She was never going to admit it. Not to the two smug Joneses and her even more self-satisfied son, all currently busy on the deck of the boat, but Operation Velociraptor would go down in history as the boys' most successful scheme of all time. And they would never let her forget it.
Now, more often than not, she was greeted after work with a firm arm around her waist, a press of Killian's lips to hers, and groans from the boys as their heads ducked quickly back down to their books, continuing with their homework. Dinner was set for four whenever the schedules would allow, and their lives settled into a more comfortable routine than Emma had ever known.
She kept her promise, and joined the boys on the boat sometimes, but often felt like an interloper. This was Killian's time with Liam and her son, and she had no intention of getting in the way.
Sitting off to the side, enjoying the sun and the breeze, every once in awhile she'd hear a call of "Emma, look over here," or "Mom, watch this." The boys were so proud of everything Killian had been teaching them. Not only did she love watching them work together, but she loved catching Killian's eye over the boys' heads, sharing a knowing smile.
Despite the camaraderie of everyone on board at the moment, the day had not started out so pleasantly. It was meant to be just another excursion for Killian and his first mates. All until Liam found his father's cremains in the hall closet. Emma had been woken up at an ungodly hour by the boy sobbing, holding the box from the crematorium.
"Emma." She blinked, looking at the clock and groggily taking in the angry and weeping boy standing by her bed holding out a box wrapped in butcher paper. It had been forever since Liam had cried. Not that she would judge him. He was young and had lost his father, but this anger was something new.
"Liam, it's early. Shouldn't you have left with Killian already?"
"No, and I'm not going with him." His answer defiant as he crawled up in bed next to her, box still firmly in hand.
She took a deep breath before asking. "What's wrong? What's in the box?" He didn't answer, and she looked over at the label and put all the pieces together. "Oh, Liam." She put her arm around him, and let him sink into her side.
"He was just up in the closet, Emma. Up on the shelf."
She smoothed out his hair and dropped a kiss to his head. "I'm sorry kid. I know this is tough." Letting him stew as she tried to wake herself, she used the time to think through any number of scenarios that might fix the situation.
She'd never discussed Brennan's remains with Killian, but she figured that doing anything with them had been the last thing on his mind taking into account the bombshell that had been dropped on him at the news of his father's death. And given their relationship, shoving him in the closet might have seemed as much as the man deserved. But she knew better than that. He was the type of man who would see the box in there every time he opened the closet, and that box would weigh heavily on him, knowing eventually it was something to be dealt with.
Dropping another kiss to his head, she climbed out of bed. "Why don't you stay in here for a minute. I'll go talk to your brother."
She found Killian on her couch, looking at the blank TV.
"I didn't mean to just leave him up there, Swan." He kept looking at the TV, not sparing her a glance or a good morning kiss as she seated herself next to him on the sofa. "I just couldn't figure out what to do. It's not like I can put him in a vase and look at him on a shelf every day."
"I know, babe." He put his head down on her shoulder. "But there's a very upset little boy in my room right now, desperate to not have his father in a cardboard box shoved in the hall closet." She heard him sigh, as he fully acknowledged his brother and girlfriend were in the right.
"What do you suggest I do?"
"I think you should ask Liam what he wants. This is for him, Killian. Whatever works for him, you suck it up and make it work. If he wants to put Brennan in a vase and put him on a shelf in the living room, well, maybe you can suggest it go in his room." At this Killian rolled his eyes, but she continued. "But I think you two can figure it out." By the end of this she'd already stood up and was tugging him up off the couch.
"Go, talk. I'm going to go wake up my lazybones of a son. I'll even make breakfast."
He leaned in to kiss her. "Please, Swan. Haven't I suffered enough this morning? I deserve more than cereal."
Rolling her eyes, she pushed him into her room, standing at the door only a moment to listen to the conversation.
It didn't start well. Liam was too upset to hear anything Killian had to say.
"Lad, it wasn't as though I was trying to upset you. I just didn't know what to do with him. I couldn't figure it out."
The boy wouldn't look at him.
"We need to talk about this. What do you think we should do? We can have your father buried, and have a funeral. That way there's someplace for you to go visit. We can buy something for you to keep him in, in your room so he's always close. Or we can scatter his ashes somewhere that you and your father thought was special maybe? I don't know, those are just some of the options. You might have a better idea."
Liam seemed to perk up a bit as Killian started to lay out plans, realizing that his brother really did want to make this better. Scrubbing away snot with the back of his hand, he spoke up quietly. "I like the scattering his ashes idea." Killian was instantly relieved. That would be far easier than having him buried, and he would never have to see or dust around an urn.
"Alright, where are you thinking, lad? Anyplace particular? Football field? Park you went to? I don't know, anyplace?"
The boy's eyes were shining by this point. "Out on the boat. That's where Dad would want to be. Out on the water."
Killian closed his eyes momentarily, letting the idea sink in. He could remember just a bit of his father's joy at being on the water, and he nodded, realizing that it would be perfect. "Aye, lad. That he would."
