Returning Home Extra-Emma's departure

Stomach twisting anxiously Killian leaned against the Now Leaving Storybrooke sign just before the painted town line. He hoped, desperately hoped, he was wrong about Emma's intentions. But he knew he was not. So he waited, a text to Henry already typed on his phone. As soon as he saw the yellow vessel he sent the text and, taking a deep breath, stepped into the street. The car moved to the side of him and stopped. Relief washed through him that she had not just driven around him. He held his ground about twenty feet from the vessel hoping Henry and Regina would hurry. He released the breath he had not realized he was holding when she got out of the car. When Emma was running he had not put it past her to just drive away without saying a word. She had been leaving without saying a word. As much as his instincts, and manners as a gentleman, demanded he go forward to open her door and assist her out he resisted. Emma was running, he reminded himself, he needed to let her come to him if they were to have any kind of conversation that was real. "Emma," he said when she came to a stop in front of him. Beyond that he had to let her make the first move. Hopefully he could delay her long enough to allow Regina to get Henry here.

Somehow not surprised to see Killian Emma reluctantly hit the bug's brakes. Everything inside her said she should just keep going, but she couldn't. After seeing him she could not just leave. He had clearly been waiting for her, reading her as an Open Book as he always had. Slamming the door she stalked over to him, ignoring his quiet, 'Emma'. "What are you doing here?" she demanded.

For a minute he said nothing, just stood his ground waiting for her to come to him. It gave her no valid excuse to run and hide from him. She hated (loved) how well he knew her and what she needed. "I wanted a chance to say goodbye." His voice was low and did nothing to hide the pain he was in.

Before she could reply she heard a cry from behind her. "Mom!" Turning she saw Henry standing just in front of Regina, looking between her, Killian and her bug. Slowly he walked forward. "Mom, what is going on?"

One look at his pained eyes told her that he already knew. Heart breaking anew she took a step forward, shooting a quick glare at Killian. "I have to go Henry. I can't stay."

"But Storybrooke is home, our family is here." His voice broke on the last word.

Emma forced herself to keep her eyes on him, unable to look at Killian or Regina. "Not to me, not anymore."

"You're just leaving me? Us?"

"Oh, Henry," she pulled him into a hug. Her stomach was knotting and her head was pounding. She wanted to be far away and to never let go of her son and family. All she wanted was the pain and conflict to go away. She had to leave, to find some peace. "I'm so, so sorry, but I have to do this. I can't stay."

Henry pulled away from his mother, Emma, unable to believe what he was hearing. He had known she was struggling since they got rid of the Darkness, but he never imagined she would run away. Killian's text, this late at night, telling him to hurry to the town line had opened up a pit of fear within him. He had all but dragged his Mom out of bed to get here. Seeing the yellow bug at that painted line, turned as though to avoid hitting someone, with his Mom confronting Killian told him all he had needed to know. He could not stop himself from crying out and running to her, feeling much younger than his thirteen years. Her words physically hurt him and he could not help pulling back. He did not want to be an adult or be understanding. A familiar, comforting hand landed on his shoulder squeezing gently in quiet support. His thoughts started to calm from the chaotic jumble they had been. As had happened often happened during the search for Camelot and a way to free Emma from the Dark One's Darkness Killiian lent him strength and reminded him he was not alone in this pain. Straightening he forced himself to look at his birth mother. "I don't want you to go, but I can't stop you." He stepped away from her, closer to Killian.

"Henry," tears began escaping from her eyes. "I am so sorry," she repeated. "I just-I can't stay, I can't-I can't be what I am needed to be."

"All we want you to be is you," Killian spoke gently. "We do not want anything but your presence."

Wrapping her arms around herself Emma shuddered. "No, people look at me like the savior or a savior that betrayed them. I just can't do it." Her voice was desperate. Killian pulled her into his arms and she clung to him as she had so often once the Darkness was purged. He and Henry had been her dreams and her hope while she was the Dark One. She did not want to leave them but knew she had to. She could not afford to lean on anyone. She had to refind her own strength. "I'm sorry," she breathed one last time, holding her love tighter and pulling Henry into the embrace. Breaking the hug she gave Killian a significant look before she ran to the bug and drove away without looking back or brushing away her tears.

Henry just stood there, watching the yellow bug drive away. He kept staring as the taillights disappeared into the Darkness, wishing to wake up from this nightmare. "She actually left." Killian's arm went around his shoulders to remind him that he was not alone and to lend him support. It was something that had often happened during the long hunt for Merlin. It had become something he could count on. "Are you leaving, too?"

Hand squeezing his shoulder in reassurance Killian shook his head. "No, she wants to be alone and we have to respect her choice."

"It hurts," he whispered.

Killian's voice was just as low and he did not hide his pain from Henry. The difficult search to find Camelot had shown them that was not the way to make progress and deal with the pain. It was actually a hindrance to what they had been trying to accomplish. "I know."

Regina's soft footsteps sounded behind them. "We need to go home, Henry."

He stepped closer to Killian. "Can't I stay on the Jolly?"

The mayor looked back and forth between them. "If it is alright with Killian."

His smile doing little to hide the ache in his heart Killian nodded his agreement. "I would welcome the company." His gaze moved back to Henry. "We need to tell your grandparents."

"Later, please. I can't handle it right now."

"I'll handle them and keep them away tonight. But that is all I can promise." Regina reached out to lay a reassuring hand on Killian's shoulder. "Thank you." Her nod to Henry was all she needed to say.

A slight smile was all Killian was able to muster in return. "Do you want to walk?" At Henry's nod he led him away, hand once again resting on his shoulder.