Return to Me (Captain Swan Style)
If you have not seen Return to Me (with David Duchovony, Minnie Driver, and Carroll O'Connor) I highly recommend it. It is a rom-com that gives you all kinds of happy feelings. There will be some divergence from the story portrayed in the film. Enjoy!
Chapter One
Looking out over the city of Chicago, Killian took in the view from his current project. They were already to the tenth floor of the new office building that his company is working. His favorite part of the view is that he could see Lake Superior. The sight of water always calms him. Killian Jones is an architect who has owned and ran K. Jones Building Co. for almost five years now. He and his wife, Milah, had moved to Chicago ten years ago. After working for other architects to gain experience he decided to build his own business. His company has always been busy with various projects, but this is the biggest project his company has ever had.
He hears one of his crewmates. "Hey, Killian. We just finished the framing on the east side. We are ahead of schedule so should we arrange for the glass guys to come tomorrow?" Bob asked.
"Yeah, go ahead mate." Killian replied. "Good work today. I'm going home." He began his descent back to the ground. He had to get ready for the evening's festivities.
The Chicago Zoo has always been a very popular tourist attraction in the Windy City. Robin, or Dr. Hood, the staff veterinarian was driving one of the zoo carts and he puts it into park when he reached the small gorilla habitat.
He finds Dr. Milah Jones talking to Sydney, the alpha of the gorilla family, and Robin realizes that she is going over speech that she will give at tonight's fundraiser. She says, "So, Sydney, I'm going to stand up at the podium and this is what I'm going to say." She lowers her voice. "Good evening, ladies and gentleman, on behalf of my good friend Sydney I would like to thank you all for coming out. And…and…Sydney I'm really really nervous." The ape's expression does not change. "Do you even care?" She asks.
Robin walks forward, deciding that he had invaded her private conversation long enough. "How did I know I find you in here?" He asked his colleague. "Hey Sydney, how are you doing?" Sydney gives him a small wave.
Milah just smiles at him. She knows that she is guilty of spending most of her time with him. She has looked after Sydney his entire life. Outside of her husband, she considers Sydney her best friend.
Robin hands her a clipboard. "I need your signature for the lab work on the cheetahs." He says. She quickly signs the forms as he's talking. "And you know it's already five."
A look of panic washes over her face. "Oh god, I have to get going. I've got so much to do." She tells him. "Killian's picking up my dress. I've got to do my hair, makeup. I've got to walk Smee, finalize my speech. Ah, I don't even know where to start."
Robin gently touches her arm. "Everything's going to be fine and you're speech is going to be great." He tells her.
"That's easy for you to say." Milah replies while turning to Sydney. She places her hands up together on the glass and Sydney mimics her movements. His hands follow hers no matter where they go on the glass. "We'd go nuts living in a place this small." She smiles at her at the gorilla. "Wish me luck Sydney."
Before they reach the door, Milah turns to look at him once more. Little did they both know that this would be the last time they would ever see each other. She continues on with Robin knowing she only has a limited amount of time to get ready. "So, Robin, who are you bringing as your date tonight?" She asked.
"I haven't decided yet." He tells her. "It's still early." She shakes her head, knowing that he has always been very flaky when it comes to women. At least Sydney understands what commitment means, she thought to herself as they drove away from the gorilla habitat.
Killian enters their two-story townhouse removing the leash from Smee, their German Shepherd. Since Killian and Milah have not been blessed with children they decided to get a dog instead. When they brought the dog home they could not agree on what to name him. However, they happened to be watching the Disney film Peter Pan (it's Killian's favorite film because he likes the crocodile) and the dog kept barking every time Mr. Smee appeared on the screen. So, that's what they decided to name him.
Killian had decided to change into his tuxedo before he took Smee out for a walk, ignoring the weather forecast and came home with wet pants. He knew he would have to dry them but he had to feed the dog first. He filled the bowl and placed it down the kitchen floor. "Alright Smee time to eat." He knew his attempts were futile but at least he made an effort. The dog would wait to eat until Milah told him. When Killian returned to the foyer, Smee was still waiting by the door for his momma to return home.
