Killian had been staying with David and Snow since he returned. It was too hard for him to think about staying with Henry and the twins. That house we full of memories of Emma being the Dark One and the fighting they had at that moment. He never meant any of those things he said to her and they never had time to talk about everything when they were in the Underworld.
"We are happy you are back Hook. Maybe it will make a change in Emma. We know she is hurt so we haven't pushed her but I worry about her constantly. I'll see her in town and she avoids me every time." David said.
"You know after you all left me down there all I thought about was making Emma happy. Having a life with her. It was all going to be a dream of the past. I lost the absolute best thing that happened to me in all my time. I wanted nothing more than to make a deal to get back to her. Now I'm back and she doesn't know who I am and I have children. I missed out on so much. Maybe it was better just to admit defeat and stay down there." Killian said.
" It'll get figured out and you know you do make Emma happy. When we got back she did everything she could to try and get you back here. When it came to planning things for the kids she kept you in consideration. She spent so many days stressing over what to name them and if you would like everything she picked for their nursery. She had all this faith that some day you would make it back. I even helped her and the dwarfs remodel some of the house. Have you seen the house since you got back?"
"Actually I haven't. That's the home I wanted to share with Emma and between being the Dark Ones back then and trying to get things figured out. I just don't know if I could go back without her."
"You should go see it. I bet Nicko and Jayde would love to show it to you."
David turned as the sound of the door being opened. Jayde came running through the apartment as soon as the door opened. "Grandpa!" she yelled out of breath.
"Jayde, what is the hurry?" David asked.
"I just wanted to see you cause Nicko had me worried all night. He said that he thought Hook was gonna leave. You have to make him stay." Jayde said.
"I'm right here Jayde. I'm not going anywhere." Killian interjected.
"Slow down Jay. Give Grandpa a minute to process." Henry made it through the door and was holding Nicolas.
"There are my darling grandsons." Snow gave them each a kiss on their cheeks as she came from the bedroom.
"Grandma, I know I said I didn't need you today but I kinda do. I got asked to work down at the library and Jayde isn't a baby anymore and won't keep the library policy of keeping quiet tones. You think you could watch them?" Henry asked.
"Oh you know I would Henry but I am supposed to meet Ashley and Belle for lunch."
"Okay. Umm I guess I can take them with me. Jayde get your shoes on." Henry said.
"I don't know if you would all be okay with it but I could watch the kids for a few hours. As long as they are okay with it.." Killian said as he scratched behind his ear.
Snow smirked. "Hook, why wouldn't we trust you? You are so good with them and Emma would want you to spend time with them and for them to know who you are. I have to get going I'm going to be late for my lunch date. See you all later."
"Nicko, Jayde. I'm gonna go to work. I'm gonna let you stay with Hook. You have to be good okay?" Henry said.
He put Nicolas down on the floor and left. Nicko walked towards Killian and held out his hand. Killian gently gripped it with his hand.
"How are you today Nicko?" Killian asked.
"Nicko won't stop talking about you. He really likes you." Jayde said.
"Well I really like you Nicko. How would you two like to go to the park?" Killian said.
"Yay! We love the park." Jayde said.
"Okay then, park it is. Would you like to go too Neal?" Killian asked.
"Can I Poppa?" Neal asked.
"Of course you can. As long as you are good for Hook." David said.
"I promise I will be." Neal said.
Killian sat on the bench while he watched Neal push the twins on the swings till they were going high enough and then he would climb on his own swing. He admired what a good uncle Neal was even if he was only a little older than the twins. Someone sat down beside him. "Hello mysterious stranger." Emma said.
"Why hello there. What are you doing here?" Killian said.
"I was walking past and couldn't help but notice you sitting here watching children play. As of right now I'm more worried why you are sitting at the park full of children. Do you have children?" she asked.
"Aye, I do." he replied.
"I'm sorry that I was rude to you the other night. I just found it odd that my young son was hanging out with some random guy." she said.
"I don't think Henry is a young kid anymore. He is pretty capable. I mean he takes care of the twins and everything. You should be proud of him." Killian said.
"I'm more than proud of him. In everything he does. I couldn't ask for a better kid. Even if Regina gets a lot of the credit. Where are your kids?"
Before he could answer Neal came running over. "Emmie!"
"Hey buddy. How are you doing? Who are you here with?" Emma asked.
"I'm here with Hook. He is watching us till Momma and Henry get home." Neal said.
"Awesome. Sounds like fun." She glanced at Killian.
