A/N: I'm sorry its been a while. My life has been an absolute train wreck lately. My Bipolar depressive episodes have been lasting months, the manic episodes are about to drive me up the wall, and I've been dealing with some really hard family problems, and I just battled Covid last week. Its been a mess. I hope this Sneak Peek is okay for you guys for right now! 

Killian

Blaire awkwardly got off my lap and picked up her shirt and put it on. She gave Liam a quick look before her eyes went to Bastian.
"Hey..bud, lets go into the kitchen and see if your uncle has any ice cream, yeah?"
"Daddy says I can't have sweets until after dinner and he couldn't bring me my grilled cheese." Bastian said. I picked up the food from the coffee table and handed it to Blaire.
"Go into the kitchen with Blaire and she'll get you some dinner okay?" I smiled at Bastian and ruffled his hair.
Bastian grabbed Blaires hand.
"Okay Uncle Killy." He said and followed Blaire into the kitchen. Blaire gave me a quick glance over her shoulder before she pulled the sliding door to the kitchen closed.

I went to speak but Liam put his hand up.
"What in the bloody hell is one of our students doing here Killian?" He asked.
"Do you want the long answer or the short answer Liam?" I asked.
"My wifes father just suffered a heart attack, I'm on a time crunch, so the short answer would be best." Liam hissed.
"Liam.. I love her." I said and swallowed hard.
"You love her?" Liam scoffed and shook his head and then chuckled, but it wasn't the that was funny chuckle, it was his that was the wrong answer, prepare to die chuckle.
"Exactly how long has this been going on?" Liam demanded.
"It started around October." I admitted.
"So that Jacket you told Milah was Ariels was Blaires? You lied to me Killian you said you weren't having an affair!" Liam snapped.
"I didn't lie, Halloween was when I first realized I had feelings for her Liam, we didn't really start anything until after Milah and I separated!" I said.
"As if that makes this any better. Bloody hell Killian what the fuck are you doing with a student?!"
"She's not just a student Liam." I sighed and sat down. "Not anymore."
"She is a student Killian, and thats all she ever should have been. This is wrong. This will get you fired. It may even get me fired because I'm your brother and they will question whether I've known the whole bloody time!" Liam spat.
"This girl is my everything Liam..I am begging you not to say anything."
"Exactly as you've said. She is just a girl. Shes barely Eighteen, and you and I have a duty to these students, we're supposed to look after them, guide them. Not bloody sleep with them!"
"Liam. Please." I begged.
"This ends. Now. I don't want to have to report it, but I have a family Killian. You may not need your job, but I need mine."
"So you would go to the school board? You would get me fired? Blaire expelled? Why would you do that to me?" I asked.
"You aren't listening to me. I don't bloody want to! If this gets out, we will both get fired. They know how close we are. You have to end this before someone else finds out!"
"Liam please don't do this. You don't understand what she means to me. I spent so many years, feeling lost, I gave up. I didn't want to paint anymore, I barely wanted to live and she brought me back to life. Don't take her from me." I pleaded.
"Listen to yourself Killian. She's a student. Do you honestly think whatever this is is going to last? She's young, she'll go off to New York to her new art school and meet someone else. If you continue this, you may be what causes her to stay, to give up everything she's worked for and for what? A relationship thats not going to last?"
"Blaire isn't like that Liam, and I would never stop her from going to New York!"
"I don't want to hear it Killian. This ends tonight." Liam said and made his way to the kitchen.

—----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Blaire

I grabbed one of Bastians special plates from the cabinet remembering Killian told me he wouldn't eat anything if his food was touching. I looked through the togo boxes from O'Malleys.
"You like chicken wings?" I asked Bastian.
"Only if they don't have bones." Bastian said.
"They don't. Do you want Barbeque or the hot ones?" I asked.
"Barbeque please." Bastian said and climbed up into one of the kitchen chairs. "Is there ranch?" He asked.
"Yep." I said and put a few Boneless wings on the plate and cut them up into smaller pieces and put a little cup of ranch on the plate in another slot. "Fries or onion rings?"
"Fries. With lots of ketchup." Bastian said. "But not on them, on the side."
"Of course who puts ketchup ontop of their fries?" I asked and looked at him.
"People who like to watch the world burn." Bastian said with a deadpan expression. I snorted and carefully placed the fries into the bigger slot on the plate making sure they weren't touching the chicken. I opened the fridge and grabbed the ketchup and poured some into the only remaining section on the plate filling it. I carefully carried the plate and set it in front of him and grabbed him a plastic fork from the bag and put it down on the table for him.
"This isn't my fork." Bastian said.
I raised an eyebrow and opened the silverware drawer and looked around.
"Do you have a special fork?" I asked.
"It has a blue handle." Sebastian said. I dug through the drawer until I found the only fork with a blue handle and held it out.
"This one?"

