Sorry for updating a bit later in the day. Things have been crazy. Anyway, here are some responses to reviews!

Andria-For this stories purposes, Henry is not Emma's son. He is Regina's adopted son with whom Emma forms a bond.

Polkie2- I miss the young Henry too! When did he get so old? Some more development is in this chapter and defiantly the next few! Hope you enjoy!

Enjoy the chapter!

Chapter 20: Sweet Escape

Killian Jones was a patient man. Nothing had ever come easy for him in life, but working his way through the days and waiting for good things to come along had carried him this far. It might not be the greatest way to move through life, but he was still moving.

Emma's arrival in town in town just three weeks ago had rocked his simple world. If he was honest with himself, he did not think he would see her again, despite how much he hoped to. She would emerge from the system the same way he did-alone and confused, with no one to back them up besides themselves. Emma would have to figure her way out in the world and odds were her path would never cross Killian's.

But they did. Seeing Emma again, after all those years of separation and pain, of growing and change, was like coming home after a long time away. It reminded him of the good times, the brief glimpse of hope while he was a teenager. His time with her and Mrs. Abernathy was the small relief from the nightmare he called a life.

Seeing Emma again also terrified him, more than he ever let her know. Emma's walls were higher than ever, but so were his. There were things in his past he was ashamed of, things that ruined him, changed and formed him, that would eventually have to come out if he wanted Emma to have a spot in his future.

And he did want her in his future, no matter what it looked like. He would be lying if he said he did not consider her romantically a time or two. He had liked her since they were kids, but now was not the time. Killian was not going to push her. If she was ever ready for something like that, it would be on her timetable.

Emma had gotten better with opening up over the past three weeks, but many bridges were still to be crossed. He had, however, been successful in getting some things out of her, knocking some walls down.

When she ran away she completely gave up hope of ever finding her parents. If they wanted her, they would have reached out to her.

Her red leather jacket was one of the first things she bought with her first paychecks from her job as a bail-bonds person.

She still had her baby blanket. The one they found her in when she was abandoned on the side of hte road. The same one she brought to Mrs. Abernathy's house.

She still had the scarf Mrs. Abernathy gave her on her first day of school.

She was not sentimental,a habit formed from her childhood, but when she kept something, it had deep value.

Killian knew he had a long way to go with Emma. They both had too many demons in their past to count. But she was more than worth it.

"Okay, you can open your eyes!"

Henry dropped Emma's hand as she opened her eyes, seeing a small play castle by the water. She looked down to Henry, who was grinning ear to ear. "It's my castle. I've never brought anyone here."

"No one?" Emma raised her eyebrow, with a smile forming at her lips. The boy proudly shook his head before grabbing Emma's hand once again, leading her to sit on the castle with her. Henry shifted, pulling a large book out of his bag he had with him.

"This is what else I wanted to show you." His little voice was excited. "It's my book of fairy tales. Mrs. Nolan gave it to me."

Henry opened the book, spreading it out over both of their laps. "No one here really likes the stories." He sounded deflated, before perking up. "Except Mrs. Nolan. And Killian."

Emma chuckled to herself. "Killian? Really?"

Henry's face was always lit up, always excited. That was something Emma loved so much about him. He was such a passionate kid. "Yeah. Sometimes over the summer he'll let me help out around the docks and we look at the book. His favorite is Peter Pan." Henry explained. "He likes Hook though. He doesn't understand that he is a villain."

Emma let out a laugh. "Not surprising. He loved pirates when we were kids." The words flowed off Emma's tongue so naturally she did not even realize what she had said until Henry looked up at her, confused. Her and Killian had not mentioned to anyone how they really knew each other from the system. It had just never come up in conversation-maybe because neither one of them wanted to have that conversation. The whole 'we went to highschool together' answer was still working.

"You and Killian knew each other as kids?" Henry questioned her.

Emma sighed, knowing she could not lie to the kid. "Yeah. Same foster home for a bit."

"Killian was a foster kid?" Henry sounded shocked.

"You didn't know that?" Emma suddenly felt guilty for possibly revealing something about Killian that he did not want people knowing. Henry shook his head. "You can't tell anyone that, Henry. Okay. We've kinda been keeping that on the down-low."

"Why?"

Emma racked her brain for an answer. "We've both been through a lot. We just are not ready to dive back into everything that happened when we were kids."

The answer seemed to satisfy Henry for a few moments, as he redirected his attention to his book, turning through the pages, before he looked back up to Emma, saying. "I think he likes you."

Emma coughed and gave Henry a strange look. "Excuse me?"

"I can tell. I'm pretty smart." Henry sounded like it was no big deal.

