Hey guys! I'm finally here with the new chapter! I'm sorry I took so long to update but I was in Vancouver, and decided to enjoy my vacation and take a little break with the work :) I'm going to start updating twice a week, as before, on Monday and Friday. Thanks a lot to oncer4life11, paupaupi, Emilee Amethyst and Araya for the reviews, and I hope you're gonna like this chapter! :)
I was staring at the neon lights hanging on the ceiling, looking at them scrolling above my head and trying to stay awake by focusing on them. Now that I wasn't in the heat of the combat anymore, I was absolutely exhausted. But I wanted to make sure the baby was okay before falling asleep. It wasn't going to take much longer anyway, because the paramedics were taking me to the ultrasound right now. I hadn't even thought about protesting when they had forced me to lay back down on the stretcher, saying that given what I had just lived and the fact we didn't know if the baby was okay yet, staying on my feet wasn't a good idea. I was actually feeling like I didn't have any strength left in my body anymore, and I didn't know if I would have been capable to walk to the examination room.
Killian was walking beside me, my hand tightly squeezed in his. He hadn't let go of me once since I had escaped, as if he wanted to make sure I was there and I wasn't going to disappear once again. I looked up to him and tried to smile to comfort him because I knew he was so anxious about what was happening, but I only managed to give him half a grin. Every inches of my body was aching, and the punches I had received on my face were feeling like they were on fire. Right now, I just wanted to fall asleep and forget about this all mess, but I had to know if the baby was all right before finally allowing myself to get some rest.
We finally arrived to the examination room, and Killian lifted me up from the stretcher, one arm on my back and the other under my legs, to gently lay me down on the table. I didn't protest and wrapped my arms around his shoulder to help him in his task. I wouldn't have been able to get up anyway, and feeling him near me was very comforting. After making sure that I didn't need anything, the paramedics left us alone while we were waiting for Whale, who were going to come and check on me any minute now. It was cold in the room. I wrapped Killian's jacket around my shoulder to try to keep a little bit warmer, and the smell of the familiar leather reassured me a little bit.
"You okay?" Killian asked in a very gentle voice, leaning forward to look at me carefully. "You look like you're cold..."
"I would kill for a hot cocoa with cinnamon." I answered in a weak voice, trying to look better than I really was in order not to worry him too much.
He offered me half a smile and started to draw little circles on the back on my hand with his thumb as his hook was understandably landing on my stomach. I closed my eyes for a few seconds, enjoying his strokes and trying to relax. The touch of his skin against mine was making me feel so much better, and I was so happy he was there beside me as I was facing this horrible situation.
"Has… The baby moved since..." He wavered.
"It hasn't" I whispered, shaking my head and feeling a sob obstructing my throat but refusing to let it out. "But it doesn't mean it isn't okay." I added, aware that I was mostly trying to reassure myself.
"I know, love." He said with a gentle smile. "I'm sure it's all right. It's a fighter, as its mom, isn't it?"
I gave him a slight smile as an answer, touched by this statement. He didn't seem to be that certain our child was okay, but I didn't add anything, aware that he just wanted me to feel better. So I just kept on waiting for the doctor to arrive as he was gently resuming his strokes on my hand.
Five minutes later, I saw Whale's familiar face appearing by the open door. He had lost his regular cheerful smile, and was looking deeply concerned. As if I was quietly asking for the baby to be all right, I placed my hand on my stomach with a little sight, my hand brushing against Killian's hook.
"How are you holding up?" Our friend asked, approaching us.
He wasn't walking straight, as if he had just gotten out of bed, but he seemed very focused at the same time. He was ready to do his job, I had no doubt about it, and I was trusting him. I simply nodded to answer his question, deciding that the most important thing right now was to know if the baby was all right, and I added :
"For now, we just want to know how's the baby. It moved when we were in the ambulance, but..."
"No other sign since then?"
I shook my head and pressed my lips together to hold back the sob that was still stuck into my throat. I had to stay calm. It wouldn't help if I started to panic, and my child needed me to be okay.