When the two emerged from her room, Emma was happy to see that the blow up had been resolved. She knew the fights were natural, she and Henry had proved that over the years, but she still hated to see them.
Liam came over trying to sneak bacon as he explained the plan for the day. "We're going to take my dad's ashes out on the boat today and spread them on the water. Can you come, Emma?"
She looked down at the boy she loved so much, and thought about how much Brennan's death had brought to her life. She owed her friend more than he would ever know. "Of course I will. If you want me there, I'm there." She looked over at Killian, to ensure that he wanted her there as well. The look she got explained without words that he couldn't do it without her.
The makeshift ceremony was brief, each passenger saying a bit about what they remembered most about Brennan. Even Henry chimed in, talking about the epic pillow forts he helped them build. That got a chuckle out of the adults, and even somber Liam cracked a smile.
When it came time for Killian to speak, Emma reached over to take his hand.
"The last time I saw my dad I was a very young boy. My memories are distant and clouded. If I were to see him again right now, I don't even know anymore what I would say. Except this, thank you. Thank you for my brothers. Both of them. I don't know what I would have done without Liam when I was young. And I don't know what I would do without Liam now. I loved you. And I love them. And thank you."
Emma noticed that he referred to the younger boy as Liam, and not Junior. It was something that had been happening more and more often. She never wanted to point it out to him, knowing that somehow, he would take it to mean he was forgetting the elder Liam. But it meant something to Emma, seeing the younger boy join the brother he put on the pedestal so many years ago.
Liam ripped open the package and unceremoniously dumped the contents over the side of the boat, before Killian could finish his warning about moving downwind. They were spared, just barely, but all a little shaken by what could have been.
Without the boys in attendance, Emma was sure the day would have remained somber. But with their shared exuberance, the morning's angst and activities were forgotten in the quest for adventure at sea.
Watching as Killian yelled for them to duck under the boom, and they bowed far more than their heights required, she chuckled. Yes, this was a life Emma Swan was happy to get used to.
The next morning, Killian walked in with a sniffling Liam, the blue of his eyes only more pronounced by the red hue of the whites. It was a rare weekend when there had been no sleepover, of the adult or pre-teen kind. Killian was planning on taking the boys to a friend's birthday party, leaving Emma the day to herself to catch up on work.
"What's wrong?" She could tell by the look on Killian's face, and by Liam's appearance that something wasn't right.
"He's burning up and says it hurts to talk. I think he's sick. I don't know what to do, Swan."
"Come here, kid." She walked over to the couch and motioned for Liam to join her. Sitting him down, her hand to his forehead, she immediately knew he was running a temperature. "He's definitely sick. Liam how about you stay home with me today, okay? Do you want to lie down out here or in bed in my room? You can watch TV out here quietly, or just sleep in there."
"Out here with you." His answer was so quiet and pitiful she leaned over and hugged him, hoping she could bring him some comfort.
"I'm sorry, Swan. I know you need to get work done. I can drop Henry off and come back for him."
"It's okay, Killian. I think I can handle a puny kid for the day."
Henry came running into the room and stopped in his tracks to see his best friend lying on the couch.
"What's wrong with you?"
Liam didn't even try to respond.
"He's sick. Killian's going to take you to the party still. So behave for him, okay kid?"
"Yes, mom." Henry rolled his eyes. "I'll bring you back a party favor, okay?" was all he said to Liam as he left.
She plied the boy with tylenol and got him comfortable, starting a cartoon. "Need anything else, kid?"
He looked up at her with his big blue eyes, and if he weren't truly sick the look would have been pathetic. "Can you get me my comic book from my room?"
"Sure thing." She leaned over and dropped a kiss to his forehead, smoothing out his hair.
She didn't mean to snoop, but it wasn't often that she had reason to go into his room at Killian's apartment. Oh but she heard about it. It was the one on-going battle between the brothers. Liam was a slob, something she had known from day one. Killian was obsessively neat, which Emma had come to learn all too quickly the first time she set an empty glass down only to have it snatched away to the dishwasher immediately. While the boy had always done his best to stay on the right side of his brother's wishes when it came to items in the living room, his bedroom was a different story.
Looking around, Emma couldn't believe that Killian hadn't already marched in with trash bags, a threat she'd heard uttered on a frequent basis. There was garbage everywhere. Toys everywhere. Dirty clothing everywhere. She could only imagine what the fights she hadn't been witness to must have sounded like.
She took a moment to appreciate the bulletin board hanging above Liam's desk, full of pictures of Liam and Brennan, Liam and Killian, and various pairings including Henry and herself. There were ticket stubs to movies and sporting events. Everything they'd taken the boys to do since he moved in with Killian. Nothing could have put a bigger smile on her face. Looking down to find the comic, she noticed a beat up piece of paper peeking out from under it labeled My Brother. She didn't want to pry, but she couldn't pass up a peek into the boy's brain.
