"There's one way for you not to lose your family - and that's to let it grow."

Captain Killian "Hook" Jones

Emma stared at the computer screen - four round-trip plane tickets to Genoa City, Wisconsin stared back at her.

She then sighed and buried her face in her hands. "Shouldn't this be easier by now?"

She jumped when the back door opened. Killian strode in, his hands in his pockets.

"Our seven-year-old has decided we simply cannot play pirates without swords, so I'm grabbing those wooden ones Noah and Courtney got him."

He furrowed his eyebrows when his wife didn't answer. He turned toward her and saw her as she ran her fingers through her hair. Her free hand tapped the kitchen counter.

She then buried her face back in her hands. Killian's eyes widened with worry.

He rushed over to her. He sank down in the chair beside her and ran his hands up and down her back. He then carded his fingers through her hair.

"Emma, love, what's the matter?"

She sighed. She then gestured toward the computer.

"It's…this. Going to Wisconsin. I just don't know if…"

The chair scraped against the hardwood floor as she jumped to her feet.

"I…just need some air."

She then ran out of the front door. It slammed behind her.

Killian sighed and dragged his fingers through his dark hair.

"Oh, Swan, what ever is wrong, darling?"

He then took a deep breath, his blue eyes lingering on the door. He then cast his gaze between the backyard and his daughter's room.

He then stood and walked over to Anna Elizabeth's door. He couldn't help but smile as he heard "Livin' on a Prayer" blasting through a set of speakers. He slowly turned the knob and then leaned against the door frame.

Anna Elizabeth sang into a hairbrush as her free hand raised toward the ceiling.

"We got to hold on ready or not - you live for the fight when that's all that you've got."

She then paused the music from her phone. She collapsed on the bed.

"One of these days, I'll get through the whole song without having to stop for breath."

Killian grinned as he piped up, "Well, love, Jon Bon Jovi has had 40 years of practice."

Anna Elizabeth jumped as she sat up. She threw a pillow at him.

"Dad! You scared me! And it's embarrassing."

He rolled his eyes. "You've been singing since before you could talk - I assure you that it's nothing new."

She ran her fingers through her blonde curls. "I mean, I guess - but I probably looked a little silly. And, like, I couldn't even finish the song."

Killian then sank down on the bed beside her and nudged her shoulder with his. "And as I told you, he's had decades of practice, love."

"Not in 1986." A grin then spread across her features. She then giggled.

Killian shook his head. "You are rather incorrigible, you know."

"I get it from you."

"Which I'm sure your father just loves."

Anna Elizabeth let out a chuckle. She then scrunched her nose.

"Did you need me for something, Dad?"

Killian's face fell - and his shoulders sank. He dragged his fingers back through his hair. Anna Elizabeth's eyes widened.

"Is everything okay?"

He sighed again. "It's your mother. She's dealing…with something, and I have to go check on her. Will you watch Liam until we get back?"

She bobbed her head. She then scanned her room. "I think I've cleaned everything well enough."

"That was cleaning?"

Anna Elizabeth rolled her eyes. She then took a breath.

"Is Mom gonna be okay?"

Killian kissed the side of her head. "I'm sure she will be, love. We will both be back soon, okay?"

She nodded once more. They both then rose from the bed and headed into the living room.

Liam then barreled through the back door. "Daddy! Where did you go?"

His face lit up as he ran to Killian. He wrapped his arms around his legs.

He then tilted his head. "Where are the swords?"

Killian bent down on his level. He took a breath.

"Mommy went…out for something - and she needs my help. Your sister is going to watch you until we get back."

Liam blinked a few times. He then nodded before he looked up at his sister.

"Will you play pirates with me, Anna Elizabeth?"

She scrunched her nose - and then smiled. "Sure, Liam. Let's go find the swords."

The little boy took off again - only for Killian to scold: "No running in the house, Liam!"

Anna Elizabeth couldn't help but chuckle. "I'll look after him, Dad. Just go check on Mom."

