A/N: Hello my darlings! So holy shit, I am SO SO SORRY how long this chapter took. My life went to hell in a handbasket, including being diagnosed with MS (multiple sclerosis ) so typing has been a little difficult but I am getting a better control on it so chapters should come much faster now. I hope you all enjoy! Next one will be longer, I promise.
Chapter 11- Run
Killian and Emma pulled up in her bug bright and early to Elsa and Liam's house. She had to pack and they needed to get her moved over to Killian's, plus his jeep was there from the night before. Emma unlocked the door to the house and the couple entered.
"Elsa?" Emma called out.
"Dining Room!"
Emma and Killian entered the kitchen where Liam and Elsa were sitting and having breakfast.
"Ah, good morning little brother!" Liam stood and hugged Killian tightly. "Coffee?"
"Aye thank you."
"We need to talk yo you guys anyway." Emma said as she next to Elsa.
"What up sis?" Elsa asked as she slid her sister the plate of bacon.
"Well, You know I appreciate everything you and Liam have done for me," Emma began. "But I am going to be moving out today. Killian asked me to move in with him and-"
"Well technically, She beat me to it." Killian interrupted. "But I was going to ask her all the same."
Elsa looked at Liam across the table and tried to hide her smile behind her coffee mug.
"About bloody time." Liam sighed as he took a drink of his coffee.
The three others at the table all laughed, and everyone enjoyed breakfast together. After breakfast Emma headed down stairs to start packing her things while Killian and Liam headed headed to the harbor to check on a few things. Emma was down in her room, blasting her music and cleaning. She was just happy for once. Killian and her had finally decided to move in together, She was divorced, and her life finally started falling into place. Walsh was still lurking around but that was far from her mind. She had her pirate and that all that mattered to her. This was their second chance.
"Hey Emma?" Elsa called down the stairs.
"What?" She responded while wrestling a box.
"Can you come here for a minute?"
"Yeah!"
Emma finished taping the box and jogged up the stairs. "Whats up?"
"You got a box." Elsa pointed next to the door.
Emma approached the door cautiously and looked at the box. It was a White box with a red ribbon over the top. She couldn't think of who would send her a box like this but it was fancy, like something that would be delivered with roses in it.
"Where did this come from?" Emma looked at her sister.
" it was just delivered a few minutes ago."
Emma cautiously started to unwrap the box. After getting the ribbon off she wiggled the lid and lifted it carefully. The contents were dead roses covered in maggots worms and other bugs. Emma screamed and dropped the box in horror then seeing the note that was hidden underneath Emma started to hyperventilate and covered her mouth with her hand. It was written in Walsh's handwriting, and the three words chilled her blood to the bone.
You will pay.
Killian and Liam are working at the docks, maintaining the boats and getting everything ready for the upcoming weekend. He was feeling so happy, knowing that him and Emma were finally moving in together and life could start moving in a more positive direction. It had been kind of a whirlwind, running into her again and getting the love of his life back and he knew that he would never let her go again.
"So did you ask her yet?" Liam asked his brother.
"Were you not bloody listening this morning? She's moving in with me today"
" that's not what I meant little brother… Did you ask her?"
Killian scratch behind his right ear and look down at his feet. He had been talking to Liam for a while about proposing to Emma.
"No, I haven't asked her yet I need to talk to David first."
"Killian, David loves you you know he's going to say yes."
" Aye, that may be the case but I'm still going to do this properly." Killian looked up at his brother and gave him a sly grin, "Speaking of asking for people's hands, have you talked to David about Elsa?"
Liam went bright red and looked Down at the rigging he was working on, "We are talking about you right now not me."
Killian laughed and slapped his brother on the back. They were both fools in love too afraid to talk to the father of the women that they wanted to marry. At that moment, Killian's phone started ringing Elsa's number popped up. He looked down at his phone screen, his brow furrowed in confusion.
"What is it?" Liam asked.
"It's Elsa." Killian swiped his phone screen to answer putting it on speaker. "Hey Els, what's up?"
"Killian you need to come home now." Her tone was commanding and serious, causing a shiver of fear to run down his spine.
"Elsa what happened?"
She went into the story of Emma packing, the box she received, and the note that was inside. "we got her stuff packed and over to the house, but she's not talking. She's just cold faced, sitting on your bed staring out at the ocean."
Killian looked over to Liam, "She's shutting down."
"Go. I can catch a ride home from Leroy."
Killian nodded at his brother and took off toward his Jeep. "Elsa i'm on my way."
"Ok, hurry."
Killian made it back to his house at record time throwing his jeep in the park in the driveway. He was so angry, with Walsh and his interest in making Emma's life a living hell. Killian will do anything and everything to protect his girl, his swan, his Savior. Elsa was pacing in the living room when Killian entered the house.
"Where is she?"
"Upstairs. She hasn't moved."
Killian nodded at Elsa and ran up the stairs. When he entered their bedroom, the sight in front of him scared him. Emma was sitting stone cold still staring out at the sea. The only other time he had ever seen her like this was when she first started coming to see him in prison and wanted to show no vulnerability, no weakness. He entered quietly, not saying a word. Removing his jacket he hung it on the back of the door causing the floor to creak, Emma didn't move.
" I told you to go away Elsa." her voice was cold, and emotionless.
Killian hadn't seen her this close off in a long time. He approached her slowly, not wanting her to know it was him until he was right there.
"Elsa, please go."
"Can't say I've ever been mistaken for Elsa before love." Killian mused.
Emma's head snapped to the right of her as she looked up at the voice. Little bits of emotion were floating behind her eyes at seeing her Pirate, the one she needed most right now. Killian gave her a small half smile and extended his hand to her. He knew better than to push her when she was upset and even more so when she was shutting down. His swan was a complicated woman with many walls she hid behind but he liked being the one to break those walls down. Even when they dated for years prior, he was the only one who cared enough to try. Emma looked down at his hand and back up at him the eyes of crystal blue burning into her soul.
