an: hi! So I just finished writing the last chapter, after a lot of struggling, which means I can start posting these chapters every day! I hope you enjoy what I have left to share! Thanks for all of your support!
twenty-five.
month forty-two. hotel, dublin, ireland.
Charlie toddles around the hotel room and Killian sits on the bed with his guitar. Emma's sitting up against the headboard, laughing, because each time Killian leans forward, Charlie shrieks and tries to walk faster, but his little feet don't want to work with him.
He stumbles over a few times, but catches himself and then continues to play an advanced version of peek-a-boo with his dad.
Emma takes a picture of Killian grinning as he plays his guitar, just as Charlie comes to the edge of the bed. He's grinning so wide and his fingers hold tight to Killian's leg that's draped over the side of the bed.
"Charlie, can you show me your favorite dance?" Killian asks. "Move those knees. Shake your bum."
He plays a faster beat and Charlie bounces, fixated on his father, still smiling because Killian is smiling right back at him.
Killian laughs proudly as Charlie dances and Emma takes a video to send to Mary Margaret before hopping out of bed and dropping to her knees beside Charlie. His eyes get wide and excited when she reaches for his hands, and Emma sways her body with him.
Charlie lifts his feet in a stomping motion, clearly so excited about the way she's holding him, and Emma giggles. She leans in to kiss his cheek and settles her forehead against his for a second before returning to their dance on the floor of the hotel room.
Killian ends the song on a dramatic series of slow strums, lifting the neck of his guitar to accentuate it, and Emma releases her son's hands, falling to sit on the floor while she stares up at her husband and claps for him. Charlie joins her, his little hands hitting each other while he grins happily at his father.
"Yay!" Emma cheers. She nudges Charlie in his side and he chirps. "Yay, Daddy, that was so fun."
She turns her attention up to Killian and he smiles at her.
"Yay," Charlie states, bouncing a little with his knees before he goes to grab a toy from the floor.
Emma and Killian both chuckle softly. Emma pulls herself up to sit on the bed with Killian and she takes a deep breath. "So. The documentary crew will be filming us today."
"Yes," Killian nods his head.
He puts his guitar down on the bed and they watch Charlie as he toddles up to Killian's leg again. He holds his hands up, demanding to be lifted, and Killian grunts dramatically, pulling the boy into his lap.
Killian gives Charlie's cheek a few kisses, much to the baby's delight. He coos happily in Killian's ear and slumps against him, his fingers gripping his father's shirt tight.
"It's been awhile since we've had cameras in our faces everyday," Emma says as she watches her son's smile. She's in awe of how big he's getting, of how each day that passes he's becoming more and more like them.
Killian hums. He looks at her as he holds Charlie with a hand on his back. Charlie wants to put his fingers against Killian's face and he starts babbling while he hooks a finger into his mouth.
Killian laughs and settles the boy down into his lap so he's sitting.
"Well, we'll take things slow today. We have the show tonight but we can do whatever we'd like until then." He takes Charlie by his hands and dances them in front of the little boy so he'll giggle.
Emma studies their son and then looks up at her husband. "Do you think Charlie would like to go see some animals?"
Killian grins at that. "Aye, love, I think he would." He cranes his head to look at their boy. "What say you, Son? Would you like to see some animals today? Get out of the hotel?"
When Charlie shifts his face to look up at his father and smiles, both of them laugh.
/
month forty-two. zoo, dublin, ireland.
Merida is the producer on the little documentary crew sent by the record label, and Emma thinks she is the best person for the job.
While she's tough and runs a tight ship, she has an incredible soft spot for Charlie, and any time Charlie so much as looks over at her, she's helpless but to wave and gush over him. She's already held him more often than Emma has all day, and has been nominated by Killian as his newest aunt, to which she'd awed and snuggled closer to the baby settled on her hip.
The woman has red, wild curly hair, and a clipboard she keeps pressed to her chest as they wander the zoo with their tiny crew tagging along. She doesn't have any priorities for what they need to get, but she has a rough idea as to what this segment of the behind the scenes will feature, and she's told Emma some of the details so she's not out of the loop when the documentary is released.
