AN- I want to thank everyone for their kind words of encouragement and support for this fic. I've really been enjoying writing it for you guys. I have 3 or 4 chapters left to write, including more flashbacks. I'm also dedicating this chapter to the biggest fan and supporter of this fic, and the biggest supporter to writers in this fandom, kmomof4, for without her love and support we would be lost. Get ready for some feels!

**Chapter Seven**

Bonding

Killian wandered the halls of the hospital absentmindedly, his long leather duster swishing behind him as he dragged his feet against the ground. His body felt like it was running on autopilot with no reason for his actions or motivations behind them. He felt completely hollow — he was just a husk of someone that he could no longer recognize. The idea of the possibility of a life without her in it made him feel like he was floating through life without direction or purpose. His reason for existing was on the verge of leaving him and he was absolutely helpless to stop it and the thought of that was unfathomable to him.

He felt his heart constrict in his chest, the feeling comparable to when the Dark One held his beating chest cavity and squeezed it with the intent of destroying him.

"It feels like having your heart ripped right out of your chest."

He felt a scream of frustration rumbling in his chest, threatening to erupt from the depths of his throat even though he knew he was incapable of letting it go, his voice far too horse to release it. Instead he let the emotion fester like a cancer in his chest and opted to continue pacing the halls, his face red from the force of his distress, his muscles weak and sore from the strain on his body, his vision hazy under the direction of his bloodshot eyes. He choked, fighting off the hot angry tears burned his eyes, gripping him and refusing to let go. He felt the darkness closing around him — a destructive self-loathing washing over him like he was drowning with no one to blame but himself. This was his doing. If he hadn't-

He managed to shake himself out of that thought when the sound of cries pierced his ears. He directed his attention to the glass-inclosed nursery that contained all of the chubby pink-faced newborn infants squirming in their cradles.

"Which one is yours?" One of the nurses asked curiously as she came to stand beside him as he pressed his face against the glass to find his little one.

"I'm not quite sure." He shook his head in dismay. He couldn't even recognize his own child. How was he expected to love her if it cost the life of his true love? She was barely an hour old and he was already failing her.

The nurse noted his reserved posture. He wore the look of all brand new fathers — scared shitless. "It takes most new father's a while to warm up to the idea of fatherhood, but don't worry you're going to do fine." She assured him, affording him a small smile of encouragement.

Killian resumed his search for his child among the faces of the babes. How was he supposed to tell them apart? They all looked the same save he could rule out the ones swaddled in blue blankets.

"What's-" The nurse began but quickly stopped, unsure of the baby's gender.

"Her." He breathed. "It's a her." He managed, still conflicted by the situation that brought about the child's existence.

"What's her name?" The nurse asked. "You see, the names are printed." She explained. "Just there." She pointed out the identification cards on the clear bassinets that bore the first and last name of every child — except his.

"She doesn't have a name." He admitted, his eyes clouding with shame for not having at least afforded the new life the courtesy of a name that didn't consist of 'Baby Girl Swan.'

"Don't worry it will come to you." The nurse said to him.

"I'm waiting for her mother to name the lass. I've never been good with names." Killian's face fell at the thought of Emma never waking to name their daughter. Their daughter.

"I'm sure once she decides on one it will all become real. It always takes a moment for reality to sink in. It's a big change. What's her last name? If you tell me I can take her out so that you can hold her." The nurse told him.

"I'm sorry." He shook his head. "I can't do this." He rounded the nurse, leaving her shocked and stunned.

He wanted to get as far away as he could. He just wasn't ready to face the infant who might be the cause of Emma's death. The thought shook him down to his very core — that was until he saw her boy, his presence stopping him dead in his tracks.

How ever was he going to confront the boy to tell him he might lose his mother?

Henry stared at him from the end of the hall in a loud silence that echoed through the hallways — all the chaos in the hospital fading out around him.

Killian bowed his head, not wanting to look the boy in the face, sucking on his lower lip to hide his anguish.

Henry opened and closed his mouth, unsure of how to proceed but nonetheless picked his feet up and began to close the distance between himself and the stranger in leather. "Where is my mother?" He asked him, his voice strained.

Killian just shook his head, his hand covering his mouth as he clenched his jaw.

"No. No. No!" Henry screamed at the top of his lungs. "You. You did this to her!" He accused, lunging at the nameless man, panting furiously as he rapped his fists against him.

