Thank you so much for the reception to the last chapter. I was blown away. There are only a few more chapters to In the Midst. I can not believe it is almost over. I might upload later this week since this chapter was a bit shorter, but we shall see.

fanfic333-That conversation was so hard to write. Glad you enjoyed it!

paupaupi-Our Emma certainly has grown, has she not. And thank you for your feedback on the new story. It will be up soon. Keep an eye out for it!

Chapter 26:Bygone

For one of the first times since she started her job as sheriff, Emma might actually get out of the station on time. She normally worked late, trying to finish up some paperwork and often got put on the nightly patrol.

David had convinced her to bring on a new deputy to help delegate some of the work. The crime rate was small due to the population of the town, but there was still work to be done and having an extra person on staff helped minimize Emma and David's amount of work.

She had spent that day training their new deputy, Robin Locksley. He was a quick learner and a hard worker, adapting to whatever Emma asked him to do. He was even taking a late shift on his first day of work. Emma and David could definitely get used to having help with the work.

At 5:12, Emma saw Killian and Henry walking towards her desk and smiled. Emma and Killian were were supposed to go to David and Mary Margaret's loft for dinner that night after dropping Henry home. Regina had a meeting that day and Killian had offered to pick him up from school and take him sailing. Regina, getting a bit better with sharing her son, eventually complied.

Emma met Killian in the open area by her office and he greeted her with a quick kiss to her forehead, keeping things modest considering they were in public and Henry was standing right there. She moved out of his embrace to Henry, who squirmed a bit to see the new person in the room.

"That's Robin, right?" Henry asked.

Emma nodded and turned to where Robin was standing, filing papers. "Robin, you know Henry and Killian, right?"

Robin looked up and walked across the room so he could shake hands with Killian and Henry. "Of course. I've known Killian since I moved here. And I believe I met Henry briefly a few weeks ago."

Henry blushed so Killian took over the conversation. "Nice to see you again, mate. How's the new job treating you?"

Robin smiled towards Emma. "Quite well. I'm thinking I might enjoy it girlfriend there is quite the task master, though."

"Hey!" Emma tried to sound serious, but it was hard with Henry and Killian laughing besides her.

"You're just dedicated, love. Always have been." He said to her, placing a kiss to the top of her head and turning back to Robin. "How's your lad?"

"Roland's wonderful. He's staying with my friend John tonight. I'm lucky he offered to let Roland stay with him when I have night shifts."

"Roland is always welcome with me whenever John is busy." Killian offered.

Robin nodded. "Dave and Mary Margaret said the same. I'm quite lucky to have the support system I do. Speaking of those two, you should get going. I would not want Mrs. Nolan getting mad at me for keeping you all late."

"You're right. Plus we've got to get the kid home." Emma elbowed Henry.

"Right." Robin said. "Tell your mother hello for me, Henry."

Henry nodded and they all said their goodbyes. The weather was nice that night, so they decided to walk Henry home. The beginning of their walk consisted of Henry telling Emma a bit of what he did at school, but mainly him telling her everything he had done on the ship. He went on and on about all he had learned and done and how Killian even let him steer.

As they neared Henry's home, the boy turned to Killian and asked, "Where is Robin's wife?"

Killian sighed. "Marian passed three years ago."

Henry nodded. "So, he's single?"

"Henry-"Emma warned.

"Hear me out!" Henry told her. "I think my mom needs...someone in her life to make her happy. Someone besides just me. She needs a relationship like you two." He motioned between Emma and Killian which made Emma blush and Killian laugh. "And I think she might like Robin. She's mentioned him a few times since they met."

"So, what's your plan?" Emma asked, sceptical. "Just set the two of them up? Your mother will never see through that."

Henry gave her a look like what she was saying was ridiculous. "No. Of course not. We need a plan. A real one. We'll call it-Operation Penguin."

"Penguin?" Killian questioned the name choice.

"They mate for life. I learned that in school last week." Henry explained. They now stood on his street, only a few houses away from his. "It could work."

"Robin has not dated since his wife, lad." Killian told him.

"And I don't know how much you mother is in the market for dating." Emma said.

"Come on, you two!" Henry insisted. "You two got together. Why can't they? You just have to believe."

Emma kneeled so she was level with Henry. "I do, kid. I believe in you. And if you think that they could work, I believe you. But sometimes adults do not always see that."

"Adults always make things more complicated than they need to be." Henry grumbled.

Emma stood up straight again. Henry pushed on the gate that surrounded his house and the door opened. "I'll tell you what, kid. You figure out Operation Penguin and we'll talk about it over Granny's on Friday. How does that sound?"

A smile lit up the boy's face. "Thanks Emma!" He gave her a hug and then turned to run to his front door. "Bye Emma! Bye Killian!"

"That's quite the boy you've got there, Swan." Killian whispered to her when Henry was safely inside and they were on their way to David and Mary Margaret's loft.

"Don't I know it." Emma smiled.

"Sweetheart, relax." David told his wife as he, Emma and Killian sat at the dinner table and Mary Margaret still ran around the kitchen trying to make something perfect.

Mary-Margaret relented, giving her husband an exaggerated sigh before she joined them at the table. David placed his hand over her's and looked at Emma and Killian with a smile. "The reason we invited you over tonight is we actually had some news to share with you two."

Mary-Margaret's mood instantly changed and she wasted no time announcing, "We're pregnant!"

"Congratulations!" Killian responded immediately. "Mate, we knew it was only a matter of time."

David laughed and Emma assumed it was some type of joke between their friend circle. Emma realized it had been a few moments and she still had not said anything. She pushed all of the thoughts from her head and turned to her friends.

"Congrats, you guys." She said sincerely. "You are gonna be great parents."

"We still have a few months," Mary-Margaret jumped in, "but we really wanted you two to know."

"You really want me to have an influence on your child?" Killian joked to David.

"Better you than Ruby." Was his quick retort and the entire table erupted in laughter as they further talked about baby plans, enjoying the dinner Mary-Margaret had prepared.

After a few hours of laughter with the Nolans, Emma and Killian decided to call it a night. Killian insisted on walking Emma home, even though she was in the same apartment building as the Nolans. She did not argue the company though.

"You alright, love?" He asked her as they made their way to the stairs.

"Of course. Why wouldn't I be?"

Killian opened his mouth slowly to respond, tentatively deciding his words. Emma figured out what he was talking about and cut him off. "Right. That." He was referring to the fact that was her life. Someone else got something and she did not. The Nolans were having a baby and she gave hers away. "I'm happy for them. Really. I still think about...that, when things like this come up, but that doesn't mean I am any less happy for them."

Killian nodded. "Would you ever see yourself having another child?"

Emma knew he was referring to in general, not their specific relationship. It was way too early for them to be discussing children.

She shrugged. "I don't know. I'm not really family material." Emma remembered an old perp she tracked down, Ryan, that reminded her how little she knew about family. That conversation ended with Ryan knocked out, and rightfully so.

"I don't believe that, love." He whispered. They were standing in front of her apartment door. "You have the biggest heart I've ever seen."

"Thanks, Killian." She lay her hand on his chest.

"I suppose I should get going. Early shift and all." He finally said. Emma nodded and she moved to kiss his cheek goodnight, but he was having none of it. He moved so she missed his cheek and gave him a full on kiss. Not that she was complaining.

She pulled back a few seconds later, a smile on her face. "G'night, Killian."

"Goodnight, my love."