"Look at that kitty, Charlie," Killian says, crouching down so he can stand Charlie up on the ground before the tiger enclosure. "Isn't he beautiful?"
Charlie has his mouth hanging open as he presses his hand to the glass. Emma stands back watching while the camera focuses on Killian and his attentiveness to his son.
Merida has a grin on her face when she looks over at her and she crosses around the camera guy to stand by her.
"Your husband is quite the family man, isn't he, then?"
Emma nods, her smile warm as she glances down at her husband and son. Killian laughs at the way Charlie babbles at him and he presses a kiss to his cheek as he stares at him lovingly.
"Yeah," Emma says, looking at Merida again. "He definitely is. He hates having to go very long without seeing either of us."
Merida gets a look on her face that translates to awe. "He's great with him, isn't he? God, and Charlie's just the sweetest little boy I have ever set me eyes on!"
Emma laughs. "Thank you."
The camera guy pulls himself up and Merida nods at him. "Okay, Emma, I was thinking we'd get the three of you having a snack or something? What do you think? Just something natural between the three of you."
Emma nods. "Yeah. Sure. I think it's almost time for Charlie to eat something anyway."
They find a table to sit at in the shade and Killian holds Charlie because he doesn't want to be in his stroller, nor does he want to be in Emma's arms. He snuggles close to his father and makes tired noises as Killian tries to get him to sit in his lap.
"Charlie, don't you want your carrots? Or your apples?" Emma asks, meeting his eyes. She holds up the choices and he just whines.
Killian rubs a circle over his back and Emma brushes back Charlie's hair so she can see his eye just before it closes tight and he shifts to face Killian's neck.
"Someone's had quite enough excitement for the day," Killian says and Emma sighs, tilting her head at the boy. "I think he had fun, though, didn't you, lad? You liked seeing all of the animals."
Charlie's arms tighten around Killian's neck and he says, "Okay. I think we should take him back to the hotel and find the boys so we can prepare for the show tonight."
Emma nods in agreement. She reaches out to tug at Charlie's foot. "Are you sure you don't want to eat something, baby boy? I know you'd rather have a nap on Daddy. I can't blame you. He's really snuggly."
Killian rolls his eyes at that and shifts Charlie in his arms so he's resting in the crook of his arm instead. Emma hands him Charlie's bottle and he holds it out for their son. After a moment, he touches it, signifying he wants it, and Killian grins as he feeds the boy.
"Ah," he says as Charlie drinks. "You're never one to deny yourself the pleasure, are you?"
Emma laughs when he looks up at her with a wink and she shakes her head at him. "Do you think he realizes how spoiled he is?"
Killian chuckles. "Probably. But we won't let him stay that way. We're good parents, I like to think."
She smiles and shrugs her shoulders. "Well, with all of the family he has, I think our parenting might get overlooked on occasion."
Killian shakes his head, giving her a look. "Not in a million years. Charlie knows his place. He knows Papa's word is final. Don't you, Charlie?"
Sometimes, she realizes that this man gave her this little boy, and that he's far more giving, loving, and nurturing than she'd ever expected he could be. She'd married him without knowing if he wanted children, and now that he has a son, she almost feels as if this had been in their story all along.
It's a seamless fit. Killian Jones is many things: a musician, a father, a husband, and he's always cared for her and their family, even when it gets hard. He deserves a break, quite frankly, because between the release of the album and two tours, he hasn't had a ton of time to relax and have time doing things for himself.
But she knows he wouldn't think twice about it. If he had to choose one life over the other, he'd choose them, and she's glad he can balance the two so well, because she knows he loves his music. It's his heart and soul. She can see it in his eyes every time he picks up his guitar to play for her.
The thought makes her grateful as she sits there watching him with Charlie in his arms. She smiles at him when he says something that sounds like a dad joke, and then she just shakes her head as she reaches for the back of his neck in order to pull him to her for a kiss.
Emma licks her lips when they part, and Killian arches an eyebrow as she pulls back. "Now I know you can't have appreciated my humor that much, Swan. You hardly laugh at my dad jokes when they're appropriate, much less when they're awful."
She laughs softly. "I love you. Is that a good enough reason to kiss you?"
