Tumblr Prompt: Emma and Henry fight over who should spend time with Killian!?

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Henry Daniel Mills was angry. Well, perhaps angry wasn't the correct word. More like perturbed. Yes, even though it was probably nerdy, he was going to go with the word perturbed (he was the Author now, after all, he should be able to use big fancy words). And who was the person who was responsible for his mood? None other than his blonde-haired mother, Emma Swan.

Usually he and Emma got along really well. She looked out for him, but wasn't too strict; she was his mom at the same time that she was his friend. He wasn't annoyed with her because she was refusing to let him do something, nor was he annoyed with her because she was trying to get him to do something that he didn't want to do. No, the reason he was frustrated with her had nothing to do with things like X-Box privileges or bedtimes. He was perturbed with her because she was hogging a certain one-handed pirate, and keeping said pirate all to herself.

He understood that his mom wanted to spend time alone with her boyfriend. He really did (although he preferred not to think about it). And it wasn't like they didn't spend time all together as a family. Trips to Granny's as well as voyages on the Jolly Roger were common activities for them. But was it too much to ask for some "guy time" with the man who was practically his stepfather? Henry certainly didn't think so.

So when Emma came into his room to tell him that she and Killian had a date planned for that afternoon, Henry couldn't let it go any longer. He told his mom very calmly (although also very bitterly) that he would appreciate it if she would cancel the date so that he could spend some time with Killian. He told her that she always got to spend time with the pirate (especially while he was at Regina's), while he rarely ever did.

"What do you mean you never get to spend time with him?" Emma asked exasperatedly once he had finished. "We just went sailing yesterday!"

"I meant alone with him. We need to have some 'guy time,' Mom!" he said exasperatedly.

Pretty soon, their little disagreement escalated into a full-on argument. There was some yelling, and a pillow might have even been thrown at one point. Henry realized that they were handling the situation in a way that was far below even his maturity level. He supposed that the fact that they were both inherently stubborn in nature probably had something to do with it. However, both of them were snapped out of their fight when they heard someone clearing their throat loudly.

Killian stood leaning up against the doorframe, one eyebrow raised and a disapproving yet amused expression upon his face. He gave them a look that clearly said work this out before turning around and sauntering down the hallway.

As soon as he was gone, Emma looked at him guiltily. "Okay," she said after a moment's pause. "I'll admit that I maybe do get to spend a little more time with him than you. If it's okay with him, you guys can spend the afternoon together before Regina comes to get you. By yourselves."

Henry grinned and started for the door. Just before he reached it he turned around and ran back across the room to envelop Emma in one of his signature bear hugs. "Thanks, Mom," he whispered as she hugged him back tightly.

"You're welcome, kid," she said softly as she broke the hug and ruffled his hair. "Now go," she said, nudging him towards the door. "You don't want to waste any of your 'guy time' here with me."

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Later that night, as they watched Netflix on the couch (Henry had been dropped off at Regina's about an hour earlier), Emma couldn't help but notice the large grin plastered across her pirate's face, which remained there for the entirety of the movie. When it finally ended, she turned to face him, asking him what it was that had him in such a good mood.

"While I wish that it hadn't resulted in an argument," he said as she blushed, "it's nice to know that I'm wanted. For a very long time, it felt like no one wanted me, that they only tolerated me out of necessity," he continued, his smile disappearing. Emma's own grin turned into a frown as he spoke. For a moment, he looked more vulnerable than she had ever seen him before. For just a brief second, he truly looked like the little lost boy that hid under the tough pirate exterior.

They sat there in silence before he met her eyes once again, and a small smile returned to his face. "But today showed me that I am loved, and that I don't have to worry about being alone again. And I couldn't be more grateful to you and Henry for that."

Emma blinked back tears, suddenly overcome with emotion. Not knowing how to respond in words, she leaned forward and pressed her lips to his in a gentle kiss. They had both endured many years alone, but now they had each other (and Henry, of course). Even though they might get into arguments from time to time, they had each found something that made every single fight (no matter how petty or ridiculous it was) worth it: a family.