A/N: Welcome to all the new followers of this story! I'm amazed at how many people want to read it to be honest, LOL! Huge thanks as always to all the lovely people that left a review for the last chapter - you do all make me want to write quicker and ensure that I get this finished before I go away in two weeks time - only nine chapters to go! Do you think I'll do it? Eeek!

Enjoy the next...

CHAPTER 17

ANGER – (noun) A strong feeling of annoyance, displeasure, or hostility

Killian sat down heavily on a bench at the back of the smoky tavern and thumped a newly opened bottle of rum down on the thick wooden table with far more force than was necessary.

He and Emma had just had a blazing row and he was absolutely fuming.

Raising the bottle to his lips he downed a generous portion of the spicy alcohol then wiped his mouth with the back of his sleeve. Leaning against the wall behind him, he glared at anyone and everything in the noisy inn.

Gods that damned woman was insufferable at times.

They'd only been back in the Enchanted Forest for four days and he'd barely had a chance to speak two words together to her with everything that had happened. How ironic that the first moment they'd had alone was spent having an almighty argument.

He'd probably find it amusing if he weren't so bloody furious.

He took another swig of his rum and welcomed the burn at the back of his throat. It matched the heat that was racing through his veins but did nothing to quell the inner turmoil he felt.

It was all his own fault really. He shouldn't have been so honest when she'd probed him about how he'd been able to reach her in New York. He could have easily deflected her question, made some inappropriate and flirtatious remark, hell, he could have just kissed her senseless like he'd wanted to and none of this would've happened. But no, she'd asked him a direct question and he'd given her the truth. As always. He'd admitted that he'd traded the Jolly for a magic bean to enable him to get to her.

Deep down he'd known she wasn't ready to hear it. For all her apparent acceptance of everything, he could tell that once Storybrooke was no more and the reality of what she'd committed both her and Henry to had begun to sink in, it'd left her reeling.

Coupled with the fact that she'd regained her magic, either by Zelena's death or their shared true love kiss he wasn't certain which, Gold's obviously antipathy and her mother going into labour as soon as they'd returned, well…it was hardly surprising that his own little revelation would be the one to the break the proverbial emotional camel's back.

Although quite how she'd managed to turn his willingness in giving up his ship for her into a quarrel about his going to confront Zelena alone was still a mystery to him.

The way that woman could twist his words and meaning sometimes was astounding. He had to love her for it even though it frustrated him no end.

He took another drink and finally felt the buzz of the alcohol begin to work its magic, dulling the edges of his anger.

Remembering what she'd said, what he'd said…there had definitely been no holding back. Shaking his head, he closed his eyes and let out a heavy sigh as the whole sorry scene played itself out inside his mind once more.

He'd never seen her that angry before. Her voice clipped, her eyes flashing the most brilliant green that he'd have appreciated a whole lot more if his own combination of guilt and ire hadn't been rising with every moment. Everything he had put her through had come pouring out in an impassioned and pained diatribe of his seemingly unfeeling act of selfishness.

He'd known what she was trying to do of course. Years of pushing people away when she became too emotionally invested in them was a hard habit to break; the instinctual need to protect herself from further hurt was too strong, but a part of him had just hoped that knowing he was her true love would somehow negate her need to act in that way towards him.

So he'd gritted his teeth through most of it, understanding her need to vent and only making a couple of slightly derisive retorts when he felt her words were far too harsh for his liking. That had irked her even more but even so, he'd still fully expected that once she had finished and calmed down, they would be able to talk about it all in a more rational manner.

He'd been wrong.

She'd finally made the damning comment that she couldn't trust him ever again considering the way he'd gone behind her back and he'd been unable to hold his tongue any longer.

With barely restrained anger he'd made her perfectly aware that he knew that every caustic word and allegation she'd thrown at him was just her running scared. That while he was sorry for causing her pain with his idiotic behaviour in going after Zelena, accusing him of being untrustworthy, when she knew very well he was anything but, was nothing more than a flimsy justification to try and build her walls up again.

He'd then gone on to add that if their True Love Kiss had done nothing to alleviate her fears where he was concerned then he doubted anything ever would and her ridiculous excuses only showed him that she clearly didn't want to be with him.

Not waiting for a response or if he were honest, for her to agree, he'd left in a swirl of leather and indignation then slammed the door shut behind him for good measure.

"Bloody hell," he muttered to himself unhappily as he winced at the memory. His anger had finally receded enough that it allowed the first stirrings of trepidation to work its way through his system.

He'd really buggered everything up.

He would have to apologise of course…if she'd let him. He couldn't blame her if she didn't. He shouldn't have lost his temper and certainly shouldn't have walked out on her like that.

'Bad form, Jones', he admonished internally.

The feeling of someone gently running a hand up his arm had his eyes snapping open, hope flaring in spite of himself. A pretty raven haired bar wench smiled back at him becomingly as she leaned forward, allowing him an eye level view of her ample and barely concealed charms.

"All alone tonight, sailor? Fancy some company?" she asked in a breathy voice that she probably thought alluring but which grated on his already shredded nerves.

"It's Captain and no," he replied curtly before removing her hand from his person using his hook.

Her eyes widened at the snub and the smile dropped from her face to be replaced by a scowl.

"Probably wouldn't be able to satisfy me anyway," she muttered eyeing the curved metal a little warily as she walked off and shoved her wares into the face of another poor unsuspecting oaf.

Killian raised an eyebrow at her comment then swiftly downed another mouthful of rum. Suddenly, a bottle landed on the middle of table in front of him with a loud thump followed by the hollow clink of a glass. The pirate looked up and was surprised to see a grim faced Robin Hood sit down as heavily as he himself had done not ten minutes before on the bench opposite.

He silently watched as the archer poured himself a large measure of an amber liquid, that Killian surmised was whisky, then shot the glass back with one quick gulp and a grimace.

"Women," Robin groused with feeling.

Killian knew he was likely referring to Regina but that didn't stop him from agreeing whole-heartedly with the archer's sentiment.

"Aye," he agreed flatly, raising his bottle to his lips.

Women indeed.

END CHAPTER 17

Let me know what you think :) Next chapter: S is for Scared.