His eyes soften and he nods. "Always."
/
month forty-two. hotel, dublin, ireland.
"So, can you tell me something about the tour? How you think it's going?" Merida asks as Killian sits in a chair against a plain wall in the hotel room.
He's being lit and there's a microphone snaked up under his shirt, and he has a camera trained on him.
It has been a while since he last had to do one of these and he can't say he missed it one ounce.
Emma's sitting on the other side of the room, an eye on Charlie as he sleeps in the crib, but he knows she's listening.
"This is the first time we've done a tour as massive as this one. We've only done four shows so far, but I think it's going incredibly well. The guys and I are having the best time and I couldn't have asked for kinder fans. Honestly, every stop, I'm amazed by the stories they tell and the gifts that they give us."
Merida smiles at that. She bobs her head. "Are you enjoying what down time you're allowed?"
Killian's smile spreads. "Aye. Quite a bit. Getting to explore the places we've stopped has been great. I actually grew up around England, so it's been nice seeing it again. I got to show Emma where I went to school and we had breakfast at a little bakery I used to visit on weekends with my brother Liam. This part of the tour has been… really refreshing. I can hardly wait to see what the rest of the tour brings."
He glances back to see Emma smiling at him and Merida asks him, "I've noticed that despite the success of the band, you seem to care quite a bit more about your family. Could you tell me about what drives that, maybe?"
For a moment, Killian sits in thought. He takes a breath. "You know, I met and married Emma on a television show, and we struggled to find pacing that fit the both of our schedules while we balanced getting to know one another. And with time, we've experienced a lot of growth in that. She's been managing the band for three years and now that we have our son, my attitude toward devoting time to them has grown exponentially."
He shakes his head. "I've got three jobs while I work, no matter what I'm doing. I'm a husband and I'm a father. Those come first. Hands down. Then I'm the head of this band. That's not to say I'm about ready to walk out on music. I love it. God knows I couldn't leave it just yet. But making sure Emma and Charlie have got me any time they need me is priority."
Now he's staring at his wife, and she has a blush in her cheeks as she tilts her head to the side. She's sweet as ever, sitting cross legged on the chair while her hair is piled on her head. She's got her laptop in her lap as she does some work for the band.
Merida has a little smile on her lips. "Yeah. That sounds about right."
/
In an attempt to get more comfortable with the fans that follow her on social media, Emma has found that posting pictures has become easier while they've been on tour.
She snaps pictures of Killian and the guys backstage before shows, she takes pictures of Killian while he's asleep, huddled under blankets and daring her to wake him, and she posts pictures of Charlie's little shoes or Charlie with his fingers on the keys to the piano while Jefferson teaches him a thing or two.
It's something that's helped her step into her place as part of Killian's life. Not that she wasn't before. But before she'd felt helpless, as if sharing any part of her life with him was going to end in nasty comments, but after a few posts and updates from her life, she's found that not all fans are angry and disgusting. She's actually found that most of the fans come from the television show and love to see them together.
Emma decides to post the video she'd taken of Killian playing his guitar and dancing with Charlie and her feed explodes with excitement. She has to laugh as she's reviewing the comments as she lies in bed.
"What's so funny?" Killian asks, his eyes closed and his voice a sleepy grumble.
The show had gone until one in the morning and he'd been amazing on stage. The fans in the audience were all so kind and Emma found that being off to the side of the stage was almost unnecessary. She probably could have gone out to mingle with the fans.
He'd winked at her when he started playing her song, and she'd danced even though he couldn't see her. It's been awhile since they've shared a moment at his shows. She kind of misses it.
"Nothing," she says quietly. Emma turns over onto her side to face him, being dimly lit by the lamp behind him.
"It's two in the morning. I think it's time for bed, love." Killian's eyes open just barely and she shuts her phone off.
She boosts herself up and leans over her husband in order to put her phone down and turn the light off, and he grunts dramatically when she bumps into him on her way down. Emma just laughs and slides her arm up under her pillow as she stares at him in the dark.
"I think the fans miss the show," she tells him, almost surprising even herself.
He cracks an eye open and arches an eyebrow. "What makes you say that?"
