A/N For those of you who didn't know, green eyed monster = jealousy (as you'll see in the following chapter). You guys are going to have to trust me – I didn't get to kissage in this chapter because the scene went for longer than I intended but have faith in me… please? You see some interaction between Neal, Emma, Killian and Henry in this update. I pinky swear that there will be kisses for our OTP in Chapter 32 because you're all wonderful beautiful shippers and I love this fandom.

Chapter 31: The Second Try

Neal's eyes landed on Emma first, fear overlaying his features. As his gaze drifted to her side to Killian his defences went up, recognising the man who'd been able to stop her. It was as though he envied that ability, the ability to understand her so thoroughly that he could pull her back from oblivion. Containing the jealousy ravenously blooming in his chest, he spotted Henry and his face lifted tentatively. He looked back up at Emma.

"So this is our kid? This is him?" Neal asked, slightly uncertain.

"Think of it as my way of apologising for trying to kill you," she replied in an even tone. It kind of irritated her that he was speaking about their son like he wasn't there, like he was an object incapable of understanding. Henry seemed disenfranchised with the treatment as well.

"So you're my Dad?" the boy asked, scrutinising Neal who nodded and looked back up to Emma, the silence cascading on the situation. The pirate behind them all shifted his weight uncomfortably, restraining the primal urge to sock the man in the door way. But Henry was here so he shoved his hand and hook in the pockets of his denim jeans and bore the discomfort.

"Before he comes in, I just need to talk to you alone," Emma said abruptly; it surprised everyone including herself but Henry didn't protest. Killian looked anxious at the idea but nodded in concession before stepping back to lean against the opposite wall. Neal managed a tight smile, stepping back to allow them both into the room.

It creaked slightly and the blonde walked awkwardly to the side of the room. She leaned against the wall and watched a sheepish Neal try to think about what to do. He eventually decided to remain standing, facing the woman from the opposite side of the room.

"What do you want to talk about?" he asked, finally reaching a semi-comfortable position.

"I know you tried to leave." The statement made him bite his lip in regret. He had guessed she would find out; after all, it was her father and Bailey who had convinced him to stay. The notion of running was so deeply embedded into him by now that it was second nature to take flight when things got hairy. His ex-girlfriend trying to kill him was definitely classified as hairy.

"I'm sorry, I just… you tried to kill me and I just… I thought I should go," he explained half-heartedly.

Emma narrowed her eyes at the man, "Neal, if I let you into Henry's life, that can't happen. You can't just pick up and leave every time things get tough. You're either all in or all out." Her words seemed to reverberate in the room, not because of the volume but because of vehemence. She was trying to make sure he understood clearly what she was saying.

"I've decided you do need to have a chance with him. But I'll only let that happen if you promise you won't desert him," she reiterated her point, articulating each word carefully. Neal's brows muddled in thought as he considered his options.

"Are you saying I can never leave here?" he asked. The question was a plausible one but it still made the saviour angry that he would even weigh the importance of travel against his own child. She shook her head.

"You can eventually leave but you at least have to stay to get to know him. Then you can go but I swear to god if he never hears from you again I'll come after you myself." The threat hit home and Neal nodded in understanding. The silence in the room extended and finally he seemed to reach a decision.

"I want to be in his life. I'll stay but because I want us to be a family. I want to be the one to pull you back when you're at your worst," he said. Emma's eyes widened slightly.

"What do you mean, you 'want to be the one to pull me back when I'm at my worst?'" she asked, confused by the statement. While she was glad that he'd decided to be in Henry's life – and she knew he wouldn't drop out of it for fear of her – it was still strange that he'd said something like that.

"That guy you brought with you… he's the one who stopped you from killing me. I want to be the one who's able to do that, I want to be the one to get through to you," he explained. Emma rolled her eyes scornfully.

"Neal, you're staying for Henry. Not for me, don't get the two confused," she said curtly, rejecting his idea of the happy family. There was no way that was ever going to happen after everything he'd done. Neal pursed his lips and shrugged as if in defeat, but being a human lie detector can often suck. Emma knew he wasn't through with her.

He walked back over to the door and opened it. Killian and Henry were having an animated conversation when it was interrupted by the latter's father's presence. The young boy stood up and started walking forward before turning around to usher the pirate to follow him. Neal seemed begrudged at this but nonetheless allowed them both to enter the room. The blonde stayed leaning against the far wall but stood a little taller when her son walked in. She smiled at him reassuringly and watched as Killian entered after him.

Henry moved to sit on the edge of the bed and Neal closed the door. As he did, the man noted the pirate's presence resentfully, pursing his lips and sitting next to his son.

"Does he have to be in here for this? This is about our family," he said to Emma, looking at Killian accusingly who raised his eyebrows in disbelief. The saviour was more offended than him apparently though because she spoke directly to the man who'd made the comment.

