It was dark. The buildings lining the streets loomed above, reaching skyward at impossible heights. The engine of the little yellow bug purred as Emma raced down the street. She knew if she stopped for a single second, she would never make it. Make it where? Where was she going? A vision began to manifest before her. Was something in the road? Yes, she could see it more clearly now. Not something, but someone. Mussy raven hair and a cocked eyebrow came into view, piercing blue eyes beckoning her. A brilliant smile lit up the street and Emma's foot became heavier on the gas as she raced towards him, but could never seem to get any closer.
"I love you, Emma. I don't ever want to be without you."
His voice echoed against the concrete architecture as it began to rumble and close in on her. He gave her one last sad smile, and turned away, disappearing into the darkness behind him.
"No, Killian!" She called after him and floored it. There was a glimmer, like a star, appearing in the spot in front of her and her heart filled with hope. He was coming back...
The light grew brighter, and brighter, and brighter still and she realized it was not the man who stood before her moments ago. It was something else. She couldn't make it out as the light grew blindingly bright. Before she had time to react, it slammed into her and she was falling...
"Emma!" She could hear his voice calling, taunting her, just out of reach. "Emma, please!" A tear slipped down her cheek and she whispered his name to the darkness.
"Emma!"
Her eyes flew open and Killian's burning blue gaze met hers. Her breath was ragged, panicked, and she was shivering and drenched in a cold sweat. Emma swept her gaze around the room. She was still in the hospital. She locked her eyes with Killian's again.
"Killian..." She whispered, disbelievingly. "Killian, you're here." She reached for him and he slipped his hand around her cheek.
"It was just a dream, luv. You're safe now." He lowered his forehead to hers and her hand clamped around the front of his t-shirt, holding him tight.
"Killian. I thought...I saw..." She began to sob.
"Shh, shh." He soothed and curled his hand around the nape of her neck, bringing his other hand up to cover hers. "God, I'll be so happy when they come take these things off and I can hold you as you deserve." He released her hand and traced his fingers over the cast on her arm.
She released a few more shaky breaths as he cradled her the best he could and her breathing became slow and steady once more. Pulling away, he found she was fast asleep. He stepped back from the bed and ran his hand through his hair. The look of terror in her eyes when he woke her had been like a punch in the gut. He sat back and watched her drift further into peaceful slumber.
This was the third nightmare this week alone and they scared the hell out of Killian as much as they did Emma. He felt so helpless, not even being able to comfort her. He sighed and ran a hand through his hair. He needed to get some fresh air.
He pressed the button for the elevator, lost in thought. The doors popped open and he stepped inside, pressing the lobby button. He only had an hour or so before they were going to remove Emma's casts, so he couldn't go far. He wandered towards the cafeteria mindlessly. He wasn't even hungry, but the buzz of people, noise, and conversation drew him in.
He grabbed a water from a bin and paid for it at the register. People all around him were in different emotional states, some laughing loudly, some crying, some whispering hushed conversations. There wasn't much room to sit and people watch, so he made his way back into the lobby and found himself in the hospital gift shop.
Little trinkets and knick knacks adorned the shelves. He approached the flower bin and selected a rose from it. Emma would like it. He loved to surprise her and since he hadn't left the hospital for more than a couple of hours for the last eight weeks, he didn't have much of an opportunity to do the things he wanted for her. As he was checking out, something hanging on the wall behind the register caught his eye and he smiled.
"Can you ring that up for me, too?" He asked the redhead behind the counter. She smiled and plucked the item from the wall.
"Sure thing. Congrats." She beamed at him. He gave a soft smile in return and nodded, retrieving his wallet to pay.
He headed back upstairs and heard voices coming from inside as he opened the door to Emma's room.
"So let's get this off and then we can call in physical therapy." The nurse called John was back on shift. He heard mechanical whirring as he stepped inside, hands behind his back, concealing his purchases. Emma gave him a tight smile as she saw him enter the room, very preoccupied with the task at hand.
Discreetly, he backed away, setting the bag with the flower poking from the top of it behind a nearby curtain and moving back forward and around the bed to the opposite side of where the nurse hacked away at the plaster with a miniature circular saw. He worked his fingers through hers and pilled her free hand to his mouth, feathering a kiss over her knuckles. Her eyes flitted to his at the sensation, briefly smiling and then snapping her gaze back to the nerve wracking closeness of the power tool to her skin.
