Disclaimer: Nope – still not mine.
"How'd Granny take the news?" Emma inquired when the Joneses filed into the café for breakfast the morning after girls' night. Ruby was curiously working the breakfast shift even though she was a bit hung over.
All of a sudden, singing could be heard from the kitchen.
"Is that Granny?" Emma coughed out her surprise.
"She's been singing all morning," Ruby giggled at Emma's reactions, "She was surprisingly very excited when Victor and I told her the news last night."
"Why do you say surprisingly?" Emma asked.
"I don't know," Ruby shrugged, "I guess part of me thought she'd be mad and think I'm just up and leaving her to fend for herself now after her looking out for me for all these years."
"It's not like you're moving to a different realm," Emma pointed out, "You and Victor will be staying in Storybrooke, right?"
"Oh yeah, definitely," Ruby nodded, "I don't know how the wolfies would be handled out in the world."
"You look really happy," Emma noted the extra bounce in her step.
"I am," Ruby nodded, "I'd better ask Fallon if she wants to be my flower girl before her schedule fills up on that day."
"It's still on Christmas Day?" Emma asked.
"Victor's double checking with the hospital that he has that day off, but as of right now, yes, Christmas Day," Rudy replied, "After everyone opens their presents they can get themselves all prettied up to attend my big day."
"You've earned it," Emma linked arms with Ruby as they made their way to the table where Fallon was talking animatedly about the movie she'd seen the previous evening.
"Aunt Ruby," Fallon leapt out of the booth into Ruby's awaiting arms.
"How are you, Pumpkin?" Ruby hugged her tight, "I heard you went to see Sleeping Beauty last night. Was it good?"
"Yep," Fallon bobbed her head, "There were these three fairies, and they did funny things, and they turned Aurora's dress blue and then pink and then blue and then pink…"
"She'll go on if you let her," Henry chimed in while covering Fallon's mouth.
Ruby laughed in reply, "Hey, Pumpkin, would you like to do something for me?"
Fallon eagerly bobbed her head.
"Will you be the flower girl at my wedding on Christmas Day?" Ruby asked.
Fallon paused for a moment not fully comprehending what Ruby was asking of her.
"Remember at Ashley's wedding, Princess," Emma chimed in, "Remember how Alexandra walked down the aisle and threw rose petals and then stood next to Ashley during the ceremony?"
Fallon bobbed her head.
"That's what a flower girl does during a wedding," Emma explained, "Do you want to do that for Aunt Ruby?"
"Yay!" Fallon threw up her hands in excitement.
"And you get a new dress to wear," Ruby chimed in, "Would you like that?"
"Can it be a princess dress?" Fallon asked.
"Of course it can be a princess dress," Ruby laughed, "What color do you want to wear?"
"Red," Fallon tugged at a red strand of the waitress's hair.
"Red it is," Ruby kissed her cheek and then set her back in the booth, "Did you want some pamcakes, Pumpkin?"
"Yep," Fallon's head bobbed away.
"I'll be right back," Ruby kissed the top of Fallon's head.
Fallon was dancing in the booth to an unknown beat, so excited for the honor Ruby had bestowed upon her.
"You're so cute," Henry kissed her cheek.
"Before we going sailing today, I was hoping you'd show me where you'll be living," Emma spoke to her father-in-law.
"It's on the way," Killian added.
"Do you want to see where Poppy is going to be living, Princess?" Emma asked.
"He not live with us anymore?" Fallon pouted.
"No, he was only staying with us temporarily until he found a permanent place to live, but I'm sure he'll come over and see us all the time," Emma tried to reassure her daughter, "Won't you, Poppy."
"Aye," Brennan nodded, "I want to see my favorite granddaughter as much as possible."
Fallon cheered up a bit at her grandfather's reply.
Ruby returned with the pancakes for Fallon and breakfast for the rest.
While covering her pancakes with enough syrup to make them float, Fallon discussed the day's course with her father, basically telling him exactly where she wanted to go.
