The next day came bright and early and Katie was still sleeping, though she was frowning lightly in her sleep. David soon yawned once he woke up and put some coffee on as he slowly stumbled into the next day. He then looked over to see that Katie was still asleep and he tried to be a little quiet. Mary Margaret looked surprised they were still on the sofa but smiled softly as she looked to Katie and stroked the girl's hair gently. Katie mumbled and shifted, but the frown faded a little.
"I think she had a lot of fun last night." David softly said to Mary Margaret.
"Yeah." Mary Margaret smiled. She then gently woke Katie up.
Katie mumbled a little but did wake up, slowly, and stretched wincing just a little as she ached a bit. David then put some toast on for breakfast and made a little bit of eggs to eat. Katie yawned and got dressed out of sight of her parents before stumbling out and sitting at the breakfast bar.
"Morning." David said to Katie once he saw her.
"Morning, Daddy~" Katie said quietly.
"Are you hungry?" David smiled.
"Mm-mm." Katie shook her head a little.
"No?" David replied softly. "Well, okay... If you're sure."
"Mm, I feel a bit queasy today." Katie admitted softly.
"Oh, my..." David frowned as he felt her forehead. "Maybe you should go back to sleep."
Katie closed her eyes a little to the touch finding it comforting. "No, I'll be fine... I might go take a walk, see Killian and Felix and get some of that fresh sea air..." she murmured.
"Is she sick?" Mary Margaret frowned in concern as she also came to check Katie's temperature.
"She doesn't have a fever or anything," David said. "Guess she just had too much fun last night."
"I'm going to go now," Katie said softly as she stood up then. "Love you both." she told them as she kissed their cheeks before she went off. She shut the door behind her, not even grabbing her jacket and headed off.
It only occurred to Mary Margaret after Katie left. "She told me she doesn't get hangovers." she said quietly.
"Love you!" David called back to Katie before looking curious. "Hmm..." he then paused thoughtfully. "I'm sure it's nothing, but... I guess it's best not to obsess over it."
Mary Margaret gave a small nod.
"Hungry?" David asked her then.
Mary Margaret nodded with a warm smile. David smiled back as he got set into making breakfast for the two of them since Katie passed on breakfast.
Katie walked along, her hands in her pockets as she walked.
"Easy, boy, easy..." A nervous and feeble man said to his Dalmatian as he was walking his dog and nearly on his way around to where Katie was walking.
Katie blinked and noticed the Dalmatian first. "Pongo..." she murmured.
"Oh, uh, excuse me..." The man smiled nervously at Katie as he passed by with his dog. "You're... You're new in town, aren't you?" he asked her as Pongo came up to Katie and started to sniff her a little bit.
Katie smiled to him a little, letting Pongo do so and lowering her hand so if he wanted petting, he could. "Kind of, I've been here a little while now, but not seen you," she said softly with a smile. "I'm Katie. Katie Nolan." she introduced herself softly with a small smile, offering her other hand out to the man.
"I see, I'm Dr. Archie Hopper and this is Pongo," The man replied as he soon held his hand back out to Katie and shook her hand. "Nolan... Nolan... Do you know David Nolan?" he then asked after thinking about it for a minute.
Pongo came up to Katie and sniffed her a little as she seemed friendly enough so far.
"He's my father." Katie gave a small smile as she shook his hand and smiled to Pongo.
"Your father?" Archie asked, a bit surprised before he thought about something that seemed to hit him in the head, metaphorically speaking before he concentrated on her again. "Interesting..."
Katie gave a small smile. "I won't keep you both, but it was nice meeting you, Dr. Hopper." she told him, gently pet Pongo and then went to carry on, not wanting to distract the man if he was busy.
"Nice to meet you too, and, uh, if you ever feel like you need to talk to someone... Feel free to give me a call," Archie said as he soon took out a calling card to her with his name and office number. "I-I'd really appreciate it."
Katie smiled as she took the card and put it in her pocket. "I will." she promised him.
"You have a good day, erm, Miss Nolan," Archie nodded as he went to get going. "Come along, Pongo."
Pongo licked Katie's hand before he went along with Archie then. Katie smiled softly and then continued on her way, heading towards the docks. Archie then continued to walk off with Pongo as it was just another day so far.
Gold had woken up ahead of the girls and was making breakfast for them. Cherry slept a bit longer, though Belle woke up after Gold and went to take a shower before she would join them for breakfast. When Cherry was busy and Belle had come down, he told her of his plan and made his hair look like it had been cut and Belle's gone blonde. Cherry freshened up in the bathroom next, muttering to herself before she would get breakfast with the others.
Belle let out a small, surprised gasp as she saw that her hair was suddenly blonde before she posed in it a bit before shrugging. "Not bad..." she then said before pouting at Gold. "Couldn't you have at least dyed yours?"
"I made it shorter." Gold told her.
"Hm..." Belle paused before she decided to get the drinks out.
"Ugh, last time I had a headache that bad, I was trying to understand quadratic equations..." Cherry mumbled as she stumbled into the kitchen, not noticing anything different just yet. "You guys wanna order dinner tonight or something? I don't feel like cooking for the rest of the year."
"I guess we'll have to see, dearie." Gold said.
"Yeah, I guess we'll see... But enough of that, how is everybody on this good-" Cherry then blinked as she looked over and soon recoiled in both horror and disgust as she looked scared to death all of the sudden and like she was ready to throw up. "GOOOOOD GRACIOUS! What have you done to your beautiful hair?!"
