Author's Note: Hello, all! I got this idea in my head and just couldn't shake it, so I decided to write it. I have my last law school final Monday, and after that I should be updating pretty regularly. Please review and let me know what you think... I know it may start off slow - but it's going to take a while to get momentum as the first couple of chapters set the scene.
Also, I own nothing of OUAT, just my plot.
"Mr. Jones, this is Ruby from Doctor Whale's office. As you know, we have been searching for your perfect match for quite a few months. Well, we think we have finally found her! She is available to come to the office today at two p.m. Is that time okay for you?"
Killian Jones was stunned, his mouth hanging open as he replayed Ruby's words in his head and nearly dropped the phone. It was finally happening. After nearly a year of waiting, it was happening.
"Um, Mr. Jones… are you there?" Ruby asked.
"Yes, yes, I am here. I apologize. I will be there at two this afternoon. Thank you, Ruby." After exchanging a few more pleasantries, Killian hung up the phone, staring at the wall in his office. He pressed the intercom and called in Tink Belle, his assistant and best friend.
"Yes, Killian?" Tink said as she entered his office.
"Clear all my appointments after lunch please, Tink. Doctor Whale's office just called. They found someone!" By this point, Killian was smiling wider than he had ever smiled before. She ran over to hug him, chattering excitedly and exclaiming that she would handle everything for him.
Three hours later, Killian left his office and made his way to Doctor Whale's. He was nervous – more than he had ever been. He'd closed million dollar deals in his business life, but this was different. This was his personal life. His future. He was finally doing it. After parking the car, he walked into the office and Ruby immediately escorted him into the Doctor's personal office. Sitting in the comfortable chair, he started fidgeting and scratching behind his ear (his telltale sign of nerves). What is taking Whale so bloody long? he thought. Finally, after what felt like hours, the door opened.
"Hello, Killian, it's nice to see you again," Doctor Whale greeted him as he entered the room. Behind him was a blonde woman, who was mostly blocked by the Doctor. Shaking Whale's hand, he said, "Hello, Doctor." Before he could say anything else, the blonde stepped out from behind Whale. And my, my what a woman she was. She looked about his age, maybe a year or two younger. She was slender but clearly athletic, with smooth, tan skin and silky blonde curls cascading down her back. She was wearing a tight tank top and skin-tight jeans, showing off her considerable… assets… and a red leather jacket and knee high riding boots. She was stunning. Killian was flabbergasted. He never expected that someone like that would be here right now, in this moment.
She was smiling slightly as she took a seat in the chair next to Killian and Whale sat across the desk from them.
"Killian Jones, this is Emma Swan, the woman we think is the perfect match. Emma Swan, this is Killian Jones." When she offered her hand, he shook it hesitantly, unsure where his new set of nerves was coming from. He knew it was this woman, but he couldn't figure out why. He had been around beautiful women before. Putting his nerves aside, he looked to Whale, unsure how the process worked from here.
"Well, I am going to leave for a while and let you two talk. Please feel free to ask each other questions and get to know each other. Your genetic testing has shown that you would be a great match, but we want to ensure that you are satisfied with the choice, Killian." With a wave, he was gone.
"This is awkward," the woman, Emma, murmured.
"Aye, it is. Well, we know we are a match genetically and you have a good health history," Killian stared, looking at the papers that Ruby had faxed him earlier to review. "I guess I'll start with the basic questions about you. Age, occupation, interests, et. cetera," Killian said, pulling out his notepad and quickly slipping into business mode.
Emma turned a bit in her chair to face him and met his gaze. Wide, green eyes met his blue ones and she sighed. "Emma Swan, age 25. I am currently finishing up my masters in social work at Storybrooke University. I'm due to graduate in two months, then I have to wait a few months to take the licensing exam and find a job – it will be about 10-11 months until I can get in at a Children's Services type agency, which is my dream. So I figure if I'm going to do this, now is a good time. I live with my best friend Mary Margaret and her fiancé, David. No kids, no boyfriend, no real life outside of school." Killian was intrigued, she was no nonsense and clearly had ambition. A lack of personal life wasn't a bad thing in his book. Besides Tink, Killian was too busy with work and his future plans to socialize much. He admired that work ethic and dedication in others.
