Author's Note: Hey Oncers! First off, I am extremely sorry that it has taken so long for me to return. I wasn't intending on taking this long of a break to adjust to college life, but I also, unluckily, had to face the dreadful writer's block. However, I am back now, though my posts will still not be regular. I'm still juggling school work, social life and other stories along with this, but I assure you that the chapters will come. So please do enjoy this update and leave some great review to tell me what you think!

"Welcome home." She whispered as she paced back and forth in her bedroom with the baby in her arms. Caressing his small cheek with her thumb, she smiled widely. Two weeks and he was finally able to be with her, to be hers officially. Regina slowly walked to the bed, not taking her gaze off of her son. As she sat, she watched him wiggle to free his hands and reach out to her.

He had grown and become stronger. She could feel it in his tiny grip around her finger as she held him close to her bosom and smiled. Though dozing to sleep, he still didn't let go of her. Perhaps, she wondered, it was because he didn't like the feeling of being alone just as much as she. Staring down at him in her arms and shaking her head just slightly, Regina gave a quiet laugh. She had forgotten this feeling, the feeling of holding her child close and just gazing upon this mesmerizing beauty that she could not explain.

As she looked up in the moment, her smile soon faded. The sight of the pirate roaming around the room, trying to unpack and put things into their perspective places just seemed to make her nerves increase. How was this going to work between them? Surely, she hoped, this could work for the sake of the infant she now held. She understood the feeling of a father's love, she understood that Hook wanted their son to grow up with that feeling, she understood that he was going to try, but she still feared another thing that she understood about the Captain. He was the kind of man to run from his problems; as soon as it became hard, his first thought would be to disappear. Though she tried to push it out of her mind, the thought persisted.

"Where does this go?" His deep accent interrupted her nervous thought.

Snapping out of her trance, Regina blinked her eyes and answered him quickly, "Second drawer."

He turned back and gave an awkward smirk. This would take some adjusting. This life, these new technologies, having someone else dependent upon him. He seemed to be questioning himself more and more with each passing day. As he glanced at the fussy infant in his mother's arms, Hook began to wonder once more. Could he really do this? Be a father to that little boy? And what about Regina? He must take it slow with her, but what was the right step and what was the wrong step?

As his eyes moved from the baby up to the dark-eyed woman shushing him and trying to sooth him, he noticed the nerves she held as well. She was just as scared as he. But about what exactly? "Regina?" Hook said calmly grabbing her attention. "Is everything alright?"

She stared at him silently, his soft eyes seeming so sincere. She wanted to tell him the truth. No. Nothing was alright. This was not what she wanted, this awkward feeling of fear and distrust for him. She just wanted to be a mother to her son, which was all. She didn't know how she was going to make this work with him. Personally, she didn't want to make things work with him. She was perfectly fine raising her son alone, but telling that to Hook would simply destroy him and perhaps hurt her son in the future. So, she shook her head, gave a meek grin, and replied, "Nothing. Just a bit tired is all."

He tilted his head to the right. He may not have known Regina extremely well, but he did know her better than she expected. That was not the entire answer and he could see it in her expression. But he let it go, careful not to go too far with her. He played along instead. "Would you like me to call Mary Margaret and tell her that you still need rest? I'm pretty sure I know how to work this thing now." He pulled the cellphone out of his leather coat and stared puzzled at it.

"No." Regina shook her head and stood, the little one finally calm in her embrace. "Mary Margaret has been waiting for us to come home for a while." She glanced down again and smiled. "I think it's about time she meets Liam."

0-0-0

Mary Margaret's hazel-green eyes opened wide as she stared at the tiny thing lying inside the baby carrier. She couldn't hold in her excitement as she smiled in awe at the infant. She reached forward and caressed his soft feet watching him squirm a bit from the touch. "He's gorgeous." She looked to the proud mother who smiled in turn.

"That he is." Regina replied softly.

