#either that or it's been so long since I started Liam's route that I forgot what the beginning was like

[sunshineneedsaplacetokeephernsfw]

After starting William's route, it's clear that it was meant to be the one you start with

[ownworldresident]

Side by Side. Chapter 13: Honesty

King Liam x Rayne (MC): With new additions to their family, Rayne and  Liam re-evaluate their relationship dynamic.

Disclaimer: Most  characters are the property of Pixelberry studios. I am just borrowing them and will return them when I am done.

MASTERLIST

Side by Side Masterlist

Coming to you after a long hiatus from this series. I felt super angsty over the weekend so finally got back into it. Enjoy!

Rayne was in the gardens. Her feet took her on familiar paved routes past hedgerows and roses as her mind fought itself and she sat contemplatively in the background.

Do it now. Do it now. The voice that had sat within her for so long was getting louder, stoked by her friends. Until now she thought it had been quieted. After that dinner with Liam she had assumed that the voice was sated. Do it now. Evidently she was wrong and, really, she had already known that. Do it now.

It doesn’t matter. That was the other voice. It doesn’t matter, and too much is at risk. That voice had always been dominant, but in the background, whilst she went about her days. Too much is at risk. If she spoke to him, completely honestly, it could change a lot, and she liked where she was. Liked where they were, where they could spend time with each other and with the twins uninhibited. It doesn’t matter. Keep it safe, don’t do anything, stay safe. Too much is at risk.

There were three days until the trial, and Rayne had foolishly assumed that the time between her attacking Madeleine and watching the woman tried and sentenced would be relatively calm. Of course her friends would descend. They cared too much not to, but they were wrong. Clair and Drake, and Olivia and Leo, were wrong, because what Rayne and Liam had right now was better than it ever had been, and she could not threaten that.

Abruptly Rayne reached the gazebo and stood staring at it. She loved this gazebo, it had a few claims on her. The grapefruit coloured climbing roses starting to wrap around the closest two posts had been Liam’s birthday present to her a few months ago. He had surprised her with them, she had mentioned how much she loved the varietal back on the engagement tour, almost a year beforehand, and Liam had remembered. Now she leant before the two first blooms on one bush and inhaled the sweet scent, standing a few moments later with a smile and a sigh. She could never deserve him, never deserve such kindness after how she had treated him. Harbouring resentment from how she had been treated was not a pass to keep hurting him and she was so glad that the woman oppressing them was gone. The bloom had only come out a couple of days ago, she and Leo and Evie and Liam had found them and taken a couple back to their suite. A constant reminder of how thoughtful and generous this man of hers was, even when she sidelined his love.

When she turned back to the palace it was with a determined eye.

Do it now.

Too much is at risk.

 ---

The courtroom was full. Rarely did every member of the council come to a trial, or even every meeting, but this case was exceptional, and worthy of making the effort, and finding the extra chairs.

They filled both sides and the back of the room. At the front, taking centre stage, was Liam. Several feet to his left were Rayne, Leo and Regina. Several feet to his right were Drake, Clair, Olivia, and Maxwell. Liam turned to his friends, who nodded and smiled encouragingly, with Clair narrowing her eyes and glancing at Rayne. Intending to have done so anyway, Liam followed her gaze, and settled his on Rayne’s brown eyes, shining, smiling. He felt his confidence bolstered by the intensity of her gaze, of her belief in him. Smiling back, he nodded briefly to Regina and Leo as well, then turned to the court.

“Attention please,” the room’s relaxed conversational din quieted, not even a whisper, and the change and attention he commanded still sent a chill through him. After all this time, especially now, he was reminded starkly of his position by moments like this, where he sometimes forgot its weight when he was with his family. He smiled, “thank you.” In order to keep this formal, he had not placed Rayne as close as he would like, not yet. The focus needed to be on the trial, and not on their relationship. He nodded to the guards at the back of the room.

“Bring her in.”

 ---

Liam was in his office. It wasn’t where he would rather be, but things piled up during absence. He sighed, leaning forward on his elbow, fingers threading through his hair as he wrote. Terrible for long term focus to sit this way but the work seemed so dull and menial and repetitive when there was such a priority elsewhere for him. Logistics for the trial, applications for event permits, requests for an audience, even press conferences... The more time he spent with his young family, the less significant these tasks seemed. Less important, when his family was there now, and needed him more.

A message came through on his mobile and he stared at it for a moment. Confusion and surprise were gradually supplanted by relief and a smile and he stood and moved around his desk. There was no longer a meeting today and he was glad of it, because he had a more important job to do. Turning back, he placed his pen down and organised the papers he had been writing. There were still a few tabs open on his laptop, he remembered as he closed it, from when he had been searching for a short trip away with Rayne so long ago. Back before these most recent events had happened and the complicated life he had had had been known.

Now there was something else to do, that he should have done a long time ago, but which still set his heart pounding. It was easy enough objectively but would be nowhere near easy in practise. Confident in spite of this, Liam walked out through the quiet halls and towards the back entrance to the palace. He didn’t need to ask his friend if the same two people who had come to him had gone to Rayne. Drake was their closest mutual friend and her friend, Clair, was unlikely to hold back from speaking to her, either.

There was a smile still on Liam’s face as he reached the hall leading onto the gardens. Clair had insisted on looking after the twins herself, eager for time alone with her godchildren, and Rayne had taken the opportunity to go walking while the weather was still fine. Standing at the entrance he folded his arms and breathed the fresh air, leaning on the huge doorway and watching Rayne at the gazebo. He could only just see it from here, watching her kneeling before the rose he’d had planted for her, and she kneeled there for at least a minute before standing and turning back to the palace. She wouldn’t see him from here, and didn’t usually use the main back entrance, so Liam snaked around the corner to meet her as she headed towards the entrance to the royal wing. It was a relatively unassuming entrance, preferable to her ever since she had taken up residence there.

“Good morning.” Liam said softly, crinkling his eyes as he smiled at her and receiving the same in return as she turned from her path to face him.

“Good morning my love.” Rayne altered her route and came towards him. There was that same bare sincerity in her gaze that he felt, and he met her with outstretched arms, holding her against his chest as she hugged him tightly. They stayed that way for a long time, and he could feel and hear her breathing as she would him. When he let her go, he kissed her forehead, and squeezed her hands.

“We should talk.” She nodded even as he spoke and leant up to kiss him.

“Yes.” Liam smiled wider even as he felt his chest tighten and saw her lip quiver. Before either could comment he led her back towards the palace entrance by her hand.

 ---

With a bored, unimpressed smile, Madeleine came into the crowded room and glanced around at the attendees with distaste. There were members of the press in the crowd, and her smile did not change as their flashbulbs went off. They photographed Liam as well, and Rayne, and even Drake and Clair for some reason. Drake kept his focus on Liam, who looked down at the disgraced former queen.

“Countess Madeleine of Fydelia.” the woman recoiled at the use of her former title. A reminder that she wasn’t a queen anymore. Drake smirked, then frowned as he felt thin fingers thread through his own. Turning his head he saw that Olivia looked, not at him, but at Madeleine with that characteristic contempt for those she did not consider worthy. It was chilling. Drake squeezed her hand and smiled, then turned back to the trial. Liam continued, “you stand accused of fraud, treason, and high treason. You have threatened the livelihoods of Lady Rayne, Crown Prince Leo, and Princess Evelyn, and you have endangered my life as well. You understand the severity of this, of course.”

