"You can go back to sleep, my Swan. I'm staying right here by your side, and I'm not going anywhere, I promise. You're safe."
Killian was holding his wife against him, his face in her hair and his hand gently playing in her back, and she smiled at his sweet words. She snuggled a little bit closer to him, almost lying on top of him as they wanted to be as close to each other as they possibly could. He kissed her hair, in such a tender gesture that she felt her entire being relaxing, and her heartbeats finally slowing down. And at last, she let herself fall into half a sleep as he was whispering to her ear that he loved her over and over again.
They'd come back to the palace that same morning, finally reunited after everything that they'd been through for the past few days, and they hadn't let go of each other ever since. After carrying her to their room, Killian had gently laid her down in their bed and had stroked her hair and murmured gentle words to her ear until she'd finally fallen asleep to get the rest she so desperately needed.
She'd been so exhausted, so much that she could barely keep her eyes open anymore, but in some way she'd also been a bit scared to dive into her dreams. She was so afraid to wake up and realize that she'd only imagined these last amazing events, that Killian had actually left her after all and that she was all alone once again.
But she had to remember that this would never happen, that it had only been a manipulation of their enemies and that they were going to grow old and gray together, and watch their kids become amazing little people. And so she'd allowed herself to sleep at last, feeling his presence always by her side. He'd only woken her up toward the end of the afternoon with little kisses everywhere on her face, making her giggle in her sleep. She'd opened her eyes to find him smiling down at her, and he'd pecked her lips before saying.
"I'm sorry to wake you, love. I just thought that maybe it would be a good idea for you to eat something. You need to get some strength back, aye?"
He'd prepared her a real feast then, of all those things that she liked so much and had craved since the start of her pregnancy. She was hungry this time, for the first time in what seemed like forever, and she didn't even feel sick anymore. Her stomach had rumbled happily at the marvelous smell that was coming from the tray he was carrying, and everything had finally felt right in the world again.
She'd eaten most of her huge plate, still in her bed as he'd refused for her to even walk and have her meal in the kitchen. She was feeling so safe now, so loved and worthy because he was looking at her with so much adoration in his eyes, she knew that everything had gone back to normal. And damn, that felt so good to think that they could still be happy together, after all.
He'd wrapped his arms back around her when she'd finished eating, and Henry hadn't taken long to knock on their door and ask if he could join them. He'd been so worried about losing his father, and Emma could tell that he just wanted to be close to him, as if to make sure that nothing could ever happen to him again. Her husband had gestured for their son to come share a tender hug with them, and they'd just spent a sweet family moment there, as if nothing bad had happened and they'd always been these perfectly happy people.
Now that Henry had gone back to bed as it was getting late, Killian was gently rocking her against his chest. She fought against sleep for a little while, because feeling him close seemed like the best thing in the entire world on that moment and she just wanted to enjoy this, just for a little bit longer. Still, she couldn't keep her eyes open for long, so she just ended up letting herself slip into her dreams, a small smile still drawn on her lips as Killian's voice was murmuring that he loved her yet another time.
She woke up again in the middle of the night, sweat covering her forehead and Killian's name escaping her lips in a cry of distress. She sat up, sobbing, trying to catch her breath and stop panicking. The nightmare that had haunted her had seemed so real, and she just had to convince herself that it wasn't, because she had to stay sane. She couldn't allow her fears to take over her again.
In her dream, Killian had left her for real. He'd told her that she wasn't worth it and that he was better off without her. She didn't know what was real or not anymore, and she felt like she was going to drown in her own tears. To make matter worse, she'd moved in her sleep and his arms weren't wrapped around her anymore. She felt alone, lost and scared, and she just wanted to scream.
Luckily, she was back against him in less than a few seconds, and she immediately felt her heartbeats calming down at his gentle touch. Her eyes finally got used to the darkness surrounding her, and she could see her husband's figure, feel his embrace and see his worried glance staring at her. She buried his face in the crook of his neck, and realized that she didn't even have to tell him anything about what had just happened. He already knew.
"Shh, my love." He tried to soothe her. "I'm here. You're safe."
"I thought that you were gone." She answered in a broken voice. "You were telling me that you didn't love me anymore, and that… that I hadn't been able to love you correctly and that I was a horrible person."
"Gods, Emma, I'm so sorry for making you suffer." He whispered then, sounding so pained by her statement. "But it was just a dream, aye? I love you so much, and nothing will ever be able to change that. I will never, ever leave you, darling. I promise. You're the most amazing person that I know, and meeting you is the most incredible thing that's ever happened to me. I just want you to know that."
She didn't say anything else and just let his words make their way through her panicked mind, as they both knew what this dream really meant. If she was so relieved that he was back and that everything had gone back to normal at last, they were aware that her heart had been broken once again, and that it would take time to heal. What had happened hadn't been his fault at all, but it had reopened scars from her past that she had thought forever forgotten, and she'd felt worthless and abandoned again. Part of her old walls had gone right back up, and it would take time to bring them down once more, because for a moment she'd felt like she had to protect herself and had wanted to never feel anything ever again.
But she also knew that Killian was determined to show her how much he loved her, every single day of their lives together. She could sense how guilty he was feeling about all of this, even if he'd been the victim in this situation, too. And so, always telling her that he loved her to make her believe in that again, he held her close and kissed her temple and forehead to calm her down until she had finally fallen back asleep.
The few following days happened in a kind of strange, but also somehow happy blur. Emma was still having nightmares every night, in which she would find herself all alone again, but Killian was always there to take her in is arms and whisper to her ear that everything was going to be just fine. She knew that he was right. She just needed to allow herself to believe him.
