Hey Everyone thank you for the reviews and follows. Sorry for the delay in updating... Here's the next chapter hope you enjoy it.

And the lack of it snaps, me in two

Emma slowly opened the door to the apartment. It was still early in morning so she hoped everyone was still asleep. She could not face speaking to her family, not until she had removed last night's clothes and showered.

She quietly crept into the apartment slowly closing the door behind her. Emma made her way across the room towards the stairs. She winced when the loose floorboard creaked loudly beneath her foot. She instantly looked over to the curtain separating her parent's bedroom from the front room. She sighed in relief that it had not disturbed them.

Then the sound of her mother clearing her throat echoed around the silent apartment. Emma's whole body froze on the spot. She could feel Snow's eyes staring right at her from the kitchen. Damn it! She had been caught.

Emma turned to see Snow sitting at the kitchen table holding a mug of coffee in her hand. It was obvious her mother had sat there waiting for her to return home. But for how long Emma wasn't sure.

This was the last thing she need right now. All she wanted was a hot shower, rid herself of Neal's scent and to crawl into her own bed. But her mother clearly had other ideas.

Sighing to herself Emma made her way over to the kitchen She was determined to act as normal as possible however the tears were starting to burn in her eyes again.

She turned her back away from Snow and picked up a glass to pour herself a drink of water. She desperately tried blinking away the tears. She could not let Snow see her so upset. It would only add to more questions.

There was silence for a few moments; Emma could feel her mother's eyes boring into her back. Here we go!

"Emma? Where did you go? You've been gone all night… I was worried about you." Snow said finally breaking the silence.

Emma sighed and just shrugged her shoulders as she continued to sip her water. Her back still facing towards Snow.

"Is that it?" Snow asked. "No explanation?". Snow stood up from the table. She was still wearing her pyjamas. She had no slept a wink after Emma left last night. She had tried calling her daughter however only got her voicemail. "Emma, please talk to me."

Emma closed her eyes, she could feel her heart sink at her mother's gentle tone. She wanted to break down and tell her everything, to let her mother take her in her arms. But she couldn't, she didn't know how. She felt Snow's hands rub down her arms gently. "I can't." Emma murmured. She was not ready to talk. It made everything more real if she spoke about it.

Snow could feel tears forming in her eyes; she hated seeing Emma so distressed, but hated it more when she didn't know why. "Emma there is nothing you can't tell me…. Please let me in?" Snow whispered soothingly as she gently stroked Emma's arms.

The tears began to run down Emma's cheeks, she hated herself for rejecting Snow after everything they had been through together. But it was safer if her mother didn't know the truth. Shaking her head Emma pulled away and began to move away from her mother.

Snow however moved in front of her blocking her way to the stairs. Why can't anyone let me just walk away? Emma complained to herself.

"Emma I have no idea what is going on with you right now. But we are going to talk about it. Whether you like it or not" Snow's voice was now stern.

Emma could feel her chest start to tighten with pain. Another wave of nausea hit her. "Please I can't do this right now … I just want to have a shower and change my clothes." Emma whined. She sounded so childlike but she was desperate to get away.

Snow looked down at Emma's clothes and noticed something she hadn't seen at before. "Emma who's shirt is that? You weren't wearing that when you left."

Emma bit her lower lip; she could the tears forming in her eyes again. Her hands began to tremble. "Why can't you drop it? I said I don't want to talk about it." She snapped. She hadn't meant too but she just wanted to be alone.

Snow was taken aback by her daughter's outburst. It was so unlike Emma. Snow opened her mouth to speak when Henry came crashing down the stairs.

"What is all the yelling about?" He asked as he looked at them.

Snow kept her eyes fixed on Emma.

"It's nothing Kid." Emma answered lowering her eyes to the floor.

"Why won't you tell me…" Henry whined "I can handle it you know?"

Emma rubbed her forehead in frustration, why couldn't everyone just leave her alone? "Henry it's nothing honestly."

Henry shook his head. "So why won't you tell me about what happen with Gold's son…. And don't say nothing you were gone all night"

Snow's eyes opened wide in surprise, Emma had seemed to have missed that little detail about their trip out.

Emma felt her cheeks go a shade of pink, she just wanted to disappear. "Seriously what is it with all the questions? Nothing happened." She huffed as she marched past her son and up the stairs leaving Snow and Henry astonished by her outburst.

Snow turned to her grandson. She knew she shouldn't ask him but she was getting nowhere with Emma. "Henry what happened in New York?"

Henry shrugged his shoulders just like Emma had done earlier. "I don't, know Emma want after Gold's son and did not comeback until the next morning… She's been acting strange ever since."

"Why don't you go and get dress while I wake your grandfather. Then we can go to Granny's for breakfast… and give your mom some space." Snow smiled at Henry.

Emma was now dressed in black comfy pants and an oversized jumper. Her face was now clean of makeup and her wet hair dripped down her back. Even though she had now showered she still felt unclean.

Numbly Emma made her way over to the kitchen. It had surprised her to find the apartment empty. She was just about to open the fridge when a note on the table caught her eye.

"Gone to Granny's for breakfast if you want to join us? Snow x

Emma Sighed to herself, she knew she had some making up to do.

The door closed with a click as Emma shut it behind her. She had debated not going to the diner but the silence in the apartment was starting to get to her. It seemed everything reminded her of Neal, she had to get out.

The cold air hit her whole body as her damp hair continued to drip down her neck and back. She began to walk aimlessly towards the diner. She was unsure if she could face her parents and son. Henry would soon find out that she had lied to him about his father. The mere thought of it made her stomach churn.

"Miss Swan!"

Emma's entire body froze at the sound of his voice cutting through her body. She stooped and slowly turned around to see Gold standing behind her.

It was if he had waited for her to make an appearance. She tried to keep her face emotionless as she met his gaze. There was nowhere to run.