"Don't talk about Killian like he isn't here and as long as Henry wants him here, he will be here."

Her eyes met his with incinerating intensity and Neal flinched under the woman's gaze. The other man observing this tried not to smile, it rather jollied him that she was defending him to this bastard. It also humoured him that this guy even thought he could make demands after last time. That and the fact he thought he might be able to tell the woman what to do, he clearly didn't know Emma very well.

Henry suddenly piped up in an attempt to diffuse the situation, "And he is a part of our family."

All three adults abruptly stared at the young boy. Emma and Killian more shocked than Neal, who raised his head to look between his ex-girlfriend and the pirate.

"Lad, I wouldn't go so far as to-"

"I'm sorry what?" Neal cut Killian off, staring at Henry's mother. He was scowling unrepentantly, clearly forgetting the power that lay beneath those blue eyes that swiftly narrowed in on him.

"We aren't here to discuss me and Killian; we are here for you to meet your son. Do I need to reiterate what we just discussed?" Emma said; he nerves tingling pleasantly at the phrase 'me and Killian.' She disregarded the sensation and continued to stare at Neal, it was as though the idiot had completely ignored everything she'd just said. Henry's father nodded and, as though it were a muscle being flexed, the blonde read his thoughts instinctively. He was picking his battles. This was not a good battle.

His face resumed the easy-going smile it was so often frequented with, "So what did your Mom tell you about me?" Henry looked at formerly mentioned and smiled guiltily. The day she'd told him wasn't exactly one that should go in the family album.

"I know you two met because you were both thieves," the young boy said, choosing to omit the information about him abandoning her to serve his time in jail. Neal chuckled nostalgically at the reminder.

"Yeah, we did. I hope that doesn't bother you?"

Henry scrunched up his face in thought before shaking his head, "Nah, Grandma was a thief once too. It's how she met Grandpa." The small boy didn't realise how what he'd said might have been misleading as his father looked at the blonde with a look that screamed 'what a coincidence!'

He smiled, "That's just uncanny, isn't it babe?"

Killian watched the exchange with heated eyes, this man's use of a moniker was pathetic. Additionally, if he was going to use her parents' love life as a metaphor; why is it that neither of them ever gave up on each other whereas he had at the first obstacle?

If he had truly loved her he would never have left. From what the pirate knew, this git had left after being told to do so by some mystery individual. Killian had mulled over the subject constantly since Emma had told him the story. If he had been in Neal's position, he knew with all his being what he would have done to stay with her. He would have told the bloke to sod off, he would have taken the fall for the watches if need be. He would have taken her to this place himself, helping her to see it all and understand it all. He would have been there with her; he would have fought for her.

This current situation was utterly infuriating to the pirate but he needn't worry. Emma wasn't at all affected by the coincidence.

"My name isn't babe and it's not uncanny. It's just a common coincidence. For example, I met Killian when he kidnapped me, big deal right?" she said nonchalantly. As soon as the words left her lips, she cursed herself for using the pirate as an example because he immediately raised his eyebrows. Neal's good humour disappeared at the mention of the other man and turned back to Henry.

"So where do you go to school?"

"Just the local one."

"What's your favourite subject?"

"English."

"Favourite teacher?"

"Mary Margaret."

"She's your grandma isn't she?"

"Yep."

Awkward silence began to drop around the room; Henry didn't really know what to say to his father. If he was being honest, the reason he was here was to make sure that he hadn't missed out on too much. Judging by their conversation so far, he hadn't. In fact, Killian was a whole lot more interesting than this man claiming to be his birthfather.

Neal shifted uncomfortably, trying to think of what else to say. This kid was so much like Emma, and yet he was having an impossible time trying to connect with him.

The blonde finally broke the silence with a large sigh before looking at her watch, "Sorry but I think we need to go soon. I'm making a roast for dinner and I need to get home. I'll bring him back another time… remember what I said." She spoke directly to Neal in the last sentence before walking towards the door. Henry jumped off the bed eagerly and followed his Mom to the door. Killian stepped away from the entry, opening the door and leading their little group out.

Neal watched them, envy of the pirate spreading throughout his limbs like wildfire. That man had essentially taken his place, bonding with his son and his girlfriend.

8888

The bell chimed delicately as the middle-aged man entered the pawn shop. From behind the curtain, he could see another man sitting with a woman, drinking tea contently. They looked so comfortable; he almost didn't want to interrupt except the man turned at the sound of someone entering the shop. As Gold pulled back the curtain and recognised his customer, his features softened.

"Bae," he said solemnly, stepping out from the counter to let the exchange be more personal. The man stood back, trying to remain distant from his father.

"You killed her, didn't you?" Bailey asked stoically. Gold's head bowed ashamedly, all but verbally admitting it was the truth. He kept his eyes downcast as he spoke.

