A/N: Hello, loves!

Fair warning, this is a very short and very feels-y chapter.

You've been warned.

(Enjoy!)

After the game (which ended in a resounding Yankees win, much to Killian's dismay), Emma managed to drag both of them to Central Park for a little visit.

Killian had suggested a carriage ride first, so they did that for a while before taking a stroll along the lake.

"It's so nice outside." Emma smiled, leaning into Killian's arm.

"Aye, it's beautiful." He grinned.

Emma couldn't even reply before her phone started buzzing in her pocket. She looked at it to see that Neal was calling. Killian gently squeezed her hand before hurrying ahead to grab Henry's hand and bring him to the ice cream stand.

"Neal, what do-"

"What the hell are you doing?" Neal accused, causing Emma to close her eyes and move to sit on a bench.

"Neal, what are you talking about?"

"You do know that your kiss with that man was on national television, right?" Neal snapped.

"What was I supposed to do? That's what the Kiss Cam is for, Neal."

"Don't use that as an excuse-you're starting to fall for him."

"Why is that a bad thing?"

"Henry is only six-"

"And he loves Killian." Emma replied firmly, "Let me decide what to do with my son, Neal. He's mine before he's yours."

"Don't do this, Emma."

"Do what? Be happy?" Emma snapped, "You know what? It's time I got my own damn happiness without something ruining it."

"He's not-"

"Don't you dare start telling me what he is or is not. You don't know him, Neal."

"You don't either!" Neal yelled, "You met him on a plane three days ago! You don't know anything about him, Emma! What if he's a creep? What if he's using you?"

Emma's heart dropped to the pit of her stomach, her stupid, stupid insecurities arising again. She really didn't know much about Killian-aside from the fact that he was in the military and from Ireland, and that his favorite book was 'The Good Soldier'.

She swallowed hard, watching him buy Henry ice cream. She knew he was a good man, but-

"Emma, if you don't let him go, I'll forcibly take Henry away from the situation." Neal warned, causing Emma to shake her head and cover her mouth with her hand.

"No, don't take Henry away-you're bluffing, Neal, just stop, please-"

"You may have custody over him, but if I prove that it's unsafe for him, that custody will be gone."

"No, no, Neal, don't take my son away from me, please. I love Henry, but I want him to have a family-and that's not you right now. You're his father, but he needs a dad. How am I supposed to find one if I can't date?"

"Henry has me, and that's all he needs. Saying he needs something further suggests that you don't see me as his father."

"You are, but Henry needs someone who's around all the time, who can really-"

"And this guy you just met is him?" Neal scoffed, "Please-he doesn't even have two hands!"

That was a low blow, even for Neal. Emma shook her head before replying.

"You don't know him."

"Emma, listen to me-" Neal demanded, "Either you get rid of him, or Henry stays with me. Your choice."

He hung up, leaving Emma in a fit of tears.

"Emma, love, what's wrong?" Killian's voice asked, and she felt his hand on her shoulder.

"Nothing." She sniffled, wiping at her tears and rising to her feet, "Henry and I need to go."

"But, we just got here, love."

"I know." Emma said, meeting his eyes as he stood, "And, this? This can't... Happen."

"Emma, what-"

"Here's your book back," She spoke with a sniffle as she dug it out of her purse, "Thank you for letting me read it. I loved it. But, I think we need to part ways after this."

"Emma, I don't understand."

"I'm sorry. This was stupid of me to do. I shouldn't have... I can't."

"Love, is this about Neal?"

"No, it has nothing to do with him." Emma lied, taking Henry's hand, "Have a nice life, Killian. I'm sorry."

Her lip quivered as she walked away from him, covering her mouth with her hand as Henry asked questions. She called for a cab to bring them back to the hotel, and once they were there, Emma laid on the bed and curled up.

"Mommy, why did we leave Killian?"

"It's a long story, kid." Emma sniffled, turning a little to face her son with a small smile, "It's complicated-but, maybe you'll understand it in a few years."

She brushed back some of his bangs as he clutched onto Peter Pan.

"Do you want to hold Peter? He'll make you feel better." Henry smiled, offering the toy to her.

"Thanks, kid. You're always looking out for me." She smiled, pulling him close.

Later that night, after they'd ordered room service and Henry had fallen asleep, Emma's phone wouldn't stop buzzing. It was Killian.

Hey.

Emma, please, can we talk?

I hate asking this, but was it something I did? Something I said?

Emma, please.

Even if you don't wish to see me any longer, I'd hope you could at least tell me why.

Emma's heart broke at that, knowing that Killian was a good man. She knew that, given time, he would have opened up to her completely.

She was stupid to let him go-but there was no going back.

She'd made her decision, and in the morning, she and Henry would be on their way to the airport.