Chapter 7

The sheriff's department had been relatively quiet so Emma gave her father the day off and began filling out paperwork. After an hour of writing, writing, and more writing, Emma decided to play a nice round of trash bin basketball. Her bliss was short lived when she suddenly heard the telltale sound of Killian's shoes tapping towards her. Emma sat down at her desk with a dramatic sigh and roll of the eyes. She had been avoiding him because she knew she had to break up with him and if the past was anything to go by, Killian Jones did not take no for an answer. The handsome pirate appeared in her office doorway with a cocky grin.

"Swan!" The man made his way around her desk in order to stand in front of her, "Have you missed me?"

"Missed you?" Emma grinned amusedly, "Hardly."

"Oh c'mon, love, you can tell me the truth. You've realized just how much her heart yearns for me and you're running scared." Hook smiled crookedly, his blue eyes leering.

Emma couldn't prevent the chuckle of disbelief that flew out of her mouth, "Are you… fucking kidding me?"

There were several beats of silence before Killian placed his index finger under her chin, lifting to force eye contact, "I love you too."

Emma sat stunned. She knew this man. He gave everything up to be with her and she believed that in the future, after his heart repairs itself, they could be friends.

"Killian—" A soft knock interrupted Emma's rejection. The two occupants turned to see Regina at the door, her hands clutching a stack of manila folders. It was obvious to Emma that the brunette had heard some of the conversation. Unfortunately for the savior, Regina simply heard the pirate's declaration and decided to interrupt, wanting to avoid hearing Emma return the man's advances.

"Gina!" Emma shot out of her seat, bumping Killian off of the desk corner. In turn, Hook accidently knocked over a transparent box containing paperclips causing them to scatter all over the floor.

Regina grimaced, "I just wanted to drop off these blank report forms. You mentioned you were running out."

"Thanks. Um…" Emma murmured, aware that the mayor was misinterpreting the situation.

"No problem." Regina cleared her throat, lingering awkwardly in front of the desk as if she had something to say but felt uncomfortable to do so with Hook in the room. Emma turned to tell the man to give them some privacy but was too late.

"Regina, if you don't mind, we were having a special talk here." Killian stated impatiently as he dumped the remaining paperclips back into their original container. Regina startled before nodding.

"Of course." The brunette answered shakily before sprinting out of the office.

"What the hell!" Emma pushed Killian's shoulders roughly. The pirate landed on the green, faux leather couch with a thud.

"What?" Hook shrugged his shoulders, a smirk overtaking his face, "That dyke needs to run along. I'm tired of her making eyes at my woman!"

Emma gaped before unnecessarily shoving the man back, "How dare you?"

"What's the big deal?" Hook exclaimed, "I'm showing her that you're mine!"

"I am no one's possession!" Emma yelled, "And I care about her! You were so rude, making her believe something happened that didn't."

"You were about to tell me you love me too. How is that not special?" Killian flashed an insincere smile.

"Except that I don't! I don't love you and, right now, I barely like you!" Emma shoved his legs out of her way before making her way to the door.

"Yes, and you'll never love me, will you? You're already all in with that woman!" Emma's steps faltered. He knew. Emma deliberately turned to glare at the man, "Aye, mate, I know all about your little crush. I saw it at the diner when you told Henry that Regina was sacrificing herself for the town. You admired her for her bravery but then, on my ship on the way to Neverland, that's when it became clear. You didn't realize it at the time but your eyes softened every time she came into view. It was abhorrent."

The room went still. The only noises heard were the creaking of the old pipes in the wall and the wind sliding over the glass window in the corner of the office. The pirate wasn't finished.

"But I thought I could change you. After all, you had no bloody idea about your own feelings and sexuality. It was too easy. I practically forced you into this relationship through guilt. How can you resist a man that sold his ship for you? You can't. And you didn't. I sincerely thought that your little girl crush would fizzle away once you experience what a real man could do for you, to you. But you never wanted me to touch you. Sure, I was allowed small kisses and hugs. My sexual advances were rejected, my romantic gestures were not appreciated, and my love was underrated! All because of the Evil Queen. How quaint."

Hook rose from the couch menacingly, "I'm tired of being ignored."

"Are you not listening to me?" Emma chuckled darkly. Who was this man? What happened to the Killian she enjoyed spending time with? Emma supposed he never existed. That man was a façade used in an attempt to bed the savior.

"Things are going to change, love. We're going to start over and you're going to give me the chance I deserve!"

"I don't owe you shit! And you're right Hook. Things do change. For example, we're over. I don't want to see you until you've overcome your Napoleon complex. I need you to understand that I gave you a chance, a chance, because I was unaware of my feelings for Regina and because I thought you were a good guy! Obviously, I was wrong!" Emma didn't falter this time. She sped out of her office, leaving her old perception of life and love behind.

Regina walked dismally into the diner, feeling grateful for the fact that it was pretty much empty save for Grumpy, who was drinking the day away as usual. It was five o'clock somewhere, as he would proclaim. She had entered the diner in hopes of talking to her Pup about the debacle with the greasy Captain and Emma but Ruby was nowhere in sight.

"She's in the back taking her lunch break." Granny explained as she wiped off the counter. Regina nodded her head gratefully before making her way to the back room. She knocked on the door and heard a light 'come in'. Regina entered the small room and saw Ruby slouched on one of the loveseats with a Chinese takeaway container resting between her thighs.

"Why do you order Chinese when you work in a fully stocked dinner?" Regina chuckled lightly. Ruby smiled widely before ladling fried rice into mouth.

The younger brunette sipped from her soda, swallowing with exaggerated movements, "The inner wolf wanted pork fried rice."

Regina smiled; it didn't quite reach her eyes. A normal person wouldn't have caught it but Ruby was a wolf. She sensed everything. And Regina was her best friend and former girlfriend; she knew all the moods and facial expressions.

"I was going to reach out to her, like you encouraged." Regina began, reaching forward to remove a stray piece of rice from Ruby's cheek. She sat down lightly on the coffee table.

"But?" Ruby questioned. She placed her container on the side table and gave Regina her full attention.

"I went to the station in hopes of asking her out on a date like you and I had planned… but when I got there, I discovered the pirate had beat me to it… He told her he loved her," Ruby groaned, "I didn't want to hear her say it back so I interrupted. I gave her the forms, which was my ruse to get into the office, and I was hoping that she would take notice of my hesitancy to leave and would ask Hook to give us a moment."

"And… she didn't?" Ruby scratched her temple. Regina shook her head.

"She didn't. Hook practically told to me scram because they were having a special moment." Ruby loudly groaned, throwing herself into the couch. The younger woman lazily slapped the loveseat with her fists.

"That man is a waste of space." Regina chuckled shakily, Ruby noticed and pulled the woman into the loveseat and embraced her, "Hey… It's going to be okay. Emma didn't say it back and maybe she… maybe…"

"It's okay, Pup. I can't force her to stop seeing that fool, let alone make her love me. It's out of my control. And I really love her so I'm going to have to support her happiness, even if that means supporting her and Hook." Ruby nodded sadly. Emma needed to hurry up and make a move. Regina was losing hope.

A/N: Sorry to any Hook fans. I really dislike the character. I think Colin is a handsome man but I can't stand the pirate. Simply my opinion.

Anyway, please review!