CaptainSwan Forever

Two weekends later, Killian helped Emma move into his rental house. Although she had told him she didn’t have many possessions, he was still surprised how little she actually did have. She shared the story about her upbringing in the foster system in one of their previous conversations, and how it taught her early on the futility of sentimentality over possessions.

She did have one large, bulky box that he struggled to carry. As he set it down in her bedroom, she blushed furiously, explaining, “These are my thrifting treasures. Neal always complained about me buying a bunch of junk. I hope it doesn’t bother you.”

“What do you mean by thrifting?” he asked, genuinely interested.

“I go to thrift shops and look for interesting things that I can repurpose.” Opening the flaps on the box, she reached in and pulled out a white plastic picture frame and a blue vase. “Like these, for example. I plan to break this vase into pieces, then glue the pieces on the frame to make it look like a mosaic.”

“Clever,” he commented. “Then what will you do with it?”

She shrugged. “Probably give it away as a gift. I just enjoy hunting for hidden treasures to see what I can do with them. Some of the stuff I’ve made is in that box over there,” she said, pointing to another box in the corner.

“May I?” he asked, moving over to the box.

“Go ahead.”

He opened the box and peered into it for several moments, before pulling out a pair of women’s cowboy boots that had colorful ribbons laced up the back. “Do you wear these?”

“No, they’re not even my size,” she answered, giving a nervous little laugh. “One of them was torn and I thought it would look cool to fix it with ribbons, so I cut both of them all the way down the back. I thought they turned out pretty good.”

“Have you considered selling them?”

“Actually, I have thought about offering them on Facebook Marketplace or even opening my own little online shop, but I don’t know if anyone would buy this stuff.”

He turned his attention back to the box. “I’m sure they would. These things are very creative and unique. People like having things that are one-of-a-kind.”

“When I mentioned my idea of setting up a shop, Neal told me it was a stupid idea because no one was going to pay for someone else’s trash.”

“Don’t let his asinine opinion squash your dream,” Killian said with a frown. “As the saying goes, one person’s trash is another person’s treasure.” He held up a pair of wooden spoons on which she’d painted some wildflowers. “These are beautiful, Swan.”

When he turned around, she was looking at him oddly.

“What’s wrong?” he asked.

“No one has encouraged me to pursue my interests before,” she explained. “Of course, I haven’t really shared how I like to go thrifting with very many people. I figured they would think it was weird.”

He folded the flaps back down on the box. “If you like doing it, why does it matter?”

“I guess it doesn’t,” she conceded. “Especially if I could make a little extra cash. Maybe I’ll look into how to set up a shop.”

“Good,” he smiled, before leaving the room to carry in another box.

*********

It took a few days for the two of them to get used to living in the same house. Their work schedules were different, so they often only saw each other in passing. When they did spend time together, Killian was accommodating and went out of his way to help her feel comfortable because he could tell she wasn’t yet. She was meticulous about picking up after herself and putting things away immediately after using them. She never left towels on the floor, dishes in the sink, or shoes beside the door.

One day, he decided to ask her about it, hoping that she wouldn’t take it as criticism. “Swan, have you always been so painstakingly neat and tidy? I consider myself rather orderly, but you make me feel like a slob.”

“I just don’t want to mess up your house,” she admitted, sheepishly.

“You’re paying your share of the rent, so technically, this is our house. I want you to feel at home here - a place for you to relax and unwind, not drive yourself crazy trying to keep it spotless and uncluttered.”

She looked chagrined, but didn’t say anything.

“As soon as you get home after a long shift of taking care of customers, you’re picking up the dogs’ toys, unloading the dishwasher, doing laundry, or vacuuming. Forgive me, but when we used to Facetime after you got off work, you were usually lounging on the sofa with your feet up. I hope you know you can do the same here.”

“Okay, I’ll try,” she said.

It wasn’t long after the conversation that he could see her take his words to heart. She was beginning to relax and consider the house her home. She was also overjoyed about being with her dogs every day.

They were soon spending as much time as possible together, getting to know each other’s likes and dislikes, sharing stories of their childhood and teen years, having discussions about everything under the sun, and making each other laugh until their sides hurt. Both of them looked forward to the evenings when their schedules aligned and they could cook dinner together, then relax while watching a movie or TV series with Sophie and Oscar wedged between them on the sofa. It was a perfect living situation for all four of them.

*********

Emma’s favorite days of the week were the ones when she and Killian took Oscar and Sophie to the dog park. Besides being able to let her sweet pooches run and explore to their hearts’ content, she enjoyed their conversations on the way there and back. Killian was extremely astute at noticing and commenting on things other people simply would have overlooked. He drew her attention to buds on trees, tiny flowers just bursting into bloom, and improvements people had made on the houses along the route. They stopped to study the busy inhabitants of anthills, identify various birds, and pull branches of lilacs down to inhale their sweet scent. Emma supposed it was part of his job as a digital designer to be so detail oriented, but she never before knew anyone who seemed to notice absolutely everything like he did.

On one particular day as she was appreciating his many observations, she herself failed to notice the familiar car that slowly followed them all the way back to their house.

*********

Neal had been doggedly trying to locate Emma for over two months. In that time, his irritation had grown into full-blown rage. It didn’t help that his gambling buddies constantly ribbed him about how Emma had left him, then ‘beaten the odds’ and outwitted him. He was sick and tired of being the butt of their jokes, and was more determined than ever to find her and make her pay for humiliating him.

He assumed she quit her job at the restaurant because her yellow bug was never in the parking lot. He wasn’t having any luck hanging around her friend’s apartments either. He wondered if she moved out of town, knowing if she did, he was virtually guaranteed to never find her.

Then one day as he was cruising past the restaurant to check the parking lot again, he struck gold. He saw her coming up the sidewalk toward him, walking her two mutts. Turning his head so she wouldn’t see his face if she happened to look his way, he passed her then turned the car around in the middle of the street and began following her. If she was walking, she had to live nearby.

As he watched, he realized she wasn’t walking the dogs alone. A dark-haired guy was beside her, talking animatedly. Emma looked like she was hanging on his every word, throwing her head back in laughter every once in a while. Neal’s blood boiled as he continued tailing them.

Finally, they turned up the sidewalk to a small house and went inside together. That bitch! Neal thought. That absolute fucking whore! She was already living with some guy only weeks after leaving him!

Seething with white-hot rage, Neal floored the accelerator, completely ignoring the speed limit. A few blocks away, he jerked the steering wheel and brought the car to a stop, halfway up on the curb. He pulled out his phone and with shaking fingers, found the contact he wanted. Then he punched the screen with unnecessary force.

When the call connected, he growled, “Hey, Pete, it’s Neal. Remember when you offered to let me use your gun for target practice? I want to take you up on it.”

*********

The next afternoon, Emma was in the backyard with the dogs. On the days she worked the early shift, she would wait for Killian to get home, then after playing with Sophie and Oscar for a few minutes, they would prepare supper together, before taking them to the dog park.

Several minutes before Killian’s expected arrival, she heard someone banging on the front door. She headed toward the back entrance, puzzled because normally he would go through the house, drop his lunch bag and keys on the table, then join them in the backyard. If he couldn’t get in, he would still be able to go around the outside of the house and through the gate.

As she pulled the front door open, she was ready to tease him about forgetting his key, but stopped when she saw who was standing there.

“N-Neal?” she squeaked, her breath stolen from seeing her ex in front of her.

“Surprised to see me?” he asked, his face a mask of anger. He pushed past her into the house, shoving her aside roughly. “You really thought you were gonna hide from me forever, Emma? How fucking stupid are you?”

“You c-can’t come in here,” she stammered, still trying to overcome her shock.

He turned and got in her face. “Why? Is your fucking boyfriend here?” he yelled.

The splatter of spittle in her face made her wince in disgust. “Boyfriend?” she asked, confused.

“The mother fucker you live with! I saw the two of you come in this house together yesterday. Where is he?” he roared. Then he began to stalk through the house, opening doors and slamming them shut when he found the rooms empty.

“Neal, stop!” Emma shouted, her surprise giving way to anger. “Get out of here! You don’t have any right -”

He whirled around and slapped her, then stuck a finger in her face. “Don’t tell me what I have a right to do, you stupid bitch! You made me a laughing stock among my friends! Now you’re going to pay.” Reaching behind himself, he pulled a gun from his waistband and waved it in front of her face. Emma’s eyes grew huge and her throat went dry. “First, I’m going to make you watch me kill those fucking mutts of yours, then you’re coming with me. You’re gonna tell my buddies how you cheated on me and I threw you out. You’re gonna make it clear that you begged to stay with me, but I wouldn’t let you. Got it?”

When she didn’t answer right away, he started stomping through the kitchen, continuing to rave about killing the dogs. Despite her terror about him having a gun, Emma ran after him, desperate to save her pets. She caught up to him and grabbed his left arm, yanking on it hard to get him to stop. “NO!” she screamed. “Leave them alone, Neal! You can’t shoot them!”

He came to a halt, turned and looked at her, his eyes filled with a hate she couldn’t even comprehend. Then he slowly raised his right arm, pointing the gun at her chest. “Maybe you’re right, Ems,” he said, his voice low and menacing. It sent a chill through her that even his screaming hadn’t. “Maybe I should shoot you instead.”

*********

Killian was going up the sidewalk to the house when he heard Emma shout Neal’s name. He ducked down and looked in through the front window, his heart slamming against his ribcage as he witnessed the scene inside.

Still squatting to avoid being seen, he ran around the side of the house, dialing 9-1-1 as he went.

“9-1-1, what is your emergency?” the dispatcher asked.

“My name is Killian Jones and I live at 815 Rogers Way. I just got home from work and my roommate is inside the house with her ex-boyfriend, whom she’s been hiding from. I can hear them yelling from outside.” He reached the back of the house and looked in through the kitchen window. “Bloody hell,” he whispered. “He has a gun!”

“Don’t worry, Mr. Jones,” the dispatcher assured him. “There are police officers in the area and they are on their way.”

Killian hung up, peeked in the window again, and saw Neal pointing the gun at Emma. He knew he couldn’t wait any longer, so he slipped in through the back door, catching Emma’s attention. He gestured for her to drop to the floor, desperately hoping Neal wouldn’t discharge the gun at her sudden movement.

She followed his directions as Killian tackled Neal to the ground from behind, the gun flying out of his hand and skittering across the kitchen floor. The two men wrestled, while Emma got to her feet. Instead of heading toward the open door, she moved back into the kitchen.

“Emma!” Killian shouted, avoiding a wild swing of Neal’s fist. “Get out of here!”

She bent down to pick up the gun, but Neal managed to kick at her, knocking her feet out from under her. As she hit the floor, Killian redoubled his efforts to subdue the other man, but fueled by fury, Cassidy was able to wrest himself away. Before Killian could react, Neal snatched up the gun, cocked it, and spun around, aiming the weapon first at Emma, then at Killian. “Now you get to watch your boyfriend die before I kill you, Emma!” he bellowed.

His words were followed by the sound of a gunshot reverberating through the room.

*********

I look forward to and welcome all yelling

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“Cora?” Robin repeated in shock. “You mean, Regina’s mother? That Cora?”

“Aye,” Killian affirmed, cautiously making his way forward and focusing on the possessing spirit whilst positioning himself in front of Emma. “Taking control of Neal was one thing, but robbing your daughter of her agency? What sort of mother are you?”

A spurious smile stretched across Regina's painted lips. “I’ve already told you, your pretty looks will not buy my time. Do you really think I will lower myself to engage in your baiting?”

“What do you want, then?” Emma asked over his shoulder. “Why take possession of Regina?”

The woman’s cold eyes flicked to Swan’s and she stared her down with a malignant gaze. “Why, to stop you, of course.”

“Stop what? Her learning the truth? She already knows Daniel didn’t take your money and leave on his own.”

“No, no, silly girl.” Like a serpent, she slithered forward a few steps, stopping shy of the threesome’s personal space. Snapping her gaze back to Killian, she declared, “To stop you from desecrating my corpse.”