No one knew what had really happened to Rumpelstiltskin after she'd made him disappear, either. Guards had traveled everywhere in the kingdom to look for him, but they hadn't found a thing. Even if hoping that she had defeated him for good was appealing, Emma very well knew that it wasn't the case. He was probably with Regina right now, building another plan to make them all suffer. They would however all be ready to fight them. She would never let her guard down again.
Right now though, she was feeling like she was living in this little bubble of protection that Killian had built for her. Even if she would have been able to start living normally again without putting the baby in danger, because days had passed since this horrible night when she'd thought that she was going to lose her child, her husband was still refusing for her to make any kind of effort.
He didn't want her to leave the apartment, or even the bed if she didn't absolutely need to. He would stay in the room with her all day, Henry often coming to join them as well, and he was pampering her like never before. He would bring her meals to bed and they would stay for hours into each other's arms, her sitting in between his legs, her head resting on the crook of his shoulder as he had his arms wrapped around her to place his hand and hook over her belly.
At night, he would murmur to her ear that he loved her over and over again until she had fallen asleep. He only wanted her to rest and to feel loved and safe, and she couldn't complain about that. She was feeling so damn exhausted, and being close to the people she loved the most was helping her to get through this and try to heal her shattered heart. That was the best cure she could ever have hoped for.
Her parents, Kate and Chiara would also come to see her everyday, as if to make sure that she was still okay. They'd all been so worried about her and the baby, and she'd never felt that amazingly loved and surrounded before in her life. And slowly, all of this was beginning to convince her that everything was going to be just fine and that Killian would actually never leave her. The smile on her face barely ever left her anymore. Everything was perfect, and it was so crazy to believe after the hell they'd all been through.
One morning, she got awakened by Killian as he was dropping a trail of little kisses down her jaw and neck, making her giggle. She ran her hand through his hair to encourage him to continue, and she felt him smile against her skin as he was nibbling at her ear. The night before, she'd finally been able to convince him that she was feeling perfectly okay, and he'd accepted for them to go out in the park for a little family walk with Henry that afternoon. She was so happy to see that life had taken its normal course again, and feeling Killian's lips on her skin was definitely going to put her in a very good mood for the rest of the day.
"Good morning, gorgeous." He whispered, going down to reach her breast, still naked from the night before.
It was pretty sore because of the pregnancy, and she noticed how gentle he was when he kissed her there, making her heart flutter. She was only wearing her underwear, as it was the only thing she'd bothered to put back on after their embrace the night before. It'd been the first time they'd made love since what they now all called the accident. Their moment had been so tender and loving that she'd felt like their hearts were actually beating in unison. Her husband now seemed pretty determined to start this all over again, and she certainly wasn't going to complain about that decision. She then closed her eyes as his kisses were getting even lower and he was impatiently tugging on the piece of clothing to encourage her to get rid of it.
As he was kissing her stomach though, he suddenly stopped. She didn't get surprised by this at first, as it wasn't rare for him to talk to the baby or simply kiss her skin there, as if to communicate with their unborn child. It would only make her fall in love with him all over again, at how amazing he always was as a father. After a few seconds, she still opened her eyes, intrigued to feel him staying still for so long. She blinked when she saw him looking down at her stomach with pure adoration, and she asked in a raspy voice.
"What are you doing?"
"Come, love." He just said, holding out a hand for her to take and helping her to sit up in the bed.
She chose not to ask him any question, but she was more and more puzzled by his expression. He looked so happy, but she knew that she was going to get some answers really fast, anyway. She then let him guide her out of bed, and he stopped in front of the big mirror of their room. There, he finally made her turn to her side and placed a hand over her stomach with the biggest smile still etched on his face.
That's when she finally understood what was truly going on. She hadn't noticed it yet, but now that she was paying attention to it, she could see the tiny bump that had appeared overnight around her belly-button. She blinked, surprised. Her stomach had still been flat the day before, maybe just a little bit less than usual. But now, the swelling was obvious and she placed her hand over Killian's, looking down at her belly with her heart beating fast in her chest.
She couldn't really remember anything about her first pregnancy. For the first five months, she'd tried to pretend that it wasn't happening and that everything was normal and she was going to get out of jail and be all alone all over again. She'd only gotten out of her denial when Henry had started to kick in there, and she'd begun to actually feel a bond with this tiny little person that was growing inside of her.
Still, she just couldn't recall when she'd started to show. She just remembered being hungry, cold and scared. It wasn't such happy memories, because she had been so afraid to be unable to protect this little being that she already loved so much. If things had gotten better when her son had decided to come and join her, her mind had still erased most of her time in jail. So her first pregnancy had occurred in a kind of a blur, so much that she was feeling like she was actually expecting for the first time in some way.
She was thus completely taken aback to see the little bump there, because she hadn't expected to show that early into the pregnancy. Turning to her husband, she smiled when she saw that he was looking absolutely amazed by this new discovery. He was staring at her like she'd just brought him the moon, and she chuckled slightly at his incredible expression. He leaned to kiss the top of her head, then knelt in front of her to reach her belly and kiss it as well. There, he whispered against her skin, so gently that her heart actually stuttered.
"Hey, baby. You want to show yourself, don't you?"
"I wasn't expecting to show so early on." Emma murmured, her voice a mix of joy and surprise.
