Chapter 28:
Leadora woke up screaming from the same nightmare for the third night in a row.
"Leadora," Killian said.
She didn't realize it was a dream at first and kept panicking.
Killian sat up in bed, "Lea, love, it's alright. It was only a dream."
She took a few deep breaths before burying her face in Killian's chest, "I'm sorry," she whispered through her tears, "I see you die every time I close my eyes."
"Sssshhh, don't apologize, my love," Killian said softly as he stroked her hair, hugging her close, "It was just a nightmare, I'm alright. I'm right here, and I'm not going to leave you ever again."
Leadora sobbed into his chest, "I just want them to stop!" Her voice grew softer and a bit broken-sounding, "I just want them to stop."
Killian frowned, "I know, my love, believe me I know, and I hate that Regina did this to you, but I swear the nightmares will stop someday. Until then, know that I'm always going to be here when you wake up, every single time, and that I love you more than I could ever put into words, my angel."
"And I love you," Lea sniffled, "And I thought I lost you, and I've been having these nightmares ever since. I'm not used to you being here for me when I wake yet," she smiled, "But I think I could get used to it."
"There's that smile that I love so much," Killian grinned pecking her nose and then her lips.
"Well…you caused it…you always do," Lea blushed.
"Try to go back to sleep, yeah?" Killian said kissing her again and lying back down.
She lied down next to him shifting even closer than she was before the nightmare and resting her head on his chest.
He wrapped his arms around her pulling her in as close as possible, trying to make her feel safe.
"I love you," She mumbled tiredly before drifting back off to sleep.
"I love you, too," Killian whispered pressing a kiss to her forehead as she slept. When he woke up the next morning, she was still asleep.
Leadora started shifting all of a sudden in her sleep, "No…" she mumbled, "…Papa, no!" She sat up eyes shooting open. Once she realized it was a dream she lied back down.
"What was it, Leadora?" Killian asked, "Was it the same one again?"
Leadora shook her head; her eyes began to fill with tears, "It was my father this time…not Regina…"
"Oh…" he said. He thought for a moment, "He won't hurt me now…now that he knows he'll never earn your forgiveness if he does."
Leadora smiled a bit nodding, "You're right."
"I know I'm right," Killian teased.
"Don't get all cocky," Leadora laughed. She slapped his arm lightly.
"I love that laugh of yours," Killian grinned, "It's unbelievably cute."
"No, it isn't, it's weird," Leadora shook her head.
"Yes it is, and I'll prove it," Killian smirked.
"Killian…what do you mean you'll prove it?" Lea asked.
Instead of responding, Killian began tickling her side.
"Killian!" She squealed, "Stop that!" She was laughing uncontrollably.
Killian stopped for a moment, "Do you believe me now?" he asked.
Lea shook her head, "No," she gasped, "My laugh is ugly!" She squirmed and kicked trying to get away.
"I can do this all day," Killian warned her playfully, "Do you agree now?"
"Yes!" Lea laughed a little out of breath.
"Good," Killian smiled, kissing her lips.
As Leadora kissed back, there was a knock at the door. She sighed, "I'll get it."
"No! Maybe if we're really quiet, whoever it is will give up and go away," Killian whispered.
They stayed quiet for a minute, but there was another knock.
"So much for that," Leadora giggled. She pulled on her robe and went to answer the door, "I'll be right back."
The knocking grew more rapid as she approached the door.
"Alright, I'm coming," Leadora smiled as she opened the door. Her smile quickly disappeared, "Papa? What are you doing here?"
"I came to tell you I'm going to New York to find Baelfire," Rumple said, "I want you to come with me."
Leadora shook her head, "No, I'm staying here…with my fiancé."
"Y-Your what?" Rumple asked.
Leadora held up her left hand and showed her father the ring, smiling, "My fiancé, Killian proposed."
"And you…you said yes?" Rumple asked angrily, "Where is he?"
Leadora's eyes went wide, and her smile faded, "I knew I shouldn't have told you. I'm not telling you where he is; you won't hurt him."
Rumple pushed passed her and began searching the apartment, "Like hell I won't," he muttered.
