Thanks for the reviews, follows and favorites!

Okay, I've neglected this story for way too long but I finally wrote the last chapter. Yep, the story is complete and you should prepare yourself! Expect some fluffiness and sappiness. Like always! No last chapter without fluff! :-)

I hope you enjoy!


Chapter 8

She woke up enveloped in a cocoon of warmth. His arm was wrapped tightly around her, his legs entangled with hers, his breath was brushing over her skin and she let out a soft sigh, snuggling deeper into his embrace.

Her muscles ached as she stretched her legs and she groaned softly, a smile spreading out on her face as she recalled the activities leading to the soreness of her whole body.

"Good morning, love."

"Morning!" She replied softly, turning in his arms to face him. One corner of his mouth tilted up as he gave her a lazy smile, sleep still clouding his eyes as his fingers brushed over her hip and as she was watching him she suddenly realized that she hardly knew him and without thinking about it she blurted out. "Tell me something!"

"What do you wanna know, love?" He rasped, his hand slipping to her back, trailing up and down her spine.

"Tell me something no one else knows!" Emma whispered, tangling her fingers into his hair.

She felt him stiffen, saw the pain flickering over his face, his body shivering under her hands and he gulped hard, closing his eyes, pressing his mouth into a tight line.

"Killian?" Emma brushed her fingers over his scruff, already regretting asking him. "You don't have to ..."

"I had a brother." Killian said softly, interrupting her and he opened his eyes slowly, his hand tightening against her skin. "I adored him."

"What happened?"

"My father abandoned me when I was very young. My mother died in childbirth. And ... I was only ten when my father left me. I had to live the life of a thief to survive until Liam found me."

"He searched for you."

"Aye, he did." Killian told her, the love for his lost brother shining out of his eyes. "He raised me and when I was old enough I joined the Navy, sailing under his command."

"You were a navy lieutenant?" Emma asked, the surprise about his revelation clearly evident in her voice.

"Aye, I was." Killian replied, letting out a soft chuckle. "All righteous and following orders. Condemning drinking."

"So no rum?" Emma said teasingly.

"I know it's hard to imagine."

Emma waited for him to continue but after several minutes of silence she asked softly. "You became a pirate after his death?"

He didn't say anything for a few minutes and Emma thought he wouldn't answer her at all as he suddenly spoke again.

"We were sailing to Neverland on the orders of our king to find a plant that could cure any disease. Dreamshade." His voice started to quiver and she reached for his hand, entwining her fingers with his, hoping to give him the strength he needed to finish and after taking in a deep breath he continued. "But it turned out to be not a cure but a poison, so deadly that whoever got into contact with its thorns would die an abruptly death."

"He died in Neverland?" She didn't even question him being in Neverland. Since meeting her son nothing surprised her anymore.

"Yes, he did. But a boy appeared telling me there is a cure. A spring whose water could bring him back to life. And it worked. He came back from the dead." He stopped for a few seconds, clearly struggling with his emotions and Emma felt her heart clench in her chest as he choked out. "But the moment we left Neverland the magic of the water ceased to work and … he died in my arms."

She didn't know what to say. She wanted to tell him that she was sorry but somehow the words seemed not enough to heal the obvious pain he was feeling about the loss. She didn't know how she could help him. She could only be there for him and listen.

He looked up at her then, his face contorted in grief and his voice was hoarse as he continued to speak. "I couldn't bear the thought to sail under the flag of a king who searched for a deadly weapon of the most horrible proportion. So I turned and with me my brother's crew and we became pirates."

He didn't meet her eyes, staring into space and she didn't want to interrupt his thoughts since he was clearly working through something in his mind but then he turned to her, his eyes suddenly taking on a mischievous gleam.

"It was a great life. I mean who doesn't want to be a pirate?" Killian joked but Emma didn't react and his smile faltered, his eyes turning serious again as he added. "Until I lost Milah."

"So you lost everyone you've cared about."

"Aye, everyone I ever loved died or abandoned me."

"I'm sorry."

"You didn't have an easy life either, love." Killian replied, remembering the one conversation in the dungeon when she had told him about her time in the foster system.

"No, I didn't." Emma breathed, her eyes falling to his chest, her fingers trailing along his chain. The emotions were almost choking her, her past trying to suffocate her and she knew she could tell him everything, knew she probably should tell him. Get it out in the open.

"I was shackled to the bed while I gave birth to Henry." Emma whispered. "I couldn't even look at him afterwards. I knew the moment I look at him I couldn't give him away. But I had to. He deserved a normal life. A happy life. I had nothing. I couldn't give him what he needed. But sometimes I imagine what if ... do you know what I mean? What if I had kept him with me? Would I have met my parents nonetheless? Would I have met you?"

