I've been pacing my room for over an hour waiting for Killian to arrive. A knock on my door pulls me from my thoughts and pacing. The door slowly opens revealing Ruby's cute little face. She smiles.

"Dude, the neighbors are gonna think we are herding elephants up here, what gives?" she asks.

"This isn't gonna end will, dinner with the Nolan's and a lost boy - or ex lost boy," I say.

I start pacing again, hands behind my back.

"Ah, c'mon now we can do this, plus you have me to charm your father as I always do," she says with a smile.

"You know he hates the Twilight reference," I say.

"Oh, no he doesn't. Plus have you looked at the man who plays Charlie Swan, I may be batting for the other team right now, but Chief Swan is a looker, and your dad isn't so bad himself," she says.

"And I'll pretend you didn't just say that you find my father attractive," I say.

She laughs.

"Who's attractive? Clearly you guys are discussing me," a familiar voice says from behind Ruby. His head peaks over Ruby's as he places his chin just at the top of her head.

"Clearly," Ruby echoes.

"Hello luv, you ready to go?" he asks.

"I am, but Emma..."

I stop pacing and looked at the two of them, "I'm good, let's get this over with," I say.

Killian offers to take us in the Jolly Roger. With Killian driving we get there much sooner than I wanted. My parents live in a cute loft apartment in town, it's small but they like it. Climbing the stairs I can feel my heart racing, and I don't think it's because I'm out of shape. Killian stops as Ruby continues her climb up.

"Emma?" Killian says holding his hand out.

I climb the two steps as he takes my hands in his holding them up pressing into one another.

"Emma, luv I promise you I won't piss your father off. I'll behave as long as he does," he tells me.

I close my eyes and sigh.

"Plus I can use my good old Killian charm on your mother, if she's anything like you she'll love me," he says.

I hear the door open and my mom greet Ruby. I guess it's time. Killian lets go of one of my hands and keeps hold of the other. He squeezes it to calm me, and it works. We take the rest of the steps and the minute we reach the top my mom stands there with her smiling face. Seeing her calms me, but the sound of my father's voice asking her something about dinner makes me freeze.

"Emma, he's handsome," she says eyeing Killian.

"Thank you Mrs. Nolan," he says.

"Oh, you can call me Mary Margaret," she says kindly, in her usual soft voice.

"It's pleasure, Mary Margaret," he says.

I feel Killian tense beside me as my father comes into view. He notices Ruby too and gives her a look, like he knows exactly why she's here.

"Chief Swan, what's up?" she asks.

He's about to open his mouth and correct her again, but instead my mom elbows him in the gut and he chokes out, "Hello Ruby."

Ruby enters the loft and now it's our turn. Mom and dad look at me and then to Killian.

"Hello sir," he says.

"Killian," dad says in a dull tone.

"Dad," I say through clenched teeth.

He looks at me and I stare at him with wide glassy eyes pleading for him to just be kind for this one night. He notices, and nods his head at me.

"Come in," he says stepping aside.

We enter the loft to the sweet aroma of my mothers steak and potatoes.

"Smells great," Killian says.

"It's Steak and Potatoes," she says.

"Mashed I hope?" he asks.

"Wouldn't make them any other way," mom says with her bubbly smile.

Ruby and I help my mom finish preparing dinner while Dad and Killian sit stiff at the table waiting for us. Mom leans over and whispers in my ear.

"I'm so glad you could come Emma," she says.

"I'm not sure what I'm feeling," I say gripping the hot pot of peas in my hand with an oven mit.

"He promised to be on his best behavior," she tells me.

"You think we can trust that?" I ask.

"Oh, don't you worry, he will behave," mom says. "Now take those peas over there before one of them reaches across the table to kill the other," she says still in a peppy, yet serious voice.

I jump into action and bring the pot over to small oval table that is barely big enough for all of us. Ruby and mom bring over the rest of the meal and set it down in the center of the table. I slide in next to Killian, mom and dad at the heads of the table, and Ruby across from us.

"So Killian," mom says kindly setting some steak on his plate.

"You go to the university?" she asks.

I'm not sure how much mom or even how much dad knows about Killian, but I'm hoping this stays as civil as possible.

"Yes Ma'am, I'm an English Lit major, graduate degree actually," he says.

"Oh, really?" she says now plopping mashed on his plate for him.

"Yes, I'm Mr. Gold's TA, it's required for me to graduate," he says.

I can see the wheels turning in dad's head, he knows exactly why Killian is Gold's TA. His jaw clenches as mom passes the food down to him.

"That's wonderful. Is this your last year?" she asks.

"It is, not sure what my plans are for after. I do plan on purchasing a boat in the harbor and fixing her up," he says.

"And how will that secure a future for you Killian?" Dad asks scooping a big spoonful of potatoes onto his plate.

"Well sir, I have a thing for boats actually. It's calming being out in the ocean waters. Not sure what I want out of my future, taking one day at a time sir," he says as politely as he could.