Belle giggled as she stood by innocently.
"Oh, this? I thought you had gotten bored of us so I thought maybe a haircut would spice things up." Gold told her.
"W-W-What...?" Cherry shivered nervously.
"And I thought I could go for a new color," Belle smiled innocently. "Don't you love it?"
"I-I... Uh... Heh..." Cherry tried to smile politely as she looked like she was about to have a stroke. "It looks... Nice! On you both... Really nice..." she then turned away distantly. "...I'm gonna go throw up about something else."
Gold raised an eyebrow.
"You don't like it? So sad..." Belle pouted.
Cherry soon sat down and held her stomach as she suddenly looked queasy from the makeovers.
'We'll just keep it up until after breakfast.' Gold silently told his wife.
Cherry soon played with her phone at the table, looking more like Belle and Gold's daughter in the situation rather than their extra love partner as she tried to distract herself from the makeover she wasn't very fond of.
'You are cruel, you know that, right?' Belle smirked playfully as Cherry seemed to have a hard time adjusting to the haircut and new hair color.
'Well, she kissed someone else even though drunk, I know she wouldn't cheat, but we can't let her have a free pass, dearie~' Gold smirked back as he put breakfast on the table.
'Yes, O Master Torture Chamber.' Belle rolled her eyes playfully before looking over towards Cherry.
Cherry grinned nervously as she put her phone away, then mostly looked at her breakfast as she began to eat up once it was set down in front of her.
"Enjoy, dearies~" Gold told them both, before starting to eat his plate of food.
Oh, we will." Belle smiled.
Cherry stared at the food as she ate and was mostly quiet this morning, though she soon gave up. "All right, all right, I give..." she then said after a little while as she looked over. "What's with the haircut and dye job?"
"We thought you'd like a little change." Belle smiled innocently.
"Especially after last night~" Gold added, trying for the more innocent too.
"I don't have very much memories of last night," Cherry said as she gulped down some food. "...Did I say anything about a baby?"
Belle raised an eyebrow before shaking her head. "You have not, but you did something a little unforgettable." she said, slightly murmuring, but she wasn't angry as she knew it was the alcohol and not just Cherry herself who did the deed.
Gold blinked to that, but nodded, agreeing with Belle.
"Okay, good, because I didn't if that's what you're thinking..." Cherry grinned nervously as she sunk in her seat before she suddenly hopped off and went to the nearest window. "I'm hot... Is anyone else hot? I'm hot..."
"Cherry..." Belle said in concern.
"Maybe we should eat outside, I just love a good picnic..." Cherry chuckled nervously.
"Dearie, sit down, we're not talking about children... For the moment." Gold told Cherry.
Belle soon moved Cherry away from the window and set her back down in her chair, putting the fork in her hand and patting her on the head before she went back to her own seat.
"Heh... Of course, we're not..." Cherry chuckled as her voice cracked before she went back to eating. "Lovely breakfast."
Gold sipped on his drink a little before he continued eating.
Belle continued to eat until she was done. "So, what should we do today?" she then asked.
"Well, I'm going to have to go to the shop a little today." Gold said.
Belle nodded at the information.
"Uh... Erm... D-Do you want some help?" Cherry soon spoke up, sounding a bit feeble and shy.
"If you would like." Gold told Cherry.
"I-I would..." Cherry said, even though his haircut was really making her skin crawl, so she didn't fully look him in the eye. "It looks... Interesting..."
Belle soon decided to clear the table for them with a small, friendly smile toward them both.
"Thank you, dearie." Gold told Belle warmly.
"Yes, thanks." Cherry quickly added.
"You're very welcome." Belle smiled as she soon walked off with their dirty dishes.
Cherry soon sat quietly and took out her phone and began to Google "Orphanages or Foster Homes".
"So, dearie, that young woman who brought you home... Is she a friend?" Gold asked, calmly.
Cherry's eyes widened as she began to sweat nervously. "Uh, yeah," she then nodded as her voice got high and squeaky. "L-L-Lilac... Sh-She works at that Wonderland-like bar. We got pretty close on a Girl's Night we had with Katie and Ms. Mills."
"Would you like to explain why you kissed her?" Gold asked her, still calmly though.
Cherry yelped as she fell from her chair before getting right back up. "So that wasn't in my dream..." she uttered out wearily. "I-I-I don't know... I just... I don't know!" she then panicked. "I do a lot of stupid stuff whenever I have too much to drink!"
"Well, next time I suggest you temper your drinking, dearie." Gold told her.
"Am I in trouble?" Cherry asked as she began to feel a lot smaller compared to him as she looked up at him, hiding her phone's screen from him. "I'm sorry... I don't know why I did it... I mean, the first time she did it to me, it was nothing, really."
"And the first time was before you decided to be with us?" Gold made sure before he would continue.
"*gulp*... She was trying to keep some pervy guys away from me..." Cherry explained as she nodded, her voice trembling in fear.
Gold nodded to that slowly. "Alright, well, I think you should try to remember the consequences of you kissing someone else while in this relationship." he said.
"Y-Yes... O-Of course..." Cherry nodded as she squirmed a little bit. "...Whatever you want... Just please don't make it very painful... I'm allergic to pain... I break out in DEATH!"
"Belle, dear, come in here a moment!" Gold called out.
