Emma keeps still, eyes locked on the Huntsman. Their party of four is effectively blocking the diner's door, so to try to avoid whatever it is Emma's worried about Killian speaks to get her back to reality.

"Swan, what is it? Do we go in or not?"

"We do. Not our friend here though." The apprehension in her eyes make way to annoyance as she turns to the Huntsman.

"Really? You want to leave me here in this cold? Why? "

"Regina's about to come in here at any moment, and I do not want a scene."

"A scene? So giving a horrible woman who rips hearts, kills people like bugs and is obsessed with ruining the life of one of the best people I've ever known a piece of my mind is now making a scene?"

"She's not that person anymore and yes, that's making a scene, and that's why you're staying outside."

"Does she stay outside too, then?" His protest is now geared towards Emma's cell companion, making him face away from Emma and look at the brunette instead. "When we were talking just now you seemed like you had things to say to Regina too! Or was it just to make conversation?"

"This is all really strange and I have to believe that what the woman who saved me from certain death is saying is true, that the Queen isn't evil anymore. I'm at least giving her the benefit of the doubt."

It's the first time Emma's heard her speak since right before she clubbed her with a wooden stick a couple of days ago. Strange indeed.

"Convinced yet, Graham?"

"Why do you keep calling me that?"

Her voice softens when she thinks of everything she knows about him. It isn't much, and none of it consists of what she would classify as a good life. "You were raised by wolves, right? Do you even have a name or do you just go by 'the Huntsman'?"

"Just Huntsman. It's fine, it's who I am."

"Well...Graham Humbert was a good man" she says, almost overcome by emotion. "He was the sheriff of this town, and that's who you are to me, so."

"I was supposed to have been brought here by the Dark Curse", he says, closing his eyes with the realization of what Emma's telling him means.

"That's...right." After frowning in confusion for a second, she looks to Killian for confirmation that this was indeed one of their topics of conversation while she was with her parents and Henry inside. As silently as her questioning, he confirms with a nod.

"But since I left the Enchanted Forest before Regina cast it, doesn't that mean Graham never existed?"

"In many ways, yeah, but I still remember him."

"Only you, huh? I like that." He cracks a smile and it's Killian's turn to frown, not even noticing how Emma dismisses his line with a quick eyebrow raise.

"Sure. Well then, we're going inside and you stay here."

"Okay...?"

"No, no okay, you don't have to agree to it, I'm telling you."

"Well, then I guess I'm staying!" He throws his arms up in the air, making sure she knows he doesn't agree to their arrangement.

That little action earns him a death glare, and Emma immediately chastises herself from being so hard on him. Everything he's been doing - even going through the portal after being told about the likely terrible consequences - comes out of a deep instinct of survival, mixed with a little bit of pride. Not only she understands it, it's something she can actually identify with. No, she can't blame him for any of that. What's extremely unsettling is how he seems to be drawn to her, much like he was when he was Graham. His unfamiliar forwardness, which she supposes has to do with the fact that this time his heart is beating in his chest where it belongs, makes it easier for her to dismiss him; on the other hand, it's an uncomfortably ever-present reminder of what happened upon her arrival in Storybrooke and the part she played on the sheriff's demise. She'll be damned if the memory of him kissing her like she was the key to his very existence and then losing his life in her arms isn't shaking her.

After a few moments inside, Killian points out that leaving the Huntsman on the porch would only put him on display for Regina to see as she made her way to the diner. He's right, so Emma asks him to bring the man to the building's back exit. Thinking back to something he said earlier, she decides to take her mother there as well.

"Mom, could you leave baby Neal with dad for a second and follow me?"

"O...kay! What for?"

"You'll see."

Just a few moments after arriving at their destination, the women can hear the men coming, bickering about "picking a bloody place already, I'm not an old rug" and "we're just trying to protect you, but feel free to face the queen's wrath, mate". As soon as the Huntsman sees who's waiting for them, he completely changes his demeanor: his eyes fill with tears, as if he realizes his life had meaning; that everything that happened because he was incapable of murdering a young and kind princess in cold blood was worth it because there she was, alive and well, in front of him.

"Snow White!"

"You!" Snow isn't any less emotional. "I never thought I'd see you again! I owe you my life, and my family and-"

He points to Emma. "She's really your daughter then?"

"Yes, yes she is!" Snow's proud smile makes Emma blush a little. "I know it doesn't look possible, but there was a curse and oh, there's just so much to fill you in!"

"Well then, sounds like you two have a lot to catch up," says Emma, "so Killian and I are gonna get back inside and leave you two to it."

"Okay, sweetie! Just let your father know where I am, alright?"

"Sure thing", she says trying to hide the tears. "See you in a bit!"

She turns on her heels and opens the door, with Killian right behind.

"That was a nice gesture, love" he comments as soon as they're out of earshot. "From what I gather these two mean a lot to each other."

"Yeah", she says with a sincere smile, having had time to recompose, "plus knowing my mother she'll be talking his ears out for at least half an hour with everything he's missed, which gives Regina plenty of time to get here and me, to prepare her for the inevitable encounter!"

"Oh, that is positively devious! I would have never expected such a thing from you!"

His teasing makes her smile, and she responds in likeness. "Weren't you the one who said I'd make one hell of a pirate?"

"Indeed, Swan", he laughs, "indeed."