Out of the corner of his eye Killian saw both Robin and Emma balk.

“I beg your pardon?” Robin exclaimed. “Desecrate her… What is she talking about?”

Ignoring Robin’s question, Killian challenged the woman. “I don’t know what you--”

“Oh, yes. You do.” The words clipped off her tongue with barely subdued rage. “I am not stupid. I know what you’ve got planned. Your brother is out there right now with ill-intent, and you’re going to stop him.”

“And if I don’t?”

A smirk lifted the corner of her mouth and her eyes dropped down to the body she’d commandeered. “Then I guess I’ll be keeping my daughter close and making certain she lives out the remainder of her life as I see fit.”

“No!” Robin replied, advancing on the woman. “I won’t let you!”

“Robin, stop!”

Before the man could heed the warning (though, he likely would not have), Regina’s hands grabbed ahold of Robin’s upper arms and using his own momentum against him, she swung him into the nearby door jam, the impact knocking him to the ground.

“Don’t!” Killian ordered when Robin began to pick himself up off the floor. “It’s all right. She’s bluffing.”

“Am I?”

“Aye,” Killian replied confidently. “You and I both know you haven’t the strength to maintain this level of control indefinitely.”

“And I refuse to believe you are so heartless that you’d deprive your own daughter of the life she has left.”

Killian stiffened as Emma stepped around him to continue confronting the woman. He did not want Swan to put herself in danger, but knew they needed to buy Liam as much time as possible.

“I only want what is best for her. That’s all I’ve ever wanted.”

“What about what she wants?” Emma countered. “She loved Daniel. She might even love Robin. Doesn’t that mean anything to you?”

“My dear,” the woman condescendingly drawled. “Love is weakness. And as for being heartless…”

A ghostly arm shot out from Regina's shoulder and disappeared into Emma’s chest.

“No!” Killian cried out, momentarily frozen in shock and fear as he watched Swan’s body contort, shoulders caving inward, her breath stuck in her throat.

When he finally managed to move, Regina’s head snapped towards him. “Not another step, lover boy, or I’ll stop her heart before you can cross the hallway.”

“Let her go.” Killian put his hands out and planted his feet firmly. Robin shifted from where he was still positioned on the floor, forcing Killian to give him a pleading look and shake of his head to stop whatever he was planning.

How could he have allowed himself to become so distracted by calculations of how much longer Liam would need as to not notice how close the malevolent woman had gotten to his Swan. “Please,” he begged. “Let her go.”

“Not until you call your brother off,” she said, tightening her grip around Emma’s heart and causing a pained whimper to fall from Swan’s lips.

“Fine,” Killian conceded, pulling his phone from his pocket. “You win.”

“No,” Emma choked out, the agony in her voice making Killian’s stomach roll and his own heart drop. “Let him finish. He and Belle have to be close to--”

“What do you think will happen to you and Regina if they vanquish me whilst I am in possession of her body and your heart?”

Emma shifted her gaze towards Killian, clearly hoping he would refute the woman’s claim. He couldn’t, though. Honestly, he had no clue what would happen, but was not about to take any chances.

Speed dialing his brother, he muttered under his breath for Liam to answer.

“Killian?” his brother’s confused voice answered.

“Liam, listen to me very carefully,” Killian began firmly with a note of urgency. “I need you and Belle to stop. Don’t do anything to Cora’s remains.” The line went silent and Killian pulled it from his ear to make sure the call was still connected. Turning the speaker feature on, he said, “Are you there, brother?”

“Aye,” Liam responded, prudently. “What’s happened?”

“Nevermind that,” Killian said, curtly. “I just need you to stop what you’re doing and get back here.”

“You know I can’t do that, little brother. Cora must be dealt with.”

“Dammit, Liam. I need you to listen to me. She’s taken possession of Regina and is threatening to crush Emma’s heart if you don’t--”

“Bloody hell,” Liam muttered over the line. “How did she--”

“What difference does it make!” Sometimes his brother could be the most infuriating arse. Exasperated, Killian told Liam once more, “You can’t salt and burn the body. Not without risking Regina and Emma’s safety.”

“How do you know she won’t--”

A scuffling sound echoed over the phone, his brother’s muffled voice saying something Killian could not make out.

“Killian?” Belle’s voice anxiously rang out. “We’re headed back to the car now.”

Lights flickering from the living room doorway grabbed Killian’s attention and for a brief second he could make out the silhouette of a man attempting to manifest behind Regina.

Daniel. It had to be.

“Thank you, Belle,” Killian replied, trying to keep his expression and voice even so he did not tip Cora off. “Let me talk to Liam again.”

“I’m here, brother. I’m sorry I didn’t heed your--”

“Yeah. You can be a real dinghy sometimes, you know that?”

“Aye,” Liam replied with a timbre of surprise that he quickly suppressed. “Just like dad, I’m afraid.”

Killian let out an involuntary sigh of relief and hoped the woman, staring intently at him, would chalk it up to him being glad to have finally gotten his brother to relent.

“We’ll see you soon,” Liam said, ending the call.

Stowing his phone back into his pocket, Killian’s gaze shifted to where he could make out a ripple in the air out of the corner of his eye before focusing on the arm still buried in Emma’s chest.

“Hang in there, Swan,” he encouraged, unable to bring himself to look at her face. He did not trust himself to not do something impulsive at the sight of torment or anguish on her gentle features. “It’ll all be over soon.”

“Indeed,” Regina’s voice uttered, and though he barely knew the woman, Killian knew the false syrupy-sweet inflection sounded completely wrong coming from those lips. “It will be over soon, but not the way you think it will.”

“What’s that supposed to mean?” Robin inquired, slowly getting to his feet with his hands raised in supplication. A brief, flickering glance, first at Killian, then towards the area the ripple had occurred, alerted him to the fact that Robin was aware of the other presence as well. “You said you’d let them go if Killian stopped Liam.”

“And I will,” the woman vowed. “But not without some assurances first.”

“What assurances?”

“That you won’t simply dispose of me later.”

“How do you plan to ensure we don’t?”

“Why…” An amused breath punctuated the pause before she confessed, “By having Robin here wall you all up like I had my husband do to Daniel.”

“You must be mad if you think I would--”

“But you are mad, aren’t you?” she simpered. “Madly in love with my daughter? Willing to do whatever is necessary to protect her?”

“The only way to protect Regina is to free her from you. That much is clear to me now.” Robin straightened his posture and braced his stance, squaring off with the woman he loved even as he vowed to do everything within his power to keep her from further harm.

Scoffing, the woman rolled her eyes. “Daniel said the same thing to me once. He failed and so will you. Besides…” a grimace of pain pinched Regina’s features and for a moment the possessed woman came forward.

“Mother,” she cried out in anguish. “Please… stop.”

As quickly as she’d relented it, Cora took control once more. “I can make this agony for her, unless you do as I say.”

Killian allowed the woman to continue monologuing at Robin, keeping his attention on Emma and her safety. It was taking every ounce of restraint he could muster to remain level-headed and not let his rage or terror get the better of him. All he could do was trust that Daniel - like Robin, like himself - was doing all he could to save the woman he loved.

“Come on, mate,” he muttered under his breath. “What are you waiting for?”

“You won’t… get away with… this,” Emma strained out.

“Aye, Swan’s right,” Killian added. “Do you honestly think no one will notice we’ve disappeared and that there is a newly constructed wall where the old one was? I think that’s something even Neal would clue in on.”

“Oh, my dear boy. Didn’t you know? Neal’s gone.”

Blanching, Killian whipped his head to the side and caught Emma’s guilt-filled eye. “What? Is that true, love?”

Disgusted, Cora’s hand tightened within Emma’s chest, forcing Swan’s gaze to break away and fall back to the floor as a sob audibly caught in the back of her throat.

“Stop!” Killian demanded. “Is this really how you want your daughter to remember you? Is this truly what you want your legacy to be?”

“Don’t you dare speak to me of legacy,” the vengeful woman spat. “My legacy was secure, my memory safe with Regina until this little trollop undercovered my secret. If not for her--”

The lights around them dimmed and the atmosphere began to crackle. A flash of trepidation crossed Regina’s face, but it was quickly replaced by Cora’s smug countenance.

“We both know you lack the conviction to do what you must in order to best me.”

It took Killian a moment to realize she wasn’t speaking to any of them, that she was addressing Daniel and had obviously been aware of him this entire time.

“You are weak. You’ve always been weak.”

Stepping forward, Killian silenced her vitriolic tirade. “Don’t listen to her, Daniel! Love is stronger than any force on this earth. Do what you must to save the women we love.”

The startled expression resonating from Regina’s face made something in Killian’s mind click. He knew what Daniel needed.

“I would gladly risk my life for two things: love and revenge.” Spreading his arms out wide, he offered, “Take all that you need, Daniel.”

“Killian, no!” Emma wailed, a tear slipping down her cheek. “Don’t do this!”

The spectre faintly began to form in front of him. Daniel’s soft eyes locked on to his, waiting for confirmation which he gave with a resolved nod before bracing himself as best he could. Daniel’s ghostly arm thrust forward, the intrusion into Killian’s chest unlike anything he’d ever felt in his life. Each beat of his heart strengthened Daniel, allowing him to fully manifest.

“No. Stop!” Cora protested from Regina’s lips. “Stop or I’ll--”

Her words were cut off when Daniel grabbed Cora’s ghostly wrist with his other hand. With a firm pull he tore the spirit free from Regina, who teetered on her heels before losing consciousness and falling towards the floor.

“Regina!” Robin lunged forward and mercifully caught her, lowering her carefully to the ground.

With his hand still wrapped around Killian’s heart, Daniel tightened his grip on Cora’s wrist, her hand still precariously wrapped around Emma’s heart which made Killian’s clench without any additional pressure from Daniel.

“That doesn’t belong to you,” Daniel stated, putting a greater squeeze on the woman’s wrist until she finally let go of Emma’s heart with a pained yelp.

Thankfully, Daniel released Killian in time for him to catch Emma, cradling her in his arms as they both collapsed to the floor. Once safely out of harm’s way, he dug out his phone and dialed Liam.

“Brother?”

“Now, Liam!”

A roar filled the hallway, flames bursting out from where Cora’s ghost stood. Her shriek pierced Killian’s ears and he quickly pressed his hands over Emma’s, hoping to shield her from the horror. Burying her face into his chest, Swan’s grip tightened, balling his shirt into her fists. When the heat of the ghostly fire subsided, they both looked at one another, their chests heaving from adrenaline as they fought to catch their breaths.

“Are you all right, love?” Killian asked on an exhale, wetting his lips in a vain attempt to bring moisture back to his mouth.

“I-I think so,” she answered, breathlessly.

Her eyes dipped to his lips then flicked back up, staring at him through her lashes. They held each other’s gaze for several erratic beats of Killian’s heart before slowly moving in closer. Eyes fluttering shut, Emma’s mouth was about to meet his when a soft gasp broke the moment and stole both their attention.

“Daniel?” Regina, having regained consciousness, sat up and stared teary-eyed at the ghost of her long lost love. “Is that… Is it really you?”

Robin helped her to her feet, steadying her as she approached Daniel’s spectral form. Not wishing to be any more intrusive than they already were, Killian and Emma remained seated on the floor of the hallway. With his Swan wrapped willingly in his arms, Killian held his breath at the beauty and heartbreak of this long overdue moment.

“Regina,” Daniel whispered. “I’m so sorry. For everything. I never… I never would have left you willingly and I… I’m sorry you had to find out the truth like that. I never wanted you to find out about your mother this way.”

“Oh, Daniel,” Regina replied, tearily. “You have nothing to apologize for. I’m the one who owes you an apology. I’m sorry I doubted you. That I doubted our love. I should have known better. I should have never taken my mother’s word over--”

“I don’t blame you for doubting,” he said. “I don’t think either of us ever considered she’d go to the lengths she did to keep us apart.”