Emma takes a breath and Killian's arm goes around her middle. "Because I posted a video of you and Charlie earlier and they went crazy for it. I think they miss seeing us, I don't know, together?"
Killian smiles a little and through squinted eyes he says, "We're a bit busy for a television show at the moment, darling. I thought you hated it anyway."
"I do," she sighs. "But now its kind of part of us, isn't it? We offered up our lives to them for a month. They saw us fall in love."
Killian's thumb rubs a circle into her hip. "We don't owe them anything now, Emma." He opens his eyes and in all of his tired wisdom, he whispers, "Maybe we can have a crew film when we renew our vows. Post something online."
She hums. "Yeah. Maybe."
/
month forty-two. bar, dublin, ireland.
They go drinking with the guys and leave Charlie with Merida when she insists that she can watch him. She grew up with three baby brothers, after all.
It's their last night in Ireland before they move on with the tour and their final show had ended at around eleven. Killian doesn't think he's ever really had as much fun as he's had on this tour, and getting to spend time with his wife like this is even better.
Her body is warm against his as she settles between his legs, leaning back while his arms wrap around her middle. She's taking a picture of them, and he's making her laugh with the faces he's making. He leaves a kiss to the side of her head and shuts his eyes as he lingers there, his fingers sliding up under her shirt so he can touch the skin of her belly.
Emma squirms at his touch and her fingers find his hair after she sets her phone down. "I want to go exploring. We should go exploring so we can have fun while we're here. For us. Us fun."
He laughs as she turns to him. Her head falls to her shoulder and her teeth bite at her lower lip as she studies his face. "We haven't really had much time to ourselves, have we?"
She shakes her head swiftly. "Nope." She pops the 'p' and whirls around, reaching for his hand as she walks forward.
"Bye, guys!" Killian calls out, waving to his band.
The guys all laugh heartily and he'd probably swat Jeff on the back of his head for whistling while Whale catcalls, but his head is kind of foggy and he just rolls his eyes instead when Robin calls back, "Be safe you two!"
They're both just a little drunk. He knows because Emma doesn't usually giggle when he opens doors for her, and he doesn't usually trip on his feet as he tries to make sure he can.
The air outside is nice and Emma's hand is gentle in his. She smiles at him as she sways her hips as she moves in front of him. "Okay, okay. Where are we going to go? We should probably go someplace."
He hums thoughtfully. "We should... go make a wish in a fountain. On a fountain. Something like that."
Emma's fingers dance up his chest and she tickles the skin of his neck, making him shiver and jerk his shoulders up, much to her delight. She bites down on her lip as she giggles. "Okay."
They walk the streets together for quite some time before they find a fountain with water gushing out of it gracefully. Emma, as soon as she sets eyes on it, releases his hand in order to go boost herself up and stand on the ledge.
"Swan," he laughs. "What are you doing?"
"I'm making a wish on a fountain." Her eyes twinkle at him with teasing and he rolls his eyes.
Emma takes a few large steps forward and wobbles side to side so she has to spread her arms like a bird. He thinks she might fall and for some reason, it makes him laugh heartily.
He goes to her side and takes her extended arm she's using for balance as she says, "I think I want to wish for something sweet. Like… I really want Reece's Pieces. Or... maybe Twix. Yes, Twix. I want to wish for a Twix bar."
Killian raises an eyebrow. "Darling, you can't waste your wish on chocolate."
Emma's foot slips and she yelps as she falls into the fountain, and he's just drunk enough to go in after her, wanting to save her.
They both sit up in the fountain laughing, and Emma grips his soaking wet shirt in her hands. "See? Us fun."
He laughs with her and, sobering up by just a fraction, Killian stands, hoisting her up into his arms so they can get out of the fountain before they're seen like this.
Killian's arm wraps around her middle and he kisses her temple as they laugh their way toward their hotel. "You're the greatest thing that's ever happened to me, Emma Swan. The greatest."
"And you make everyday better." Emma replies, craning her neck to look up at him.
Her smile is brighter than all of the stars in the sky, and they're still soaked to their bones. Emma's teeth chatter as she sucks in a breath and he rubs his hand up and down her arm in an attempt to soothe her. But all he keeps thinking about is how lucky he is that she's here.