“Of course.” Madeleine said, and from the outside it would seem to be understanding and cooperation but Drake, like Liam, Olivia, Leo, and Maxwell, had known her long enough. Madeleine was seething, “If I had committed these crimes, that would be very severe, particularly as Queen,” she looked around at the court and council and press assembled, “you are fortunate, then, that I was not responsible.”

---

Rayne allowed Liam to lead her through the palace to one of the parlours on the ground floor that overlooked the maze. Her heart beat fast and her breathing was quick and not just from the speed of their walk. Liam paused a few feet into the room and let go of her hand before standing tall and turning to her. She closed the door and stepped up to him and smiled nervously. No more barriers. Do it now, too much is at risk.

“I ne-”

“-Ray-” she paused as did Liam after he spoke over her. It broke the tension a little, and she smiled and moved further into the room towards the large window. It was starting to rain now, she was glad she had come in when she did. Turning back she smirked as he chuckled and shook his head, then came over quickly, “Rayne...” arms tight around her waist Liam lifted and spun her, and with her laugh left every bit of nervous energy.

“I love you so much,” Rayne leant up when he set her down to kiss him, then took a deep breath, “we should talk, though.”

“Yes, we should. Come.” He walked her over to the couch and sat beside her. After a moment of fiddling with her hand against the space between them, Liam sighed, “I guess this has been a long time coming.”

“But now is the right time,” Rayne wasn’t sure exactly what Liam was going to tell her, or ask her, but regardless she needed to hear it, “I’ll go first, is that okay?” she said it before she could decide otherwise and watched him nod.

“Of course,” Liam’s voice was gentle, “take your time.”

“Thanks,” she took a deep breath, “I’m scared.” Liam looked surprised for a moment, then blinked and nodded for her to continue, “I know that you’ve been bringing your work home to let me help because you want to show me what I can do. I know that.” It hadn’t been difficult to discern that it wasn’t for her safety like he had made it appear, but for the chance to have her contribute to the running of the kingdom. He wanted her to run it with him still, she was sure, “I don’t mind love, I want to help, but truly I already knew that I was capable of that, of – of governance...” Rayne looked away, that was stating it overtly, and she didn’t want him to take it as her admission to being ready for anything like what she had already been doing for weeks...

“I’m glad,” Liam’s voice was light, and she turned back to him frowning, “you are incredibly intelligent Rayne, enough to know what you are capable of.” He lifted a hand to caress her cheek, then stood and stepped away, “I know you aren’t finished but let me interrupt for a moment,” Liam reached the window with his hands before his back and turned for confirmation. Though her hands shook Rayne nodded from the couch, “thank you. We are completely honest here love. I am not going to withhold anything and so I am sorry if this hurts to hear.”

 ---

Liam narrowed his gaze and watched Madeleine closely. Every eye was on him, some friendly, some less so, most scrutinising. They had brought her here for this charge and though it was not unheard of to oppose the charge despite their truth, it was surprising that she would do so when she could – would – be so openly disproven.

“Is this your plea, then?” he said carefully, still projecting his voice. Out the corner of his eye Liam saw Rayne looking to him encouragingly and it bolstered his confidence. Of course Madeleine would try to undermine him here, it was her nature to do so.

“This is the truth, Liam. Perhaps if you dedicated more time to your wife and less time to your mistress you would know when I spoke the truth.” The corner of Madeleine’s mouth curved into a cold smile and Liam breathed deep as he considered an answer. The ride he had been on in the last few days emotionally had been draining and the defences he usually had and should have for people like this woman. Resisting the urge to look to Rayne, Liam took a moment to clear his throat and reorder the notes before him where he sat.

“I will consider it your plea, then.” Liam ran over his options and decided to proceed, rather than enable her further, “we have a few testimonies to hear. Madeleine if you could take a seat, Councillor Glaugh could you please come to the front.” There were several councillors who had been present the day Madeleine had attempted to force through the custody form who were willing to make a statement. He would hear three of them, and then they would start questioning.

 ---

Carefully he watched Rayne for her reaction. She was sitting very still, but her face had paled, and her hands were shaking. This was why they kept their secrets. To avoid this, but avoiding it wasn’t healthy.

“Go ahead.” She whispered, not looking at him but at a vase on the table beside him. Liam sighed.

“I want to marry you.” He said, then waited. And waited. And waited and it seemed as if the room had stood still before finally, mercifully, Rayne nodded. Liam stood tall and nodded to himself, “Rayne all I ever wanted was you. However I could. Having you with me in this life is truly a gift and I am thankful for it with every breath I take,” he moved over to her again and met her gaze. Rayne’s lip quivered and she bit on it, but there were still tears in her eyes. Every time he thought of her as his wife his heart beat fast is if in its own anticipation, but she was in front of him this time and heard him and he could only hope that she couldn’t hear it, “I am telling you this so that you know it, not because I want to sway you.”

“I know.” Rayne lifted her hand and ran it across his cheek, and he had to smile at the contact, “thank you for telling me, and I...” she stood now and hugged herself and looked away from him, “I’m scared because I know what I can do and how much I want to help and I know that you want more...” she looked down at the rug and Liam resisted the urge to object, or to wipe the tears off her cheeks. After a moment in which he held his breath, Rayne turned back, “I don’t think I can do both. That is what I am afraid of. But I know that I can, but I don’t think...” she shook her head and frowned, frustrated, “it’s the same goddamn roundabout I’ve been in for weeks. Months even. I know that I can help, but I don’t think I can do it all, but I know that I can, but I already told you I couldn’t... and then I ignored that because I knew you weren’t going to ask me, and I could pretend it was okay and I did. I pretended everything was okay just like you did with Madeleine even though it wasn’t.”

It was as if a dam had broken and Rayne couldn’t stop. Liam watched her patiently, listening and trying to absorb what she said as still she hugged herself and looked frustrated. Rayne knew she was capable of being queen, but she decided despite that that she couldn’t. And everything he had said to assure her that it was okay had only contributed to crippling her, to supporting her belief that she wasn’t good enough.

“I left it, and you didn’t ask, and it was comfortable, I was safe. But they,” she laughed, “our friends didn’t believe that, did they?” she looked at him again and he smiled as he saw her arms relaxing.

“They have a habit of being right. I suppose we should be grateful to them.” He sighed, wondering how the hell they could make it up to Drake and Leo and the others for being so relentlessly stubborn.

 ---

At Olivia’s request, they had included a live polygraph at this stage in the trial. Madeleine was back at the centre of the room, and there was a technician on the other side of the table she sat at, fixing everything in place. After a few moments the man turned and nodded to Liam.

“Countess Madeleine.” Liam stood tall and looked hard at the ex-queen, who met the gaze unflinching, “you know how this works.”

“You are not the only one who has met a Nevrakis, Liam.” She scowled, and Rayne watched her glare at Olivia, who promptly flipped her off. Liam continued.

“Let’s begin then. Did you attempt to pass a custody form through the council on October the 26th?” the crowd watched Madeleine, but Rayne kept her gaze on Liam. The day they had finally released everything to each other had left them a little tense. Their relationship had never been stronger, but the shift in what they knew had taken some time to adjust to. They hadn’t shared a bed that night. They had taken time to themselves.