John drew the tool up the length of the cast with practiced ease and finally reached the end. Emma released the breath she had been holding as it ceased whirring.
"One side down, one to go." The man smiled warmly and turned her arm, resuming his grip on the trigger of the device and dipping it down to saw into the other side of the cast.
Killian felt Emma's hand tighten around his almost imperceptibly and he wondered in the back of his mind if this was hurting her. He said nothing, though, just skimming his thumb comfortingly over her skin and watched as the nurse drew the saw back up away from the cast.
"Moment of truth." The nurse teased with a smile and put the saw on the silver tray next to him. Emma's jaw tightened as the nurse began to pry the plaster apart, slight cracking sounds reverberating through the room as the plaster came apart, revealing the cotton wrap underneath. Grabbing some scissors, John set about removing that as well and Killian's heart swelled as her skin came into view.
"Test that out. Rotate your wrist and extend your elbow for me." He instructed and Emma did as she was asked, working the stiffness from the muscle. She looked up at Killian and grinned and he responded with a chaste, soft kiss, smiling as well. "Very good, Emma. There's some dryness, nothing a little lotion won't fix. Now for your leg." The nurse quickly cleaned his mess, positioned Emma's leg, and picked up the saw again, beginning to slice into the plaster there. In much the same manner as her arm, her leg was soon freed and John instructed her to move her joints. Emma winced as she extended her long-crooked appendage. The soreness of her muscles was a welcome pain as she successfully completed the task. Killian kissed the top of her head.
"I'm so proud of you." He murmured in her ear as the nurse began to throw away the discarded cast.
"For moving my arm and leg? I didn't know you were such a fan of the left side of my body." She quirked an eyebrow at him with a smile playing at the corners of her mouth.
"Why would you say that, Swan? I'm a fan of every part of you." He grinned back at her and she flushed underneath the heat of his gaze.
"Okay." Nurse John clapped his hands together and moved back to her bedside. "A physical therapist will be in soon and you are going to take a walk, little lady. Then, we have an ultrasound scheduled for 3:00 this afternoon. Anything you need in the meantime?" Emma shook her head no in response and John left the room with another smile, telling her to ring if he was needed.
As soon as he left, Killian moved around to the other side of the bed. Emma watched him move, apprehensive of his touch on her now bare skin. When he reached the end of the other side of the bed, he couldn't resist but to skirt his hand upwards from her ankle to her knee, continuing his stroke from her wrist to her bicep. Her skin sang in the wake of his fingertips and she didn't realize how much she missed his touch on that side of her body until now. He skimmed his hand back downwards and gripped her wrist lightly, turning her hand over and lacing his fingers through hers.
"I've been waiting for eight weeks to do this." He said softly. "And just as long for this." He leaned towards her and looped her arm around his neck, pressing his lips into hers. She sunk her fingertips into the hair at the nape of his neck and brought up her right hand to caress the side of his neck. He hummed low in his throat at the feeling of both her arms around him and he slid his underneath her, pulling her closer. Her ribs protested slightly, still not completely healed but much better than they had been. She couldn't care less. She was right where she belonged, and she let him know by curling both arms around his neck and deepening the kiss. He grunted against her lips and pulled away gently.
"Hey!" She pouted and Killian closed his eyes. When he opened them, they were glittering a deep sapphire blue and she knew exactly why he had pulled away.
"Sorry, luv." He replied, embarrassed and tugged uncomfortably at his belt, as if his pants were suddenly too tight. She smiled slyly in response, impressed with herself for having that kind of effect on him from a hospital bed.
"Why, Killian Jones. Do I make you uncomfortable?" She bit her lip suggestively and he blinked.
"Well, it has been two months since I've been able to kiss you properly." He admitted and his face flushed, feeling like a prepubescent boy who had just been caught with a dirty magazine. She grinned at him more broadly at his admission.
"One more week and I'll be able to get the hell out of here and make it up to you. As you deserve." Her eyes sparkled with the declaration and Killian drew in a sharp breath at the thought. He cleared his throat and clenched his fists, itching to touch her again but he knew that would be an intensely bad idea in his current state.
"I have something for you." He said and made his way around the curtain, remembering his earlier gift shop acquisitions. He retrieved the bag and pulled the rose from it and handed it to her. Emma brought it to her nose and looked up at him, in awe.
