A/N: This is a continuation of a birthday fic for thejollyduckling. Ok, so it took me wayyyyy longer than I thought to write Chapter 2. Thankfully I've written quite a bit of Chapter 3 so hopefully the next instalment won't take nearly as long! The awesome banner was made by cutlasswans.
"Swan! Who is it?" Killian shouted from the couch. Who could be at the door so late in the middle of a windstorm? Hearing no response, he got up and started walking down the hall to the front door.
He was not expecting to find Emma standing at the door, completely frozen and looking genuinely petrified. A young boy brushed past her and deposited his backpack on the ground, a confident smirk on his face. Emma turned around to face Killian, letting the door swing shut behind her. Her mouth hung open in shock.
"Emma, what is-" Killian started.
"Who are you?" the boy interrupted.
Killian was completely confused. Who was this boy, and why was he here? And why did Emma look like she had just seen a ghost? He cleared his throat slightly before answering, "Killian Jones, at your service. Is everything all right, are you lost?"
"I'm not lost, I came to see my mom." The boy replied, turning to look up at Emma expectantly.
As Killian took in the scene a realization came over him: this boy must be the one that Emma gave up for adoption all those years ago. No wonder Emma looked so upset.
"I see" Killian nodded his head at Emma, an attempt to let her know that he understood the pain she must be feeling. She stared back at him in silence. He wanted desperately to hug her, to comfort her. But he couldn't do that with the boy standing right there in his entryway.
Instead, he walked over to Emma and placed his hand on the small of her back. "Perhaps we should go sit in the living room and talk." He motioned down the hall, the boy walking ahead of him.
Killian grasped Emma's hip and pulled her to him as they walked, whispering in her ear, "I'm right here, love. We're going to do this together, aye?"
Emma exhaled loudly, "Yeah, ok."
Henry plopped himself down on a couch, and picked up a ship in a bottle that sat on the end table, examining it carefully. Emma sat down on the opposing couch, her back stiff and her hands fidgeting. Killian joined her, placing his hand over hers to calm her nerves.
"I don't believe you have introduced yourself, lad," Killian began.
"I'm Henry." He answered, putting the bottle back in its proper place.
"Henry," Killian began, "do your parents know where you are?"
"Well….my mom knows," Henry smiled at Emma expectantly.
"Look, kid, I don't know what's going on here. Where are your parents?" Emma spat out the words and looked visibly agitated. She let go of Killian's hand to cross her arms.
"Ten years ago, did you give a baby up for adoption? That was me." Killian was surprised that the boy was so calm and matter of fact. Emma, on the other hand, was looking more and more frantic as she stood up and started pacing the room nervously.
"This is crazy. Does anyone know you're here? And why are you here, anyway?" Emma was practically shaking.
"I'm here to see you. Hey - do you have any juice?" Henry asked.
Emma stopped pacing. "Yeah, hold on." She practically ran out of the room towards the kitchen.
"I'll be right back, lad," Killian said as he got up to follow Emma down the hall. He entered the kitchen to find her leaning over the counter, palms pressed flat against the grey laminate material, her hair hanging loosely between her arms. She was taking long, shaky breaths.
Killian approached her quietly and placed his hand between her shoulder blades. She softened under his touch before standing and turning around to collapse into his arms. They stood in silence for a moment, Killian stroking her back, Emma burrowing her face in the nook of his neck, her breath warm on his skin.
"This can't be happening. Everything was finally on track. This can't be happening." Emma repeated, her voice trembling slightly.
Killian stilled his hand to hold her tight. "I know, love, I know." He could hear the gusts of the wind outside and could make out the palm trees swaying violently through the windows of the kitchen. Emma stood perfectly still in his arms. "Tell me what I can do."
Emma pulled away from him, tucking her hair behind her ears and looking back at him uncertainly. "I don't know. We can't stay in here forever. The kid is sitting there and waiting for us in our living room."
"Aye. Perhaps we should pour him some juice, and see if we can contact his parents before they call the police."
Emma chuckled slightly. "That would be awkward, since I'm the police." Killian was relieved to see her smile, if only for an instant.
"Aye, love That it would. Let's get in there so we can at least prevent any additional complications.
Emma snorted, "Yeah, I think complications is a bit of an understatement, we've got a lot of those already. You're right though, let's do this before it gets any worse."
Henry was leafing through a magazine when they got back to the living room.
"Here you go, kid." Emma said as she handed him a glass of orange juice.
"Thanks," he replied before downing almost the entire glass.
"So tell me, lad, where do you live? I'm sure your parents are very worried, and I think it's time we got you back home."