Though it was evident he wanted to spare her the details, Regina would not be deterred, insisting he tell her the full truth of what had happened. Cora had tried to buy him off, that much was true. She’d handed him a check; the amount wasn’t important, no amount she could ever offer would have been enough, and he had told her as much. Ripping up the check, he’d tossed the pieces at her feet before turning to head down into the cellar. The next thing he knew he was lying at the bottom of the stairs, his neck broken, and his life quickly slipping away.

“My last thoughts were of you, Regina. I need you to know that. I need you to know that I have never stopped loving you.”

“Daniel, I…” Regina’s chest shuddered from a suppressed sob, tears spilling over her lashes and streaking her mascara down her cheeks.

“I haven’t been able to move on, knowing what you must have thought. I couldn’t be at peace until you knew the truth.”

“I love you, too, Daniel,” she whispered. “I hope you can find peace now. You deserve it.”

“There’s only one thing more keeping me here,” he said. “I need you to do something for me.”

“Anything.”

Reaching out as though he were cupping her cheek, Daniel leaned in, bringing his forehead close to hers. “I need you to open yourself up to love again, Regina. You deserve love. You are loved.” Pulling back, Daniel turned his face towards Robin and smiled at the man. “Isn’t she?”

“Aye,” Robin affirmed, gazingly lovingly at the woman beside him. “That she is.”

“Embrace it, Regina,” Daniel urged. “Embrace love. Embrace happiness. It isn’t too late for you to have the life I wanted for you. Promise me you’ll open your heart and love again.”

Pursing her lips together in order to keep some semblance of composure, Regina reached over and took Robin’s hand. Slowly, she lifted her eyes to meet his, smiled, and said, “I promise.”

Robin beamed and pulled her into his arms, wrapping her tight in his embrace. Allowing them a moment, and probably a bit conflicted with seeing the woman he loved with another man, Daniel made his way over to Killian and Emma and stood over them.

“Thank you, Emma,” he said. “And you, Killian. If not for the two of you and Liam and all the others who helped, this never would have been possible.”

“Don’t mention it, mate,” Killian replied, wishing he could shake the man’s hand.

“I’m so happy it all worked out,” Emma said. “I’m just so sorry your life was cut short. It’s not fair.”

Daniel shrugged. “Life is like that sometimes. Which is why it is important to not squander it; take hold of every moment and cherish it. Remember that, won’t you?”

“Aye. We will.”

A content and fulfilled look rested upon Daniel’s face and he closed his eyes. “I can go now.”

“Daniel,” Regina called out, clearly not ready to say good-bye.

“It’s okay,” he assured her. “I’ll always be with you in some way.” With one last glance at Robin, he said, “Take care of our girl.”

“I will, mate. I promise.”

A soft glow began to envelop Daniel, his eyes locked with Regina’s until it became too bright for her to hold his gaze.

“I love you, Regina,” he said, his voice faint as the glow started to dim.

“Good-bye, Daniel,” Regina replied as the light fully extinguished, taking Daniel’s spirit with it.

Regina collapsed into Robin’s arms and sobbed. Tears rolled down Emma’s face and Killian had to wipe away his own as they watched Robin rock the woman he loved in his arms. When she had finally exhausted her tears, Regina turned and apologized. Killian assisted Emma off the floor and the four of them stood there in the hallway awkwardly.

Scratching behind his ear, Killian opened his mouth, still unsure of what to say, when the front door burst open. In rushed Liam and Belle, soot covered and bedraggled.

“Is everyone all right?” Liam inquired, out of breath. “What did we miss?”

~/~

Killian laid awake on the pull-out, staring up at the ceiling as he replayed the events of the evening in his mind. Every fear and nightmare fueled terror had coursed through him the entire time Cora had held Emma’s heart in her grasp. How he’d managed to keep his wits about him with the image of her heart being stopped by that ghostly hand plaguing him from all sides of his dark imaginings, he’d never know. It had taken a Herculean effort to relinquish her from his arms after Liam and Belle had arrived and they’d all adjourned to the living room.

The next few hours had been torture for him as he sat on the other side of the room from her, still shaken by what could have happened, still not convinced she had come out of the deadly encounter unscathed. He did his best to hide it, though, giving his account of things and answering questions as they all got up to speed on what had happened. When the conversation turned to Regina sharing memories of Daniel and her time spent at the carriage house in her youth, Killian stole too many glances at his Swan to count, but enough to have gained the attention of Robin who surmised they were close to overstaying their welcome.

After bidding the couple farewell with promises to keep in touch, Liam had pulled him aside to discuss what was next for the Jones brothers, allowing Emma to quickly say goodnight and escape to her room. Killian had snapped at his brother, questioning him as to why the topic could not wait until morning, only to have his brother inform him that he would not be there in the morning.

He would be staying the night with Miss French.

Killian had almost punched the shit-eating grin off his brother’s face.

He should have punched the shit-eating grin off his brother’s face.

He also should have gone up to check on Emma after Liam and Belle had left, but decided instead to give her some space. It was the gentlemanly thing to do.

It was the cowardly thing to do. He was being a coward, and he knew it. A coward, and a fool, and a complete and hopeless--

The creak of the stairs drew him from his self-depracating thoughts and he sat up. Hearing a cabinet door open and close from the kitchen, he tossed back the covers and reached for his sweat pants, pulling them on as he made his way to the door. Peering out across the corridor, he could make out Emma leaning against the counter as she sipped from a glass of water. Not wishing to startle her, he yawned loudly and let his feet fall heavy on the wood floors as he approached the kitchen.

“Trouble sleeping?” he asked, running a hand through his hair as though he were trying to tame his bedhead.

“Sorry if I woke you,” she said, cupping the glass in her hands, her eyes trained on its rim.

“You didn’t.” Reaching out, he took the glass from her and set it on the counter. “Out with it, love. I can tell something is bothering you.”

Whipping her head up, she looked at him askew. “How? How could you possibly know something’s--”

“I’ve told you before,” he reminded, cutting her off and enjoying how it irritated her. “You’re an open book.”

A scoff huffed from her chest and she rolled her eyes at him. “Well, if you must know…” she began, scuffing the floor with her foot as she quietly muttered, “It’s too quiet.”

“Come again?”

“It’s too quiet,” she repeated, louder and a bit exasperated. “I know it’s ridiculous that it bothers me, but the house is too quiet. Too still. I never noticed before, but I think I’d grown accustomed to having…”

“Another presence in the house?” he offered, finishing her thought for her.

“Yeah. I guess.” Crossing her arms over her chest, she gave a small shrug and confessed, “I kind of miss Daniel.”

“I don’t think that’s ridiculous at all,” he told her as he leaned against the counter across from her. “His energy was here for a long time. Makes sense that its absence would be felt.”

“I suppose so.” Letting out a deep exhale, she uncrossed her arms and placed her hands on the edge of the counter, next to her hips. When his gaze lifted from lingering on her exposed hip bone, he was met with a knowing smirk and a suspect look. “So, what’s got you up this late?”

It was Killian’s turn to shrug and avoid making eye contact. “Just some thoughts that won’t let me be.”

“Such as?”

Peeking up at her, he found the courage to ask the question that had been plaguing him all night. “Is it true that Neal’s gone?”

Another long exhale preceded her answer. “Yes. He’s gone.”

“When? Why didn’t you say anything?”

“We had it out after the whole possession thing,” she told him. “He gave me an ultimatum and I told him to get out.” She shifted her weight and pushed her hair behind her shoulder, taking a beat before admitting, “I’ve known for a long time that things needed to end with him, I just… I guess I felt too embarrassed to say anything. Besides… it wasn’t like we didn’t have enough going on.”

“True,” Killian agreed with a note of humor. “I am sorry you felt as though you couldn’t confide in me. And for what it’s worth, I…”

He couldn’t bring himself to finish the platitude. He wasn’t the least bit sorry that Neal was no longer in the picture, and they both knew it.

“Are you all right?”

“I am,” she assured him. “Like I said, it was long past time.”

Killian wanted to press her for more, to ask what this might mean for them. He’d be lying if he said he wasn’t conflicted about what came next, and therefore waited for her to take the lead.

“So, Liam is shacking up with Belle,” she said after a prolonged bout of silence. Seemingly testing the waters for different discussion altogether, she asked, “Does that mean you guys will be stopping into town on a regular basis?”

“Actually,” Killian replied, wading out into said waters, “Liam suggested we stick around for a while. It seems Miss French has a number of potential cases my brother thinks we should look into.”

Her teeth had been worrying her lip since she finished asking her previous question, and only relinquished their hold so she could inquire, “And what did you tell him?”

He wished she had met him halfway into the depths. “I told him I wasn’t sure.” When her face fell he quickly moved off the counter and took her hands in his. “Don’t misunderstand me, love. There’s nothing I want more than to stay here… with you.” Reaching up, he cupped her face and stroked her cheek with his thumb. “I just want to do this right. I don’t want to finally have my second chance and then end up being the rebound g--”

The urgent press of her lips against his cut off his words, and he’d never been so thrilled to be interrupted in all his life.

He’d only just begun to respond when she pulled away, but only far enough so she could tell him, “Neal was the rebound guy. You are the guy, Killian.”

His mouth crashed against hers and with very little prodding on his part, she climbed up to sit atop the counter. Prompting her knees to open for him, he moved into the space between her thighs and slipped a hand up her back beneath her (his) shirt. He groaned at the feel of her soft, warm skin as their lips continued to slant and slide against the others, their tongues tangled together, and their teeth teased and taunted with playful nips along jawlines and earlobes.

Coming up for air, foreheads pressed together, the two tried to catch their breath while trading soft smiles and doey-eyed looks with one another.

“You know how I said that without the ghosts the house is a little too quiet for my liking?”

“Aye,” Killian panted. “What do you suggest we do about that?”

“Well…” Emma drawled, applying a sultry timbre to her tone as she slid her arms around his neck. “I was thinking you could join me upstairs so we could make things go bump in the night.”

Killian chuckled and leaned in to kiss her again. “I thought you’d never ask.” he murmured against her lips, promising, “I’ll have you moaning louder than any spirit ever could.”

“And I’ll have you--” she said between kisses. “--thinking you’ve died and gone to heaven.”

“Too late for that, I’m afraid,” he confessed into the pulse point below her ear, moaning at the way it made her shudder in his arms. “After this, I’ll be harder to get rid of than any haunting.”

“Good.” Emma gave him a quick shove and hopped off the counter. Grabbing his hand, she led him out of the kitchen and cheekily added over her shoulder, “That’s the kind of being ghosted I can live with.”

With a wide smile, Killian eagerly followed his Swan up to her bedroom where the two of them enthusiastically expressed their passion for one another, loud enough to wake the… well, you know.

The End

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During the next week, Emma caught sight of Neal lurking in the parking lot or following her as she drove three more times. Each time, she drove to Mary Margaret’s loft apartment instead of going to her own place. She Facetimed Killian twice a day to check on her dogs and every conversation lasted a little longer. He always had humorous stories to tell about Oscar’s clumsiness and the odd places Sophie found to sleep. Emma ached to see her dogs in person, but was still afraid that if Neal found out where they were, he would make good on his threat.

Mary Margaret’s boyfriend David suggested getting a restraining order against Neal, but Emma didn’t think it was necessary since she wasn’t intimidated by him except where the dogs were concerned.

After a week went by without any more sightings of Neal, Emma was beginning to think that August was right - he seemed to have lost interest. On Saturday morning, she called Killian. As soon as he answered, she said, “I hope I’m not calling too early.”

“Not at all, Swan. The kids and I just got back in from their first outing in the backyard.”

He had taken to calling the dogs ‘kids’, which Emma found completely adorable. “I was wondering if I could come see them today.”

“Absolutely! But if I may - perhaps I should come to your place and pick you up, since your yellow contraption is so easily recognizable.”

