Chapter Text
The Escape Home
“I can’t do this anymore, Killian!” She raised her voice as tears poured down her cheeks. She shoved a stack of papers stapled together against his chest. “Sign them and let me out of this misery. This isn’t what I signed up for, and I don’t even recognize you anymore. I can’t turn a blind eye to the man you are. Not for how long I already have. What sort of role model is that for our daughter? No.” Her body trembled as she shook her head at the notion. Her stomach twists in knots with every shaken breath. She had loved this man for nearly ten years, and he made nothing but a fool out of her. “I’ve given you everything. I sacrificed everything because I loved you,” she choked out.
Gritting his teeth, he flung the papers to the ground. “Don’t you dare start with me! I said, let’s take a break and see other people. Then you decide to retaliate with this bullshit? Just where do you get off saying how you have sacrificed so much? I gave up a lot too, you know—” His voice rose with each word.
Throwing her head back, blonde curls bouncing on her shoulders, enraged. “Don’t raise your voice at me. Tell me, Killian, enlighten me on what exactly you have sacrificed. I moved away from my friends and family for you. I gave up my magic by leaving town for you. I had to restart my job for you. I pay all the bills for you while you constantly drink. You are never able to hold down a single job because you are always drunk. I never once questioned you about always going out with your friends. Especially since we had Hope, I took her to daycare and ensured we had a babysitter. I have no free time. Even taking up a second job to hunt down slime like you.”
Rubbing his hand over the bridge of his nose, he couldn’t resist snorting. “That is just fucking like you, isn’t it? To stand there and blame me. I’m always the problem, aren't I, love?” He choked out a mocking laugh, beating his hands against his chest as he inched near her. “You think you are all high and fucking mighty, love, but you don’t fool me. I gave you the life you wanted. A child that you always wanted. Living this fantasy life that I never asked for. I wanted us to travel the world.” Now just a few inches between them, he raised his hands with a firm, tight grip on her face. His steel blue eyes pierced into her emerald green ones. “Forgive me that I’m utterly miserable, my little Swan.” Killian's voice was heated, “because of you and this constant nonsense and neediness, not being mindful of whatever the fuck I wanted, that it led me to drink. Holding down a steady job was never the life I desired.” His fingers dug into her skin, pulling her into a rough kiss before he threw her back into the table.
Falling over, Emma’s back pierced the corner of the table. Her arm slammed into the lamp, knocking it over. Letting out a groan from the pain, she stumbled back to her feet, catching her breath just to have the monster of a husband grab at her right wrist, twisting it back. “Killian.” Emma whimpered. Her eyes beamed over to the little face peeking around the corner of the door in the hallway. Seeing the fear in her daughter's eyes, Emma raised her knee to meet Killian's chest. Adrenaline kicked in. “I will not, I repeat not, have you handle me like this. I refuse to endure this torment any longer.” She spat as she ran past him to grab her daughter and headed swiftly towards the door.
His laughter, though raspy, bellowed out as he stood up. His hand rubbed at his chest. “Feisty as ever, love. But you’ll never escape me. No one will ever want a single mother, let alone a damaged one. You need me, love.” Killian staggered towards her.
Sucking in a sharp breath, her eyes tensely darting back at him, “No, Killian. I can escape you, and it’s you who needs me. Not the other way around. Sign the papers, and we both can live the lives we wanted.” Before he could lay another hand on her, Emma, still holding her daughter Hope, left, slamming the door behind them, reaching the already-loaded car with haste. She buckled her daughter in and kissed her forehead, giving her a gentle smile. “We’re free, baby girl.” She shut the door and got into the driver's side, starting it up. Kililan pounded on the window before she managed to hit the gas.
“EMMA! Where do you think you’re going? If you think they’ll take you back now, Emma, you are mistaken. You’re stuck with me.” He shouted, attempting to break the glass.
Frightened, Emma's heart raced, and her foot pressed hard against the pedal, feeling like her foot would go through the bottom of the car. Speeding off, nearly hitting him had he not jumped back last minute. Hearing Hope crying in the backseat, Emma panted, trying to catch her breath to calm her down. “It’s okay, baby. We’re safe now, I promise you,” she breathed out. Once far enough from their home, she pulled over into a parking lot. Unbuckling herself, she turned around to smile and reach out her hand for Hope. “Hey, hey, it’s okay. I’m sorry about all that, sweet girl.”
Sniffling Hope looked up through watery eyes. “Why, daddy mean? Why he hurt you?”