"It doesn't mean something's wrong." He tried to reassure me, seeing that his words were making me anxious. "Can you lift your shirt up, please?"
I nodded and obeyed without adding anything. Killian let go of my hand to place his on the naked skin of my baby bump. I took a deep breath and looked up at Whale as he was getting the ultrasound ready. It seemed to last an eternity to me, even if I knew only a few seconds had actually passed.
He finally slowly approached the probe from my stomach. I didn't even startle when the cold jelly touched my skin, I was too focused to notice it. There was an endless second of silence, then the regular heartbeat of the baby started to ring into the room.
"It means it's okay, right?" Killian asked, pronouncing the words that were burning my lips, his hand grabbing mine once again.
"Have you received any kind of shock on your stomach?" The doctor said without really answering the question, his eyes still glued to the screen.
"I don't… I don't know." I stuttered, worried by the fact he had avoided to answer us clearly. "I did the best I could, but Zelena collapsed on me, and… Is it okay?"
Everything was quiet for a few more seconds as Whale was still passing the probe on my skin. I thought for a horrible instant I was going to implode from the stress. I had felt my child move inside of me, I had heard his heartbeat and I had thought it was all right. But now, Whale's behavior was panicking me and I didn't know what to do with myself anymore. But he finally started to talk again, turning to face us with a little relieved smile.
"Everything seems perfect to me. Your child is definitely a fighter."
Killian and I let go of a relieved sight at the exact same time. Hook then leaned forward and, ignoring Whale, who had the thoughtfulness to look away for a bit, he gave me a gentle kiss on the lips, then on the forehead before squeezing my hand in his. Pure happiness was sparkling in his eyes as he was staring at me like I was the most precious thing on earth. He had thought he had lost us both the baby and me, but we were safe now. He was looking so happy, and I could guess he was about to start crying.
I myself felt hot tears starting to stream down my face. Everything was okay. I had just lived an absolute nightmare, but everything had fallen back into place. I was miraculously alive, my baby as well. I had thought I was going to die for real, and feeling the touch of Killian's hand against mine seemed a bit surreal too me.
Whale kept on examining me for a long while to make sure I was okay. Now that I was comforted and knew my child was in good shape, I didn't even have the strength to fight against the exhaustion anymore. My eyes were closing on their own, and Hook leaned forward as Whale was taking the probe away from my stomach.
"Sleep, baby, you must be exhausted. Everything's fine now. You're safe."
"You're staying here?" I asked in a low voice, my mind a bit foggy because I was so tired, and not wanting him to leave me because his presence was making me feel so much better.
"Of course." He promised, pressing a tender kiss on the top of my head. "I'm not leaving you for a second. I swear."
I didn't even have the strength to answer and fell asleep right away, our fingers still woven together.
"I feel so bad about what we've done..."
"Look, I'm not going to lie to you and tell you you did everything right earlier, but it's over now. She's okay."
"I know, but I have no idea what to do to redeem myself."
"She knows you love her. It's the most important thing right now."
I was hearing my family's voices a bit distorted as I was slowly emerging from my sleep. I didn't really pay attention to the sentences I had just heard, and let out of a little whimper, still half asleep. Everything went quiet in the room all at once, and Killian's voice gently started :
"Are you awake, beautiful?"
I opened my eyes to discover I was in a hospital room, only enlightened by a little pilot light laying next to the bed. My parents, Regina, Henry and Killian were at my bedside, and I smiled to reassure them as they were all looking extremely worried, probably wondering if I was okay. Killian was sitting on a chair next to the bed and was gently running his hand though my hair. I was holding his hook in my hand, as if I had tried to comfort myself during my sleep.
"Are you aching somewhere? You whimpered in your sleep." Hook added, resuming his strokes in my head.
"No, I'm fine." I answered, moving to lean against the head board and look at my family more easily. "Sleeping did me good."
