This story holds a special place in my heart as it was the first MC story that I wrote for Captain Swan. However, as happens, my writing style has changed as I've gotten more comfortable and so I am working on editing and have added about 2K extra meat. Enjoy

Chapter 1

Emma

Emma rolled over in bed and glanced across the room at the clock whose dial was glowing in the still dark room. Almost time to see the magic, she thought, situating her pillow in just the right position for optimal viewing. With her chin resting on her crossed arms, she stared out the window waiting for the light show to begin and the sky to become a cornucopia of colors. When the horizon slowly started to lighten from black to gray and she could see the first tint of color peeking over the water, her breath caught in her throat, grateful for the opportunity to witness such a miracle. Gradually the reds gave way to the many shades of orange which gave way to yellows and if by magic the sun was pulled along gracefully, sitting idly on the water welcoming a new day. The view just seemed to get better and better until the word beautiful couldn't even describe what she was seeing. But it was how her soul was reacting that she would remember...the peacefulness and calming feeling that flowed over her with each sunrise, assuring her she had made the correct choice.

When she heard the clicking of Rumple's nails on the tile, she sat up and watched him walk around the bed, "Good morning to you, handsome. Ready to face the day?"

Rumple sat down, close to her legs, laying his chin on her knee and gazed up at her lovingly, his eyebrows twitching as if he had something to say. Absently, she scratched his head while mentally going through the last few things she needed to do before they were ready to leave. "That's enough for now, boy. It's time for me to get a move on." Rumple lifted his head and barked. "Ok boy, come on."

After letting him outside, Emma left the door opened enough for him to get back in and made her way to the kitchen for a cup of coffee and the last of the donuts she had bought yesterday. Carrying both, she sank down onto a chair next to the window, curled her legs under and allowed herself to get lost in the view. The ebb and flow of the waves were truly hypnotic and for a brief moment she allowed second, and even third guesses as to whether or not she was making the right choice. Did the fact that she felt so in tune with the house outweigh what the commute would be from the hospital? In the end, her practical side had been the one to make the decision as being close to work made so much more sense.

Emma had arrived back in South Florida, early in the fall, exhausted from a residency rotation in Emergency Medicine at Boston General and needing a few months to decompress before starting her new position at Bayside General. She had spent the past three months reuniting with her sister and friends and taking long walks along the beach, allowing the sea breeze to blow away her worries. Her walks in the past had always been alone, but when Rumple had entered her life, he had been her companion. She thought about her life and where she hoped it would go and he chased everything in sight. He chased the waves, he chased the birds and when those were gone ran into the grass and chased the lizards. He was free, and so was she...for a few months anyway. After the rapid pace of the Boston hospital, she had some idea of what to expect at Bayside, but she felt ready to start her career. The one dark spot on the occasion was the absence of her parents, both sets of them. Her family had been the primary reason she had come back to the Miami area and Mary Margaret and her new beau, David were all the family she had left, which the older she grew, the more important that seemed to become. And, thankfully, since moving into this house, she had gained a family member, as an eerily perceptive mutt had adopted her.

The slight creak of the door opening alerted her that Rumple must have somehow known she was thinking about him, as he showed up at the oddest moments, either that...or he could be hungry. Quickly giving him fresh water and food, Emma watched him daintily pick out a kibble at a time and thought back to the day he had moved in, making her home his.

He had arrived on the day in October when the movers were going in and out, bringing with them all of her furniture and she had been pointing to the rooms for placement of each piece. Once they were gone, she had walked back through each room and once she had reached the front room, there he was, laying in front of the fireplace, as if he belonged. His fur had been dingy, and he had eaten those first few meals she had given him, as if he were starving, but no one had come forward to lay claim. Somehow, she had felt that he had been waiting for her to arrive. But his quirky personality had quickly won her over and now the black and white border collie mix was hers and she had no desire for that to change. She just hoped that he would be okay with the move.

The cry of a seagull pulled her thoughts back to the present and a quick glance at the time, reminded her the movers would be arriving shortly, which meant she needed to get busy. Emma completed the packing process and separated the few items she would take with her in her bug. Once that task was complete, she showered and had just finishing dressing when Rumple's bark alerted her that the moving truck had arrived. As she didn't have a lot of things, it didn't take long and before she was ready, their job was complete and her belongings were packed up and heading to Miami and her new apartment.

