So here we have it the final chapter of 'Happy Endings Aren't Always What We Expect'. Thank you so much for everyone who has stuck with this story from the beginning - 3 years ago! - and for everyone who has joined along the way. All of your reviews, favourites and follows warm my heart and have got me through some times.
This is not the end for Emma, Killian and Katie - far from it as I have started to write the sequel to this as well as some one shots. However I will be posting a different story or two before returning to these guys. Keep your eyes peeled tho!
Hope you enjoy this last chapter, I tried to be completely fluffy but you know I'm not great at that so this is as fluffy as it gets!
The sun beat down across the beach, illuminating the sand like a glorious golden blanket as far as the eye could see. Except if one looked out towards the sea, the blue waves gently rolled into the land to tickle the feet of children who stood in wait for each droplet of water which ventured that far.
Emma watched as little faces lit with exclamations of joy as the water engulfed their toes, running away onto dry land only to return to the damp sand and wait for the next wave. Katie was watching too, giggling along with the children who were much braver than she was. Those children probably hadn't known each other before arriving at the beach, and probably wouldn't see each other again after today, but for now they were the best of friends. Katie didn't envy them, though, no she was happy lying with her mommy.
"You could join them, you know?" Emma whispered, having some idea of what her little girl's answer would be.
"I'm good." Katie smiled up at her mother for a second before turning her gaze back to where a little girl was squealing cause a wave had nearly knocked her over.
"Ok." Emma pressed a kiss into her daughter's waves, hoping she was telling her the truth. Emma knew that at some point they may have to get Katie to step out of her comfort zones, which were pretty small due to her painful shyness. However, the issue was extremely delicate and the time to broach it was not now on a family vacation. Especially after all they had been through.
Katie had wanted to drop her mom off at the hospital for her surgery, however her parents had decided against it. Emma was worried that once there Katie might refuse to leave, and she didn't think she'd have the heart – no pun intended – to force her daughter to leave. In the end, Regina offered to drive Emma so Killian could stay home with Katie. The little girl had sobbed when her mom gave her one final hug before leaving, and since then Katie hadn't said a word. She hadn't really done anything.
This was until they were halfway through their second film of the day, Killian not really invested as he was reading a book perched on his leg.
"Daddy…" Katie lay her hand on top of the book her father was reading, Killian immediately took the hint and lowered the reading material. "If m-mommy…if m-mommy d-d-dies-?"
"Katie, don't even think about that." Killian fully put his book down, not caring that the page was not bookmarked. He went to pull his daughter into his arms, but she shook her head. Killian breathed a heavy sigh and paused the movie – it was Toy Story 2, when Jessie is telling the story of getting left behind and forgotten. The pirate has seen the film enough to know it was a sad scene, maybe the saddest of the franchise, and perhaps he shouldn't have chosen this for his daughter on today of all days. "Mommy is going to be fine."
"But…if she's n-not…" Katie sniffled. She didn't want to upset her dad, and didn't want to even think about her mommy not coming back. But she needed to ask this question.
"Katie…" Killian ran his hand down his face, not wanting to discuss this outcome. It was clearly already upsetting his little girl. However, her eyes were pleading with him to let her continue and so he would. They were always encouraging Katie to talk to them about what was on her mind. "I'm listening."
"Will you still keep me?" Katie breathed out quickly as a couple of tears slipped down her cheeks.
"What?" Killian balked, shocked at even the implication in Katie's words.
"I-if m-mommy was gone, w-would you s-send m-me away?" Even though Katie's voice was stuttering and her tears were flowing, she kept eye contact with her father.
"Princess, you must surely know that there is nothing that would make me give you away." Killian held his hand out and was relieved when his daughter took it, needing her comfort like she needed his. "You are my daughter. And you will always be my daughter. Nothing could happen to change that. Nothing you or anyone else ever does will ever change that."