"Yes!" He said and reached for it. I smiled and handed him the fork.
"Can I have some chocolate milk? With a straw?" He asked sweetly.
I put the ketchup in the fridge and pulled the jug of chocolate milk out and looked in the cupboard for a cup.
"Its the blue one." He said. I smirked.
"I'm sensing that your favorite color is blue." I said as I poured him the chocolate milk.
"No actually, it's red." Bastian said very matter-of-factly.
Silly me. Of course it's red.
"Where does your uncle keep the straws?" I asked.
"Top of the fridge." he replied. I reached up and felt around the top of the fridge and I grabbed a bag of neon bendy straws.
"What color?" I asked. I didn't want to pick the wrong one.
"Whats your favorite color?" Bastian asked.
"Purple." I said. "But theres no purple straw." I said and held out the bag for him to choose one. He picked a bright pink one and put it in his chocolate milk and took a drink.
The color of the cup and the fork matters, straw does not. Got it.

"Did you know purple is one of the hardest colors to see?" Sebastian asked as I sat down at the table with him.
"I didn't." I smiled. "How did you know?"
"I do read." Bastian said very seriously. He was very well spoken for a 6 year old, and very very smart.
"Are you staying the night too?" Sebastian asked.
Well I probably was but...now?
"No." I smiled.
Bastian frowned.
"I was hoping you could play games! Uncle Killy has a playstation, we could play Spyro." Bastian said.
"Maybe next time." I offered. If there is a next time.

Killian and Liam raised their voices from the living room and Bastian turned his head to look that way.
"Hey, nevermind them. Eat your chicken." I said.
Bastian turned back around and went back to his chicken.
"Are you Uncle Killys new wife?" Bastian asked. I dropped the onion ring I was about to put in my mouth in my lap.
"Um.. no. We are just..well we are really good friends." I said.
"Oh. well, you should be. I like you better than Milah. She wasn't very nice to me. Or Uncle Killy. She made him sad a lot." Bastian frowned.

Before I could even say anything else the door to the kitchen was pulled open and Liam stormed in.
"Sebastian, come on we've gotta go." He said.
"But you said I could stay with Uncle Killy tonight!" Bastian pouted.
"Well, I've decided to take you with us instead." Liam smiled at him trying not to upset him, which clearly wasn't working as the little boys eyes welled over with fresh tears.
"But you said!" He cried.
"Liam just let him stay." Killian sighed.
"Yeah..let him stay. I'll go." I said and stood up. Liams expression changed when he looked at me, gone was the soft expression I'd been used to all year. He was angry...scratch that, he was pissed.
"You shouldn't have even been here in the first place. You stay, you two have much to discuss." He said and picked up Bastian from the chair he was sitting in. The situation was pretty upsetting as is, but Sebastians cries were absolutely heartbreaking. He didn't understand any of this and I felt terrible for him and I felt terrible for putting him directly in the middle of this.

Sebastian reached for Killian over Liams shoulder, sobbing hysterically.
"Liam at least let me try to calm him down!" Killian said and then sighed again. "Please, you're going into a stressful situation with Ariels father..you don't need a meltdown on top of that." Killian reached for Sebastian. Liam sighed and let him take Sebastian.
"I will be in the hallway." He said and walked out.