Killian looked up at her again, and her smile widened at how adorable he was. He ran his thumb along her skin, making her shiver pleasantly, and he kissed her stomach a second time, before tugging on the piece of clothing she was wearing once again. The message was pretty clear and there, still kneeling in front of her, he showed her how happy he was about the life they were creating together.
At Killian's greatest disappointment though, her bump was still invisible underneath her clothes. Her parents didn't see anything when they talked to them about it, but Henry did feel it when he placed his hand over her stomach to make sure of what they were saying. His face lit up completely and he actually spent a few minutes talking to his sibling there, reminding Emma of Killian's behavior. It moved her so much that tears actually appeared in her eyes at the scene.
The walk they had planned to take that morning didn't happen after all. They just spent hours talking about this new little baby that was going to come and join them soon, and they simply stayed in their apartment, sometimes hugging, sometimes merely chatting about their future, and she felt like she'd never been this happy in her entire life.
She was finally reassured about what was going to happen to her family and she didn't have any nightmares that night. The way Killian had looked at her when discovering the bump had managed to convince her that everything was going to be just fine. He loved her and he loved their children. Nothing could ever break that, and she finally knew it now.
"You look stunning, Swan." Killian said from behind her, dropping a little kiss to the back of her ear and making her shiver as his arms were coming to wrap around her in a tender gesture.
She raised her eyebrows at her reflection, definitely unconvinced by his sweet statement. He shook his head, smiling slightly, and leaned to kiss her neck again all while holding her just a little bit closer. He was truly looking at her like she was the most beautiful woman he'd ever seen, but she was starting to feel it a bit hard to believe him. And she had a really good reason to doubt his words.
"As stunning as could be when I can't even fit in my own clothes, huh?" She mumbled, pouting and making him chuckle against her skin.
She'd put on a long, red dress, tight underneath her breast to try and hide her little bump. They still hadn't told anyone else in the kingdom about her pregnancy, because they all knew that it was probably safer that way. Even though Regina already knew that she was pregnant, they all wanted to take all the precautions they could find for their child to be okay. She was now well aware that they couldn't keep that secret to themselves for much longer though, despite their desire to do so.
She was probably around thirteen weeks into the pregnancy, if she assumed that she'd got pregnant during their honeymoon, and ever since that morning when they'd noticed the little swelling around her belly-button, the bump hadn't seemed to stop growing. Surprisingly fast, if she was being honest. It was even starting to get noticeable underneath her clothes, and the day before, she'd discovered with a few loud curses that she couldn't even put on her usual leather pants anymore.
She was still so happy to be pregnant and it wasn't about that. And she'd known what to expect when Blue had told her that she was having a baby in the first place. But she was feeling heavy and swollen, and everything but beautiful right now. She couldn't help but wonder why her bump was getting so big already, too. If she couldn't really remember anything about her first pregnancy, it was obvious that she probably shouldn't have shown that much this early into the pregnancy. It was odd, but the Blue Fairy had also reassured them right away when they'd come to ask her these questions. It meant that their child was growing healthy in there, and if being uncomfortable was the price to pay for her baby to be okay, she was going to do it gladly.
She couldn't have been happier about her friend's statement as well, because all she ever wanted was for her loved ones to be alright, always. But she would have felt even better if she'd still been able to wear her own damn clothes. And so she'd been forced to go back to her old dresses, so she could hide her pregnancy just for a little while longer. She wanted to keep this secret like a true treasure, even if she knew that they soon wouldn't have a choice but to tell everyone anymore.
She sighed slightly and pulled away from Killian to turn on her side, one hand resting on her stomach to make sure that the dress really was hiding her small bump. Luckily, her plan had seemed to work and she finally allowed herself to smile. At least, the guests of the party they were throwing that day wouldn't wonder too much about her new appearance.
Because this was a really special moment and she just couldn't wait. Her son was turning twelve that day, and they had planned this huge celebration for him, inviting everyone they knew and all the friends their little boy had made since he'd arrived in the castle. He was so loved by the kingdom, and everyone was so happy to be able to celebrate this day with him. The shy child he'd once been was now gone, as he'd grown so much more confident and happier, almost. She was so glad to see him being able to have fun with children of his age, after being bullied so badly in their former region. Her son deserved everything in the world, and seeing his smile was the most amazing gift she could ever have imagined.
Henry was overexcited about this party, too. That morning, Killian and herself had gone to his room in order to wake him up, and wish him a happy birthday, because this was a very important event for all of them, as they'd never thought that they would be able to offer this kind of incredible life to their little boy. Their son had hugged them tightly with the biggest smile on his face, and she'd sworn that her heart had grown twice its size at seeing him so amazingly happy.
And she couldn't complain, either. Even if she wasn't feeling that comfortable in her own body right now, at least her sicknesses seemed completely gone, now. She'd found her appetite again, and felt like she was eating for three ever since Killian had come back to the castle after getting his heart back. Her husband was so relieved to see her healthy, and he would kiss her lips and tell her he loved her so many times a day she couldn't even count these moments anymore.
The mood swings had begun for real though, and it wasn't rare for her to start crying in the middle of the living room, for something as silly as dropping her spoon to the floor. Killian would never make fun of her about it, and would always be there to take her in his arms and murmur to her ear that everything was going to be just fine. In addition to all of that and even if they were getting rarer, she was still having nightmares about him leaving from time to time. And so he was pampering her, showing her that her loved her over and over again until she could finally believe him.
"Well, I happen to think that you look gorgeous, love." He added, burying his face in her long hair to breathe her in and this small smile still drawn on his lips.
