Flutter

DISCLAIMER: same as always

Chapter 4

Emma awoke to sunlight hitting her eyes and a sense of confusion: she was not in her own bed. Opening her eyes, she winced as the bright lighting momentarily blinded her. Memories of last night came rushing towards her: her date with Killian, their kiss, Ruby's frantic phone call and Henry being so sick that Emma had to take him to the hospital. Looking around, she noticed that Ruby and Elsa were both sound asleep in their respective chairs, while Killian and Henry were no where to be found. Quickly jumping out of her seat, she ran out of the room, furiously searching for the pair. Emma hadn't taken more than ten steps when she found Killian and Henry sitting by the window down the hall, watching the morning rush in New York. Padding over to them, she noticed that Henry's IV was still attached to his hand, but her son's cheeks were finally flushed and no longer pale white as they were last night. Killian would occasionally point something out which would send Henry into a fit of giggles. He's already doing better than Neal ever did, Emma mused as she sat down beside them, causing Henry to throw his arms around his mother in delight. "Careful with that IV line, kid." Emma murmured as her hugged her little boy. "How're you feeling?"

"Better, mama." Henry beamed, his focus returning to the city below, "Killian is telling me about how people can't drive."

"Is he now?" Emma asked, raising an eyebrow in Killian's direction, causing the man to grin sheepishly.

"Well they can't, Swan." Killian said, still looking guilty at Emma, "Sometimes it's a danger to just leave your apartment."

"I'm not disagreeing with you." Emma said, smirking at Killian's obvious deflation, "Don't worry, you're not in trouble."

"Well that's a relief." Killian returned, a lazy smile gracing his face. "Jeff came a bit before you woke up and is going to take Henry to have an abdominal ultrasound in about five minutes. He says that he wants to rule everything out. But Henry's blood work came in and it was fine, the lad is just dehydrated slightly."

"That is the best news that I've heard since we've arrived." Emma breathed, "Thank you again for taking us here and getting Henry the help he needed."

"It's no problem, Swan." Killian replied, pointing to another inept driver, causing Henry to burst out laughing, "Anyone would have done the same."

"I don't think anyone would just…" Emma began, but was cut off by Jefferson's arrival. The doctor promised that Henry would be perfectly safe throughout his procedure, and that he was hoping to have Henry start eating soup soon, since his vomiting had subsided overnight. Thanking Jefferson profusely, Emma couldn't help but smile at Henry's thrilled reaction to the small wheelchair that the doctor had brought to transport her son to the radiology department. "I think Henry has found his favorite new furnishing, a moveable metal chair." Emma said to Killian, as Henry and Jefferson entered the elevator.

"The boy has good taste." Killian replied, turning to lean in and kiss Emma, "Good morning."

"Good morning." Emma stated, her body flooding in warmth in reaction to the kiss. "And as I was saying, not anyone would help their date's son get to the hospital because he was sick. Hell, most people would have simply left once I hung up with Ruby."

"I'm not most people, love." Killian told her, marveling at how the morning sun was dancing across her hair, making it light up like a halo around her head. "The second you mentioned Henry, I knew that the lad meant the world to you. So naturally, his illness equates to your world crashing down around you. I have the means to help you, Emma. And I feel as though it is my duty, as a gentlemen and as someone who enjoys spending time with children, for me to assist you."

"You have a way with words, Killian Jones." Emma grinned, staring up into Killian's blue eyes and finding herself rather dazed. "I truly cannot thank you enough for what you do."

"I just hope that I did not overstep my boundaries this morning." Killian said suddenly, worry etched into his face. Seeing Emma's confused expression, he continued, "Well I woke up this morning and found Henry awake and staring at me. I said hello and introduced myself as Mommy's friend. He seemed rather troubled about his current state, so I explained to him why we were here and that he was safe. I was going to wake you up, but the lad insisted that wasn't a good idea because you should sleep. So I offered to take him out of the room and watch traffic, as a change of scenery."

"There's only one thing wrong with your story." Emma replied, shaking her head in response to Killian's bemused face, "You should have introduced as Mommy's special friend. I have a few friends, but intend to only have one special one."

"As you wish, love." Killian said, grabbing her hand and stroking her fingers as they waited for Henry to return.

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"Yes mom, Henry is doing a lot better." Emma repeated to her mother, later that day, for what seemed like the hundredth time.

"But are you sure?" Mary Margaret questioned, her voice becoming shrill at the end of her query. "He's still quite young Emma, I'm concerned."

"Mom, he's eating soup and they've completely taken him off of the medications that control vomiting and nausea. He's better." Emma promised, running a hand through her long blonde hair in frustration.

"Well, alright." Mary Margaret relented, still worried about her grandson, "But please do call me if anything changes."

"I will, Mom." Emma replied, a small smile gracing her face, "Thank you for caring."

"Oh Emma," her mother breathed, "it's my job to care. And please know that if you would ever like to come home for a weekend with Henry, our door is always open."

"Love you Mom." Emma said, as she hung up the phone and turned to Henry, "Grandma and Grandpa say that they love you."

"I love them too." Henry smiled, happily eating his chicken soup and playing cars with Ruby. Killian had quickly run home to deal with a work-related matter and Elsa had mysteriously vanished about 30 minutes, stating that she needed to run to the gift shop to find something for Henry. Emma was not entirely convinced that Elsa was looking for a gift Henry, rather, for herself: the tall, dark-haired, doctor kind. Of course Ruby maintained the same conviction and Emma burst out laughing when the brunette stated so, leaving her young son completely confused.

"Well, good news." Jefferson declared, as he entered the room, with Elsa trailing behind him, looking completely pleased with herself. "Henry is free to go."

"Really?" Henry squealed, almost tipping over his soup, which Ruby caught in the nick of time. "Thank you Jeff!"

"It's no problem, buddy." Jefferson replied, ruffling Henry's hair. "How about Ruby and Elsa help you change in the bathroom and I'll quickly talk to your Mommy?"

"Okay." Henry agreed, before racing to the bathroom, Ruby and Elsa dutifully following the young boy with a change of clothes.

"So I believe that we were dealing with a rather harsh virus." Jefferson stated, getting straight to the point once the bathroom door closed. "Sometimes children can have violent reactions to illnesses like this, and unfortunately Henry was one of them."

"Did his ultrasound reveal anything?" Emma questioned the doctor, pushing her hair out of her face.

"It was completely normal." Jefferson informed Emma, before placing a piece of paper in front of her, "I wrote everything down, but just so you know: continue giving him soups until tomorrow evening, then try giving him a few crackers. He'll be rather fatigued over the next few days, but that should pass. If he does vomit again or if his fever returns, report back here immediately."

"Thank you again." Emma smiled, before a frown appeared on her face, "I'm just not sure how much my insurance covers this hospital visit."

"Oh didn't you know?" Jefferson asked, giving Henry and Ruby a high five and Elsa a soft smile as they exited the bathroom. "Killian took care of everything. Have a good evening, you have my number."

"No, I didn't." Emma whispered, stunned by this new revelation, as she packed up Henry's backpack for their trip home.

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Hi guys! First off, I just wanted to say thank you so much! I love reading your comments; you're all so kind! Thank you again! Sorry for the abrupt ending, but the next chapter picks up with Emma's reaction to Killian's gesture along with her taking up Mary Margaret's idea to come home. Storybrooke goodness is coming! Also, how great was the premiere? I love how the Queens of Darkness are being incorporated into the past and present lives of the main characters, just awesome. Please keep your reviews coming and I'll see you guys next weekend!