I am so sorry for the long delay on my update to this CSRomCom18 version of While You Were Sleeping. It definitely wasn't my intent to stay away from the story this long! The good news is, this is the halfway point, and I hope to have the second half up in much quicker succession. As we pick back up, Emma is about to have dinner with the Jones family, and though they aren't the soon-to-be in-laws they think, she finds herself wishing they could be…

Hope you enjoy (and as always, I don't own CS or the original movie, but I would love to hear what you think of this retelling!)

By: TutorGirlml

Captain Swan is my Favorite RomCom: "While You Were Sleeping"

Part Four

As it turned out, Killian Jones, middle son of the family that was rapidly trying to envelop her in their warm, enthusiastic embrace and make her one of their own; a skilled craftsman, she had learned – specializing in handcrafted old-time sailing ships and boat repair – and ludicrous flirt ("Why yes, Swan, you've guessed it. That does make me quite good with my hands," was still silently making her chuckle to herself) was also incredibly easy to be around. She felt the conversation flow between them naturally and well, which was a rare feat in her limited experience. She found was genuinely enjoying his company much more than she would have imagined.

By the time they reached his parents' farm, Emma knew more about him than the co-workers and acquaintances she had seen almost every day for three years, and she was sure she had inadvertently let him see more of who she truly was than she had let slip to anyone, possibly ever since she had lost the listening ear and quiet understanding of Ingrid, her adoptive mother.

In fact, as they tramped through the snow covering the long, meandering drive to reach the shoveled front walk at his parents', they were laughing together at her own expense about how Emma hadn't wanted to put his family out or for them to go to any extra effort on her account, but somehow couldn't manage to turn them down either. "Oh aye," he'd chuckled, nodding his head in agreement and bringing a calloused hand up to scratch behind his ear in a seemingly unconscious gesture of embarrassment. "Once Mum and Grammy Ruth team up on you, you don't stand a chance of resisting. They're rather a force of nature."

By that time, he was opening the front door – just as she guffawed loudly at his apt statement, ending in a surprising and undignified snort that shot her eyes wide and sent a blush spreading over her cheeks.

Killian's eyebrow jumped in response at her unguarded and more than a bit endearing slip, pleased more than he had any right to be that she seemed at ease when she had appeared so nervous upon his arrival at her apartment earlier, and feeling a troubling warmth in his chest from enjoyment of her company. Trying to brush aside the affection he felt blooming within for his brother's intended, Killian laughed along with her heartily, the sound alerting his family in the other room of their arrival.

His mother was the first to appear in the entryway, hurrying out to greet Emma with open arms, gathering her in an exuberantly tight, welcoming hug, exclaiming how glad she was to see her again, and how much they all would have missed her if she hadn't come. Emma was still dumbfounded by Margaret Jones' welcome acceptance – no one had ever wanted her around that much, and now a half dozen near-strangers seemed to want to absorb her right into their family, no questions asked. Which only made the fact that she wasn't the fiancé they believed her to be prick her guilty conscience all the more. Blinking dazedly, she slowly brought her arms up to hug the petite, dark-headed woman in return, moving almost as if she were on autopilot.

Still chuckling lightly, Killian reached out to place a hand on his mother's shoulder as he joked, "Ease up, Mum. I know you're glad to see her, but let Emma breathe."

Margaret released her to shoot a playful glare at her son, before swatting at him and retorting, "Oh, hush you! I don't think our Emma is going to break."

She then winked at Emma conspiratorially as if they truly were old friends or actual family and ushered them on into the house to the dining room, where her husband, her youngest, her mother-in-law and Graham all greeted them with equal enthusiasm. Meanwhile, Emma found herself swallowing hard around a considerable lump in her throat and struggling mightily not to let fall the tears stinging in the corner of her eyes at the display of such warmth. Other than with Ingrid, she had never felt so included, so part of a family group, and though she knew she shouldn't let herself grow attached, Emma couldn't help savoring it for the moment, for whatever time she had to experience what most people were simply born having. She'd be on the outside again when they learned the truth, no doubt, but rather than fighting their welcome, she'd enjoy not being the lost girl while she could.

Dinner was a loud, impressive, chaotic affair with snatches of at least four different, unrelated conversation topics wafting throughout, up and down the table, interrupting and overlapping each other merrily. For her own part, Emma mostly listened raptly, eyes twinkling with mirth, and shoving more mashed potatoes into her mouth whenever she feared bursting into laughter at the barely contained riot around her.