"Ok." Katie then let her dad gather her in his arms, throwing her own around his neck. The film was un-paused and they watched the rest of it together, remaining in that tight embrace. Not long after it had ended, had they gone to see Emma and Katie was finally assured that neither of her parents were going anywhere.
"Will you come join us, Princess?" Killian was dripping wet, having returned to their spot just long enough to chug some water.
"Umm…" Katie sat up slightly, scrunching up her face with the decision. She then turned to the blonde behind her. "Will you be coming, Mommy?"
"I don't think so, baby." Emma's surgery had been 2 months ago, and she felt mostly recovered. However, she wasn't really supposed to do any exerting activities which included swimming. Though she might have to break that rule slightly later on, Emma thought as her eyes raked over her husband.
"See something you like, Swan?" Killian winked with a salacious smirk, knowing exactly where his wife's mind currently was. Although the pirate was wearing a t-shirt, as he was still pretty self-conscious about his scars, it was white and had been left practically see-through by the sea. That paired with his firm thighs barely covered by some blue swimming trunks, had Emma's skin heating up more than the sun did.
"I think I'll just stay here with Mommy." Katie shrugged, and wiggled back down against her mother's side. Emma and Killian shared a look over their daughter's head. Katie was being extremely clingy to Emma since the surgery, it had taken weeks to convince Katie to go back to school even for her half-days. And after that, at least once a week they received a call to pick Katie up due to her separation anxiety causing actual panic attacks. It was now summer vacation, however, and they had hoped this holiday would help Katie to relax into trusting that Emma was safe.
"You don't have to stay here with me, Katie. I think Daddy would love to spend some time with you too." Emma gently nudged her daughter to her feet and towards her dad.
"Daddy can spend time with us here." Katie offered a counterargument. Killian gave a small shrug, ready to admit defeat and try again tomorrow, when a voice swooped in on his side.
"Is that my granddaughter getting ready to come swim with us?" David walked up with Neal hanging from his shoulders. The young boy was obsessed with the sea, a fact which David still refused to admit had anything to do with a certain pirate captain.
"Mommy's not swimming." Katie reached out her hand and fervently ran her fingertips over the scar on her grandfather's side. It was a habit she had gotten into, as if she were checking that it was fully healed and no longer hurt him. The little girl had been known to do the same with her father's stump on the rare occasion that she saw him without a hook.
"Ok, but I didn't ask about your mommy, did I, Princess?" David knelt down in front of Katie, allowing Neal to slip from his shoulders. The young boy went to give his sister a big hug, not caring that he was also dripping wet. David took both of his granddaughter's hands in his own. "I would love for you to join us, especially as Neal wants to play some water games…"
"Water Chicken!" Neal jumped up from where Emma was rubbing more suntan lotion into his skin.
"Yes, I am intrigued to see what this Water Chicken game entails." Killian stops the young prince from running off before he is properly protected from the sun.
"Can I be on your team?" Katie asks her Grandad timidly, swaying slightly on the spot.
"I would be honoured." David smiles widely as he picks up his granddaughter in his arms. "Have you got sun-cream on?"
"Uh-huh." Katie nodded her head and Emma vouched to the fact. Her sweet girl was so worried about getting burnt, she probably had on as much sun-cream as the rest of the children on the beach combined.
"Looks like it's me and you lad." Killian waited for Neal to be sufficiently covered in the lotion before picking him up and onto his shoulders.
"Pirates against the Prince and the Princess!" Neal shouted right into Killian's ear, holding his hand out as a hook.
"Oi!" David turned from where he was wading into the sea with his princess on his shoulders. Katie, unlike Neal, was using both hands to hang onto her perch.
"Get a video of this, Swan." Killian winked as he charged off towards the water, the young prince bouncing along with his strides.