"Who's the captain of the Jolly Roger again?" Emma muttered under her breath so only Killian could hear.
"She takes her captain lessons seriously," Killian chuckled.
After a quick stop at the apartment Brennan was renting to take a look around the Jones family were climbing aboard the Jolly Roger for a Saturday sail.
Once they were safely on their way, Henry found a comfortable spot for writing in his journal with Max sitting at his side. It was becoming a common occurrence for Henry to be writing, one which Emma fully encouraged. Emma wished she'd used such an outlet when she was his age rather than bottling up all her emotions.
Fallon was running all around the deck of the Jolly Roger, pulling her poppy back and forth to show off things she found interesting onboard.
"I get exhausted just watching her," Emma told her husband from her vantage point near the wheel. Bradyn's attention was currently on the birds flying overhead. His finger was following their flight path. Killian was at the wheel keeping them on course.
"At lease she's keeping herself warm," Killian snorted.
"It's not that bad today," Emma replied.
"Says the lass with four layers of clothes under the parka she's wearing," Killian glanced up and down at her attire.
"I dressed warm on purpose," Emma replied, "You'd get annoyed when I complain the entire time."
"No, I just send you below deck," he stated.
"Which is code for you finding me annoying," Emma smirked.
"I could never find you annoying, Love," he extended his hand, pulling her to her feet and bringing her in tight against him. Bradyn's attention instantly shifted to the wheel within his reach. His tiny mittened hand closed around one of the spokes.
"Uh-oh," Emma tried to pull Bradyn's hand away from the wheel only to find he had a death grip on it, "I think someone wants to steer."
"Do you want to steer, Little Sailor?" Killian took Bradyn from Emma's arms and allowed the little boy to move the wheel as much as he could considering the usual force it took to move the wheel even an inch.
The ship shifted course slightly much to the little boy's delight.
"Don't crash us, Bradyn," Emma pecked at his cheek.
Bradyn released the wheel and watched as his father corrected their course. Apparently their course was not where Bradyn wanted to go as he grabbed ahold of the wheel again.
"Who's the captain here, Little Sailor?" Killian chuckled at the scowl on his son's face when he tried again to correct their course
"Looks like he is," Emma snickered.
"Don't you be inspiring a mutiny on me, Little One," Killian playfully scolded his son, yet he chose not to correct their heading.
Finally in a suitable spot, the anchor was thrown out and fishing lines were cast by Killian, Brennan and Henry. Emma took Bradyn into Killian's cabin, and they napped for a bit together while Fallon ran about the ship with Max nipping at her heels.
"She is quite the energetic little thing," Brennan noted when Fallon ducked under the fishing poles and whizzed past them.
"That's one way of putting it," Henry noted.
"She'll wear herself out eventually," Killian shrugged, "She usually does."
"Maybe its all the sugar she consumed at breakfast," Henry replied.
"It most likely is," Killian chuckled.
Just then Henry's line caught. Fallon came running over, eager to watch the trio reel in their first catch of the day, only to be disappointed when Henry reeled up a glass bottle.
"There's a bit of parchment inside," Brennan noted when Henry pulled out the stopper.
"It's probably a love letter or something," Henry replied, "There was a movie several years back about letters in a bottle and after that there was this rush for all the single women to send out their own letters. Mom made me watch it one night when it was her turn to choose the movie. It was after she returned from the Enchanted Forest but before you came to town with Cora, Killian."
"Sorry, Lad," Killian chuckled. "Sounds like a long evening."
"It was," Henry dumped out the contents of the bottle and opened the scroll. "What language is this?"
Killian glanced over his stepson's shoulder, "Looks like Avalonean. Papa?"
"Aye," Brennan grabbed the paper from Henry, "This is the mark of my king."
"How would a message in a bottle get from Avalon to Storybrooke?" Henry thought out loud.
"The same way my father's journal got here," Brennan responded before he read through the letter, "I sent the journal to find Killian."
