Chapter 7

Hello all you lovely readers. Another night another chapter. I hope you all are liking this story. I'm almost done posting the original 9 chapters so this weekend I will be working on adding to that as well as doing a few of my one shot requests so check it out!

As always, please review and let me know what you think or what you want to see


"Well I think that went well. First conversation as parents and no screaming. I say we did well, don't you love?" Killian said coming over and sitting next to Emma on the couch

"I don't know Killian. I feel like I'm walking in blind here. I mean, that poor girl is so damaged from people in her past. I just don't want her to be a yes robot because she's afraid we're going to throw her out" Emma said laying her head on his chest. "I'm so afraid we're going to be bad at this whole parenting thing"

"Come now, Emma. We have to have faith. Your parents wouldn't have asked us to do this if they didn't think we were capable of not just keeping this poor girl safe but also capable of being good parents to her. We just have to give ourselves grace in some areas" He said running his hand up and down her arm to comfort her.

"I know…I know…" She then sat up so she could look at his face "You did call the security company, right?"

"They'll be here first thing tomorrow morning…Are you taking the first shift or am I?" Emma simply smiled at him. The way that they were able to read each others minds was always something that made her feel like their relationship was special. She loved that most time she didn't have to say a word for him to know exactly what to do or say to make her feel better. "I'll take the first shift, you go ahead and get some sleep" and with that she kissed him square on the mouth. He then deepened the kiss until they were in a full blown make out session on the couch. They would have kept going except for the small sound that came from the hallway causing them both to stop.

"Ahemmm…" Zoe immediately froze in her place

"Well I guess they were right about parental instincts, kicked right in. Where do you think you're going?" Killian said as he stood up and straightened out his shirt

"I wasn't going anywhere, just getting something to eat" She said wringing her hands

"That's fine Honey, you're free to have anything you can find" Emma said placing a hand on Killian's arm, inclining him to take a seat to no avail

"Thanks…I didn't mean to bother you…"

"Wait" Killian interrupted her attempted exit "Why do you need your tennis shoes on to get food?" He said pointing at her feet. He wasn't buying her story. She also had on jeans and a light jacket that she hadn't been wearing during dinner.

"I'm sorry, if you don't want me to wear my shoes in the house…"

"Zoe?" Emma said now standing next to Killian

"What? Why are you both looking at me like that? Just go back to sucking each others faces" She snapped before going into the kitchen. Killian and Emma both made a b-line to follow her.

"Zoe what is going on?" Emma asked gently placing a hand on her shoulder which Zoe quickly shrugged off.

"Come on Zoe, you were fine before you went to bed, what changed?" Killian jumped in. Zoe continued to rummage through the cupboards. That's when something clicked for Killian. He quickly turned to Emma and whispered in her ear "Go in her room. Look for a phone or anything that would let her communicate with the outside world" Emma immediately went toward her room and left Killian with Zoe. Killian stepped forward and gently but forcefully turned Zoe around to face him holding both her shoulders.

"Zoe, look at me"

"What?!"

"Zoe, who did you contact?"

"I didn't contact anyone! Let me go!" But as much as she squirmed, Kilian was able to keep a firm grip on her.

"Killian, I found this" Emma said coming in with an older looking flip phone

"You went through my things?!" Zoe exclaimed

"You knew that was part of the deal Zoe, we asked you earlier if you had anything and you said that Mary and David took it all. Why would you lie to us?" Killian asked her point blank

"The last call was 10 minutes ago. Zoe who called you?" Emma said getting more and more concerned

"I don't have to tell you anything!" Zoe yelled back

"Zoe, Zoe look at me" Finally Killian took her face into his hands. "Zoe I am here to help you but I can't do that if you don't help me. Who called you and what did they tell you that has you so upset?" At this point Zoe completely broke down and Killian brought her to his chest and cradled her head. Emma came over and started gently rubbing her hand up and down her back. They both felt at a loss as to what to do.

After a few moment Zoe had regained her composure and was wiping away the tears from her eyes. Killian still kept a gentle hand on her arm. "Love? Can you tell us what's going on now?"

"My little sister called"

"Sister?" Emma asked confused

"Not blood sister…a former foster sister. She came by my new place and got scared when she found the place ransacked and was in a panic. I tried to tell her that I was okay but she was still freaking out" And then the tears came. Killian gently led her and Emma into the living room and sat her on the couch before taking a seat across from her on the coffee table.

"Zoe, I'm so sorry. Getting a panicked phone call from a loved one is never easy" Emma said breaking the silence. "At least she's okay right?"

"I don't know. There was a loud sound and I heard her scream…and then the line went dead…I have to go get her!" Zoe said standing up and trying to make a go for the front door but Killian had matched her movements and quickly placed his hands on her shoulders and pushed her back down onto the couch.

"Aye love, we do need to make sure she's okay but you can't go after her. Whatever happened, if it had to do with your identifying that killer, it means you're in just as much danger as she is. Now, we will call David and Mary and they will make sure that your sister is safe"

"I promise they will Zoe. They will take just as good care of her as they did for you. You said you trusted them right?" Zoe nodded in return. "Okay, I'm going to need you to tell me your sisters name so they can find her"

"I can't tell you that" Killian and Emma shared a confused look. This wasn't adding up. Zoe was concerned about her sister enough to lie to them and try and sneak out but not concerned enough to provide her name so they could protect her?

"Zoe…"

"I can't tell you because they will put her back in the system!" she blurted out. Now it all came together. Zoe must have been housing this girl at her new place once she aged out of the system and she didn't mention her because she figured that she would tell her to stay put until she could get back to her.

"Zoe, I know you don't want your sister to end up like you did and have to grow up in the system. But right now, we don't know where she is or who has her; and without a name we can't look for her. I promise that once she's found we will find a way for you to video chat with her and I will personally talk to my parents and we will do everything in our power to find her a family to adopt her. Okay?" Emma said stroking her hair. Zoe took a moment. She could tell that Emma wasn't lying to her but she also wasn't sure if she should trust them to not put her sister back in the system.

"Zoe, I don't mean to scare you but…love the longer we wait, the harder it's going to be to find her" Killian chimed in placing a hand on her knee

"You promise?"

"Yes Zoe, I promise. My parents are going to take good care of her"

"Okay…her name is Heidi…Heidi Potter"

"Thank you Zoe!" Emma exclaimed kissing the side of her head and going to call her parents.

"Thank you for telling us love. Now we can help her and make sure she gets to safety"

"Am I in trouble?"

"No love. I can't punish you for wanting to protect your family. But I need you to know that from now on you can trust us. We would never do anything that would hurt you or anyone else. But we can't do that if you aren't honest with us okay?"

"Okay"

"Alright now, how about we get you back to bed" Killian held out his hand and Zoe gratefully took it. He led her to her room and helped her get under the covers before walking toward the door and turning off the light.

"Killian"

"Aye love?"

"Never mind" That gave him pause, she wanted to ask him something. He knew he had to handle this moment very carefully. He walked back over and sat down on the edge of her bed

"What is it love?"

"It's stupid. I'm fine"

"Well if something's bothering you then it's not stupid" He said running his hand down the side of her face. Zoe was quiet for a minute before she finally decided to speak up.

"Would you mind staying with me?"

"Of course. Go ahead and close your eyes. I won't leave till you're asleep. I know how hard it can be to try and fall asleep in a new place" She moved over to give him room and he moved closer to her so he was sitting with his legs out. He began gently running his hand through her head and humming a toon. Within a few moments she was sound asleep.