Emma laughed and fumbled around for her mother's camera, before realising that Snow had probably taken it on her walk along the beach. She settled for using her phone, walking down to the sea line to capture the frivolity. Emma had been concerned that Katie would be scared, but her little girl's face was full of laughter as she attempted to knock her uncle into the water. It didn't help that Killian and David were more than joining in with the jostling as well, and it wasn't long till all four of them toppled. David managed to keep Katie from going completely under, but still disappeared himself for a moment. As all three boys re-emerged, Emma had to fight to keep the camera steady.
"Round 1 to us then." David declared, giving Katie a high five before swinging her back onto his shoulders.
"I don't think so, your highness." Killian retorted, swiping a hand down his face to rid himself of the excess moisture. "If you can recall, we all went in."
"Princess Katie remained unsubmerged." David offered smugly.
"Truly?" Killian looked to his daughter who nodded her head, giggling at her father's expression.
"She did, babe. I got it on video." Emma called out to her husband, waving her phone in the air.
"Seems we were bested." Killian gave his brother-in-law a look which screamed trouble. Neal ducked under the water and pulled his father's legs, toppling the prince. Killian quickly took his daughter into his arms just as David fell with a splash.
"You cheated!" David spluttered, shaking his head and sending water flying from his hair.
"Um, pirate." Killian shrugged as he offered his hand to help the prince up. David smacked the hand away before getting up un-assisted.
"Play nice you two!" Emma's warning was directed at the two fully-grown men, and not their children. She knew that her father and her husband's relationship had greatly improved over the years, and now their rivalry was solely competitive. That's why she was happy to leave them to it, returning to the sunbeds to be with their stuff.
Emma had been expecting to be taking care of one anxious child during this flight, as Katie had never been on an aeroplane before. She guessed she should have applied this same reasoning to her husband, but it hadn't crossed her mind. Did that make her a bad wife? Maybe. She didn't have the time to dwell on that right now. Seeing as she was sat between her husband's jumpy leg and her daughter's watery eyes. Their flight was due to be called for boarding shortly and, at this rate, Emma doubted if she'd get her family on the plane.
"Do any of you want something to drink, I'm going to go grab a coffee." David asked as he stood from the row of seats opposite theirs. Snow nodded her head, carefully repositioning her sleeping son on her lap; Neal had always been an amazing sleeper and, due to the early hour, he had fallen asleep on the drive to the airport and was yet to awake.
"I'll come with you." Emma needed to walk, even the short one to the nearest coffee shop, to regroup and make a plan. Katie's head snapped towards her, not wanting her Mommy to leave. "I'm just going over there, sweetie, to help Grandad with the drinks. I'll be quick." Emma gave her daughter a quick kiss on the head and squeezed her husband's hand before following her father.
"Looks like we've got two nervous flyers on our hands." David got straight to the point once they were out of earshot of the rest of their family.
"You noticed?" Emma's question was mostly sarcastic as it was hard to miss the nervous energy radiating from her husband. "Does it make me a bad wife that I hadn't even thought of the possibility that he would feel this way?"
"Not at all, Emma." David placed a reassuring hand on her arm.
"Well how about that I sort of wish he was hiding it better and keeping his feelings to himself?" Emma's voice was quiet for this question, maybe on some level hoping that her dad wouldn't hear her.
"Ok, you might be edging closer to the line with that one." David chuckled at his daughter's wince.
"Great." Emma huffed under her breath as her father told the barista their order. When he got a coffee for Killian, Emma was in half a mind to change it to a Camomile Tea even though her husband hates fruity beverages.
"Make that one a de-caff." Emma settled for, ignoring her father's unrestrained booming laugh. "We can both agree that my husband doesn't need any caffeine right now."
"It is probably for the best." David paid for their drinks and then they moved along to the end of the counter to wait for them. "Do you want me to talk with him?"
"Huh?" Emma had been staring at her daughter who was hugging her teddy bear in one arm and Killian's side with the other. The blonde couldn't hear what her husband was saying, and she hoped he was being reassuring. That made her feel even worse, because of course her was reassuring their daughter as he always did; he wouldn't let his own fears get in the way of that.