“Yes.” Madeleine said, and they watched the polygraph start recording.

“Did you intend to remove Rayne’s right to see them?”

“Yes.” Rayne met her gaze and felt her clenched fists shaking, turning when Leo put a hand on her arm.

‘Are you okay?’ he mouthed, concerned. Rayne nodded, and Leo squeezed her arm before releasing. No, she wasn’t okay, she wanted to hit that woman again. A lot harder this time.

“Did you force me to sign that form?” the room collectively held their breath and Madeleine smirked at Liam.

“No.” they waited as the machine whirled, then the technician turned to Liam and nodded.

“What...” she heard Leo say, suddenly feeling faint.

“Who was responsible?” the polygraph would only confirm answers to yes or no questions, but it didn’t mean Liam had to stick to those.

“Why, the young royal’s grandmother, of course.” Madeleine glanced up at Rayne as the focus was suddenly on Regina. A sinking feeling came over her as her stomach knotted itself.

“I did no such thing.” Regina said firmly, and up close Rayne and Leo saw how taken aback she was, “think again, Countess.”

“Oh that won’t be necessary Queen Mother,” Madeleine said, “I refer to their blood grandmother.” She looked back to Liam, who’s expression was stoic. Rayne’s breathing was shaky and a moment later she heard Leo swear and he squeezed her hand.

“Was Genevieve O’Mara involved in my poisoning?” he said steadily. The room was eerily silent again as they waited with bated breath for the answer. In her heart, Rayne already knew it.

“Yes.” The machine whirled, time slowed down and sound drowned out as the technician turned to Liam.

He nodded.

Every eye in the room fell on Rayne. No. Regardless of how little she thought of Genevieve, her mother wouldn’t descend to this.

She met Liam’s gaze and he seemed miles away. All she could hear was her own breathing and heartbeat and all she could see was his face. Please. No.

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[swanderful1]

A Cold Awakening: Ch 20/25

Summary: Modern crime AU. Twenty years have gone by since Storybrooke was shaken to the core by a gruesome crime that went unsolved. Sheriff David Nolan and his partner, daughter Emma are forced to revisit the crime. At the same time, Killian Jones and his older brother Liam have been drawn back to the town they had longed to never see again, struggling to find their own answers. As taunting notes and clues show up they are taken on a journey to finally bring justice for the Jones family. And Emma Nolan finds herself caught in a situation more dangerous than she could have ever imagined.

Notes: Hello all! First, once again thank you to @shady-swan-jones for the lovely banner for my story!!!!! Still hype about it. Time for anotha chapter! Took me a while (again). This update in particular is brought to you by: your continued support as readers, an entire box of cheez its, and my 90s hits playlist on REPEAT.Thank you so much for reading and I hope you enjoy!

Read the whole thang on AO3 or FFnet 

Disclaimer: I own nothing, all rights to OUAT

Rating: M

Word Count: ~9100

Emma’s limbs were like spaghetti noodles. Loose and limp from spending the night with Killian. One would assume that meant waking up the next morning she wouldn’t still have the urge to go another round but… that assumption was wrong. There was something very intimate to her about spending a morning laying naked in a bed with him. An indulgence she hadn’t allowed herself with nearly anyone else. In fact, if he were anyone else she would be scurrying to dress and leave before the other person woke. Not wanting to deal, at all, with the messiness of a morning after. But Killian wasn’t anyone else, he was him. And that was enough for her to stay. Especially after the events of the past few days. Killian’s ex-girlfriend having turned out to not be who she said she was, Emma was feeling particularly defensive of the man sleeping behind her. She had actively done almost all she could to protect him and his heart that he had so trustingly given to Emma, but there were was only so much she could do.

There was a faint trace of light coming through the drapes over the windows, so it was some version of morning. Glancing at the clock on the nightstand it read 5:00 am. Too early. But her body was warm, thanks to the man sleeping behind her with his arm draped comfortably over her waist. Killian’s even breathing indicating he was still fast asleep. Another part of him, however, was wide awake. Digging into her bare backside she felt his hardened member up for the day.

She had a few different routes she could take with this. Either she could lay there and (attempt to) fall quietly back to sleep until it wasn’t so early. She could wake Killian so she wasn’t just lying there by herself, painfully aware of his arousal, gaining one of her own. But then she had another idea. Excitement running through her, Emma sank down beneath the covers, sliding out of Killian’s arms slowly so as not to wake him just yet. He stirred a bit once she was fully out of his grasp but otherwise remained asleep.

Now completely under the covers Emma took hold of Killian’s erect cock. The vein beneath her fingers, the soft feel of his flesh. Without much more delay Emma licked a stripe up the length of him. Slowly, deliberately, excitement and adrenaline fueling her as she wondered how long it would take before he woke. Swirling her tongue around the tip she felt him move a bit, still asleep, hopefully in the midst of a filthy dream about her. She often dreamt of him, though she never really told him that. Mostly because a lot of that dreaming had started occurring well before anything sexual actually happened between them in real life (i.e. the one where her subconscious had depicted him as Captain Hook, tying her up. Fucking her with his mouth and metal hand extension).

Taking a deep breath she brought herself back to the moment, if she kept allowing her mind to wander to those places she would come before Killian did. Slowly, her mouth covered his cock, taking almost the full length. Nearly bottoming out at the back of her throat, she began moving her head up and down, her tongue drawing circles along the surface as she moved. Her lips taking in the taste of his skin, wet mouth dragging. It’s after a few seconds of this that she feels Killian’s entire body stiffen. He was awake.

“Emma… what are you-, love...” he moaned. The sound of her name never sounding so good as it did coming from his mouth. Emma herself stiffened a bit, realizing how aroused she was as well. It only fueled her more, her mouth worked more aggressively now. Not quite so scared to wake him she wasn’t gentle, taking his cock as far into her mouth as it would go. Alternating between licking, sucking, rubbing. The more she did the shakier his legs became, giving into her touch she herself moaned and reached her hand down to take care of herself as she took care of Killian.

His cock began to pulse, impending release near, making Emma even more aggressive. Her teeth coming out to scrape the sides of his shaft, causing his legs to convulse and his hand to tightly grip her hair. Her other hand works the dripping wet folds at her center. The affect she has on him feeding her own desires. She’s close, so is he. And within a few more movements of her tongue and mouth he’s coming. Hot, wet, salty release moving down her throat as she sucks him dry of his seed. Not long after she crests and has a euphoric orgasm, all the while keeping her mouth attached to him until he’s finished.

When Emma emerged from underneath the covers she looked at Killian. His face a mixture of bewilderment, satisfaction, and something she’d rarely seen in a sexual partner before. Love. She gives him a smirk as she wipes his seed from the corners of her mouth with the back of her arm. And then one by one licked her fingers clean of her own release. The mix of the two in her mouth causing an interesting taste. One that she wants to share with him. His eyes never stray from her, even letting out a groan as he watches. Leaning down over top of Killian, straddling her bare body over top of his, she meets his mouth. Her tongue moving with his so he can taste as well. What they tasted like together.

“Good morning,” she whispered against his mouth as he growled in response.

