"Emma. Beautiful Emma."

She smiled. Hearing her neighbor Marco in the hall never got old. "Hi Marco." Two voices popped up behind her, greeting the older Italian man as well.

"I will be so sad when I no longer see your face every day."

"Well, let's hope that never happens." Emma wasn't sure what he meant. She never really pegged Marco as having a morbid streak; he couldn't possibly be talking about dying.

"Ah, but the day will be coming all too soon. My boy, my August, has asked me to move in with him. He thinks it's not best for me to be alone since my fall."

"You're moving out?" Henry was obviously distressed. Marco had long been one of Henry's favorites. He'd gained the boy's favor early on; one magical turn of Marco's screwdriver returning working order to Henry's favorite truck, and they were fast friends. Marco's love of children, and his despair over his own son's adulthood and departure from the nest, made Henry a welcome addition to the man's life as well. Liam was joyfully adopted into their friendship and she always smiled to see the boys disappear into Marco's next-door apartment.

"Yes, Henry. But it will be good, missing you and your mother put aside. I get to spend more time with my boy."

Emma nodded, knowing August meant the world to him. She also smiled, thinking this might once and for all end Marco's attempt to fix her up with his son. She wasn't sure if he actually thought they'd work as a couple, or if he was just trying to lure his son to the building more often with the idea of a "beautiful lady to be at your side" as she'd overheard herself described one day.

It wasn't that August wouldn't be "a gorgeous man to be by her side." He was certainly good looking. But for all that Marco lamented that his son was grown, she noted it was mostly only in physical appearance. If she were going to let anyone into her life, it would be a man, not a boy.

She wanted to admonish him when she saw Liam grab her phone out of her purse without asking, but was too happy, knowing who he was calling, to correct him in any way. He and Killian had quickly established a routine of talking on the phone every day, and Emma was quite happy to encourage him. Killian had even asked if he could buy Liam a phone so they could text, but Emma put her foot down there. She appreciated that he asked, really. But she told him they were too young. He teased her about the use of the word "they." "Of course, if you get one for Liam, I'll have to get one for Henry. The silence in my apartment as they communicate solely via text would be deadening."

Liam always preferred to facetime with Killian when he could and she smiled when he held the phone to her face. "Killian says 'Hi Emma. Hi Henry.'" She couldn't fault the boy's choice of technology. Seeing the man's smile always did something to her.

"Hi, Killian," she called over her shoulder as she went into the kitchen, still with one ear on the conversation and Henry settled in to a video game.

"I found us an apartment." She paused, with the refrigerator door open. It was the younger brother who had made the statement, and she was utterly confused. When had Liam been looking for apartments?

"Quite the estate agent then, aren't you. Tell me, Junior, where is this new apartment of ours?"

"It's perfect." The excitement in the boy's voice was infectious, and Emma returned to the living room, ready to hear about the new Jones abode. "It's two bedrooms." He paused, and Killian broke in.

"Okay, the basics. But what about the rest? Close to Emma and Henry? And cool?"

Emma couldn't help but feel something at the idea that Killian wanted to stay close to her. Yes, she thought. They should be close. She had settled down on the couch with a drink, half watching Henry play his game but mostly listening to Liam's conversation with his brother.

"It's really cool. The guy who has lived there forever is a carpenter and he's made all these neat things. He built a secret hiding place for his son when he was little. And cool bunk beds in one of the rooms."

Emma dropped her head to the back of the couch and groaned silently. She realized instantly where Liam was going with this.

"And it's right next door to Emma and Henry. We could spend all our time together."

All of the sudden close went to right-on-top-of-each-other. She thought about all the times Marco had caught her on laundry day wearing the dregs of her closet. Or on the days she couldn't quite get it together to brush her hair. Was she prepared for that level of intimacy with Killian Jones?

Yes. The answer was yes. Every single thing she saw about the man told her that he would be worth it. It had begun with his willingness to take in his brother. But didn't stop there. Of course he was gorgeous, but she wasn't shallow. It took much more to win Emma Swan. It was the sum of all the little things. The patience she saw him display when he helped Henry and Liam with their homework. The fact that he worked, even though from what she'd gleaned, he didn't need to financially. Every day brought new evidence of his wit, kindness and sincerity. She wasn't just happy to see that this was the role model the universe had provided for Liam. She wanted to have him in her life, and Henry's.