There was something preventing her from letting go of the house just yet and with a snap of her fingers, Emma and Rumple made their way down to the beach. The water was a rich blue-green, the waves were small and the sun was glorious. Somehow, she got lucky and was able to walk a mile or so up the beach and hack down without encountering a soul, the only sounds that of nature. "Well, boy are you ready?" she posed the question to her walking companion as they neared the path leading back to the house. He lifted his head from the seagrass he was sniffing and cocked his head, as if contemplating her words. His brows twitched and with a a swish of his tail, he hiked his leg and after leaving behind a final calling card, trotted back up the path toward the car.

With both trepidation and excitement in her heart, Emma carried the last of her belongings to the bug, before going back inside for one last look around. Assured she was leaving nothing behind, the keys were left on the counter, as instructed, and she locked the door one final time. She couldn't stop herself from caressing the wooden door frame as her gaze took in the house that had given her such peace the past few months.

On her way down the walk, she stopped by the mailbox that had seen better days, leaving a letter for the next tenant, and then whistled for Rumple. When he refused to leave the shade of the Banyan tree, Emma patted her leg, "Come on boy, in the car," she gently encouraged again. Finally, with a last look back toward the house, he obeyed and climbed into the back seat, with Emma settling in behind the wheel. As she drove away from the beach, she took one last look in her rearview mirror where for split second she imagined that the house had winked at her as it sent her on her way. Her fanciful thoughts were chased away when a lone cloud briefly provided a shadow, before the glint of the sun on the window, her last view as she turned onto the US-1.

The farther north and closer to Miami she drove, her trepidation dissipated and her excitement grew. She was moving into a new apartment, in the same building as her sister in every way but by blood, Mary Margaret and in a few days starting a new position at one of the most prestigious hospitals in South Florida. Rumple sat behind her, ears and eyes alert, more than likely trying to figure out where his new mistress was taking him. Every few minutes, he would lay his chin on her shoulder and whimper until she laid a soothing hand on his head. Thankfully, after a few head scratches, he would lift his head and return to looking out the window, before repeating the process over again.

As the buildings became taller and the roads busier, Emma found she had to keep both hands available for driving and thankfully, Rumple seemed to have curled up and to nap. When she arrived at her new apartment building, Ocean View Luxury Apartments, Emma drove into the parking garage and quickly located her spot. In deference to the strict leash law, she secured Rumple's leash and after picking up the few boxes she had, rode the elevator up to the ninth floor. Her apartment was located at the end of the hall, which didn't make it convenient for the movers, but for the great view, of both water and city, there really had been no other option.

Using the wall to balance the boxes, Emma dug out her new key, and after entering, let the door shut behind them. The place wasn't large, but had two bedrooms, a small kitchen, dining room and living room and what had really sold her, the screened balcony off the living room that gave her an unobstructed view of the Bay. She was close enough to walk to work, could jump on the People Mover, a train that just traveled in the downtown area, or if necessary the drive was quick. The only downside, she had decided was that Rumple wouldn't have his own patch of grass to run around in, she or Mary Margaret could easily take him to the local dog park.

The blue-green water pulled her out onto the patio where Emma could smell the sea and hear the waves, even nine floors in the air. Her view was amazing as she could look to the left and see the beach, sand, sea goers, brightly colored umbrellas, and people walking, and off to her right, the hospital and Bayside Marketplace with its many docks. Yachts, both small and large bounced among the waves, including one that could have been featured in any of the pirate movies.

The simultaneous whistle from her phone and knock at the door served to remind her that there was much to do before Mary Margaret and David came by with food. Once her furniture had been dispatched to the proper rooms, Emma set about unpacking a box of dishes so at least they would have somewhere to put their meal. Several boxes later, she had to admit that a shopping trip was necessary before starting work, but at least she had the most important necessities for tomorrow, coffee, cocoa and food for Rumple.