“Yeah, that’s a good idea,” she agreed. “Chances of Neal driving by are pretty low, especially since he’s rarely out of bed on Saturdays before noon, but I’d rather be safe than sorry.”

“What time do you want me to be there?”

“Would twenty minutes from now be too soon?”

“That works for me,” he replied. “Have you eaten breakfast yet?”

“I’m finishing my first cup of coffee. I don’t need to eat. I’m just really anxious to see my babies.”

“I’ll tell you what - while you spend time with them, I’ll fix breakfast for all of us. They love my scrambled eggs.”

She laughed happily. “Sounds good. I’ll text you my address.”

*********

Killian’s car hadn’t even come to a complete stop at the curb before Emma was opening the door to climb in.

“Eager are you, Swan?” he chuckled.

“I can hardly wait to be with my babies!” she exclaimed as she fastened her seat belt.

“I’m sorry you’ve had to wait so long,” he said, checking his mirrors before pulling out onto the street.

“Me, too. At least I got to see them on Facetime, but it’s not the same. I miss them licking my face and dancing around my feet, demanding my attention.”

“They do like to lick and dance,” he commented.

She glanced over at him, trying to gauge if he looked annoyed. “They haven’t been a pain, have they?”

He turned to give her a quick, reassuring smile. “Not at all. I’m thoroughly enjoying my time with them. They’re the perfect houseguests.”

They drove for a few minutes until Emma broke the silence “I’m not having any luck finding a place I can afford that allows pets,” she said dejectedly. “I saw one place advertised and of course it’s just down the block from Neal. All of my friends are putting out inquiries for me, but there doesn’t seem to be anything available.”

Killian drummed his fingers on the steering wheel. “I asked my landlord if he has any other houses to rent. Apparently all of them are inhabited long term.”

Emma sighed. “I wish I could have made Neal move out of the condo, but he lived there first. I even called the lady who rented the apartment where I lived before moving in with Neal. She and her four cats have no intention of moving.”

“Well,” Killian said, drawing out the word, “if you can’t find anything, the dogs are welcome to continue staying with me. Then when I go back to England, perhaps you could rent the same house.”

“I have a pretty tight budget. How much do you pay for rent?” He stated the price and Emma gasped. “Are you kidding? That’s only sixty dollars more than what I pay for my tiny apartment every month!”

“Would you be able to afford it?”

She did some quick figuring. “That would be seven hundred twenty dollars more a year, which is doable. Plus, I would be able to walk to work, which would save gas money and wear and tear on my car. That might be a possible solution, if nothing else becomes available first and your landlord approves.”

“He would probably appreciate having someone lined up to move in when I leave. He’s an older gentleman named Marco and he’s a very nice guy,” Killian said as he turned onto his street.

“I’ll keep looking, but at least I have a backup plan. That makes me feel a little better,” Emma said. “Thank you.”

“You’re very welcome, Emma.” He parked in front of his house, quickly cutting the engine and exiting the car. He didn’t want to make Emma wait any longer to see her beloved dogs. After opening the front door, he pushed it open and stood aside, allowing her to enter first.

“Oscar! Sophie!” she called. Immediately, the two dogs came running, barking happily and jumping up on her. She dropped to the floor, attempting to hug both dogs at the same time, while they licked her face, their entire bodies wiggling with joy.

Killian watched the happy scene with a huge smile on his face. He’d become very fond of the dogs in the two weeks he’d had them, and if he was being entirely honest, with their lovely owner, as well. Their Facetime calls were always the highlight of his day. Lately, they spent more time sharing information about themselves during their calls, than giving Emma an opportunity to see her babies.

Once the dogs began to settle down, he went into the kitchen to cook breakfast and start the coffee maker. He got eggs, cheese and diced ham out of the refrigerator, then set to work making scrambled eggs.

As he worked, he could hear her telling Sophie and Oscar over and over how much she missed them and wished she never had to leave them again. Suddenly, an idea popped into his mind that just might solve the problem. He was pretty sure she wouldn’t agree to it, but decided he would propose it anyway while they ate breakfast.

Ten minutes later, he announced that the food was ready. Emma came into the kitchen, a bright smile on her face and her babies right on her heels. She crossed to the sink to wash her hands. As she dried them on a dish towel, she watched Killian spooning some eggs into the dogs’ bowls. “I thought you might be kidding about them liking your eggs.”

“We have them a couple of times a week, don’t we, kids?” he said, setting the bowls on the floor and chuckling at how fast they began gobbling up the food.

Emma sat down while Killian poured two mugs of coffee and carried them over to the table. Then he went to the refrigerator and brought back a bottle of creamer, setting it down in front of her. She looked at it, then up at him. “I thought you said you take your coffee black,” she said quizzically.

“I do, but you said you like white chocolate mocha creamer.”

Her mouth dropped open and she gaped at him. “So you went out and bought some?”

He shrugged. “I thought I would keep some on hand for when you come over to be with your pups.”

“That’s very sweet, Killian.”

“What can I say? I’m a sweet guy,” he quipped, seating himself across from her.

She splashed some creamer into her mug and stirred it as she watched him take a bite of toast. “Who taught you how to cook?”

He swallowed. “My mum. She was usually at work until early evening, so she taught my brother Liam and me to cook. We would make dinner for ourselves and she ate when she got home.”

During one of their phone conversations, he told Emma about how his father left them when he was young and his mother had to work two jobs to make ends meet. He went on to tell her how his mother died of anemia, leaving his older brother to finish raising him to adulthood.

“Does Liam still like to cook?”

“He never liked to cook. He did it because he had to. Fortunately, his wife Elsa is an excellent cook and bans Liam from the kitchen.”

Emma laughed, then took a bite of her eggs.

“Well?” he asked.

“Very good!” she proclaimed.

He grinned and they went back to eating. Once their plates were clean, they stayed at the table, leisurely sipping their coffee. Killian was lost in thought, trying to decide how to tell Emma about his idea.

“Earth to Killian,” he heard, and snapped his head up to see her smirking at him.

“Sorry, Swan,” he apologized, reaching up to scratch nervously over his ear. “I, um…I think I may have a solution to your problem of not having a place where your dogs can live with you.”

She set her cup down and turned her full attention to him. “I’m listening.”

“This house has three bedrooms,” he informed her. “I use one as my office and another as my own bedroom. That leaves a spare room. You would be welcome to it, if you would be open to moving in here.”

She stared at him incredulously. “You…you want me to move in with you?”

“Just hear me out, aye?” At her hesitant nod, he continued. “I’m aware that we don’t know each other that well, but I hope you’ve figured out that I’m a gentleman. I’m always a gentleman. I’m making this suggestion purely as a way for you to be with your dogs. I have no ulterior motives…except perhaps to have some company. I haven’t made many friends since I’ve been here and it’s a bit lonely. That’s one reason why I offered to take your dogs in the first place.”

She appeared to be at a loss for words, so he went on. “I would respect your privacy, of course. My bedroom has its own small bathroom, so we wouldn’t have to share that space.” When she still didn’t respond, he sighed. “I know I caught you off-guard, but I hope you’ll at least give it some thought.”

“I just…I really…can’t believe people like you exist,” she finally said haltingly. “First you save a total stranger’s dogs, and now you’re offering me a place to stay so I can be with them? Who does things like that?”

“It truly isn’t a big deal, Swan,” he assured her. “Like I said, I have my own reasons for making both offers. But if the thought of moving in here makes you uncomfortable, please don’t feel pressured to do so. I’m simply throwing that option out to you.”

“My lease runs month-to-month and I just paid for next month, so that gives me some time to consider it. It also allows more time to make sure Neal is going to leave me alone.”

Killian nodded his understanding. “Aye, that’s true. No matter what you decide, you know you are welcome to see the kids anytime.” He stood up and opened a drawer. After rummaging through it for several moments, he withdrew a key and turned to hold it out to her. “Here’s my spare key. Feel free to use it when I’m not home.”

She didn’t immediately take it. “Are you sure?” she questioned.

“Of course,” he assured her. “I know your hours don’t always coincide with mine and I wouldn’t want you to miss seeing your babies because I’m at work. Plus, I’m sure the days get a bit long for them and they would appreciate getting outside more often.”

She finally held out her hand and he dropped the key into it. “Thank you, Killian. Again.”

“You’re welcome,” he said, smiling warmly. “Now, how would you like to take Oscar and Sophie to the dog park? I haven’t taken them there yet, because I didn’t want to risk Neal seeing them.”

“They would love that!” she said, getting quickly to her feet. “I’ll help you clean up the kitchen first.”

“I’ll take care of it when we get back,” he said, moving to get the leashes from the hook beside the door. “They haven’t been outside for a while.”

On the way to the park, Killian noticed Emma looking around and over her shoulder often. He hated that she was still fearful of her ex. It mystified him that someone who lived with her and proclaimed to love her would treat her so horribly, especially when he was the one who cheated and ruined the relationship. Killian hoped she was correct in believing that Neal had lost interest in finding Sophie and Oscar.

He was happy to see her relax once they reached the fenced-in play yard. They unhooked the leashes, letting the dogs run and explore. Sophie lumbered around the area, thoroughly sniffing every corner of it, while Oscar dashed here and there, his face and body language showing a joy Killian hadn’t seen before. He pulled a tennis ball out of his pocket and threw it in Oscar’s direction, laughing as the dog fell all over himself trying to catch it.

“I didn’t know he liked to play ball,” Emma commented. “Our yard wasn’t big enough to allow them to run very far, and like I said, I’ve only had him for a few months.”

“I ran across a tube of tennis balls the other day in the back of the coat closet. I took one out in the backyard and tossed it, just to see what they would do. Sophie couldn’t care less, but Oscar loved it.”

The next time the dog retrieved the ball, Killian gave it to Emma so she could throw it. They played until Oscar’s tongue was nearly dragging on the ground. Emma checked the time on her phone, the happiness on her face fading a bit as she announced that she should probably get home. “My shift starts at two and I need to go home to get ready,” she said with a sigh.

They clipped the leashes on the dogs and walked to his place, where she hugged her dogs and told them goodbye, promising to see them again soon. The ride back to her apartment was quiet. When the car came to a stop, she turned to meet his eyes. “You’ve given me a lot to think about, Killian.”

“I’m aware. Take time to weigh your options, Swan. Don’t rush into anything you’re not comfortable with, aye?”

She gave him a genuine smile. “I won’t. I’ll talk to you tomorrow.” She got out of the car, closed the door and waved at him. He watched her walk into the building, then put the car in gear and drove away. He enjoyed every minute he spent with Emma and truly hoped she would take him up on his offer of moving into the house.

*********

Over the next two weeks, Emma visited her dogs frequently - sometimes when Killian was home, a few times when he was at work. During that time, she got more comfortable being in his house and began to seriously consider moving in. She wasn’t having any luck finding another place to live, and the more she was around Killian, the more she realized that he really was a gentleman. He was also becoming a good friend.

A few days before her next rent check was due, she called him. After catching up on each other’s day as usual, she asked, “So, um, is your offer to move into your house still on the table?”

“Of course, Swan,” he responded reassuringly. “You are more than welcome to live here.”

“Well,” she said slowly. “I think I’ll take you up on it.”

“I’m very happy to hear that,” he said, and she could hear the sincerity in his voice.

“I need to let my landlord know I’ll be moving by the end of the week, then I’ll have to be out by the beginning of the month.”

“I can help you move, if you like.”

“I would really appreciate that. When I moved out of Neal’s, I had to do it all on my own. And let me tell you, my bug may be special to me, but it will definitely never be mistaken for a moving van.”

He laughed. “I don’t imagine it holds very much.”

“Not at all, and I really don’t have that much stuff.”

They worked out the details of when she would move in then chatted for a while longer. After ending the call, Emma waited for her brain to tell her she made a mistake, and was a bit surprised to realize that she was at peace with her decision.

*********

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“You’re sure he’s not going to be home?” Killian asked, as they sat in his car outside the condo she used to share with Neal.