"Killian wants to talk to you." She had to snap out of her thoughts to take the phone from Liam. Forgetting that it was Facetime, she lifted the phone to her ear, until she heard, "Swan, they're lovely ears, but I'd rather see your face." His grin was wide when she finally looked at the screen, and if she weren't already in a good mood that would have fixed it. "So, the lads have discussed this and want us to be neighbors."

"So it seems."

"Would you be alright with that? I realize that it might be a bit much, me hanging around all the time with my questions."

"I think I can handle the questions, Killian." She wasn't lying. It wasn't the questions she'd have a problem with. It would be whether she could hide her feelings twenty four hours a day. "Are you serious though? You'd move in over here?"

"I don't see why not. Junior's already in love with it and I believe that was our biggest criteria." She noticed him jerking his head to the side, and she realized he might intend for her to go where their conversation wouldn't be overheard. She headed into her bedroom, and settled against the pillows. "He's upset about not moving back into his old apartment. And if he's found a place he can be excited about as a new home, I really don't think I can deny him that."

She nodded in understanding.

"I guess I'll just have to put in a good word for you with the landlord." They laughed, but she continued. "I'll talk to Marco tomorrow and see if he knows when he's moving out. And get you the landlord's number."

"Thank you, Swan." She saw his face grow serious. "Not just for that, but for everything. I can't tell you what it means to me to have you on our side. Sometimes I think about how different all this would have been if it hadn't been for you. I think you're our savior."

"I'm no one's savior, Killian," she said, shaking her head. "It was the right thing to do. For all of us. I wouldn't have been able to live with myself if Liam had ended up with strangers when I could have taken him in."

"You can deny it all you want, Swan. You're our savior."

They didn't get a chance to discuss more, as her door was opened and a voice popped in. "Mom, we're hungry. What are we having for dinner?"

"HENRY!" The irritation in her voice was clear.

He closed the door, and retreated to the living room, knowing he'd broken a handful of rules. Emma had made it clear early on in Henry's life that a full refrigerator, along with knowing there was a dinner in his future, meant the boy was never allowed to whine, or question what was being served.

"God, Killian. I think pre-teen boys have a one track mind. Food. Were you like this as a kid?"

"Um, well. Liam and I didn't have much when I was the lads' age. But I'm sure I would have been much the same if circumstances were different." He looked a bit embarrassed to be talking about his past, but if there were anyone who would understand, it was Emma.

"Why don't I take us all out for dinner this weekend? It's the least I can do, considering my brother is eating you out of house and home."

It really didn't take much for Emma Swan to agree to let Killian Jones to take them out to dinner.

"I told you, they always pick The Olive Garden. Get used to it."

"But Swan, The Olive Garden?"

"They love the unlimited breadsticks. And the massive bowls of pasta."

They were on their way back to Emma and Henry's after dinner. The boys had darted off in front of them, but still within view. Killian had begun to think of how much fuller his life had become since the arrival of his brother. He hadn't even noticed his co-worker approaching them.

"Jones, what's this?" If there were anyone he'd rather run into less, while walking with Emma, he couldn't for the life of him figure out who it would be.

"Scarlet." He tried to keep walking, acknowledging the man with a nod of the head.

"No, no, don't keep walking. Killian Jones, lone wolf of the office, has a secret life with a knock-out blonde?" He reached his hand out to Emma and introduced himself. "I'm one of Killian's more dashing friends, Will Scarlet."

Knowing it was useless to fight it at this point, he gave in and made the introduction. "This is my friend, Emma."

"Just friend? Where did you go wrong in life, mate?" Emma blushed, and she noticed the tips of Killian's ears turn red as well. He turned to Emma. "Since you're just friends, maybe I could ask for your number?"

"That's enough, Scarlet. Run along. I'll see you at work tomorrow."

It took a moment, along with a less than gentle nudge to the shoulder, but Killian got Scarlet moving again along the sidewalk, and he resumed his pace alongside Emma. He wasn't sure what to make of the jealousy that stirred in him at hearing Will ask for her number. Emma was a friend, a much needed friend at the moment. And he was not going to mess any of that up. She was too important to Junior, and in so short a span of time had become too important to him. But, he had to give Scarlet credit. She was a knock-out, and maybe passing up a chance with Emma Swan was a mistake. If he'd met her under any other circumstances, he told himself he would have taken a chance.