Killian allowed the lad to take out his anger and frustration out on him, opening and closing his mouth at the display. He remained still against the boy's barrage of violence, his body swaying as his fists connected with his chest.

"Fight me you coward. Fight me! Fight me!" Henry screamed out in frustration, his blows stuttered as he crumbled, his body shaking into uncontrollable sobs as slumped against the mysterious man.

Killian choked on his emotion, tears pricking his eyes as he wrapped his arms around him. He cupped the back of the boy's head, holding him to his chest as he allowed him to weep into his leather, soaking it with his tears. "I'm sorry. I'm so sorry." He rasped, turning his head upward to face the ceiling in an attempt to suck up his tears and keep them from slipping and sliding down his face. He needed to be strong for the boy.

Henry allowed himself to be swayed, his body rocking from side to side as the man comforted him as he sniffled. There was so much he wanted to know and right now this man had all the answers. He pushed back against the man, stumbling backwards to face him. "What happened. What. Did. You. Do?"

"Trust me when I say the last thing I want to do is harm you or your mother." Killian precluded.

"Liar." Henry spat.

"Please. You know me. I risked my life to save you once. You just don't remember." Kilian pleaded with the lad. "I knew your father many many years ago, back when he was a boy." He tried to reason with him.

"You're crazy!" Henry accused. "My father? Are you nuts?" Henry continued, his voice getting higher.

"Please lad. Keep your voice down." Killian tried to calm him. "I know you better than you know yourself. You know me. You've just forgotten."

"Hel-" Henry opened up his mouth to scream before Killian pulled him back against him and clasped his hand over his mouth to keep him from drawing attention to them. The last thing he needed was to be kicked out of the hospital.

"Please." Killian begged desperately. "I don't want to hurt you."

Henry squirmed in his hold, murmuring incoherently against the man's sweaty palm.

He was losing him. It was going to take more to reason with him. He was far too slick for his own good.

Just when all hope seemed lost as the boy continued to struggle against him, Killian's eyes widened in recognition at the familiar binding of a book buried under smaller novels atop a library cart handing out books to patients.

That was bloody impossible.

"You strike me as a young man who likes stories. Care to hear one?" Killian asked, loosening his grip on the boy as he visibly relaxed.

"You're not going to try and lure me into a van are you?" Henry wondered, his brows furrowed.

"Huh?" Killian leaned back in confusion. "No. Just wait here." Killian demanded, crossing around Henry so he could pull the book into view. "Ah. Here we are." He held the book out for Henry to see.

"Once Upon a Time?" Henry canted his head in skepticism. "You're kidding, right? I'm too old to believe in fairytales."

"That's exactly what your mother said." Killian shook his head, smiling at the reminder. "The truth is that every story in this book actually happened." He told him, the boy still in disbelief. "Why don't we go find a quiet corner and we will read it together, aye?"

"I know what you're doing." Henry noticed. "You're trying to bond with me. You aren't the first man who has come into my mom's life. I know it when I see it."

"Clever boy." He seemed shocked at the boy's perception. "Regina certainly did a number on you."

"What?" Henry blanked in confusion.

"Never mind. Let's go." He suggested, putting his arm on the boy's back to lead him toward the waiting room.

"You expect me to believe that I'm the adopted son of the Evil Queen. My mom is the daughter of Snow White and Prince Charming, and my grandfather is Rumplestiltskin?" Henry wondered.

"I know it sounds mad. But I think deep down you know something is off about all this." Killian looked around him to emphasize his point. "There has to be some part of you that believes what I'm saying. You do have the heart of the truest believer."

"I do?" Henry questioned.

"Aye you do. It's a particular story that isn't included in this book but Pan tried to steal your heart in order to prolong his youth and restore magic to Neverland."

"Pan? Neverland? Don't tell me your Captain Hook." Henry sighed.

"So you've heard of me?" Killian couldn't help but smirk in amusement.

"You don't look like any Captain Hook I've ever seen if you are who you say you are."

Killian glanced around to make sure they weren't being watched before digging into his pocket to produce his hook for the boy as a way of convincing him.

Henry gasped, his reflection glinting in the curve of the metal. He stared in amazement as the man who claimed to be a pirate captain moved to click his artificial hand out of place in exchange for his hook.

Killian smiled as the boy took in his namesake.