“Yeah, his car is gone. He leaves for work at nine. Of course, that’s when he’s supposed to be there, but he’s always late,” she said, rolling her eyes in annoyance.

“How does he keep his job, then?”

“Oh, he works for his dear old dad at a pawn shop, and I use the word ‘works’ very loosely. I think he spends most of the day placing bets on sporting events.”

“Sounds like a real loser,” Killian commented, then shot a look at Emma. “Sorry, lass. I didn’t mean to…”

She held up a hand to stop him. “No worries. I’ve come to the same conclusion. Unfortunately, it took me way too long to figure it out.”

They sat in silence for a few minutes, until Killian asked, “How long are we going to wait?”

She pointed at a condo three doors down from Neal’s. “His buddy Walsh lives there. If he sees me, he’ll let Neal know for sure,” she informed him. “That’s why I asked if we could use your car, so he wouldn’t recognize my bug.”

“Does this Walsh bloke leave for work at a certain time?”

“No, he works second shift, but he always goes for a run at ten.” She looked over at Killian. “I’m sorry you had to take off work to do this, but I was afraid if we waited any longer…”

“I don’t mind at all, Swan,” he assured her. “I haven’t taken a day off since I moved here, so I was due for one. I can think of no better reason than helping you rescue your dogs.”

The door to Walsh’s condo opened and the man stepped outside, dressed in a neon green T-shirt and black shorts. Emma slouched down in the car seat, watching over the top of the dashboard as he stretched. Finally, he turned and jogged off in the opposite direction.

Once he was out of sight, Emma flung open the car door and jumped out. Killian followed, running behind her as she sprinted to the front door. Pulling out her key with shaking fingers, she glanced in both directions, then fitted the key in the lock, opened the door, and slipped inside.

Killian entered and closed the door behind him, then turned to see the joyous reunion between Emma and her dogs. They were jumping on her as she knelt, smothering her with wet dog kisses as their tails wagged so hard, their whole bodies were wiggling.

“Where are their bowls and food?” he asked, following through on the plan the two of them concocted over the phone the evening before.

“In the kitchen.” She pointed him in the right direction, then got to her feet to grab their leashes from the hook by the front door.

He soon returned with a partial bag of food, several bags of treats, and their food and water bowls. Emma was busy tossing scattered toys into a toy basket sitting in the corner of the room.

“I’ll take these out to the car and come back to get their beds and toys,” Killian said, quickly moving toward the door. When he returned, Emma had all the toys gathered and was carrying two dog beds out of the bedroom.

“Neal always hated that I let the dogs sleep in our bedroom. He said it affected our sex life. Apparently that’s what drove him to sleep with someone else.”

Killian looked up at her from where he was bent over picking up the basket of toys. “The bloody wanker cheated on you?” he asked, disgust evident in his voice.

“Yeah. That’s the main reason why we broke up.”

“Have you considered hiring a hit man?” At her startled look, he added, “I’m just kidding, lass…for the most part, at least.”

Emma laughed lightly as she hooked a leash onto Oscar’s collar. “Not that he doesn’t deserve it, but I’d rather not spend the rest of my life in jail because of him.” Straightening up, she looked around the room. “I think that’s everything. We better get going.”

He collected the beds from the floor. “I’ll follow you out and secure the door.”

“Wait! I need to take them out back and let them do their business or they might do it in your car.”

“Is there time?”

“Yeah,” she called over her shoulder, already on her way through the kitchen. “We have at least another ten minutes before Walsh comes home.” She returned in less than a minute. “Okay, we’re good now.”

They left the condo, bundling the dogs and the last of the supplies into the car, then climbing in themselves. Killian started the car and smoothly pulled away from the curb, leisurely driving down the street so as not to draw undue attention.

Emma blew out a sigh of relief. “I wonder what Neal will do when he comes home and finds out they’re gone. He’s gonna be furious because he lost his bargaining chips.”

“Do you think he’ll turn his anger on you? From the way you’ve described him…”

“Well, I blocked him on my phone and all of my social media accounts, so he shouldn’t have any way to contact me. He also has no idea where my apartment is located. When I had my mail forwarded, I rented a PO box. The only thing I’m worried about is him coming to the restaurant.”

“Do you think he will?”

“Probably, but if he comes in and makes a scene, my manager will call the police. She did it before when Ella’s stepmother came in and started screaming at her for stealing her jewelry. It turned out her own daughter did it.”

“Perhaps I should be there during your shift tonight.”

Emma shook her head vehemently. “No, I don’t want him to know anything about you. I’ll warn August that he might show up. He’ll have my back.”

Killian glanced in his rearview mirror. “Your dogs are very well behaved.”

She turned to look at them, reaching back to pat each one on the head. “They love car rides, don’t you, my babies?”

“It’s very clear how much they love you, Swan. Thank you for trusting me to take care of them.”

“I was still mulling over your offer before I talked to Neal last night, but when he said he was going to have them euthanized, I knew I had to take you up on it. As hateful as he was towards me on the phone, I’m pretty sure he would have followed through with it.”

Killian’s jaw ticked in anger. “If he ever threatens you or makes you feel unsafe in any way, please tell me. If August has your back at the restaurant, I’ll have your back outside of it. We’ll do all we can to protect you from that prat.”

“I don’t even know how it got to this point,” Emma sighed. “Two months ago, I couldn’t imagine spending my life with anyone else but Neal. Now, I need protection from him.”

“I’m sorry, Emma.”

“You don’t need to apologize. It’s not your fault he turned into Mr. Hyde.”

“Aye, but I’m still sorry that your future plans have been dashed.”

“Yeah, me too.”

The rest of the ride to Killian’s house was quiet, except for the sounds of the dogs panting and occasionally whining in the back seat. When they arrived, he carried the supplies into the house, while she took the dogs through the gate to the backyard to start acclimating them to their new environment.

Soon, Killian joined them, smiling as he watched Oscar and Sophie sniffing and exploring the yard. “They seem comfortable already,” he observed.

Emma nodded in agreement. “Sophie adjusted pretty quickly when I moved in with Neal, and like I said, Oscar is very easy-going.” They watched as Oscar chose a spot and began to poop.

“Oh, crap,” she said. “Literally. I forgot to grab the pooper scooper out of the laundry room.”

“No problem,” Killian said, pulling out his phone. “I’ll order some waste bags from Amazon. They should be here tomorrow.”

“You don’t have to do that. I can order them myself.”

“I don’t mind. They’re not expensive.”

“Look, we need to get something straight. I don’t expect you to buy things for my dogs. You’re already providing a temporary place for them to live. You don’t need to be spending money on them on top of it.”

“The bags are four dollars, Swan. That’s not going to break my bank account. I promise.”

She put her hands on her hips, pursing her lips. “Killian…”

“The next time I’m at the restaurant, you can buy me a drink to pay me back.”

“I get drinks for free.”

“Even better,” he grinned.

She rolled her eyes. “Are you always this stubborn?”

“No. Sometimes I’m even worse.” If possible, his grin grew a little bigger.

“Well, thank you, but please don’t buy anything else. I already owe you big time.”

“You don’t owe me anything. When I was a kid, my brother and I had a dog. It’s one of my favorite childhood memories. I always wanted to adopt another one once I had my own place, but everywhere I’ve lived hasn’t permitted pets. So, you see, you’re actually doing me a favor by allowing your dogs to stay here.”

Emma glanced at her smart watch. “I have to be at work in less than two hours. I should go home, get a shower and eat some lunch. Do you think you’ll be okay with them?”

“Aye, we’ll be fine. I’ll take them inside and let them get acquainted with the place.”

“Well, I guess I’ll see you two later then,” she said, kneeling down to gather her dogs and give them a hug. “My shift is over at eight. Would it be okay if I stop in to see them afterwards?”

“Of course. Just make sure your ex doesn’t follow you here.”

She stood and brushed off the knees of her jeans. “I didn’t even think of that. I’ll be cautious.” After scratching Sophie behind the ears and rubbing Oscar’s throat, explaining those were their favorite places to be petted, she turned and walked toward the gate. “I’ll call you before I leave for work to see how they’re doing. Thanks again, Killian.”

“You’re welcome, Emma.”

*********

Emma was twenty minutes into her dinner break when Neal came storming into the restaurant and over to the bar where she was sitting. “What the fuck, Ems?” he hollered. “How dare you break into MY place! And why aren’t you answering your phone? I’ve called you a million times and it keeps going straight to voicemail!”

Out of the corner of her eye, she saw August move around the bar to stand beside her. She had told him what she and Killian did as soon as she got to work that afternoon and he assured her he would protect her if Neal showed up.

She took a deep breath then spoke in what she hoped sounded like a steady voice. “First of all, I didn’t break in because I still have a key. Besides, I paid more than my share of the rent the entire time I lived with you, so technically, it’s more my place than yours. To answer your second question, in case you haven’t noticed, I’m working and haven’t had time to look at my phone.” She lifted her chin and met his furious gaze. “And besides, I blocked your number.”

Neal’s face reddened with rage and his hands balled into fists. “You did what?”

August stepped in front of her, stating firmly, “Leave her alone, Cassidy.”

“Stay out of it, Booth! This is none of your business!”

“Maybe not, but Emma is my friend and I’m not going to stand here and listen to you scream at her.”

Neal stepped forward until he was nose-to-nose with August. “This BITCH,” he spat, “broke into my house while I was at work…”

“Didn’t you hear her? She didn’t break in. And she went in to rescue her own dogs,” August said calmly.

“Did she give them to you?” Neal questioned loudly, his face showing even more anger at being cut off.

August shook his head. “No. I’m allergic to dogs.”

“Then where the fuck are they?”

The bartender shrugged unconcernedly. “I don’t know.” It wasn’t a lie, since he didn’t know where Killian lived.

Neal stepped to his left to focus on Emma again. “Don’t think this is over, Ems! When I find those mutts…”

“Why do you want to find them?” she interrupted. “Obviously you hate them or you wouldn’t have threatened to have them killed. They’re not your problem anymore, so just let it go.”

“You’ll pay for this, Emma,” Neal growled. “Nobody makes a fool out of me!”

As he turned to stalk away, Emma couldn’t stop herself from saying, “Nobody has to, Neal. You do a good enough job of that all by yourself.”

He whirled around and had his finger in her face before August could move to stop him. “I will find those fucking dogs and when I do, I’ll chop them into bite-sized pieces and sell them to a Chinese restaurant!”

Emma’s face was ashen as she watched him stomp out the door. Turning to August, she whispered, “Do you think he’ll be able to find them?”

“Not if you’re careful for the next couple of weeks” he assured her. “Knowing Neal, he’ll lose interest in finding them after that.”

“That’s true. He has the attention span of a gnat. Hopefully he’ll move on and be out of my life soon.”

*********

Emma called Killian as soon as her shift was over. “How are they?” she blurted.

“Hello to you, too, Swan,” he chuckled.

“Sorry. I just…”

“No worries. The dogs are absolutely fine. Sophie slept most of the day and Oscar has been exploring the house. I think he decided his favorite spot is my bedroom, so I put his bed in there.”

“Well, I’ll warn you - he snores.”

Killian laughed again. “I probably do, too. Will you be coming by to see them?”

She sighed. “I can’t. Neal came into the restaurant tonight and his car hasn’t left the parking lot. He’s obviously planning on following me when I leave and he’s not even being sneaky about it.”

“Are you going to be alright?” he asked, concern very evident in his voice.

“Yeah. I’m going to spend the night at my friend Mary Margaret’s. She’s one of the other waitresses and her boyfriend is a police officer.”

“How did Neal act toward you when he came in?”

“He was awful. August was there for me, though.”

“I’m so sorry, Emma.”

“Thanks, but you don’t need to apologize. He’s a jerk and I’m the idiot who got involved with him.”

“Any man who treats a lovely lass like you the way he has is the idiot, Swan.”

Emma was glad he couldn’t see the blush she knew was filling her cheeks. “Well, in any case, I don’t know when I’ll be able to come by your house. I have a feeling Neal is going to be relentless for a few days. He’s furious about me taking the dogs and blocking his number.”