"Lone wolf?"

"I started this job just after Liam died. I'll admit, I've kept to myself and not been as friendly towards my co-workers as maybe I should have been. But I assure you, I do have friends."

He bumped her shoulder with his and she looked over to see him smirking.

"You're going to be my neighbor soon. I'll know if you're lying."

The apartment next-door had been secured with ease. Emma spoke with Marco, and found out his move out date was much more imminent than she'd imagined. The landlord, upon receiving Killian's credit report, had no objections to him moving in, and within two weeks Killian Jones would be her next door neighbor.

"Yeah, maybe I should send Junior to your place on nights when the lads come over for poker. It might not be the most appropriate of environments for a ten year old."

"What, and stick me with the babysitting duties instead of dealing me in? No way, Jones. You better make room at your table." He turned to the side, and saw the teasing expression on her face. He knew it would be much harder than he hoped, to keep thinking of this woman as just a friend.

"Junior, I don't care if don't want to. I need you to pack up your room. Trash, charity, or storage. Those are the options. Here are the boxes."

He was standing in the doorway to Junior's room, in a worse state now than when it had been abandoned weeks prior. Several trips over to pick up things Junior couldn't live without had resulted in the room looking like a tornado had passed through.

It was the closest he'd been to getting angry with his brother. It was bound to happen. And today would be the day. Both were on edge. Junior was not happy at the prospect of cleaning and packing up his room. As excited as he was about the new apartment, it was the final confirmation that he would never again be able to call this apartment home. Killian was on edge, not liking the idea of going through Brennan's life, trying to figure out what might be something Junior would want later. If it were just Killian, he would have hired a junk company to just trash it all. But someday Junior might look back and want a piece of the life he shared with his father. And Killian would do all he could to ensure it was waiting for him.

"I'm sorting the rest of this place; the least you could do is pack up your room. And if there's anything you want out here, you better get it, because otherwise it's getting trashed."

Junior slammed the door in his face. Kilian supposed he deserved that. He could have been kinder. But if his brother were truly going to resent him for this, he hoped someday he'd see it from his point of view.

His phone binged, and he pulled it out of his pocket, glad of the temporary distraction.

ES: How's it going over there?
KJ: Not well. I think we might kill each other. Well, if he ever comes out. I may just have yelled at him about cleaning his room.
ES: He's a ten year old kid. Get used to yelling at him about cleaning his room.

He smiled, hoping she was exaggerating, but knowing it was probably the truth.

ES: Want help? Henry's moping around here anyway.
KJ: You're willing to help me go through Brennan's stuff? And you say you aren't my savior.
ES: Whatever, we'll be right over. And I'll bring lunch.
KJ: Savior, Swan. Savior.

When she arrived with food, she managed to get Liam out of his room to join them to eat. But as she watched him quickly shovel in his hamburger, she could tell something was off. He finished much quicker than the rest of them, and left the table without permission, returning to his room with a slammed door. Emma motioned for Killian to follow her, but told Henry to stay seated at the table.

As they entered the hallway where the bedrooms were located, he expected her to go to Liam's directly, but instead she pulled him into Brennan's. It was the room he'd been avoiding all day.

"You need to go in there and talk to him."

"He's not happy with me, Emma. I probably should leave him alone. Maybe you can talk to him."

"Killian, it needs to be you. Not just because he needs to see you as an authority figure, and someone who can tell him what to do, but because he's hurting. You both are." She reached out and put her hand on his arm, and he felt calmed by her touch. "You need to explain to him why you can't stay here. And tell him that sometimes you two are going to get mad at each other, but that it doesn't mean that you like him any less. If this is the first fight you've had, he's probably worried." She paused, wondering how much to reveal.

"When you were young, you always had Liam. He was your constant. But I'm betting there were fights sometimes, right? Especially when he took over after Brennan left." Killian nodded. "You always knew he was going to be there for you. Liam doesn't know that yet. He still thinks you could choose to give him back. I know that's how I felt the first time I got in trouble at every new foster home. I spent all my time worried if whatever I'd just done was going to make them give me back. I can't make him know that you're here for him. That has to come from you."