Emma’s heart broke into a million pieces. “It’s a complicated sweetie. But it’s okay. We’re going to go live with Grandma and Grandpa.” Emma smiled, softly squeezing her daughter's hand. “Isn’t that exciting?”
Hope yawned and nodded, “Okay, Mommy.”
Sitting up, she looked into the rearview mirror, seeing Hope drifting off to sleep. Picking up her phone, she needed a sense of calm. Emma debated whether to call her mother or one of her best friends. The choice was hard, but in this case, she needed something or someone to distract her. She hit the number in her phonebook before she took off onto the road. The phone rang over the Bluetooth in her upgraded yellow bug.
“Hello?” A female voice answered the phone.
Clearing her throat, Emma gave a weak smile as she responded, “Heeey, Lace. How’s it going?” Her voice was still slightly shaken.
A loud screeching gasp filled the car. “Oh my gosh, Emma? Girl, I haven’t heard from you in a few months. Did you do it yet?” She asked.
“Hey, hey, calm down, you’re on speaker, and Hope’s sleeping.” Emma insisted, staring into the dashboard as if looking at her friend.
“Sorry, sorry. I’m just so happy to hear from you. Lily is on her way over now and will freak out when she finds out I’m talking to you.” Lacey replied, trying to keep her excitement to a minimum.
Chuckling, “Yeah, well, I hope you can contain this and Lily when you see her. I’m on my way home.”
“Home? As in….??” Lacey’s tongue clicked the roof of her mouth, anticipating the answer.
“Storybrooke,” Emma said with a beam of hope in herself. Her fingers gripped the steering wheel as she continued to drive. Silence and static were all that existed for a few minutes before Emma cleared her throat. “Lace? Are you still there?” No response. “Hello? Lacey?”
Another voice responded on the other line, “Is this a prank?
She shook her head as she wiped away the remainder of her tears. “Hi, Lil, and no, it is not a prank. The car is packed, and I’m leaving New York to go north. Snacks and drinks in the car. I hope my little one can handle the long car ride. Maybe she’ll sleep the whole way.” She laughed.
“Girl! How’d he take it?” They both said simultaneously.
Emma bit down on her lower lip, and the corners of her mouth turned down. Her heart sped up at the flash repeat. “Not well, let’s just say he got violent in the end. Telling me that no one will want me or that I’m not welcome back home.”
Scoffing and enraged, Lily snagged the phone from Lacey, pacing back and forth. “Little does that pirate realize that we all encouraged you to escape him. We want you back home with us. You and Hope. Because we love you and miss you, and he can rot in the sea.” She seethed, and Lacey took the phone back, patting her back.
“She isn’t wrong,” Lacey added. “We are all happy that you stood up for yourself, Em. Have you told your folks yet?”
Emma sucked in a sharp breath before exhaling slowly, trying to stop herself from crying anymore. Her heart tightened in her chest, “No,” she finally said, “I haven’t told them I was on my way yet. I wanted it to be a surprise. My mother and I… last time we talked was when I left Storybrooke. Only my dad knew I was ready to come home. So please,” she added, “don’t say a word until I get there.”
“Okay, if that’s what you want. It’s only right that you deal with it on your terms. I didn’t realize she was that mad to never talk to you.” Lacey stated, unsure if Emma wanted to discuss the past. She knew her best friend had already been through enough.
“Heey! I have an idea.” Lily interjected after a long silence had paused the conversation. “Send us a text when you get in town, and we’ll give you an hour to catch up with your folks before Lace and I take you to the Rabbit Hole to drink and shoot some pool.”
A low chuckle broke Emma’s silence. Her mind was running through a million different scenarios of how her arrival was going to go. From what her father said, her mother regretted her words but could never bring herself to take them back because of her disappointment and shame. But was he just saying that? She could have at least tried, Emma thought. Then again, Emma could have as well and also shared shame in not wanting to be the one to call her. Yet, here she was coming home. Her mother was right about him all along. Will she hold that I told you so look in her eyes? Or will they both just let it be the past, and her mother just hold her as she cries?
“Emma? Earth to Emma!” Lily shouted over the line.
Snapping to Emma, sucked in a breath. “You know what? That sounds like a good idea. Hope will be happy to spend time with her grandparents and uncle anyway. I need a break to just air it all out.”
“And maybe,” Lacey chuckled, “We’ll see a special lady there.”
In the background, she could hear her friends possibly nudging each other as they laughed. “Who do you mean?” Emma quipped, fully knowing who they could be referring to. She was the only person who truly made her heart soar or gave her stomach butterflies. The one she never could have.
“We’ll fill you in on all the tea.” Lacey giggled.