A/N: I'm completely overwhelmed by the response this story is getting! Thank you all SO MUCH for your support. I delight in reading each and every one of your reviews :) This chapter is from Emma's point of view again, and we'll finally get to see more of Penelope.

Just a small note in case you're confused: In this story, Ingrid isn't Emma's biological mother, but she adopted her when she was a baby, and not a teenager.

Disclaimer: I do not own Once Upon a Time or its characters.

XXX

Emma couldn't say she was used to taking leaps of faith.

Throughout her life, she was annoyingly pragmatic with her feelings, as if they were predictable, and not feelings at all. Shoving them aside to do whatever needed to be done was standart procedure, and whenever doubt crossed her mind, the strong arms of reason were always there to help her make her final decision. Reason was safe, its foundations kept her going in both her professional and personal life.

For someone like her, trusting someone she barely knew with something as important as her daughter would be unthinkable. Protecting Penelope was her number one duty from the moment Emma knew of her existence, and she liked to think she'd done a pretty good job until now. When the doctor had placed the tiny little thing of a person wrapped in pink into her arms on a particularly rainy afternoon in early March, Emma knew nothing would ever be as important as Penelope, and the two of them would do just fine on their own.

That was what happened, until her sweet, small and loving Penny got sick.

Emma tried to listen to the voice of reason, the voice which had secured her and pushed her forward during her own existence. She knew they had good insurance; her daughter would receive the best medical care she could pay, and she would be cured in days. As life would have it, however, days turned into weeks, and into almost a month. Reason wasn't explaining a goddamn thing. Something as solid as science couldn't figure out was wrong with her kid, and if God or whomever was watching over them thought she was just going to sit and wait, they were so fucking wrong.

Her determination was the only thing that allowed her to barge in Killian Jones' life unnanounced. Having a child through a fertility clinic had allowed her to never have to deal with her baby's dad until then, and even if she was terrified and scared above her limits she would cross any line if it meant her daughter was healthy again. Emma had dressed nicely, even put on some light make-up. She would play the 'all business card', and she would absolutely not show anything other than gratitude for the man, assuming he helped her.

What happened inside Killian's office, however, was anything but what she planned. Talking about Penelope's condition made her feel so vunerable. It was a subject she avoided even with her friends, assuring them it wasn't serious, just child's fevers breaking now and then and they'd get past it, going to the hospital with Penny alone simply not to tell them. In that moment, however, she voiced the truth. Something was seriously wrong with her daughter, and she was powerless to do anything. Nothing in her life had ever scared her more.

Whatever she expected from Killian was also anything but how he responded. His unexpected, but much needed hug had her thinking that perhaps this wasn't an 'all business' situation at all. He was concerned as well, she could tell, and yes, he would help her, even if he hadn't signed up for any of it.

When he met her at the café with not only his history but his brother's and mother's as well, Emma saw in his eyes a preocupation that mirrowed her own. How was that even possible? Penelope was his, but she wasn't his daughter. She had spent the three years of her life knowing her family was Emma, Ingrid and Emma's closest friends, no dad in the picture or in her birth certificate. And yet, here he was, this unbelievable man, looking shy and hopeful as he fought against his so obvious will to ask more about Penelope. Emma had seen the look on his face when she showed him pictures of Penny, how enchanted he had been, as if he'd seen the most perfect thing in this world, how his eyes, eyes he had given their daughter had shone. It was clear he wanted to be involved. It should scare the shit out of her. It should make her superpower go crazy, telling her he was faking it, that she shouldn't go through with this.

But it didn't.

Perhaps it was her implacable urge to give Penelope everything, even the things she didn't ask. Perhaps it was because Emma was raised with no father herself. And maybe because she felt safe with him from the moment she had trusted him with her daughter, her life, even if her so loved reason couldn't explain it. Emma Swan couldn't say whatever had her so drawn to Killian Jones, but she had made her decision. She just hoped she wasn't wrong about him, and that he felt the same way.

"Ma", Penelope called softly, tugging her shirt and pulling Emma from her thoughts. She smiled down at her little girl, long, dark eyelashes fluttering with the strong urge to sleep. After they arrived from the hospital, Emma had given her a bath, dressed her in her pj's and fed her. It was past midnight now, but Emma didn't have the heart to tuck Penelope in her own bed, preferring to let her sleep with her tonight.

"You need to sleep, baby." Emma brushed her hand against Penny's light hair and pecked her forehead. "It's late."

Penny agreed with a nod of her head and cuddled closer to Emma's chest, eyelids falling shut immediately after. She might be young, but Penelope always knew when was something on her mind, and Emma was sure this time was no exception. Emma marveled at the sight of her peaceful features until her phone beeped from her nightstand. Cursing herself mentally for not shutting it off, she grabbed it as carefully as she could not to move and wake Penelope. When she read the name on the screen, her heart missed a beat. Killian had answered her text.

Killian Jones: If you're absolutely certain you want to take this step, nothing would make me happier. I would love to meet her.

Emma released a breath she didn't know she was holding when she read his positive response. She couldn't type a proper answer with one of her arms snuggling Penelope to her body, but she could answer him in the morning. Right now, all that mattered was that her baby was safe and well in her arms.