"Thank you. This is beautiful." She smiled at him, touched by the sweet gesture. Killian shrugged.
"Not as beautiful as you, luv." He said and extended the bag to her. "I saw this and had to get it as well." She set the rose on the table next to her and opened the bag, pulling out a small piece of cloth. Her head popped up with a grin when she unravelled the onesie.
There's Always a Hook it read and a silhouette of the hook the adorned Captain Hook's hand from Peter Pan was behind the words.
"No way. Did you have this made?" She asked, looking at the material in her hands. He shook his head and settled on the edge of the bed next to her.
"If you can believe it, I found it in the gift shop downstairs. I'm sure it's meant to be a Captain Hook reference but I couldn't pass it up."
Emma grinned again and laid it on her stomach. Her eyes met his and the amount of love shining back at her almost took her breath away.
"A little big still, I think." She said with a shy smile. He smirked back and leaned in, capturing her lips with his again. She smoothed her hands up his biceps and kissed him back. They both looked up at the sound of someone clearing their throat. They hadn't even heard the door open.
"Ah, hi. Sorry to interrupt." A young man who looked barely old enough to be out of high school, let alone working as a physical therapist, stood near the entryway and rocked his weight from one foot to the other, uncomfortable at his intrusion. "I'm Jacob. I'm with, uh, physical therapy. I'm supposed to take Emma for a walk." His gaze flitted from Killian to Emma. Emma moved the back of her hand up to her lips to stifle a laugh and Killian smoothed his hands over his pants and stood, gesturing for the man to step in. Emma set the onesie aside.
"Okay, ahem." He spoke with a little more confidence. "We are going to take this a little slow." Reaching behind him, he pulled a walker into view. Emma's eyebrows shot up at the sight of it.
"You're kidding me right." She said, unamused.
"Swan." Killian chastised her.
"No, to hell with that. I'm not eighty. I don't need a walker." She snapped her head to look at Killian, clearly annoyed, and huffed. Killian smirked as her headstrong personality reared its head.
"Oh, you're far from an old lady, luv, but this is for your protection. Tell her, Jacob." He motioned to the boy who looked back at him as if he'd just tossed him into the lion's den.
"Uhh..." He stammered, and Emma turned to glare at him next. He cleared his throat again, clearly a nervous habit. "I'm afraid it's doctor's orders. You've been in bed for two months and there may be some atrophy. We will also put a gait belt around you and support your weight when necessary." He retrieved a strap from the counter, clattering his knee into the walker as he fumbled for it.
"Then we can just use that. I'm not helpless. Are you just here to piss me off or actually help me?" She set her mouth in a line.
"Um...uh..." The physical therapist was unsure of how to answer, and it was almost as if he was afraid of the petite blonde staring him down.
"Emma, it's not up for discussion. You heard the lad, doctor's orders." Killian crossed his arms and lifted an eyebrow at her. She gave him a mutinous glare.
"I'll start out with the walker and when I prove I don't need it, then I never want to see it again." She finally acquiesced. Killian looked back to the young man and gestured for him to move forward before she changed her mind. He did so quickly, pulling the walker noisily behind him and Killian chuckled as Emma continued to stare daggers at him.
"Just, uh, lift your arms and we can secure this under your breasts, er, chest, I mean, above the baby bump." The boy flushed bright red as Emma continued to glare petulantly at him, raising her arms. He leaned in and fastened the belt around her middle, securing it tightly, but not too tightly. He tugged on it, testing the bond, and seemed satisfied. He eyed her warily as he pulled the walker forward. Killian stepped nearer to the bed.
"Okay, Emma. Ah, Miss Swan. We are going to sit on the edge of the bed and then stand on three. Put your hands on my shoulders." He instructed, now back in his element.
Emma gritted her teeth as she pulled herself to sitting, the feeling of using her left arm almost foreign to her. Concern flitted over Killian's face as he thrummed his fingers on his jawline, watching the scene before him.
"Good?" Jacob asked and she nodded briskly and he continued to coax her forward until her feet were touching the ground. "We're going to stand now. Let me know if you feel like you're going to fall. I'll be holding the belt, so you won't fall, but let me know anyways. She nodded again, fear and determination battling it out in her head. "On three. One, two, three..." She bit her lip to stifle a groan as she pulled herself up on the young man's shoulders. She felt like a baby deer as her legs shook beneath her. He steadied her and when he was sure she wouldn't fall, he reached behind him and pulled the walker close, hand never leaving the belt at her ribs.
