A/N: Hello, hello! Look who is updating a day early! I've been off sixth form for illness today so thought it would be a good time to get it written up and posted as I have rehearsals after college tomorrow so won't be back until late. All reviews have now been replied to - thank you so much for all of them! If I haven't replied to yours, I do apologise and let me know!
Also... THIS SERIES HAS NOW HIT 300 REVIEWS! THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR ALL YOUR SUPPORT!
To Tilly (Guest) I have gone back through the reviews and yours is still there. Your prompt had been added to my list and is actually on my planning document coming together. I apologise for not responding sooner - I thought that I had added a response in the last story but I don't think it had saved! I shall endeavour to avoid this in the future!
That is it from me for another week! Hopefully I can continue my regular updating schedule!
Keep Smiling!
Emma sits on the couch, a ten-year old Leia cuddled up into her side. It is the middle of December. A fire is blazing hotly in the hearth and they have a few blankets draped over them; more warming on radiators around the house.
She can hear Killian puttering around in the kitchen with nearly five-year old Charlie, trying to choose something for dinner and then will eventually make hot cocoa for them all as they settle down to watch a Christmas film together. Leia is currently dozing, her head on her mother's shoulder. She is exhausted after her bout of a horrible cold, and has been left with a highly painful cough that she is struggling with.
Emma is browsing Netflix when there is a knock at the door.
"I'll get it, babe!" Emma calls out, putting the remote on the couch to her left. "Come on, baby girl." She slowly shifts Leia from her shoulder.
"Mama?"
Emma tucks Leia back into the blankets and kisses her forehead.
"I won't be long, sweetheart."
She adjusts her cardigan so it wraps around her torso tighter, as she moves to the front door, smiling at Killian who has Charlie sitting on his hip. Tucking her hair behind her ears, Emma opens the door.
Her mouth drops open and her eyes fill with tears.
"Hi, Mum." Henry says, a soft smile on his lips.
Emma rushes forwards and hugs him tightly, her eyes squeezing shut.
"Oh, I've missed you so much, kid."
Henry hugs her back, just as tightly.
"I've missed you too, Mum."
They remain within the hug for a few moments before Emma pulls back all of a sudden. She hits his arm with the back of her hand, and Henry quickly yelps in surprise.
"Hey! What was that for?!"
"That was for being away over ten years and me not hearing a word from you." Emma says. "I was worried about you."
Henry smiles sheepishly. "I'm sorry. There has been a lot going on, in my defence. I will explain it to everyone at the same time, but I wanted to see you and Killian first."
In that moment, the aforementioned pirate comes up to the door. He grins at the sight of his stepson.
"Henry!" he exclaims, bringing him into a quick hug before wrapping his arm around Emma's shoulders. "It's good to see you again, lad!"
"It's good to see you too."
"Come inside, out the cold."
Emma smiles at her boys as they discuss something, before moving towards the couch. She sees that Leia is awake, but on the precipice of slumber once more.
"Hey, sweetheart." she mumbles, pulling the blankets away slightly. Leia looks at her mother. "There is someone here to see us. I think you'd like to meet him."
Leia frowns but comes out from beneath the mound of blankets. She stands up and turns to see Henry standing beside the front door, a smile on his lips. His little sister's eyes grow wide before she quickly moves to hug him.
Emma laughs fondly at her daughter and watches two of her children embracing for the first time. Henry sways them slightly, happy to meet her.
"Leia was brought up on stories of her big brother, and the ones you wrote." Emma says as they pull back and smile at each other. "You inspire her to write too."
Henry's eyes light up then, glancing at his mother before looking back at his sister.
"Well, it is a pleasure to finally meet you, Leia." Henry says.
Leia is about to reply, but a sudden hacking cough has her turning away, hunching over as her hand covers her mouth. Emma rubs her hand over Leia's back and when she settles, Emma kisses her temple.
"Drink some water, baby."
Leia nods and moves back over to the couch. Little Charlie runs over then, hiding behind his mummy's legs.
"Hey, monkey!" Emma says, reaching behind her to run her fingers through his hair. She smiles at Henry. "This is your little brother, Charlie."
Henry smiles softly and kneels down. Charlie peeks around Emma's legs shyly.
"He was a rather unexpected surprise." Emma says. "But like Leia, he has been told many stories about you."
Henry grins and holds out his hand to Charlie. After hesitation and an encouraging smile, Charlie shakes his brother's hand.
"Hi, Henry." he says, a bit more confidently.
"It is very nice to meet you, Charlie."
Charlie giggles at Henry, stepping closer as he stands up. Straightening up, Henry adjusts his jacket beneath his coat. He also scratches behind his ear; a gesture so characteristically Killian.
"Is everything all right, kid?" Emma questions as her pirate joins them after he has fetched Leia another glass of water.
Henry nods. "There are a couple of people that I would really like you guys to meet." he says, an easy smile blossoming. "They're just outside."
Emma smiles and Henry goes over to the front door, leaving the house.
"Who do you think it is?" Killian asks, picking up their four-year old.
"Well, it has been over ten years." Emma says vaguely, wrapping her arm around Leia's shoulders when she cuddles into her side.
Any other conversation ceases as Henry walks in, followed by a woman holding the hand of a little girl.
"Mum, Killian. This is my wife, Ella, and our eight-year old, Lucy." Henry says proudly. He grips Ella's hand, as she smiles anxiously.
Lucy grins before moving over to Emma and hugging her. When she pulls back, she quickly hugs Killian too.
Emma looks up at Ella and Henry for a moment, then back at Lucy - her granddaughter.
"You're so beautiful." she says, brushing her hand over Lucy's hair, easily seeing a lot of Henry in her.