“Now what in the world did I do to deserve that?” he mumbled, a dumb smile on his face when she pulled her head away from his just a few inches. His dark hair pushed from his head standing on all ends. There was an almost youthful glow to him in the moment and Emma couldn’t help but smile.

“Do I really need a reason to wake you up that way?”

“Of course not, love.” His eyes were still heavy, presumably both from just waking up and what he woke up to. “You won’t hear a complaint from me.”

“I would hope not.”

“Unless of course you’ve deemed that a ‘one time thing’?” His eyebrow went up expectantly. Though it certainly wasn’t a one time thing.

She answered him by kissing him again. Simply savoring in the morning with him where she could do whatever she wanted to him. His hands reached up to cradle the sides of her face and she ached at the touch.

“What do you like to eat, Emma?” he asked between kisses. It seemed highly off topic given the activities of a few minutes ago. She didn’t say anything for a while, her hands moving around the hair on his chest, playing with it as she continued to kiss him.

“Besides grilled cheese and my cock?” He was so ridiculous but for whatever reason Emma completely enjoyed his flirty and sometimes obscene remarks. He was clever, she loved that about him.

“What if that’s all I like?” she whispered against his ear, nibbling on the lobe, getting whiff of his hair. Jesus he always smelled amazing. Particularly this morning when he smelled like the lavender bath oils they had used the night before...

“Because. I meant it when I said I’d like to take you on a proper date. And I want it to be something you enjoy.”

She was stunned, pulling her face away from his to look into his blue, blue eyes. Sincerity. That was all she saw now. Well, and how handsome he was but that was a pretty consistent thing. The mention of a date, a real live adult date was intimidating. She hadn’t been on one she actually enjoyed in so long. But there was a large part of the idea that excited her. Getting to go out in public with him, sitting across a table from him, tasting each other’s entrees, sipping overpriced glasses of wine. She could picture it, and in her mind could hardly suppress the grin that came from the image. Killian seemed to release a breath, as if he still wasn’t sure if she would run or not at the mention of moving forward together.

“I’m not picky,” she said, reaching out to touch his cheek. Savoring in the warmth of his face beneath her palm.

“Good.” He smiled back. Pulling her hand from his face and beginning to caress it with his lips. “How about Thursday night then?”

She relished in the touch of his lips, her stomach filled with butterflies she almost forgot to answer him.

“Thursday for what?” she groaned, obviously distracted.

“For dinner…” he continued kissing her, licking, nipping at her skin. “And dessert.”

“How could I say no to that?”

“Please don’t,” he whispered, his accent thick between tongue movements.

“Let me think about it…” she teased. And when he jokingly bit a part of her neck she let out a giggle. “Okay, okay, Thursday. A real date.”

He stopped his nibbling to look into her eyes. Quite possibly to see if she was still toying with him. She wasn’t. It was only Monday morning, and Thursday night was so far from now. Any host of things could happen between now and then but she didn’t care about any of that.

“After all, you are quite persuasive…” she said, biting her lip. Back to teasing. He softened, taking her chin in his hand and pulling her face toward his.

“And devilishly handsome,” he said before diving in again to plant bites and kisses all over her body.

They went on like that for a while. Rolling over top of each other, switching dominant positions. Taking their time playing with one another. It wasn’t long before Emma felt her core ache for him, more urgently than it kind of always was, and she clenched her thighs together to keep from getting too carried away. But when once again she found herself on top of him she kissed down the soft skin of his neck, she noticed he had stopped nipping at her and remained ultimately still. Though his hands still rested on her hips.

“Killian… what’s…?” she began to ask pulling away from his neck, following his gaze to where it rested. The mirror. The floor length one across from the bed. Which from this angle gave a perfect view of her on top of him from behind. Her legs straddled across him, her ass bare, hair hanging down her back. He was watching her.

“There isn’t an inch of you that I don’t find alluring, Emma,” he whispered. Still not taking his eyes off of hers in the reflection of the mirror. She blushed, knowing he was telling the truth. And that she felt exactly the same way about him. He was so verbal during sex, or even just building up to sex. It was all the more stimulating to her.

“Why don’t we try something new…” she whispered, knowing he had his eye on that mirror. And fucking to her own reflection was something she had all but avoided her entire life. The idea of watching herself in the throes of passion not necessarily a sight she was comfortable with. But with Killian… she was open to it. And if she were able to focus on him instead of herself, maybe it wouldn’t be so odd.

“What did you have in mind?” he asked, turning her head away from the mirror and back to face his.

“I was thinking… that I could watch you fuck me…” Emma licked her way down his chest tasting the salt and lavender on his skin. It was enticing all on its own. His chest. “In the mirror.”

He hesitated, his breath catching in the back of his throat as Emma caught one of his nipples between her teeth and tugged. “Emma… love, are you certain that’s how you want it?”

She sat up again, trying to ignore the shake in his body as she released her mouth’s clutches on him. Emma fluttered her long lashes, cheeks and skin flushed with arousal, hair messy from both the night before and this morning, her bare center wet with desire and resting on his erect cock. She rolled her hips over him, causing his eyes to close as he winced. Emma’s eyebrow went up.. Knowing he would probably love nothing more than to fuck her as they both watched in the mirror’s reflection, knowing she loved that idea as well.

“Do I look like I want anything else?” a dirty grin on her face lighting a fire inside Killian that she could physically see come to flames behind his eyes. Before she knew it he had flipped her off of his lap, now she was on all fours, staring at herself in the mirror. He rose to his knees behind her so she could see him as well. A predatory look on his face like he could pounce at any moment, Emma felt her arousal grow the longer she met his eyes in the mirror.

“I’m going to take you from behind…” he said in a smooth and even voice. As if he wasn’t as affected as she was. Meanwhile she felt his already hardened cock pressed firmly against her, teasing her entrance.

“What exactly are you waiting for?” she asked in an almost breathy tone, trying to keep calm but realizing she became more and more turned on with each passing moment.

Without saying anything else he swatted her ass with his palm. Waves of both pleasure and pain coursing through her. It wasn’t exactly great incentive to behave if that was the punishment. A smirk was on his face as his hand moved from her ass to her slick, wet folds that were now even more so.

“Eager for me, as always, my darling.” In slipped one finger followed quickly by another, she ground her back into his front needing more. Needing absolutely all of him to fill her. “I can hardly call myself a gentleman if I keep a woman waiting.”

Emma let out a chuckle. Thinking of Killian right now as anywhere near a gentleman was almost comical. He had his moments of chivalry, but any of those were often canceled out by the brutal and passionate sexual encounters he and Emma engaged in.

She was so lost in the feel of his fingers hooking inside of her, hitting the spot that would eventually be her undoing, that she didn’t realize her eyes had closed. In fact, they remained that way until Killian removed his fingers when she was just about to climax and her whole body shook with disappointment. Until the rough feel of his beard on her shoulder brought her back and she opened her eyes again to face the reflection in the mirror.

“Remember, love, eyes open. I want you to watch,” he whispered before moving her hair to one side and taking a bite out of the back of her shoulder, rising up to his knees again. “God you’re so gorgeous like this.” He mumbled before lining himself up with her center.

