I awoke with the feeling of pure joy. Today was the first day that everything was just okay. The Snow Queen was gone, Elsa had found Anna, and I had control of my powers. Today was a good day.
I walked down the stairs to find Mary Margaret and David in the kitchen, making breakfast. Neal was sitting in a bouncer, watching David cook the most amazing-smelling pancakes.
"Morning Emma!" called Mary Margaret as I grabbed a mug of cocoa. Suddenly, there was a knock on the door. It was Killian.
"Hello love," he said, "I was hoping I could join you for breakfast?"
"Of course," I replied, opening the door. Both Mary Margaret and David greeted him warmly and David poured another pancake.
"So Swan," said Killian, sitting at our kitchen bar, "what's on for today?"
"I don't know. It's so weird that nothing's wrong today. I guess we just have the day to ourselves." Under the table, I felt his hand slide up my leg. I shivered. Just then, the timer dinged and David flipped the pancakes out of the pan.
"Henry!" I called. "Breakfast!" He bound down the stairs.
"Hey Hook," he said.
"Morning lad," Killian replied. We all brought our food to the table. Mary Margaret fed Neal while we all dug into a delicious breakfast.
Suddenly, my phone rang. I recognized the caller as Tessa Rouland, my investigation partner from New York. I answered.
"Hello. Emma Swan speaking."
"Emma? Hi, it's Tess!"
"Hi!" Who is it? Mouthed Mary Margaret. Old friend I mouthed back.
"Well I know you quit just over a year ago, but we're working a big case, and we really need your help. We'll pay you and everything." At the precise moment, Neal started to cry loudly and Henry accidentally dropped his glass, causing a clatter.
"Oh is this a bad time?"
"Um just a little. I was just having breakfast with my family."
"Your family? I thought it was just you and Henry." Oh shit. How was I going to spin this?
"Uh yeah. I actually had been looking for my adoptive parents for a while. I found them when I moved from New York. Also, they had another child, so my brother Neal is here."
"Emma that's amazing! Well, call me back later to let me know if you want to do the job okay?"
"Okay bye." I hung up the phone.
"Who was that Emma?" asked David as he placed his plate in the sink.
"Her name's Tess. I worked with her in New York."
"Oh I remember her!" called Henry as he ran upstairs to grab a book.
"What did she want?" asked Killian.
"She wants me to help out on a case."
Everyone was quiet for a second. Then, Mary Margaret said, "Are you thinking about it? I don't see why you shouldn't. After all, for the first time since you came to Storybrooke, there's no villain we have to face today, or any day."
"That's actually why I don't want to go. I just want to spend this peace with the people I love."
"Oh come on Emma. No one's been outside the town since the ice wall went down. You should do it!"
"I agree love," piped up Killian. "It'll be good to do something that doesn't involve being frozen or sucked into a hat."
"I also think you should go," said David.
"Me too," called Henry. I caved.
"Okay fine!" I said, smiling at their insistence. "I'll call her later okay?"
"Perfect," said Mary Margaret, a grin on her face. I rolled my eyes and turned around, scooping an almost year-old Neal. I pulled him onto my shoulder and burped him. Man, I was getting the hang of this baby thing.
"Thanks Emma," said David as put away the ingredients from breakfast.
I laughed a little. "Anything for my little bro." Mary Margaret and David smiled again. I looked over to Killian. His eyes were flooded with love. I pictured him rocking a little blonde baby with piercing blue eyes. Emma stop it! I chastised myself internally. I'm not having any babies with Killian. I couldn't bear to carry another child, with what happened to Henry. I could never do that to him. I knew what it was like to have your parents give you up, then have another baby. Everyday, I saw Neal do things with my parents that I never got to experience. They would see his first steps; hear his first words. My throat closed up at the thought, but I pushed it away. I would always feel some resentment for the decision my parents made, but they were here now, and that's all that really mattered.
We spent the day in the flat, hanging out. I cuddled Neal most of the day, letting that intoxicating baby smell fill my nose. It felt so nice to hold him, after not being able to touch him. Now that I was in control of my powers, I was no longer a threat to those I loved.
-ooo-
When the day came to a close, I lay Neal in his crib and walked up the stairs to my bedroom. Henry was spending the night with Regina as they were going to see a movie with Robin and Roland the next day.
Killian was sitting on the edge of my bed, waiting for me.
"Hello love," he said, a small smirk playing on his lips.
"Hey," I replied. I sat down next to him and pulled a soft quilt over my shoulders. He planted a soft kiss on the top of my head.
"Are you going to call that lass from earlier? Tess was it?"
"Oh yeah!" I exclaimed. I'd almost forgotten.
"Are you going to take the job?"
"I think I will. I agree with my parents. It'll be good for me to get out of Storybrooke for a while."
"I'll miss you Swan." His voice virtually dripped sex.
"I'm sure you will," I said, rolling my eyes. I pulled out my cellphone and dialed Tess' number. She picked up on the third ring.
"Emma hi! Have you made your decision?" I looked me over to Killian and he nodded.
"Um yes. I would love to do the job."
"Oh Emma that's great! I'm so glad we can have your help. Well, just to give you some info: our base is in Washington D.C We'll need you to be there in a week. We're not totally sure how long this'll last but I'd say around three months" Three months?! How long could I be away from my family for that long? I would miss Neal's first birthday! No no no, I told myself. You're family wants you to do it.
"Sounds good," I said.
"Okay then, we'll send over your briefings and a plane ticket in a couple days. Bye!"
"Bye." I hung up the phone.
"What did she say love?" asked Killian.
"Well I know for now is that the case is that in Washington, D.C." Knowing his lack of comprehension for Earth's geography, I added, "That's five hours from here by plane. I have to leave in a week." I paused, knowing the last bit of information would not make Killian happy. "And she said I'll probably be there for about three months.
As anticipated, he was shocked. "Three months! Emma that's a long time." His face was strained with sadness, and it touched me how much he would miss me. Suddenly, I was overcome by a deep love for him.
"I know," I replied, leaning closer to him, "but that doesn't mean we can't enjoy ourselves before I leave."
Killian's eyes darkened and he grabbed my collar - not unlike I had in Neverland - pulling me into a deep kiss. Shedding the quilt I was had over me, I pushed him onto the soft bed, kissing him down his neck. We both shed our jackets and he made quick work of my shirt. I placed open-mouthed kisses all down his chest while he moaned. Suddenly, he flipped me onto his back, and by some freak of nature, managed to un-hook my bra at the same time. What we did next was so amazing I have a strong feeling it shouldn't be committed to paper. When we were done, we fell back onto my bed, breathing hard.
"I love you," whispered Killian as he stroked my hair.
"And I love you," I replied, kissing him on the cheek. He bundled me up in his arms and I fell into a peaceful sleep.