As Henry led the way through town he kept the girls entertained with his seemingly limitless supply of snow jokes. Killian couldn't help but wonder if the lad had been stocking up since the Snow Queen came to town.
"Where do snowmen go to dance?" Henry asked, with a knowing grin. Emma and Elsa shake their heads, eager for the punchline. "Snowballs!"
Elsa giggled loudly. "I have one." the she cried. "What do you call a snowman in summer?"
Killian didn't hear the answer as Snow White drew up next to him, pushing her young Prince before her in a stroller.
"Can Regina fix them?" He asked the question he desperately needed answered.
Snow bit her lip. "She isn't sure. She seemed cautiously optimistic. But she wanted to do some research before she gave us an answer."
"So there is a possibility that they will remain children?"
Snow nodded and Killian blew out a lungful of air. They both watched the girls as they laughed at yet another bad snow joke from Henry.
"They seem pretty happy. I would have thought they would be more anxious about being in a strange town with strange people."
Killian raised an eyebrow. "I imagine they are taken with the adventure and novelty of it all. Plus there is the added enticement of having magic."
Snow laughed causing David to turn and drop back to join the conversation with a quirked eyebrow.
"What child wouldn't want magic?" she asked
"Well Elsa for one." David pointed out. "Remember she said her parents were not very supportive. She grew up feeling isolated."
"We would never do that to Emma." Snow didn't sound entirely convinced as she stared at her daughter.
There was silence for a few steps. Killian cleared his throat. "So you are planning on raising her if Regina can't help?" Snow and Charming looked affronted.
"Of course!"
"Absolutely!" They chorused.
Killian raised a placating hand. "Apologies. I did not mean to imply that you wouldn't care for her. I was only thinking that it might be best to tell Emma now that you are her parents. Perhaps even explain to her about the Enchanted Forest and her true origins?"
Snow and Charming shared a look that spoke of fear and hope. As their silent exchange continued Killian walked a few steps ahead to give them the chance to actually talk. He didn't understand their trepidation. He imagined young Emma would be overjoyed to be reunited with her parents, to say nothing of learning that she is a Princess. As Henry guided the girls into the park the royal couple caught up to him.
"We won't tell Elsa anything. I think that Anna should decide what happens with her. We will let them play and tell Emma back at the loft. In case there are any magical repercussions. ." David said.
Killian let out a bark of laughter. "Trust me Dave. Any orphan would be overjoyed to learn their parents are alive and want to take care of them. How will you tell her?"
"Henry's storybook." Snow spoke up.
Killian nodded "You know I sat with Emma on that bench." He motioned toward the pond and it's lone bench. "She said that the book was just stories that she wasn't a part of." He trailed off as he remembered and realized that he may never speak to Emma, his Emma, ever again. A sliver of dread stole through his heart. He shook his head and offered a weak smile to the couple. "But I think this Emma will have no problem believing."
"Killian!" Emma's voice was followed swiftly by her little body colliding into his legs.
"Oomph!" He looked down at her bright smile and his heart felt lighter.
"Henry says we can't do magic unless you say it's okay."
He smirked down at her, quirking an eyebrow. "Hmmm…." he turned to Charming. "What do you say Dave? Can the girls do magic?" Emma turned to Charming with pleading eyes.
David grinned back. "I don't know? Snow what do you say?" He inclined his head towards his wife. Snow didn't have it in her to deny Emma, even as a joke. She smiled down brightly at her "Of course you can! Come on." Snow extended her hand and Emma took it eagerly. Dragging her to Henry and Elsa. Charming and Killian followed chuckling to themselves.
"They said it was okay!" Emma called as they approached Elsa and Henry. Elsa seemed excited but reluctant, as she rubbed her hands together.
"Come on Elsa! Turn it into ice!" Emma urged. Elsa's eyes jumped up to Killian's and he knew there was something holding her back. He dropped to a knee and pulled her toward him.
"What's wrong?"
"I just don't want to hurt anyone."
"Oh lass, you won't hurt anyone!"
Elsa shook her head.
"Elsa!" Emma interrupted. Killian looked up, and gave her a stern glance. He didn't stop to gauge her reaction but turned back to Elsa and encouraged her to speak with a soft smile.
"I hurt Anna, my sister. I hit her with my magic. She was jumping from snow pile to snow pile and I couldn't keep up. And I hit her in the head. She almost died!" Killian noticed the tears forming in her eyes. Impulsively he pulled her into a hug. He shared a concerned glance with David. Snow and Henry were busy distracting Emma by throwing rocks into the pond. He released Elsa and wiped her cheeks.
"Well lass we will just make sure that nobody is jumping or standing in front of you when you do magic. And then no one will get hurt. Okay?"
Elsa nodded slowly, unconvinced. Killian knew from experience with many a skittish sailor that the only way to conquer her fear was to show her there was nothing to be afraid of.
He stood. "Okay. Everyone Elsa is going to do magic. But nobody" and he turned his eyes on Emma to make sure she was paying attention "is to stand in front of her."
Emma nodded and allowed herself to be pulled back a few steps. Elsa looked back at Killian. He gave her an encouraging smile and she turned to the pond. She took a deep breath and stretched out her arms. Magic burst from her hands like a winter storm contained in a stream of blue light. It connected with the water and ice began to spread out until the entire pond was a solid sheet of blue.
Emma waited until Elsa's magic retreated before running up to her happily. "Let's skate!" She grabbed Elsa's hand and stepped out on the ice. She slipped almost immediately, her legs flying out and her butt connecting with the ice.