"He's known he for three weeks, kid." Emma tried to rationalize with him, but arguing with Henry was always a losing battle.

"You just said you knew him as a kid." Henry pointed out.

"Yeah." Emma conceded. "But we were just kids. A lot has happened since than. We are different."

"Well, either way, he really likes you" Henry said, before turning back to looking through his book. "I think you look like Snow White and Prince Charming's daughter." He told her.

Emma just rolled her eyes.

Coming into the diner for lunch had become a routine for Killian over the years. He did not really remember how it all started, but for as long as he could remember, after coming to this town, he started coming to Granny's for his daily lunch break.

Killian remembered meeting Granny for the first time, though. At first glance, she reminded him of Mrs. Abernathy, a flood of old memories rushing into his head. Memories he had pushed back for so with Granny reminded him more and more of Mrs. Abernathy. It was refreshing rather than draining, a drastic change from what his life normally was.

Before he even ordered, Ruby came to the counter, brown sack lunch bag in her hands, pushing it towards him. He came in so often, they knew what he always ordered for lunch. Living in small towns really did have its perks sometimes.

"So, Killian." Ruby started. He could tell by the tone of her voice that she wanted something.

He sat down, knowing this would take awhile. "What, lass?" He sighed, heavily.

"What are you doing Friday night?"

Killian raised a questioning eyebrow. "Ruby, I don-"

"Not like that." She sounded as if it were obvious. "Whale. He wants to have dinner with some of my friends-you know, less pressure and all that."

He still a confused look on his face. "Not to condescend, lass, but that does not sound like you."

"It's not." Ruby leaned against the counter. "His idea. Wants to be friends first." She rolled her eyes.

Killian chuckled to himself. "I've never known Miss Ruby to be 'friends' with any man."

If looks could only kill, Killian might just be dead. "This guy's different. I really like him and if this is what it takes, I'll do it."

This was not normal Ruby behavior. In the words of Granny, her dream was to "sleep her way down the eastern seaboard." Ruby had not had any serious relationships in the time that Killian knew her, mainly just flings with the different men of the town. If she was willing to do this, this Whale must be important to her.

Killian sighed again. He did not know what he was getting himself into. "Fine. I'll do it."

Ruby instantly got excited. "That was easy. I thought I'd have to use the fact that Emma was going as leverage."

Killian really wished Ruby would learn what an "indoor voice" was. She practically yelled her last statement to the entire diner.

"Why would that make a difference?" Killian's voice was hushed.

"Honey, I've got eyes. And you've got the hots for her."

"I do not have the 'hots' for her." Ruby was always trying to set Killian up, saying he was just too lonely by himself. This must be one of her attempts.

"Sure." Ruby turned around, making her way to attend to another customer. Killian grabbed his lunch in a hurry, leaving to eat his lunch at the docks. The minute he walked out the diner, he mumbled a curse under his breath. What had he gotten himself into?

Emma was having a bad overslept, Leroy was-well, Leroy, her emotions were running high, and to top it off, she had stupidly agreed to go out with Ruby and Whale tonight.

Scratch that, she was having an awful day.

Since she had only been in Storybrooke for about a month, no one could read her emotions well. David had asked her today if she was okay, but she shrugged it off, telling him that she was just tired and blamed it on unpacking things in her apartment. It was not like it was a complete lie-but thankfully, David bought it.

Emma slipped into dark blue skinny jeans and a olive green top. She left her hair down, her waves flowing over her shoulders and simply retouched her makeup, not bothering for more than a quick layer of mascara. They were all just going out to the Rabbit Hole after all.

Growing up, switching from one home to the next, Emma was not good at making friends, but the people here made it a bit easier. Mary Margaret and Emma instantly clicked, despite their polar opposite personalities. Working with David proved to be quite enjoyable,the duo working well together. Ruby, an extraverted character, made Emma let loose a bit more than she normally would. Emma hoped this night would just be a simple night, a few friends going out for drinks, nothing more.

That hope was squashed the second she walked into the bar.

Ruby was completely consumed by Whale and alcohol. Mary Margaret and David sat next to them, in conversation with Killian. The latter's face filled with relief the second he saw Emma, probably due to being saved from the two near drunk Charmings. He excused himself, holding his hand up to the couple, standing and making his way over to greet Emma.

"How drunk are they?" Emma did not waste any time with hellos or small talk. She shot straight to the point.

"Very. Mary-Margaret especially. Alcohol does not affect Ruby, but she is drooling over Victor."

Emma ran a hand through her hair, leaning over to see her friends sitting at the bar. "That's what I get for being late."

