A/N-

-DISCLAIMER: I don't own OUAT or any OUAT characters.

- Hey everyone! I just wanted to let y'all know that I've also posted this story on Wattpad so if anyone stumbles upon it there, just know that it's me and not some thief thing!

-I forgot to mention that Henry and Naomi are eleven right now. I made them a year older because of future complications and plans. Everything is still kinda the same!

-This chapter is kinda weird. I've decided not to write out The Price of Gold and That Still Small Voice, so this chapter will have the highlights and important parts of those episodes as well as my own extra scenes. So next chapter will be picked up at The Shepherd.

Chapter Four: A Deal is Made

"Deputy Swan." Killian mused with a small grin, "Has a nice ring to it."

Emma rolled her eyes, "I don't know if I'm gonna take the job."

Killian just made a little humming noise that said otherwise and took a sip of his coffee. Emma looked at him and leaned back in her chair, crossing her arms. They were both sitting at a table at Granny's, and thats when Emma realized that Killian was well and truly her friend. She found that she enjoyed his company- even when he was being a flirtatious asshat- and he was nice to talk to. Besides, he intrigued her.

"Why aren't you deputy?" She asked him suddenly.

Killian raised a brow, not expecting the question. "Well Graham did offer me the job years ago but I turned it down. I like my job down at the docs. I have my own boat, I have winters off, and I make my own hours."

Killian furrowed his brow, years ago that had seemed like a good excuse, a good reason to turn down a deputy position, but now. . .something was different. Of course, he always has and always will love the sea, but why? Why did he have a job that he was never there for? Why was he being paid to fill out a few forms and go on with his day? Why did he love working on missing persons cases with Graham more than his actual job? He was practically a deputy now, so why shouldn't he be paid for it?

Killian shook his head. No, he liked his job at the docs. He has his own boat, he gets winters off, and he makes his own hours.

Emma could see him thinking hard and frowned, "Killian-" She started just as Ruby walked over and put a hot cocoa in front of her and Regina walked in.

"How was your walk with Henry?" The mayor asked sitting across from Emma. "Thats right, I know everything. But relax, I dont mind."

Killian seemed to have snapped out of his thoughts and was watching the interaction curiously. Emma raised an eyebrow, not believing her for a second. "You dont?"

"No, because you no longer worry me, Miss Swan. You see, I did some digging into who you are," Regina began. Emma tensed, digging was never good for her. The blonde glanced at Killian who she knew was listening closely. Regina continued, "And what I found out was quite soothing. It all comes down to the number seven."

"Seven?" Emma asked

"It's the number of addresses you've had in the last decade. Your longest stint anywhere was two years. Really, what did you enjoy so much about Tallahassee?"

Emma straightened her shoulders, Tallahassee was a sore spot for her. She could feel Killian's eyes on her, watching her closely.

"If you were wondering, I did find a place here in town." Emma told the mayor.

"I know," Regina said with a nod," With Ms. Blanchard. How long is your lease? Oh wait, you don't have one." She smirked, "You see my point? In order for something to grow, it needs roots. And you Ms Swan dont have any. People don't change, They only fool themselves into believing they can."

Emma tilted her head her eyes narrowing,"You dont know me."

"No, I think I do," Regina said, "All I ask is, as you carry on your transient life, you think of Henry and whats best for him. Perhaps consider a clean break, its gonna happen anyway." Regina stood up, "Enjoy your cocoa."

Regina walked out of the diner leaving Emma staring at her now empty chair. Growling in anger, Emma stood up. Not realizing how tight of a grip she'd had on her drink, her movement caused her to crush the cup and the contents spilled onto her shirt. "Ugh, really?"

Killian stood up as well, he was also pissed at the cards Regina was playing, but he pushed his anger aside and handed Emma a towel. "Here love. There's a laundry room in the back."

Emma took the towel, "Thanks." She sighed and walked to the laundry room that Killian had suggested. She noticed A young blonde girl working but ignored her as she yanked off her ruined shirt and grabbing a different one from the clothesline.

The young girl behind her gasped as she looked at the pink sheets, "Oh, no, no, no, no, no!"

Emma looked at her, "You okay?"

"The sheets, they're uh... pink." She said through a broken laugh.

The girl lowered the sheets revealing her heavily pregnant stomach.

"Oh." Emma said in surprise.

Ashley sniffed,"Last night I felt contractions, and the doctor said that the baby could come any day now. It's just that, um, when the... when the baby comes... no one thinks I can do this. No one thinks I can do anything. Maybe they're right."