A frown then appeared. "Just make sure she's okay."

Killian kissed her head. "I will, love." He then headed toward the front door while Anna Elizabeth joined her brother in his room.

When Killian arrived at the docks, he spied a familiar head of blonde hair perched on the railing of his brother's boat.

He stuffed his hands in his pockets as he walked along the wooden planks.

As he walked, he found himself humming "Livin' on a Prayer." He couldn't help but smile.

The smile faded when he reached the vessel. Emma only spared him a glance before she turned back to the horizon.

Killian sighed before he climbed aboard. He sat beside Emma and pulled her into his arms.

He squeezed her tight and then rested his head on top of hers. He ran his hands up and down her arms.

They sat in silence - save for Killian's soft humming. Emma curled against him and laid her head against his chest. She ran her fingers up and down his arms.

She then let out a sigh. "You aren't gonna ask me what's wrong?"

"I know you quite well, darling. You will talk when you're ready."

A small smile played across her features. "I don't think anyone knows me as well as you."

He only hummed before he kissed her head. She then took a deep breath and turned to face him.

"And that's the thing, Killian - I know Sharon just as well."

He tilted his head. "Whatever do you mean, Swan?"

She raked her fingers through her hair. "This is the first time I'm seeing her since calling her "Mom." What if it's too much for her?"

"And you think she's gonna run again. That she'll push you away."

"She's me, Killian - once upon a time, I would have done the same thing."

"That was a long time ago - you've much changed since then."

"And I thought I had changed when I ended up staying in Storybrooke - but the moment things started changing between us, I ran away to Boston."

"And then you came back for your family - for us, darling. Doesn't Sharon deserve that same chance?"

"I want to give it to her. You have no idea how much. But I just can't shake the feeling that it's all about to fall apart - again."

"Swan - you've jumped to the absolute worst case scenario. You can't live your life waiting for the next crisis."

"I'm not - or I don't…but I…just can't help but think she's gonna freak out."

Killian took a breath. He then suggested, "Perhaps you should give her the benefit of the doubt."

"Didn't you hear me before? I'm trying - and I want to. It just isn't as simple as all that."

"And I'm not saying that it is - but you can't hold on to all of this."

Emma sighed. "I know I can't. Maybe I should…"

She trailed off and shook her head. She then glanced down and ran her fingers along the edges of her shirt.

Killian tilted her head up. "Maybe you should talk to her about all of this."

She sighed once more. "Do you always have to read me so well?"

"Well, love, I am your husband. I dare say it comes with the territory."

She rolled her eyes and shook her head. She then closed her eyes and breathed out through her nose.

"But…I don't want her to think that I don't trust in her - or believe in her."

Killian hummed. He then offered, "Well, Swan, I say that rather depends."

"Depends on what?"

"On whether or not we still trust and believe one another even after we fight."

Emma stared at him. "That…isn't the same thing."

"Only because we're husband and wife - and this is about you and your mother. Don't you think she deserves to know how you feel?"

She raked her fingers through her hair. She sniffled as her eyes welled with tears. She wiped at them - and Killian's arms came back around her.

"Oh, Emma, love, what is this really about?"

She laid her head back against his chest. "I can't lose her again, Killian. Especially not now that I finally have a mom again."

Killian held her tightly against him and squeezed. She snuggled against him.

Silence ensued once more. He ran his hands up and down her back. She closed her eyes and breathed in the scent of his cologne mixed with the sea breezes.

She then took a deep breath. "I have to talk to her, don't I?"

"Well, love, I suppose that's truly up to you - but as I said, she needs to know how you feel."

"I know."

She took another deep breath before she pulled away from him. She then dug her phone out of her pocket.

"I guess there's no better time than now."

Killian hummed and kissed her forehead. He then squeezed her hand.

"Your mother will understand, love - as you've said, you two are a lot alike."

Emma smiled and ran her hand across his jaw. "Thank you, Killian. I'll see you at home."

He hummed once more. He then pecked her cheek before he made his way off the boat.