Liam Jones
Classroom 4
My brother Killian says that I was named for our older brother Liam Jones, and that Liam was the best man he ever knew. Liam and Killian's mother died when they were little, just like my mom did, and our dad wasn't around for them. Our older brother Liam raised him. He said Liam was his brother, dad and best friend all at the same time. Everytime he talks about Liam, he tells me about how funny, brave and smart he was. Liam did everything for him and took care of him. But if that's what makes Liam the best man, then my brother Killian is the best man. I was sad when my dad died, because I loved my dad. I still miss my dad. But Killian let me come live with him. And he does everything for me. Killian wanted to be just like Liam when he grew up. And I want to be just like Killian.
Emma choked up immediately while reading the essay, but could not stop smiling. Killian needed to see this. She snuck it into the back pocket of her jeans, fully intending to return it to exactly where she found it as soon as possible.
She handed Liam his book when she walked in, and then snuck into her bedroom to hide the note until Killian got home. When she returned to the couch, she cuddled up with the boy, and hugged him just a little bit tighter.
"Did you have a good time, lad?" Killian got a shrug and an 'I guess' from the younger Swan. He was surprised. The games had looked like fun.
He would much rather have joined the children if he were being honest. Dealing with the adults had tried his patience. His arrival with Emma's son, and not his own brother, triggered a look on the hostess's face she could barely conceal.
"Well, isn't that nice of you to bring Henry for Emma. I'm so sorry Liam couldn't join, though. What was Emma doing that she couldn't bring Henry herself, not that we're sorry to see you?"
"She's watching him at home. I think he much preferred to cuddle up with her than with me. "
He saw that word home register on the woman's face, as though she were putting the pieces together. Wherever Emma and the boys were did happen to be his home, whichever apartment, so the word fit.
He spent the rest of the party trying to avoid all of the other parents, standing off to the side, quite unsuccessfully. Every once in awhile a father would find him and congratulate him on bagging the Swan mom, commenting on how hot she was. Killian would shoot them down with a look, and move along. What was even more troubling were the comments he would overhear from the mothers when they didn't know he was nearby.
"So, it seems Emma snagged the Jones brother. I always figured she was after Brennan, but the younger model is so much better."
"Plus, I hear he has money. Nice catch for a foster kid, teen mom with a jail record."
It took everything in him not to snap at the women, but that hardly would have helped Emma, or the boys. How they'd even found out about her past he didn't know, but he was sure Emma had never been after Brennan, nor was she with him now for his money. It was something they never even discussed. But he certainly now had a much clearer picture of why Emma had never tried to make friends within the classroom parents, and why she was friends with Brennan. These people were awful. It didn't mean he would give up on Emma expanding her social circle, but he would never again suggest Emma try to make friends with anyone here.
"Just an 'I guess?' There was a water balloon fight, and you've got quite a large treat bag there for yourself. I would say it was a success."
He shrugged again. "It's just not as much fun without Liam."
"Well, you're right about that. I think that about you, your mom, and Junior. Everything's better with you three."
Henry turned to him and grinned, with a mischievous look on his face. "So why do we live in two different apartments?"
"Oh no you don't, lad. This will not be the next operation. Your mother and I will take this at our own pace. YOU, young man, will stay out of it." But he put his arm around the young boy's shoulder as they continued down the block.
Henry was on a full sugar high when they returned, giving Liam his party favor and relaying the events at a feverish pace. For a boy who guessed he had a good time, there was an awful lot to tell.
Emma grabbed Killian's hand, leading him into her room and leaving the boys to investigate their loot.
"Swan, you missed me this much? I'll leave more often," he said with a wink, pulling her in for a kiss.
"Mmmm," she groaned a little, letting herself give in to his distraction temporarily. "While I don't one bit mind the attention, Jones, that is not why I pulled you in here." She handed him the paper. "I think you should read this. I found it in Liam's room when I went in to get a book for him.
She watched his face as he read, and saw as the tears started to form in the corners of his eyes. Grabbing his hand, she pulled the paper away just as one was about to fall and hit the words.
"Don't! He might notice something's wrong if I put it back with tear stains all over it."
"You can't put it back." He looked at the paper as though it were the most precious thing in the world. "I'll never see it again if it goes back into that pigsty." She could see the panic as it spread across his face.
"But Killian, what if he looks for it and can't find it?"
"It will serve him right and maybe he'll learn to clean up his room." She dropped her head to his chest, chuckling. "I'm keeping this, Emma. I need to." His tone was firm. She watched as he looked at the page, reading the words again before carefully folding the paper and slipping it into his wallet.
When they returned to the living room, the boys were zoned out in front of the television, Henry coming down from the sugar, and Liam having expended any energy he had in talking to Henry. Killian sat down next to Liam, pulling the boy's head into his lap so he could stroke his hair. Liam would never know it, but that note had bought him at least a week of detente over the state of his room.