Mary Margaret glanced to the little one and back to Regina. "May I?" She asked politely. She waited for Regina to nod her head before reaching into the carrier and picking up the baby boy to rest him in her arms. Her smile only grew at the feeling of holding a baby again after such a long time. "I can already see how he looks like you."

Regina laughed in disbelief, "He's still too young for you to see any of that."

"But I see it. Your nose, your mouth and your chin." She tapped the areas lightly with her fingertip making the boy giggle and coo. She watched the woman smile before looking back at the child with a more concerned look in her eyes. It was obvious to Mary Margaret that something was up. "How have things been between you two?" She asked abruptly while rocking Liam gently.

As Regina sat down at the kitchen counter, she replied, "It's only been two weeks."

Mary Margaret looked to the woman sternly. "That's not an answer. I can tell that something is up. You're not very subtle about it."

"It's none of your business."

"Then I'll make it my business. Regina, we've been down this path before. Keeping it to yourself never accomplishes anything. Let me help." She raised her brow, listened to the quiet pause and waited for the response.

Regina stubbornly stared at Mary Margaret and then softened her expression finally speaking. "I can't stop thinking about how we are going to make this work. I mean, on one hand, I want Hook to be here and I want my son to know his father, but on the other hand, I still don't trust him or forgive him. What if he changes his mind when our son begins to grow older, when he becomes aware of things? I can't bear watching him break this little boy's heart when he leaves?"

"When he leaves? Regina, what makes you think Killian is going to change his mind? You are already assuming he will." Mary Margaret shook her head.

"Because it's just who he is."

"I don't think you know him as well as you think you do."

"I know him well enough."

"Actually," Mary Margaret stepped closer to the woman becoming slightly aggravated, "you don't. He is trying his best and you may not have seen it, but I have. He does care for your son and he cares a lot for you too. The night after the baby was born, he stayed and slept in the waiting room because he was concerned. He wanted you to know that he was there for you and this baby."

"He did?" Regina's voice cracked suddenly.

"He did. You need to give him a chance. You're being so quick to judge him for his past that you are already pushing him away and not allowing him to try. All you see is Captain Hook, and you are refusing to see him as just Killian. Of all people, you should know what that feels like."

"This is not the same thing." Regina shook her head as she reached out and took the infant into her arms.

"Isn't it? You need to stop thinking of yourself and think of what is best for your son. I know that is what you want, but it seems that your fear of letting Killian into your life is clouding your judgment." Mary Margaret looked straight into Regina's dark eyes with complete seriousness. "Get over your anger towards him and let your son have a father." Without allowing Regina to reply, she quickly turned and began to occupy herself in the kitchen.

Regina glanced down at her beautiful boy; his blue eyes staring up at her and a faint innocent smile making her melt. Mary Margaret was right and she knew it instantly when her son began to coo at her. All of this time, she was being selfish; she was thinking of herself and the pain and hurt she had felt when Hook had left her months ago. She dwelled on it, didn't let it go no matter who tried to convince her. But now looking into his eyes through the innocence of their son, she could see that she was wrong in her thoughts. She didn't even attempt to give him a chance.

She looked over to the man conversing with David and then quickly down to her baby. "I'm sorry." She whispered sincerely. "I'll do better. I promise you." She smiled as Liam reached up to her with a calm noise. He knew.

0-0-0

He stared over at the women together in the kitchen area; one cradling the small infant half belonging to him and the other sitting at the kitchen counter with that usual stubborn expression upon her face. But the stubbornness in her expression did not seem to change the beauty and fear that showed in her eyes and her deep red lips. He couldn't understand why she continued with keeping the truth from him, but she was; she was surely hiding something from him that she feared telling.

He spoke to David, not taking his eyes off of Regina, "I don't know what to do about her, mate."

"Why? Is something going on between you two?" David looked at him concerned.

The captain shrugged his shoulders and turned to face the prince, "If there was, I wouldn't know of it. She barely speaks to me. I know that something is bothering her, but she hasn't the courage to tell me even when I ask. And I fear becoming persistent because I don't want to frighten her."

"Well," David paused trying to think a solution for the pirate, "just give her some more time."