“Once you get to your friend’s place, why don’t you Facetime me so you can at least see them?”

“You wouldn’t mind?”

“Of course not. I’m sure you’ll sleep better seeing for yourself that they are truly settled in here.”

“Okay, I’ll talk to you in a little while, then. Thanks, Killian.”

“You really don’t have to keep thanking me.”

“I just want you to know how much I appreciate everything you’re doing. You’re a hero in my eyes.”

“I’m happy to help any way I can. I’ll be awaiting your call. Be careful, Emma.”

*********

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Emma Swan entered the back door of the restaurant, slamming it behind her. After preparing herself for her shift, she went into the employee’s bathroom to check her reflection in the mirror. Just as she expected, her eyes were red and puffy and her face splotchy. She grabbed a paper towel, ran it under cold water, and dabbed around her eyes, trying not to completely ruin her makeup. It already looked worse for wear from the crying she did on the way to work.

“Stupid, fucking Neal,” she ground out, using another towel to pat her face dry. “What did I ever see in him anyway?” When the woman in the mirror didn’t offer an answer, she sighed and tossed the wad of paper in the trash can on the way out the door.

She checked her table assignments, relieved to see she didn’t have any of the bigger tables. At least she wouldn’t have to deal with large parties of people tonight. Plastering on a smile, she headed to the booth in the corner to take their order.

After turning in their food order to the kitchen, she went to the bar to place their drink order.

“Hello, Emma,” the bartender greeted.

“Hey, August,” she replied. Of the three bartenders she worked with, he was her favorite. She recited the four drinks she needed, but August didn’t move to start making them.

“You seem upset,” he observed. “What did your rat bastard ex do now?”

“It’s that apparent, huh?”

“It is to me.”

She leaned on the bar, fighting back fresh tears. “He says he’s going to take my dogs to the animal shelter.”

“You’re kidding!” August blurted.

Emma shook her head. “I wish I was.”

“I thought he liked the dogs.”

“He does, or at least he acted like he did,” she shrugged. “He’s just doing it to get back at me. He knows I can’t have them in my apartment, so he’s threatening to take them to the shelter to try to get me to move back in with him.”

“What an absolute dick,” August said, as he set out the drink glasses.

“Yeah,” she sighed again. “What am I going to do? I can’t let Sophie and Oscar go to the animal shelter! They’re like my own kids. It was hard enough to leave them behind when I moved out, but I had no other choice. I had to get away from Neal and I couldn’t find a place on such short notice that would allow pets.” Her words ended on a stifled sob.

“I’d be willing to foster them until you find a place for you and your dogs.”

Emma’s tear-filled eyes swung to the man at the bar who had spoken with a British accent. He held his hand out to her. “Killian Jones.”

She hesitantly shook his offered hand. “Emma Swan.”

“I didn’t intend to eavesdrop, but it was difficult not to when I’m sitting right here. It sounds like you need some help.”

“I do. But why on earth would you offer to help a complete stranger?”

“Well, I love dogs,” he said, ticking the reasons off on his fingers, “I’m renting a home that allows pets and has a fenced-in backyard, and I abhor men who treat women spitefully.”

Emma turned to look at August, who was busy making the drinks while listening to the conversation. “Do you know this guy?”

“Killian’s been in several times. He’s a great tipper,” August grinned, as he set the four filled glasses on Emma’s tray.

Her mind was swirling. She had absolutely no reason to trust this guy, especially since her experiences with trusting men were less than stellar. Still, she had to do something to save her babies. There was a chance that Neal wasn’t serious about his threat, but she wasn’t willing to risk it. He was furious that she had the gall to move out and was vindictive enough to follow through with getting rid of them just to provoke her.

Turning around with her tray, she said, “I’ll tell you what - if you’re still here when I take my break in three hours, I’ll sit down and discuss this with you. If not, I’ll know you weren’t serious. Deal?”

“It’s a deal, lass,” he said with a smile.

Emma continued working her shift, occasionally returning to the bar for mixed drinks. Each time she did during the next two hours, Killian Jones was sitting in the same place, nursing a soda. Whenever she looked his way, he smiled warmly, then turned his attention back to the soccer game on the TV above the bar.

Forty-five minutes before her break, she went to turn in a drink order and noticed the man’s bar stool was empty. Her heart sank a little, because despite telling herself over and over again not to, she had still gotten her hopes up.

August took one look at her face and sent her a commiserating smile, “He’s in the restroom, Emma.”

She tried not to show the relief she felt. “I wasn’t worried. He’s free to leave if he wants,” she said with a shrug.

August rested his forearms on the bar to look her in the eyes. “I’ve been talking to him all evening. He seems like a good guy and he’s serious about taking the dogs.”

“Maybe it’s just his way of getting into my pants.”

“You know how good I am at reading people,” he reminded her. “I don’t get that impression. If I did, I’d toss him out on his ear.”

“Yeah, well, we’ll see, I guess.” She recited the drinks she needed and August got to work.

Just as he was setting the last drink on her tray, Killian Jones returned. He gave her another smile, then checked his phone. “Your break is in about forty minutes, isn’t it, lass?”

“That’s right.”

“Great! I was hoping you would agree to eat with me. I already ordered some food to be ready at that time. August told me what you usually get to eat.”

Emma glanced at August, who was grinning at her. Looking back at Killian, she replied, “Um, sure. I always sit at the bar to eat anyway.”

“She vents to me while she has dinner,” August said.

“Hey, if you didn’t want to hear about people’s problems, you shouldn’t have become a bartender,” Emma huffed.

The two men were chuckling at her response as she picked up her tray and walked away.

The rest of the time until her break seemed to crawl. Finally, she was free to go to the restroom and wash her hands. Looking in the mirror this time, she saw a woman with a genuine smile on her face. She could attribute it to the very appreciative elderly couple to whom she delivered food just before her break, but if she was truly honest, it was also due to the fact that she would be eating dinner with Killian Jones. The man was seriously good-looking and his offer to help gave her hope that she could somehow keep her pets safe.

She pulled the elastic from her hair, combed through it with her fingers, and pulled it back into a neater ponytail. Then she applied some fresh lipstick from the tube she kept tucked in her pocket, feeling a little silly for wanting to make a good impression.

Exiting the restroom, she quickly made her way to the bar and slid onto the stool beside Killian. A steaming plate of chicken alfredo was waiting for her and she gave him a smile of appreciation before picking up her fork. “Thank you for putting in an order for me.”

“I hope August didn’t steer me wrong,” Killian said, getting ready to take his first bite of beef tips.

“He didn’t. I need the carbs to keep me going through the rest of my shift.”

They ate a few bites before he spoke. “Tell me about your dogs.”

Just the thought of her babies brought a smile to her face. “Sophie is an Old English Sheepdog that I’ve had since she was a puppy. She’s four years old now. Oscar is a…well, we’re really not sure of his breed. We got him a few months ago from a lady who was fostering him after he was picked up as a stray.” She pulled her phone from her apron and chose a picture to show him.

“May I?” he asked, wiping his hands on his napkin. At her nod, he used his fingers to zoom in on the picture. “He appears to have a nose and ears like a Shih Tzu, but seems a little bigger. Definitely a mixed breed.”

She was impressed with his apparent knowledge of dogs. “That’s what we thought, too.”

“I love his underbite.”

“Yeah,” she laughed. “That’s what got my attention when I first saw his picture on the website.”

“They’re both very cute dogs,” he said.

Emma nodded in agreement, locking her phone and tucking it away. “They’re my babies.” After taking another bite and swallowing, it was her turn to question him. “So, tell me about yourself, Killian Jones.”

“In case you haven’t already figured it out, I’m from England. I moved to Maine four months ago when the company I work for opened a new office here and asked me to help get it up and running.”

“So you’re just here temporarily?”

“I expect to be here for at least a year, and the way things are going, it may be even longer.”

“It’s that bad?” she asked, cringing slightly.

“Not really bad. It’s just going to take more training than they were planning.”

“What kind of business is it?” she asked before taking a bite of a breadstick.

“Digital design, specializing in boats, yachts and small ships.”

She finished chewing and swallowed. “Sounds interesting.”

“I enjoy it very much,” he agreed. “Now, getting back to your problem…”

“My problem is my asshole ex-boyfriend, as you already heard. I don’t know if he’ll actually follow through on taking them to the dog pound, but I have to take his threat seriously because…let’s just say I wouldn’t put anything past him.”

“Will you be able to get Sophie and Oscar away from him?”

“I’m pretty sure I can. I still have a key and I doubt he went to the trouble of having the locks changed. All I have to do is wait for him to go to work, then I can go in and get them.”

“What will he do when he finds out?”

She shrugged. “I’m sure he’ll be angry, but I’m used to dealing with his temper tantrums. It’s one of the main reasons why I ended our relationship.”

“I’m sorry, lass.”

“Thanks. Anyway, getting the dogs shouldn’t be a problem and he won’t be able to figure out where they are, so you shouldn’t have to worry about him bothering you.”

“I’m not worried about that,” he replied. “I just want to make sure you and your dogs are safe. This guy sounds like a bloody blighter.”

“Come again?” she asked, confused at the term.

“Contemptible idiot,” he clarified.

“Oh, that certainly describes him. Okay, let’s say I do get the dogs. Would I be able to visit them? I don’t even know where you live.”

“I rent a house three blocks from here, which is why I frequent this restaurant. And of course you would be welcome to visit them anytime I’m home,” he assured her. “They’re your dogs, after all.”

She considered him for a moment. “Look, I’m not going to beat around the bush. Are you making this offer so you can get into my pants?”

His eyes widened almost comically. “Get into your pants?”

“Seduce me,” she explained.

“I’m aware of what the phrase means,” he said with a rueful smile. “I’m just a bit shocked you would think that.”

“Well, I don’t know you.”

“Point taken,” he admitted, scratching behind his ear.

“There’s also the fact that I’m obviously a terrible judge of character when it comes to men.”

“Emma, I promise I have no ulterior motives.” His tone was soft and reassuring, and Emma found herself relaxing and beginning to trust him. “I simply heard your dilemma and have the ability to offer a solution.” He tugged his phone out of the front pocket of his jeans and searched for something. Finding what he wanted, he turned it so she could see it. “This is my house. It’s small, but could easily accommodate your dogs. Besides the backyard, there’s also a dog park a few blocks away. How are they on a leash?”

“They’re good. Sophie is better than Oscar because I trained her as a pup, but he’s a pretty calm, easy-going dog.” She looked at her phone to check the time. “Oh, gosh. My break is over in a couple of minutes.”

Killian grabbed a napkin and pulled a pen out of his shirt pocket. After scribbling down his phone number, he slid it across the bar to her. “Think about it, Emma. If you decide to take me up on the offer, give me a call. If I don’t hear from you, I’ll assume you figured out a different way to solve the problem.”

She folded the napkin and tucked it into her apron pocket along with her phone. “I really appreciate your willingness to help,” she said with a smile. “I have to get back to work. Thanks again, Killian.”

With that, she resumed her shift. When she returned to the bar to turn in an order ten minutes later, Killian Jones was gone.

*********

“Neal, why are you being such an absolute jerk?”

“It’s your own fault, Ems,” he said, and the calmness in his voice infuriated her even more. “If you hadn’t moved out, I wouldn’t have to get rid of these mutts.”

“And if you hadn’t cheated on me then pitched a temper tantrum like a child, I wouldn’t have had to move out!” Emma shouted.

“Oh, for fuck’s sake, Ems. It was only one time. Get over it already.”

She couldn’t believe this asshole. “Seriously? I’ll never be able to trust you again!”

“Would you stop being so dramatic? So I slept with someone else. What’s the big deal?”

Emma closed her eyes and took a deep breath, trying to keep her temper under some semblance of control. “How would you feel if I slept with someone else? You get mad when I even look at another guy!”

“Did you sleep with someone else?”