"You'll change your mind when I'll start looking like a beached whale." She objected with a little shrug.
"You, my dear, will never look like anything resembling a whale, believe me." He said, sounding slightly amused by her comment. "You're the most beautiful woman that I've ever laid my eyes on, and the bump only makes you look even more radiant. You're glowing, Emma."
"If you say so." She raised her eyebrows without believing him one bit. "But you're only thinking that way because you love me."
She felt his smile widening at her statement, and he moved a little bit to reach her cheekbone and drop a sweet kiss on it. She only realized then that it was the very first time she was telling him such a thing ever since his heart had been stolen. Even if she knew that he loved her, she'd gotten so hurt that she hadn't dared to make that kind of comment before. But she hadn't thought about it before talking, and it meant that she really wasn't scared of him leaving anymore. That made her smile as well, and seeing how his eyes were shining with pure happiness, she knew that she was right and that they were really going to live happily ever after some day.
He moved to come face her and looked straight into her eyes. He placed his hand over her stomach, his hook coming to rest against her shoulder to hold her close, and he said so sweetly her heart fluttered. "Well, you are right about that, darling. I love you so very much, forever and always. But you really are stunning, and I wish that you could see yourself the way I see you. Like the most gorgeous angel on earth."
He didn't give her the time to answer anything. He knelt in front of her to kiss her bump through her dress, and this gesture managed to relax her completely, as always. She was so happy that her baby was growing healthy and strong, and even if she was feeling awkward in her own body sometimes, it was all so worth it. Killian ended up standing back up to kiss her lips, and she grinned. He always knew what she needed to hear in order to feel better, and she was aware of how incredibly lucky she was to be able to share her life with this man that was so incredibly perfect for her.
"Shall we go?" He ended up saying after a while, interlacing his fingers with hers and gently leading her out of the room. "The lad is pretty excited about this little party that we're throwing, and it would be bad form to make him wait on his birthday."
Henry was indeed already in the living room, and he immediately jumped out of the couch he was sitting on when he heard them arriving. His smile hadn't left him once since he'd woken up, and he seemed like the happiest little boy on earth. Emma wrapped her arms around him and kissed his head in a sweet, protective gesture, before looking at him for a few seconds.
She couldn't help but notice how much he'd grown in such little time, the small little boy he'd once been seeming like only a memory now. In barely a few more years, he would be much taller than her and this thought filled her with a mix of nostalgia and pride. She could still remember the time when he was just a baby, and she could hold him in the crook of her arm and sing him lullabies to help him fall asleep. Time had passed so fast, and she felt tears appearing in her eyes, that she forced herself to blink away. This pregnancy really was making her so emotional but this was a happy day, so she smiled instead and asked.
"Ready to go to your party, kiddo?"
He nodded enthusiastically, what made her chuckle slightly. It was the very first time he could actually celebrate this day with kids of his age, and she was so glad that he seemed to finally have found his place in this world. Killian was still holding her hand, and the three of them decided to get downstairs in order to greet the guests, that were starting to arrive. Emma could tell that this day was going to be incredible, and she couldn't help but smile. Everything was perfect.
Soon enough, the ballroom of the palace was filled with laughter and music, and Emma's grin wasn't wavering anymore. Killian's arm wrapped around her waist, she was watching her son chatting with a boy of his age, whom he'd met at their wedding if she remembered correctly. She snuggled a little bit closer to her husband as they were standing near the dance area, and he kissed her hair in a tender gesture that made her heart stutter. They got lost in their own little world for a moment, and it's only when a familiar voice started to talk next to them that they remembered they weren't actually the only ones in the room.
"Marriage looks good on you."
They both grinned back at Ella, who'd just arrived beside them with her husband and daughter, the baby happily babbling in her mother's arms. Emma immediately leaned to smile at the little girl, feeling her heart swelling in her chest at the thought that, soon, it would be their turn to take care of such an adorable tiny little human. Their friends were looking at them, seeming a bit tenderized by how close they always were, and Ella added gently.
"You're glowing, Emma."
Her smile widened and she felt herself blushing a little bit at these words, as Killian was smirking against her as well. Her entire family would always tell her that she was looking beautiful, and that everyone could see how happy she was. She was feeling too uncomfortable lately to believe them though, but hearing this comment coming from someone who wasn't a close family member was actually making her feel so much better. She took the time to enjoy the statement for a little bit, then Killian said, still holding her close.
"Your family looks really happy, too. What do you say, Alexandra?" He added to the little girl, who kicked her little legs in excitement at being the center of attention. "Do you like the party?"
Seeing him interacting so perfectly with the baby made Emma bite her lower lip so she wouldn't start crying in emotion. She could see their future, right there, and how amazing he was as a father. She could imagine him with their future child, talking to it in a soothing voice when it would be scared and making it laugh at his jokes. She just couldn't wait to do all of this with him all over again. And she felt so lucky that their baby actually had the best father it could ever have wished for.
The conversation with Ella lasted for a little while, before their friends ended up walking away to go settle at a table. Killian and Emma were left alone again, and they stayed silent for a few seconds. He kissed her temple, smiling against her, and he finally said in a loving tone.
"See, love? Everybody is saying that you look beautiful. Will you finally believe me when I tell you so, now?"
"You know what I think?" She answered, looking up and smiling back at him.
"Tell me, darling."
"You're the best father Henry could ever have hoped for. And you're going to be the best with this little one that is coming into our lives as well. I couldn't be prouder of building this family with you. I love you beyond everything, Killian."