Something snapped inside of Emma. This girl reminded her too much of herself when she was pregnant with Henry. So she said something she wished someone had said to her.

"Screw 'em."

"What?" The girl asked in surprise.

"Screw them." Emma repeated, "How old are you?"

"Nineteen."

"I was eighteen."

"When you... when you had a kid?" The younger girl asked.

Emma nodded, "Yeah. I know what it's like. Everyone loves to tell you what you can and can't do especially with a kid, but ultimately whatever you're considering doing... or giving up... the choice is yours."

She shook her head, "It's not exactly what you might think it is."

"It never is." Emma shrugged, "People are going to tell you who you are your whole life. You just gotta punch back and say, 'No, this is who I am.' You want people to look at you differently? Make them. You want to change things you are going to have to go out there and change them yourself because there are no Fairy Godmothers in this world."

David rubbed his temple. Kathryn had just left after showing him more pictures of people he didn't know, dog he couldn't remember, and moments he'd forgotten. It had been a little over two weeks since he had woken up from his coma and there was no sign of his amnesia going away. David wasn't sure of anything.

Well, that wasn't necessarily true.

Mary Margaret was probably the one thing he was sure of. She was the one thing that made sense to him. She would come in and chat with him, sometimes play games, and go on short walks with him.

His thought were interrupted by a throat clearing.

David looked to see a familiar man with black hair and blue eyes, wearing a black leather jacket, standing at the door.

"Oh, Hello." David greeted.

"Hello." The man said with a nod, "I'm Killian Jones." He introduced.

David nodded in recognition, "I saw you after I woke up."

"Aye." Killian confirmed, "I was apart of the search group that found you."

"Well, I'm very grateful." David said, "Thank you for your help."

"No problem, mate." Killian said, "I just wanted to come by and see how you're doing."

David shrugged, "Doctors say I'm getting better. . .physically."

"Still no memories?" Killian asked.

David shook his head and sighed, "Nope."

"I'm sorry about that." Killian said sending the other man a sympathetic look.

David waved his hand, "I'll get past it. Um, Kathryn has been trying to help by showing me pictures."

"Kathryn is your wife, right?" Killian asked.

David furrowed his brow, "Yeah, that's what they're telling me."

Killian tilted his head, "What do you think about that?"

David shook his head, "It doesn't feel real. None of this feels real. The only thing real about any of this is Ma-" he cut himself off and looked at Killian, "Sorry."

"No worries." Killian said waving a hand, "You're stressed, it's okay. You do what you think feels right and just go with it. Dont let these people try to push you."

David nodded, thinking about those words carefully.

"Look, if you ever need a mate to talk to, I work down at the docs but if you can't find me there I'll probably be at the police station or Grannys." Killian told him.

David chuckled, "Thanks. . .mate."

Gold sat behind the counter in his pawn shop. He had his favor from the savior, now all that needed to happen was for the curse to break.

Snow White and Prince Charming were finding each other which was a sign of the curse weakening. That was good.

Gold smirked, yes, things were running smoothly now.

Things were going just as he planned.

Nothing was going to stop him from finding his Baelfire.

Naomi has it all planned out, August thought.

The moment he had walked into their hotel room, and saw Naomi sitting on the bed with her arms crossed and a strong look of determination on her face, he knew he was in for it.

She had told him her wish to visit storybrooke and meet Henry and her mom, and how she wanted to help break the curse. She had also expressed her concern for him and his whole 'becoming a wooden puppet again' problem.

It may be selfish but August just wanted to stay away. He wanted to be with Naomi as far away from magic and danger as he could. However, the fact that he was turning back into a puppet wasn't a good sign for anything. He was no use to Naomi if he was a log on a bed. He knew the only way he could stop turning into wood, was for the savior to break the curse.

August messaged his temple and looked at his daughter, "This is what you really want to do?"

Naomi nodded, "Yes. We aren't doing anything useful by just sitting and waiting. You're getting worse by the day. Don't look so surprised, You're not good at hiding it from me. We need to do this, papa."

August sighed, of course she would call him papa. Call it a weakness, but it's what he used to call his own father. "I'll think about it, okay?"

Naomi smirked, "Great, I'll start packing!" She said hopping off her bed.

August gave her a look, "I just said I'd think about it. I never said yes."

Naomi shrugged, "But you also didn't say no."

