The weekend is coming to a close, and I couldn't think of a better way to spend it. Ruby, Aurora, Phillip, Ariel, Eric, Killian and myself all meet up at Granny's. Ruby insisted I invite Killian along. I wasn't even sure he'd wanted to, but he agreed and met us here. It's weird having him here, but nice at the same time. It's almost like he can fit into any group. I notice that when he's with the lost boys he acts all tough and unfriendly, but here tonight with my group he's like a completely different guy. My group, I like the sound of that. It's nice having friends. Back in Boston, I kept to myself. I mean I did have Ruby in high school, and Neal but we didn't have a group. Killian and I sit in the corner of the booth, his arm is draped lazily around me, pulling me close every once in a while like he craves it.

He reaches over and snags an onion ring off my tray. I smack his hand and he chuckles.

"Did you just attempt to steal Emma's onion ring? Do you want to die a slow painful death Jones?" Ruby taunts.

"Death at the hands of Emma Swan, that would be a good way to go."

He chuckles and swipes another with the other hand. I give him a look as he slowly chews and makes a moaning sound to taunt me.

The door to Granny's rings and when I look up I see my dad strolling in with his Sheriff uniform still intact and his walkie softly mumbling words I cannot hear. I want to slide down and hide, it's not that I don't want him to see me with Killian I just wasn't ready for the whole, "hey dad guess what I'm dating a lost boy or ex-lost boy" conversation. Dad of course notices me right away like I have some kind of tracking device attached to me. His smile after realizing I'm here quickly turns to a frown when he takes note of the arm around me. Killian is laughing about something Phillip said. Next to me his body suddenly goes rigid when he notices my dad looking at him. Immediately Dad forgets the real reason he stepped into Granny's and heads over to our table. Ruby looks up as he walks over.

"Chief Swan," she says.

"Actually, Nolan, Chief Swan is Bella's dad," he says.

I snort, "How do you actually know that?"

"Your mother made me watch that movie more times than I can count," he chuckles.

"Sure Chief, we believe you," Ruby winks.

His laughter is short lived when his eyes land on Killian's hand squeezing my shoulder. I can literally feel the tension radiating off of Killian's body from my father's presence.

"Emma honey, can we have a quick chat over there," he says pointing to the other side of the diner.

"Uh."

I look up at Killian and he carefully removes his arm from around my shoulder giving a small smile.

"Mr. Nolan," he says nodding his head.

"Mr. Jones," he says in a tone that has bite.

Oh god, this is not good. Ariel slides over and Eric follows so I can leave the booth.

"Have a good night everyone," he says.

His eyes gaze around the table and when they land on Killian I think in his mind he's strangling him. I push my father across the diner before anything major happens. We head into the back of Granny's behind a door that separates me from my friends.

"Care to explain?" he asks.

"Explain what?"

"What you're doing with Killian Jones?" he asks.

"How do you even know him?"

"He's a lost boy isn't he?"

"Yeah, I guess but he..."

"No Emma, he's not different, has that boy brainwashed you?"

"Dad, I'm not a little girl anymore I can handle myself. I handled Neal, I can handle him," I say.

"That's the thing, you didn't handle anything with Neal, you became a fugitive of the law," he says.

"Dad, it's not that serious," I say.

"Killian isn't Neal and I'm not saying that's a good thing," he says.

"Dad, seriously, I can take care of myself I have for years," I say.

I know that's a low blow being that he gave me up, but it's true. I've spent my entire life taking care of myself. Sure I had families, but they had their own children, or other foster kids that they liked more. It's always been just me fending for myself. I know not to fall for a guy like Killian, and I won't let it get that far - I can't let go that far.

Dad signs and places a hand on my shoulder, I cover it with my own hand.

"Trust me, I'll be okay. It's not anything serious I swear," I say.

"I trust you Emma, I just worry that's all," he says.

"I know, and believe me I'm grateful you are both back in my life and that you never stopped loving me, but I can do this because I know when to put my walls up and believe me they are up," I say.

"I didn't mean for you to have walls Emma," he says.

"I know, but if I didn't have them I'd be broken," I admit.

"Your mother and I are always here if you need us, I know it doesn't make up for anything, but we are, always will be now," he says.

"I know."

I'm trying to stop the burning in my eyes, my parents both look at me with such love in their eyes, I'm still not used to it. Now being older and going through the same experience I understand why they did what they did, and I don't hate them for it anymore. I dab at my eyes.

"Alright get back out there with your friends, I'm on duty all night," he says. "Came to get some coffee to stay awake," he says.

"Be safe," I say.