He blinked at that, looking so touched by her sudden statement that tears actually appeared in his eyes. She was well aware that he was still doubting himself, sometimes. He'd never had a real example of what a father should be like, but he was perfect and she would always manage to comfort him when he was going through some hard times, because their children were so lucky to have him in their lives. He would do the same with her too, reassuring her when she needed it, and she felt like they were making such a wonderful team and could actually overcome anything together.
After a few seconds of silence, he answered so gently her heart skipped a beat. "Thank you, my love. It means so much to me. And I love you, too. You're perfect, so much that I can hardly believe it sometimes."
He leaned to kiss her lips then, his hand moving in her back in a tender stroke that made her sigh against his mouth. They stayed like this for a while, simply kissing and so in love with each other that it felt bigger than anything else, until they got interrupted by someone laughing beside them.
They both parted to discover Granny and Red now standing there, watching them with huge, happy smiles. Emma really liked the two women, even if she wasn't as close to them as she was to Chiara and Kate, and she was genuinely happy to see them there. She knew this mocking grin that Red was throwing in her direction all too well, and she chuckled in advance, knowing that her friend was most probably going to give her one of those honest sentences that she mastered.
"You both seem more than fine." Granny smiled, looking tenderized by their sweet gestures toward each other. "Marriage is treating you well."
"It does seem like it." Red added, and Emma braced herself for what was coming, already knowing that it was probably going to be good. "You've been married for a few months now, though. So, tell me. When will you finally start trying for a baby?"
"Red!" Her grandmother cried out disapprovingly.
Emma was surprised at first, but she'd also been expecting something of the sort coming from her friend, and she then quickly felt a chuckle blooming in her throat. Trying to hide how amused she was so she wouldn't give the truth away, she buried her face in Killian's neck, trying to seem embarrassed instead. She could hear at her husband's breathing that he was trying not to start laughing as well, and she could hear his silent words to her. If only they knew, love… He waited for a second, trying to get his composure back, then he finally said with laughter still a bit audible in his voice.
"You know what? We'll definitely think about it."
That made Emma laugh even harder, and she only dared to look up when the two women had walked away from them. She giggled for a few seconds there, her head resting on Killian's shoulder as he was still holding her close. His chest was rising up and down quickly as he was chuckling with her, and he said to her ear so no one else could hear them.
"At least you know that you don't have to be worried about people noticing your pregnancy, darling. It's safe to say that nobody knows anything."
"I know that some people are definitely gonna be pretty surprised when they'll learn the truth." Emma answered, tears of joy in her eyes and the biggest smile on her face. "I can't wait to see their reactions to the news. This is hilarious."
Killian looked down at her, his eyes shining with so much love that she couldn't help but put herself on her tiptoes and kiss his lips once again. He smiled at that, and leaned to press a little peck to the tip of her nose then, making her smile. They stayed in this comforting, amazing embrace for a little while longer, then he gestured toward the table where Ariel, Eric and their daughter were settled and offered.
"Don't you want to go sit down for a bit? Maybe you shouldn't stay on your feet for so long. Tell me if you feel tired, aye? I just want you and the wee one to be fine."
"Babe, breathe." Emma laughed slightly, amused by his sudden concern. "I feel amazing. I haven't felt that good in weeks, actually. Don't worry about us. We'll be okay, I'll make sure of it.'
"I'm glad to hear that, my love. But perhaps you should go sit down for a few minutes, anyway. I just don't want you to exhaust yourself, you know?"
"Fine." Emma rolled her eyes at that, and it made him smile slightly. "I'll go sit down in a bit. At one condition, though."
"Anything, lass. You know you can ask me whatever you want, and I'll get it for you."
"Well, in that case, can I have this dance, captain?" She then asked, and his smile widened as she was leading him toward the dance area.
She was feeling so good that day, and the idea of sharing this little waltz with the man she loved was making her so happy. It was these kind of little moments that were so important for them, these times that made them feel like they were the only ones in the world and their love was bigger than anything else. They loved each other, so much, and she felt grateful every day that they had this incredible life now, despite all the hardships they were still facing. And these simple moments spent with him and her family were her favorite things in the entire universe.
He pretended to think about her proposition for a second, and she playfully smacked his shoulder, making him laugh. He leaned to press a kiss to her forehead, and she smiled up at him, feeling like the happiest woman in the world on that moment. She had this amazing man that she loved so much, a wonderful son who could now celebrate his birthday properly, parents that she had finally found after all these years, and new friends that she knew would have done anything for her. Life was good. And after everything she'd been through, this thought seemed like the most wonderful thing ever.
"How could I possibly say no when it's asked this nicely." Killian finally answered, taking her hand and making her spin on herself as she was laughing out loud.
The one dance they'd agreed on sharing at first turned into several others, and she didn't stop smiling once at these deeply happy times. Her husband still ended up insisting for her to go take some rest though, and she chose not to protest once again. She knew how worried he was about her since what had happened a few weeks earlier, and she just didn't want him to be scared about her or the baby. She could feel that their little bean was okay, but it wasn't his case because she was the one carrying their child. All she wanted was for him to be happy.
His hand still in hers, she then went to sit down at the table he'd shown her earlier. Ariel, Eric and Melody were there, and she started a peaceful conversation with them, as she'd gotten pretty close to this family ever since she'd met them. Killian left the group for a little while, kissing her hair and telling them that he was going to grab something to drink, and she spent a little while there, simply chatting with her friends. On this moment, it was almost crazy to think that Regina was still threatening the entire kingdom, as everything was so relaxed and felt so safe. She certainly wasn't going to complain about it. They really needed these happy times before going for a fight yet another time.