"You and your bloody patience," Hook scoffed at him. "I spent two weeks with the woman, giving her time and space. Today we brought our son home from the hospital and she still won't speak to me. What am I supposed to do, wait until he begins to crawl, or walk, or even talk? She'll begin to talk to him long before she speaks a bloody word to me. I can't continue waiting on her like this or it'll be too late, mate!"

"Okay, I see what you mean there." David looked over to the two women talking in the kitchen. He stared at Regina for a moment while thinking about how Hook could possibly begin to get her to open up. "Perhaps, talk to her but don't go too deep. Just ask her what is wrong."

"I've done that. She lies to me and claims nothing is, but I can see it." Hook looked back over as well.

"Then maybe try a different approach. Be a bit more forceful with her and tell her that she needs to tell you or this will never be resolved. You two do need to figure out how you are going to work this out and resolve your issues. It's what best for your son. Surely, she'll understand that."

"I suppose you are right." Hook continued to watch as Mary Margaret handed Liam back to Regina. Her arms hugged him closely as the baby reached towards her making her smile and whisper something to him. Hook knew Regina had what was best for their son in mind and perhaps he needed to start doing that too. They could manage this if they worked together and stopped avoiding one another. She had been avoiding the questions and he had been too afraid to even hear the answers. Things needed to change, he thought as he turned back to David and gave a reassuring smile. He hoped that they would soon enough.

0-0-0

The sudden loud sound coming from the baby in Regina's arms provoked the rest of the company to turn instantly. Regina laughed, took a hold of the boy's hand and looked up at the sweet couple and pirate standing before her.

David laughed with her, "Guess he wanted our attention."

They all looked to Regina with hopeful and curious smiles. She glanced down at her baby boy again and caressed his small, soft hand. "I think he'd like me to tell you his name."

"Regina," Mary Margaret smirked, "we already know his name."

"His full name." She corrected with a gentle smile. She looked to him in her arms before continuing. "Everyone, I'd like you to meet Liam," Regina looked up at the couple standing before her, "David," she then looked to Hook with all sincerity and some hesitation, but eventually said, "Jones."

"David?" Mary Margaret stared at Regina with sudden teary eyes and then hugged her arms around her husband. She watched as Regina nodded her head, her smile lighting up even more at the reaction she received from the couple. Mary Margaret whispered again softly, "David."

"Thank you." David grinned with honor.

Regina shook her head. "No. Thank you." She stepped forward before continuing. "If it wasn't for the both of you, this beautiful boy wouldn't be here. I would never have made it through that pregnancy without you." She looked genuinely at Mary Margaret. "Even after everything I had done, you still believed that I could change. I don't know how I could thank you any more."

"This." Mary Margaret shook her head, stepped forward and placed her hands on Regina's shoulders. "This is more than enough thank you, Regina." She watched the woman let out a joyful sigh as tears began to well in her eyes as well.

David then stepped forward and wrapped his arms gently around Regina, careful not to squish the baby in her arms. As Regina backed away, she looked to them again, "I was also hoping that… maybe…" She hesitated, "you'd like to have the honor of being his god-parents?"

"Is that even a question? Yes!" Mary Margaret replied quickly with glee. "We would love to be a part of his life in any way possible."

David caressed his hand over the baby's delicate head and said softly, "Welcome to the family, little guy."

Regina laughed once more before glancing over at the silent captain. He stood there, his sea-blue eyes wide open and staring wondrously but also confused. He kept his distance from the others and only looked to Regina. All sound droned out for the moment. When she finally made eye contact, he snapped out of his daze, but still didn't move or speak. Their eyes just stared at one another with questions wanting to be answered, with fears and doubts, and with so much confusion.

"Jones." He whispered to himself quietly so the others heard nothing. It played in his head continuously until he said it again. "Liam. David. Jones." He said slowly. With another pause, he smiled at the woman looking his way and she simply smiled back.