I leaned against the door to the kitchen watching Killian holding Sebastian He cradled the back of his head running his fingers through his red hair. He swayed back and forth rocking slightly as he spoke softly to him. It may have looked silly to anyone else to see Killian rocking a 6 year old in his arms, but it did seem to be calming him. His sobs had quieted down to wimpers.
"Why is Daddy so mad at you and Blaire?" He whimpered.
"Its a really long story lad." Killian said.
"Please can't I stay?" Bastian begged. "I want to play with Captain, and play spyro with you. Daddy said I could stay!"
"I know he did, and I know how hard it is, when you were told one thing and it changes just like that, its hard to adjust, and I'm really sorry Bastian but you can't stay tonight."
Bastian started crying again, and I was fighting back tears at this point. I kind of wanted to punch Liam in his stupid face right about now even though he had every right to be upset with Killian and I. I just hated that Bastian was upset.

"Hey." Killian said and sat down with him and adjusted Basitan on his lap. "Remember how we talked about compromise?"
Bastian nodded.
"I know, you can't stay tonight, but if you can be really good you can stay all next weekend with me."
"Even sunday?" Bastian sniffled.
"Right." Killian smiled. "I'll even make breakfast and I'll take you to school."
"On your motorcycle??" Bastian asked excitedly.
"Oh no, your mother will kill me, we'll take the car and I'll talk to her about you maybe getting to ride on the motorcycle with me in the summer."
"Okay." Bastian nodded.
"Besides, we have big spring break plans to make this weekend." Killian said.
"What kind of plans?" Bastian asked.
"I was going to keep it a secret, but I was planning on you and I taking a trip to the science center in Portland and maybe since we'll be in the area we can swing by the zoo. That sounds fun right?"
"Yes!" Bastian gasped. "I love science!"
"I know you do." Killian smiled. "So you think you can be good when I take you out to the hallway where your Dad is? I know you're upset with him but its not his fault." Killian smiled.
"Okay." Bastian nodded and climbed off Killians lap and sighed dramatically.
"I think I'm ready." He said and held his hand out. Killian smirked and stood and took his hand and lead him to the door. Bastian turned around and waved at me.
"Bye Blaire." He said. "Will you be at the gym saturday for boxing?"
"Yeah. I'll be there." I smiled. At least for him I would be. "Bye bud." I said and waved.

Killian opened the door, and I could hear him and Liam say a few things to each other, but I couldn't tell what they were saying. He closed the door and turned around and looked at me.
"Well...that just sucked." I said. "Remind me to punch your brother for making him cry like that." I said.
"Its not his fault Blaire. Its mine. Sebastian doesn't typically handle change very well and he was told one thing and it changed too fast for him to process it. I'm just glad I could calm him down before he went into full meltdown mode. Liam and I are still learning how to work around that. Its a day by day process with him." Killian explained.
"I Understand." I said and walked in the kitchen. Deep down, I knew what was coming next, and I just wanted to stall it for as long as I could.

Killian followed me into the kitchen. I picked up the plate of food that Bastian had been eating and scraped the rest of it into the trash can and walked over to the sink and rinsed the plate.
"You don't have to do that, I can do it." Killian said.
"Its fine." I shrugged and opened the dishwasher and put the rinsed plate and fork in and then shut the door.
"Blaire.." Killian sighed.
I walked around the kitchen looking for other things to clean.
"Oh, I forgot the cup." I said.
"Blaire, its fine I'll get it. We need to talk." Killian said.

I picked up the rest of the food in the togo boxes on the counter.
"We should put this in the fridge so it doesn't go bad." I said and opened the fridge and looked for a space to put it I moved the milk over, and slid the boxes on the shelf beside it and closed the fridge.
"Blaire please sit down so we can talk." Killian said. There was something heartbreaking about the way his voice cracked when he spoke.
I shook my head and turned around and looked at him.
"No. Generally speaking, when someone wants you to sit down to talk, they have something bad to say. So I will not be sitting, and you will not be saying what I think you are going to say." I said. My eyes welled up.
"Please don't make this any harder than it has to be love." Killian said. His blue eyes were clouded over with tears.
"Why does it have to be this way? Your brother knows now, maybe we give him some time to calm down and we can talk to him together." I said.
"Blaire, he threatened to go to the school board." Killian said.
"Why would he do that? He's your brother!" I exclaimed.
"If someone else finds out, they could very well fire Liam too because they know how close we are. They'll think he knew the whole time. Ariel is a stay at home mom, Her and Bastian depend on Liams income. If hes the one to report it, his job is secure."
"And yours?" I scoffed.