"Don't let her hurt me... She seems too kind for that sort of thing!" Cherry cried and panicked, ducking in her seat suddenly.
Belle soon came in to see what was going on.
"First, we'd like an apology." Gold told Cherry, just a simple one would do.
"I-I-I've already said sorry so many times..." Cherry said as she looked up at them.
Belle raised an eyebrow a bit firmly, looking almost maternal.
Cherry sighed sharply before she sat up and bowed her head at them. "I am very sorry and I promise I will never do something so stupid like that ever again," she then said. "I didn't even know you were at the door right then. I just don't know what came over me."
Gold gave a nod. "Now look at us, dearie." he told her.
Cherry shuddered slightly before she lifted up her head to look at them.
"She's like a puppy." Belle giggled to herself about how Cherry looked and reacted with those big brown eyes of hers.
Gold smirked a little. "If you do something like that again you'll find this look permanent." he told her, pointing to himself and Belle. He then clicked his fingers and their looks returned to normal.
"W-What?" Cherry gasped and gulped. "...You didn't really-"
"We just wanted to teach you a little lesson," Belle giggled, pressing her hand to her mouth. "Nothing physical of course. No hard feelings, right?"
"You were in on this too?" Cherry asked, suddenly sharp. "Yeah, well... You were... I was... I was supposed to... D'oh..." she then stuttered and groaned, unable to finish that thought as she was defeated. "Never cut your hair again!" she then cried out to Gold.
"I'll not unless you do something like that again." Gold told her.
"Well... Heh... I guess it's better than getting a beating..." Cherry chuckled weakly.
"See that you don't do something like that again," Belle replied with a nod. "I didn't mind the haircut too much though. He looked distinguished."
"Or something else with that suffix..." Cherry glanced away as she mumbled to herself, really feeling repulsed and averted from the haircut.
Gold finished his tea, then stood up. Cherry looked up and watched him go before looking back on her phone, biting her lip.
"New game?" Belle guessed as she knew how Cherry could be whenever it came to a new app on her phone.
"Uh, yeah," Cherry chuckled nervously as she looked up places where to adopt a baby in actuality. "I-I really gotta beat this game and find a way to win, then I'll tell you all about it when you tell us about your newest book later."
Gold went to finish getting ready to go to work.
"So you're going with him?" Belle asked Cherry.
"Uh, yeah, sure, if that's alright," Cherry nodded calmly. "Maybe I'll be his little helper today."
"Have fun then," Belle smiled before smirking. "And don't kiss somebody else while you're out."
"Let it go~..." Cherry rolled her eyes as she walked off to go and get dressed.
Killian was shown and appeared to be sharpening a sword as he waited in his ship, wondering what to do for the day since nothing else was happening. Katie smiled as she noticed Killian. She walked slowly though as she didn't want to go too fast and throw up or something.
"You buy the only ship in town and it's the only thing people ever know about or memorize whenever they come to see you," Killian smirked without looking back. "Is that you, Katie Kat?"
"Yes, it's me, My Captain," Katie smiled with a chuckle. "Though you'll have to come up with a different nickname as that is Cherry's nickname for me." she said softly.
"Oh, I thought it was reserved for anybody, luv," Killian chuckled before he soon set his sword down and went to go to see her down the gangplank. "Either way... It's always nice to see you."
Katie smiled softly. "It's nice to see you too." she told him.
"Coming aboard then?" Killian invited.
Katie smiled and came up to go on deck with him.
"You fancy a treat?" Killian offered.
"What sort of treat?" Katie asked quietly.
"A drink? Maybe a light snack? Unless you just wish to feast your eyes on these good looks." Killian smirked.
"I'll miss the first two," Katie said, but smirked. "The third option though might be nice~" she said and then twirled her finger gesturing for him to turn around.
"...Very well then." Killian smirked back before he soon turned around upon her requests.
"Mm~" Katie playfully hummed as she looked him up and down.
"Yes?" Killian smirked as he stood there, though glanced back a little bit.
"Looking good, handsome~" Katie gave a small smile.
"Tell me something I don't know." Killian smirked charmingly.
Katie chuckled a little.
"...Did you want something a little extra?" Killian grinned slightly.
"I wonder what that could be~?" Katie grinned.
"Why don't you sit down first and let me talk to you?" Killian asked innocently then.
Katie gave a small smile and sat on a raised platform.
"You seem different today... Ah, well, you're always a warm sun on the cloudy days in my heart." Killian smiled back.
Katie blushed a little to that. "And you're my sun." she said softly.
"You are the sunshine of my life." Killian smirked.
Katie gave a soft chuckle to that.
"So... I'd like to come over for dinner one night with your parents," Killian said softly. "If it's not too much trouble. They seem to trust me enough, after all, it's been a few months since you got here with Bear."
"I'd like that, maybe tomorrow? Gives me chance to go shopping for food." Katie smiled softly.
"Sure thing," Killian nodded. "I just thought it'd be good for us if I got to spend time with your parents and your friend if she wished, but still..." he then said softly.
Katie stood up again and softly put her arms around him. "I want you to spend more time with us." she agreed warmly with a soft smile.
"And I hope that I get to," Killian smiled back. "Especially with what we're doing for 'little Felix'."