"I live here in Storydale. My mother is –" Henry was interrupted by the loud sound of the doorbell. Who the bloody hell could this possibly be, Killian wondered as he turned to look at Emma, who looked equally baffled.
"I'll go see what this is about," Killian said as he stood up.
"I'm coming with you. You stay here, kid." Emma said. They started down the hall towards the entrance together, leaving Henry in the living room. "This is insanity, who the hell could it be now?"
Killian gave her hand a reassuring squeeze as they approached the front door. "I guess we're about to find out."
Killian opened the door, and stared in shock at the woman standing before him. Her chestnut brown hair was uncharacteristically disheveled, but there was no mistaking her.
"Madam Mayor." Killian said, astonished. "To what do we owe the pleasure?" She walked right past him with confidence, glared at Emma and peered down the hallway. Feared by some, respected by most, Regina Mills left no one in Storydale indifferent.
"Cut the crap," Regina replied curtly, "I'm here for my son. Where is he?"
"Your son." Emma repeated in surprise.
"Yes, my son. Henry. It seems his computer skills are above grade level and he decided to do some research and go on a little unsanctioned field trip to the home off some strangers in the middle of the night." She stared coldly at Killian before turning to Emma, examining her from head to toe, "Miss Swan, I presume."
"Yeah," Emma shifted her weight from foot to foot. "How do you know my name?"
"How I know your name is none of your concern. What you should be concerned about is what I will do to you if you have harmed Henry in any way." Regina said menacingly, her eyes dark.
"You can rest assured, Madam Mayor. Your boy is safe and sound, drinking juice in our living room." Killian replied calmly but firmly, trying to prevent the exchange from getting any more confrontational. Just then, Henry rounded the corner with a surprised look on his face when he saw who was at the door.
"Henry! Darling! Are you ok?" Regina's face softened immediately. She kneeled down to be on his level, wrapping him in a hug while he stood stiffly. She looked deeply pained and on the verge of tears.
Killian was surprised by Regina's reaction, having expected her to yell at the boy, or admonish him in some way. Her reputation as Mayor painted her as an effective leader, yes, but rather uncaring and harsh, particularly with those who bend the rules. Seeing her practically in tears, hugging her son in his front hall challenged his preconceived notions of the kind of woman she was.
"I'm not coming home, mom. I want to stay here with my real mom." Henry pulled out of Regina's embrace and backed away to Emma's side. Regina glared at Emma in anger.
"Henry, you don't know this woman, for all we know she's dangerous. And I certainly don't trust the looks of guyliner over there. You are coming with me, end of discussion."
"Hey! No need for insults here," Emma interjected, "He showed up at our doorstep out of nowhere, and we've shown nothing but concern-"
"Concern? Concern!" Regina interrupted angrily, "You have no idea what you're talking about. I am the one who is concerned. You may have birthed him but I am his mother, and he is my son."
She glared at Emma defiantly and placed her hand on Henry's shoulder, directing him towards the door to leave. Emma's face crumpled as she stood in stunned silence. Killian wrapped his arm around her, pulling her close.
"This isn't fair, Emma is my real mom." Henry pushed his mother's hand away.
"Henry, that is not your real mom. I am your mother, and I love you." Regina's tone softened on the last words.
Killian cleared his throat, "If I may, but perhaps you should go home to your family, lad." Regina tilted her head in surprise.
"Come on Henry, we're going home." She said as she led him out of their apartment and into the stormy night. Their departure was abrupt, and Emma and Killian stood still for a moment after the door closed shut, unsure how to respond after what had just transpired.
Emma took a step back from Killian, her bottom lip trembling. Killian closed the gap between them and wrapped his arms around her. Emma leaned her cheek into his chest, her sobs gently rocking her body against his. He held her tight with his prosthetic arm, his hand gently stroking her back as her breathing slowed.
A jumble of thoughts rushed through Killian's mind. He struggled with how to respond to what had happened, to comfort and support Emma as best he could. This child, Henry, had been haunting her for years, ever since she gave him up for adoption. It was the source of so many of her insecurities, and her anxieties about getting married and their future together. This was not going to be easy.
Killian wasn't sure what to say, or what to do to help Emma. He was still trying to work out the words to say when Emma suddenly stepped out of his embrace, whipping tears from her cheeks with her hand.
"I've gotta get out of here. Get some air." Emma said, turning to grab her jacket from the hook at the entrance.
"Emma, wait-"
"I know it's stormy out there, Killian. I just need some time alone to think. I'll be safe."
Killian nodded his assent, and Emma turned around and left. Killian stood alone in the entrance, the apartment silent except for the sounds of windows rattling in the wind.