“Ohhh…” she moaned as he slid into her, he did it slowly. Tortuously, not like the night before when they had been so desperate for the friction. She looked up at his face, very serious but also there was a level of caution there. He had never taken her from behind this way, and without another word she gave him a look to indicate she was okay to continue. That she had adjusted to his size and he could keep going. She wouldn’t break. At that, his grip on her hips tightened and he eased into her, taking his time before getting into a smooth rhythm. Emma moving her body along with his in fluid motions, causing her whole body to pulse.

“So tight like this, Emma,” he urged, quickening the pace ever so slightly the more his cock dragged against her inner walls. Emma’s back arched to keep him inside of her just a millisecond longer.

“Killian…. so good. Please…” The closer she came to her peak the more hooded her eyes became and the more frequent she felt her lids falling. Each time though she remembered to reopen them, to look at Killian. To experience the excitement of watching as he fucked her from behind.

“That’s it, darling. Beg,” he cooed in her ear followed by a slew of filthy promises that fell from his lips as Killian continued to grind in and out of her. With each thrust she came closer to her release, feeling herself become full with him. It was unlike anything else. To experience the throbbing heat resulting from their connection. It could only be compared to magic, the way they knew how to please each other so expertly and so intimately. Almost like they had been doing it for years as opposed to months. In another life perhaps they had been lovers in the same way, drawing the most exquisite of pleasures out of one another.

Emma felt her limbs grow weak with exertion the closer she was to her climax. Killian must have sensed this because at the last moment he pulled her up to him and supported most of her weight. Barely keeping her eyes open, she watched as Killian held her to him, not ever losing his place inside of her, and thrusting in and out as her walls clenched around him. She could see his handsome face in the mirror, looking dangerously close to his peak as well. His eyes hooded dark with desire for her. Her confidence surged and she pushed back against him, giving them both more leverage. Their bodies coated with sweat, his breath in her ear, his name on her lips. Their breath so ragged and abrupt their brutal pace followed along with the tempo of it.

“Emma….” he moaned. “Fall, love. I’ve got you.”

His rough hands beneath hers tightened around her hips, they fell together. Physically and metaphorically. Emma’s heart raced as she pushed stray hair off of her face.

In the wake of their passion, Emma could hardly contain her now shaking body. It was still so early, the sun had not even fully risen yet. But she was already thoroughly fucked. Killian’s warm body behind her felt limp as well and before Emma knew what was happening they had both collapsed to the bed. Sweat covered bodies and limbs tangled together, the two laid on the soft down comforter.

“I can’t seem to get enough of you, love,” Killian whispered as he peppered kisses down her body. Emma’s core tensed knowing if he kept up with this they would end up going at it with minimal break time. Again.

“You’re not so bad yourself,” she said, turning in his arms so she faced him now and his mouth ceased the kisses just to steal a glance at her. His hand moved from her waist to her hair, wrapping strands of long, blonde curls around his fingers. Weaving them in and out, all the while looking at her like she had hung the moon.

“It’s hard to fathom that when I first came back to town I found you to be an astoundingly irritating lass.” He rolled onto his back, folding his left arm underneath his head and leaving his right arm in Emma’s hair.

“I know,” she said, Emma had felt similarly after first being reunited with him. The dark, infuriating, uncooperative man he was. The day they fought right in front of everyone’s view in the conference room. Her blood had boiled, and in an entirely different way than it did when they spoke now. “The feeling was mutual. I couldn’t stand you.”

“I can’t imagine why.” His eyebrow went up. He knew why.

“In fairness the first actual encounter I had with you was when you drunkenly hit on me in a bar… I wouldn’t exactly consider that behavior to be boyfriend material.” The second she said the word she realized it had never come out before in reference to him.

He smirked, obviously noticing the implication as well, “I see. And when exactly did that change for you?”

The question caught her off guard. The resentment they had felt for each other at the beginning of the investigation felt so, so long ago. And to be honest now, as she was naked on his bed wrapped in his arms, it was hard to imagine a time when she didn’t feel the way she felt now. Which was enamored with affection for the complicated soul, whose hands felt like heaven running through her hair.

“The day you took me to your father’s old car that he wrecked.” She was certain it was that time. Killian’s vulnerability coming out, his willingness to help her instead of halt her in the search. “How about you?”

He paused for a long while, the silent bedroom engulfing them. Emma thought perhaps his day was the same as hers, that he had begun feeling differently about her when he decided to show her a part of his past that had never been brought to light. Finally, he said, “That day in the book shop.”

Emma remembered that day, but it hardly been anything overwhelmingly groundbreaking. At least not for her. They had agreed to a truce. Her mother had met Killian. The whole thing had seemed so… ordinary compared to the excitement and dramatics that had occurred in the months following that day.

“It was the first time I thought perhaps we could get along.” He rolled back over to face her again. “Without being in that police station and the investigation and returning to a town I hated growing up, in that bookshop we just felt like two people meeting under normal circumstances.”

His fingers moved from her hair to her face, brushing a soft touch across the flesh of her cheek. His thumb rested just below her bottom lip and he smiled ever so slightly when she eased into his touch.

“You have to remember, darling, I’m used to being the boss. My career, I call all of the shots. I oversee hundreds of people. Having someone in charge of me, and demanding things of me, especially about such a deeply personal thing… I just didn’t take to it well.”

They were two alphas, both used to being in some sort of control of everything. Of course they buttheads at the beginning. Until they both learned how to be around someone else as similar.

“I know.” Emma reached out and brushed the stubble on his face. The rub of the hair massaging her fingertips and palm. “I’m not used to anyone challenging me. Especially not at work.”

“We’re awfully stubborn.”

“Yeah. To a fault even.”

“I wouldn’t go that far, love. I’ve grown to find it quite attractive in you.”

“Really?” Emma was surprised. Most men found it to be so unappealing. Hence why she ultimately kept them out of her personal life. She wasn’t willing to soften that about herself. Well… about certain things. For all intents and purposes right now Killian Jones could get her to do just about anything.

“Really.” He smiled, a bit bashful now. Emma felt his cheeks warm underneath her lingering touch. “At a point I became so frustrated because I wanted you so badly but couldn’t have you.”

Meanwhile she had felt the same. He could have had her at any point.

“I got to know you, Emma. I mean really know you, which doesn’t strike me as a luxury you grant many people.” He smirked, as if remembering some encounter in his head that they had shared. “The glimpses you showed me of who you are… I selfishly wanted more.”

“I wasn’t all that willing to share you either, Killian. You had to have known there was something…” she laughed. “That time at Target when that woman tried to pay for your groceries… I was not having it.”

She had moved that item divider too quickly for it to pass as nonchalant.

“Aye, love. I might have picked up on that…” He winked. “Then there was that kiss…. The time you showed up here and I felt like perhaps we would both be able to accept what was happening between us.”

Emma knew what happened next, the part of this story where she ran from him.

“That day you were going on a date… I saw you at the police station and I could hardly keep it together. The idea of another man taking you out and enjoying your company. It drove me mad.”

“That was when you decided to show up at my office that night.” She almost knew exactly what he had been thinking when he surprised her that night. Toying with her, teasing her, bringing her to the absolute crest of pleasure before leaving her alone on that desk. She felt her body warm just thinking of it.

“Aye, love. I wasn’t sure you would go along with it… being as bold a move as it was. But when you did I… there was no going back for me.”