"You think someone sent this message to find you?" Henry asked.
"Aye," Brennan began to read through the letter. His face had turned as white as a ghost by the end.
"What's wrong, Papa?" Killian asked.
"My kingdom is in trouble," Brennan replied, "I must return."
"I thought you couldn't go back because you committed treason," Henry stated.
"This message is from the king himself. He says Katarina has turned the entire kingdom against him. His only hope is my return to restore the peace," Brennan replied.
"Sounds like a setup to me," Henry thought out loud.
"Aye," Killian agreed with his stepson, "Papa, you can't leave. You only just got here."
"What choice do I have?" Brennan asked, "My kingdom needs me."
"Your family need you," Killian countered, "Fallon was nearly in tears this morning when it was announced you were moving out. Try to explain to her you're returning to Avalon and may never make it back."
"How can I just ignore my king?" Brennan pressed.
"How can you ignore your family? How can you abandon your son…again?" Killian shouted. He quickly reeled in his line and then went below deck.
"Killian will come around," Henry assured the elder Jones, "He's a hero just like my mom. They always do the right thing when people are in trouble."
"How do I ignore my son and my family?" Brennan spoke mostly to himself. The words his son spoke had been a dagger to his heart. He was genuinely conflicted. For his entire life he'd always done what was ordered of him by his king and kingdom, no matter how it affected his family. He was finally starting to have a relationship with his only remaining son. He couldn't in good conscience run away from that, but he also couldn't ignore the pleas of his kingdom.
Emma came on deck. "What's Killian talking about? Are you leaving, Brennan?"
"My kingdom is in trouble. King Daniel says Katarina has turned the entire kingdom against him. I must return to help restore order," Brennan exclaimed.
"How is one person going to be able to restore order against an entire kingdom likely under the siren's curse?" Emma asked, "You saw a little of what Wendy did to this town in only a few months. How long has Katarina been in your kingdom? Years?"
"I must do something," Brennan glanced at the scroll in his hands.
"We will," Emma assured him, "There has to be some other way besides you leaving Storybrooke. One thing I've learned during all my years here, there is always more than one way to achieve our goals."
"I hope you're right," Brennan slumped in his chair.
"Henry, will you pull up anchor and get us on a heading back to Storybrooke?" Emma requested, "We'll head to the library immediately thereafter. I'll call Belle when we get in range of a cell phone tower."
"I'll help," Brennan followed Henry to carry out Emma's task.
Killian was pacing inside his cabin when Emma returned. "He's been out of my life for three centuries. He's barely back a few weeks, and he's ready to up and leave me again for his blasted kingdom."
"You were a sailor of a kingdom once upon a time," Emma reminded him, "You followed orders without question. Your father has done the same thing for most of his life. I think you would understand his need to do his duty."
"What about his duty to us?" Killian countered.
"I know this is hard for you," Emma rubbed his shoulder, "You have carried the burden of him abandoning you all this time. I'm not trying to minimize your anger, but I am trying to get you to see things from his perspective. He doesn't want to leave you, but his kingdom is falling apart."
"There has to be another way," Killian demanded.
"If there is, we'll find it," Emma assured him, "Henry is already steering the ship back to Storybrooke. When we get close I'm going to call Belle and have her meet us at the library. Maybe there really is some information in those books which can help us now that we don't have Neal under a spell trying to undermine us."
"Am I being selfish?" Killian asked.
"No," Emma shook her head, "I know you don't want to hear this, but neither is Brennan."
"When he said he had to return to Avalon it was like I was that little boy aboard the ship all over again," Killian replied, "Waking up to a new reality where my father is a criminal, and I am now an indentured servant."
"I cannot imagine what that must have been like for you and your brother," Emma felt the emotions bubbling up to the surface for both her and her husband. Killian was nearly in tears.
"At least I had Liam," Killian crossed the room to lift Bradyn from his hammock, "I never would have survived if I'd been on my own. He was always looking out for me. When I was to be punished for my incompetence, he always stepped in and took it in my place even when I begged him not to."