When the knock at the door sounded, Emma was glad she wasn't standing between Rumple and his mission or he would have knocked her over. He sprinted across the room, ran to the door and jumped up, knocking his paw against the lever like doorknob, and opened it for the company. "Rumple, no!" Emma grabbed his collar, trying to calm him, "Come on boy, back up." He looked at her and barked once, to which in a much sterner voice, Emma repeated, "Rumple, quit talking back." His brown eyes locked with hers in a battle of wills but, as if sensing that his mistress was serious, he turned around and grudgingly moved away from the door, tucking himself lose to her legs.

"Emma!" Mary Margaret, or M&M, as she was affectionately known, squealed and pulled her into a hug, "You look great. Relaxed and you even have a little color in your cheeks."

Emma smirked at her sister, "Ugh, thanks. So, what you're saying is I looked like crap the last time you saw me?"

M&M rolled her eyes and giggled, but easily side-stepped the question by offering food, "We brought pizza and beer. Hungry?"

Before she could answer, Emma's stomach answered for her by eliciting a loud growl, "Starving, come in. We haven't been here long."

David followed M&M in smelling of garlic and cheese and lightly buzzed Emma on the cheek as he walked past, "Still have your guard dog, I see." He held his hand out with a treat, to which Rumple quickly consumed.

Emma lightly ran her fingers across the top of the dog's head, "Of course," she affirmed following him, and the pizza into the kitchen.

While they were eating, Mary Margaret shared some of the more humorous stories that often occurred at the beginning of each semester. As an English Literature professor at the University of Miami, M&M's tales often brought back memories of Emma's days as an undergraduate student, causing her to realize that some things never change, just your perception of them. Emma's thoughts were lost in the past when her sister's laughter quickly brought her back to the present wondering what she had missed. M&M was pointing at her lap "Emma?"

"What?" she mumbled, taking another bite of her meal.

"Your friend has his head on my thigh. Is that normal behavior for him?"

"Oh, is he giving you the sad eyes too?"

M&M looked up at her, "How did you know?"

Emma just shook her head. "Meet the real Rumple. He looks like a dog but is actually half human, half magician. His guilt trip is quite effective." Snapping her fingers to get his attention, she reached behind her and gave him a bone. "Sometimes a pain in the ass, most of the time a lot of company. And I'm hoping your new best friend since you did say you'd walk him when I'm at work. You didn't forget, right?" she concluded adding her best puppy dog impression.

Her sister just shook her head, "Stop. You look just like you did when we were ten! Of course, we'll be friends. I'll take David and he can help with poop patrol."

David made a face, causing both girls giggle, "Hey don't bring me into this, sounds like a sibling thing." He sent them both a grin before turning his attention back to his food.

With Rumple entertaining himself on his bone, the conversation moved from topic to topic with David relaying information about Bayside General, where he also worked, and M&M and Emma gossiping about several of their friends from high school that still lived in the area. Once dinner was done, David and M&M took their leave and with her faithful friend's help, Emma spent a little more time unpacking the boxes of memories. She had a few days to get settled and then it would be time for the next chapter of her life to begin.

Killian

As Killian drove south toward Key Largo, his mind was divided between his surroundings, but it was also replaying the many changes that had occurred in his world over the past eight months. The life altering decision to relocate back to the States had been made, as he wanted to be close to his brother and after all of these years, work on making amends with his father. That, alone, would have made his mother happy.

His other major decision had come professionally when he had also chosen to sell his business in the U.K. and purchase one, on the verge of bankruptcy in Florida. It had taken a few months, but once the paperwork had gone through, there had been many decisions to be made regarding the name change as well as his decision to move all of the ships from their berths in the Tampa Bay, on the west coast of Florida, to the Biscayne Bay on the southeast coast of Florida. He was pleased with the businesses progress so far. His existing four ships were all slowly making a steady climb with their monthly bookings and he was looking to add a new ship that was just for sightseeing tours up and down the coast between Fort Lauderdale and Bayside docks. His hope was that with a simple tour that didn't include serving alcohol, he could hire local kids, but for now, he would have to contend himself with knowing that he was able to help kids from the local University. At least it was something.

