Hey guys! If any of you are still with me, here is your way overdue chapter 7! I don't really have any excuses besides college is rough and work sucks, but I'm going to make it up to you by pumping out chapters like crazy the next few days. If there is anything you guys want to see happen leave a review or shoot me a message, that is, if anyone still has interest in me continuing this story? Anyway, let me know your thoughts on this chapter and if any of you are interested in reading more. Thanks guys!

Killian tore himself away from Milah, stumbling backwards as though she had cursed him. He felt disgust running through his veins. Disgust that a woman who wasn't his girlfriend had kissed him, disgust that he had missed his New Year's kiss with Emma, and most importantly, disgust with himself that he had completely forgotten the existence of a woman he had been casually dating, who could destroy his relationship.

His brain scrambled as he tried to think of how to explain the situation, of how to salvage his relationship with Emma. He felt relief knowing she is still in the other room and that he could hopefully get Milah out of here before things got too out of hand.

Milah remained unfazed though, unaware of the turmoil filling Killian's head, a delighted smile still covering her face. Killian noticed her make eye contact with someone standing behind him as her smile grew.

She gave a little wave before speaking, "Hi there, I'm Milah, Killian's girlfriend!"

Killian whipped his head around, saying a silent prayer to any god that might exist that Emma was not the one Milah was talking to, but it's futile. She's standing there, her emerald eyes swimming with hurt and tears she was desperately trying to keep at bay. One look and Killian knows she saw everything, including the kiss.

His heart broke. He had seen Emma Swan vulnerable and he had seen her in pain, but never had he seen her look so heartbroken, and he did that. He caused her this pain. He could fumble with excuses and swear that he hadn't thought of Milah once since he left school, or that she wasn't technically his girlfriend, or that she had kissed him against his will, but in reality, it was his fault. Technicalities meant nothing when it came to heartbreak.

Killian and Milah had been casually dating. He had lead her to believe they might be official upon his return, and as noncommittal as it might have been, he did invite her up for New Year's.

He couldn't blame the kiss on Milah. The last time they had spoken he acted as though they were a couple. He invited her here. It wasn't her fault for taking him up on the offer. She had no way of knowing that in the span of a few weeks he had completely forgotten about her, met an incredible woman, had a new girlfriend, and had cancelled their plans without actually telling her.

His stomach dropped. This was the end and he knew it. Trust was not something Emma Swan came by easily, and her walls existed for legitimate reasons. Then he came into the picture, earned her trust and somehow managed to convince her to lower her walls for him and let him into her heart. He told her to take a leap of faith, to believe in them, and now here he was, proving every single fear Emma had to be true. He had lost her trust, broken her heart, and now she would tear herself from him and rebuild her walls, sturdier and higher than ever before, so that no one could ever enter again.

Killian took a cautious step closer to her, his arm reaching out, eyes pleading with her to just listen, but she was gone before his foot landed, tearing around the corner back into the living room.

"Emma!" He cried, running after her.

The living room was now in chaos, the peaceful merriment that had existed moments ago, forgotten. He spotted Emma in the far corner, her path to the staircase blocked by Mary Margaret and Regina, who were attempting to pull answers out of Emma, each with a hand placed on her shoulder in a comforting gesture, as her breathing became shallow and panicked, sobs wracking her body. Ruby was up in seconds, bounding across the room to help console her friend. The men watched on in confusion trying to follow along.

Killian was desperate to get to Emma, no longer to explain. That could wait. He needed to calm to her down. She had worked herself into a panic and his heart thudded at her gasps and tears. David had mentioned once she had panic attacks but he had never witnessed it first hand. He was terrified.

He moved towards Emma but his path was blocked by Jefferson and Graham who were now questioning him, trying to piece the puzzle together. David looked torn between helping Emma and getting answers from Killian. In the end, he turned and bolted towards Emma, deciding answers could wait. His best friend needed him.

"Killian what the hell happened?" Jefferson asked.

He didn't have time for this. Couldn't they see Emma was in pain?

"I.. I just, move." He commanded, shoving Jefferson aside, only to find his path was once again blocked by, of course, bloody fucking Humbert.

"No way. Not until you tell us what the hell you did to her!" Graham spit, his tone accusatory and sharp.

Milah slipped around corner unnoticed, into the fray of madness the room had become in the last few seconds, completely confused.

It was only her whispered, "Killian, sweetheart?" that forced the room into silence save for Emma's gasps, which seemed to have lessened, as everyone turned towards her, questioning who she was and why she was calling Killian 'sweetheart'.

"Who the fuck are you?" Regina asked, her glare as harsh as ever.

Milah seemed to get a little nervous now, realizing she maybe the cause of the chaos.

"I'm sorry, I assumed Killian would have told you all I was coming up for New Year's."

She took in their confused expressions before continuing, "I'm Milah… Killian's girlfriend?" Her voice trailed off at the end, as though she was now unsure if that was what she actually was.

Everyone just continued to stare, some faces in shock, and other's blank, as though they weren't able to process what they had just heard.

"That's funny," Ruby chided, "because Killian already has a girlfriend and her name is Emma, not Milah."

"Wait, what?" Milah's brain was finally catching up to speed. Killian looking unhappy to see her, chasing after the girl he called Emma, her tears, the chaos.

She turned to Killian eyes wide, "You're cheating on me?"

A small sniffle came from the corner of the room, catching Milah's attention. It was the blonde. Emma. The girl who got her boyfriend to cheat on her.

"Where the hell do you get off taking someone's boyfriend, huh?" She yelled.

Emma shrank back, looking like she was about to break down again.