"I don't know, love." He replied quietly. "We are connected in a very special way. I think we would have found each other even without you pressing your dagger against my throat."

"I'm sorry I couldn't trust you up on the beanstalk. I just couldn't risk it."

"I know, love. I know why you had to leave me there. I understand it now."

Her throat closed up as she looked into his eyes, the love she felt for him making her heart swell in her chest.

"Killian, I ..." She licked her lips, searching for the right words. "I ..."

"You don't have to say it, love. I know." Killian said softly, leaning forward to press a kiss on her forehead. "I know."

"But I want to say it. I want you to hear it." Emma insisted and she raised her hands, cupping his face, her voice quivering as she spoke softly. "I love you, Killian. I love you."

"I love you too, Emma." His hand slipped into her hair and he closed the gap between their mouths, sealing her lips with his, his breath brushing over her as he whispered against her skin. "I love you."

~K&E~

Two years later

"Killian, come on! You promised." Henry yanked at his shirt, trying to get him to stand up from the couch.

"What about David?" Killian asked. "I'm sure he would be elated to give you a sword lesson."

"But I want you." Henry said firmly. "You always show me some dirty tricks."

"Lower your voice, lad. We don't want your mother to find out, do we?"

Emma turned her head to hide her smile as she heard the two whispering in the living room. She knew for over a year now that Killian was teaching Henry some of his pirate tricks and hadn't said anything. After all she knew what they were getting into when she started a relationship with him. She didn't expect him to stop being a pirate all together. She hadn't wanted him to. After all he'd been a pirate when she fell in love with him.

They were still talking in hushed voices as she walked over to them, stopping in front of the couch table, waiting for them to look up at her before she spoke. "Henry, why don't you grab the swords and go to the park? Killian will join you soon. I just need to have a word with him first, okay?"

"But you'll come, right?" Henry asked eagerly, turning puppy dog eyes on Killian.

"Aye, lad." Killian chuckled upon seeing the look Henry gave him. "I'll join you in a bit."

"Awesome." Henry yelled, rushing over to the cupboard and yanking it open, he grabbed the two wooden swords and let them clatter to the floor as he reached for his jackets and boots, eager to get out of the apartment.

"What is it, love?" The moment Henry closed the door behind him Killian turned around, clear concern showing on his face. "Everything okay?"

"Yeah, everything is okay." Emma replied, not able to keep the smile of her face as she waved him towards her. "Actually I have a surprise for you. Come here!"

He walked over to her, her broad smile infectious and his mouth turned up into a lopsided grin as he stepped in front of her.

"Close your eyes!" Killian raised one eyebrow, his smirk turning cocky and Emma slapped her hand against his arm, huffing out under her breath. "We are not gonna do what you are thinking. You can reel your dirty mind in."

Killian waggled his eyebrows, leaning down to press a kiss against her lips, nibbling his way along her jaw to her earlobe, tugging at it gently with his teeth. "You sure you want me to stop?"

She tilted her head, giving him better access to her neck and she sighed softly as his mouth trailed a path down to her collarbone, his hand threading in her hair, his thumb brushing over her cheek while the other hand slipped under her shirt, his fingers caressing her stomach.

"Ah, I ..." Emma fumbled for words, his mouth and hands completely distracting her and for a second she contemplated letting him have his way and if she wouldn't be certain that Henry would probably disrupt them, searching for Killian, she might have given in but she pushed him away, chuckling slightly as he gave her an adorable pout. "Henry is waiting for you."

"Aye, what a pity!" Killian said huskily, his fingers still drawing lazy patterns over her stomach and she reached for his hand, stopping his movement.

"Just close your eyes."

He eyed her curiously for a second before he closed his eyes. He could feel her turn around and press her back against his body and then she pulled his arms around her waist, entwining their hands and pressing them against her stomach, her voice was barely audible as she whispered. "Look for yourself."

He had long lost count of how often he'd slipped into her mind and it took him only a second to connect with her.

What am I looking for?

Just feel!

Killian concentrated, trying to focus all his senses on her, shutting out everything from the outside that could distract him. He could hear her heart beat steadily but there was something else, something different, something strange. Something that hadn't been there the last time they had melted their minds. It wasn't only Emma in her body anymore. There was someone else with them in her body.

A baby?

She could feel his emotions mingling with hers, first shock and then an overwhelming joy rushing through her body.

We are having a baby?

Yes, Killian. We are having a baby.

He let his mind slip out of her body, turning her around in his arms, his hands coming up, cupping her face and he pulled her towards him, pressing a hard kiss on her lips before he leaned his forehead against hers.