XXX

As the week passed, Emma and Killian talked a few times over the phone on how would his first meeting with Penelope go.

They had both agreed it was best to introduce him as a friend of Emma's not to confuse Penelope, and they would decide how to proceed later on if everything went smoothly. Killian suggested they met in the park and Emma agreed, knowing Penelope would love the opportunity to feed her duck friends.

Emma was feeling optmistic about the whole thing, but nervousness was in order. She had taken the week off from work to keep a close eye on Penelope and she hadn't had any fevers, so the weekend was looking up. She and Killian exchanged texts over the days, with him always asking about their daughter's health, and surprisingly, about herself, on how she was holding up. He offered help, which she politely declined. One step at a time.

When saturday morning rolled in, Emma felt like a teenager about to go on a first date. It was just a walk through the park, but it might as well be a homecoming ball. Knowing they'd be late if she didn't make up her mind, Emma decided on her favorite pair of jeans and a white blouse that might compliment her collarbones just a little bit. Choosing Penelope's outfit was much easier, as usual. Wanting to save her from the discomfort of the heat wave of June, Emma put her in one of her cutest summer dresses, this one with a flowery pattern, and pink converses on her little feet.

"Ma, braid." Penny pointed to her own lose hair and Emma smiled as she patted the bed for Emma to braid it. The little girl had always adored them, much like her mother. Once she was ready, Penelope insisted on taking her Nemo plushie as usual. Emma had dry washed it after their last trip to the hospital, and her daughter was unmistakably proud that it looked clean and it smelled nice.

Before they left, Emma hurried to her bedroom and sprayed a bit of perfume, complimenting her eyelashes with some mascara. She told herself she just wanted not to look dead, and not because she wanted to impress. This was all about Penelope, save the fact that her father was unfairly gorgeous.

Their apartment block wasn't distant from the park, so they walked hand in hand, Penelope clutching her Nemo plushie and Emma holding a bag of old bread. Emma's nerves were starting to come alive now. What if Killian changed his mind and stood them up? Penelope would never know, but Emma knew she would be disappointed. What if this was all a terrible idea?

Any doubt she might have disappeared when they reached a spot near the lake and she spotted Killian sitting in the bench they always sat on, the one near the ice cream cart. Once he saw them, he raised from his seat and flashed them a smile, all white, perfect teeth. He wore a blue shirt that did wonders to his already beautiful eyes, his legs in khaki shorts, hair somehow the right ammount of messy and fuck her life if she was going to be attracted to her sperm donor. To top everything else, he even a had a dog on a blue leash, a white and gray spotted black Border Collie.

"Mama! Dog!" Penelope pointed excitedely at the animal, and Emma's eyes met Killian's when they finally approached. Fuck, she was deadly nervous, couldn't even speak. Thankfully, Killian took the lead, kneeling on the floor to level with Penelope.

"Hello, Penelope. I'm Killian, a friend of your mother's." Killian held out his hand for Penelope to shake, but when she was about to, he surprised by gently bringing her little hand to his mouth and kissing it. Instead of feeling wary about it, Penelope giggled and scratched the spot behind her ear, a habit of hers when she was shy. "And this is my dog, Smee."

"Smee?" Penelope tested the words on her lips and giggled again at the strange name.

"Aye, he's my first mate." Killian patted the dog in the head and smiled. "You can't pet him if you'd like. He might try to give you tongue kisses, so be aware."

Penelope didn't mind the tongue kisses at all. She handed Emma her Nemo before basically landing in her face towards the dog, petting and scratching every surface of fur she could reach. Killian glanced at the bench and then at her and Emma nodded while they both took a seat and shared a small smile. Her anxiousness was starting to vanish, and Emma felt strangely comfortable.

"You brought a dog. That's an unfair way to score. She'll love you until the end of time now." Emma teased him as she fidgeted with the Nemo plushie in her hands, watching as Penelope in fact receive an attack of licks from the excited dog.

"Very true." Killian confessed with a shrug. "What's the fun in an old man like me? My dog has a much bigger appeal."

Emma bit her tongue when not very appropriate thoughts crossed her mind on how much fun she could think of when he looked like that. Deciding to give Killian an opportunity to bond with Penny better, she called for her daughter. "Baby, why don't you let me play with Smee for a little while and you can go and show Killian all of your duck friends by the lake?"

Killian gave her a grateful look, and Emma smiled in response, handing him the bag of old bread while she took Smee's leash. To her surprise, while Penelope and Killian walked towards the lake, her daughter grabbed his hand with no cerimony, as if they'd been best friends for years. Penny was a very affectionate child, but she had just met him, and it stunned Emma on how quickly a little girl who basically knew no important men seemed to open herself up to one.

At distance, Emma watched as Penny told Killian the names of each one of the ducks and he intently listened as if she was saying something crucial. Deciding her exercise of trust had worked, Emma smiled and petted Smee in the head, content everything was going as great as it could.


A/N: I hope you all enjoyed this chapter! Soon, we'll see more of Penny and Killian interacting and of course, Emma and Killian interacting as well ;) Please leave your review to let me know what you think!