“Had you planned that for a while?”

“No. I mean I had thought of you. A lot. You’re an impossibly appealing woman, Emma. Even when you’re yelling at me. But at the thought of another man entering your life when I wanted to be there instead, well, I became a bit reckless.”

“A bit?”

“No one else has ever had this effect on me. It was something so out of character I could hardly believe myself that I went through with it… with any of this with you.” His face still looked overwhelmed, like he couldn’t fathom that they were even lying here together. Naked. On his bed.

“I know the feeling, Killian. I’ve never known anyone like you.” She could hardly believe they were in this position as well. However, it was real. She could feel his warm body pressed to hers. His fingers, moving through her long hair. His breath was so near to her face. The evidence of their most recent act of debauchery drying on the insides of her thighs.

“Quite the pair, aren’t we?”

She stilled a bit, at the mention of them being a pair. Were they a pair? Were they exclusive? Where was this going? Did it matter? Should she have him make a Powerpoint presentation? Her mind asked a thousand questions. And apparently it was all over her face because with the utmost of care Killian took her face in his hands and kissed her forehead.

“Emma you have to know, unless you aren’t already aware and I haven’t been clear enough, it’s only you that I’ve been with for a while.” His thumb stroked just beneath her lip. “Exclusively you, darling.”

She was a little surprised still that he read her so well. But really was it actually that surprising at all? “I haven’t been with anyone but you since… well since you came back to Storybrooke.”

Emma was a little embarrassed to admit it, seeing as how for the first few weeks he was here the two weren’t even on great speaking terms. But it was still nice to know he hadn’t been with anyone either. As fucking gorgeous as Killian was, it had been only her. “I was with Henry’s father for a long time, and then no one else really stood out to me after that. Until you. And anyone in between… it was simply physical.”

Killian smiled before leaning over to press a soft kiss to Emma’s lips. If for no other reason than the simple fact that they could.

“With you though, Killian it’s more than physical. It’s… chemical....”she said as he tugged Emma’s body even closer to his as the kiss grew deeper and his tongue parted the gap in her lips. The tingle reaffirming what she already knew.

“How much longer do I have with you?” Killian mumbled against her mouth. It was a good question, and for a second Emma wasn’t sure whether he was talking about this morning or forever. She decided he was most likely referring to the former but the latter was a discussion that would have to come at some point.

“Relax, it’s only 6 am.” Emma’s lips moved down to his neck, one of her favorite places on his body to kiss. Feeling the pulsing vein beneath her mouth quicken at her touch.

“It’s hard to relax, love, when you’re using your mouth like that.” His body was tense as she moved around him. Memorizing every mark on his skin, the feel of his arms on her waist, the way his lip twitched slightly before he smiled.

Emma crawled on top of him, it was beginning to be a hobby of hers, ready to get lost with him again when her phone rang.

“Christ…” Killian said as his hands stopped their movements along Emma’s bare body. Her head fell into his chest. Knowing she had to get up and answer.

“I’ve got to get that,” she muttered, extremely unhappy to have to tear herself away from the task at hand (well… mouth).

“I wagered.” Killian stared straight up at the ceiling. Eyes closed, attempting to cool himself off.

When Emma crossed the room and reached her phone the caller ID said it was her father. Her heart sank a little, knowing he probably wouldn’t call this early on a Monday morning if it wasn’t something work related.

“Hello?” she said, swiping to answer. A knot in her stomach.

“Em, I need you to come down to the station as soon as you can… it’s urgent.” Her dad sounded highly on edge. Knowing he wasn’t an alarmist she became more concerned. What could it possibly be that warranted this kind of reaction from David Nolan. “It’s Gold, Emma. He escaped his holding cell last night.”

“What? How?” Emma was a bit floored, hearing horror stories of escaped prisoners on the news before but never having actually experienced it. This man was dangerous, and he had slipped through their clutches.

“Just come down to the station. I’m about to bring everyone in for a briefing before we get to work on catching him. He couldn’t have gotten far, all of the town’s borders have been secured.”

“But time is of the essence.” Emma nibbled on her lip, anxious to get Gold back where he was best (behind fucking bars). “I’ll be down there as soon as I can. I’ve got to call mom and have her pick up Henry though.”

“Alright. See you soon.” David quickly hung up the phone, sounding just about as nervous as Emma was. Then she looked across the room to where Killian had stood and began dressing himself to take his dog out. He already knew she had to leave. Time was something that was just rarely on their side.

“I have to go,” Emma said, all urgency leaving her body when she realized she had to interrupt their morning. It was an odd feeling, one that was completely unfamiliar to her. A longing to just stay put and to savor in the excitement of wasting time with someone. “Duty calls.”

“Everything alright, love?” Killian looked concerned, approaching her as if she were made of crystal.

“Yeah, fine. Just something came up at work. I need to go in early.”

“Is there anything I can do?” Killian’s eyes sparkled with concern. She was so used to just telling him everything, that leaving him in the dark felt almost… wrong. Emma thought of all they had overcome thus far in such early stages of their relationship and decided it would be okay to tell him. The town would have to be notified anyway that there was a wanted criminal running around.

“Just, lay low for today. Gold is… well he’s gone. Apparently escaped last night. I don’t know much more. It will get out eventually but just keep quiet for now and I’ll tell you more as I can.” She hoped he would understand, wouldn’t judge her harshly for the lack of elaboration.

“Alright, Emma,” he said gently, tucking her hair behind her ear. She could tell he wanted to say more. Probably overwhelmingly concerned that she was now leaving his company to go on a man hunt for the person responsible for his parents’ death. Her whole being ached and she wished she could stay. He pressed a gentle kiss to her forehead. “Sometimes I find myself so happy with you that I forget the circumstances we’re under.”

“I know what you mean.” And she did, it was so easy to forget when they were in their love bubble. “I’ll do everything I can to help you and Liam have a bit of peace with this. If that’s even possible to do..”

“I thought about hiring a private investigator… so many times in those twenty years. But the way everything was so botched the first time around with the case I was too scared. But then the prospect of answers became scarier than not knowing so I used to think I would never have closure with it. But you’ve done so much, Emma.”

“I didn’t do it alone, you know.” She remembered all of the times he had offered his help, and he would do it again right now she was sure of it. But the fact was, Gold was out there (so was his ex-wife) and the less Killian was directly involved the better. She smiled up at him, doing her best to silently reassure him that she would be okay. But he still looked wary.

“It’s not something I’m used to…” he said after a few quiet seconds. His arms were loosely wrapped around her naked body as they stood there. Too stubborn to let go of each other.

“What?”

“Normally I’m the one that has to leave abruptly in the morning for work.” He chuckled.

“Does it make you feel cheap?” she joked.

“Aye, a bit.” He smiled, and she wished it was a permanent fixture on his face. Not that the cranky, brooding smolder he had trademarked wasn’t attractive. It was just nice when he laughed.

“Well, hopefully soon this won’t have to happen anymore.”

Emma pulled out of his grasp and began to dress herself. She knew if she continued to stand within their orbit she would get too distracted, and right now she needed to focus. Gold was gone, Milah was Grace, and they still didn’t nail down the person who had been sending the clues. Somehow those two had to be connected, she knew it was too crazy to be a coincidence that the same woman who had been married to Gold ended up dating Killian for several YEARS. However, Emma lost her focus after she had put her underwear, jeans, bra, and shoes back on to realize that the tank top she had worn over to Killian’s last night was ripped to shreds from their passionate encounter.