Killian reached out for Milah, trying to stop her attack on Emma, "Milah please just listen, I can explain everything, I promise."

Except as soon as the words came out he winced, knowing exactly what it sounded like. It sounded as though he were trying to appease Milah. To comfort her. To make her listen to his side as he explains how it's not what he thinks and the little blonde is nothing to him and get her to forgive him.

He knows that's what it sounds like as the words come out of his mouth, and that's exactly how the room takes it.

The chaos starts again and everyone is screaming. Milah is shoving him and yelling as he notices Emma bolt for the stairs, making it in record time, the girls chasing after her. Graham is being held back by Jefferson and Robin as he curses at Killian, desperate for a punch. Desperate to play the hero in this little drama.

But perhaps, the worst reaction by far, Killian thinks, is Dave's. He stands where Emma was standing moments ago, his arms crossed, face hard, as he glares at Killian with mistrust and betrayal.

Killian would prefer yelling. He would prefer for Dave to punch him or do something other than stare and him.

The boys silence themselves as the room notices the stare down between brothers.

"I want an explanation and I want it now, Killian." He growls out.

Killian nods, before beginning, "I met Milah this year at school and we started a casual thing. Just hanging out at a few parties and few kisses. I never asked her to be my girlfriend or even took her out on date, through I was considering doing so after break."

He turns to Milah, his eyes apologetic as he knows how the rest will sound, "But then I came home and I, I met Emma. I was so taken with her and just so in awe that I completely forgot about Milah. Nothing else mattered but Emma. In my mind, Milah, I'm sorry, but you weren't even a passing thought. I ended things with you without actually letting you know, forgetting that I had suggested you come here for New Year's."

"You forgot I existed?" Milah broke in, breaking the silence.

Killian opened his mouth but Milah stopped him, "Save your breath, it's not worth it. Don't contact me again."

And with that, Milah was gone, leaving Killian to deal with the people whose reactions actually meant something to him.

The girls minus Emma had at some point snuck back into the room, probably giving Emma the alone time he knew she needed.

"Say something," he pleaded, looking at David.

David shook his head, "I don't know Killian, I just really don't know. I get it, you got swept up in Emma and being home, but I don't get how you could not only just forget a commitment you made to someone else, no matter how casual it might have been, or put Emma's feelings on the line like that. I don't get how you could be so irresponsible and reckless and just, selfish."

"I can," Graham interjected, "It's the same way he rode off on his white horse to college and threw us all away. Acted like we didn't exist, ignored us for months, and then came trotting back like nothing had happened."

Killian really wanted to punch Graham in the face, but he couldn't. Graham was right. And while his friends had all claimed to have forgiven him and chose to simply enjoy the time they had with him, he knew that they would probably never forget how easily Killian could forget about them.

"I'm sorry," He whispered, so low and so broken they could hardly hear it.

"I'm sorry that I was such an idiot to leave and get so caught up in college. I'm sorry I didn't call or visit. I'm sorry I was a terrible brother and a terrible friend. I'm sorry I'm such a horrible person that I forgot a girl existed, and most of all," his voice was hardly understandable now, as his eyes watered and he choked back sobs.

"I'm sorry I hurt Emma, and that because of my stupidity, I'm going to lose her." He finished, his eyes cast downward as he desperately tried to hold onto any last shreds of control he had left and keep himself from crying.

He stood there for what felt like eternity before soft arms wrapped around him holding him in a comforting hug. He looked up just enough to see it was Mary Margaret who was holding him. The gesture was the final straw, and he broke down in her arms burying his head in her shoulder as he sobbed harder than he had since his first few nights at the Nolan house, when he had nightmares.

One by one, his friends surrounded him, either joining in the hug or placing comforting hands on his shoulder or back.

He knew things were a long way from being okay or being fixed, but this was a start, because now he knew that his friends, his family, would be by his side the whole time.

Emma watched the display from top of the staircase, peeking her head around the corner. She hadn't heard anything they had said, but

had witnessed Mary Margaret hold him, and their friends join in one by one.

They forgave him.

She knew they would. They were the best sort of people. The ones who forgave and stood by the friends no matter what.

But she wasn't. She couldn't forgive Killian, and she couldn't let him back in, which meant there would be sides, hers and his, and she couldn't let that happen.

She knew where their loyalty lie, the indisputable proof was in front her. He had hurt her, lied to her, broke her heart, and yet they stood by him.

They had been together for years, grown up together. The bonds they had forged over the years were like none other and she would never have that.

It had been fun to play make believe for a few months and pretend that this could be her life, but it was time to get back to reality.

She was Emma Swan, an abandoned, orphaned, foster kid with no family and no home.

And no one who loved her.

After an excessive period of time, the friends broke apart.

Killian looked to David, "Can I talk to her?"

David shook his head, "Not yet. Give her time."

"I'm going to go check on her." Mary Margaret whispered before heading to the stairs.

"Do you think she will ever forgive me?" He asked, terrified to know the answer.

They all looked at him with sympathy, but it was Ruby who responded, "I wish I knew Killian, but this is Emma. She's unpredictable and she doesn't see things the way the rest of us do."

David sighed, "Winning her back, earning her forgiveness, is going to take time and commitment and Killy, you just...you don't have time. You're going back to school in a few days, remember?"

Killian's heart stopped as he took in what his brother was saying. He was right. Killian had to leave and three days was not enough time, not when it came to Emma. Could this really be it? Could this really be the end of him and Emma? Would he really never again hold her hand? Kiss her? Laugh with her?

No. He couldn't accept that. He couldn't-

"Guys!" Mary Margaret shouted, running down the staircase, "She's gone! Emma's gone!"