Sorry for the wait. Thank you all for your support. Much love.
-RiddledNightmare
Morning broke and light poured in through the windows. Emma was awoken by the smell of food.
"Good morning, love", Killian said.
She saw the two women and Killian sitting at the table. There was a place at the table set out for her so she got up and joined them.
"Where's the kid?", Emma asked.
"We sent him to get some water from the well, he should be back soon", Grace said handing a plate of eggs to Emma.
"If you don't mind me asking, where are the lad's parents?", Killian asked.
"His mother left when he was a babe, no one knows why. She loved that boy more than anything. She just disappeared. Then his dirtbag of a father left him and we took him in"
"I know what that's like", said Emma.
Just then, the boy walked through the door. He was drenched from head to toe in water.
"It happened again", he said simply.
"What happened?", Emma asked.
"I was pulling the bucket out of the well and then I tripped, fell on my back, and the water dumped all over me"
"And this happens often?", Killian asked.
"Yes. I'm so pathetic that I can't even do that right. No wonder the other kids make fun of me"
"Come now, lad. Don't be so rough on yourself. Everyone's good at something"
"Well…..no that doesn't count. I can't do hard labor, fight back, or even pull a bucket out of a well. That's the skills that really matter to people. They'll all just see me as a coward, as my father"
"So what can you do?"
"I can spin. My aunts taught me. I'm pretty good at it too. It's the only thing that I'm good at really. Do you want to see?"
His eyes shone with pride at his abilities.
"Sure"
He skipped over to a small spinning wheel in the corner of the room with glee and sat down. His hands went to work, using great precision and skill to spin the wool into yarn.
"Well you certainly seem to be pretty good at that. Why are you so concerned about what others think of you?", Emma asked.
"Um it's-it's nothing"
A blush broke out across his face and he planted his face towards the floor.
"Wait...it's a girl isn't it?"
"What? I have no idea what you're talking about"
"Uh huh. Have you even talked to this girl?"
"Y-yeah. I stepped on her shoe once and said 'Excuse me'"
Killian and Emma exchanged looks. "Killian you can take it from here"
"Um..alright. Lad, while that technically is talking, it doesn't really count as a conversation. Why don't you give it a try?"
"You mean right now? I just realized that I have a ton of chores to do. Bye"
He started towards his room but was stopped when Nan grabbed his shirt and pulled him back.
"No you don't. This is much more important. Come on, she's right outside. Just try", she said.
"Fine"
He stepped outside as Emma and Killian watched from the door. He tiptoed toward a girl with dark brown hair. She appeared to be talking to another boy with dark hair and a familiar face. His confidence gave a stutter and he looked back at the two, worry evident in his eyes. Emma gave a gesture of encouragement while Killian stood with a confused look on his face that quickly turned to shock and revelation.
"Um Emma?"
"What?"
The two were interrupted by the conversation between the three kids.
"H-hi Milah"
"Hi, this is Killian. He just came from being at sea on that big boat at the harbor"
The two boys shook hands.
"N-nice to meet you. My name is Rumpelstiltskin"
Emma's eyes widened as she looked at Killian, who was just as shocked.
"Bloody hell! You mean you can't even lift a bucket of water", said little Killian.
"N-no I can't", little Rumple replied, he looked at Milah with eyes full of shame.
"Hey! I can do that for you if you want. I lift masts and pull rope all the time"
Without waiting for a reply, little Killian went to the well and pulled the bucket out with ease. He carried it over and handed it over to Rumple.
"Thank you"
"No problem. Hey, I'm not gonna be here very long but the ship usually stops here every month. Do you want to be friends?"
"Friends?"
"Yeah"
"I- I've never really had a friend before"
"Well mate, now you do"
The yell of a captain was heard in the distance.
"Well, I've got to go now. I'll see you tomorrow"
Little Killian ran off toward the harbor, his friends waving after him.
Emma and Killian shared a look of worry.
"Damn. Great now I'm friends with the crocodile. Thanks Emma", Killian exclaimed.
"What are we gonna do now?", Emma said.