A/N: I really need a Beta to read over my late-night ramblings that I post to this site.
Emma/Killian story, undecided number of chapters. Enjoy!
Emma looked on at the smiling, laughing child in front of her. She was surrounded by other young children her same age. They eyes of the children lit up as Emma approached arms laden with a cake bearing a set of five flaming candles. She carefully set it down in front of daughter- her little Penny.
Not for the first time that day, Emma thought of the girl's father. He should be here. As the crowd struck up the familiar chords to "Happy Birthday," Emma settled back into the arms of the man that Penny called "daddy." The smile gracing her lips as she sang to her daughter wasn't forced. Killian Jones made her so, so happy and she had fallen deeply in love with him in their time together, but it didn't erase the ache she felt, as a former orphan, that her daughter would never know her biological father.
Penny took a deep breath and blew out the candles. Her friends and their accompanying parents cheered. Emma moved forward and reached for the knife and spatula to dish out slices. "Okay, who's ready for a heap of chocolate frosting!" Killian was close behind her with plates and forks to pass to the guests. Emma still wasn't one to be uselessly peppy and happy, but with her daughter and friends, she had learned to be. It was good for her to see all the kids enjoying their day-to-day life as they only could after the defeat of Pan, the Evil Queen, the Black Fairy, and whatever other villains had plagued the heroes of Storybrooke.
Emma thought back over the years and the struggles that she and her family had faced together. She always had Killian. Though it had been difficult at first, getting over August and accepting that she was left pregnant and a not-quite-widow, he helped her feel safe and loved. She also had her parents, Henry, and, eventually, even Regina.
She looked back over the happy scene in front of her, the kids inhaling sugar and the parents laughing amongst themselves. Life was peaceful for the time-being. Life was good.
Regina chose that moment to make her way over to where Emma was standing. "Emma, a word?" Though the two had grown closer over the years and shared battles, Regina still sometimes held on to that professionally distant persona. Emma rolled her eyes but followed.
"What is it, Regina? I would like to be present at my kid's party." Emma crossed her leather-clad arms, but kept her tone light.
Straightening a non-existent hair out of place, Regina folded her hands neatly. "Oh, I won't keep you from your happy ending long. There's a new spell I want to try," She paused and looked into Emma's eyes. Before Emma could question about the type of spell, Regina continued, "for Robin. I think I might be able to reach him, to bring him back, but I need more than just my magic. I need Savior magic." Her hands dropped and she sighed deeply before placing her hands on her hips. "I need your help. This spell taps into love and I," Once again pausing and then gesturing with one hand towards Emma, "I'm not sure I have enough experience with it for anyone other than Henry to really give this spell a go."
Face softening and a faint smile gracing it, Emma walked toward Regina and clapped a hand on her shoulder, "Of course, Regina. I'll help you with it. Can it wait, though? I know its selfish, but I missed out on these early years with Henry and I want to enjoy them with Penny."
Eyes misting, though she tried to hide it, Regina looked at the ground, "Of course. Umm, the potion to go with the spell won't be ready until tomorrow morning, anyway. Enjoy your afternoon, Emma." Regina walked away, stopping briefly to grab her jacket from the back of a chair and to give Henry a quick hug goodbye, much to the embarrassment of the teenaged boy.
The rest of the party passed without incident. The guests left, they cleaned up, Henry went back to Regina's house, and it was soon bedtime for Penny.
Killian pulled the sleepy little one off of the sofa where she had fallen asleep watching one of her favorite movies (Not Disney, Killian still hadn't come around toward the animation company since he had seen what they did to Captain Hook). She immediately awoke and proclaimed that she wasn't tired, speaking through a yawn.
Laughing and patting her on the back as he carried her up the stairs, Killian joked back at the little girl, "Of course not, my little love. But I bet you'll be out as soon as we change you into pajamas and get your head against the pillow."