Killian didn't take long to come back, as if he didn't want to stay away from her for too long, as always since his heart had been stolen. He was carrying a tray with him, on which were placed two glasses of orange juice and two pieces of cake. Her stomach rumbled at the sight, and she only realized then that she was actually starving. When her husband placed her snacks in front of her, she smiled and looked up at him to say.
"You're reading my mind."
It made him laugh slightly, and he pecked her lips once again, his hand lingering on the small of her back as she was digging into the cake. Their friends ended up leaving after a few more minutes, listening to their little girl who wanted to go dance for a bit, event that allowed Emma to attack the second piece of dessert without having to answer embarrassing questions about her food choices to anyone. She was smiling happily when she finished her meal, and that's when she noticed Henry, as he was standing at the back of the room and seemed in the middle of a pretty cheerful conversation she knew nothing about.
She frowned slightly, suddenly intrigued by what she was seeing. He was standing really close to a young girl with black hair, who was listening to him intently. Her son seemed somewhat nervous, and he said something that made the other kid laugh. He then shyly gestured toward the dance area, and the little girl accepted the hand he was extending for her to take, blushing brightly.
Emma was finding this scene absolutely adorable, but she had to admit that she was a little bit surprised to witness such a thing. Her son was barely twelve, and she hadn't expected him to start flirting with someone else before a few more years at least. She turned to Killian, who was smiling cheerfully as he was watching their son, and she understood that he probably knew something that she didn't. Raising her eyebrows, she then asked.
"Do you know who this girl is?"
"Aye, her name is Violet." Her husband answered. "She was at our wedding. She's the daughter of one of your parents' friend. They come from another realm – Camelot, if I remember correctly. They arrived here right after the Dark Curse was broken, and your father helped them to settle in, hence why they became friends. The lass was having trouble finding her place here, and I know that her and Henry met at the ceremony. They're quite close, now."
"How do you know all of that?" Emma got surprised, watching the two kids dancing a little bit clumsily together. "I've never even heard her name before."
"The lad told me about her." Killian admitted with a small chuckle. "One day, while you were taking a nap. He was a bit embarrassed about it. I think that he likes her."
Emma had half a smile at this obvious statement, as Henry was staring lovingly at his friend. She had shared feelings about this entire situation, though. She couldn't help but feel a little bit disappointed that Henry hadn't come to her about this, but at the same time, she couldn't have been happier that he'd talked to Killian about his feelings. It showed how much he truly trusted his father, and she couldn't even believe the wonderful bond they were sharing sometimes.
"And what did you tell him?" She then asked.
"I told him to listen to his heart, because he has the biggest one of everyone I know. He's a good lad, but he's also just a child, so I advised him not to go too fast and to just follow his instincts. The lass seems like a nice kid too, so I'm sure everything is going to be alright."
"Our son is growing up, Killian." Emma then sighed, leaning against her husband's shoulder as he was wrapping his arm around her. "I feel like it was yesterday that he was fitting in the crook of my arm."
"And I couldn't be prouder of him." Killian added gently. "And now, our family his growing again, and I'm the happiest man on earth. We're going to be happy, my Swan. That I can promise you."
Her smiled widened, but she didn't add anything. She just stayed against him, watching the amazing son they'd raised together and appreciating the future they were building. He was right. They were going to be alright, and she just couldn't wait to spend the rest of her life beside this wonderful man.
"You'll be careful, aye? Please don't go too fast, love. I don't want you to risk falling over..."
"For the love of Gods, Killian!" Emma answered, rolling her eyes in annoyance. "You do know that I can ride this horse, right? I'll be okay, I know what I'm doing. Can't you trust me with this for a second?"
"It's not a question of trust, Swan!" He protested. "I know that you're a good rider, I just want to make sure that you're alright!"
She sighed and shook her head, patting Wave's neck as her horse seemed pretty impatient to get to work as well. Henry's birthday party had happened the day before, and she was still feeling as good as ever. It was like she could finally do anything after all those weeks spent in a constant state of exhaustion, and she really wanted to start with her horse riding lessons again. She hadn't gone back on her mount since the day she'd left to save Killian, settling with simply coming to spend a bit of time with her mare every afternoon. She felt ready now, though. This decision however didn't seem to reassure Killian at all, because he now looked absolutely terrified about her falling down during this moment she'd been waiting for for so long.
She looked into his eyes, understanding his concern but also wishing that he would stop being so worried all the time. "Babe, listen. I'm just going to spend a few minutes in the park. We both agreed that I would be careful. I want the baby to be okay too, you know. Everything is gonna be fine, I promise."
He finally seemed convinced by her last sentence, and sighed while nodding, because he knew all too well that she was too stubborn to give up on the idea she'd had, anyway. She then finally got on her saddle, feeling so much clumsier than usual and definitely missing her leather pants very much. Snow had promised to get the palace tailor working on making her new pants that she could use during the pregnancy, and she just couldn't wait to get rid of these long, uncomfortable dresses she was forced to wear for now.
She still smiled as she was settling on her horse, so happy to be back to this place where she seemed to be overhanging the entire world. Suddenly, as she was there and as the morning sun was drawing figures of light on the grass, it felt like everything was right in the world again.
Henry had decided to stay inside the castle that day, wanting to start one of the numerous books he'd received to celebrate his birthday. Killian had wanted to come with her for this little ride though, and he was watching her with a little bit of worry shining deep into his blue eyes. He was most definitely nervous about this, as if she were about to fall over at any given moment and didn't know what she was doing at all.