Not even knowing he was doing it, he pulled her in for a hug. He felt, after that admission, that she might need it as much as he did. "Thank you, Swan. I hope you don't ever get tired of me saying it. Thank you. I'm certain that there's nothing I could ever do to repay you for what you're doing for me and my brother."

He could feel her shaking her head back and forth on his chest. "No, you can't ever repay me. But that's the thing. You don't ever need to."

"So I can't try to make a deal where if I go talk to my brother you'll clean out my father's room for me?"

She didn't mention that he called Brennan his father for the first time in her knowing him. "No. But if you go I'll help you clean out this room."

"Junior." He knocked as he walked into the room. His brother was slowly going through comic books, and had a large pile at his feet. "What's this pile?"

"Trash."

"You're throwing away comic books? That's not right."

Junior just shrugged. Killian sat down next to him on the bed. "You know sometimes we're going to get angry with each other, aye? I know that I'm not your father. But I am your older brother, and I'm the grown-up. And sometimes I'm going to tell you to do things you don't want to do. And you won't like me for it. But even when you don't like me, even when I'm angry with you, that doesn't mean I'm going to love you any less." He realized the lad had started to cry, and he had no idea what to do. Junior had never cried around him. He knew the boy was grieving, but only because of what Emma had shared. He'd never seen his brother cry firsthand. Deciding it was best, he put his arm around his brother.

"I know today is hard. It's hard for me as well. Let's try to get through this together, aye?" He saw Junior start to nod his head in agreement, and heard the crying quiet. But they continued to sit, both enjoying the closeness.

"This is hard for you?"

Killian sighed. He never talked about Brennan with Junior. He found it impossible to do without cluing the lad into just how badly Brennan had hurt him and Liam. And how hard life had been for them after he left.

"I know you loved your father, Junior. And I did too. But after he left, things were quite hard for me and Liam. And to see that Brennan was taking such good care of you, and loved you so much, it hurts. All the photos on the walls of you two. All the mementos of things you've shared. It was everything I ever wanted with him. I shouldn't be telling you this." Junior reached over and grabbed his forearm, squeezing it as he couldn't hold a missing hand. "But it's okay. I had Liam. Just like you have me. And will always have me. Never doubt that."

"Killian."

"Yes, Junior."

"I'm glad I have you."

"You know what, Junior? I'm glad I have you too."

He exited the room, returning to the table where Henry and Emma had finished their lunches. Henry had been waiting for permission to enter his friend's room, but sat with Killian while he ate his cold hamburger and fries.

He'd found the conversation with his brother somewhat draining, especially on top of the day's activities. He was grateful that Henry was a perceptive child, and didn't feel the need to chat.

Until Henry piped up.

"You and my mom."

"Excuse me?"

"You and my mom. You'd be good for each other."

And with that, Henry left the table, leaving Killian to mull over the lad's statement.

He joined Emma in his father's room, where she'd made quite a bit of progress.

"Okay, so I've put all of Brennan's clothes in trash bags and tagged those donation. The closet has some books and what look to be empty boxes for old computers and phones. He doesn't really have too much in here. There's the nightstand left to do, and the smaller closet. If you take the nightstand I'll take the closet."

A packing company would be showing up the next day, so really all they needed to do was tag things as trash, storage, or donation. It was just arduous making sure that in 10 years, or whenever Junior decided he might want anything from his childhood, nothing would be missing.

He grabbed a trash bag, assuming the contents of the bedside table would be trash. But he was wrong. Opening the top drawer, he found some of the usual items. But he also found some of Junior's artwork from school. He smiled, fitting his hand over the tiny impression of his brother's. He held it up and Emma glanced over. He hadn't intended to take anything for himself, but this is something he wanted.

He opened the next drawer down, and found it was full of photos. He saw Junior at every age, and pictures of what must have been Junior's mother. What surprised him was when he got to the bottom of the stack and found photos of himself, along with Liam and their mother. He hadn't been prepared for this. Twenty years and his father still had these, tucked away with pictures of the son he knew was precious to him. He couldn't help it. The tears began to fall. Similar to the scene in his brother's bedroom, he felt the bed beside him dip, and an arm snake around his shoulder.

"It's okay, Killian. It's okay."

He didn't know if he would ever been any good for Emma Swan, but he knew her son was right about one thing. Emma Swan was good for him.