Clinging tightly to Killian's neck, Penny mumbled a soft, "will not" as she was brought, only slightly against her will to her bedroom. Emma's heart soared at the sight. How could her life get any more full? She picked up a discarded stuffed animal and blanket from the floor near where Penny had been asleep and she followed them up the stair.
The smile Killian flashed at her as he pulled the comforter up to Penny's chin sent a blast of electricity through her, but it was stilled at the next words from her daughter's mouth. "Mommy, will you tell me a birthday story about my father?" Emma's smile faltered, as did Killian's. They had never attempted to keep the truth from Penny. Too many people in town knew the truth and it was bound to come out. Hell, she'd named Penny what she did as a tribute to Pinocchio. But that didn't mean she liked to discuss the situation in front of Killian. They had also never minced words about the fact that although he wasn't her father, Killian would always be Dad.
The former Pirate sat back and gestured for Emma to take the place beside their daughter. "the child wants a bedtime story, Swan. You can't deny her anything." He smirked and ran a hand through her hair as she sat down beside the bed.
"Now you're thinking of yourself, Hook" The two smiled fondly at their long-since accurate nicknames for each other. "I'm the only one who ever says no to her." Emma settled herself onto the plush rug and leaned onto the comforter. "Well, did I ever tell you about the time your father got me to ride on the back of his motorcycle?" The little girl shook her head, fighting a heaviness in her eyelids. "It was before I believed in a world of magic and he was trying to convince me. He took me to the spot in the wood where he found me when I was a baby after he and I went through the tree together. I know Grandma Snow has told you about the tree. He showed me the newspaper that said how he had found me and saved me as a baby." Emma smiled, remembering thee day and watching her daughter be ever-more claimed by sleep.
"Like how you and Daddy save each other?" though Penny's eyes were closed, she managed to ask the question coherently.
Smiling at Killian over her shoulder, Emma replied, "Daddy and I save each other and" she trailed off, noticing the even rise and fall of her daughter's chest. She and Killian silently stood and turned off the light, exiting the room.
Once they were in the hallway, Killian took Emma into his arms. "Love? Are you all right? I know it's hard to talk about him, especially when she asks questions like that, and I saw you slip away into your memories a few times during the party this afternoon."
"I'm fine."
"Love…" He followed her down the hall to their bedroom.
She sat at her vanity and began to take off her make-up. "Killian, when you and I first started seeing each other, he was still on my mind even with all of our flirting and our innuendo heavy conversations. Then August came back and I still feel bad for how I treated you. Then that next curse happened and he's off who knows where as a piece of stationary wood, without even giving me a chance to help him. It hits me on special occasions of her life that he should be here for her."
Killian had stayed silent through her tirade. He sat on the edge of their bed and watched her. She locked eyes with him in her mirror, seeing the trace of hurt. "I don't mean to hurt you, Killian. I don't wish that he was in your place, I just sometimes get caught up in how I wish she could know him."
He slowly stood up and placed loving hands on her shoulders, rubbing at the tension. She relaxed into his touch. "Emma, love, you've never needed to explain yourself to me. I knew when I asked you to marry me that you were pregnant with another man's child and that you were heartbroken for him. I wanted to help you and I already knew that I loved you. I understand why you wish he could be part of Penny's life. But I also know that we've built a strong relationship since then. I don't question your feelings for me, even if you sometimes get lost in a memory. It's happened for me, too, with Milah. You know better than to get jealous and we're stronger for it." He leaned down over her and tilted her chin toward him. "I love you, Swan."
She stood and wrapped her arms around his neck. "What would I do without you to calm me down in situations like these?" She enjoyed the silent strength she drew from her husband. Abruptly, she drew back, "Oh, before I forget. Regina asked me for help with a spell tomorrow morning. It's something that could help her get Robin back, if it goes according to plan."
The two sank into the comfort of their bed and he held out a welcoming arm for her to curl into his side, "it only seems fair, love. We've got our fairy-tale happy ending. You should help her get hers too, if you can." The two drifted off to sleep. It had been a long day.