"I don't care so much about my job, but your future would be ruined. You'd be expelled, your scholarship would be out the window." Killian said.
"I don't care Killian." I said and walked to him. "You are the best thing that could have happened to me. You are my future. Please don't do this." I said. Tears were spilling out of my eyes now.
"I don't have a choice Blaire. You've worked too hard to get where you are. I'm not going to stand in the way of that."
"You aren't in my way Killian You ARE my way!" I went to put my arms around him but he held my shoulders and held me away from him.
"Listen to me. I promised that if something like this were to happen, I would protect you." Killian said.
"How is this protecting me?" I asked and pulled away from him.
"Its become clear to me that the only way I can protect you, is from a distance."
"What are you saying Killian?" I asked.
"I'm saying its-"
"Don't." I said. "Just don't." I cut him off and shook my head. "Don't say what I think you're going to say." I pleaded.
"It's over Blaire." Killian said.
"Just like that? After everything?" I asked.
Killian nodded and swallowed thickly.
"Aye." He said. "I should have ended it before it ever got this far. I'm sorry Blaire."

I stood in front of him, trying to process what was happening. It didn't feel real. I looked at him and he looked like he was doing the same. I could tell he hated it as much I did, but it didn't make it hurt any less to hear him say that it was over. We were over.
We stood quietly in the kitchen trying to come to terms with it for what felt like eternity.
Killian cleared his throat.
"You should go." He said. I looked up at him and he wasn't even looking directly at me anymore.
"Maybe I will.." I said and bit my lip.
"Then do it, go.." Killian said.
"Fine." I nodded and walked past him into the living room. I picked up my bag, and my phone from the coffee table and turned to look in the kitchen and Killian still had his back to me. His fists were clenched at his sides. I let another tear slip out of my eye and wiped it away as it fell down my cheek before I turned around and walked out the door.


I pulled my hood up over my head as I left the apartment building. Mostly because I didn't want to be recognized leaving Killians apartment complex, and also because it started sprinkling. I felt numb as I aimlessly walked around downtown. I didn't want to go home, and I didn't know where else I wanted to go. I looked at my phone to see what time it was, it was almost 10, the news would be showing the story about the updates from my moms murder case any minute now. I walked towards O'Malleys, but the lights were all off already. I didn't have my key, with me it was in my truck so I walked around the back of the building texted Will.

Me:

hey.. You home? I'm by the back door.

Will:
Yea. give me a sec.

I waited a few minutes before I heard the lock on the back door to O'Malleys click open and Will opened the door.
"Whatcha doin here?" He asked.
"I don't want to go home and you're my only friend." I shrugged. Will stepped aside and let me in.
"I just figured you'd be at Jones' place." Will said.
"Well...I'm not." I said. Will turned on the lights to the kitchen.
"Is everything okay love?" He asked.
"Not really." I said and turned around. "But..thats just how my life seems to go. Something good happens and something always has to happen to crush it. I don't know why I expected anything else." I said and choked back tears.
"I'm taking it..you and Jones..." Will started
"We're done. His brother found out. So..we are done." I said and bit my lip and wiped a tear that fell down my cheek with my hoodie sleeve.
"Shit..I'm sorry love." Will said.
"Its fine. I mean..it has to be I have no other choice."
"You hungry?" Will asked. I shook my head.
"Let me rephrase that..have you eaten today?" Will asked.
"No.." I sighed. Will turned the grill on.
"I Know you don't like to eat much when you're upset so how does a grilled cheese sound?"
"Fine I guess." I shrugged.

I hoisted myself up on one of the prep counters and chewed at my fingernails anxiously. I felt..exposed, like someone had taken my favorite blanket for comfort and ripped it away from me. Killian was always the one to talk me out of panic episodes. He always knew exactly what to say to calm me down and now..I wasn't going to have that anymore and I didn't know how I was supposed to cope. Tomorrow morning I would be the talk of the town again because of this news story airing right now about my parents, and I just wanted to be invisible.
"Can I stay with you tonight?" I asked.
"Yeah thats fine. I hooked up a tiny tv I found that someone was throwing away, its got a vcr attached to it, I have a few movies we could put on, and I have an old nintendo we could play." Will shrugged.