"Killian," Emma touched his shoulder, trying to bring him back to the present. He was lost in a memory again, one that was truly painful.
"I can't go through that again," Killian's anguished words nearly broke Emma's heart, "I can't become an orphan a second time."
"You won't," Emma hugged him around the shoulders as much as she could with Bradyn in his arms. The little boy was Killian's lifeline at the moment curled perfectly into his father's strong embrace while he slept. "Stay down here. Henry can dock the ship."
Killian managed a nod as Emma returned to the deck to make sure Henry had everything under control. Fortunately Killian had trained Henry so well they practically glided into their berth.
"Can you take Fallon and Brennan to the diner for lunch?" Emma asked Henry as she helped him tie the ship to the docks, "Tell Granny to put it all on our tab."
"Yeah, okay," Henry nodded, "Is Killian going to be okay?"
Emma paused from her task and went to hug her son. His concern for his stepfather was plainly evident. "He'll be okay."
"Brennan's not really going to leave, is he?"
"I hope not," Emma replied.
Once Fallon, Henry and Brennan were on their way to Granny's, Killian emerged from his cabin.
"Let's go see what we can figure out," Emma pulled him to the library. Bradyn was still comfortably situated in Killian's arms. "Belle's waiting for us."
Killian followed Emma to the library to be greeted by a very concerned Belle, who had been feverishly pulling books from the shelves since Emma called. Fortunately the Avalon books were relatively easy to find considering she'd just returned them to the shelves the previous day.
"I found a few things already," Belle motioned to the table of books.
"Thank you, Belle," Emma nudged her husband to the table.
"Your little Bradyn is getting so big," Belle noted the boy sleeping peacefully in Killian's arms.
"We know," Emma caressed the back of Bradyn's head. "It all happens entirely too fast."
"Where is the rambunctious little Fallon?" Belle inquired.
"She's with Henry and Brennan," Emma explained.
"That's a shame," Belle frowned, "Her smile is quite infectious."
"It certainly is," Emma nodded.
"I hope you don't mind, but I told Baelfire about the situation. He said he'd like to help," Belle replied, "He thinks he remembered reading something earlier which might help."
"Killian," Emma looked to her husband for guidance. She wouldn't force Neal on her husband right now, not with how turbulent his emotions already were.
"Couldn't hurt," he shrugged.
"Please call him," Emma instructed Belle while Killian made himself comfortable in one of the chairs with Bradyn in his lap.
"I can take him if you'd like," Belle offered, "I have the playpen set up."
"Not today," Killian shook his head.
"Okay," Belle nodded after trading a curious look with Emma, "I'm going to pull a few more books and then start my search."
"After you call Neal," Emma amended.
"Right, after I call Baelfire," Belle nodded and went about her task.
"He might be more comfortable in the playpen," Emma glanced towards her son, "Your research might go faster."
"I just can't let him go right now," Killian admitted.
"He's not going to vanish into thin air," Emma tangled her fingers with the hand Killian was using to turn pages of the book he was flipping through.
"He's the only thing keeping me from completely losing my mind right now," Killian gave her hand a squeeze.
"Whatever is going through your mind right now, know that I'm here for you…always," she gave him her most reassuring smile.
"I know, Love," Killian brought her hand to his lips and then released it to turn the page on the book he was reading.
Neal came into the library a bit later.
"You're feeling better," Emma noted the bounce in Neal's step, "Did you take your father up on his offer to be fully healed?"
"No," Neal shook his head, "It's been the daily visits from our son."
"I'm glad you two finally seem to be getting back on track," Emma replied.
"Belle told me about your situation with your father," Neal plopped himself down and began searching through the books on the table, "I think I can help. I remember reading something about a siren's curse and how to avoid it."
"We already know," Emma replied, "True love."
"There's one other way," Neal finally found the book he was looking for and flipped it open and then spun it to Emma to read.
