For Marta (snowbellewells)
098:"I think we should have another."
"En garde!"
Henry immediately raised his sword at the instruction and took up his now well practiced stance. Killian smiled in approval then raised his own blade and with a brief nod, their lesson began.
The sound of steel clashing against steel was interspersed with words of praise and, on the odd occasion, a mild rebuke from the pirate captain to his able student.
"Good, Henry...excellent parry...check your arm, keep it higher...no, too slow...that's better...well done, lad."
Emma sat on a log nearby watching her true loves with a smile. Henry was learning from both Killian and David which made for some interesting conversations whenever the young man managed to pull a less than honourable move on his grandfather.
It was a good hour later when the lesson came to an end with Henry hurrying off to get ready for a date with his new girlfriend, Sarah.
"He's almost as good as you now, Swan," Killian commented proudly as he sauntered over to where she sat.
"Must be because he has a great teacher," his wife replied lightly, "Dad's an expert."
The pirate laughed and countered wryly, "Aye, considering David is also giving him instruction, it's not held the lad back."
"It's funny, he says the same about you," Emma retorted with a grin.
"I'd be disappointed if he didn't," Killian told her in amusement. Then, he leaned forward and lightly tapped her sheathed sword with the tip of his own before ordering briskly, "On your feet, Swan. Your turn."
Emma didn't need telling twice. She enjoyed these sessions with her husband as much as he did. The thrust and parry of their swordplay more often than not a prelude to a more physical, mutally satisfying, thrust and parry of a carnal kind.
Facing one another, they raised their swords and off Killian's command, they began to duel. Emma was good. Almost on a par with her husband after the many, many hours they'd spent perfecting her technique. Although, he did still have a couple of moves that were out and out dirty that he had yet to show her...and not just when it came to fencing either.
"You're really good with him, you know?" Emma commented conversationally as she advanced and lunged. "I don't think I've ever told you that."
"Who? Henry?" Killian queried in bemusement, then he grinned suddenly and joked, "Or your father?"
He blocked her blade with his hook then struck out quickly in retaliation. Emma dodged him easily and extricated her sword from his hook with flourishing spin.
"Excellent form, love," he praised admiringly.
Emma smiled in response then readied herself for his next attack as she confirmed wryly, "I was talking about Henry. He thinks the world of you."
"And I, him," the pirate replied earnestly before launching into a sequence of complicated moves as he continued between parries, "He's part of a family I'd long ago given up hope of ever having."
"Yeah, well, I was kind of hoping you'd be up for adding to that family," she countered quickly.
Her voice sounded breathless even to her own ears, but she wasn't sure if it was just down to the exertion of their lesson or the fact that she was uncertain as to how he would respond to her suggestion.
It was with unadulterated surprise she was to learn a moment later when he immediately stilled and stared at her slack-jawed. Sword arm falling to his side, Emma had to hastily check her lunge and it was a testament to his shock that he didn't even flinch when the tip just missed his side.
"Are you..." he began hoarsely, then stopped and cleared his throat before resuming in a slightly stronger, definitely more hopeful, voice, "are you trying to tell me that you're...that you're...with child, Emma?"
"Not yet. But, I'd like to be...if that's what you wanted too?" she answered with a hesitant smile.
"If I want it..." he repeated wonderingly. He gave a little shake of his head then slowly began to smile as he closed the distance between them. "Aye, I want that very much, Emma," he assured her softly.
"Good," she remarked, then, holding his gaze, she deftly sheathed her sword and silently began unbuttoning his vest.
Killian glanced down at her nimble fingers then back up at her with a raised brow and knowing smirk on his face.
"Here? Now?" he queried, voice low.
His heated gaze told her he wasn't adverse to the idea and Emma leaned in to give him a brief, hard kiss.
"There's no time like the present to get practicing," she pointed out reasonably.
"And you know how much I just love to practice," he muttered hotly before uncaringly tossing his own sword aside and gathering her close.
Emma's giggle of pure happiness was quickly silenced by her husband's lips and in one swift movement he picked her up then laid her down gently on the grass...
A little over three months later they both sat on the edge of their bed, holding hands tightly. as they waited for the result to show up on a small white stick.
A few seconds later they stared at each other with blinding smiles and watery eyes.
Practice had indeed made perfect.