"Okay, cool. So, it says here you've had a healthy, full term pregnancy before. What happened with that child?" he asked. Emma tensed and narrowed her eyes. Note to self: sensitive subject Killian thought as Emma took a deep breathe and fidgeted with her purse. "I'm sorry, lass. I don't mean to pry, it's just that, well, this is relevant…" he trailed off.
Emma offered a tense smile. "I know, it's okay. It's just a bit of a hard subject for me to talk about. I got pregnant when I was 17. I was living with Mary Margaret's family after I left my last foster home. I met this guy, one of Mary Margaret's neighbors. He was older, like 20, but I fell in love. Needless to say, I got pregnant. As soon as he found out, he bolted. Never saw him again. I couldn't raise a baby on my own at 17, so Mary Margaret's parents took care of me and then helped me put the baby up for adoption. He was healthy and everything, don't worry, but it was a closed adoption so I don't know where he is now. He'd be 7 now." A single tear fell down her cheek.
"I… I'm sorry, lass," he said.
"It's okay, I expected it. Anyhow, why are you here? Why does a successful, single guy want a kid?" she asked curiously.
"When I was 20, I married the woman of my dreams, Milah. We planned a family and we were so happy when she found out she was pregnant. When she was 13 weeks pregnant, she, um, got in a car accident… Neither she nor the baby made it. Since then, I've thrown myself into my work. But I never lost the dream of having a happy family. One day last year, I was in my office and my eyes landed on a photograph of my dear Milah on my bookshelf. Suddenly I realized, I couldn't be alone forever. It had been six years – I needed to move forward. And I decided that simply because I hadn't found love again didn't mean I didn't deserve to have a child. So I started looking into adoption and surrogacy. It turns out that, even with my resources, adoption agencies aren't eager to adopt out kids to a single guy. So here I am." He took a long breath and once again met Emma's eyes. She leaned over and grabbed his hand, squeezing it gently.
"I just want a child, lass. I have everything except the one thing I've wanted. Unconditional love, someone to take care of, a future, a legacy, ya know?" he asked. Emma nodded. They continued the conversation for about 20 minutes before it quieted.
"Well, if you want me, I'm here to help," Emma whispered. He nodded.
"Just one more question – what do you want the money for?" he asked.
"I'm not doing this just for the money, Killian. I want to help you. You deserve it. But I plan on using the $50,000 to pay off my student loans. As I'm sure you can guess, social workers don't make much money. Paying off my debt will allow me the freedom to do the job I really love."
At that, Killian smiled. She was perfect. He reviewed the paperwork in front of him. She had no illnesses, no genetic or hereditary issues, she was a good match for him. She was a hard worker, a straight A student, had survived horrible circumstances in foster care, and had a dedication that he admired. She was resilient and determined. Plus, the lass is bloody beautiful. Any child of hers will be stunning, clearly. After about 10 minutes of thinking and going over everything again and again, he had decided. He turned back to Emma, who was standing nervously. Slowly, he stood up and met her eyes.
"Well, Emma, it looks like you're going to be having my baby," he said, before blushing and scratching behind his ear. "Sorry, I didn't mean it like that…" Emma just laughed and hugged him. He tried to ignore the tingling throughout his body at the contact.
"Awesome! So what do you say we call Doctor Whale back in so we can figure this whole thing out?" she said, opening the door and running out to get Whale.
Well, this will be interesting… Killian thought as he chuckled at the blonde's excitement.
Over the next three hours, Emma and Killian solidified all of the terms of their agreement with Doctor Whale's input and advice.
Emma would be inseminated the following week, during her ovulation period. A few weeks later, she would return to the office to confirm that the procedure took. If she was pregnant, she would move in with Killian for the remainder of his pregnancy. This point took some persuasion on his part – she didn't want him to think she was taking advantage. He repeated the fact that he had a beautiful guest wing in his home that she would love and the peace and quiet would be appreciated as she got further along. She finally relented. She also agreed that she would drive one of his extra vehicles. Now, she walked or took public transportation. But winter was coming and Killian would be damned if the mother of his child would be out in the freezing snow. He would, of course, pay for all of her medical care, food, and maternity clothes (which she again said was unnecessary – but he insisted). Plus, he would give her the $50,000 fee after the child was born.
When he left Doctor Whale's office later that day, he had an extra spring in his step. He just had a good feeling about this whole new adventure. And he couldn't wait to see what was going to happen next.