0-0-0

After stepping through the door and walking into the kitchen, Regina set down the baby carrier on the counter and admired the newborn already tuckered out and asleep. She carefully took him out and rested his head on her shoulder before turning to face the man standing beside her and placing the diaper bag on one of the chairs. She laughed quietly at the sight of a pirate carrying a diaper bag. It provoked him to look over to her with a confused expression, though it soon softened at the sight.

The infant's head rested sweetly at the nape of her neck while one hand supported him and the other gently held his head. She bounced and rocked him lightly, humming a tune, perhaps unintentionally. He stared into her eyes genuinely, causing her to look away nervously and stare at the floor. He could see that she was still afraid to talk to him sincerely; he was still afraid to ask her why.

About to speak, Hook was suddenly overcome by the sound of Regina's voice. "You haven't held him yet, have you?" She sounded sweeter, calmer though still afraid. Hook simply shook his head in response. "Would you like to?" She took a step closer to him, trying her hardest to let him into this.

"I'm afraid I'll break him." He replied while looking at the tiny boy.

Regina smiled, "You won't break him. Just be careful." She watched him hesitate and remain still. "Killian, you want to be his father?"

"Yes."

"The first step would be to hold your son. Come on. He's asleep. You'll be fine." She reassured.

"What if he begins to cry?"

Regina smiled, "Then you'll know what to do. Trust me." She took another step closer to the man who finally held out his arms to receive his son. Both she and him stared down as she passed the baby to him slowly. "Cradle his head." She whispered. They stood so close that he could feel the heat in her breath.

As she slowly pulled her arms out from under his, Hook suddenly felt the light weight of his son in his arms. He stared at him and suddenly felt like he could breathe again. Hook sighed and gave a small laugh as Liam stirred in his arms and cuddled up against his chest.

"See." Regina said, provoking him to look up at her, "I told you you'd know what to do." She looked down and caressed the baby's head, not even realizing how close she stood from him.

"Regina?" Hook whispered. She glanced up at him, inches away from touching one another. "We need to figure out how to make this work… between the two of us."

She looked to him honestly and replied, "I know."

"And if we are to do that, you need to be honest with me, love."

"I know. And I'm sorry I haven't. I'm just…" She paused for a moment before finally admitting it. "I'm scared."

"Of me?"

"No, no. But… of… trusting you? Of letting you in, of raising this baby, of… change. And I know I'm being selfish in thinking these things. It's not fair to you and certainly not to our son, but I just…" Tears began to well in her eyes. "You left me alone. And I cannot bear you doing that to our son." Regina continued to cry.

"I'm sorry, Regina. I… made a mistake. But I promise you, I've changed. I'm not going anywhere."

Regina managed a grin, "I know that now."

"You're sure?" Hook asked concerned.

"I am." She wiped her tears away. "Our pasts are behind us from now on. We can make this work."

"We can." He looked down at the baby still sound asleep in his arms. "For our son."

He stared up at her smile and nodded. This was going to work. It would surely take time, but they were now on the same track. No more hiding things or keeping secrets. Their son was their priority. This was for his good. And that's what was most important.

"I suppose I should get him to bed." Regina smiled before reaching forward.

"Actually." Hook stopped her. "I would like to hold him a bit longer. I'll bring him to bed in a bit. You get some rest."

She looked at him and smiled. "Alright." She replied quietly before taking the diaper bag and carrier. "I'll just take these up with me." She looked to him with such a change in her expression. "Goodnight, Killian."

"Goodnight, Regina." He watched as she headed up the steps and into her own room. He then looked back down at his boy and smirked, "Goodnight, son."

Soooooo yeah. What did you all think? So basically Regina and Hook are beginning to open up to to each other finally. Hopefully things will work out between them this time. We'll see! I'll do my best to get the next chapter up as soon as I can. In the mean time, keep those reviews coming!

And don't forget that I also take oneshot requests! Sometimes, if I hit a writer's block for one story, I like to write oneshots or a chapter for a different story to get my mind flowing again. So feel free to PM and request and then I'll add it to my list. :) Thanks for reading!