I own nothing except my delusions.
Emma dressed in a slightly looser dress than the day before, not lacing her bodice as tightly as she usually did.
"Are you sure you don't want me to stay home?" Killian asked from his spot beside her as he shrugged on his waistcoat. "I can stay home and help you take care of things around here."
She shook her head. "No, it's okay. You go. Besides, I promised you I would go see the doctor today."
He nodded. "Aye. That you did."
Giving him a small smile, she kissed him. "Don't worry, I'll go. I feel fine right now, though."
"I'd still feel better if you went," he responded.
"I know," she said, going with him out to the main room.
She began to make breakfast for them in the kitchen, deciding to try eating some eggs for herself. She didn't feel the slightest hint of nausea, but her mind kept reminding her how quickly it had come on the previous days.
Killian retreated into the hall, returning a couple moments later with a groggy Henry in tow.
Turning to look at her son as she was cooking, Emma quickly kissed his forehead.
"Morning, Henry," she smiled at him.
He smiled tiredly back.
Killian carried him over to the table, setting the small boy down in his spot at the table before going back over to help her finish preparing their breakfast.
"Looks like someone's tired," Emma chuckled.
"Yeah, he didn't want to wake up," Killian said in agreement, grinning.
"You know he will as soon as we put his food in front of him," she replied smiling over at their son, who was barely keeping awake in his chair.
"No necessarily," Killian responded with a laugh. "Remember that one night he fell asleep during dinner and fell into his plate? We had to give him another bath just to get the potato and cabbage out of his hair."
Holding back a laugh, she nodded. "I almost forgot about that."
They finished making their breakfast, both chuckling as Henry perked up at the sight of his food.
"Maybe it will be easier on you if you took Aife into town," Killian suggested. "Riding would certainly be faster than walking."
Contemplating, Emma nodded. "I think I will. Plus someone is big enough that it should be easier to take him with me riding."
They both glanced at Henry, seeing him with a mouth full of egg and smiling.
Eating the last of his breakfast, Killian stood, taking his plate with him to clean it.
"I'll take care of that," she told him quickly before he could start it.
He nodded in thanks. "I actually need to head out, unless you've changed your mind about me going."
Rolling her eyes playfully at him, she lightly shoved him. "It's okay. I'll be fine. You don't have to worry."
He caught her hand as she went to pull away, tugging her closer until she was against his chest. Resting his blunted arm on her waist, he kissed her.
She smiled ay him when they broke apart, resting her forehead to his.
Moving over beside Henry, he crouched down so he was eye level with the boy to ruffle his hair. "Take care of your Mama, alright lad?"
Henry nodded, his small face serious.
Giving him one last smile, Killian brushed his lips against Henry's hair.
"I'll see you both later," he told them as he drew on his coat by the front door.
"We'll be waiting," Emma said as she moved beside him to see him out.
He left, leaving her alone with Henry.
Looking back over to her son, Emma saw he was still eating.
"Go ahead and finish up, okay Henry?" she said. "We'll go to town after you're all done."
His eyes brightened when she told him they were going into the town, making her grin. She sat back down to wait for him to finish his breakfast so she could clean up.
Her grin widened as he jumped from his chair, grabbing his plate and handing it to her.
"Thanks, kid," she said, taking the dish from him. "Go ahead and play for a bit."
Not needing to be told twice, he took off.
Knowing Henry would be occupied, Emma took the time to clean up, not wanting to leave the mess for later. She kept an eye on him as she worked before retreating back to her and Killian's room briefly to retrieve her boots.
She clamped her mouth shut as a sudden wave of nausea wracked through her. Inhaling deeply, Emma fought to keep the feeling of her stomach churning at bay, praying she wasn't about to be sick again.
She quickly grabbed onto some of the mint leaves she had placed by her bedside, chewing some and instantly feeling herself settle.
"Mama?" Henry asked, coming in to find her.
"I'm fine, kid," she promised him. "We'll go in just a second, okay?"
He nodded, coming in to wait beside her. "You sick?"
Smiling at her son's concern for her, she shook her head. "No, not now, Henry. I just haven't felt this bad in a long time. Not since-"
She suddenly stopped, staring at him as her hand went to her abdomen, resting on it protectively.
Emma found she couldn't stop smiling, nearly giddy while she waited for Killian to come home.
The entire cottage was clean, having done it all while she waited, too excited to sit still. Their dinner was cooking, leaving her nothing to do but wait.
Henry had kept looking at her curiously before finally going down for his nap, trying to figure out why she was so happy, but she hadn't told him, wanting Killian to be the first to receive the news, as well as have him with her for when they told Henry.
Glancing out the window, she felt her lips curl into a wide smile as she spied a dark figure emerging from the trees. She quickly debated going out to meet him, anxious to tell him. She decided to wait inside, not wanting to make him think something was wrong.
Emma nearly jumped him as he entered the cottage, her arms wrapping tightly around his shoulders.
His strong arms immediately embraced her back, holding her steady as she kissed him.
Breaking their kiss, Killian rested his forehead to hers. "That was a hell of a welcome home."
She smiled, nudging his nose with hers. "I saw the doctor today."
He immediately stiffened, drawing away enough to look at her. His brow was creased in worry.
"What did he say?" he asked, his voice barely hiding his worry.
Reaching up, she cradled his face in her hands to sooth him. "He said that we're gonna have a baby."
Killian stood stunned for a second before moving, smiling so widely Emma felt her chest tighten with her own joy.
"You're- you're carrying a child?" he asked, his tone betraying his excitement.
She nodded, feeling her eyes grow wet. "I am."
He laughed, tightening his arms around her and lifting her up.
Releasing a small squeal of surprise, she laughed, gripping onto him to keep her balance before finally kissing him again.