"Cool. You..uh wanna stay up all night and ditch school tomorrow?" I asked.
"You want to ditch school?" Will asked.
"Yeah. Theres a big news story about my moms murder going national right now and I just don't want to be there for people to whisper about all day tomorrow. I also really don't want to try and sit through Killian's class without crying."
"You do know you're going to have to go back sometime, right love?" Will asked and walked over with a plate and set it down next to me. I picked up the freshly made grilled cheese and took a bite, fanning my mouth as I spoke.
"Yeah but.. Not tomorrow." I said and took another bite awkwardly shifting it around in my mouth due to how hot the sandwich was.
"It just came off the grill, its hot." Will chuckled.
"Yeah but if I wait the cheese wont be as melty...Have you told Thomas you are living here yet?" I asked.

"No...I kinda like it here and I don't want to get kicked out." Will said.
"I don't think Thomas would kick you out Will. Just explain the situation to him. If anything he'd probably do what he could to make living here more comfortable for you."
"Maybe." Will shrugged.
"What are you going to do for spring break? Thomas is closing the place that week so we can all have time off."
"I imagine I'll just do whatever I always do when the place closes for the night every other day." Will said.
"Or...you can come with me to Disneyland." I shrugged. "Emma is bringing Ruby. And after Disney we are going to Oregon so I can visit my Dad..but not just for that, you could see where I come from, and I'll even introduce you to Kass this time." I said.
"I don't know.. I'm not really big on the family trip thing." Will said.
"Please? I've never been to Disney, you've never been to Disney so lets do the experience together. You're my best friend Will and I really just..need a friend right now."
"You sure your uncle is okay with me tagging along?" Will asked.
"Yes, he even suggested it. You'd share a hotel room with Ruby, Emma, and I, everything is paid for."
"Would be kind of nice to get out of storybrooke for a few days." Will said. "Sure. I'm in."
"Thank you!" I beamed and wrapped my arms around him.

"Can I ask for one tiny favor in return?" Will asked.
"Sure." I shrugged.
"Its kind of stupid and I know we both had plans on avoiding it all together and doing our own thing..but would you want to go to prom with me? Just as friends of course..Ana has been rubbing her new boyfriend in my face every chance she gets and she asked me if I was going followed by a snotty little remark about no one would want to go with me." Will sighed. I really hated seeing the defeated look in his eyes every time he mentioned Anastastia.

"I hate that bitch. Of course I'll go. Not just because of that, but..when I started high school, I hated the idea of prom, I never went to any of the dances at my old school. My mom actually begged me to go to my junior prom because she never got to go to her prom and I wouldn't go. So. I was kind of thinking of doing it for her and I was going to ask you anyways." I said.
"You would have asked me? You're not just saying that because I asked you?" Will asked.
"Of course I would have asked you. You're my best friend Will." I said. "AND I'm even putting us on the ballot for prom king and queen because I want to see that little harlots face when we win and she doesn't." I smiled.
Will blinked at me. "Jacob might have been right about your smile being on the unsettling side love." He chuckled.

—-------------------------------------------------------------------

Will and I watched old VHS tapes on his little tv for hours, I didn't even realize we had fallen asleep until I was startled awake by the door to Wills loft creaking open. I sat up and looked at Thomas as he was entering the loft.
"Whoa!" He said and put his hand over his eyes. I looked down at Will who was still asleep on the twin mattress beside me. I nudged him until he woke up.
"What is it?" He muttered. I pointed to the door and Will looked over at the door with sleepy eyes.

 
"Shit..I guess i'm busted." He sighed.
"Thomas..we're fully clothed, you don't have to cover your eyes." I said and rubbed the last bit of sleep out of my eyes now that I could settle down a bit.
"Its 11AM why aren't you two at School?" Thomas asked.
"I didn't want to go to school today." I shrugged.
Thomas looked around the loft, at Wills little makeshift apartment.
"Are you two living up here?" He asked.
"No..just me." Will said and sat up. "I got into a fight with my Dad a few months ago and he kicked me out."
"A few months? You should have told me. You could have stayed with me, and if you didn't want that, I could have at least made it more comfortable up here for you."
"If only someone would have told him that." I said.
"I figured you'd make me go back to my place." Will said.
"I'd never make you go back to a place where you didn't feel safe." Thomas said. "Speaking..of safe..whatever happened up here..please tell me you used protection."