Katie closed her eyes happily and nodded, resting her head on his chest. Killian held her close and reached out to stroke some of her hair over to behind her ear. Katie smiled softly up to him, even though she was aching a little she loved his hold. Killian glanced over, feeling concerned about some aches she felt while trying to hide them, but didn't say anything unless it would get a little worse.
"I love you, Killian." Katie said softly.
"I love you too, Katie." Killian smiled warmly as he looked down at her.
Katie rested her head on his chest then, listening to the heart half that matched her own half-heart beat.
"You hear that?" Killian smiled a bit. "Our hearts now beat together as one... Since they're one in the same now."
Katie smiled warmly. "I don't know if I already did, but either way... Thank you for splitting your heart with me, if the positions had been reversed I promise I would have done the same~" she said softly.
"Either way, you are very welcome, luv," Killian smiled back. "I'm sure you would have to. I did what my heart told me to do and I couldn't let you just go like that because I'll never let you go."
Katie reached up and stroked his cheek before going up on tiptoe to steal a kiss.
"Tiptoeing again are you, luv?" Killian teased once he saw that.
"It's not my fault I'm short." Katie pouted.
"All right, all right, come here." Killian chuckled as he came a bit closer to her to make it easier on her.
Katie used the extra closeness to kiss Killian. Killian held Katie a bit closer as he soon began to kiss her back sweetly. Katie whimpered a little, but just held him closer herself as they kissed. Killian grunted and groaned, though from deep and passionate pleasure as he held onto her as their heartbeats increased together. Katie pulled her lips away from his when she needed to breathe.
"Is it a full moon?" Killian whispered as they took a temporary break, though he was suddenly breathing heavily.
"Full... Moon?" Katie asked curiously, breathing deeply to get oxygen back quicker.
"Oh, you know," Killian replied through certain grunts between the kissing. "The time of night when everybody gets 'excited' mentally and goes to cause trouble... Stuff like this~"
Katie giggled softly to that.
"I've been out at sea for what feels like centuries before you came along," Killian smirked as he looked right into her eyes. "I think I know what I'm talking about~"
Katie blushed to that as they looked into each other's eyes.
Killian gave a small, though still endearing and tender smile. "I think I'm in love with you." he whispered calmly.
"And I know I'm in love with you." Katie told him softly.
"So why hide it?" Killian smirked. "If your family would approve of me of course... Sometimes I'm a tough man to love~"
"Tomorrow... Just have to wait until tomorrow so I can shop for the food and prepare a feast for our whole family." Katie smiled warmly.
"Right, right," Killian smiled back as he nodded eagerly and excitedly. "I really look forward to it~"
Katie smiled softly. "And of course you have to bring Felix." she reminded softly.
"Oh, yes, we can't forget him," Killian chuckled. "Who else is gonna sail the Jolly Rodger when I die?"
"Nope, nope, no talking of dying." Katie told Killian, putting her finger on his lips.
"Sorry, luv..." Killian whispered with a small puppy dog pout.
Katie nodded. "That's better." she said softly. She then gave him one more kiss.
Killian chuckled lightly as he kissed her back then. Katie giggled softly into the kiss. Killian soon wrapped his arms around her as they both felt hot and wet around each other. Katie whimpered softly.
"I don't want this to end." Killian whispered intensely.
"I don't either, but we'll be seen out here~" Katie whispered back.
"Yes, I know," Killian smirked. "Shall we run along somewhere else and part for the day then?" he then asked.
Katie nodded. Though she didn't want to leave him. Killian soon walked Katie out a bit and went to escort her away as they decided to say goodbye for right now. Katie kissed his cheek and then went off so she could go and buy the groceries she would need for tomorrow. Killian soon went back to doing his own thing as they separated for the time being.
Cherry dressed in slightly more proper clothes since she would be going into work today with Gold, though still made sure she would still be comfortable and her phone privileges for the day would be limited as she was going into more of a "Take Your Partner To Work" Day, though she offered, so it wasn't as much of a punishment as it was an experience.
"Ready, dearie?" Gold asked her.
"I guess so," Cherry replied calmly as she stood up and did a little spin in a nice dress shirt with dress pants and matching shoes. "This was the best I could find in my closet... I hope it's not too much or too little."
"It's just fine, dearie." Gold told her.
"All right," Cherry said before she came over to go with him. "I guess... Here we go... You have a lot of interesting stuff in your store from what I've seen... Almost like... Treasures..." she then smiled bashfully and nervously.
"They're items I've collected over time." Gold said.
"It... Looks pretty interesting..." Cherry nodded. "I like the teacup... You know, if you want that chip fixed, I'm sure you could call someone or get a new one?" she then asked.
"No, that is very dear to me." Gold told her.
"Oh... Well... Uh... Let's just go..." Cherry replied, coughing to herself as she suddenly felt nervous and awkward as they went to the shop. She then hit herself in the cheek as she stared at the floor, scolding herself for even asking that question.
Soon, they were at the shop and Gold let Cherry in first before he followed her inside. Cherry held her hands close against her chest as she stepped inside and looked all around and she decided to take a closer look at what was inside the display cases as they seemed to have stories of their own.
Gold watched her. "Just remember to be careful if you touch them, dearie." he reminded.
"I break it, I buy it, huh?" Cherry smirked casually and innocently.
"Pretty much, though some of these items are special." Gold told her.
"I gotcha..." Cherry said softly as she walked further inside to explore.
Each item seemed more interesting than the last as her curiosity got the better of her during her little exploration.