"A tie?" Emma asked as she stood in front of the sheriff and his friend. She held a police uniform in her hand, giving Graham an unimpressed look. "You know you don't have to dress a woman as a man to give her authority- not a word Jones!"

Killian smirked wickedly, "And what did you expect me say?" He said, "I was just going to say that I agree with you one-hundred percent. Women, authority, very nice indeed, love."

Emma rolled her eyes. God, he could make anything seem sexual.

Graham cleared his throat awkwardly, "Okay, so you think you can get people to do what you want in that red coat?"

"I'm getting you to do what I want right now."

Killian chuckled, "She got you there, mate."

Graham turned to glare at his friend in annoyance and amusement. "What are you doing here again? I don't remember hiring a second deputy."

"I was bored. Besides, you love me Grammy."

"Grammy?" Emma asked quirking about, her voice revealing her obvious amusement watching their banter. They were literal five year olds.

"Aye, love." Killian grinned, "Old nickname."

"Oh up yours killy."

Emma snorted this time, "Killy?"

Killian glared at the sheriff, "We're getting off subject now." He said gesturing towards the uniform that Emma had placed on one of the desks.

Emma and Graham shared a look, both amused in Killian's sudden change of attitude towards the conversation.

Graham shook his head and looked at his new deputy. "Well, at least wear the badge." He held out the golden badge and glanced at it. "Go on - take it." Graham urged. "If you really want to be a part of this community, we have to make it official."

Emma's eyes flicked from the badge to Killian who was watching them quietly. She looked back a graham before taking the badge and clipping it onto the waist of her jeans.

That's when the mines collapsed.

"Alright." August spoke up from his bed. Naomi looked from the tv to her dad, "I've thought about it." He continued with a sigh.

Naomi perked up, immediately knowing what he was talking about, "And?"

He ran a hand threw his hair, "I guess we're going to storybrooke."

Naomi squealed and practically tackled August with a hug. "Thank you papa!"

August couldn't help but chuckled at his daughter's excitement. "Okay, hold Nomi. We need to discuss some things first."

Naomi nodded and sat up, raking a hand through her now messed up hair.

"First of all." August started, gesturing around the hotel room. "We're in Thailand."

Naomi rolled her eyes, "I know that."

"We had planned to stay until Christmas."

Naomi paused, that was true and she had been excited about that. Things were different now. She bit her nail and looked at her dad, "What do you wanna do?"

"I wanna do whatever will make you happy. That's what I've always wanted to do." He told her truthfully.

Naomi rubbed her arm and bit her lower lip, "I still want to go to Storybrooke. I want to meet my brother and my mom."

August nodded, trying to ignore the sinking feeling in his stomach, "Okay." He ruffled her hair, "I'll see about plane tickets tomorrow."

Naomi gave him another hug, "Thank you papa."

This guy has a boat? Was all David could think about when he arrived at the docks. He saw Killian standing on the room of what looked like a mini yacht. He was rolling up some rope when David arrived.

"Ahoy there!" He called, walking along the dock.

Killian looked back, "Ah, David." He hopped down from the roof and onto the deck. "Finally out of the hospital I see."

David smiled, "Yeah, uh, they released me this morning."

"That's good, mate." Killian smiled, "I assume you're gonna be going back home with your wife?"

David shook his head, "No. I um, I listened to what you said. I uh, told Kathryn that I didn't think it was gonna work."

Killian raised his eyebrows in surprise, "Really?"

David nodded, "I just. . . I just need to figure out my life, you know? Without anyone pushing me."

Killian nodded, still surprised his words had caused such a big decision. "Absolutely. Good on you. Do you have a place to stay?"

"I was probably just gonna get a room at Grannys." David replied.

"Nonsense!" Killian waved his hand, "I have an empty room at my place. You're welcome to use it."

David shook his head, "No, I don't wanna put you out."

Killian chuckled, "I could really use a roommate."

David paused, "You sure?"

"Of course." Killian nodded with a grin.

David smiled back, slightly relieved that he wouldn't have to live out of a Bed and Breakfast. "Thanks Killian."

Wow, who knew a simple conversation with Killian could make such a big difference.

Speaking of, Killian and David as roommates? What do y'all think?

Emma is a deputy!

August and Naomi are coming to storybrooke! Yaya!

This chapter is a short one. It didn't make it past my 3000 word goal but I will make up for it next chapter. Things are starting to move along and im super excited to see what happens! I have so many ideas that I can't wait to show you guys!