Even if she could understand why he was acting that way, his behavior was starting to annoy her a little bit. He was only doing that because he loved her and he wanted the baby the be healthy, and she also knew that he was somehow trying to make amends for what had happened between them, even if she'd told him dozens of times that it hadn't been his fault, but this was starting to get a little bit hard to bear. She was pregnant, not sick. If she had to be careful because she wanted their child to be perfectly healthy too, she could still keep on living. Killian didn't seem willing to understand that, though. He was pampering her like never before, and she just wanted him to see that she wasn't a fragile little thing that he had to protect. She was okay and she was careful, and their child was going to be just fine. She was going to make sure of it.
She then decided to ignore the worried glances he was throwing in her direction, and simply focused on how great it felt to be back on her horse. She was feeling so good, the warm breeze of summer making her hair fly in her back, and she was so full of energy she couldn't help but smile. She was determined to enjoy these moments during which she was feeling so good, because she knew that her exhaustion would probably come back to torture her soon enough. And going out of her room and doing was she loved seemed like the best way to take advantage of her good mood.
Despite her annoyance, she was careful to stay next to her husband, because even if she was finding his behavior silly, she knew that he would feel better if she didn't go too far away. After a few moments of silence, he asked. "Is everything okay?"
"Killian, babe." She started, trying to stay patient. "I love you, but could you please stop being that overprotective? I'm fine, the baby is too. Stop worrying, you're going to drive me nuts."
"Oh, well, apologize for wanting my wife and child to be okay." He mumbled, looking a bit offended by her words.
"You're overreacting, and you very well know it." She sighed, stopping her horse to look at him more easily. "Please, tell me what the hell could possibly happen to me? I'm perfectly safe, here."
At this exact moment, as if to prove her wrong, screams coming from the castle forced them to stop their little bickering and look up. The sun was blinding, and Emma had to squint in order to understand what was going on. She finally noticed the rider that was coming in their direction, their mount at full speed. Right behind him, a stable boy was running and yelling something that she just couldn't hear yet. Seeing her and Killian there, the boy stopped and told them, panting.
"Warn the guards! He just stole the Queen's tiara!"
The words rang in Emma's ears, and she didn't give herself the time to wonder about what to do. She didn't ask herself any questions about how the hell this guy had managed to get through all the guards that were watching the castle, to get to the room where the tiara was kept. She could simply remember what her mother had told her about this tiara during one of their numerous conversations. And she just knew that she had to get it back.
This item had been given to Snow by her mother, as she was just a little girl. The previous Queen had died not long after, and it was one of the only things she had left from this woman that had vanished while she was barely just a child. It was covered in gold and diamonds, but that wasn't what was truly important. It had a huge emotional value, and Emma knew that she couldn't let her mom lose this thing that meant so much to her.
And so she didn't think for another second before acting. She was already on her horse, and it would have been a shame to miss this opportunity to go and chase this thief. She didn't even hear Killian calling after her when he realized what she was about to do, and she brought Wave to gallop right behind the guy, trying to reach him and get what was her family's back to safety.
She was going so fast that the wind felt like slaps in her face. She could barely see anything around her, but she smiled when she realized that she was actually slowly breaking the distance between her and this stranger. The only thing she could tell about him was that he was a man with brown hair, but she didn't really care about who he was. She just wanted to get this tiara back, and that was all she could think about on that moment.
They ran through the city, crossed the town gates and continued their race in the forest. She heard him letting go of a loud curse when he realized that she was still chasing him, and that her horse was definitely faster than his. The speed had made her blush and the adrenaline that was running through her veins was making her heart pound in her chest, but she wasn't about to give up. She leaned to whisper to her horse's ear and encourage her :
"Come on Wave, come on, girl. I know you can do this."
Her words seemed to have their effect on the mare. She started to go even faster and, soon enough, Emma was beside the man who had dared to steal this tiara that was so important to Snow. She felt him turning in her direction as she was trying to find a way to stop him or get what she wanted back, and knew that he was going to try something in order to defend himself. She wasn't fast enough, though, and he managed to take her by surprise.
She saw him leaning toward her, not understanding what he had in mind right away. Without notice, he then pushed her out of her saddle to make her fall over. Wave let go of an infuriated neigh at the blow, but Emma managed to keep her balance at first. He tried to push her again though, and this time she couldn't do anything as she was feeling herself falling. The only thing she was actually able to do at this point was grabbing her opponent's arm so he would go down with her at least.
She violently hit the ground, rolling in the dust of the path. She fortunately thought about wrapping her arms around herself to protect her bump and the baby, and her back took the entirety of the shock. She let go of a whimper of pain then, half knocked out by the fall, but she did hear another body crashing just next to her. She may have fallen off her horse, but she'd taken the thief with her too. She could still get the tiara now, she just had to get back up and keep fighting.
She opened her eyes, only realizing then that she'd closed them under the pain. Everything seemed blurry around her, and she saw Wave's foggy figure panicking for a second, before turning and starting to gallop back toward the castle. Emma just watched her go, not even feeling strong enough to call her back. She however noticed her mother's diadem lying down just next to her, as it'd fallen as well. She rolled on her side to grab it, holding it close to her heart as if to protect it from the stranger that was still struggling to get up beside her.
"Emma?"
She was trying to sit up when she startled, hearing her name. The fact that this man she didn't know knew who she was wasn't surprising, because she was the princess and everyone in this city knew her face after all. But the voice that had pronounced her name was way too familiar. It was bringing her right back to a part of her life she would have wanted to forget, and an unpleasant shiver suddenly ran up her spine.