I suddenly frowned, realizing what I had just said, and I carefully ran my hand on my face to make sure of what I was feeling. Before falling asleep, I was in such pain I could barely smile or talk, but I couldn't feel a thing now. I turned to question Killian, a bit perplexed by this discovery :
"Did they give me painkillers? My face is not hurting anymore."
"I've healed you." Regina answered as I was still stroking my face, as if I couldn't believe I wasn't in pain anymore, and I stopped when I heard her words. "With my magic. It seemed like the least I could do after what has happened."
"Thank you." I said with honesty, surprised by her gesture. "Truly Regina, thanks a lot. I don't really know what to say..."
"You don't have to say anything, you know." My friend answered with a shrug, and I frowned once again.
This behavior wasn't like her. By looking more carefully at my family, I was starting to realize something was off with them. They were looking a bit sad, and I couldn't understand why, because everything was all right now. I bit my lower lip in worry, wondering if something had happened while I was asleep.
"What's going on?" I then asked, turning to look at Killian, still holding his hook in my hand. "You're all acting very strangely..."
"We've just all been very scared for you." My dad answered with a slight smile. "But everything's okay now."
"Do you need something?" My mom added, looking very concerned about my well-being. "Anything, we'll get it for you."
"Well… If you have something to eat, it'd be awesome." I said with a somewhat sheepish smile. "I haven't eaten anything in hours, I'm starving and I'm not sure it's really good for the baby to stay that way."
"Do you want something in particular?" My mom kindly asked.
"No, really, I'll take anything as long as it's eatable. And only if you have it with you, of course. I don't want to make you go get stuffs for me, I can wait to be home for that..."
"I'm going to get you something." Regina decided, looking very confident about this sudden statement.
"But, wait, the cafeteria isn't open at this hour of the night, and… Regina!" I called her back as, stubborn, she was disappearing behind the wooden door. "What's gotten into her?" I asked my family, not understanding why my friend was behaving in such a weird way.
"It's her own way of telling you she's sorry." Killian gently explained, looking straight into my eyes with a comforting smile.
"But… Sorry for what?" I questioned, utterly lost by this statement.
My father shared a concerned look with my mom, who was looking like she was about to start crying, and I didn't understand this expression on her face at all. I stared at them, suddenly deeply worried about what was going on, and my dad came to sit at the edge of my bed and took my free hand in his.
"We are all so sorry, Emma. Your mom, Regina and I, we should never have talked to you the way we did this morning. It was so unfair, and we're hating ourselves for it."
I suddenly understood the sentences I had heard while I was still half asleep. So, it was because of that, their serious faces and Regina's behavior, everything was making sense now. But I still didn't get why they were blaming themselves. Sure, we had gotten into an argument right before Zelena had taken me in hostage, but I had thought this was forgotten. After what had happened, I was just happy to have them near me, and I had thought it had been the same for them and we were okay about what they had told me earlier.
"But guys." I started, squeezing my dad's hand in mine. "I don't blame you, I swear. I know I got mad, but it's okay now. You were just nervous, I've forgiven you long ago..."
"If you had died and the last thing you had heard from us were blames, I would never have forgiven myself." My mom cut me off, her eyes flooded with unshed tears.
"I'm alive, okay?" I stated, hoping it would make them all feel better, because seeing them so sad was breaking my heart. "And I don't blame you, I promise. Stop torturing yourselves."
"We love you so much, Emma." My dad said in a somewhat shaky voice, wrapping his arms around me, joined by my mom only a few seconds later.
"I love you too." I whispered, moved by their words, before pulling away from them with a little smile, hoping that my words had helped them.
"You really scared me to death, mom, you know that?" Henry intervened, climbing on the bed to embrace me as well.
"I know kid, and I'm sorry about that. But everything's fine now, okay?" I said, carefully looking at him and trying hard not to start crying again.