"Don't shut me out Swan.." his voice was raw and vulnerable, the fear of already having lost her laced in his tone
Emma didn't need another second to think. This man, this broken, hard-working, redeemed wonderful man was her home. He was where she felt safe. She stood from her spot on the bed and launched herself into his arms clinging to his neck and Killian held her tightly and rocked her back-and-forth gently. Finally home, finally feeling safe, Emma's walls crumbled down as her emotions broke loose.
" Killian I'm so sorry." she sobbed.
"Darling what on earth are you sorry for?"
"Because of me, because of my stupid marriage I have put you in danger." Emma looked up at him, " Walsh will never stop, the only way to keep you safe is if I leave and…"
Killian pulled her in for a bruising, passionate kiss completely cutting off any train of thought she had. "Em, this is your home and you are not leaving because some man thinks he can bully you into being married to him where he's so abusive he may kill you." He took her face in his hands forcing her to meet his eyes. " I will not lose you again and I will do everything in my power to protect you."
Emma turned her head and kissed his palm softly, " I can't lose you, but I don't know what else to do."
"Come here love." Killian led her back over to the bed and sat down. " I know he scares you, but you are one of the strongest and smartest people I know." He kissed her hand softly and looked up at her. "We will face this together my love."
"Hey Emma!" Elsa called up the stairs, "Dad is here."
"Ok!" Emma called back. She looked at Killian and clung to his hand tightly, "Come with me?"
"Always."
Killian and Emma headed down the stairs to the kitchen where David and Elsa were waiting at the table.
"Hey pumpkin." David said as he greeted his daughter, "Tell me what happened."
Emma and Elsa dove into the events of the morning as David listened patiently and Killian went about making coffee for everyone. The girls told their father of the box, the contents, the note, everything.
"What time did you get the box Em?" David asked as he sipped his coffee.
"I want to say about 10:45 this morning."
"Hmm…" David mused, "He has to have some sort of help then."
"What do you mean Dave?" Killian asked.
"We didn't release him until 12:30 this afternoon."
"Who could have possibly helped him?" Killian growled.
"I dont know." David replied.
"Oh God…" Emma gasped.
"What?" All three at the table asked.
"I know who could have helped him.." Emma took a deep breath, "Zelena."
"Who the bloody hell is Zelena?" Killian asked.
"Walsh's psychotic sister." David and Elsa replied in unison.
"This woman is nuts." Elsa continued. "Whenever Walsh and Emma has an argument Zelena would be there getting in Emma's face making her feel even worse. It had to be her it's the only thing that makes sense.
"Blood fantastic." Kiillian grumbled, "What do we do now?"
The plan set by David, was to have patrol on the house in shifts, mostly at night, knowing the Walsh wasn't stupid enough to try something in broad daylight. Most of the time during the day Emma was at the station or on patrol as it was. After the plan was set, Elsa and David said their goodbyes and the house was quiet again. Emma ventured upstairs to shower as Killian locked the house up for the night. When Emma emerged from the bathroom wearing his favorite band shirt and shorts, She found Killian on their balcony staring out at the sea.
"Penny for your thoughts?" Emma asked quietly.
Killian turned and looked at her, and gave her a small smile, "Just watching the waves, Love." He turned back at looked out over the ocean. Emma walked over to him and wrapped herself into his side, enjoying the peace and quiet over the night of madness.
"You know," Killian whispered, "I wish I really was Captain Hook."
Emma looked up at him with a puzzled expression, "Why?"
"Because if I was Captain Hook I would have the real Jolly Roger and I would take you to Neverland away from all of this."
"You want to fight off mermaids and lost boys for the rest of our lives?" Emma asked with a snort.
Killian tilted her chin to look up at him, "With you darling? Always."
She smiled and put her hands around his neck, "Take me to bed, Captain?"
Killian smiled and picked Emma up in his arms, "As you wish.
"10-4, Graham." Emma replied into her radio as she turned her car around. They had gotten a call for a disturbance in the woods, not far from the town line. Emma grabbed her hot chocolate off of her desk, kissed her father on the cheek, and headed toward the door.
"Be careful Em." David called out.
"Always am Dad. See you tonight."
Emma got in her cruiser and headed south in the woods towards the location of the call. This part of the woods were thick, but also peaceful. She got out and shut the door, starting to look around. It was quiet, and it looked like there were claw marks from an animal disturbance. She was investigating the area when her phone rang.
"Deputy Nolan Speaking." Emma answered, not looking at the caller.
"I love it when you talk cop to me love."
Emma couldn't control the giant smile that crossed her face. "Hello babe. How's your day?"
"Its been ok," Killian responded, "What are you doing?"
"I'm responding to a call by the town line."
"In the middle of the woods?"
"Yeah. It looks like some kind of animal disturbance."
"Alone? With everything going on lately? Emma…"
She interrupted him, "Killian I'm ok I promise. I have my gun and everything."
"Ok love, I know you're my tough swan I just worry."
"I know pirate. But, tonight I will come home to you tonight as always."
Emma could hear the smile in his voice, " Aye love, tacos for dinner?"
"That's the plan."
At that moment a tree branch snapped behind her, causing her to drop her phone as both hands went to her gun.
"Em?" Killian asked. "What's going on?" No response. Emma hands were on her gun, pointed in the direction of the sound, not moving a muscle.
"Emma?" Silence.
"Emma!"
Suddenly Killian heard a Emma's gun go of and she let out a blood curdling scream.
"EMMA!" Killian screamed in desperation.
But it was no use… She was gone.