“Um… Killian…” She held up the material, torn and unwearable. Doing her best to look pissed off but actually a bit flushed thinking of how it had come to be ripped. “I’m going to need to borrow a shirt.”

He smirked, and walked over to his closet which was lined with suits and dress shirts and business attire. She had never met a man who had more clothes than Killian.

“I appreciate the look of disgust, darling, but I don’t recall you being this displeased when that scrap of fabric was being torn from your body last night.” He didn’t even look back at her as he carded through the rows of dress shirts. Eventually he selected a plain, light blue shirt that matched his eyes and probably looked gorgeous on him. Emma held it up to her, it was a tad bit long but it might fit her enough.

“It’ll have to do I suppose,” she said as she took it from the hanger and began to slip it on. “Since a wild animal decided to destroy my shirt.” She locked eyes with him as she buttoned the front.

Killian stepped close to her, taking over the task and slowly slipping each button into it’s slot without losing her gaze. When he finished, he straightened the collar, and bent down to place a kiss on her lips, then her cheek, then her neck before reaching her ear to whisper, “I’d do it again in a heartbeat.”

Emma shivered, at the mere mention of him taking her again in such a heated way. Why couldn’t she just stay kept in his bed all day? Engaging in all kinds of… activities. No responsibilities beyond making each other come. But her life wasn’t that simple, and neither was his. So while she wished she could allow him to make good on his promise to rip her clothes off again, she knew she had a job to do.

“I have to go,” she moaned, pulling her neck away from his lips so she could just focus on the pools of his eyes. Which probably was not any less distracting.

“Be safe. If anything happens to you, I don’t know that I… you’re so good at your job and you’re perfectly fit to take care of yourself but just don’t forget about the people on the other side who love you.”

“Oh? And who would that be?”

“Your son… your parents…”

“You,” she whispered before planting an all too quick kiss on his lips.The mood turning serious from playful, yet again.

“Ah yes, I fall into that category of people as well, my love,” he whispered back, “Just… come back to me, Emma. In one piece.”

“Of course,” she said as his lips were on hers one last time, desperate. But quick. And he pulled away reluctantly. To let her go.

When Emma arrived at the station, it had only been about half an hour since her father had called to alert her of Gold’s escape but it had felt like an eternity. Leaving Killian’s hotel felt more painful than it should have, given the freshness of their romance but everything with them seemed to break all expectation of what a normal relationship was.

She had called Mary Margaret from the car, telling her mother to pick up Henry from his friend’s house when he awoke. After all, it was barely seven in the morning on summer vacation. He wouldn’t be awake for quite some time. And Emma didn’t know when she would be available to leave her job. Neal was all but exempt from the investigation at this point but it would hardly be wise to put Henry in the care of his father when Gold was on the loose. Extra security from Boston was currently on the way to Storybrooke to guard Neal’s apartment just in case his father tried anything stupid. If Emma had to guess though, now that Gold had gotten out of police custody he would certainly take every opportunity to leave town.

The office was abuzz with activity. All hands were on deck. The main room smelling like a mixture of coffee and stress, a scent Emma was entirely too familiar with at this point in her life.

“Em, you’re here, great.” David greeted her when she walked in, handing her a warm to-go cup of coffee. If he noticed the shirt on her back was a man’s he said absolutely nothing about it. Thank the Lord. “We’re meeting in a few minutes to lay out the game plan. First search team has already been dispatched.”

“Okay, what do you need me to do?” she was back in cop mode. It happened almost instantly when she knew an important task at her job needed to be completed.

“Just get ready to meet with the team. Grab all of your resources. Pull some ideas together to brainstorm. I’ve got a few, Graham and the Boston team do as well. We need all the points of view we have.”

“Got it,” she said, taking a sip of her coffee and making her way to her desk. David was off in a flash, presumably to alert everyone to be in the conference room as soon as possible. Emma was gathering some files she had stuffed in her desk, trying to determine the best plan of action but halted when she felt she was being watched.

Looking up from her mess of a desk she realized she was right. Ruby stood a few feet from her, an interesting smile on her best friend’s face.

“What?” Emma asked, curious to see where this was going.

“You know, women’s shirts have the buttons on the left side…” Ruby smirked.

Emma looked down at Killian’s shirt she was wearing. She had tucked it into her jeans so that it wouldn’t look like the shirt was as big on her as The buttons, indeed, on the right side. The sleeves were also cuffed revealing Killian’s embroidered initials on the interior of the fabric. He was such a diva. Emma rolled her eyes, half because of her curious friend and half because she would have to tease Killian about his labeled dress shirt cuffs later. Or whenever she saw him next…

“How is he taking all of this? First his parents then his ex turns out to be a liar. The poor guy,” Ruby asked. Not even bothering to dive further into the fact that Emma was sleeping with Killian but also sleeping AT Killian’s.

“He’s… okay. A bit worried that Gold’s out again, but that’s to be expected.” Emma’s heart tugged. The look of worry on his face she saw as she left his penthouse. The amount of lies and deception he had been fed his whole life she could hardly believe he was this trusting of her but he was. All the more reason she didn’t want to keep things from him. She must have been making a face at the thought of her morning because whatever it was Ruby picked up on her softened demeanor.

“Who would have guessed, Killian Jones would be the first guy to get you to make an actual commitment,” Ruby said. As annoyed as Emma was that this was the topic of conversation, it was hard to be annoyed with Ruby. Someone who had been by her side for as long as she could remember.

“Literally you, Ruby!” Emma remembered even before she herself knew she was interested in Killian her best friend had called her out on it. “You guessed it the whole time!”

“I did, didn’t I?” A look of pride came across Ruby’s face. They had caught up briefly on Saturday night. Watching movies and eating junk food with Henry. Ruby was, for the first time in a long time, in a very healthy and stable relationship. And the proof was all over the brunette’s face as she just seemed lighter. Happier. To finally have found someone who brought out the best in her as opposed to the worst.

“Ruby, Emma, conference room.” They were interrupted by the sound of Graham’s voice. Everyone was making their way into the conference room for the meeting.

The meeting was brief but effective. Gold was on the loose and they needed to catch him, plain and simple. Apparently during the changing of security last night was when he escaped from his holding cell. Via the use of a bent paper clip that had been hidden (somewhere on his person?). It was a grave mistake on the part of all of the officers involved. Ever since the discovery of Gold as the killer, the team had definitely softened. The idea that he was already caught so their jobs were mostly done allowing him to slip through the cracks. Emma herself was guilty of losing involvement. But right now she had to hunt for Gold. By the time she left the office the news of Gold’s escape had broken, she had to fight past all of the local news and reporters to get to her car.

Emma was beginning to see herself with Killian more and more with each passing day. And as exciting yet terrifying as that was she knew they would never truly be able to continue, he would never truly be able to heal, if his past wasn’t first taken care of. If there was no closure on the demons that had plagued he and his family for so long, Killian and Liam would never know justice to be reached for their parents. Then there was Neal, who had lost so much as well. First his mother when he was just a boy and now his father had turned out to have done such terrible things. Neal needed closure on the case as well. And if Emma was able to find Milah, and her connection to this saga, then maybe Neal could have peace answers to why his mother left him. Because Emma had a sneaking suspicion that there was more to Milah leaving than she knew. Then there was Henry who had, all his life, known nothing but kindness and harmony amongst all of the branches of his family who was now realizing that his grandfather was in no way a good man.