"How did you find out?" he asked quietly, his accent stronger with the lack of articulation he usually utilised. His son looked away, breathing deeply to restrain the emotion threatening to overwhelm him.

"No one had to tell me, if that's what you're asking. I just… I think I always knew there was more to it. She was always more likely to have become a pirate than be killed by one," Bailey commented, smiling despite himself. His mother was always vivacious.

"That's exactly what happened," Gold said abruptly, looking up again.

"What?"

"She left us to join a crew… she left you. That man you met, the man who told you to question her death… he was her lover. So when I found her I took her heart in recompense along with the pirate's hand." His eyes glazed over; reliving the day he'd crushed his wife's heart before her lover. The ripples of hate he felt for the pirate came rushing back and he had to restrain the urge to leave the shop in hunt of him. Bailey stood still for a minute, silently immobilised by the revelation.

"You didn't have to kill her," he finally said, voice crackling under the strain of keeping it indifferent.

"I know."

"Why did you?"

"I… don't know. I was hurt and… I was a different person then, Bae," he said, confusion marring his distinct features. He was honest in his statement, he had wanted people to think he was just being cruel in killing her, but it was really just the last option of an innately hurt individual. Bailey somehow seemed to realise this and, despite his anger at the actions of his father, he understood that this man before him was in need of forgiveness and not rejection.

"Look, I'm… I'm not ready to forgive you yet… but I will. I'll come back around, just not right now." Gold's eyes slowly drifted up, meeting his son's in silent agreement. He nodded and watched his son leave, no other words were exchanged. Belle exited from behind the curtain only moments after, embracing Gold from behind in a sign of comfort. He leaned into her arms, trying not to show her weakness as the tears formed behind his eyes.

8888

"So we're having roast for dinner?" Henry said eagerly as they walked away from the dingy Bed and Breakfast. Emma stifled a smile and looked at her son.

"No… I just thought you might need back up," she replied, using the secretive tone that made her nostalgic for the days of Operation Cobra. The young boy smiled and leaned forward to eye the pirate beside his mother, he seemed lost in thought.

"What did you think of him, Killian?" Henry asked candidly. Emma looked at the man beside her, evidently curious as to his response, and waited for him to answer. He looked at both of them, taking a decent amount of time to consider what he would say.

"I think," he finally said, "that he's… a decent bloke."

The response was more for Henry's sake than the blonde's because the second he said the words she knew he was lying. In knowing this she smiled to herself and watched as her young son nodded thoughtfully. Killian smirked at his female companion; he knew she would be able to tell that he wasn't being honest.

"I think he's kind of… boring." The kid's words hung around them for a second and the adults nodded in much the same way that Henry had. They seemed to agree with his judgement.

"So what are we having for dinner, love?" Killian asked the saviour curiously. She pursed her lips in contemplation.

"Pizza?" she suggested, only to receive a horrified stair from the pirate, "what?" she continued innocently. Henry was excited by the prospect of pizza and joined his mother in staring confusedly at the bewildered man.

"That sounds like a disease. What in the bloody hell is pizza?" he replied to their expressions. Henry began to laugh unrestrainedly and even the blonde cracked a slight smile. She looked at him pitifully.

"It's food and I get the feeling you'll love it. Trust me… Henry why don't you run ahead to the Pizza shop and pick out what you want," Emma suggested. Her son looked between the pirate and her once before jogging off quickly down the road.

"What did you actually think of him?" the blonde questioned seriously once Henry was out of ear-shot. Killian smiled and looked sideways at her.

"I think he's a presumptuous, cowardly git who is more interested in securing your affection than forming a relationship with his only son despite the fact you're much too intelligent to allow him a second chance. Additionally… I think his use of the word 'babe' is atrocious."

The corners of her mouth turned upwards slightly and her lips parted to speak. She didn't realise that the pirate beside her wasn't done with his spiel.

"I think he looks at you like you're an object he wishes to possess - something a pretentious twelve-year-old does during adolescence. I think he believes he really was acting in your greatest interests when he left you because I don't honestly believe he could comprehend the cowardice that actually lay beneath his actions. I don't think he knows just how far you've come since he last saw you… I don't think he deserves you."

Emma looked at Killian as they walked but he wouldn't turn to meet her eye, he continued to stare straight ahead as if he wished he hadn't said anything. It was as though he had just vocalised his thoughts without a filter and he was only just realising how unrestrained the words had been. He hadn't attempted to add a suave comment on the end, he hadn't made a sarcastic response. He had simply told her the truth in its rawest form.

Not only that but the notion that he might have such thoughts concerning her was alarming. She couldn't have him growing feelings for her. It would never work, especially now after everything she'd done.

They didn't speak for the rest of the night.

I swear on my mother's life there will be kisses in the next chapter! I just couldn't do more in this chapter without it being… overtly long. Keep an eye out for Chapter 32: Fool You