"I've been through this, you know, when me and your mother took that holiday last year. Yes I had foggy memories from the cursed David flying on planes, but I knew that they weren't real. In our world those who flew were magical, like fairies, or owned a magical being like a dragon or a pegasus-"
"Wait, pegasus' exist?" Emma was now completely focused on what her father was saying, however not quite the details he wanted her to. With a sheepish grin, Emma said "Sorry, continue."
"I'm simply saying that where air travel for you seems pretty mundane, it's not for us. Think about the first time you rode a horse, you were nervous right?" David offers, allowing his daughter the time to think on it. Emma remembers riding that horse in Camelot, when Killian convinced her to trust the horse as she trusted him. "Well that's probably how Killian, and Katie, are feeling now."
"So basically I need to be more empathetic." Emma sighed as she loaded hers, Killian's and Katie's drinks into a carrier.
"Not at all." David kissed the side of his daughter's head before picking up his and Snow's beverages. "Now you go take care of my granddaughter, I've got the pirate."
"As long as I get him back." Emma teased as they walked back to their seats. She did feel a bit better, knowing that a bromance chat was probably exactly what her husband needed right now. Upon seeing her mother, Katie scooched over to allow Emma to sit back between her and Killian.
"Killian, can I have a word?" David, after handing his wife her tea, motions towards the large window overlooking the concourse.
"Um…" Killian blinks a few times, looking over at Emma who is studiously avoiding his eye contact. David was never much for subtlety when it came to heart-to-hearts. "Sure, mate."
Emma spent the next few minutes sipping her coffee, hugging her daughter on her lap, and watching the two men in deep conversation. She couldn't hear what was said, and probably would never know the exact words, however she could read her husband. And was pleased that he returned to them with a lighter air than when he left.
"Everything, ok?" Emma ventured at her pirate's knowing glance.
"Aye, Swan, just can't wait to properly start this new adventure." Killian reached out and wiped some whipped cream from the side of Katie's mouth, causing her to giggle into her hot chocolate.
"Me neither." Emma grinned as she went to take another sip of her own beverage. However, before it could reach her lips, her husband had swiped it from her hand. "Oi!"
"Apologies, my love, but my coffee tasted very odd. Dave seemed to think it may have been your doing, which I assured him was not possible." Killian smirked before taking a long exaggerated gulp of the liquid. "Much better." Emma rolled her eyes at his antics, but couldn't really be annoyed as it was so nice to see his spark back. She would have to remember to thank her dad – his talks were definitely effective.
Emma was lying peacefully on the sun-bed, her eyes fluttered closed as she thought back over the memories they had already made over the past few days. They were half-way through their holiday, with much more to see. Also Henry was due to join them the next day, having had a few loose ends to tie up first. Emma was not entirely sure what that meant exactly, however was happy nonetheless to be spending any time with her son. She felt utterly content, letting the sun beat down on her and listening to the sound of families playing together.
That was until she heard an anguished scream.
A scream she had sadly heard before and would know anywhere. Tearing her eyes open, Emma sat bolt upright and looked out to the shore where sand met sea.
Katie was standing stock-still in the water, staring with wide terrified eyes towards her mother.
"Princess?" Killian knelt down in front of his daughter, unsure as to what had happened to make her scream like that. She didn't even look at him. Katie locked eyes with her mother, who was sitting up and very much awake. Very much alive. The little girl took off as fast her legs could take her towards their family's sun beds.
Emma's heart was in her throat seeing her daughter so frantic to get to her, without knowing the cause of her distress. The blonde stood and walked forward, wanting to have her child in her arms as soon as possible. And sure enough, a few moments later Katie lunged to where her mommy was kneeling in the sand with outstretched arms to receive her.
"Baby, what is it? What's wrong?" Emma whispered into her daughter's hair, hugging her tightly to her. Katie's grip was just as vice-like, maybe even more so. The young girl wanted to talk but she couldn't. Not with her heart beating in her throat and the eyes of strangers burning into her skin.