Killian's regular glances shot at her from his place catty-corner to her at the long table, looking as though he were about to break up laughing himself and occasionally adding varied tidbits to the conversational flow, which had run everywhere from the merits of classical actors such as John Wayne and Cesar Romero all the way to the imports and exports of Argentina. It was enough to make Emma's head spin - though in a good way - as she was used to the lonely silence of her own apartment, usually only broken by Tink's low purrs as she settled on Emma's lap or the drone of the tv she sometimes turned on for a bit of background noise. She realized while grinning back at Killian mischievously when he winked at her across his parents' table, as if signaling that they were in on an inside joke together, that she liked it immensely. Now that she saw for herself what this sort of family dinner was like, Emma knew she would miss it when it was gone.

With the meal finished, Emma tried to help clear the dishes and offered to aid in the washing, but neither Margaret nor Ruth would hear of any such thing, and so she was left to wander into the hall as the rest of the family made their way toward the living room. She hesitated, torn and knowing she ought to head home before she got anymore attached to these people or said something stupid to blow her cover, but she genuinely didn't want to leave.

As if sensing her inner conflict, Killian followed her into the hall and lingered unobtrusively, not pushing but merely wanting to be nearby if she decided she needed something from him.

Emma at last made up her mind, reminding herself that she did have work yet again the next morning - after all, someone without any real family pulled int a lot of overtime during the holiday season - and that she needed to get her life back into some semblance of normality, and heaved a reluctant sigh. Turning to face Killian, who was still waiting there at her elbow, she looked up at him hopefully. "Think you could give me a lift back to my place before long?" she questioned.

Nodding easily, Killian assured her he was nearly ready to head out as well. "Let's just say our farewells, and we can go," he assured. His smile was warm, and he appeared not the least bit annoyed, though Emma couldn't help worrying that she was taking him from his family before he had wanted to leave.

"Hey, you lot!" he called out, leaning into the other room where the bulk of the Jones clan had gathered. "Emma and I are going." The jovial grin that split his handsome face when he glanced back at Emma amidst the outpouring of exclamations and movement his words caused, made it clear he had known they would all protest she stay longer and want to say goodbye to her.

Emma was swallowed once more in a chorus of affectionate chatter and a jostling circle of hugs and handshakes. Her heart warmed especially when Killian's father, David, gathered her close in a strong, silent embrace for several moments; his large hand unexpectedly cradling the back of her head protectively and making her feel for one wistful, poignant moment as if she too had a father and was now one of his children. No words were needed as he pressed his mouth chastely to her forehead a fleeting second, the weight of the action telling Emma just how much it meant, even before his choked whisper of "Thank you, Emma. You saved my son's life...and...I will,,,,never forget it."

She was blinking back tears of her own then, unused to such gestures or even feeling so genuinely as if she mattered to others, that they saw her and would miss her once she left. She nodded her understanding to David Jones as she pulled away, offering a wobbly smile in return and blinking rapidly, not honestly sure how to express what his heartfelt gratitude meant to her.

Smiling a bit sheepishly himself, Liam and Killian's father ducked his head slightly, likely realizing his actions might have been a bit overwhelming, and reached out a hand to shake hers instead. "Until we see you next," he said warmly.

Emma flushed, taking his offered hand and squeezing it tightly in return, hoping to convey the same affection, even if she was a bit awkward at accepting such an unaccustomed boon. "Til then," she affirmed happily, before the middle-aged man moved back to let his wife envelop her in yet one more enthusiastic hug.

As she and Killian eventually reached the entryway, pausing at the door to retrieve coats and scarves before going back out in the increasing wind and snow, Nick called out from where the rest of the family stood waving them goodbye. "Hey, hold up, guys! No getting off that easy. You're standing right under the mistletoe!"

Emma glanced up in sudden surprise to see the strategically placed sprig of greenery for herself, just as Killian looked down to her with embarrassed chagrin - an apology for his family's ridiculous shenanigans already on the tip of his tongue. The quick movement from both of them lead to her knocking his chin against the top of her head, unbalancing them both a bit with the dizzying hit and making them each wince a little in pain as well.

"Nicholas Jones, shame on you!" Ruth scolded, with only mildly admonishing grandmother's affection. "You've flustered them both. She's Liam's fiance for heaven's sake."