After the meeting the whole team was put to action. The perimeter of the town completely secured, as well as the shipping ports that led to the town. A census of all residents and ships was taken by local government. Helicopters flew above the normally quiet town in an effort to see if Gold had taken to hiding in the woods. Yellow caution tape decorated the normally all-green summer landscape. Time was so important, especially the first twelve hours when they had daylight on their side. Midday Emma had called Henry to check in, telling him she was alright and to stay with Mary Margaret until they caught Gold. By now it was out that he had gone missing, and a panic had come over the town. Worried for everyone’s safety Emma and her team did their absolute best to utilize their time.

But by nightfall no progress had been made despite the relentless search. Gold was as good as gone. Emma’s feet tired she and a few others headed back to the station to regroup and make an alternate plan for nightfall.

“I think we need to send people to Belle’s. Extra security in case Gold tries anything there,” Emma spoke up at the meeting. She had ulterior motives for the suggestion but that wasn’t important to disclose to everyone just yet.

David agreed. Looking at Emma expectantly for further suggestion.

“I can go,” she offered. “I’ll take Ruby. Give us one squad car.”

Ruby looked at Emma like she was crazy. But Emma would explain once they were underway.

“Em, we can send more than just one. There’s a few over there undercover right now for surveillance.” Graham looked skeptical, but didn’t push too hard.

“Listen, we don’t want an overwhelming police presence there. It isn’t necessary, send them home for rest. But we do need to have a few officers present at Gold’s old home to make sure Belle isn’t behind the liberation of her husband. And I think I’m pretty good at deciphering whether or not someone’s lying to me.”

After a lot more convincing, Emma and Ruby were in the squad car on their way over to Belle’s house. It had been under pseudo-house arrest (undercover squad cars a few hundred feet away) for some time now but nothing had come up that indicated Belle in anyway knew what her husband had been up to nearly 15 years before they even met. But that didn’t stop Emma from having her suspicions. Recalling the day they had found the murder weapon and arrested Gold. The discovery of the dagger coming almost entirely from Belle’s subtle suggestion. Ruby had been the only other person in the room with Emma and Belle that day. Therefore Emma thought her best to drag along.

On the way over Emma called Killian, part wanting to tell him Gold was still missing, part wanting to just hear his voice. But she would never admit that, even when Ruby gave her a knowing look from the passenger seat. Despite trying to keep the conversation as low key as possible, Emma still became a little sad when she had to hang up. But the subtle, “Call when you can and be safe, my love.” He said before hanging up gave her butterflies, motivating her to keep going.

“Emma would you mind telling me what in the world has gotten into you?” Ruby asked shortly after Emma hung up the phone and refocused on driving the squad car toward Belle’s house.

“I think Belle knew what Gold did to the Jones’,” Emma said matter of factly.

“And you think it’s urgent to handle this now because…?”

“She’s the key to finding Gold. Just like she was the key to proving he did the murder in the first place.”

Ruby crinkled her brow trying to decipher what Emma was getting at.

“Belle’s a smart girl, you and I both know that. If she was the one sending the clues and if she knew what her husband had done then she most certainly had all of her research together before she did something this bold. I’m not saying she helped him escape…. I know she wants him locked up. So I think we can get her to talk.”

“Emma that’s crazy! You’re going on blind intuition.” Ruby yelled as they pulled up the driveway to Belle’s house. The wind stilling to provide quiet surroundings. The only sound now was the crunch of Emma’s feet on the walkway.

“Is it that crazy? Isn’t that what’s gotten us this far in the first place? My ‘blind’ intuition.”

“You know it is.”

“Yet here you are, doubting me.”

“I never said that,” Ruby reached out to knock on the heavy wooden door. Not sure why they were even doing the courtesy of knocking. They could very well just barge in. But Emma didn’t want Belle to think they were against her, Emma knew she could reason with her if she approached this just right…

“You also didn’t run away when I told you.”

“She’s not going to tell us anything, Emma. We’re cops!”

“Belle’s logical. I feel like if we reason enough with her, she’ll be smart about giving us an answer.”

As the front door opened Emma caught sight of Belle for the first time in a long time. The pretty and quiet research analyst who she had worked with nearly every day looked exhausted. Bags under her eyes. No makeup on. Dark hair piled on top of her head in a pony tail. She was beautiful, but sad. The same way Killian had been when she met him. Emma felt bad about ambushing her this way, about such a sensitive thing. But it was her job and to her core Emma believed Belle would provide far more for them in finding Gold than sitting in a hidden squad car in the woods all night would.

“Belle…” Ruby started, all three women standing here were not that different in age. It was sad. The thought that the person Belle had once loved turned out to be such a monster.

“I already told the officers earlier I have no idea where he went.” She sounded tired. Exhausted, not necessarily physically (she had stayed mostly locked up in this house avoiding society since Gold’s arrest) but emotionally.

“We’re here to help, Belle.” Emma offered. Though as the quiet settled over the three women Emma heard the snap of a twig a few feet from her and perked up immediately. “What was that?”

“What?” Ruby and Belle both asked, not recognizing the sound Emma had definitely heard.

“Go inside I’ll be right back.” Emma said authoritatively, locking eyes with Ruby and telling her not to question her.

Once Emma heard the front door close, she slowly made her way down the porch steps and into the grass. Careful not to step on any stray branches. Like whomever was lurking around this house had just made the mistake of doing. She slowly moved around the bend, the surroundings too dark for her to tell exactly what was in front of her. Until her eyes adjusted and took advantage of the soft light coming from an upstairs window of Belle’s house. A figure was about 200 feet ahead of her in the dark. Hooded. Wearing all black, with a slight limp. Gold.

Un-fucking-believable. Emma took off after Gold, sprinting as fast as her legs allowed while he just ran faster and faster. The open field next to his old house providing a clear view of the back of the hood. Emma pushed harder trying to catch Gold, knowing she could. He didn’t have his cane and probably couldn’t sustain this pace for long. So she surged, taking in stride the extra few feet. She was within grasp of him now, her heart racing, pulse about to explode from within her chest. Emma’s breath ragged, she could grab his hood if she were just a foot closer. Whatever powerful source from within her took action and gave her the extra push she needed and Emma closed the gap. Tripping as she did to fall on top of Gold’s body and collapse into the field.

Emma heaved, pushing any breath out she could to calm the pounding in her chest as she secured herself on top of him, grabbing his arms to pin them to the ground beneath. But when the hooded figure turned their face toward Emma and her eyes focused on the person she had tackled to the ground she realized it wasn’t Gold she was on top of. No, it wasn’t a man at all. In fact, it was a woman. The face now so familiar to her, Emma could have sworn they met before.

“Milah.” Emma gasped. It wasn’t a question, there was no question about it. Emma knew who this woman was despite having never really encountered her before. Looking down at the wild haired, brown-eyed woman who had left Neal motherless and broken Killian’s heart all within one lifetime.