"Emma?" Snow returned from her beach walk looking much less relaxed than when she had left. The royal looked to her son-in-law who was stood regarding his family in concern. It was clear that there was no physical danger threatening them; her granddaughter's anxiety was spiking though. "I'll leave you to it." Snow squeezed the pirate's arm lightly before making her way to her husband and son who remained in the water.
Emma made eye contact with her husband, silently asking him if he knew what had happened. Killian shook his head in the negative.
"Is everything alright?" A woman who was sat in the sand with her own children called over. Her comment, as nice as it was intended to be, made Katie's mind race further. She felt sick knowing that people were noticing her. Noticing her as different.
"Fine, thank you." Killian managed to smile at the kind stranger. It was then that Emma took stock of the fact that the beach had become noticeably quieter since Katie's distressed sound. And she knew that wasn't helping her baby girl.
"I think we should head back to the hotel, I'm pretty tired." Emma suggested to her husband. Katie sluggishly shook her head, not wanting their fun to end because of her. Emma lightly shushed her as Killian nodded his head.
"I agree, lass, have a relax before dinner." Killian walked over to start packing up their beach things. "Also, as much as I have a great love for the sea, sand really does get lodged in some unholy places."
Emma breathed deeply before standing to her feet with Katie remaining in her arms. She was not going to even try to have her walk on her own.
"Swan…" Killian lightly admonished upon seeing his wife carrying their girl. He was in two minds – he knew that Emma was not supposed to be carrying any unnecessary weight at the moment, which she knew as well, but he also knew that his daughter needed this.
"Meet you guys for dinner." Emma called back to her parents, who were still in the water playing games with her brother. They both nodded that they'd heard, and Neal gave a huge wave which ended up unbalancing him into the water.
"Come here, Princess." Once he had packed away their items, Killian slipped the backpack onto his back and held out his arms to take Katie. The pirate may be ok with Emma holding Katie, but the walk back to the hotel was mostly uphill and that was where he drew the line. The little girl resisted slightly, letting out a small whine. The blonde's heart tugged at this, even as she dropped her arms.
"We'll have a long cuddle back at the hotel, baby." Emma rubbed her daughter's back once she had been transferred to her father's arms. The blonde then picked up the couple of bags left and followed her family off the beach. They all made the conscious effort to not glance back at the beach where some people were still staring after the little girl who'd screamed.
Their hotel room was stunning. It was more like a suite, with the double bed and twin bed section, the huge bathroom which contained both a bath and a shower, and a living room area with sofas and a TV. Behind a sheer white curtain were the glass French doors which slid open onto a balcony; this balcony also connected their room with the Charming's as they shared the balcony. It was perfect.
"I've got the bags, love." Killian lay their daughter down on the double bed. Katie immediately looked to her mother with her still-watery eyes.
"Thanks, babe." Emma kissed her husband lightly on the lips as she handed over the rest of the beach bags to him. The saviour then lay down next to her baby girl, who curled herself up against her side.
"Sorry…" Katie whimpered into her mommy's chest.
"Nothing to apologise for, sweetie." Emma carded her fingers through Katie's waves, careful of all the knotty clumps caused by a day at the beach. They would all have to shower before dinner, but that could wait. She was hoping her daughter would have a nap to relax before the evening.
"Ruined the day." Katie squeezed her eyes shut and more tears spilled down her cheeks.
"You most certainly did not." Killian gently rebutted as he lay on his daughter's other side.
"I didn't?" Katie shifted so she was on her back, feeling as safe as she always did between her parents.
"Not at all." Killian shook his head with a soft smile. "I for one had a most delightful day building sandcastles and playing water games. Although I do still want to know how you and Dave beat us pirates." Katie giggled slightly at that, remembering her dad's look of annoyance at having been bested.
