Pauley: No warnings for this chapter either, yay!

Emma sent Georgia into her room, smiling and saying that she wanted to speak to Mr Jones in private. Killian's brain ticked away to itself as to what could be wrong, why she wanted a private word, why she'd never been there, why it smelled like a hospital. Why everything.

Emma sat opposite him, once she was certain her daughter wasn't going to interrupt and offered him an attempted smile, her heart thumping violently in her chest.

"I'm sorry we've not been able to meet before now." She said after a moment's awkward silence, fiddling with a strand of her hair, just like Georgia had done moments before when they were downstairs. He nodded, knowing that if he opened his mouth right now, he may say something unapologetically rude, and he did want to at least give her a slight chance.
"I... I wanted to ask if you could do me a favour, while you've got Georgia in your class..." Emma took a deep breath, hating herself for having to ask for this. For a brief second, she made the wish she'd made so many times before. God, I wish we were normal.

"What is it?" Killian inquired, after seeing her get lost in thought. Emma jolted and resumed fiddling with her hair with a new intensity before speaking quickly, so she didn't lose her nerve.

"Could you arrange for Georgia to have someone to talk to, maybe even someone to sit with her? I don't always have the time to listen to her the way I should and... well, I don't want her to feel alone." She explained and Killian did his best to remain calm. He'd never find answers if he just lost his temper with this woman, despite his anger beginning to flare.

"And why, may I ask, are you too busy for your daughter?" Despite his attempts at calm, his anger did seem through into his voice.
Rather than answer him, Emma stood from her perch on the couch and made her way over to the bookcase that stood on the other side of the room. She lifted a frame and offered it out to him.
His hand shook with anger as he took it. What on earth could be in a picture that would explain her lack of care towards her daughter?
"Oh..." Was all he could manage to say as he stared down at the image, certain his eyes had widened to almost comical proportion.

"So... would you be able to do that for me?" Emma asked after a moment, reaching to take the picture back from him.
Killian nodded, their hands brushing gently as he handed it to her, watching as she replaced it and attempted to subtly wipe at her eyes.

"Of course I will. I'm sorry for my temper earlier." She turned and shot him a smile, running her fingers through her hair.

"Don't worry. If I was in your shoes, I'd probably have been pretty angry too. I'm just glad you've not phoned Social Services yet. I've had that happen before." She was smiling still, but Killian could see the pain in her eyes. She didn't hide it very well.
Before he could speak again, his watch beeped and he cursed. How had he not realised how long it had been?

"I wouldn't phone them unless I really felt I needed to, and you explained, so now I don't need to." He smiled, but stood quickly.
"Listen, I'm sorry to run off like this, but my son's football practice will be done soon, I need to go pick him up." Emma nodded and took his hand when he proffered it, shaking it with her smile still firmly in place.

"I'll just say goodbye to Georgia before I go." He smiled and moved towards the door.
He knocked, before gently pushing open the door with Georgia's name on the front. She was sat on the floor, playing with some dolls in a dolls house, much to his amusement.
"Georgia, I'm off." He said and she looked up to him, blinking those big green eyes. Now he'd met her, he could see that the girl was a mirror image of her mother.

"Oh... did you have a good talk with Momma?" She questioned, standing slowly. He nodded and rested his hand on her head for a moment.

"I'll see you on Monday, okay?" She nodded, grinning up at him.

"Are we gonna do Fairies?"

"Of course, that's why I took notes love." She bounced and he chuckled, ruffling her hair, which made her beam even brighter than she had been before.

"Okay Mr Jones, I'll see you Monday!" She waved as he left, hurrying down the stairs and out of the shop.

He made it to the football club just in time. Henry was emerging, naturally covered in mud from head to toe, the boots that had been clean when he entered the club now caked with dirt.

"Dad!" Killian grinned and wrapped an arm around Henry's shoulders, squeezing him gently.

"I'm sorry, do I know you little mud monster?" He teased and Henry laughed, shoving into Killian's side.

"Daaad! You're not funny y'know." Killian laughed, ruffling his hair just like he had with Georgia before.

"I'll have you know many people find me funny!" Killian acted offended as they began to walk and Henry scoffed, rolling his eyes.

"Oh yeah? Who?"

"Well there's the kids in my class..."

"They don't count Dad, they're only little. They laugh at anything." Killian chuckled, having to agree with Henry in reality. It was incredibly easy to send his class of five to six year olds into squealing laughter. It was his favourite part of the job.

...

After dinner, Henry and Killian sat down to a movie, Henry happily curling into his fathers side.

"Hey Dad...?" Henry spoke after a few minutes and Killian looked down at him, rubbing his arm gently.

"Yeah lad?"

"Can we go sailing tomorrow?" He asked and Killian sighed sadly, dropping a kiss on his son's head.

"I'm sorry Henry, you know we can't right now." He sighed as Henry slumped more. His guilt was nearly overwhelming as he squeezed him gently.
"But I promise, we will go again soon, as soon as I can get another boat."

Pauley: Reviews & Favourites are always appreciated if you have the time!
Share your frustrations~!