"Come on boy, come on." He coaxed the dog. "Oh well. She'll be home any minute." He said, while dropping his coat on the floor as he made his way up the winding staircase. He knew his wife would pick it up. She was the one who maintained order and cleanliness in their house.
Milah walked in the door a few seconds later. "Whoo," she said as she took off her raincoat. "It is pouring out there, Smee." The dog wagged his tail in excitement.
"Hey love." Killian said to his wife from the top of the stairs.
"Hey honey." She replied. "Did you pick up my dress?"
"Yeah. It's on the hook." He told her. She grabbed the garment bag and headed up the stairs.
"I've got to start getting ready." She said as she climbed. She was almost to the top.
"I walked Smee already." He told her.
"In your tux?" She asked. Killian nodded. "Honey, your pants are soaked."
Killian continued to tie his bow tie. "Tell Smee to eat."
Milah turned, knowing that the dog had followed her up the stairs. "Smee, go eat." The dog obeyed her command and made her way to the kitchen.
She returned her gaze to her husband, who was currently using her blow dryer to dry his wet pants. It was quite a sight to see. She decides to put her arms around him. "You are looking very sexy, Mr. Jones." She says flirtatiously.
"What do you expect, love, when you spend all your time with an ape?" He asks her jokingly. He lowers his mouth onto hers, knowing she would not turn down his affection, while taking the blow dryer and pointing it towards her backside while pressing the ON button. The noise startles her and she gives him a good shove before she leaves the bathroom. Killian watches as his wife runs down the hallway, smiling the whole time.
Emma Nolan wonders how many more days, weeks, or months she will have to spend in the hospital. She has been waiting for a heart for the last two years. Emma was born with a very weak heart. The issues have always been manageable but the last few years have taken its toll on her. Now she had to be on complete bed rest and oxygen. She wondered how much longer this is going to last. Emma is tired of waiting, tired of being a burden on her family.
She looked over to see her best friend, Elsa, reading her questions from a relationship quiz that was in a Cosmopolitan magazine. Emma and Elsa have been close their entire lives. Their parents were close, and Emma's parents took Elsa in after her parents died in a car accident. Then David, Emma's father, introduced Elsa to Liam Jones. They have been married for ten years and they have four children. Elsa is currently expecting child number five.
"Question number one, what do you expect most from a relationship? A) companionship B) sex, or C) self-respect." Elsa said. "Well, I would have to go with B but we'll pick C so we get more points."
Emma did not want to hear anymore. She tried to talk to but only a whisper could escape from her mouth. However, it was loud enough for Elsa to notice and turned her attention to her friend. "Emma, what is it?" She asked. "Do you need water, another pillow, what?"
Emma responded with a smile. "Rosebuds." Given Emma's love for the flora Elsa knew that she was okay.
"Very funny," she told her. "You almost gave me a heart attack. If you'll excuse the expression." Elsa fluffed Emma's pillow and fixed the blanket on the bed.
"Elsa, you should go home." Emma suggested.
"To what? My cable's out." She replied.
"To Liam and the kids."
"Oh, they'll be fine. Besides it's good for him to be with them when they're coming down from their sugar. He usually fuels them up and then they go through detox on my shift. Well, you've seen them." Elsa says with a chuckle.
Emma smiled. Then she became more serious. "Elsa, I want you to promise me something."
"What?" Her friend asked.
"Promise me that you will look after our parents." She pleaded.
"Hey, what's gotten into you? This doesn't sound like you." Elsa replied.
Emma sighed. "I may never get a heart. I have to be realistic that it may never happen."
"Trust me," Elsa said. "It's going to happen. You'll get a new heart. You'll travel, see the world, painting all of the great sights, eating wonderful food, and date really handsome men. This I know will happen. It's got to happen for one of us."
Emma smiled up at Elsa. "I'm getting a new heart. Not a new ass." Her comment made both of them chuckle relieving some of the angst in the room.
A/N: I hope you enjoyed the first chapter. Please let me know what you think. This is my first story so please be kind. I also wanted to make some clarifications. In this story, Killian is not related to Liam or Brennan Jones. A different relation will be revealed later on. Milah is not married to Rumple either. If you have seen this movie I will be making a slight divergence from the story but I think you'll like it. Thanks again for taking time to read my stuff.