"Papa! Stop!" Lea yelled. She ran ahead of him before he got to the bedroom, blocking his path, "Papa, that's enough!" She pulled the bedroom door closed.
"Leadora," Killian called from inside the room, "What's wrong out there?"
Rumple tried to get around her but she wouldn't let him.
"Leadora, move aside," Rumple said.
"No," Lea told him, "I won't let you hurt him."
"Leadora Magnolia Gold, I said move aside," Rumple yelled.
"And I said no!" she yelled back, "I'm a grown woman, you don't decide who I love and you don't order me around anymore! I'm not a child, Papa!"
Killian got out of bed and opened the bedroom door, "Leadora, are you alright?"
Lea looked between him and her father, "My father came to visit," she sighed.
"You're coming with me, Leadora," Rumple said.
"No, I'm not; I won't go getting my hopes up only to have them crushed. I'm staying here," Lea replied.
Rumple grabbed her arm, and she wrenched it away from him, turning a bit towards Killian.
Killian put an arm around her protectively, "You heard her, Crocodile; she wants to stay here."
"I can't imagine why," Rumple stepped closer.
"Because I'm in love, Papa!" Leadora snapped at him, "Maybe you can't understand that, but I'm in love."
Rumple shook his head, "He's tricked you somehow to take you from me, just like he took Milah. He doesn't really love you. He just knows that I won't be able to stand losing you to him."
"Well maybe you won't kill your own daughter like you did to Milah," Killian sneered at him, "I love Leadora as I have never loved anyone before, and I couldn't care less if that upsets you or not."
"I would never kill my own daughter," Rumple shot back.
"Just the man she loves then?" Leadora asked, "You wouldn't kill me, but you'd kill him?"
"Only to protect you from him," Rumple said.
"I don't need protection from him, I love him, and he loves me," Leadora shook her head.
"I don't believe that," Rumple said quietly.
Leadora balled her hands into fists and took a deep breath. She turned around and grabbed Killian by the shirt, pulling him towards her. Their lips crashed together passionately, as Rumple stood there and watched for what felt like an eternity.
Leadora pulled away with a smile on her face, her cheeks slightly pink, and a little out of breath, "Is that enough proof for you?"
"So you're not coming to find your own brother?" Rumple asked.
"Not with you, no," Lea replied, "Once you bring him back to Storybrooke, I'll be glad to see him again, but I think it's time the two of us parted ways until you can get it through your skull that I'm in love and you can't change it."
"Leadora, please don't do this, my flower," Rumple said.
"I can't have you take away the one person in my life that has never hurt me," She said calmly, "I'm staying here. Once you change your mind about us, you're welcome to come back, but until then, I don't want to see you again." She almost couldn't believe the words coming out of her mouth.
Rumple turned and left without another word.
Leadora walked into the bedroom and sat down on the bed, "I-I can't believe I just told him that."
Killian sat next to her, wrapping his arm around her and kissing her cheek. "What he said…about me not loving you…it wasn't true, Lea, not one word was true."
Leadora looked up at him and smiled, "I know, my love." She leaned into him and closed her eyes for a minute.
"You seem to be taking this rather well," Killian said, a bit confused.
"I think I made my peace with the fact that he'd never accept this long ago," Lea shrugged, "I just never thought he'd try to kill you to get me away from you. I'd rather make the most of every second we have together than dwell on that."
"Are you sure you're alright?" Killian asked.
"I'm sure," Leadora nodded, "As long as you're here, I'll be fine."
"I'll always be here," Killian smiled, "I'll never leave you again, I promise."
"We're going to be married," She whispered excitedly.
"Yes," Killian nodded. He ran his thumb over Lea's ring.
"I can't believe you saved this all those years," Leadora smiled.
"I had to, you loved it, I thought of giving it to you every day," Killian said.
Leadora stood up, "Look what I found," she pulled the book he gave her off her bookshelf.
"You still have that beat-up old book?"
"Of course I do, you gave it to me."
"Read to me?"
Leadora opened the book and smiled, "I thought you'd never ask."