“Of course not! You and I were in a committed relationship and living together!”

“Which you obviously thought gave you permission to invade my privacy. You wouldn’t have even known about Tink if you hadn’t nosed around in my phone.”

“Wait, what…are you saying…” she sputtered. “Somehow you’re turning the blame for this on me?”

“Ignorance is bliss, Ems. The two of us would still be together if you would have just left well enough alone, but you had to go and ruin a good thing.”

“You’re the one who ruined a good thing by being a fucking cheater! But that’s not right, either, because evidently our relationship wasn’t good at all.”

“It was starting to go downhill. In fact, you were getting really boring. Always talking about bills and groceries and schedules…”

“You mean things that normal adults talk about?” she asked incredulously. “Grow up, Neal. Life isn’t one big party like you seem to think. Bills have to be paid on time or utilities get cut off!”

She heard him heave an overly dramatic sigh. “There you go again, Ems. Actually, I’m glad you moved out - it saved me the trouble of kicking you out when I finally had enough of your nagging and complaining.”

Emma felt hot tears sliding down her cheeks. How could the man she thought she loved be so heartless and cruel? Swallowing hard, she fought to keep the emotion out of her voice. “If that’s the way you feel, I’m glad I moved out, too, but please let me have my dogs. It’s not fair for them to be punished because we broke up.”

“You already told me you can’t have them at your apartment, so what would you do with them if I did give them to you?”

“I’ll figure something out. I just don’t want them taken to the shelter. They would hate it there.”

Neal didn’t respond for several seconds, then said flippantly, “You’re right. They would hate living in a shelter, so I guess the best solution is to have them euthanized.”

“What?! NO! Neal, you can’t be serious!”

“Oh, I’m completely serious,” he replied. “I’m sick of taking care of them. I hope you gave them a nice, long goodbye before you left, Ems, because it was the last time you’ll ever see them.”

The call ended before Emma could respond. She stared at the phone in horror. What if he really was angry enough to kill her pets? Panic began to set in and she forced herself to take deep breaths.

Once her mind cleared enough to think, she retrieved the napkin from her desk drawer and punched in Killian’s number.

*********

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Killian had expected the mausoleum to be locked. Affluent family gravesights often were, as a way to ward off theft and vandalism. What he had not anticipated was the style and intricacy of said lock.

Crouching in front of the iron door, Killian cursed as he fiddled with the mechanism. “Bloody tumblers won’t budge. It’s as though they’re secured by magic.”

“We’ve no evidence that Cora was a witch,” Liam replied without a hint of sarcasm, his gaze scanning the area for any signs of interruption.

“I didn’t mean literally, brother,” Killian said with an eyeroll, then muttered, “Though, I wouldn’t have put it past her.”

A soft giggle pulled his attention upward to where Swan was standing over him, holding the flashlight. As it was prone to do, his body instantly reacted; his breath catching and his heart palpitating as a warm flush of desire and affection spread through him. Seeing her, bathed in moonlight amongst the headstones, transported him back to the night they met, here in this very cemetery.

What he wouldn’t give to go back and do things differently. He’d been such a fool and desperately hoped--now that everything was out in the open between them--that she’d give him a second chance. A tall order, considering she was currently romantically involved and living with another man. Even if he found said man to be lacking in a number of ways and nowhere near deserving of someone the caliber of Emma Swan.

Although, some might question whether he was any more deserving himself, given how he’d squandered his chance with her when he’d had it, regardless of how noble he thought his reasons were at the time.

“Want me to give it a try?” Emma asked, crouching down beside him. Her breath against his cheek caused a shiver to run down his spine, compromising his balance and landing him on his backside with an audible oomph.

“Shhh,” Liam hissed. “Someone’s coming.”

His brother hid behind a tall grave marker as the beam of a flashlight swept across the headstones. Grabbing Killian by the lapels of his jacket, Swan pulled him back towards the cover of the mausoleum’s shadow, the two of them tangled together as they sat pressed against the structure and one another.

The roar of his blood thundered in his ears as he held his breath, his focus torn between trying not to be discovered by who he assumed was one of the officers on patrol and the feel of Emma wrapped in his arms as she practically straddled his lap. It felt like an eternity before the coast became clear once more, but Killian made no effort to extricate himself from his current position. Leaning back to glance around the side of the mausoleum, Emma’s hips shifted over his groin and he was helpless to stop his body from responding, or the aching whimper from falling off his lips.

The startled swiftness with which she straightened back up, eyes wide and lips slightly parted told him his affliction had not gone unnoticed. The two of them held the other’s gaze for a long moment, and when her eyes dipped down to his lips, his followed suit. Their breathing shallowed, exhales mingling in the chilled air that was growing more charged by the second. His fingers gripped her hip a bit tighter, his thumb sliding under the hem of her sweater to the bare skin beneath causing her breath to hitch and her flesh to pebble from his touch. Cautiously, he inched forward, intending to close the gap and claim that perfect mouth of hers, but only if she gave him the slightest hint of consent to do so.

Consent he’d never know if he would have received, thanks to his clueless, meddlesome, infuriating brother.

“That was too close for comfort,” Liam whispered. “I think it best we take our leave and come up with a new plan.”

Emma scrambled off Killian’s lap, forcing another pained sound to escape from the back of his throat. Holding his hands out, Liam assisted them both to standing and waited for their agreement before setting off in the direction of the park.

It wasn’t until they were back in his Chevelle that Emma suggested, “Maybe the groundskeeper has a key to the mausoleum. We could ask Belle to find out. She could use the excuse of needing to update records or wanting to do research for city historical purposes.”

“Perhaps you could also ask Sheriff Humbert if he’d be willing to pull back on the patrols here, although I’m not sure what reason you’d give him,” Liam offered from the backseat, having graciously insisted that Swan ride shotgun, which Killian knew had been his brother’s way of torturing him. The git.

Emma smirked and stated, “If I have Ruby ask him he won’t need a reason.”

Liam chuckled. “Aye. The lass does seem to have your sheriff wrapped around her finger.”

“Among other parts of herself, I dare say,” Killian quipped, earning him a chortle from Swan and a slap at the back of his head from his brother. “Oi! Bad form to assault the driver whilst the vehicle is in motion!”

“Bad form to make such remarks about our host’s friend.”

“I assure you, I was only stating what Emma was already thinking. Isn’t that right, Swan?”

Glancing towards the passenger seat, Killian was met with a cheeky expression and mischievous glint sparkling from those enticing, green depths he often found himself lost in.

“Actually, I was gonna suggest that Liam talk with Belle about getting us access to the mausoleum, seeing as he wouldn’t mind being wrapped around more than just her finger.”

Killian erupted into laughter and peered at his brother through the rearview mirror. Even in the dim light of passing cars and streetlights he could see his brother’s face turn bright red. Fortunately, it was accompanied by a caught out smile and good-natured chuckle.

“Lass, I fear my brother has been a bad influence on you.”

“No more than I am over him,” she quipped back haughtily, furtively shooting Killian a look that made his pants tighten impossibly more.

He wasn’t sure how he’d ever manage to get out of the car, much less make it up the stairs to the front door. Coming up with some excuse to hang back, Killian remained behind the wheel as Emma and Liam both exited the car.

“I’ll see you both in the morning, then,” Swan replied, heading up the front steps, her tight jeans hugging her arse in a way that solidified the reality that Killian was in for a long, uncomfortable night.

“Everything alright, brother?” Liam asked with a little too much concern in his tone. “Finding it hard to put the day behind you?”

“Piss off,” Killian grummaced, throwing open the car door and stepping out into the cool night air.

“You’re both idiots, you know that right?”

Sighing, Killian conceded, “I’ll admit to you being half right. I’ve only myself to blame.”

Placing a firm hand on Killian’s shoulder, Liam urged, “Just tell her how you feel. Explain what happened after the Wend--”

“I have,” Killian told him. “But it’s not that simple. She’s with someone now. I don’t want to make things more complicated for her, or be the reason things fall apart and cause her more pain.”

“I wouldn’t worry too much about that, brother,” Liam confided. “I have it on good authority that things were rocky between her and Neal long before we got here. If I were a betting man, I’d say their relationship has run its course and it’s only a matter of time before he’s out of the picture completely.”

“And you think I ought to be waiting in the wings, ready to pick up the pieces? A bit opportunistic, don’t you think?”

“I think,” Liam countered in a somber yet affectionate tone, “you should give yourself permission to fight for what you want. Give yourself permission to be happy. You deserve that as much as anyone else, little brother.”

Killian swallowed past the tightness in his throat and gave his brother a nod of understanding before following him inside, muttering younger as they entered the carriage house.

~/~

Consciousness came slowly, lazily, and with little effort. Stretching out the few kinks peppering her body, Emma could not remember the last time she’d slept so well. Allowing herself a few more moments of comfort, she hugged the pillow beside her and sighed into its softness. The smell of her laundry detergent and the lavender scented dryer sheets filled her sinuses and a contented smile lifted the corners of her mouth.

After they’d returned home from the cemetery, Emma had made her way upstairs and surveyed her room. Her room. No physical sign of Neal remained; a fact that had enveloped her in a blanket of relief. She’d wasted no time stripping the bed, replacing the sheets she’d last shared with him with fresh ones from the linen closet.

From the depths of her dresser drawer she’d pulled out the raggedy t-shirt she’d almost always worn to bed before Neal had become a frequent overnight fixture. The one he’d mocked incessantly until she finally replaced it with a cami or some other barely there pajama top. The soft, worn fabric felt like the embrace of an old friend on her skin, welcoming her back with comfort and ease.

Out of habit, she’d pulled back the blankets on what had been her side for the past couple months, but then stopped herself. She’d only started sleeping on that side, the one closest to the door, because Neal had preferred the other. The one closer to the bathroom, so he wouldn’t have to go too far if he awoke in the middle of the night, ensuring he’d get back to sleep quickly. Nevermind the fact he was never quiet about it and often woke her up in the process.

She supposed she could sleep on whichever side she chose now. Hell, she could take up the entire bed if she wanted. Smiling, she’d climbed onto the mattress and slid beneath the covers smack dab in the middle of the bed. Nestled beneath the weight of the extra blankets--Neal had always wanted it as cold as possible when he slept, despite her desire to stay warm and cozy--Emma had drifted off perfectly content.

Well, almost perfectly content.

There was that small pang of disappointment that it was a stack of quilts and not Killian’s body pressing her into the mattress before sleep fully claimed her. She’d be lying if she said it had only been a fleeting thought. Her dreams of him had been anything but fleeting.

Reluctantly, Emma rolled over and reached for her phone. Unplugging it from the charger, she did a double take when she read the time.

1:16 PM

“Holy shit!” Shooting up, she struggled to detangle herself from the blankets. Grabbing a pair of nearby leggings, Emma hopped towards the door on alternating legs as she struggled to put them on. A glance towards the guest room showed it to be empty, and after making her way down the stairs, another look into the study revealed the same. Turning into the kitchen, she stopped short at the sight of a shirtless Killian Jones, hair sticking up at odd angles with pajama pants perched precariously low on his hips, filling a cup of coffee.

“Morning, love,” he offered in a rough, gravelly voice before bringing the steaming mug to his lips. After a quick, testing swallow he turned towards her fully, his eyes taking her in over the brim as he took another sip. Tonguing an errant drop from the corner of his mouth, he smirked and said, “Nice shirt.”

Glancing down at herself, Emma remembered which shirt she’d put on the night before… and where it had come from in the first place.

“You’ve been taking good care of it, I see.” Before Emma could respond, Killian grabbed another cup from the cabinet and asked, “Coffee?”

“Uh, y-yeah,” she stammered. “Please.”

By the time he’d poured and handed her the beverage, she managed to pull herself together.

Sort of.

“Guess I’m not the only one who overslept?”

Scratching his fingers through his hair, Killian followed her to the living room, a yawn escaping him as he replied, “Seems so.”