"I've secured an internship in the summer," Ruby says interrupting. "At a law firm in the big city," she says.

I look over at her and thank you with my eyes, she nods at me. Killian clears his throat and takes a sip of water.

"Ruby that's wonderful," mom says cutting her steak.

"What city?" Dad asks.

"New York," she says. "I'm so excited!"

"You didn't tell me," I say.

"I literally just found out, was waiting for a big moment to tell everyone, and this moment seemed right," she says.

"Congrats, that's huge," I say.

"You should come with me Emma, we could take on the big city together," she says.

I look at her and then around at my parents, and Killian.

"It's tempting Ruby, but I'm not sure about leaving," I say.

"Think about it, could be a great summer," she said with a smile.

Escaping the town again would just be an open invitation for me to never come back. I'm the kind of person where if there's a chance for me to escape I will. If things got too hard here between things with Killian or even with Regina over Henry I feel like there's always a part of me that would just pick up and leave.

Killian reaches his hand under the table and squeezes my leg. I jump and look over at him. He gives a half smile causing his cheek to twitch slightly.

"I'll keep it in mind," I tell her, finally getting some food onto my plate.

"Honey, that reminds me how is school going? Are you gonna change your major?"

"I don't know, I may just finish out the semester and see," I tell her.

"Good," she says with a smile. "You do what makes you happy," she says it to me, but while she says it she's staring down my father.

Dinner continues with mini conversations, and Ruby trying to intercept any jabs at Killian, it's working really well for now. We all help my mom clean up, the boys bringing the dishes into the kitchen while mom washes, Ruby dries, and I put away. Everything is going okay and I'm starting to feel comfortable.

Mom asks Ruby and I to pull out her homemade apple pie, and that's when I notice Killian and dad missing. My heart literally stops as I search the small loft for any sign of them.

"Honey I'm sure..."

"Mom, no you don't get it there is something both of them are not telling me, they are in one something together, they have to be," I say. "They acted weird when dad came into the diner that night."

I'm so panicked that I burst through the front door expecting them to be wrestling with my father attempting to throw Killian over the stairs, but they aren't. Standing against the wall Killian and dad are discussing something quietly. I let go of the breath I didn't know I was holding and place my hands on my legs and crouch over. I feel sick. The two of them stop talking and rush to me.

"Emma you okay?" Dad asks.

"You guys aren't killing each other?" I ask breathing heavily.

Kilian chuckles, "No worries luv, your father and I were just talking," he says.

"In hushed whispers?"

"I was just asking him some questions Emma, we're okay," dad says.

"C'mon luv, I can smell your mom's pie from here," Killian says placing a hand on my back.

I finally stand up straight, and look up at him, he looks tense, but okay. I turn to dad.

"C'mon I can smell it too and you know how I am with mom's baking," he says.

I smile and nod. Dad walks into the apartment first. Killian places his arm around my shoulders.

"I don't like secrets Killian," I say.

He kisses the top of my head, "No secrets luv, your dad and I just came to an understanding is all," he says.

I don't believe him, I know there's something going on, but I just let it go. I give him the best smile I can and we walk in together.

Back at the apartment Ruby heads upstairs first leaving Killian and I to say goodnight. I hug my body like I'm cold, but I'm not. The weather is warming up just slightly, and with spring a few weeks away the temperatures have been slowly rising. Killian rubs at my arms and smiles.

"Last night luv was ... amazing," he says. "Thank you for trusting me to have dinner with your folks. Don't worry your pretty little head about your father and I, things will be okay," he tells me.

"Your not who I thought you were," I say.

He sighs and kisses the top of my head then pulls back to look at me.

"There's more here than you think luv, and I'm willing to do what I can to prove to you that I'm here because I want to change, and I'd like to see where this goes," he says pointing between the two of us.

"Me too," I whisper.

"Good, so I'll leave you in suspense then, I've got to head home for tonight, although I'd love to make a repeat of last night," he says.

I shiver at his words as he says them against my ear.

"There's plenty of time for that," I tell him.

"Oh, good. I was worried there for a moment that you'd given up on me already," he says.

"No, not giving up," I whisper.

His lips settle over mine and we share a quick kiss, before he gets into his car. I watch him drive off still hugging myself. A noise from the neighboring house startles me. The garbage pails clank together and I swear I saw a shadow running away in the darkness. I start to walk towards the commotion when Ruby calls from the window upstairs.

"Emma Swan get your butt up here!" she yells.

I look up and she's holding up her phone like she's won a prize.

"What are you doing?" I yelled up stepping back so I can see above the roof.

"She got my number! I have a date next Saturday night!" she yells.

"Ruby that's amazing!" I yell.

"But you should come inside to help me celebrate before we wake the neighbors," she yells back.

"Be right there!" I call.

I take one more look towards where I'd heard the noise and seen the shadow, but nothing is there and everything is quiet now. I take a deep breath hoping I'd imagined it, and head inside to celebrate with Ruby.