The teenager scowled only a moment at his fun being ruined by not holding them to the rules, but it was a quickly passing stormcloud. His expression cleared again, he bid Emma one more hasty farewell, and then he bounded upstairs, clearly in search of better entertainment.

Emma found her eyes sliding anxiously away from Killian's as he ushered her from the increasingly warm house, a guiding hand at the small of her back, pink still hotly staining the apples of her cheeks. Thankfully, they were soon on the outside walk once more, the brisk, chill wind cooling her flushed face. She snuck a quick, curious look at her companion, wondering if he'd felt as put on the spot as she had, and hoping he didn't think she had encouraged the teasing or acted out of line in regards to the loyalty she owed his comatose older brother. It did her heart good to see him once more scratching at his ear awkwardly, letting her know he was at least as flustered as she was, but didn't seem to be directing any blame or frustration toward her.

Dropping her eyes again, Emma wanted to berate herself harshly. Why did it matter what Killian thought? It wasn't as if she would actually become a part of his wonderful family; she and Liam weren't really engaged. Plus, it was Liam she had been watching for so long from afar, Liam she had wished to know better and dreamed of winning over. Her thoughts circled round and round in messy, tangled knots as she tried to unravel the events and feelings unearthed in the last two days.

Almost without her notice, they had reached Killian's pickup at the curb, bringing her to a surprised halt and sharpening her dazed senses back into focus. She nearly stumbled, reaching a hand out to steady herself on the cold metal door of the weathered truck.

"Easy there," Killian soothed, coming to a stop at her side. His head tilted as he studied her more carefully. "What is it, Emma? You looked like you were a million miles away."

Flustered, Emma tried to avoid his piercing gaze, feeling as if those blue eyes could see right into the center of her, reading her every thought with an accuracy she had never encountered before and wasn't sure how to handle. She shook her head, hoping to feign offhandedness and shift his focus. "It's nothing, really. Sorry, were you saying something I missed?"

"Not of any importance," he huffed lightly, shaking his head at her stubbornness, even as he also had to admire it. He could tell something ate at her, that the charming ticket taker his brother had merited the good fortune to meet first needed to unburden herself; yet, he could also already see that pushing her would do him no good.

Emma had just exhaled a tiny sigh of relief when he moved closer, the warmth of his breath in the chilly night air ghosting over her cheeks and standing so near that the toes of his scuffed work boots were practically touching her own softer Ugg-style footwear. Bending slightly to look her right in the eyes once more, Killian's voice was a low hum seeping into her very pores like warm syrup and stopping the air in her throat. She could actually feel the heat of his words on her skin as they sunk into her conscience.

"It would seem you are the one who needs to talk but are not quite ready to do so…" he whispered, as if he truly could read her mind. He raised a hand to hold her off as she started to interrupt and deny the fact. "Ah, ah, let me finish, Swan. You can keep your secrets. Just know I am actually quite perceptive. There's something you aren't saying, and yet…" he paused for effect, sensing that she was tongue tied and no longer even trying to stop him as she stared back transfixed. He winked at her rakishly, a tiny, taunting smile curving his lips before he added, "I'm choosing to see the best in you."

Left floundering for some sort of sensible response, Emma gaped at him while he straightened once more before reaching around her to open her door, and then closing it behind her gently once she had clambered up into the seat - still breathless and befuddled. Killian left her field of vision as he walked around behind the truck to the driver's side, While he couldn't see her, Emma pressed a steadying hand to her stomach, puffing out a flustered breath and aiming to slow her racing heart. What was wrong with her? Why was she reacting this way? She shouldn't be so shaken at his merely speaking soft and low in her presence. Killian wasn't the one she had believed herself in love with over the past several months, and he should not be scattering her thoughts now. Nor should she feel herself wanting to turn to him right there and tell him everything…

His door opened, and Killian hopped into the seat next to her, giving her an open, kind smile; the knowing confidence of moments before past, and a gentle understanding once more in its place. He turned the key in the ignition and spoke up playfully as they started down the long driveway and back toward the city, "Well then, let's get you home before you turn into a pumpkin, shall we?"

Emma offered him the best smile she could muster at the way he waggled his eyebrows, clearly hoping to make her laugh and put her at ease again. Her mind was still reeling though, and if she had thought she was confused before, it was clear to her now that was only the beginning.