"I love you," he said, his eyes bright as he smiled. "We're going to have another baby."
"Yeah, we are," she replied, giddy. "They're due to be here in the winter."
He gently set her down, taking her hand in his and leading her to the couch, already becoming protective of her in the same way he was when she carried Henry.
She couldn't help notice the difference in how she felt in knowing she and Killian were to have another child compared to when she discovered she was carrying Henry. With Henry she had been absolutely terrified, being alone and having to leave her home. She had only been able to really grow exited at having a baby as she neared his birth, once Killian was with her and they made a home for themselves and Henry.
She was still scared, knowing there were still dangers that came with carrying a child, but she didn't feel the crippling fear she had before or the urge to run. She had a home to raise her new baby in, as well as a husband who she loved with everything she had. She wasn't alone, a prospect that made all the difference in the world to her. She had a family of her own, and one that was growing with the baby that was growing inside her.
She leaned into him, resting her hand on his chest. "I thought I was going to be sick again right before we were going to leave when I thought about it. I started thinking that the last time I felt anything like this, I was carrying Henry, and realized I hadn't bled for a couple months now. I mean, I did soon after I stopped taking that plant, but I didn't think we would conceive so quickly. So I asked the doctor and well," she shrugged lightly, "he told me what I thought, that we're going to have another baby."
Resting his hand lovingly on her stomach, he drew her closer to him.
She could tell he was ecstatic, that he was excited that they would be adding to their little family.
"You're not alone this time," he reminded her in a whisper. "You don't ever have to worry about doing this alone again."
"I wasn't before," she told him just as softly, resting her forehead to his. "I had you with me."
"Not at the beginning," he said.
"But for most of it, you were," she argued gently. "For all of the parts that counted, you were."
He didn't respond, instead just continued to hold her.
"We need to tell Henry," she told him. "I haven't yet. I wanted you to be the first one I told and to tell him with me."
Nodding, he gently squeezed her. "We will when he wakes."
Relaxing into him, Emma closed her eyes, letting him keep his arms wrapped around her. She smiled as she felt Killian tug at a blanket to drape it over her, knowing he was already beginning to fuss over her.
He let her begin to doze on him as he continued to rest his hand over her belly protectively, occasionally lightly brushing gentle kisses to her hair.
She roused when she heard to faint sounds of Henry waking, opening her eyes to wait for him. She moved out of the way enough for him to climb up with her and Killian, waiting for him to appear. Only a couple of seconds later, their son's small figure came into view, rounding the corner and jumping to begin scaling the couch.
He smiled at them, crawling so he was cuddled up by them.
Emma reached out, grabbing onto him and pulling him so he rested between her and Killian. "How was your nap?"
"Good," he said, snuggling between them and looking up at them.
Looking up, she caught Killian's eye, relaxing as she caught his nod, giving her an encouraging smile.
She nodded in return before looking back at Henry. "Hey, Henry? We have something we want to tell you."
"What is it?" he asked, looking between his mother and father curiously.
She smiled at him, gently brushing his hair back to calm him. "You know how some of your friends have brothers and sisters?"
"Aye," he nodded.
Her smile widened. "Well, you're going to have one now, too. We're going to have a baby."
His eyes lit up as he grinned before a curious look crossed back over his face. "I have a brother or sister?"
"We don't know yet," Killian told him. "Not until they're here."
"Where are they?" Henry asked.
Emma rested her hand on her stomach. "Right here. They need to grow first."
He nodded in understanding. "Okay."
She kissed his head before ruffling his hair. "Why don't you go play until dinner is ready, yeah?"
He suddenly jumped up, scrambling down to the floor to where they kept his toys.
Leaning back against Killian, Emma rested her hand on his chest as he rested his hand on her stomach.
Looking in the mirror in their room, Emma snorted as she rested her hands on her stomach.
"What is it?" Killian asked her as he came up behind her, resting his hand and wrist on her hips.
She moved her hands so the thin material of her nightdress showed her slightly rounded belly, letting them see her small bump.
"I've been having some trouble fitting into my dresses," she told him. "I just should have known. That was a major clue with Henry."
Tenderly, Killian moved his hand so it covered her protruding stomach, caressing it.
"I honestly didn't even really notice before," he admitted. "To be fair, unually when you're in a state of undress I'm thinking of other things."
She laughed, feeling light and happy. "Of course you are."
"What do you think we'll have?" he asked as they pulled away to lay in their bed. "A little lass or another little lad?"
She shrugged as she rested against him, relaxing at the feeling of his skin against her body. "I really don't know. I think there's ways to tell though before they're born. Aside from the way that my parents could find out with me."
"Can't we do something like that?" he inquired.
"No," she shook her head against his shoulder. "It only predicts if your first child will be a boy or girl."
He hummed before turning his head to look at her. "You know, I believe I heard something about whatever the mother craves is an indication. That if the mother wants sweet it's a girl, and more savory is a boy. Plus haven't you been getting sick more frequently this time than with Henry?"
Smirking, she rested her hand over his heart, feeling the steady beat beneath her. "You think that me wanting honey with practically everything and getting sick at the smell of everything is going to tell us?"
"It possibly could," he defended with a small laugh.
Rolling her eyes playfully, she shook her head. "We're gonna have to see about making a space for them in Henry's room. That, or building another room."
He nodded. "I know, but we can do this. We started out with much less."
"I know," she said, giving him a soft smile. "This baby will have a home and a family that loves them."
"Aye, they will," he agreed as he pulled her closer to him, resting his hand on her stomach.
Teaser: He froze as he heard another voice, the exasperated feminine tone so familiar to him. "What the captain of my guard is saying, is that we are looking for the husband of this town's healer."
Review?