"Those who have succumb to the curse of a siren and survived are immune," Emma read from the page. "So half the town is immune from a siren's charms…more because of those who where immune before because of true love. We could gather up enough towns people…"
"No," Brennan appeared in the library.
"Brennan," Emma was surprised by his sudden arrival.
"I will not put your entire town in danger to save my kingdom, especially my son and his wife," Brennan stated.
"Brennan, this is what our town does. We help those in trouble," Emma rose to her feet.
"This is not your fight," Brennan replied.
"It is when it involves our family, it becomes our fight," Emma told him, "Brennan, if you're going back to Avalon, we are going with you and fighting along side you."
"I will not put my family in danger," Brennan insisted.
"Our family has never run away from danger, and we will not start now," Emma countered.
Brennan looked to his son. His eyes instantly began to well with tears as he noticed his grandson curled up in Killian's lap.
"I can't…" Brennan began to get choked up, "I can't leave my family…not again."
"We'll figure it out, Brennan," Emma went to embrace him. Her eyes locked with her husband. He lifted Bradyn into his arms and then crossed the room to embrace his father.
"I'll go," Neal spoke up.
"What!" Emma turned suddenly towards him.
"I'll go," Neal repeated, "I can take the Haunted Siren back to Avalon."
"No," Emma shook her head, "You'd stick out like a sore thumb, especially when you're the only one not under the siren's curse."
"Of everyone here, I know what it's like to be under a siren's curse. I can blend in and get close enough to this siren to douse her with the potion," Neal responded.
"One flaw in your plan," Emma replied, "You can't touch the potion. It will kill you."
"I don't know if that is true," Neal stated after a moment of thought. "Only someone with the blood of Avalon running through their veins can touch the fruit. Killian was born in Avalon and therefore has the blood of Avalon running through his veins."
"He donated blood to you, which is now running through your veins," Emma realized, "It was only a pint. That can't seriously be enough."
"It may be," Belle spoke up, "It would be enough to break blood magic. Why would this be any different?"
"Even if what you're saying is true, you are not going to sail off on some cockamamie half thought through scheme after getting out of the hospital just a week ago," Emma replied. "Explain that to your son."
"Henry will understand," Neal stated, "Besides, I owe Hook a debt…more than one actually."
"This is not the way to pay him back," Emma insisted.
"It's a place to start," Neal held his ground, "Last I checked, you had zero say in the way I live my life. I certainly don't need your permission."
"Then you tell Henry why you're abandoning him yet again," Emma growled, "You are finally starting to have a relationship with him. Why do you want to leave now?"
"Because it's the right thing to do," Neal responded, "It's the hero thing to do, and that's the type of father Henry wants and deserves."
"He also wants and deserves a father who is present in his life," Emma countered.
"He has that…in Killian," Neal glanced towards his long time nemesis. "I can't compete with the bond they have, not with the way I've been acting the past several years."
"You saved his life," Emma replied, "Heroic deed accomplished."
"I need to do this," Neal told her, "I need to prove to Henry and maybe myself that I have the ability to be heroic on purpose."
"You could be walking into a trap," Emma felt herself choking up at the thought he could be injured or worse.
"Then I'll con my way out," Neal replied, "I've spent hundreds of years conning my way out of all sorts of sticky situations. This will be a piece of cake."
"Fine," Emma threw up her hands in defeat, "Go on this suicide mission and leave me to explain to our son…"
"I'll talk to Henry before I go," Neal interrupted her, "If he has the same objections, I'll stay. Is that enough for you to stop yelling at me?"
"What is in this for you, Neal?" Emma asked, "Why are you willing to risk your life to help a kingdom you've never been to?"
"Because I've been there before," Neal hollered.
"What!" Emma and Killian exclaimed.
"I was there before," Neal was slight more calm when he admitted it for a second time.
"When?" Killian asked.
"After I left Neverland the first time," Neal spoke quietly, "Time moves different in all realms."