"Did it hurt?" Henry asked him in interest.

"I can't say that I remember exactly. It happened over one hundred and fifty years ago."

Henry continued to marvel at the appendage, wrapping his hand around the man's wrist to look it over.

"There are still times that I still think I have a hand. It's called a phantom limb. It's often a shock to the system." Killian explained as Henry's hand caressed the shiny metal.

"That's really cool." Henry remarked.

"So you believe me?" Killian asked in constrained excitement.

"Not exactly." Henry shook his head, pushing his hooked hand away from him. "But I think you would have to be madder than the average weirdo to take your hand and replace it with a hook and have the nerve to walk around with it out in the open. You would have been locked up by now for having a weapon attached to your arm." He added for good measure.

"I will take it." Killian clapped the boy's knee before rising to his feet.

"What is your real name?" Henry spoke up, the book spread out in his lap as he fingered the pages.

"Killian. My name is Killian." He provided.

"Killian?" Henry asked.

"What is it lad?" Killian bent down to be more levelled with the boy.

"Is my mom going to be okay?"

"I wish I could tell you." Killian shook his head in uncertainty. "But I honestly don't know. But the best thing that we can do for her right now is be there for her." He told him, giving him a hopeful smile.

"Can I go see her?" Henry asked.

"Of course you can. Come on." Killian agreed, instructing the boy to follow him back to his mother's room in the intensive care unit.

Killian swallowed hard as the boy circled Emma's hospital bed, his fingers brushing against the blanket that covered her body as if he needed to feel it in order for it to be real.

The room was silent save the steady hum of the respirator and the heart monitor they had her hooked up to. She was pale — too pale. The look of her still body was still far too difficult to look at.

"When is she going to wake up?" Henry turned his head to ask Killian who leaned against the door.

"The doctor's don't know yet. They said it could be days. Weeks… or-" Killian replied, stopping himself before he let the boy know that she might never wake up. "Henry if it's too much-"

"No." Henry was quick to argue. "My place is here with her."

"I wagered you'd say something like that." He smiled. "Are you hungry? I heard there is a kitchen in this establishment that serves that appalling blue jiggly stuff that this world tries to pass off as sustenance." Killian shuttered at the memory of the vile taste.

"It's called Jell-O and no I'm okay." Henry provided before taking a seat in the chair beside his mother's bed.

"Listen Henry, I know you want to be here but it would be irresponsible for me to let you stay here with her in this condition. This isn't a place for a young lad such as yourself. It is far too depressing." Killian told him carefully.

"I said I'm not leaving." Henry bellowed resolutely.

"You are a tough lad. Just like your mother." He remarked. "Hey, I have an idea." Killian strode over to where the boy occupied the chair and placed the book in his hand into Henry's lap.

"What's this for?" Henry asked him.

"I'm under the impression from the doctor's that she can still hear you in this state so I thought you could read to her. You know- hear the sound of your voice." Killian suggested. "And I know for a fact that she really likes this book." He tapped the cover with his fingernails.

"You should remind her of what she's fighting for." Killian nodded encouragingly.

Henry nodded in agreement and opened the book to the first page and began to read aloud, his voice filling the room. "Once upon a time…"

Killian's eyes drifted back to where Emma laid peacefully on the bed and walked over to stand beside her head as Henry's words faded in and out of his ears. "Come back to us Swan." He pleaded, gazing down at her as he brushed a few hairs from her face.

Killian must have passed out from exhaustion because when he woke up the sun had set and the boy laid curled up into the chair on the opposite side of the room, the book that was stretched out to mark the place where he last left off covering his chest like a blanket.

He groaned, wiping his face to snap him out of his sleep, his eyes blinking rapidly to adjust to his surroundings. After recovering he pushed himself from his chair with a faint grumble and walked over to Henry and removed the book from his chest, laying it down the table beside him.

Henry stirred, yawning as he looked at Killian who put a finger to his lips to quiet him.

"Go back to sleep lad. I'll wake you if anything should change." He promised before returning to his own seat. Killian leaned back into the chair, his back taking up the expanse of the seat as he stretched his legs out in front of him.

Killian was interrupted by a faint knock at the door as an attending nurse announced her presence — in her arms a squirming pink blanket. He looked at the nurse forlornly, swallowing hard as his eyes drifted from the woman's face to the infant cradled in her arms.

