Runaway- CaptainSwan AU

• Chapter 24 •

It was too early in the morning to be awake, but she could hear a voice. Alice's voice.

Emma opened her eyes. She was... in bed. Killian must have moved her, she figured. Emma listened closer. It sounded like Alice was fighting with someone. She couldn't hear the other line but... she could make out what Alice was saying.

"...Gold, I've told you, I don't want or need your help... not yet... no, I will always have a choice, and I'm choosing the options I have. That's not you... Oh I assure you, I am very aware of our history... Do not call again, do you hear me?"

What was going on?

"I said don't! I don't want your-... I know... Wha- how do you know what struggles I'm dealing with?!... Brennan left, yes, but that-... I will find a way without moving my son's life or resorting to you!"

Silence.

"...My answer is no, and that is final... I'll figure something out..."

That was it.

What the hell...? Emma thought.

She was certain she wasn't supposed to hear that. Emma closed her eyes, hoping it was just a dream. Hoping when she woke up, this wouldn't be on her mind, weighing on her shoulders.

*  *  *

"That doesn't answer my question, Mum! Why the hell is all this for sale?! This was Grandmum's! And this- this was Johanna's! How can you possibly-"

"Killian, I told you, this isn't the time! Now have some respect and mind your tone! I have to get to work-"

"Work? Mum it's the weekend, you never work weekends!"

"I do now, alright?!"

"Even Liam's old clothing?!! Mum-!"

"Killian that's enough!"

They had been fighting since the moment Alice came downstairs that morning. After Killian had found the list of everything his mother planned to sell, sleep had become a fantasy. He found himself incapable of doing anything but sitting down and waiting for his mother to wake up for work.

And when she had... all hell had broken loose.

Killian had no idea what kind of financial struggle his mother was dealing with. He had no clue as to how increasingly difficult life was becoming for her. Brennan was no longer there to help with financial support, and now there was also Emma to take care of. It wasn't easy in the slightest. Of course she knew how precious some of the things she was selling were. It pained her to even let anybody lay a hand on them. But she saw no other choice. It was either this or... get help from him.

She wouldn't do that.

Not yet.

Alice left the house for work feeling more guilt than ever before. Killian was right. Absolutely right, but she just didn't have the heart to break it to him that they didn't have a choice. She couldn't. Not when she could see the pain of his father being gone in his eyes.

The fight had been a loud one- loud enough to wake Emma. She sat up, rubbing the sleep out of her eyes. Despite her hopes... she remembered every detail of what she had heard, and she had a feeling that it wouldn't benefit her in the slightest.

She could hear Killian yelling in frustration even though his mother was already gone. Emma frowned as she got up and made her way downstairs.

She found him in the kitchen at the counter with his head in his hands. A crumpled paper was on the ground.