"You did kind of get Dad back though, getting his own son to pull him into the water." Emma was glad that her daughter was smiling again. Sometimes all it took was getting away from the crowd, going from a public to private setting, being surrounded only by those truly who cared.
"What can I say, Emma, once a pirate…" Killian winked at his wife, seeing the subtle shiver go through her. The blonde hadn't forgotten how good he had looked at the beach, fresh out of the sea. The couple would definitely have to find some alone time this vacation - maybe once Henry arrived and could be with Katie - but not tonight. Tonight was about making sure their little girl felt safe and loved. "Perhaps next time I will just have to enlist our pirate princess into my crew."
"I'm already in your crew, Daddy." Katie voiced sincerely, as if she were concerned that her dad had been hurt when had she paired up with her grandfather earlier.
"Indeed you are, I am extremely lucky." Killian lightly ticked his daughter's ribs which caused her to shriek and bury more firmly against Emma. The blonde smiled brightly as the last few cobwebs of the anxiety attack blew away from Katie's body, her daughter's mind was once more her own. That did leave room for the exhaustion to settle in and, as if on cue, Katie started to yawn in between breathy giggles.
"Baby, why don't you try and get some sleep yes? Before we meet everyone for dinner." Emma tucked away the brown waves which had fallen over her little girl's face.
"Excellent idea." Killian stopped his tickling, instead using his hand to hold onto one of his daughter's.
"Will you…stay with…me?" Katie sighed and used her free hand to grasp one of her mother's.
"Forever and always." Emma spoke at the same time as her husband.
"Until the end of time." Killian promised with all he was.
"Love you." Katie hummed, satisfied with her parents' answers, as her eyes fell closed.
"Love you, too." The couple's declarations of love to her was the last thing Katie heard before sleep fully claimed her. The parents lay there, each holding one of their daughter's hands, content to just peacefully watch her sleep.
"Remember the first time we did this?" Emma broke the silence with her soft whisper.
"Hmm?" Killian had only half-heard his wife, as he had been somewhat lost in his thoughts.
"When Katie first called us Mommy and Daddy," Emma smiled wetly at her husband. "It felt like we'd finally got this, finally became a full family unit."
"Aye, I could never forget that." Killian looked back down at his little girl, his princess, who had made his heart whole.
"Thank you, Killian, for doing this with me." A lone tear slid down Emma's cheek but she didn't mind. "For being the man to raise our son and our daughter, helping her like you help me."
"Emma," Killian lifted his stump and Emma immediately held it in her free hand. "Believe me when I say it is I who should be thankful. There is absolutely nowhere else I would rather be, and no-one else I would rather be with, than on this life voyage with you and our children."
"I love you." Emma leant in, mindful of the sleeping girl between them, and softly kissed her husband.
"I know." Killian teased as he pulled back, his face displaying an expression one could only describe as a smoulder. But Emma would let him off, as she wanted him to know that he was loved and deserved it. A wish she shared for her daughter also.
#
The rest of the holiday went well. Henry arrived as planned the next day, much to everyone's delight, and spent most of his time entertaining the children. Emma and Killian did manage to sneak an evening just the two of them, with a candle-lit dinner and a child-free hotel suite.
Yes there were still some wobbles, still some tears and anxieties. But there always would be. Who better to soothe them than the former-lost-girl turned saviour and her former-lost-boy turned pirate turned hero husband? Along with the rest of their hope-filled speech-giving family of course. Whatever came their way, they would deal with together as a family.
And it may not have been the Happy Ending they had expected as newly-weds, but it was definitely the Happy Beginning they were meant to have.
There we have it, the end of this story! Hope you enjoyed reading this as much as I have enjoyed writing it. Katie definitely holds a special place in my heart.
If you have any requests for one-shots within this family then please let me know - any scenes you wished you'd seen or ideas both fluffy and angsty will be great. I am planning to post a one-shot series for these guys soon!
Once again thanks for all reviews, favourites, follows and recommendations! Love you all!