"I'm sorry, but this is around the time I would bring her around for a feeding." The nurse apologized.

"Well I suggest you come back a little later or find a wet nurse to tend to her because as you can see, I clearly lack the equipment to see to the wee one's needs." Killian told her, aggravated by the constant reminder that he was a father and that he refused to acknowledge her existence.

The nurse shook her head, chuckling in amusement. "You're very funny sir." She said as she walked the baby over to where he sat as he vehemently protested. "Here you are." The nurse insisted, placing the baby in his arms.

"Didn't you just hear a single word I just said? Are you daft?" He barked. "I said I didn't-"

He was effectively cut off as the woman handed him a bottle. "What the blazes am I supposed to do with this?" He asked her, still refusing to make eye contact with the baby in his arms.

"Here." She leaned into them as Killian looked at her with confusion, clearly uncomfortable with the situation. "Place your arm underneath her head there." She guided him what to do. "You want to make sure her head is tilted so she doesn't choke. Babies are very fragile after all."

"Yeah. That's what I'm afraid of." He retorted, thinking he was stating the obvious.

"You won't hurt her." She promised. "Tickle her lips with the nipple like you would do if she were being breast fed and she should instinctively latch onto it and begin to suckle. You'll have to handle the bottle though so she doesn't take in too much air. Their lungs are still developing." She explained.

When Killian looked at her, unsure what to do the nurse grabbed the bottle to demonstrate. "Hold it like this." She said before taking his hand and placing it just above hers, allowing him to take over.

Killian glared at the nurse hatefully but quickly changed his tune when he felt his hand jerk slightly as the baby wrapped her tiny lips around the curved silicone and began to sip greedily. He beamed down at the child, a smile forming on his lips in amazement as the baby drank. "There you go. That's a good lass." He mused, cooing at the infant in his arms.

"See? That wasn't so hard." The nurse sighed, standing upright and placing her hands on her hips. "When she's finished she'll need to be burped. You will want to release any built up gas because it can cause her a bit of gastrointestinal stress." She explained before turning around to a counter that held a baby doll.

"Walk around with her like this." She demonstrated. "Place her head on top of your shoulder and gently soothe her back like this." She said, placing her palm on the doll's back and rubbed circles. "You can also do small little pats like this to release any gas." She gently patted the doll's lower back. "You will need to do this after every feeding and you should expect between two to five burps. You should also expect a change. Babies tend to have very small bladders." She told him before taking her leave and leaving him to the task.

"Wait, what do you mean by change? Change what?" He called to her, however, she was already out of ear shot. "Well it looks like it's just you and I." He looked down at the baby as if she could understand him. "Wow. You are a hungry lass." He marveled, his eyes shining.

Sensing she was finished with her meal, Killian stood up and positioned the baby on his shoulder and began to rub circles along her back. "Come on darling." He lilted, letting the sound of his voice implore her to complete the feeding ritual.

Killian was caught off guard when the baby let out a series of burps before breaking out into soft gurgling cries, distressed by the noise it created. "Oh no. Shhhh. Shhhh." He whispered in panic, pacing the room nervously as he tried to calm her down. "It's okay. It's okay." He chided, rubbing his palm along her back to soothe her.

"Please. Please." He chided, in hushed tones. He had no idea what to do and the idea of Captain Hook being bestest by an infant was far more frustrating to him than he imagined it would be. "Come on little love. Daddy's here. Daddy's here." He choked up a little at the sound of his newer moniker, aware of the fact he was still adjusting to the title and the role.

Killian licked his lips before opening his mouth to sing.

Dún do shúil, a rún mo chroí

A chuid den tsaol, 's a ghrá liom

Dún do shúil, a rún mo chroí

Agus gheobhair feirín amárach

He sang the lyrics in a peaceful timbre, his accent lilting the phrases breathily as he rocked the baby softly in his arms, her cries falling into soft whimpers.

Tá do dheaid ag teacht gan mhoill ón chnoc

Agus cearca fraoich ar láimh leis

Agus codlaidh go ciúin 'do luí sa choid

Agus gheobhair feirín amárach

He continued as the child hiccuped against his neck.

Dún do shúil, a rún mo chroí

A chuid den tsaol, 's a ghrá liom

Dún do shúil, a rún mo chroí

Agus gheobhair feirín amárach

He sang, his words dreamily soft spoken as the cries completely subsided and the baby began to drift off to sleep.