"Hm... Not accurate to the movie, I see..." Cherry pressed her lips together as she found a pair of silver slippers. "I did hear though that the original book used these and not ruby slippers like in the iconic movie..."
Gold raised an eyebrow to that, though he nodded.
"You have no idea what I'm talking about, do you?" Cherry asked with a sharp sigh. "*siiiigh*... This generation gap..." she then said before setting the slippers down as she continued to look around wherever she could before finding a plaque. "'Gold's Shop... I Wheel and I Deal'," she then read aloud in a faux Scottish accent in order to imitate him playfully and she then gave him a look with a small smirk. "...You're a clever pants, aren't you?"
"Do you have a particular reason you're being sassy, dearie?" Gold wondered.
"I'm always sassy," Cherry smirked. "Maybe if you don't like it, you should put me over your knee and spank me."
Gold continued what he needed to do.
"Boo, you wh-Snorefest..." Cherry mumbled to herself, quickly replacing the last word because she was sure he wouldn't take too kindly to that, especially since it was, to him, an obscure reference, before she continued to explore while checking her phone every once in a while.
Gold sent a look, but then continued what he needed to do to keep his shop running.
Cherry flinched from his look before she just kept exploring and kept checking something on her phone, making sure that he wouldn't see as she came into the back room and sat down on his workbench, though she had to hold up her phone a couple of times as the signal kept going in and out. "Come on... There's gotta be something..." she whispered to herself, biting her lip a little.
"What are you looking for, dearie?" Gold asked her.
"...Lovely weather we're having...?" Cherry replied in a higher and jittery tone of voice as she kept the screen hidden from him as she grinned nervously.
Gold raised an eyebrow. "You can tell me, dearie." he told her.
"Mm-mm..." Cherry quickly shook her head as she held her phone close and quickly hopped off of the seat and ran to the nearest corner and hid away from him.
"Fine, keep your secrets." Gold said, he probably would have shrugged had he not been so proper.
Cherry firmly pouted before she softened up as her lip quivered and her eyebrows raised up. "...Oh, c-c-come on... D-Don't be like that..." she then said in a sickly tone of voice as she suddenly felt guilty.
"No, dearie, it's fine," Gold assured her. "But I do expect to know as soon as you're ready to share." he told her then.
"Twisted son of a..." Cherry mumbled as she buried her face in her hands and groaned, almost childishly, as she soon showed him her phone screen which was looking up "Orphanages and Foster Homes" in Storybrooke, though she had a hard time finding one.
Gold looked at the screen. "You want to adopt a child?" he asked her.
"Well, if you want to adopt I can help, dearie," Gold said. "Who do you think helped Regina adopt Henry?" he added.
"Mm-mm..." Cherry just shrugged. "I figured adoption would be best... Because pregnancy scares me a little... And... Well... You're not exactly in the prime of your life and have probably seen better days about 40 or 50 years ago..." she then explained bashfully as she didn't know how old he was.
"Oh, dearie, I'm much older than that." Gold told her.
"So yeah, you're sterile," Cherry shrugged, poking fun at his age. "I'm surprised you can even keep up with me whenever you tie me up, acting all big and cocky, Big Man on Campus, and then you come in with your-"
"Is this a bad time?" Regina's voice smirked.
"...Experience." Cherry finished in a hoarse voice and wide eyes once she saw the mayor coming into the shop with a smirk.
"Can I help you, dearie?" Gold asked Regina, as if Cherry hadn't just been talking like that.
Cherry soon quickly dashed away in the backroom in embarrassment.
"Yes... There's an issue with my tree..." Regina said before she took out something black and mushy in the palm of her hand. "Rotten to the core."
"Maybe the soil has become bad?" Gold suggested, not too interested, but not indifferent either.
"I doubt it..." Regina narrowed her eyes as Cherry peeked her head out a little. "I think someone from our past is trying to make life difficult again... Unless maybe your little friend is hiding stuff from us."
Cherry then hid away at that again.
"She is a child of evil..." Regina said. "Like from Henry's story about the new curse."
"Well, I've been keeping a close eye on her and she hasn't been evil." Gold told her.
"Even if her mother is a Queen of Darkness that you used to ally yourself with?" Regina reminded. "Have you told her about that?"
"What?" Cherry asked softly from the back as she poked her head out again. "N-No... He wouldn't do something like that."
"So she doesn't know..." Regina said mysteriously.
"Well, thank you, dearie, I would have told her later when she was more settled." Gold narrowed his eyes to Regina, his teeth slightly bared revealing his gold tooth.
Cherry peeked out a bit more before she suddenly felt very warm and weak in the knees from his sharpness.
"See that you do," Regina replied. "The last thing we need is another Dark One or someone trying to influence the poor unfortunate souls. I still think that your little gremlin did something considering who her parents are." she then warned firmly on the way out.
Gold shook his head slightly, glaring dangerously at Regina. Cherry suddenly shuddered as she noticed him glaring before she fell to the floor on her hands and knees. Regina tried her best not to look scared at the glare before she decided to get going, though she did feel cold chills all around her body.
Once Regina had gone, Gold calmed down a little and turned and came over to Cherry. "Are you alright, dearie?" he asked her gently.
"Fine..." Cherry breathed out before clearing her throat as she helped herself back up and she patted herself down. "I-I'm fine..." she then said as she looked back at him with bigger and wider eyes as she put her fingertip against a dimple. "...I'm sure Ms. Mills is just having a bad day~"
"Don't listen to her about you being evil and to blame." Gold told her first.