"Yeah. He is pretty cool. Kay bye Emmie."
Emma turned and looked at Killian. "Why the hell are you watching my little brother? My parents trust some dude that goes by Hook? The really must be losing it."
"I guess so. You were fine with it when I had other children here. "
"Let me guess you are in charge of those random kids my parents and Henry took in? Are those twins yours!"
"The twins. Yes they are. Why are you raising your voice? I'm sorry I haven't been around. I'm so thankful for your parents and Henry taking care of them." Killian said.
"I'm sorry, I didn't mean to. I guess I don't even know your situation to judge. Heck i didn't meet my kid till he was 10." Emma said running her fingers through her hair.
"Do you know much about the twins?" Killian asked.
"Henry will sometimes talk about them. I hear the boy doesn't talk."
"No. He is pretty quiet. In fact here he comes." Killian said.
Nicolas came up to Emma and put out his arms for him to pick her up. She looked at Killian and he just shrugged. She picked him up and set him on her lap. He curled into Emma.
"I think you made a friend." Killian said.
Jayde came running over. "Hi!"
"Hello there." Emma said.
"Nicko says he likes you." Jayde said.
"Okay. What's your name sweetie?" Emma asked.
"Jayde. What yours?"
"Well I'm Neal's sister Emmie."
"Emmie. I like that name it is pretty. Wanna be friends?"
"Wow, you're friendly. Sure I'd love to be friends." Emma chuckled.
"Thank you. Hook can you take us home? I'm tired." Jayde said.
"Well is Neal ready to leave? Why don't you sit here for a little bit with us. We will let Neal play a little while longer. I don't think Henry will be home yet anyways." Killian said.
"Okay. Can I sit on your lap?" Jayde asked as she rubbed her eyes.
Jayde climbed up in Killian's lap and curled into a ball.
"You know they say kids are judgement of good character. I didn't know if you were to be trusted before but a guy that spends time with his kids at the park is to be liked." Emma said.
"Why thank you Emma. I want to try hard to be a good parent now that I know i'm one." Killian said.
"You are a good person Hook." Emma laughed.
" What's that expression? You deal the cards your played." he said.
Emma laughed. "You play the cards you're dealt. Looks like you have a pretty tuckered out little girl there. Maybe you should take them back to the loft so they can nap. This one here looks like he is ready to nod off too."
"You're probably right." Killian said.
"I'll go grab Neal for you." Emma sat Nicolas down beside Killian.
Killian could hear him and Emma talking the closer they got. "Emmie, will you please come see Momma? She really misses you." Neal pleaded.
"It's complicated buddy. Maybe another day."
"You say that all the time. Why don't you love Momma and Poppa?" Neal whined.
"I do love them. You are living up to your namesake with the pestering."
Killian stood up and grabbed Nicolas' hand and settled Jayde over his shoulder. "Neal, come on lad. I have to be getting you home. If your sister doesn't want to do something then I'm sure she has reasons. Adult problems are tricky sometimes."
" I'm sorry Emmie." Neal said.
"I'm not mad buddy." Emma said.
"Well, we are going to get going. You are welcome to walk with us if you want." Killian said.
"I…" Emma stuttered. Nicolas grabbed her hand and held it while keeping his other in Killian's hand.
"I think Nicko answered for you." Killian said.
They got to the loft. "Okay boys. Say good-bye to Emmie. We gotta take you up to the loft. You're welcome to come up Love if you want but I imagine you would choose not to."
"Yeah… not today. But I umm. I 'd like to talk to you sometime again."
"Of course. I am glad you spent the day with us. It was good to get to know you." Killian said.
Killian walked in the door and Snow was sitting at the table with David and Henry and Neal ran to his mother. "Momma, we saw Emmie at the park. She sat with us all day. Even Nicko likes her." Neal said.
"Emma was at the park with you? What happened?" David said.
"Let me lay the twins down in bed and you can ask me questions." Killian said.
Nicolas followed him into the room. Killian laid Jayde down on the bed. "Come on Nicko lets get your night clothes on and you can get in bed with your sister."
Killian helped him out of his clothes and into pajamas. " You know you really made an impression on Emma today. That's good lad. It might help her a lot. Jayde said you like her. Why is that? What could you sense about her?"
Nicolas just looked at him and smiled.
"Nicko, you know you can talk if you want. I'll listen. Okay lad crawl into bed with Jayde." Killian kissed them both on the forehead and left the room.