Dad gives me a hug, and I take a minute to compose myself before heading back out to my friends. Killian is patiently watching the back door waiting for me, I emerge with a smile and he looks relieved. I want to ask him why my father has such a hatred towards him, I feel like there's more to it than he's just a bad boy.

Killian follows me home in the Jolly Roger and walks me into the apartment. We stand at the door like two people who have lost their ability to speak. I lean against the wall as he places one hand over my right shoulder. He leans forward and places a soft kiss on my lips.

"Do you want to come in?" I ask.

"Swan, are you asking what I think your asking?" he asks wiggling his brow.

"I'm asking you to come inside and make out with me like we're two crazy teenagers in lust," I joke.

"Will mother Ruby be home soon?"

I shake my head, "She's gone dancing with Aurora and Ariel," I say. "She won't be back until late," I say. "And who the hell knows where Tink is she's never home half the time," I say.

"Okay then," he says. "Let's make out like two crazy teenagers in lust."

I turn to open the door of the apartment as he pushes some of my hair off the back of my neck. I freeze as warm lips graze the back of my neck. I hiss and stop moving the key. I tilt my head back and he kisses along the side of my neck just under my ear. I try to suppress a moan, but it's hard. It's been a while since anything with a guy actually felt good.

"We should get inside," he whispers softly into my ear.

I finish unlocking the door and we step inside. I put the keys in the bowl and kick off my shoes. I start to turn around to ask if he wants a drink, but he spins me the rest of the way and presses his body against mine. How is it possible that I could go from hating this guy to wanting and craving his lips on my body? It almost feels like a dream. I'm having fun, and I feel like I deserve a little fun.

I'm not sure I'm ready to take this to my room so we settle on the couch, me straddling his legs and kissing his prickly face and neck. Sitting here like this I can really feel everything and it makes me squirm. A wet sensation I haven't felt in so long trickles out as he moans in my ear.

He stops my kisses by placing both of his big warm hands against my cheeks. My eyes meet his and it's like he's letting me see him for who he really is underneath the bad image. His blue eyes soften and feelings that I've tried to keep at bay surface, and it's making me want to pull away. He can see it in my eyes because that look of lust in his eyes vanishes.

"Emma," he says causing my body to shiver.

"Yeah," I say.

My voice comes out in a low squeak, and it doesn't sound like me at all.

"You okay luv?" he asks.

"I'm fine, why?"

"It's just, nevermind," he says.

"What?" I ask.

"One minute you were looking at me like you were hungry, and the next it all vanished like you blocked it," he says. "I know what it's like to put up a wall Emma, and that for sure was what you were doing," he says.

"Killian, it's not..."

"It's your dad isn't it?" he asks.

"What? No!" I hear my voice raising.

"He got in your head," he says.

"No, Killian that's not it... I..."

"It's okay Swan, I get it," he says.

And we're back to Swan. I sigh, this is not how I planned this night going. I untangle myself from him and stand looking down at him.

"You don't though, it's not from anything my father said. I'm a grown woman and I told him I could take care of myself..."

"So he did have things to say about me," he interrupts.

"So what? Do you and my father have bad blood or something?"

"Something like that," he says standing.

He's so close, and if this was a few minutes ago I would have grabbed a hold of him and kissed him, but now he's right my wall is very much up, and in this moment it's not from my father it's from him. He shut down first.

"I should probably go," he says.

"Killian," I say my voice breaking.

Shit, don't cry in front of him.

"No, it's okay. I knew it was too good to be true after you said you were the Sheriff's daughter," he says.

"But I..."

Let the waterworks begin. Why I'm crying, I don't know. I wanted to keep these walls up to protect my heart, it's not working with him. I can feel the cracks allowing just the slightest bit of light through.

He starts for the door, but turns to look at me. He's got a look of regret on his face. He steps towards me like he's about to say or do something, but then he steps back. He looks torn between comforting me and running. I already know which he's gonna choose before he does, I've chosen it before, after Neal.

"Just go Killian," I say.

He's hesitating now, unsure of what he should do. His cheek twitches as his clenches his teeth.

"Bye Emma," he whispers.

I swear behind that wall I hear his voice crack. My eyes dry up and I watch him walk away from me, just like Neal. It's not until the door shuts that the waterworks start back up and I fall to the floor like my heart has just been torn from my chest. I shouldn't feel this strongly, but he's cracked everything I've tried to protect.

I'm not sure how long I stay like that, but I'm back in my bed before Ruby comes home sometime in the early morning hours. I don't sleep, because my brain won't shut off as it runs through every other way this night could have gone.