"Which is why to Brennan it's only been about ten years since he was separated from his sons, when to Killian it was centuries," Emma realized.
"How long did you spend in Avalon?" Killian asked.
"Years," Neal replied, "At least what I think is years. I don't really know."
"What did you do there?" Emma asked.
"Worked in the village as an apprentice to the silversmith," Neal explained, "I wasn't much of a student however. I mostly daydreamed about the life I wanted."
"How old were you?" Emma asked.
"Probably physically seventeen…eighteen," Neal replied, "I'd lost count of how many actual years it was."
"Was this before or after us?" Emma asked.
"Before," Neal replied, "A year or so before us."
"Was there someone?" Emma had always assumed she'd been this first love, but now she was wondering if it was the case, especially since he was suddenly so insistent on returning to Avalon.
"She was the daughter of the silversmith I worked for. She was younger than me, and in Avalon there was no courting before a girl turned eighteen. We merely spent time together, mostly after dinner. We would read stories and just talk," Neal replied, "It might have led to more, but I had to leave Avalon rather abruptly."
"Why?" Belle chimed in.
"The town discovered my father was the dark one. They feared he would come looking for me," Neal admitted, "Cilla wanted to come with me, but I couldn't force my life on her."
"Her name was Cilla?" Emma inquired.
"Pricilla actually, but everyone called her Cilla," Neal replied.
"You want to see what happened to her," Emma concluded.
"I want to make sure she found happiness," Neal stated, "Whenever I left somewhere, it always seemed destruction followed in my wake, with you, with Wendy…"
"Okay," Emma nodded finally, "Make sure Henry is okay with you leaving first."
"Thank you," Neal nodded.
"Hi, Mama," Fallon rushed to greet her mother when she and Killian returned to the cottage.
Upon returning to the cottage after lunch, Fallon must have convinced her older brother to get out the Christmas decorations, as boxes were scattered around the living room and decorations were starting to be put up around their house.
"It's Christmas time," Fallon motioned around the room while hugging her papa.
"Yes, it is, Little Love," he kissed her cheek.
"Fallon wants a Christmas tree," Henry replied.
"We'll go tomorrow," Emma pecked at her cheek before Killian returned her to her feet. Emma turned to address Brennan, "Did Henry and Fallon explain the concept of Christmas to you?"
"Aye," Brennan nodded, "Sounds like quite the treat for the children."
"It is for adults too," Emma smiled, "We look forward to including you in our traditions…that is if you are staying."
"I am," Brennan confirmed, "My place is with my family. I've lost entirely too much time as it is. I would be remiss to lose any more. My kingdom will have to find their own way."
"We will find a way to help," Emma assured him, "But we're glad you're staying…aren't we, Princess?"
"Yep," Fallon bobbed her head and then took his hand and pulling him towards the decorations, instructing him where to put various trinkets.
Emma noticed Killian's mood had drastically improved upon receiving the news his father was staying.
"You okay?" Emma ran her fingers through the hair at the nape of Killian's neck.
"Better now," he nodded and then went to join in the decorating fun.
Since their first Christmas together, each year the decoration volume grew, and it was at his insistence. Killian had really gotten into the spirit of the holiday, especially for his children.
Emma stayed back and watched the activity. Nearly every inch of their home would be decorated for the season. Even Max would be given a festive holiday collar. Emma was overjoyed to be able to give her family what she wished she'd had as a girl growing up in the foster care system. She'd had one good Christmas before coming to Storybrooke, and she'd barely been only enough to remember it. Sometimes she wondered if she'd dreamt up the memory of the single year she spent with the Swans.
"Mama, help," Fallon came over when she realized her mother wasn't participating.
"How about you help me make sugar cookies we can decorate?" Emma lifted Fallon into her arms, "Would you like that?"
"Yep," Fallon bobbed her head.
