Home

Chapter 21

The next day, Emma got up early. She showered and dried her hair and did her makeup. She got downstairs and grabbed her jacket and keys. She slipped out of the house and went to the apartments. The first one was in a neighborhood only a few streets down from Killian's house. It was a nice neighborhood, but the apartment wasn't anything like the pictures. Mold was growing underneath the sinks and the pipes squeaked when turning on the water. There was an overall draft throughout the place, and Emma couldn't see herself living there. She put the key on the counter like she was told to do and locked the door behind her.

The next place had nice looking pictures, but the building didn't look good. There was a lot of smoke from cigarettes and drugs. Loud music pumped, shaking the walls. She made it to the apartment door and unlocked it. She closed the door behind her and could hear the pump of the base from the music across the hall. The apartment was messy. Boxes and clothes were everywhere. The newspaper had said that it was two bedroom with one bath, but it didn't mention anything of the mess. She put the key on the counter and locked the door, quickly leaving the building and went back to her car.

The third apartment was on a safe street and had good neighbors. It was a nice apartment itself. As Emma looked around, she couldn't help but wonder what Killian would think. She would be getting an apartment, and she hadn't told him. But, she didn't want to feel like a burden. No matter how many times he told her that she wasn't and that she would be always welcome in his home. She looked down at the key in her hand and clutched it in her fist. The landlady had been a nice woman to talk to, and she seemed even nicer. She told Emma that if she wanted to move in, then all she would have to do is take the key, but leave a note saying her name and phone number.

Once she got back to Killian's house, she went up to her room and gathered all of her clothes and put them in the duffel bag. She took her dirty clothes and threw them in the wash. All she had brought with her were things that she would need to survive, and the only thing that she had carried throughout her childhood. Her baby blanket. As Emma came out of the laundry room, she saw Killian in the living room watching tv, and she figured that now would be the best time to tell him that she was moving out.

"Hey, Killian," she said and moved to sit next to him on the couch.

"Hi, love." He turned and kissed her on the cheek, which brought a smile to her face.

"I need to tell you something."

He reached for the remote and muted the television, then turned to her. "What is it?"

"I found a place."

"What?"

"I'm moving out. I found a place so I wouldn't have to stay here and bug you all the time."

"Swan, you are always wanted with me. I don't want you to leave. Besides, why would you leave if you are going to move right back in anyway?"

"Excuse me?"

"I'm just saying that you are moving out, but why would you do that if you are just going to move right back in with me?"

"I'm not moving back in with you. What are you talking about?"

"We're like a couple, aren't we?"

"I don't know." Emma looked down to her hands in her lap.

"My apologies, Swan, but I only assumed because I thought we were together because we had already slept together and-"

She cut him off. "You assumed we were together because of that reason?" She asked angrily.

"Well, yeah. You don't just go around and sleep with any guy because they are there. At least, I know the old Emma Swan wouldn't have done that!"

"I still don't!"

"But you used me for your little one night stand and hadn't bothered to tell me?"

"It's not like that, Killian. I didn't mean-"

"No, I know what you meant. Maybe it's a good thing you are moving out. Maybe you would have tried to have sex with me again. You only wanted me so you wouldn't have to worry about your virginity anymore, and could go and sleep with the first guy you saw, right?"

Emma stood up to face him. She looked into his eyes that were growing a darker shade of blue by the minute. "That is not what I wanted you for."

"Then please explain, Emma." He crossed his arms over his chest.

"I just wanted to see you again! I can't believe I even thought about getting into a relationship with you! You are nothing but an asshole!"

"And you're a bitch! No wonder why all your families give you away." Emma's jaw dropped and she stepped away from him. Realization crossed his face, and then that was replaced by horror of what he just said. "No, I didn't mean that-"

"I know exactly what you meant," she spat. "You meant that I was never destined to have a family. That everything we went through was a lie because you really did only want me to get into my pants. Now that you have, you are going to push me away."

"Swan, no, I didn't want this. I didn't mean that." Emma turned to walk away, but he grabbed her wrist and pulled her body flush against his. There was a sudden stinging pain in his cheek and he let her go.

"Don't fucking touch me!" She yelled at him and ran away.

Killian went to the bathroom to inspect his cheek. There was a red hand print on his face where she had slapped him. He left the bathroom and went to her room. The door was closed, but he could hear her inside, rustling through everything. He knew it was wiser to leave her alone. Give her time to cool down. He heard the washer shut off, so he moved all of her wet clothes to the dryer. He went back upstairs and leaned against the wall outside her bedroom door, listening to her sobbing.

They were so happy, and one little piece of news made everything go to shit.