 
"What do you think we did up here mate?" Will chuckled.
"I've been waiting for you two to end up together, I figured it was only a matter of time I just want to make sure if you two are..ya know..that you're being safe about it."
"Thomas really just said he ain't raising no babies." I laughed.
"Nothing happened. We watched movies and fell asleep. We're best friends. Nothing more." Will said.
"Well...okay." Thomas said skeptically. "Don't make a habit out of hiding out here and skipping school all day. I'm okay with you living here, but if they find out you're using the place to ditch school I could get in trouble." Thomas said.
"We wont. I just..needed a day." I said.

 
"Understood." Thomas nodded. "I'm actually glad you are here, Jacob is sick and I need help opening this afternoon at 2 and training the new hire. I only need you until Lizard gets here at 4."
"New hire?? You replacing me O'Malley?" I asked.
"Well, I'll need more people when you two go off to college."
"I guess you're right." I shrugged. "Yeah, I'll help out till Lizard gets here."
"Thanks." Thomas smiled and turned to Will. "And now that I know you are living here, I'll work on getting it fixed up. Katie used to live up here, theres a bathroom back there just needs some things replaced." Thomas said and pointed to a door towards the back of the loft.
"I'll help." Will nodded.

—----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Killian

I stepped into the teachers lounge during lunch to get a refill on my coffee. Liam was sitting at one of the tables eating his lunch. I filled my coffee cup and approached the table.
"How is Ariels father?" I asked.
"He has a long road to recovery but, he's doing well." Liam said and smiled at me.
"Any problems out of Bastian?" I asked.
"He fussed a bit about not being able to stay with you, but no major meltdowns."
"Good." I nodded.
"I trust you resolved your situation with Brittany." He said and raised an eyebrow.
"She wasn't a situation. But yes, its over. She say anything to you this morning?" I asked in a whisper.
"No, I haven't seen her today. I don't even know if shes here." Liam sighed.
"I wouldn't be surprised. She was quite upset last night." I said.
"It will pass. She's young." Liam said.
You don't know her like I do.
"I'm going to go back to my classroom and prepare for my seniors. I'll see you later." I said and walked away from him and out of the teachers lounge. I pulled out my phone and sent Blaire a quick text.

Me:
Hey. Where are you?

I went into my classroom and sat down at my desk to start grading some papers.

By the time the bell rang ending lunch, I hadn't got a text back from Blaire, which was concerning. I got up, and went to the door to the classroom and opened it, standing in the hallway as my senior class filed in. Emma walked up to me.
"Can..I talk to you for a second Mr. Jones?" She asked.
"Aye." I nodded and waited for the last of my class to walk into the classroom. I poked my head in the door.
"Bell work is on the board, I'll be just a minute." I said and closed the classroom door. I waited until the rest of the hallway traffic died down and turned to Emma.
"Have you heard from Blaire?" She asked the amount of concern in her tone did no good for the concern I already felt.
"No, I haven't." I said.
"Shit." She sighed.

"Whats wrong?" I asked.
"She never came home last night. My parents are freaking out, Her phone is either dead or she turned it off, it goes straight to voicemail. I'm kind of freaking out too, Shes not supposed to skip any of her meds but she hasn't been home to take them. I was hoping you had heard from her." Emma said, panicking now.
"Okay, calm down. I will try to get ahold of her after class. I don't know if she will talk to me, My brother found out about us, and I had to end the relationship." I sighed. "I Noticed that Will isn't here either so maybe shes with him and if I had to guess they are probably hanging out at O'Malleys. I will call O'Malleys after class, and I will let you know if I manage to reach her."
"I just want her to be okay." Emma said.
"I'm sure shes okay. I don't think she would put herself in a situation that would be unsafe. Especially with that psychopath thats been stalking her."
"You know about that?" Emma asked.
"Aye. I just found out because whoever it is has started texting and calling me now."
"Great." Emma sighed. "I knew she should have just told my Dad about it from the start. But she refuses...you don't think whoever it is..hurt her do you?" She asked.
I shook my head.
"No. I'm sure she is fine." I smiled trying to reassure her but, Now I wasn't so sure about it myself.