"We are having a baby." He whispered, his voice sounding baffled as if he couldn't believe it.

"You are happy about it?" Emma couldn't help to ask.

"Happy?" Killian leaned back, showing her the huge smile on his face. "You can't measure my happiness, Emma. I never … I was never happier in my life than right now."

"I know you wanted a child of your own and I'm sorry you had to wait so long for ..."

He interrupted her by pressing a finger over her lips, his eyes turning soft as he told her. "I love Henry as if he were my own. You know that, Emma. And I love you. I never thought I could ever fall in love again. That was before I met you. I love you, Emma Jones."

Tears were streaming down her face and she let out a sound, half chuckle, half sob, wrapping her arms around him and burying her face in his chest, she spoke hoarsely. "I love you too, Killian Jones."

They stayed wrapped into a tight embrace for several minutes before Emma felt him stiffen and she leaned back curiously, studying his face, wondering what caused the worried expression on his face.

"What is it?"

"Henry won't be upset about it, will he?"

"I'm sure he'll be thrilled." Emma reassured him, not able to keep herself from smiling since he was so worried about Henry's reaction. "He needed time to accept you in our life but you know he adores you and he loves the fact that Captain Hook is his step-dad."

"Well, he was a little disappointed that I didn't wear the hook anymore after you've reattached my hand."

"But everyone in Storybrooke knows you were Captain Hook even without the hook and the rest of the world ... wouldn't believe it anyway."

"Were Captain Hook?" Killian asked, raising one eyebrow.

"Okay, I admit it." Emma replied, chuckling slightly. "The pirate still makes an appearance from time to time."

"Especially in the bedroom." Killian replied smugly.

"Yep, I never complain when he shows up there." Emma shot back, giving him a soft smile, choking up slightly as she continued. "But most of the time you are just Killian Jones. My husband and father of our unborn child."

"That I am." He said softly, his hand slipping down to settle protectively over her stomach and suddenly his expression turned concerned as he leaned back, saying firmly. "You need to lay down. You can't keep running around. And you need to stop being the sheriff of this town. It's way too dangerous."

Emma pressed her hands against him, pushing him back before he would swoop her up and carry her to the bed, making sure she would stay there and not move a muscle.

"Get out of here." She pointed her finger towards the door, keeping him at distance with her other hand. "You have enough time to worry about me and dot on me for over nine months. And I know you are gonna drive me crazy until this child is born. So, just give me a few hours of peace before you go all overprotective daddy on me."

"As you wish, milady." Killian replied, bowing deeply.

"I love you too, pirate." Emma told him, grinning from ear to ear. "Now go and give Henry the sword lesson you've promised him. We'll tell him tonight at dinner."

She closed the door behind him with a huge grin on her face, her hand slipping to her stomach and she looked down, her voice soft as she spoke to their unborn child. "He is gonna love you to pieces, little one. Killian Jones doesn't do anything halfway."

She strolled to the kitchen counter and sat down on a bar stool and suddenly tears pricked the back of her eyes as she realized that this pregnancy would be so much different than the first one. She wasn't alone anymore. They would all be there. The whole way and this time when she gave birth she would hold her baby afterwards. This time the father would be standing right next to her. This time she would be surrounded by people who loved her. People she loved.

She had a home. Family. She had everything she'd always dreamed of. Everything she had wished for when she was in the foster system. She had hoped for years to finally have people in her life who loved her as much as she loved them and she found them.

Her parents, her son and the man who loved her the way she was. With all her flaws. A man who saved her, a man who gave her back the hope of having her own family. Hope she had already lost. In the darkest hours he had been standing at her side, holding her hand, fighting with her. Together they had found a way out of the darkness and back home, using the unique connection that bound them together.

He was her friend, her lover, her partner in every way possible. He was the man she had searched her whole life for. The one who could touch her soul. The one who could make her whole. Her other half.

She had found him and now they had created a new life. A new person. Half her, half him.

She pressed her hand against her stomach, tears welling up in her eyes as she realized once again how lucky she was that she had found him. Despite crossing several realms, having multiple misunderstandings and suffering through severe torture they'd still ended up together.

Being married, expecting a child together, being a family.

She finally found a love who would last forever and she knew with absolute certainty she would never be alone again.


Thanks to all of you for joining me on this ride! I loved writing this story and I'm happy people enjoyed reading it!

And now I can finally continue my other story 'Stuck Between Worlds'! I only posted the first chapter so far but I have already planned out the whole story in my head and I hope that I now can persuade my muse to give this story our full attention! :-)