Tá an samhradh ag teacht le grian is le teas

Agus duilliúr ghlas ar…

He finished, shifting her in his arms so that he could comfortably rock her as he sat back down.

Killian must have dozed off with the teeny lass in his arms because he was woken to the sound of her piercing shrieks of discontent. His eyes widened as he took in the distress of the child in his arms, unsure of what to do with her.

"Ugh." Henry rolled his eyes, plopping out of his chair and crossing the room.

"I didn't know-" Killian began frantically defending himself as Henry helped the baby out of Killian's arms and into his own. He sat there dumbfounded at Henry's ability to know exactly what to do as he expertly coddled the baby.

"She needs to be changed." Henry told him, carrying the screaming child to a spot where he could carefully set her down and unfurl the blanket around her to confirm his suspicions. "Mom wasn't expecting her so soon so she didn't have time to pack a baby bag." Henry explained. "Can you go to the nurse's station and ask for baby wipes, baby powder and a fresh diaper?" He asked.

"She needs all that?"

"Yeah." Henry nodded in confirmation.

Killian returned with the items Henry mentioned and handed them over to Henry as he watched attentively as Henry instructed him on how to change the baby.

"How do you know how to do all this?" He waved his hand about.

"Mom and I took a class after she found out she was pregnant and decided to keep her." Henry said.

"Keep her?" Killian looked horrified and confused.

"Yeah she could have given her up." Henry filled in the necessary gaps.

Killian couldn't bear the thought of Emma deciding to give the baby up for adoption like she had done with Henry. Like her parents did with her.

"You're her father aren't you?" Henry murmured, looking down at his new baby sister.

"Aye. That I am." Killian asserted, taking ownership of the squirming baby.

"She kind of looks like you." Henry noted as he grinned at his sister.

"Then I feel I owe her an apology." Killian shook his head. "Truth be told I never wanted a child because I feared they'd turn out like me. But I know she's good because her mother is the most amazing woman I've ever known."

"You really care about her don't you?" Henry asked.

"Aye that I do. But this here is going to take some getting used to." He gestured at the baby and everything that came along with it.

"Does she have a name?" Henry wondered.

"No. I'm afraid that we didn't get the chance before-"

"It's Nora." The sound of Emma's weak voice drew out. "Her name is Nora." She reiterated as she tried to sit up, the respirator hanging from her neck so she could speak.

"Mom?" Henry's face lit up as he ran toward her and collapsed in her arms.

"Swan…" He whispered her name like a prayer on his lips.

"Hey kid." She reciprocated his embrace, smiling as she was reunited with her son. "Miss me? I see you've been hanging out with Killian." She shifted her eyes to Killian's, squeezing Henry tightly.

"Yeah. He's kind of all right. You know. For a crazy person." Henry said, making Emma laugh.

Killian reluctantly turned away from Emma and picked up the baby, wrapping an arm protectively around her back while his hand supported her weight at her backside. "Come on let's go see mummy." He cooed, staring down at her as Nora yawned against his shoulder.

Henry stood aside as Killian walked his daughter over to Emma, his eyes drifting back and forth between his two amazing girls before placing her in Emma's outstretched arms.

"Why hello." Emma cooed, her eyes shining with unshed tears as she gleamed down at the baby. "Hello Nora." She smiled earnestly as she took in her daughter's appearance.

Nora shivered and yawned, her eyes fluttering open to reveal a set of beautifully captivating emerald colored eyes that mirrored her own.

Emma adjusted the babies cap slightly to keep her warm and saw the tufts of black hair on the top of her head. "She looks exactly like you." Emma turned up at Killian.

"No Swan. She looks like you." Killian swore, standing behind Emma as he placed kisses to the top of her head.

"She looks like both of us." Emma surrendered with a kind smile.

"You're a bloody parent Swan." Killian announced, smiling from so much happiness he thought he would combust.

"So are you." Emma returned the sentiment, cuddling her newborn infant protectively as she allowed the tears to slide down her face.

AN- The song that Killian sings is called Dún do shúil. It is a Celtic lullaby. I thought it was a good choice for him to sing because of Colin's Irish heritage and I've always wanted to hear him sing in the language. I lot of you are probably wondering why I named the baby Nora instead of Hope. I felt like so many fics use that name because it is canon and I wanted the baby an original name that was decidedly Irish in origin.