"So are you! Your pictures in the book don't do you justice!" Lucy says.
Killian laughs. "I can certainly agree with that. My wife is stunningly beautiful."
Lucy giggles and looks at Leia.
"It is kind of weird seeing my auntie practically the same age as me."
Leia laughs but stops once again, coughing harshly. It continues as she turns around and practically coughs her lungs up. Emma grabs hold of her shoulders, concerned.
"Papa, down." Charlie says. Killian puts his boy down and he goes up to his niece. "Can we play?"
The two look at their respective parents. Emma and Killian instantly agree
"Just don't make a mess, baby." Ella says.
As soon as the words are said, Charlie grabs Lucy's hand and pulls her upstairs to his bedroom. Leia walks to the couch again, bundling herself up in the blankets and rests her head against the back.
"Come and sit down." Killian says to Henry and Ella. "I can take your coats and you can get comfortable."
Emma quickly sits beside Leia, leaving the large armchair open for Ella and Henry. Leia immediately cuddles into her mother's body. She coughs harshly, a shorter length of time, which is followed by a sniffle; her on the edge of crying in frustration.
"It's all right, sweetheart." she soothes, and kisses her forehead.
Emma throws her daughter's legs over her lap and covers her better with the blankets. She looks up at Henry and Ella, who have now sat down.
"So, kid, how have you been since we last saw you?"
Henry smiles up at Ella, who sits on the arm of the chair.
"I surprised myself and found my happy ending." he says softly. "We have Lucy together and life was pretty good in the Enchanted Forest. There wa-"
"Mummy!" Charlie shouts as he jumps off the last step of the stairs, interrupting his big brother. His little hands clutch one of the blankets that were placed on the radiators to warm up.
Lucy follows with a blanket of her own and settles beside her uncle on the floor in front of the couch, her coat gone.
"Lucy, baby, did you make sure it was all right?" Ella asks.
"It isn't necessary, Ella." Emma says, waving off concern. "You are family and welcome to anything here."
Ella smiles and wraps her arm around Henry's shoulders. Killian does the same for Emma as he sits down, running his fingers over Leia's scalp.
"What happened to the other version of me then, lad?" Killian questions, curious and slightly anxious.
Henry seems to sense it, and smiles reassuringly. He smiles at Ella too.
"Hook is doing really well," he says, looking back at his parents. "He found his daughter and fixed the curse on them so they can touch again."
Killian smiles and kisses Emma's temple when she runs her hand along his thigh.
"I'm happy for him. He deserved his happy ending." Killian says.
Henry and Ella agree then both couples watch their kids playing together on the floor. Leia continues to cough and Emma uses her magic to conjure a large bottle of water that remains cold to try and help her out a bit.
"How long do you think you'll be in Storybrooke for?" Emma asks, leaning her cheek against the top of Leia's head.
Henry looks up at Ella who shrugs with a smile.
"We were thinking of perhaps staying for Christmas." Ella says, looking between Emma and Killian. "Maybe even New Year whilst we work out what we are doing."
Lucy gasps, unaware of the plans.
"Really, Mum?!" she asks.
Ella grins at her daughter and nods.
"We could make room for you here; right, love?" Killian suggests, looking at his wife.
Emma contemplates it before smiling.
"We have enough room. Your room is as you left it, Henry, so Lucy can stay in there. The basement has been converted so it is an extra room - it tends to be used for sleepovers or if your grandparents have had a bit too much to drink." Henry laughs at that comment. "I've been told the sofa-bed is very comfortable."
"That sounds great." Henry says. "Are you sure it is all right?"
"Of course it is!"
Henry smiles at his mother. "Is there anything we can do to help out with dinner?" Emma tries to wave him off. "What about Granny's? I can go with Ella, and Luc if she wants to, and grab something for everyone."
"Can I stay here? Is that okay?" Lucy asks, desperate to get to know her family more.
"Of course you can!" Charlie says. "You can be with us forever!"
Emma laughs. "Maybe not forever, monkey."
Charlie nods, ignoring her words and looking at Lucy.
"Well, you know my order, kid." Emma says.
"Good ole grilled cheese and onion rings." he says with a smile.
Killian shifts, moving to stand up. "I'll come with you, lad. Help you out and make sure Charlie has his burger right."
"Can I come, Papa?" Charlie asks as soon as he hears his name.
"Of course, my boy." Killian says fondly. "Go and get your shoes on, and your coat."
As Charlie runs off, Emma smiles down at Lucy.
"Join us up here, Lucy. We can choose a film to watch together."
Lucy smiles at her grandmother and then takes Killian's place on the couch. She grins when Emma hands her the remote for the television and begins to browse.
Killian walks over and kneels in front of Leia.
"What would you like, sweetheart?" he asks her.
She blearily looks at him, trying to fend off sleep.
"Can I have grilled cheese and ham, Papa?"
Killian smiles and rises to press a kiss to her hairline.
"Yes, you can. Regular fries?"
"Sweet potato please, Papa."
"We shouldn't be too long, little love." he says lovingly.
Ella and Henry come over, bundled up in their coats and look at Lucy.
"Make sure you are good for your grandmother." Henry says, laughing at Emma's slight groan of, "I'm not that old."
"I will, Dad."
"Good girl." he says and looks at Killian who zips up Charlie's coat a bit more. "We ready?"
"Aye, lad. Let's sail away." he says, then looks at his girls. "Love you."
"Love you too." Emma says , watching them leave. A moment later, she turns her head to the front door. "Henry?"
Her eldest stops before he leaves, the last one out. "Yeah, Mum?"
"It's good to have you home." she says.
Henry grins at her.
"It's good to be home."
End note: Please review! :)
