously, her eyebrow rising as some of the familiar bite retuned to her voice.

"I believe they call it a telephone?" Hook suggested, his voice soft as his eyes just met Emma's.

"Well, I need to drop off Henry's lunch…" the blonde offered somewhat lamely, thrusting the battered lunch box towards Killian as means of explanation.

"And what on this good Earth is Batman?" Hook questioned, his hand reaching out to trace the scuffed black enamel.

"He's only the best superhero ever!"

Emma suppressed a groan; this really couldn't get any worse.

"Superhero?"

"He's this guy that saw his parents murdered so he decides to dress up as a giant bat and fight crime in the city." Henry beamed as he snatched the lunch box from Emma's hands.

"A giant bat?" Killian repeated somewhat faintly. "And you accuse me of dramatics."

"He doesn't actually exist in this world,' Emma interjected. "He's a comic book character."

"And apparently I am merely a work of fiction as well." Hook countered. "Perhaps this man bat is out there somewhere."

"Batman," Henry corrected. "Man-Bat is someone else."

"Of course, how could I have been so foolish?" Killian sent a charming smile towards Henry and was rewarded with a similar gesture from the boy.

"Hey, kid." Emma waved her hand in front of Henry's face in an effort to gain his attention. "You need to get to school.'

"Yes Mom," Henry muttered. "See you later!"

"Have a good day," Emma smiled warmly, once more gazing at her son's retreating figure.

In the minutes post Henry's departure Emma and Killian stood in silence, both sets of eyes darting about the hallway trying to find something else to catch their attention – anything but look at the person opposite them.

"I…" Hook started to speak before he abruptly clammed up. He had been rehearsing what he was going to say before Emma had opened the door on him, but now all the prepared words he had been toying with were lost to him.

"Do you wanna come in?" the blonde offered, gesturing over her shoulder to the open door behind her.

Hook nodded hesitantly, all of his usual bravado had seemingly disappeared. "Only if it's no trouble."

"Since when have you cared about causing me trouble?" Emma replied, finding it difficult to keep the teasing tone from out of her voice.

"Touché," the pirate whispered softly, the ghost of a smile tugging at his lips and for the first time that morning Emma was reminded of the Jolly Roger's captain.

"So, what can I help you with?" Emma asked, all business as the pirate stepped over the threshold.

"I…" Hook attempted before he suddenly petered off.

"Killian?" The use of his given name caused the pirate to look up. Licking his lips Hook felt his trepidation increase ten fold as he attempted to marshal his thoughts.

"What happened, before, at the beach... I want you to know I didn't mean to impose myself on you."

"This coming from the guy who thought I was hitting on him when I was in fact rescuing him from a giant's trap?"

Killian let out a laugh, shaking his head as he did so. "Emma, you have to know that there's more to me than the flirting and swagger. I don't want to be that person with you…"

Emma sucked in her breath violently, her green eyes widening as she stumbled backward – thrown through a loop. "I can't…"

"Can't what?" Killian shot back, his voice searching and demanding.

"I can't just start dating you…"

"Dating?" Killian frowned.

"Courting," Emma clarified with a wave of her hand.

"I can assure you Swan that I will be the one courting you." Killian veritably smoldered as he moved towards Emma, his intention suddenly impossibly clear in his eyes.

"I was the one who kissed you, remember?" Emma returned, a challenging tilt to her mouth.

"I suppose that would be down to my irresistible magnetism." The pirate returned, a wide grin gracing his features.

"Right, that…" Emma whispered, hers eyes focusing on Killian's lips.

"Miss Swan," Killian said. Placing his index finger under Emma's chin he pushed her mouth shut. "Do try and stay focused."

Emma smiled, "I just need some time, to organize my head space."

"Then I'll be here, waiting." Killian scratched the back of his head, "Well, not right here."

"I knew what you meant," Emma whispered softly.

"So I'll be going."

"Killian," reaching out Emma grabbed the front of the pirate's shirt.

"Yes?"

"You don't have to go."

"No," Killian conceded. "But I probably should."

Emma nodded slowly, her hand dropping from Killian's chest, the warmth suddenly gone from her fingers.

A/N: Hope you guys enjoyed this offering! Reviews are always appreciated!