"Uh-huh..." Cherry nodded as she didn't seem to fully listen, but appreciated that he stuck up for her.
Gold squeezed her shoulder a little.
"Eek!" Cherry yelped and shuddered and grinned nervously, trying to keep herself together as this was a place for work and not for fun. "...I-I think I'll see if I can spin your wheel this time... This is a place for work... Not for fun." she then said, stumbling slightly, about to get away from his grasp.
"Just be careful with it, dearie." Gold reminded her.
Cherry let out a high-pitched hum once she took his hand, removing it from her shoulder with a nervous grin as she soon shuffled off and went to play with the spinning wheel for a little while to see what might happen. Gold watched her a moment then returned to what he had to do. Cherry sat quietly as she watched the wheel spin as she began to memorize what she was told to do as her fingertips seemed to glow from using it as the basket below seemed to be filling up with golden threads after weaving the straw.
Katie made her way to the grocery store and then with a cart started to collect the food items. Some employees greeted her on the way.
"Are you looking for something in specific, dear?" A man's voice asked her.
"No, I'm just browsing and planning as I do so." Katie smiled a little.
"Oh, all right, if you need anything, I'd be happy to help you out," The man smiled back with a nod. "I can sense good fortune coming your way though... Something exciting, I hope."
Katie glanced to the man, curious at his 'fortune' for her.
"Well... I'll see you around..." The man smirked innocently as he walked away.
"Alright..." Katie said quietly and carried on with her shopping, planning on getting in and out quickly.
The man watched her go and decided to leave her alone, though he turned around as he hid a small smirk, taking out a card from his deck which seemed to have a family that involved a dark-haired woman with a blonde-haired man with a bundle in two bundles in their arms: one with dark hair with blue eyes and the other with blonde hair and green eyes. Katie did her shopping and was soon on her way home. She was curious to the man who had offered to help her though. The man soon hid the card in his employee vest as he soon walked away as Katie continued to shop.
The rest of the day passed peacefully, and the next day Katie had spent all day in the kitchen, cooking a veritable feast for her family, lover and Cherry. She took a moment to dress prettily before everyone would come for dinner. Killian pocketed something as he wore his best clothes for tonight as he got ready to get going and soon brought Felix along with him. Katie smiled softly as she set the table ready and then waited for everyone to arrive.
"No..." Cherry said as she wore a simple blue dress before using magic to change, feeling that she didn't need to do much manual anymore after her magic lessons, and was soon in a spring green dress as she looked into a full-body mirror. "Maybe..." she then zapped herself into a pink, fluffy dress before grimacing. "Eugh... Definitely not..." she then magicked herself into a black dress with white spots and sparkling black shoes with a white trim. "Hmm..."
"Looks fine, dearie~" Gold told her.
"Augh!" Cherry yelped before clutching her chest and sighed calmly. "Can you wear a bell around your neck or something?" she then asked softly.
"As I recall from last night, you both had a 'Belle' wrapped around your necks!" Belle's voice called out with a giggle.
"Ha, ha, ha, very funny." Cherry rolled her eyes sarcastically before she blushed in front of Gold with her hands behind her back as she posed for him, looking cutesy in her own dark way.
Gold smirked a little to that. "You look fine, shall I send you to the door so you aren't late?" he then asked Cherry.
"Um, yes, sure," Cherry nodded at him as she straightened out the skirt and the streak in her hair was soon a solid white to match the spots and sole of her shoes. "I don't look a mess, right?"
"Never," Belle smiled as she came behind Cherry and hugged her shoulders and kissed her cheek. "Don't have too much fun without us tonight."
"Beeellle~..." Cherry playfully whined like an embarrassed teenager.
"Have a good time dearie, and only one glass of alcohol," Gold told her as he gave her a hug. "Ready?" he asked her then.
"I can hold my liquor." Cherry giggled bashfully in the hug.
"Mm-hmm..." Belle smirked. "We'll hold you to that promise."
"Erm, yes, I should get going now." Cherry then nodded as she got out of the hug.
Gold nodded and with a wave of his hand, so Cherry wouldn't be late, he transported her to just outside the apartment. Cherry blinked once she showed up and soon straightened out her hair a little as she began to make her way to join the others. Belle soon "glomped" up to Gold suddenly and nuzzled into him once Cherry was out of sight so that she could have him for the night tonight. Gold hugged Belle back with a small smirk. Belle soon walked with him as they went to go and do something else to fill their time together for the rest of the evening.
"Knock-Knock?~" A voice called from the other side after knocking a couple of times like in the opening of a joke.
Katie smiled and went over to open the door.
"You were supposed to say 'Who's there?'." Felix smirked innocently as he stood beside Killian who leaned back, trying to look cool and desirable as ever.
"Who's your Daddy?" Killian grinned from the distance as he glanced towards Katie.
"Come in, Mom and Dad just stepped out to get some wine," Katie said stepping aside to let them in. "They should be here-" she started to say only to get interrupted.
"We're here~" Mary Margaret smiled.
"Surprise!" David added.
Felix only slightly flinched and smiled bashfully once he saw them.
"Hello there." Killian greeted David and Mary Margaret.
"Alright, come in and sit down then, we'll just have to wait for Cherry and then we'll be able to eat." Katie smiled.