He slowed enough to make the turn into the drive, that would lead to the house he had not seen in many years. The driveway leading to the house was primarily composed of soft sand forcing him to follow in the tracks left by others at some point in the past. He knew at some point he would need to smooth it over, but anxious for that first look, he continued on. When the trees cleared and the house and the blue Atlantic Ocean spread out before him, Killian's breath caught in his throat at the view of the sea. His love for it had begun when he had been a lad and his father had taken him and Liam out on a small sailboat on the English Chanel. The memory was one from the summer they spent at a cottage in Milford on Sea, which was a beautiful seaside town and had been the place of some of his happiest childhood memories. Sadly, those memories were tarnished by the fact that it had also been just after that summer when they had moved to the States and everything had slowly started to fall apart.

Eventually, as things deteriorated, his mother had left his father, taking him back to England with her and they had settled in Lymington, Hampshire. Once there, it had taken him some time to realize that what he had was the new normal and there was no going back to what things had been. With that realization, he had made it his mission to put as many smiles on his mother's face as possible. One way to do that, he quickly learned, was by doing well in school, and set his mind to becoming an excellent student. And as he moved from school year to school year and then on to attend the university, where he graduated with the highest honors, sometimes it seemed, she was her old self.

When he discovered her love for classical literature, he read Crime and Punishment, Persuasion, Withering Heights and The Count of Monte Cristo, as well as many others, they would discuss them for hours. She was his mother, his friend, his champion and his sounding board. And then she had gotten sick and she had died.

In the aftermath of her death, he had spent time communing with a bottle of rum and blaming his father while planning his revenge...until one day while cleaning out some of her things, he had come across a letter. Inside the envelope, he found a letter that his mother had written to him...shortly before she passed. The letter became his motivation to clean up his act and work to become a better man...a man his mother would have been proud to call her son. Not one who had become a drunken sot only thirsty for revenge. His gaze was drawn to the letter laying on the seat next to him, and unable to help himself, he picked it up, his eyes immediately locking onto the words he had read, for what felt like a million times. And even though he knew the words by hear, he couldn't stop himself from reading them one more time, each word burned into his brain, tugging apart his heart, a piece with every word.

My darling son Killian,

If you're reading this, my time on this earth has come to an end, but son, your life has just begun. I know you, and I know you are going to be angry and hurt and lost and will be looking for someone to blame. I also know that while you've worked very hard not to let me see it, you will end up blaming your father and waste precious time plotting. Don't be like Edmond Dantes, in The Count of Monte Cristo, and waste your life on revenge. A mother's wish for her child is not for them to spend their life looking back but to move forward.

Your father and I made peace with each other many years ago. I was Penelope to his Odysseus and we both thought we would have time. But fate was not kind to us. Fate chose a different path for us and now it is time for you to follow yours. Killian, find your path. Make it one of love and light and happiness. Find that special woman to love and when you find her, hold on to her with all you have. Love is precious and you, my son, have such an immense capacity for it that when you find her, you will know. That is my wish for you. When you're ready the Beach House is waiting for you. Fill it with love. I will be watching over you, my son, as you follow your journey to become the very best man you can be.

Your loving mother

It took him a few days to sober up and make plans. He took a position with a gent who owned several vessels, both small and large, and learned to Captain each one. The vessels were used as ferries, taxis, and charters and when the man decided to retire, he allowed Killian to purchase his business for a good price. Killian in turned took the business and made it larger and more profitable then he could have imagined, but once the challenge was gone, he knew it was time to move on. He was ready to return to the States after so many years away, forgive his father and renew his close relationship with his brother Liam.

Growing up, his father had sent Liam to England to spend the summers with his mum and him and Killian had fond memories of their time spent together as lads. But, after their mum's death, their relationship hadn't been the same, as every time they were together, the easy camaraderie they had always shared was missing, but Killian was unable to pinpoint exactly where things had gone wrong.

It wasn't for lack of trying, for he remembered all the summers Liam would come to visit fondly. They would get up early and take their small sailboat out on the water, drifting peacefully and talking about everything they had missed in the other's life during their time apart. As they had many mutual friends they joined in huge games of British Bulldog and Rounders and when it was time for Liam to leave, it was always sad. His mother had always been blue for a while after Liam was gone but then with the invention of skype, they were able to stay in touch, which was nice, but not quite the same as being together. Yet, Anna, somehow seemed to be able to breech the distance by making up games they could play together or by making plans for the next summer. With her alive, they had still felt like a family, but when she died, the light had gone out of his life and he was still searching for a way to turn it back on...for that reason to feel alive.