"You're so bloody amazing," he whispers, then, looking around, he says a touch loudly, "Everybody, my wife is amazing!"
Emma gasps and laughs at him, shaking her head. "Shut up or you'll get us in trouble!"
Killian stops walking in order to kiss her right there in the middle of the sidewalk. "Emma, you're so much stronger than I ever could be and I'm- gods, my love, you're a walking inspiration. I can't believe I haven't written more songs about you and your eyes. God, your eyes, Emma. They're so beautiful."
His wife smiles at him and drapes her arm around his middle. She starts walking forward slowly. "Come on baby, we gotta get back to the hotel for what I want to do with you now."
Killian's smile spreads wryly. "Well-"
Emma smacks his chest and he just laughs as they walk on ahead.
/
month forty-three. plane, beijing, china.
Charlie's sitting in Emma's lap as they wait for the plane to be filled. Killian's beside her, talking with Robin who sits across from them with Will.
Will's already asleep, his headphones on and arms folded to his chest.
There's something about seeing him cuddling a pillow that makes Emma laugh every single time, and while she knows Belle has received plenty of photos of the sight, she figures one more won't spoil the fun, so she snaps another and sends it to her.
The tour has taken them to so many places, and Emma doesn't think she's ever had as much fun as she's had in the past month of exploring. She knows Killian and the guys have adored getting to meet the fans that come out to the shows and they've loved performing every few nights.
With each stop on tour, Killian has made sure that they've purchased at least two tee shirts and a keychain, and Emma just rolls her eyes and asks him where he's going to keep all of his souvenirs, but he just tells her he'll buy a new suitcase for them. And he already has.
They're on their way to the back end of the tour after a few nights in China, and while being on the road is amazing, she does miss home just a little bit more than she'd thought she would. She misses her bed and her kitchen and her puppy. And she misses her friends and the calm of Storybrooke.
But she would never trade this experience for anything, because it's been so amazing. And, oddly enough, it's only strengthened their marriage.
Charlie has his face against the open window and he's happy, his fingers touching the opening to the world outside.
"He's probably the only boy in the whole world that loves flying as much as he does." Killian says lowly.
Emma looks at him and smiles softly. "Well, it's a good thing. Don't jinx us, Papa."
Her fingers grip Charlie by his middle and he cranes his head to look at her with a wide smile, his tiny teeth showing proudly.
Killian takes a picture of their son like this, sitting on her lap with a happy look on his face while his hands touch the window.
"Do you know that our drunken fountain escapades made the Internet explode?" he asks after he posts the picture to his social media with her approval.
Emma raises an eyebrow. "Really? That was like a month ago. Why didn't I hear about it sooner?"
He laughs. "I had Elsa take the photos down before you saw. They were pretty unflattering."
Emma narrows her eyes at him so he'll continue, and he does, saying, "Someone caught us, apparently, and there were several photographs posted of you falling in and me diving in after you." She almost wishes she could see the pictures, but then again, she'd probably die if she did. "They called me the hero, obviously."
She faux gasps, giving him a teasing smirk. "My real life Prince Charming." After a moment she sighs. "We should probably never drink again. I don't think I've ever had a headache as bad as the one I had the next morning."
Killian stares at her lovingly, as he does when he's about to say something completely ridiculous. She isn't let down in the least. He leans in to kiss her temple and murmurs, "Will you marry me?"
Emma gazes at him for a few moments, a smile spreading on her face. "Yes."
"Soon?" he asks, lifting his eyebrows hopefully. His teeth bite down on his lower lip and she thinks he must have doubled up on his cologne, despite the fact that he's sitting beside her wearing a graphic tee and sweats.
She giggles. "Yes. Soon. When we go home we'll start planning for real."
Killian sighs, sitting back into his chair more. He looks at Charlie as the little boy curls up against Emma's chest, his fingers tangling in her shirt in a vice grip.
"You're the greatest thing that's ever happened to me," he murmurs, and it makes her heart flip. She turns her head against her headrest and stares back at him.
"And you make everyday better."