I then turned back to look at Killian, and I met his shinning blue eyes. He was looking so relieved. I didn't say anything, but smiled at him and it looked like it made him feel a bit better. He placed his hand on my head again to resume gently stroking my hair. We stayed silentr for a few minutes, all lost in our thoughts and exhausted because of the last events. The door ended up opening again, and we all turned our heads to look at Regina, who walked into the room with her chin up.
"I tried to find peanuts, but there weren't any, so I hope this will be okay for you."
Without giving me the time to answer anything, she threw something in my direction. I caught it to discover it was a huge pack of M&M's, and raised my eyebrows in surprise. I then looked up to her and asked.
"Where the hell have you found these at this hours?"
"I made a quick stop at my place. I had some for Henry, and I know you really like peanuts. I know it's not the same, but..."
"Thank you so much, Regina." I said with a grateful smile, feeling my stomach rumbling at the idea I was going to eat very soon. "That's so sweet. You didn't have to do that..."
"It's not much." She shrugged. "I just made myself appear in my kitchen, it only took me a few seconds."
"Still, thank you." I insisted. "And… you don't have to feel guilty, understood?"
She seemed surprised at first by this sudden statement, but she ended up nodding with seriousness. She didn't answer anything so the conversation wouldn't take a too sentimental turn, and I smiled at her to thank her one last time. But I lost my smile quite quickly, and stayed quiet for a bit, frowning and troubled by my thoughts. I was nervously fiddling the pack of sweets in my hands, lost in my mind. I was wondering what had happened to Zelena. I hadn't had the time to ask Regina what she had done with the witch before going to the hospital, and I was now scared our enemy had managed to escape once again. Because if it was the case, I was in danger again. And I would certainly not be so lucky to survive a second time.
"Guys, I wanted to ask you..." I started with a little hesitation and with a somewhat shaky voice. "Zelena, where is..."
"She's back in her cell, underground." Regina cut me off, looking straight into my eyes and probably guessing I was still scared about what had happened to me. "I'm impressed, by the way, you've managed to knock her out real good while you were already hurt and exhausted. She woke up while you were at the ultrasound, and she made such a fuss about her situation when she realized where she was, but she's wearing a bracelet forbidding her from using her magic, and she can't go anywhere. She can't hurt you anymore."
I slowly nodded, relieved and feeling tears forming in my eyes. My family and my baby were safe, and I wasn't going to be in danger anytime soon. I had really thought it was over for me tonight, and I couldn't believe I had actually made it. I turned to look at Killian, pressing my lips together to hold back my tears. He gently smiled at me, probably guessing the state of emotion I was in, and cupped my cheek to comfort me.
"It's all right now, Swan. We will never let anyone hurt us again."
I forced myself to smile back at him and swallowed the lump that was obstructing my throat. I really didn't want to start crying again. I took a few seconds to pull myself together, and finally started talking in a still muffled voice.
"Have you talked with Harry, Ron and Hermione?"
"We have." My mom nodded. "We've told them you were safe and all right, and they were all deeply relieved. We've decided to send them back home tomorrow morning. Tonight wasn't a good time, we are all tired, and they wanted to say goodbye before leaving."
"How are Liam and Neal?"
"They are more than fine." My dad reassured me. "When we called the wizards, they were sleeping like two little angels."
"Liam wasn't panicking too much?" I asked in worry. "Seeing how it went the last time I've disappeared like that, I'm scared he's going to start being afraid when I leave him again..."
"Don't worry about that." Hook said, still in a very soft voice. "I took the time to explain him he had to go and sleep with Neal because we were busy. He got it. He's all right."
"Can we… go and see them when I'll be out of here?" I asked with a shy smile. "I really want to see Liam after what's happened. I know he's sleeping, but..."
"I know, darling, I get it." Hook answered, bringing my hand to his lips to press a little kiss on it. "If you feel good enough to go, we'll do it."
I nodded, thankful he was always so understanding with me, and it's Regina who started to talk again. She had regained her usual tone of voice, and it reassured me. It meant that she wasn't feeling guilty anymore, and that I was safe, for good.