She reached out for the metal frame and settled herself within it, now grateful for the ridiculous contraption. He muscles complained as she stood bracing herself.
"Okay, Miss Swan-"
"Emma." She gritted out.
"Okay, uh, Emma. We're going to try some steps." The young man tugged lightly on the gait belt and her ribs protested at the slight friction, but she tentatively took a step forward, the walker gliding with her movement. And then another. And another. She walked to the door and back which was more of a workout than she could remember having in her life as she collapsed back to sitting on the bed.
"That was great, Emma. We'll do some more tomorrow, but that was a great first walk. Keep that up and you'll be out of here before you know it." Jacob flashed her a smile and detached the gait belt from her middle. A knock came to the door and another woman in scrubs entered, wheeling a monitor behind her.
"Oh, cool, just in time. We just finished." Jacob smiled at the ultrasound technician as they crossed paths, each bidding greetings and farewells to each other and Killian and Emma.
"So let's get a peek at this little one." The tech smiled and Emma settled into her pillows under her blanket, lifting her gown to expose her abdomen. She knew the drill. She'd had a weekly ultrasound since she arrived. The technician pulled a bottle of gel from the warmer on the stand as Killian moved to her right side, slipping his hand in hers and kissing the top of her head.
She jumped slightly at the warmth as the goo spread over her abdomen and the tech pushed a wand against her skin.
Whoosh whoosh whoosh
The sound filled the room immediately and Killian's heart was sent flying. That was his favorite sound in the world, Emma's voice coming in at a close second. At one of the previous ultrasounds, he had even recorded it on his phone and he listened to it from time to time when he had a quiet moment.
The tech moved around her slick belly with ease, pausing every now and again to take pictures and measurements. Emma almost felt a little sad when she removed the wand and her baby disappeared from view. She began to wipe the gel mess away with a towel.
"Everything looks excellent. Strong heartbeat, all measurements look good, and I couldn't see a trace of the abruption. Of course the doctor will have to review and give the final word." She winked at the couple and patted Emma's hand. "She looks perfect, Emma."
Emma froze.
"She?" Her voice came out in a squeak and Killian's eyes shot up. His ears had not caught the pronoun as Emma's had through his elation.
The technician looked slightly embarrassed as she tore free the printouts from the machine and handed them to Emma, nodding.
"She. It's a girl." The woman smiled warmly and packed up the rest of her equipment, quietly excusing herself from the room.
Emma and Killian shared a small quiet look between them.
"So..." Killian was the first to speak. "A girl, eh?" Emma grinned up at him.
"Are you happy?" She asked quietly.
"Swan, I could not be happier if I tried." He assured her. "With everything that had happened, I hadn't even thought of asking for a gender."
"Me, neither. But I have a little confession. I was hoping for a girl." Her smile became a little more wistful as her vision clouded with memory. Killian knew exaexactly where she had gone and he swept her hand up, kissing it firmly as he sank down beside her.
"I know, Emma. It's okay." He leaned in and kissed her gently. She gave him a wavering smile as he pulled away.
"Would you mind getting me something to eat? All that walking, I'm starving." She asked and he nodded.
"I can never say no to you, Emma. What would you like?" He stood.
She shrugged. "Surprise me." He smiled and leaned in for one more brief kiss and left her alone in the room.
Emma's mind began to drift back to when she was 18 and thought she was in love for the first time. She had found herself in a bad position, a foster care runaway, and Neal had come in and saved her. Looking back on it, he really had saved her from herself, even if they had fallen apart in the most spectacular fashion.
He had left her alone to rot in that prison cell after rolling on her to the cops and leaving her holding the jewelry he had stolen. They day she was sentenced to a year in prison was also the day she had found out she was pregnant.
She had never looked at her baby boy as they took him out of the room to be raised by someone who could love him properly, but his cries haunted her for years. Killian knew about it, but he never brought it up, out of respect. This would be different. Killian truly loved her. He would never leave her.
She felt a unbidden tear roll down her cheek and quickly swiped her eyes dry.
"It's not the same. This time will be different." She squeezed her eyes shut, willing herself to believe it.