"It smells good." Mary Margaret smiled.
"Hopefully it's yummy too." David beamed as he went to help Mary Margaret over to her seat.
"Were you a good girl while we were gone?" Killian asked Katie teasingly as he kissed her on the way inside.
Katie blushed at the kiss, but gave him a chaste kiss back as they were in front of family. "Yes, I was~" she giggled. She then gave Felix a warm hug followed by hugging Cherry too.
Mary Margaret smiled softly. Felix hugged back as Killian chuckled, coming further inside.
"Hello, Cherry," David greeted. "Your hair's turning white."
"Snow white?" Cherry smirked teasingly. "I thought it would be nice for my outfit."
"Come on, let's all sit and enjoy the food." Katie smiled softly as she led them inside, shutting the door once they were all in, and then bringing it out from the kitchen.
David sat next to Mary Margaret as Felix went to sit next to Killian.
Cherry soon sat down in her own seat, adjusting herself a little. "Just one glass of whatever you have," she then said. "I have to watch myself before things get a little too crazy."
Mary Margaret poured the drinks out. Katie soon sat down and smiled softly as she looked over her family. Killian nodded his thanks before looking to Felix.
"Thank you." Felix said, remembering his manners when prompted.
Cherry took a quick sip of her drink once she was given it, being as careful as she possibly could.
Soon, the food was fully served and everyone could eat. Katie ate her plate, then casually sipped on her glass of wine as she fondly and subtly watched her loved ones. Felix ate a bit healthier this time, taking his time, though couldn't help but overdo it a little with the bits and pieces that he enjoyed.
"Very good, Katie," David smiled. "I almost envy your cooking skills."
"Maybe you could make me breakfast tomorrow if I'm too tired to move in the morning." Cherry smirked.
"Why would you be tired?" Felix asked, confused and curious.
"Uh! Well, I, uh-" Cherry blushed.
"Don't worry about it, lad." Killian told him, deciding to spare him certain details.
Katie giggled a little to that. Mary Margaret hid a smile in her glass.
"Uh... So, what's new with anyone else?" Cherry asked. "Please... Anybody else... Somebody talk now... Talk, talk, talk..." she then added with extreme emphasis as she made her hand move up and down like a mouth.
Felix chuckled a little, finding that silly.
"Well, I might have something to say." Killian smirked innocently.
Mary Margaret and Katie both looked at Killian at his statement.
Katie was looking curious. "Go ahead, Captain~" she smiled.
"Well... If no one else minds..." Killian then said.
Cherry, Felix, and David just nodded, allowing him to go on if he wanted to.
"Very well then," Killian said before he soon stood up and walked across the room, pacing a little bit before he came closer toward Katie a few times during his little speech. "Katie Nolan, if you are going by that name... You've been in Storybrooke for quite a while now. You don't know why or how, but you've arrived like an angel sent straight down from Heaven."
Cherry playfully rolled her eyes at the cheesiness, but she kept listening politely.
"And I, have watched you from afar and luckily had the chance to get to know you better," Killian soon continued. "Every moment I spend with you feels like a dream I never want to wake up from. Every word you say sounds like music to my ears... You're almost like a Siren or a mermaid in song and beauty. You probably feel like the luckiest girl around me while I feel like the luckiest guy. We're thinking of having a family with the new arrival who wants to learn and grow, ironic considering he comes from Neverland."
Felix looked bashful then.
"And your friend, the little bear," Killian continued. "I consider her as your family as well, so I'd like the blessing from her and your parents when I ask you a very important question I had been thinking about for a while now," he then added before he got down on one knee right next to Katie and brought out a shimmering diamond-encrusted ring that had a blue tone that could match both the ocean and the color of her eyes. "So I hope you have the highly anticipated answer to this question: 'Katie, will you marry me?'."
Mary Margaret looked surprised, but beamed happily.
Katie looked at him wide-eyed, taking just a moment to process everything he said. She looked at the others a moment then back to Killian. "Yes," she gasped. She then cleared her throat to answer clearer. "Yes, I will marry you, Killian Jones~" she smiled softly but brightly, and held out the correct hand, that was shaking with her overwhelming happiness.
David looked wide-eyed, but not in a bad way, though he did smile along with Mary Margaret.
"Oh, Katie." Killian smiled softly as he put the ring on her finger then.
"Ya hear that, kiddo? Your new parents are getting married." Cherry told Felix warmly and comfortingly.
Felix smiled as he looked very overjoyed like the others, but was more calm and collective like Cherry was behaving right about now. Katie waited calmly enough until the ring was on her finger, then she lunged and hugged Killian, kissing him sweetly but a little less chaste than when he came in. Mary Margaret chuckled to that, allowing it for a minute. Killian hugged Katie as they shared their kiss with each other.
"You're being pretty cool about this." Cherry said to David.
"It's a rite of passage after all," David smiled. "They just grow up so fast... Seems like just a few months ago, I was meeting her for the first time."
Cherry playfully rolled her eyes as Felix smiled fondly between Katie and Killian as he felt blessed and loved for the first time in his life. Katie then rested her forehead against Killian's smiling sweetly.
"Happy beginnings now are ours." Killian smiled back to Katie.
"Me too?" Felix asked.
"Of course, boy." Killian reassured, sounding fatherly.
Cherry soon sent a double text to Belle and Gold, calling it "Rumbelle" whenever she sent them both something at the same time to say: "#KilliKat... Katie's engaged to Killian!"