"Well, are you eating these M&m's, yes or no? I haven't gotten home for nothing."
I smiled at her comment and obeyed, relieved about the last news and telling myself that, maybe, we would finally be able to live a normal life again.
Settled in the bed of our room, cuddled into Killian's arms, I was comforted by the touch of his skin against mine. I was sitting between his legs, my back glued to his chest, my head placed on his shoulder and my face buried into the crook of his neck. He had placed his hand on my stomach, and our fingers were woven together. With my right hand, I was holding his hook, which was placed against my thigh. His arms wrapped around me that way, I was feeling so safe, as if nothing could ever happen to me again. I was feeling so good, and I was slowly falling asleep without trying to fight against my exhaustion.
It was very late. We had gone to see the wizards after getting out of the hospital, and I had looked at my son peacefully sleeping for a few minutes, not believing how lucky I was to be alive and be able to watch him grow up. We had ended up going home, and it was now 4 in the morning. I was feeling so tired, but I hadn't managed to fall asleep, the anxiety rushing over me every time I was closing my eyes. Images from my day with Zelena were like engraved under my eyelids, and were panicking me so much my heart was starting to race every time I was trying to fall asleep. Killian had then asked me to come near him, and now that I was against him, I was feeling so loved and safe. Nothing was going to happen to me anymore, never again.
"I love you."
Killian's words woke me up completely. My first impulse was to gently tease him, but I understood it wasn't a good time. I then turned my head to look at him and answered in a low voice.
"I know. I love you too."
"I just wanted to tell you this because… I haven't had the time to answer you earlier, and I would never have forgiven myself if you had died without me telling you how much I love you one last time."
"I'm here." I whispered, stroking his hand with my thumb to reassure him. "I'm alive, and I'm not going anywhere. I promise."
"I was so scared I'd lost you both." He resumed, placing his head against my own. "You were in danger, and I couldn't do anything about it. I thought I was going crazy."
"I know, babe." I gently repeated. "I've been scared too."
"You won't scare us like that again, little one, will you?" He said to the baby, gently caressing my stomach with his palm.
Our child gave a huge kick to answer his father, and I burst out laughing. I turned my head to kiss Killian's chin, and he pulled me a little bit closer to his chest.
"I think it's agreeing with you."
Hook laughed as well, and let go of my hand to place his under the wide shirt I was wearing to sleep and gently press his fingers against my naked skin. He resumed his strokes, and I snuggled a little bit deeper into his arms, comforted by the touch of his hand against me.
"I'm just happy you are here." He whispered as I was finally falling asleep.
I smiled, my eyes still closed, and turned my head to bury my face back in his neck and breathe him.
"So, what way do you prefer to go home? A simple door? A tornado that risks to destroy then entire park on its way? Or a portal, knowing that there is a huge chance you'll end up falling on the ground of your home?" Regina asked, looking very serious, the apprentice's wand tightly squeezed into her hand.
"I think a door is perfect." Harry answered, laughing at her comment.
I turned to look at Killian with a smile. We were holding hands, a few feet away from the wizards, as we were finally able to send back home. I was very happy we had finally found a solution after all those months spent at trying to find something to allow them to go back to their families. Hook turned back as well, and our eyes met as we were sharing a look for a few seconds. He gently smiled at me, and let go of my hand to wrap his arm around my waist and pull me closer to him.
The afternoon had just started. After a good night of sleep, I was finally feeling safe again, aware that Zelena couldn't hurt me anymore now that she was in her cell. We had gone to find Liam in the morning, and after one last drink shared at Granny's all together, the wizards had been ready to go. Neal and my youngest son were playing together in the grass of Central Park, while Henry was standing near Killian and me. We hadn't had the courage to send the kids back to Ashley's after everything that had happened the day before, and they weren't risking anything by staying with us anyway.
"Very well, then." Regina said with half a smile, gesturing to make the wand work.