"Emma!" Snow, Charming and Killian yelled simultaneously. Henry, Elsa and Emma laughed.
She shot back up and took a few sliding steps on the ice, clinging tightly to Elsa's hand. Henry followed the girls and quickly instituted a game of tag.
"What's this then?" Killian turned to see Robin with his son in tow.
"Magical ice skating mate."
"Daddy, can I? Please?" Killian couldn't help but be impressed by the boys big eyes and enormous dimples. He could give Emma a run for her money in an adorable contest.
"Of course Roland." Robin shot Killian a smile and stepped cautiously on to the ice with Roland's hand firmly in his. The two quickly caught up to Charming who was slipping his way towards the game. Within moments a few other kids had joined and there was near chaos as they all ran and slipped. Charming and Robin sticking out above the little heads, doing their best to keep things from getting too wild.
Killian stayed on solid ground with Snow. Reclining on the bench they watched the antics of the kids and chuckled at David's harried look when he tried to tag Emma. Eventually Snow spoke.
"You are really good with them. Kids I mean."
Killian turned to smirk at her. "A fact that you find surprising."
"No I…Well. Yes, actually." Snow colored and looked away.
Killian shook his head and chuckled. "I am as shocked as you milady."
"So you don't have experience with kids?"
"Unless you count Lost Boys?"
Snow laughed a high, clear, pure sound echoing out to mingle with the laughter of the children.
"Hey guys! What's going on!" They both turned to see Anna and Kristoff striding across the grass. Kristoff trailed behind rubbing the back of his head and looking a little worse for wear. Hook cast a glance at Snow. "I think I'll go relieve your Prince." He stood and executed a short bow before walking out to the frozen pond. He was glad he didn't have to tell the Arendelle Princess that her big sister was now her little sister.
He was halfway across the ice when he noticed that all the children were rushing toward him. Henry leading the charge and yelling "Dog pile on Killian!"
Had Killian known what a "dog pile" was he may have tried to escape. Instead he watched puzzled as the children came careening towards him. Henry reached him first and stuck out his arms to slow his momentum. They spun about and then toppled to the ice with a force that Killian knew he would feel in the morning. Within moments more children arrived and began jumping on him.
"Oi!" Killian tried to tuck his left arm under his back to protect the kids from the sharp point of his hook. But it was difficult to maneuver beneath the mass of squirming, giggling, bodies. "Watch the hook!" he called. More kids arrived and jumped on top, adding their weight to the pile. Killian couldn't see anything but little arms and legs. He tried to hold his hook still but with all the movement it was inevitable that someone would get scratched. He felt a pull on his left arm and heard someone start crying. Inwardly he cursed.
"That's enough." He hollered, a little harsher than he meant too. Immediately the giggling stopped and the kids began slipping off. In the silence the cries of the injured child sounded louder. Killian heard Henry try to comfort them but it was a long minute before Killian was free of the children pinning him to the ice. By that time Robin and Charming had arrived.
When Killian sat up he could see it was little Roland that had been hurt. A long shallow gash ran from his forehead to cheek. Tears were streaming down his cheeks, his face crumpled in pain. Killian sat frozen in shame as Robin crouched down and inspected his son. Roland crumpled into his arms, his cries getting louder. Killian didn't even know how to begin to apologize. He cursed himself for keeping the hook on. It wasn't an attachment to be worn around children.
"You are okay my boy. It's only a scratch." Robin soothed.
"I can fix it." Emma appeared from behind Henry, Elsa beside her.
"What?" Robin asked.
Emma looked at Killian and then back at Roland. "I have magic. I can fix it." she took a step forward. Robin looked at Charming who nodded his approval. Robin returned the gesture and pulled Roland from his chest.
"Roland. Emma is going to make you better." Roland sniffed and turned toward Emma. Killian felt a fresh wave of disgust at the smeared blood on his face. Emma took a few steps forward and lifted her hand to Roland's injury. She closed her eyes in concentration and soon a white light began to glow from her palm. It reached out and bathed the boy's face. When it faded his face was clean and his wound healed.
Roland touched his cheek in wonder. "Wow! Thank you!" he said and put his arms around a grinning Emma. He turned back to Robin "Look Daddy! All better! " Everyone broke into laughter, except for Killian.
"Did you see that Killian?" Emma grinned and rushed towards him. He wanted to ward her away, afraid of another incident. But she slipped and his arms automatically reached out to catch her and pull her into his chest. She wrapped her arms around his neck. "Did you see?"
He smiled into her hair. "Yes little love I saw." She giggled and squirmed out of his arms.
Killian looked up to see Charming's offered hand. With a smile of gratitude he gripped it and allowed himself to be pulled up. "It was an accident Killian. Not your fault." Killian only shook his head.
Charming sighed. Come on. I think it is time for Anna and Elsa to meet." Killian glanced over at the group at the shore and nodded. Charming looked at the kids "Who is ready for hot cocoa?" They all answered eagerly and together they turned back toward the shore.
As they made their way Killian felt a pull on his hook. He looked down to see Emma holding it with a wide grin on her face, still elated by her magic use. She tugged on his hook a little to stop herself from slipping and Killian felt the tug all the way to his heart.
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Author's Note: Hope you enjoyed a little angst with your fluff! I swear this story just keeps getting sillier. This is officially the most popular thing I have ever posted. So a HUGE thanks for all the follows and favorites and especially for the lovely comments! You guys are great. Except for you random "guest" who thought that Emma's interactions with Killian were disturbing. You get no thanks...