She didn't dare to look up, too scared of what she was going to find by doing so. But at last, she managed to get back on her feet, and she didn't have a choice but to face the thief that had made her fall over in the first place. Her stomach was in knots, and she suddenly felt like she was going to be sick. She knew this man. She knew that expression, those eyes, this all too familiar face. And realizing that she did was making her dizzy.
Neal. Neal was standing in front of her, and she just couldn't understand how this was even possible.
He looked at her, seeming as surprised as she was. His eyes widened, as he was looking like he was about to run away at any given moment. He hadn't changed one bit, despite all the years that had passed. He was still the same guy who had abandoned her as she was just a child. The one who had knocked her up and had left her to rot in jail. The one who had broken her heart, and because of whom she hadn't been able to trust anyone for years, until Killian had come into her life and shown her that she could still be happy after all.
"So that's true, what they say?" He ended up asking in a low voice. "You really are the princess, huh?"
Images of her time in prison, of her broken childhood and of everything that she'd gone through because of this man were flashing before her eyes, making her want to throw up. She wanted to start yelling and crying all at the same time. She could barely notice the pain that was running through her lower back, or how her knee was bleeding because of her fall. She just couldn't think about anything, except that he was there and that she had to protect herself from him. So, out of instincts, she placed her hand on her stomach to keep the baby safe from this shadow of her past that was coming back to haunt her.
His eyes widened a bit more when he saw her gesture, and he asked. "Wait, you… You're pregnant?"
She felt a huge rage taking over her at once, and she felt like it was filling every single one of her cells and she was going to explode. All she wanted to do on that moment was to punch him right in the face, so he would know the pain he'd forced her to go through while she was only just a child. He'd lied to her. He'd abandoned her. And he had to pay for that.
"Why are you so surprised by this?" She then spat out without thinking. "Do you feel it so hard to believe, that I've been able to build my life again after what you did to me? You left me to rot in a freaking cell for months, while I was just a kid. How dare you even talk to me, Neal? How does it feel like to know that you're just an asshole, who can't do anything but destroy everything he touches?"
He blinked slowly at that, looking like he was only half understanding her words, like he wasn't completely there. Then, finally, it looked like her last sentences had got to him and he shook his head, taking a few steps back to get to his horse, that hadn't run away like Wave had. He got on his saddle before she could add anything or tell him that he was being a coward yet another time, and he simply said without even looking at her.
"I can't."
And then he was gone. Again.
She stayed in the forest for a long time without moving one bit. She was lost and afraid, and didn't even really know who she was anymore. She felt sick and was so dizzy that she couldn't really tell if she was standing up or sitting down. Her back was hurting so badly that she would have cried about it, if she hadn't been so completely shocked by what had just happened.
She could still see Neal, the last time they'd been together. She could hear him telling her that he loved her, and her naive self believing him before he let her go to jail. Flashes were still coming to her, giving her a horrible migraine. And out of nowhere, a violent nausea took over her, and she leaned against the closest tree to throw up everything her stomach was containing.
She realized while trying to catch her breath that he hadn't even apologized for everything that he'd done to her.
Emma never really knew how she did it to come back to the palace after this. She couldn't remember anything, being in complete shock. She probably walked there, since she didn't have a horse anymore. The guards standing at the city gates asked her worried questions when they saw her walking past them with her torn dress, bloody knee and empty eyes. She didn't even answer them. She was numb. She couldn't feel a thing. And she knew that it should have scared her, but she just couldn't bring herself to care.
She was stumbling, finding the simple fact of walking so hard. Her entire body was hurting, and she felt like she was living in a nightmare. She was only half conscious when she finally reached the castle, and barely saw the few figures that were moving at the back of the park. She still managed to recognize Killian though, as he was holding Wave and seemed to be giving orders she couldn't hear to the guards around him. She could tell that he was very probably trying to organize a search party for her, but this information didn't make her feel anything. She looked up, seeing that the sun was already high in the sky, and realized absently that she'd probably been gone for longer than what she'd thought at first.
She still hadn't let go of the tiara. She was feeling like it was the only thing keeping her into reality, as images of her past were still coming back to her in big, scary waves. Her legs were quivering, and she felt like she could have fallen at any given moment. She just wanted it to stop.
Killian finally noticed her presence when Wave started to move nervously, feeling that she was back. The horse was a smart one, and Emma could tell that she'd probably come all the way there to try and warn Killian about what was going on. Her husband let go of the mare, and he immediately rushed toward her. He was running so fast he looked like he wasn't even touching the ground anymore. She frowned at that, realizing that she wasn't making any sense.
"Swan!" He called her, as she was still slowly walking to approach him. "Emma?"
The tone he'd used to say her name told her that he'd just noticed the state she was in. Tears were shining in his eyes, and she took three more steps as he was stopping in front of her. He looked at her, and only had the time to reach out his arms before she collapsed against him, unconscious.
Okay guys! So if you know me, you probably know that saying that I don't like Neal is the understatement of the year. There's a reason why I put him in this fiction, though. I feel like it's important for Emma to be able to face this part of her life, especially now that she's pregnant again. A lot of things are going to happen in this storyline, but as I already said it a couple of times, this will always stay a Captain Swan fiction and this fact will never change. I just think that it's important for both Killian and Emma to face their past in order to completely live the future that is awaiting for them. I hope that you liked this chapter, and see you soon!