"You're already ours in our heart, but once we're married we can make the adoption official, if you'd like." Katie smiled to Felix. As though they called themselves his "Mom and Dad", it wasn't official in the law.
Gold looked to his phone and then just put it down, not pleased but not upset either.
"I would like that very much." Felix nodded hopefully and calmly.
"That's the spirit." Killian smiled warmly.
"We'll do whatever we can to help out," David smiled to Katie. "And we'll invite some of our friends too."
Katie smiled warmly. "I'd like that, we have to invite Regina and Henry for definite." she added.
"Of course, luv," Killian smiled back. "Whatever you like."
"Does this mean I'm getting a big brother?" Cherry asked playfully due to her and Katie's sisterly relationship even though they weren't actually sisters.
Katie smiled. She then looked to Cherry. "I guess so~" she grinned.
"Welcome to the family, eh, Bear?" Killian chuckled at Cherry.
"Sure thing," Cherry smirked. "...Codfish."
"Codfish?" Killian asked in confusion as Cherry just cackled immaturely.
Katie looked to Cherry with a warning stink-eye look.
"Jones is a codfiiiisssh~" Cherry sang quietly to herself.
"What's all that then?" Killian asked Katie curiously.
"It's from a Disney film that doesn't portray you in a good light." Katie said softly.
"Hm... Yes... I've heard of this... 'Disney'..." Killian replied. "Now if Bear is done, shall we have some dessert to celebrate with?"
"I want dessert!" Felix then beamed in excitement.
"Good job I also made dessert then, huh?" Katie giggled as she got up then held out her hand to him to help him up too.
"Ah, yes." Killian smiled before he accepted her hand and soon stood up with her.
"Oh, good, that applies to both of us." Cherry smirked.
"Simmer down a little." David warned Cherry since Felix was in the room too.
Katie looked to Cherry. "Push me and you'll get the smallest portion~" she playfully threatened.
"You wouldn't dare." Cherry gasped, playfully dramatic.
Katie merely playfully smirked before she went and set to fetching dessert for everyone. Felix beamed happily about dessert since he loved sweets, but he was reminded to take it easy and not be greedy.
"Congratulations." David told Killian.
"Thank you," Killian smiled. "I've been planning this for a while."
Katie soon had servings for everyone and handed them out. She then sat down and smiled. "Okay, let's eat~" she giggled.
Felix beamed and soon tucked in with his family.
Cherry lightly ruffled up her "foster nephew's" hair before she soon helped herself.
"Tastes as sweet as Mummy's kisses." Killian whispered to Katie playfully as he began.
Katie blushed to that, but smiled and gently nudged him with her foot.
In his hideout in the woods, Issac growled as that was not part of what he had intended, as Killian wasn't corrupting Katie, instead she was infecting him with the light. He slammed the book closed and then went to take a walk before he would ruin the book.
"Having a bad day, I see," A familiar voice said from in the woods before showing to be none other than Dr. Victor Whale. "So am I."
Issac looked to Victor. Though he technically knew what it was he did know he had to seem like he didn't. "What's caused your bad day?" he asked the other man.
"Oh... Nothing much..." Victor shrugged innocently as he jumped down and soon walked around, glancing back on occasion. "I thought I fell in love at first sight... But the lady I was deeply interested in decided to pursue other opportunities... Such as being with a filthy and dirty pirate instead of someone like me after all I'd done for her."
Issac started to walk along with him. "What if I told you I could help you, but of course you'd have to do something for me?~" he asked him then.
Victor glanced over, a bit firm, though he didn't fight it. "I'm listening..." he soon said.
"I can get the lady you like where you can get her and take her... But it would require some magic and an... Associate of mine to help." Issac said the offer first, before he would tell him what he would want in return.
"Hmm... Very intriguing..." Victor smirked hopefully. "I'm not the biggest fan of magic, but I'm willing to use it to get what I desire, I did that back in my homeland after all... And associate?" he then asked curiously about the last part.
"He'll help make sure that the plan goes smoother, I'm not sure if you'll know him, but he'll help." Issac told him.
"As long as he helps, I should be fine," Victor nodded sharply. "He had better be a great asset or I'll make you regret it."
"Oh, he will be, just know to show him respect and he'll show you respect." Issac had to warn.
"Fair point," Victor replied. "I'll do anything to make that girl my bride, even if she is a tiny little thing."
Issac nodded to that, smirking a little. "When would you like me to arrange for her to be alone for you to take her?" he asked then.
"The sooner the better, I would hope," Victor replied. "Not right at the moment of course... We'd be screwed over," he then rolled his eyes. "But perhaps when she doesn't expect it... Like tomorrow or sometime this week, preferably?"
"I could do it for the day after tomorrow." Issac suggested as that would also give Victor's anger time to boil as the news would be spread tomorrow.
"Works for me..." Victor narrowed his eyes fiendishly as he had an eerie smirk on his face. "I don't wish to be disappointed, my dear friend, I'm sure you understand that."
"I promise, you won't be disappointed~" Issac smirked back.
"Good," Victor nodded. "I look forward to this partnership... Then we can both get a happy ending."
"That's what I hope for." Isaac smirked.
"Very well," Victor smirked back. "A partnership shall be born."
Issac shook his hand. Victor shook back, firm and noble as he nodded his head as things were going to get interesting for sure.