Thinking about Liam and his summer visits always brought a smile to his face, especially as Liam got older and more immersed in the American culture and slang that didn't always transfer when one was in Britain. One incident in particular never failed to make him laugh out loud and even to this day brought a hint of red to his brother's cheeks.

It had been a warm spring day and the boys had gone sailing with friends and then wandered through town looking for some sweets and behaving a bit gobby, as only teen boys can act. Liam had been regaling the group with a tale of how he had come to have ownership of his new leather fanny pack, when they had walked by some ladies from a local church. At the end of the day when he and Liam had arrived home, their mother quickly hung up the phone, and then stared at them with both an embarrassed, and a very surprised expression. He had exchanged looks with his brother, but when he had no answer, they both shrugged their shoulders, "What?" they asked hesitantly, unsure if they really wanted to know the answer.

Anna had studied them carefully, her expression and the twinkle in her eyes giving off contrasting messages, "Really boys," she scolded them lightly, "couldn't you have stayed out of trouble for at least one day?"

Liam, as the oldest, had jumped to their defense, "We didn't do anything mum. And if someone told you we did, they were liars. And," he cut his eyes in Killian's direction, "we know how much you hate liars." Killian hadn't said anything but had nodded along in agreement.

"Yes Liam, I do hate liars, but that's not what I am talking about," her cheeks tinted pink, but the twinkle in her eye still remained. "This time, my sons, we're talking about," and she was quiet for so long, he remembered worrying they were in real trouble, until she choked out, "lady parts. And boys," she continued before either could defend themselves, "in front of the ladies from our church, as well." She covered her mouth, and turned away from them, leading Killian to think that she had been so annoyed that she could barely stand to look at them.

It had taken a few moments after she stopped talking, for Killian to replay the afternoon in his head and then, suddenly, as if a light went off in his head, he started laughing hard. His laughter seemed to trigger his mother's too and Liam had grown more confused as their laughter had gone on. Anna had finally taken pity, explaining that "fanny" in the UK referred to a lady's front parts. Liam's face turned several shades of red, but eventually he too, saw the humor in the situation and allowed himself to laugh. After that day, there were many times when the three of them would just look at each other and start laughing. The closeness he had felt to them had never felt stronger than it did that summer.

With the remnants of memory washing over him, the picture in his head was so clear, he couldn't keep the laughter at bay. It took several seconds before he was able to get himself under control, and self-consciously he looked around to make sure that he was still alone, as that's all he needed was for people to claim the newest resident of Key Largo was a loon.

Of course, as often happened between him and Liam, there came a time when the situations were reversed. Looking back on it as an adult, Killian could see the humor in the situation but it had occurred when he was, but a young lad of 13 or 14 and he had been gutted.

He had been on holiday from school and arrived in Miami to visit with his father and Liam. Since the weather in England had been cold, he had been a royal pest, pushing Liam to spend much of their time outdoors. When their father told them to invite over a few friends and entertain themselves, while he met with some business acquaintances, they had taken him at his word.

Liam had invited ten to twelve friends over and they spent most of the day in his father's swimming pool. As the day wore on, the games became more (rowdy) and one of the boys, John, he remembers, slipped and fell into the pool upside down. When he surfaced, his face was bloody and without thinking, Killian had run into the house and blurted out that John had fallen 'arse over tits' into the pool. The humiliation occurred when he realized that his father was standing in the middle of the great room, surrounded by several women who kept looking back and forth between him and his father in shock. Needless to say, he had felt like a plonker, slinking out of the room before he could cock-up the rest of his father's party. His father never said anything more, but Liam still brought it up whenever possible, and when he did the Killian felt just like that 13 year-old-boy all over again.

