Thank you very much for all your reviews, favorites and follows! I'm still overwhelmed about the last chapter's reception. I love to write it, especially the tattoo part, but I was not sure how'd you take it. As usual, all the love in the world for Jess and Sandra

Chapter 15 – The Truce

Every time I see you oh I try to hide away
But when we meet it seems I can't let go
Every time you leave the room I feel I'm fading like a flower
Fading like a flower, Roxette

Mac knew something had gone bad, really bad, the moment he saw Killian entering the station. He looked defeated, with an air of sorrow and self-loathing surrounding him. He remembered that look very well, as it was the one that Killian had when he first came to town and he carried it for several months, until he slowly came out of it.

Killian looked at him as he headed for his desk, "Don't even ask, mate."

"I wasn't planning to." Mac replied. "Whatever it was, I'm sure it went far beyond fighting over the last cannoli." He sighed. "What do you want to do?"

"I don't know." Killian sighed defeated.

Mac acted fast on his feet, "Tell you what, I'll handle the stakeout today and you can go on the raids. Kick some doors forcefully; let it out of your system. Take one day to figure it out and we'll take it from there."

Killian looked thankfully at him. "Thanks, Mac. I appreciate the gesture. I – I'm lucky to have you as my friend." He said.

"Don't go all soft on me now, sunshine." Mac joked. "Let's go get this bastard."

Killian smiled at him and then his eyes looked at the end of the room. His expression changed into a pained one before he averted his eyes and looked at his desk. It didn't take a genius to figure out that Emma Swan had walked in, Mac thought as he turned around. She looked even worse than Killian; it was clear that she'd been crying. She smiled softly at him and looked in Killian's direction, her expression almost regretful.

"Hi…" She said softly.

"Hello, Swan." Killian replied shortly, not even looking at her.

"So… what is the plan for today?" Emma asked, clearly upset at being ignored by Killian.

Mac was fast on his feet again, "Emma, you're stuck on stakeout with me today. Killian was asked by the big bosses to conduct the raids, so we are switching places. Don't worry, I usually don't bite, I buy my own coffee and you can have all the cannoli. I have more at home." He finished with a hopeful smile.

"Ok." Emma said with a smile that didn't reach her eyes. "Let's go then."

They made it half way through the room before Emma turned around and called out to Killian.

"Killian…" She said.

He looked at her and saw the worry and fear in her eyes. Fear for him.

"Be – Be careful today." She whispered as she held his gaze.

"Aye, I will, Swan. You too." He replied. You too, my love.

She smiled and started walking away. Killian exchanged a quick look with Mac, who nodded in comprehension.

Protect her.

There isn't much to do in a stakeout, especially when the other person is completely lost in their inner thoughts. Mac kept mostly silent, letting Emma work out whatever it was that had transpired between her and Killian the day before. Because he had no doubt that her mood today was related directly to Killian. There are only so many things you can masquerade to the world, and Killian and Emma were doing a poor attempt to hide any of their feelings for each other.

But by afternoon, he couldn't keep to himself anymore. He had, after all, married into a family that was known for being meddlers; and it had rubbed off a little on him. And Killian was his partner, his friend. As happy as he claimed he was, Mac knew that there was a missing piece on the puzzle of Killian's life: love. It had been missing for a while and Mac now understood why. Whatever had happened or had not happened between Killian and Emma in the past, it was clear to Mac that there was where Killian had left his heart. And he was going to make sure he got it back now. Hopefully in company of the heart of the aforementioned blonde as well.

"I don't mean to pry…" He started hesitantly, "But I'm sure that things will get better if you talk to him."

Emma pretended to be confused, "I don't know what you're talking about." She deflected.

"You know, I can sit here and play dumb if you want." Mac continued, "But I am a detective. I figure stuff out for a living."

Emma looked at him sheepishly. "There's nothing to talk about…"

"Yeah, right. He's doing raids today and letting it all out by kicking doors just because there's nothing to talk about. And you are sitting here overthinking as well." Emma gave him a surprised look. "I told you, sweetheart. I read people for a living." He raised his eyebrows at her and Emma laughed.

"How long have you been Killian's partner?" She asked.

