So this was the last chapter that I had written when I first published this story. I have more written, in a lovely little notebook, most of the rest of this story (that I am up to) is now typed and I need to carry on writing it. But brain block/ focus on my degree means it might take time.

This is probably my favourite chapter so far. And ignore me when I make any comment of timeline for posting future chapters, if I have five chapters waiting as a minimum then I will probably post one whenever I am up to it, and I am currently halfway through writing chapter 19 so.

As usual, anything you recognise (including lyrics) does not belong to me.

Short one. Enjoy.

Chapter 10 – In My Arms

He was right. Though he was only downstairs for ten minutes making her favourite drink exactly the way she liked it, and locking up the house, when he returned she was fast asleep. She had managed to drag her pyjama bottoms on and the towel was still covering her, it looked like she had just fallen asleep mid-action. Despite his earlier worry, he could not help but smile in wonder at his wife. He placed the drink on the dresser next to the door, before lifting his wife into sitting position so he could finish dressing her for her comfort. He noticed her little pout of discomfort at the movement, and her frown reflected his own. He pressed the back of his hand against her forehead, feeling her clammy skin.

Reluctantly, he left her on the bed, opening the window to let in some cool night air, before moving the comforter from the foot of the bed, laying it over her. Five minutes later he was changed himself and had drank the hot chocolate he had made for his wife, her having turned him onto it instead of rum in the evenings, before he slid into bed next to his wife. It was an automatic movement now, after a year of marriage, that he would wrap an arm around her, his hand resting over hers that was cradling her stomach.

He found he could not fall asleep. The excitement and emotion from the day had tired Emma out, but Killian was more awake than ever, just thinking. He had a daughter. Or he was going to in a few weeks. It was almost as if in the instant that he'd seen the pink sponge inside the cake, he understood every reaction of David's he had ever witnessed to his daughter dating a dirty pirate. He made a promise to himself and his wife at that moment that his daughter would not be dating anyone until she was in her thirties.

He couldn't help the half smile as the foot pressed into his hand, as if his daughter had heard his silent thoughts and was objecting. He looked to his wife, the discomfort that seems to be constantly present in her features was still affecting her in her sleep. He decided to try something he would watch his wife doing whenever the baby was restless. Normally, she would sit in the rocking chair in the nursery and sing to her stomach, and the baby would calm instantly.

Killian wracked his brain, trying to remember the first line of the song she would sing but resigned himself to start from the line that had drawn Emma to the song in the first place.

'Storybooks are full of fairy tales,
Of kings and queens and the bluest skies…'

He paused, forgetting the next line, before placing a kiss to Emma's belly, as he thought back to all the times he had stood in the doorway of the nursery, mesmerized as his wife sang to their child. He was jolted out of his thoughts as he felt his wife's delicate fingers run through his hair, seeing her smile blearily at him when he glanced at her face. "I'm sorry baby, did I wake you?" She shook her head, continuing to run her fingers through his hair, an action that always bought her comfort.

"Waking to see my husband singing at our daughter is totally worth it… I can feel her calming already. Carry on, just let me watch you…" He shot her his signature grin that made Emma's heart melt, before turning back to where their hands lay combined, protecting their baby.

'Castles, they might crumble
Dreams might not come true,
But you are never all alone,
Cause I will always love you…'

He paused with a satisfied smile as is wife joined in, taking a second to listen to the melodic sound of her voice.

'When the clouds will rage in,
Storms will race in
But you will be safe in my arms'

Killian moved back up a little so he was sat next to his wife, wrapping his arms around her before he pressed a kiss to the side of her head, joining in with the final lines.

'Rains will pour down
Waves will crash around.
But you will be
Safe, in my arms...'

Not needing any further words, the couple just lay together, watching each other, piercing green into brilliant blue, until the fell asleep, safe in each other's arms.

The song is 'In My Arms' – Plumb. Please review, I want to see some love for my favourite chapter.

P.S. to the author that requested 'real romance', there might be some fluffy romance for our couples, until things kick off, but I am uncomfortable writing smut so that will not be happening. If that is what you are looking for, wrong story.

~cjkp~