Their father was no longer a young man and the last correspondence he'd had with his brother, Liam had intimated that Brennan wasn't in as good of health as he let on to the public. Liam believed that his father's heart was heavy from all the years he had missed with his Anna and youngest son. Killian wasn't quite ready to believe that his father really regretted the time he had missed with his family, but as it was his mother's wish, he would 'man-up' and extend an olive branch. What happened between them would be up to both of them. Pushing the worry over that aside, Killian put his truck into gear and drove the rest of the way up the drive of the house that was waiting for him.

The house sat in front of him, an irregular shaped polygon with glass on three sides. On stilts, it soared ten feet above the beach, the only access to it a single door with a walk leading from the ground, not far from where he was sitting in his parked vehicle, to the front door. The grounds were riotous with color from many hibiscus bushes, frangipani trees, and azaleas, as well as an assortment of palm trees. The piece de resistance was a huge Banyan tree, barely hanging onto the bluff off to his right, that had to have been many years old. The tree, one that held many memories as its branches had housed his and Liam's fort up above and hanging below, their tire swing.

Memories that he hadn't thought of in years, bounced in and out of his brain so quickly that his mind was spinning, and with a little shake of his head at the feelings they were bringing, he finally admitted to himself just how much he had missed this house and the beach that surrounded it. Rubbing his hand over his face, as if to push aside the memories for the time being, he opened the door and stepped out. When his foot touched the ground, a fluttering in the middle of his chest started, bringing with it a tight throat and a rapid pulse. Getting his feet to move required a deep soothing breath of sea air and with a slam of the truck door, he took his first step.

He had contacted the storage facility and the leasing agent and if all went as planned, the furniture should have been delivered and the cabinets stocked. Now all he had to do was move from the parking area, up the walk and into the front door. His intention had been to walk directly to the path, but as if an invisible string pulled him to it, he was drawn to the old postbox. Its metal weathered, it sat regally, proudly flying the flag indicating the presence of a gift inside. Killian felt his brows lift in curiosity and with a look around, he opened the door, finding a single letter inside. With a gentle touch, he reached for the envelope and taking it with him completed his journey inside.

A strong sense of déjà vu almost overwhelmed him the minute he opened the door. Almost as if in a trance, he tugged off his leather jacket and tossed it over a chair, his eyes rapidly sweeping the room, trying to catalogue everything at once. From the pine table and chairs where they ate their family meals to the blue biscuit tin on the counter, every piece chosen lovingly by Anna, left behind but not completely forgotten.

The kitchen bled into a great room whose back wall was lined with floor to ceiling windows that displayed the rolling waves of the Atlantic Ocean for as far as the eye could see. The room was warm and inviting and held an oversized sofa with blue stripes that was flanked by blue captain's chairs sitting in front of a large wood-burning fireplace. A table rested behind the sofa holding pictures of when he was young as well as containers of seashells that his family had gathered on walks during their time living in this place.

The house appeared as if it had been waiting for him all of these years and now was finally welcoming him home. Unsure what had brought on the dismal feeling, Killian opened a nearby cabinet and poured himself a generous amount of rum. Sitting the glass on a small table, he took the letter he had gotten from the postbox and sat down to read.

Dear New Tenant,

Welcome to your new home. As the previous tenant, I hope you like living here as much as I did. I filed a change of address with the post office, but you know what a crapshoot that can be, so if anything slips through will you please do me a favor and forward my mail? I'd really appreciate it. My new address is below. Thanks in advance. 200 Biscayne Bay Blvd, Miami, FL

Emma Swan

P.S. I'm sorry about the paw prints by the front door, but they were there when I moved in. Same with the box in the attic.

Killian furrowed his brow as he thought over contents of the letter. He hadn't remembered seeing any paw prints outside the front door but admitted he hadn't been looking down at the walk but had been looking ahead at the house. When his thoughts gave him no answers, he decided to double check and walked outside. There was nothing there...just a pathway bordered by a railing with peeling paint.

Once back inside, he went to search the attic for the box that was supposedly up there, but when he peered through the hole in the floor, he didn't see anything except a few piles of dust. At a loss as to what to think, he climbed down, tossed the letter on the kitchen table and relaxed in a chair where he could enjoy his glass of rum and stare out at the ocean's waves as the night rolled in.