A short chapter, i swear big stuff is going to happen soonish. thanks for the reviews, it makes me feel like im not wasting mine or other people's time. so i hope you enjoy this chapter.


"Are you sure we shouldn't stop by the house before we go to your parents?" Killian asks me. Since we took Neal's car over to his father's, we are now walking to my parent's house. It's not like anything is actually far in this town, so when Neal said he was staying longer at his dad's, me and Killian decided to walk. Most of the time I love Neal, but he was getting on my nerves majorly today. I also never skip possible alone time with my husband.

"Nah," I reach for his hand as we walk. It sometimes amazes me how much I'm still in love with him after all these years. I'm sure seven years isn't much to some people, but this is most certainly my longest, healthiest relationship. "I'm sure Henry is doing fine, how much trouble could they even get into?"

"You do realize they are half of each of us right?"

"We'll make it a quick visit." He laughs at this. I like how he considers Henry his, without question. Of course this ruffles Neal's feathers, but he can just suck it. Neither of us were there for a big part of Henry's life, and now we have to deal with him having a rather unorthodox family.

"What are you thinking about? Our little meeting today?" I must have been thinking about our family dynamic longer than I realized, causing him to get curious.

"What? Oh, no. Actually…" I pause, I might as well tell him the truth, he can read through me anyway. "I was thinking about how you think of Henry as a son, and he has two dads and two moms, and all of these brothers and sisters and it's all so much. Do you ever wish you had stayed away from me and all of this madness?" I rush out all at once.

He looks at me like I'm crazy and throws his head back and laughs. "Emma, my silly little bird. I'm not sure I could have stayed away from you even if I tried. And I love this madness we call family. I never had a big family, much like you, and now that I do…it's unbelievable. I can't imagine my life without someone calling me dad or Uncle Killian. I know you feel the same, even if you try to hide behind your tough girl exterior." He smirks.

"Well…it's ok I suppose." He just rolls his eyes and pokes me in the side. "Ok," I laugh, "the love is good. I think when everyone grows up and leaves I may have a nervous breakdown."

"That could be interesting, to say the least, to watch. You do know Henry will be leaving in less than two years." He is such an antagonizer.

"Don't make me hit you." We're about five minutes away from my parents' house now. Around the corner and up the street lies a beautiful blue ranch style house. It's so cute it practically screams Prince Charming and Snow White lives here! Killian just smiles and swings our hands as we walk.

"Is that what you were thinking?" I ask him.

"Pardon?" he looks confused.

"You asked if I was thinking about our meeting with Gold, I wasn't, but were you?"

"It was occupying my mind, amongst other things." I look at him, waiting for him to continue. Getting my hint he goes on. "I suppose I find it baffling that such a little girl can wield that much power. As much as I still loathe her father, I adore Rosie, and I don't want to see her hurt by her magic."

"I get that. I think that with Belle as a mother, that girl has a good chance of getting out of that house with a sound mind and good morals. I hope I didn't insult Belle too much. I didn't mean to suggest they were bad parents, well at least not her."

"Please, this is Belle we are talking about." He shakes his head. "A woman who married the man who held her prisoner, who goes shopping and has lunch with a woman who put her in a loony bin for twenty eight years, and forgave me for shooting her. I don't think she will hold a grudge against you."

"Thanks, I feel so much better."

"Sarcasm is not appreciated."

"Did Neal seem odd today to you?" I ask. It's been bugging me all morning.

"I would say there is good cause for him to act peculiar, it's not every day a person's dead mother shows up on your doorstep. I'm sorry that we didn't think to call him. I got the sense he is feeling neglected in our thoughts. He has always felt like Milah neglected him, especially to be with me. Now, with all that has happen…well that fear of his is only being reinforced. I know he blames me, for…well everything." He looks angry and sad at once. Are things ever going to be the same again?

I think about what he said, and it makes sense. Neal's mother has always been a topic of distress for him. I know it was the same with my parents when I thought they had abandoned me for no good reason. We walk a ways more without speaking. "What do you think of asking my mom to help us?"

"Back to the serious business then?"

"Someone has to direct the conversation."

"Let me take a crack at it. I think the show Buffy was an excellent display of a young woman's life from childhood to adulthood using actual demons as metaphors to the inner demons we face in our everyday lives, what say you?" My husband is insane.

"You are insane."

"So you didn't think it was a good show." He looks at me with curiosity. Now he is just stalling. My parents' house is almost right in front of us. I raise my eyebrow at him, silently pleading him to take this serious. Whenever he is threatened to face something emotionally distressing, he hides behind his humor and cockiness. He ignores me until we are at the door. Finally he faces me and grabs my wrist as I raise my hand to knock on the door. "Emma, I know that you know this business with Milah is hard for me. I want what is best for us, but I also want to make Mialh happy, after what she has been through. These things may seem to contradict each other, but I can't help feeling what I feel. I get that I am probably not the best person to help her right now, but if someone can make her feel better in this world, it's your mom. She's kind, forgiving, and cares for people unconditionally, things she has passed on to her children." Sometimes he really does know just what to say to make my chest feel tight with love. I am convinced there is no better man than him. Stupid pirate.

"Can I have my hand back?" He releases my wrist and I brush his hair to the side, giving him a smile, before I knock on the door. It opens up a few seconds later, revealing a small boy. "Hello, Jimmy. Is mom around?"


ok i realize i end a lot of chapters with an opening and/or closing of a door, whatever!