Sinking down on opposite ends of her couch, they both took a drink and waited for the coffee to do its thing. Or for the other one to break the ice. Emma wasn’t quite sure which.

“Have you seen Liam?” she asked, tucking her feet beneath her and wrapping her hands around the warm ceramic. For all its comfort and charm, the carriage house still had issues with letting in the morning chill.

Killian pulled an afghan off the back of the chair next to him and handed it to her. “Aye. Briefly.” He helped her spread out the blanket so she wouldn’t have to put her mug down, then added, “He woke me up about half an hour ago. Said he was going to meet Belle at the library and ask her about that key.”

Emma nodded and brought the cup up to her lips, murmuring against the edge, “I’ll call Ruby and see if she can work her magic on Graham.”

Setting her coffee down, Emma took her phone out of the side pocket of her leggings. She was scrolling through her contacts when Killian asked, “How’s Neal this morning? Haven’t seen him since yesterday’s unfortunate event.”

Sucking in her bottom lip, Emma warred with herself before confessing, “He’s, uh… He’s gone.”

“Gone to work?” Killian replied. “I would have thought he’d call out, but I suppose I can’t blame him for wanting to get out of the house for a bit.”

Emma opened her mouth to correct him, but was cut off by an incoming call. She didn’t recognize the number which normally would mean she wouldn’t answer. This time, however, she’d risk a telemarketer in order to have a reprieve from the current topic of conversation.

“Hello?”

“Miss Swan?” inquired a male voice on the other end of the line.

“This is she.”

“Miss Swan, this is Robin Locksley. We met briefly at Regina Mills’ house yesterday?”

Sitting up straighter, she waved at Killian to get his attention (which she already had) and took the phone away from her ear, putting it on speaker. “Yes, Mr. Locksley, I remember.”

Killian scooted closer and the two of them hovered over the phone as the man replied, “Oh, call me Robin. Please.”

“Robin,” Emma repeated. “What can I do for you?”

“I’ve had a talk with Miss Mills… Regina, and she wonders if you’d mind her and I coming to the carriage house so we can all talk some more about… you know.”

“Of course!”

“Terrific. We can head that way in about an hour and be there around four?”

“We’ll be here.”

Killian leaned in so his voice would be picked up clearly, and said, “Robin, mate. It’s Killian. May I ask… What made Regina change her mind?”

Silence echoed over the line to the point that Emma wondered if Robin had ended the call before Killian spoke. The clearing of a throat attested otherwise.

“I’d prefer to have that conversation in person… if you don’t mind.”

Emma shared a bemused look with Killian who haltingly replied, “Sure thing, mate.”

A heavy sigh crackled over the phone. “Thanks. We’ll see you both soon.”

“Aye. Safe travels.”

“See you soon.”

Ending the call, they both sat back into the cushions, dumbfounded over this sudden turn of events. Now that Emma had a chance to process it, a series of concerns ran through her mind.

“You seem vexed, love. Unexpected as it may be, this is a good thing.”

“I know,” Emma said, worrying her lip. “It’s just…”

“Just what?”

Turning her body, Emma looked up at Killian, momentarily distracted by his chest, and whispered, “Is it really a good idea for her to come here? What about… you-know-who? We won’t have a chance to… you know, until after dark. Won’t Regina being here to find closure with Daniel amp Cora up?”

“Probably,” Killian responded nonchalantly, draping his arm over the back of the couch. “Unless we create a warded area that will keep her from interfering.”

Cocking her head to one side, Emma stared at him with a dubious expression and muttered, “How, exactly, do we do that?”

Shooting her a cocky grin and lifted brow, he crooned, “Leave that to me, love. Leave that to me.”

Emma snorted at his ridiculousness and was once again sidetracked by her phone. “It’s Ruby,” she said, putting her friend on speaker. “Hey, Rubes. I was just about to call you.”

“Too late,” Ruby said. “Belle got me first. I just talked with Graham.”

She shared yet another glance with Killian. They both should have known Liam wouldn’t waste time putting things in motion.

“And?” Emma prompted. “What did he say?”

“He said the best he could do was give you an hour of no patrols at shift change.”

“That’s it?”

“I’m afraid so,” Ruby replied. “He said, and I quote, ‘the mayor will have my guts for garters if he finds out I suspended patrols this close to Halloween.’ I mean honestly… who talks like that?”

Emma nearly laughed out loud at the affronted look on the face of the man she knew full well said things just like that.

“Sorry I couldn’t do better.”

“You did plenty, Rubes,” Emma assured her. “Do me a favor and let Belle know so she can tell Liam?”

“Will do,” Ruby replied, and Emma could almost hear the shift in her friend’s demeanor before she sultrily inquired, “So… how’s it going with Mr. Hot Cemetery Makeout Guy? You buy a ticket on that ride yet?”

“Ruby!” Emma exclaimed as Killian choked on the last bit of coffee he was polishing off and erupted into a fit of coughs.

“Oh, shit! He’s right there, isn’t he?”

“I have to let you go.” Without waiting for a response, Emma hung up and got up from the couch. “I’ll get you a glass of water.”

His hand wrapped around her wrist, stopping her, and he managed to croak out, “It’s fine, Swan. No need.” With one last cough, he cleared his throat then swallowed hard against the tight knot that had formed there. “See? Right as rain.”

“I’m sorry about Ruby, she’s…”

“No need to apologize,” he said, and it seemed to Emma that he was suddenly hyper aware of the fact that he was only half dressed. Releasing her wrist, he stood and headed towards the hallway. “I should get myself dressed. Robin and Regina will be here soon, and we need to…”

“Right,” Emma agreed, feeling a bit self-conscious about her own appearance. The thin material of her shirt likely left little to the imagination, especially since she wasn’t wearing a bra, to say nothing about the painted-on quality of her leggings. “I need to shower and get ready.”

Her face went red at the mention of a shower, and the traitorous thought of asking him to join her. Fortunately, Killian spoke again before her tongue could betray her.

“I’ll check-in with Liam and let him know of Regina’s impending arrival. Take your time. I’ll take care of getting things ready.”

As much as Emma wanted to question him about what that might entail, her instinct to run whenever things got emotionally overwhelming took over. Though she’d spent years trying to overcome the reaction and the root of its cause, it still reared its ugly head from time to time. Usually, she would berate herself when it did, but this time she was glad for it.

Racing up the stairs, she entered her room and firmly closed the door behind her. Shedding her clothes, it wasn’t until she was under the spray of the shower--the dial turned to a much colder temperature than usual--that Emma allowed herself to face the truth of why she’d run from him just now.

Because if she hadn’t, she would have done as Ruby suggested, and having Regina Mills show up as she was riding Killian probably wasn’t the best way to help the woman get closure.

~/~

It was much later than four before Robin and Regina arrived. Still struggling with doubt and a whole host of other emotions, Miss Mills had apparently insisted the two stop several times along the way. At one point, Robin had called to inform them of their updated estimated time of arrival, which would be cutting it close to the window of opportunity they had to enter the mausoleum. Knowing Emma would need one of the brothers there for support and assistance with helping Daniel move on, it was decided that Killian would stay behind while Liam and Belle - who was the one securing the key from the groundskeeper later that evening - would deal with Cora’s resting place.

When Robin and Regina finally arrived, the former extended heart-felt apologies while the latter coolly offered a ‘sorry I’m late’ before strolling into the structure she likely had not set foot in for many years, possibly decades. Emma welcomed them both, her nerves taking over and causing her to overshare about the remodel as Regina perused her surroundings. It wasn’t until Killian invited them all to have a seat in the living room, offering beverages that might make the situation a little less tense that everyone began to relax and soften.

“I must say,” Regina stated, accepting the offered libation being handed to her, “you have done a remarkable job here. Everything looks impeccably finished yet it feels so homey.”

“Thank you.” Swan took a swallow of her own drink, obviously allowing herself time to formulate a more in-depth response.

Killian, however, did not wish to waste time on small talk. “If you don’t mind my asking,” he began, cradling his tumbler in his hands as he leaned forward with his elbows resting on the tops of his thighs, “what changed your mind about coming here? You did not seem very keen on the idea when we left you, and given the amount of stops you made along the way, it seems you may not yet be completely at ease with the decision to be here.”

“Yes, well…” Regina took in a deep breath and exhaled slowly before continuing. “You’re right. When you and Miss Swan left, I thought you were either some sort of conman team set out to swindle me, or completely insane.” Glancing over to the man seated beside her on the sofa, she added, “But after you were gone, Robin sought me out to check on me, and after I told him what you had said, he…”

Hesitantly, Robin reached over and took Regina’s hand, picking up on her distress before it became apparent to either Emma or Killian.

“I asked Regina whether she was willing to take the chance on you not being crazy and missing out on the opportunity to heal a long held wound.” Shifting in his seat, Robin met Killian’s eye and said, “I have some experience with unrestful spirits. My wife, Marion, visited me after her death.”

“I’m so sorry for your loss.”

“Aye, mate,” Killian replied, echoing Emma’s sentiment. “Our condolences.”

“Thank you.”

Robin gave them both an appreciative nod then shared the story of his wife’s passing. Her death had been sudden and tragic; a fire had broken out at her workplace and due to several fire code violations, she and several of her co-workers had perished in the blaze. Robin had been out of town for work in a rather remote area and had not spoken to his wife for several days, only communicating via e-mail. When he was notified of what happened, he’d been told she was identified by dental records and there was no need for him to identify the body. In fact, he was encouraged not to, being told he would not wish to remember her that way.

“Of course, I said good-bye to her at the funeral, but…” Swallowing past the lump that had formed in his throat, Robin looked up at the ceiling in an attempt to quell the tears pooling in his eyes. “It felt so empty. I remember being tortured by the fact that I couldn’t even remember the last thing I ever said to her. Had I told her I loved her? Had I made her feel missed? Or had I been short and flippant because I was busy?”

Taking a fortifying drink, he gave himself a moment before clearing his throat to continue. “It was about a month after her death that I started to… experience things.”

“What sort of things?”

“The smell of her perfume, an indentation on her pillow, the feeling of her presence, and what I thought to be the occasional glimpse of her in the corner of my eye. I thought I was going mad, and I confided in one of my mates, Will.”

“And did this Will believe you?”

Robin let out a light chuckle. “Not only did he believe me, he dragged my arse to a psychic medium he knew.”

“You went to a psychic?” Emma inquired, fascinated. “Who?”

“A woman by the name of Zelena,” Robin told her. Killian filed the name away in the back of his mind and encouraged the man to tell them more about the meeting with her. “She backed up all my experiences. Said that those who die suddenly or violently often have difficulty moving on due to having unfinished business. She, uh… she helped me get closure. She helped me say a proper good-bye.”

Killian did not wish to offend the man, but he had to ask. “And you are certain she was… legit?”

To his relief, Robin smiled at the question. “Regina said the same thing.”

“I did,” Miss Mills said, sheepishly. “And I’m still not sure I believe in ghosts, or psychics, or any of this,” she said, gesturing vaguely at the room around them. “But what Robin told me in reply made me at least keep an open mind and be willing to see this through.”

Killian and Emma shared a common look of curiosity before Swan asked, “What did you tell her?”

“I told her,” Robin said, squeezing Regina’s hand. “That even if I had imagined everything that had happened after Marion’s death, and even if Zelena was a total fraud… The closure was real. The peace is real. The firm belief that Marion is in a better place, her unfinished business resolved… that’s real. And it has allowed me to move forward through my grief into a life that is still worth living.”

A long pause hung in the room; Robin and Regina looked fondly at one another while Killian and Emma shared furtive glances. The buzz of Killian’s phone broke the reverie, and he apologized as he pulled the device from his pocket.

Key acquired. Headed to the cemetery. The text from Liam read. Putting the phone back in his pocket, Killian turned his attention back to the couple who was looking at him expectantly.

“So…” Regina drew out, hesitantly. “What now?”

“Now,” Killian replied, getting to his feet. “We get you and Daniel the same closure.”

Part Seven - Coming Soon!

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