Emma pulled out her can't mess up sugar cookie recipe and the necessary ingredients. With Fallon's cheering more so than any actually assistance, the cookies were coming out of the oven rapidly. Emma spent more of her energy keeping Fallon from snatching up cookies than actually baking, but there were laughs all around.
Henry broke out his camera and began capturing the moments for posterity. It felt like the perfect moment. Killian and Brennan were interacting again, trading laughs and joking with each other.
When the cookies were sufficiently cool, the icing was whipped up and the entire family tried their hand at decorating, even Bradyn.
Killian made a large batch of hot cocoa and the family all sat at the table eating cookies and drinking cocoa while admiring their work. Emma and Killian were trying to explain the concept of a Christmas tree to Brennan. It was clearly a concept which needed to be seen rather than explained. They made plans to head to the tree farm the next day to which Fallon cheered with excitement.
"Off to bed, Princess," Emma encouraged her daughter, "Go get your pajamas on. Papa will read to you."
Fallon hopped out of her chair and darted off without hesitation. When the Christmas decorations came out, Fallon was on her best behavior so as to impress Santa.
"We have extra decorations," Emma told Brennan, "When you move into your new place, we'll need to make sure it's appropriately decorated for the holiday."
"I would like that," Brennan nodded, but his eyes betrayed his words.
"We are planning to help your kingdom," Emma reached for his hand, "You have the promise of my family, which carries a lot of weight behind it."
"Thank you," he gave her hand a squeeze.
"Mom, when can we take Fallon and Bradyn to see Santa?" Henry asked.
"Maybe one night this coming week we can get Grandma to loan us her car and drive to the mall the next town over to have an audience with him," Emma smiled.
"Maybe Fallon won't scream her lungs out this year," Henry laughed.
"Santa can be an intimidating figure to a two year old," Emma replied. "I'm more worried how Bradyn will take it."
"He'll be fine, Love," Killian chimed in, "He just an easy going little fellow."
"True," Emma gave him a smile in reply.
"Papa," Fallon called from her bedroom.
"There's your cue," Emma motioned her husband towards their daughter's bedroom.
"I'll be back," he kissed her temple and went to entertain his daughter until she fell asleep.
"He's quite the doting papa," Emma watched her father-in-law's eyes follow his son.
"Yes, he is," Brennan smiled longingly.
"You have time to make things right," Emma stated.
"I hope so," Brennan agreed.
"Quite an eventful day," Emma noted when she and Killian retired to their bedroom for the evening. They'd curled up together in the oversized chair in the corner of the room. There was just enough room for them to sit together and snuggled up as close as possible, which is the way they preferred anyways.
"Aye," Killian agreed when Emma settled against his chest, her head resting against his heart to hear it's rhythmic beating, "Am I being selfish with insisting my father stay in Storybrooke?"
"Yes, but you're entitled to a bit of selfishness after all you've gone through with him and because of him," Emma replied, "I think the reason you took his potential leaving so hard is because you want to connect with him. I hope you use this chance you've been given."
"I'd like to," Killian admitted.
"So Christmas…" Emma began what had become their yearly discussion on how much they had available to spend on gifts. "Fallon has been a very good girl this year, and we'll need to make sure Bradyn's first Christmas sets the tone."
"I've been tucking a bit of money aside from my wages this year as we discussed," Killian replied, "We should be able to make this a good Christmas for everyone."
"Let's just focus on the children," Emma requested, "I have everything I need and want under this roof already. How about we not exchange gifts this year?"
"Are you certain?" he inquired, "You've enjoyed me spoiling you in the past."
"No presents this year," she repeated.
"No presents," he agreed.
"Although there is a certain gift I'll be more than willing to receive," she toyed with the button of his shirt in a playful manner. "If I'm not mistaken, I believe you'll enjoy it as well."
"Aye, it is my favorite gift," he tilted her chin so he could press his lips fully to hers.
"I love you, Killian," Emma stroked his chin.
Killian lifted her easily into his arms and carried her across the room and laid her out on their bed and proceeded to give her an early Christmas gift.
TBC…