"Well, you look wonderful, Swan." He said. She felt herself blush and rationalized that he thought she was late due to trying to get ready and not because of her day from hell.

"Thanks" She muttered.

They stood there, in an awkward silence, before Killian turned around, checking on Ruby to make sure she was occupied, before looking back at Emma and saying "You want to get out of here?" He rubbed his neck. "Maybe hot chocolate at Granny's?"

"What, you're not a drinker?" She teased.

"Only rum." He stated proudly.

"You sure they won't care?" Emma leaned over again to check on the rest of the group. The word friends almost slipped in her head.

"They are too far gone to realize." He assured her.

"Sure." Emma answered and he went back to where he was sitting to grab his jacket. This was not a date, she told herself. Just two friends going out for drinks at the diner. They were just talking, seeing how the other was, catching up. Just normal people things.

But something in her did not believe that.

That something was just her emotions.

Nothing more.

"You're kidding me?!" Killian laughed, not caring about how loud he was. The diner was practically empty.

"Nope." Emma was proud. "Chased him for two blocks in high heels "

"And did you catch him?" Killian took a sip of his drink, hot chocolate with cinnamon, as he leaned back in his seat.

"Yup." She stated, popping the 'p'.

"I assume being sheriff is different than your excursion as a bail bonds person."

Emma shrugged. "Being sheriff is a bit let eventful. Hours are better though."

Killian laughed a bit. "You like it here?"

Emma did not answer at first, as if deciding whether she really liked it. "I do." She finally said. "It's nice. Very-I don't know." Emma blushed a bit.

Killian nodded. "I felt the same when I first came. There is just something about this place."

"Feels kinda homey." Emma offered quietly.

"Nice for people who never had homes." He looked down at his drink. Her hummed response came seconds later.

"Do you ever think about her?" He asked. "Mrs. Abernathy?"

His question seemed to shook Emma, but she did not hesitate as he thought she would. "I used to a lot. I still do I guess. It's just hard."

"Aye." He kept his eyes down, scared if he looked at her he would lose it. "I like to remember the happy times."

He heard her laugh and could only assume she was smiling. When he looked up, she was, resulting in him smiling a bit too. "We did have some good times, didn't we?"

"It was my favorite home." He told her truthfully.

"Mine too." Emma turned quiet again. She rested her head in her hand, pushing her cup away from her. "Did you-" Emma sat up, taking a deep breath, as if she was unsure of her words and thought they would fail her. "Did you go to the funeral?"

Killian shook his head. "No. I was in some other home by that point."

"Same." Emma looked down. He knew this must be hard for her to talk about-it was hard for him too. He reached over with his good hand, making sure to keep his other hand hidden like he had for most of the night, gently grabbing her hand and giving it a squeeze. He wanted to let her know that he was there. That he still understood her. He always had.

"Thank you, Killian." She said as they arrived at her loft. He had walked her home, despite all of her persistence.

"Killian, it's only around the corner."

"Have to make sure the princess arrives home in one piece." He said. It reminded her of a conversation they had when they were kids-the scenario was too familiar.

"My pleasure, love." He smiled at her.

They stood there, her leaning against the doorframe and him in front of her, in silence. She peered up at him, at that dorky grin and those bright blue eyes and it felt good. He was good, good to her. He still understood her, he stood by her. He helped her. He, unlike so many other people, cared about her.

Despite her better judgement, despite what her brain was telling, no yelling at her, to not do, she did. She did it.

She kissed him.

She raised herself up on her toes, slowly, leaning in to press her lips to his. It took him by surprise, but he quickly made up for it, wrapping her up in his arms, pulling her closer to him as they kissed, all the years of unspoken words and feelings coming forth. For what seemed like ages they stood there, kissing in the doorway, happy and content.

Killian pulled away, resting his forehead against hers, lips starting to form a smile. "That was-"

"A one time thing." She said as she realized what she had done. She could not lose Killian. They would never work. Nothing ever did for her. She just ruined things, she knew it. What was she thinking.

Killian loosened his grip on her and she stepped back. "I'm sorry." She whispered over and over, creating more distance between them. He said nothing.

"I'm sorry." She said as she disappeared behind the door, slowly closing it, leaving him confused on the other side.

But leaving herself broken on the inside.

Okay, so you may all hate me. Let me know about your hate (or love or whatever) in the comments.

Speaking of reviews, once this story reaches 100 reviews, I will reveal the plot and title for my next mulitchapter fic. So, comment away.

Also, I have reached 100,000 collective words on my profile. Thought I would share that with you all. Thank you for making this milestone possible. You are all so amazing! Thank you for reading!