A huge and majestic door appeared in front of our eyes, and the kids immediately stopped playing to look at it, their eyes wide open in curiosity. I squatted to pull Liam closer to me and forbid him to run toward the door and cross realms, imitating my mom who was doing the same thing with Neal. I kissed Liam on the top of his head, but he didn't even seem to notice me, too obsessed by the mystery that was standing in front of him.
"I suppose it's time to say goodbye." Hermione wavered, looking deeply moved by the situation.
My father nodded with a slight smile, and, as the wizards were approaching us for one last thank you, I forced Liam to turn and face me. He looked at me, seeming very perplexed by everything that was happening, and I said to him in a serious tone.
"Look, baby, I know you want to know what's behind the door, so I'm going to tell you what it is: It's another world. And I know you want to go and see what it's like out there, but you have to stay here, understood?"
"Why?" He asked with a little pout that made me smile.
"Because it can be dangerous, and Daddy and I love you very, very much. We don't want anything to happen to you. Can you promise me you're not going to try and cross the door?"
"… promise." He said after a little hesitation.
"That's my boy." I whispered, kissing him on the forehead in a quiet thank you.
I got up, but left my hands on my son's shoulder because he was only two, and I was aware he could break his promise anytime. When I saw that wizards approaching me, I gestured to my mom to ask her to keep an eye on Liam. The wizards had already said goodbye to her, and she was holding Neal against her. She smiled at me, and gestured to my son so he was safe next to her.
I then completely turned my attention to the wizards to smile at them, trying to hide the fact I was myself pretty moved to see them leave us. They were in town for more than four months now, and despite a few little arguments, I was considering them as my friends. I then said goodbye to Harry, then Ron by briefly hugging them, but was a bit surprised when Hermione wrapped her arms around me to hold me close to her. I hadn't expected that to happen, and I needed a few seconds before hugging her back. She ended up pulling away after a little while, looking down as if she was about to start crying.
"Thanks, Emma. For everything you've done for us. You know, I was really scared, last night..."
"I'm fine." I assured her, my right hand placed on her shoulder. "I'm going to miss you, Hermione."
"You too, I..." She resumed with a little hesitation, and I tilted my head, curious to know what she was about to say. "I don't know if it means anything to you, but I just wanted to tell you you are a true Gryffindor."
"Thanks." I said, surprised by this revelation I hadn't expected to hear, but pretty flattered, because coming from the mouth of one of the most famous Gryffindor of all time, it was a huge compliment.
"Take care of you and the little one, okay?" She said, looking down at my stomach with a little smile. "And I wish you all the best for your wedding." She added, approaching Killian to embrace him as well. "I would have wanted to see what the celebration is going to be like, and I know we can now cross realms with the wands but… I'm not sure I'm ready to get away from home for a while, now."
"I know." I said with half a smile. "I understand. But we'll see each other again. In other circumstances, I don't know when, but these are not goodbyes."
"I really hope so." She said before embracing me one last time.
I then looked at them walking away from us, feeling tears forming in my eyes, and Killian wrapped his arm back around my waist, guessing I was pretty sad to say goodbye to our friends. After one last smile, they ended up crossing the door, and after a few seconds, they were gone. Regina waited a little bit to make sure everything was fine, then she lifted the wand up in the air to make the door disappear. The park went silent for a little while, as if we were paying respect to this period of our life that was closing. My mom was the one who started to talk again, and she offered with a smile :
"Who wants to go to Granny's?"
I nodded with a smile as Killian was pulling away from me. I looked at him squatting to take Liam, who was running toward him, in his arms. Both laughing, he lifted him up above his head before hugging him close, and I smiled at how adorable they looked.
I wrapped my arms around Henry's shoulder, who was sanding beside me, and was also looking at the scene with a smile on his face.
We could finally resume our normal life.
Here we go! The few chapters following this one are much calmer and much more fluffy. They are about the wedding and what follows, and I hope you're going to like them! See you Friday! :)