"Since he moved here, almost three years ago. I – I lost my last partner in a drug bust case that went wrong and Killian took his place. Let's just say that we bonded over brooding and drinking at the beginning and later we developed a friendship."

Emma could see that Mac had a true affection for Killian and she wondered when was the last time that Killian had that kind of thing. Someone that cared. She knew Mary Margaret and David cared for him to some extent, but they were her parents; at the end of the day, Emma came first for them. But Mac cared for Killian, unconditionally.

Mac sighed, "Killian is family. It's the way it is… when you trust someone with your life every day in the direst situations; family is just what they become."

Slowly, she was beginning to understand the depths of Killian's new life and how he had been able to weave himself into things he hadn't had in centuries: a sense of belonging. He had finally found a place he could build his life into, a home. And she'd barged right into it and started poking holes at it.

"He's happy here, isn't he?" She asked.

"I think so, yes." Mac thought it through, "For the most part at least. You never truly know with a guy like Killian. He might wear his heart on his sleeve, but he keeps many things to himself. It's hard to get him to open up." Mac noticed Emma's pensive expression. "Luckily, my wife is fantastic at minding other people's business, so I can safely admit that he's doing well here."

A silent tear escaped Emma's eye and ran down her cheek.

"Emma," Mac sighed. "I know it's really not my place, but whatever happened in the past, or even yesterday, is this how you want things to end between you too? Is this how you want things to be from now on? Is this how your story ends? Life is too short to hold grudges and pain when you can actually talk them through and fix stuff." Mac offered her a smile. "Just think about it."

When they arrived at the station, Killian was sitting on his deck. He was holding an ice pack to the left side of his face and had a bandage around his right forearm. Emma ran towards him concerned.

"Hook!" She slipped, saying his moniker in fear without even noticing as she kneeled in front of him.

"I'm fine, love." He replied without looking at her.

"Let me see," She said as her hand reached for the ice pack, but he moved away from her. "Killian, please." She pleaded in a broken whisper.

He sighed and let her grab the ice pack. She cradled his face between her hands, one of them holding the ice pack. He had a bruise around his eye and a small cut on his lip, but he seemed fine otherwise.

"I trust that the other guy looks worse?" Mac asked.

"Aye… and he's already been interrogated. We have new information." Killian replied, but his eyes were fixated on Emma, who was looking at him with worry in her eyes.

"You know, I can make up a lame excuse, but I think I'll just get out and leave you two alone." Mac said before turning around and leaving. "I'll call you later, Killian."

"Does it hurt?" Emma asked as she ran her fingers over the bruise near his jawline. Her touch was igniting a fire in him he couldn't resist.

"Only a little." He replied. "I've had worse. You know that." He tried to smile but ended up wincing.

"Hook…" She said tenderly as she carefully applied the ice package over the side of his face, her fingers slowly caressing him. He leaned into her touch and closed his eyes, breathing deeply.

"Emma, about last night…" He started as he opened his eyes and she could see remorse in them.

She silenced him with a finger on his lips.

"Killian, you were right, I had no right to do or say the things I did. I'm sorry, I truly am. Mac said something today that got me thinking…. and the truth is, last night is not how I want things to end between us. I know there's no going back, but can we at least try to put this behind us and work this case together? As a team? I want to try." She looked at him expectantly.

His eyes filled with something that almost resembled hope. "You and I have always made quite a team, lass."

"Yes, we have." She smiled.

He looked at her with mischief in his eyes "Are you going to kiss my wounds to make them better?" He flirted with her.

She rolled her eyes and pressed the ice package a little more forcefully and had him wincing… "Don't push it."

He smirked at her and she could see all the innuendos that were crossing his mind.

God, she'd missed him.

She breathed deeply and looked at him with affection in her eyes. "Killian, I want to thank you. I wouldn't be here if you hadn't sacrificed everything for me and I want you to know that I- I'm thankful for it. No one had ever done that for me before…I just didn't know how to react. I'm not used to owing people."

"You don't owe me anything, that's not why I did it, Emma." He replied earnestly.

"I know… and I couldn't handle it. I'm sorry…. Please forgive me." She gave him a hopeful smile.

Always. "It's fine, Swan. Water under the bridge. I've moved on, you've moved on. We're all ok."

I haven't moved on. But I can't take a chance that I'm wrong about you and you break my heart again.