Her Own Place

CS Genre: Deleted Scene (between 4a and 4b)

Mary Margaret laid a sleeping baby Neal in his crib, and then wiped a bead of sweat from her forehead, turned on the vaporizer on his dresser and then tiptoed back into the living area of the loft. She plopped unceremoniously on the sofa, and laid her head on her husband's shoulder.

"He's finally asleep," she said on a long sigh.

"Poor little guy," Emma said, from her perch on Killian's lap on the other side of the room. "He's really struggling today, isn't he?"

"You can say that again," David said. "Nobody likes being sick, but somehow it seems worse when it's your baby suffering."

"The little prince isn't in any danger is he?" Killian asked, looking with concern at the new parents.

Mary Margaret smiled affectionately at the man her daughter clearly loved—even if she'd yet to say the words. "No, nothing like that, Hook," she said. "I took him to Dr. Whale this morning just to be sure, but he said it's nothing but a little cold. Neal should be back to his happy, bubbly self in a few days."

"Boy, do I remember those days," Emma said with a fond smile. "I mean…in a manner of speaking. My memories of Henry as a baby may be fake, but I'll never forget his first cold and how worried I was. Not to mention how exhausting and frustrating it was dealing with a kid who was about ten times fussier than normal."

"Nobody ever said parenting was easy," Mary Margaret said with a rueful little shake of the head.

The two couples lapsed into silence for a moment, the only sound in the loft the soft ticking of the clock. Mary Margaret sighed contentedly as David put his arm around her.

"Hey, I've got an idea, Mom, Dad," Emma said, sitting up. "How about you guys go out and have a date night tonight? Killian and I will stay with the sick little guy. You don't mind, do you, Killian?"

He smiled gently up at her, caressing her side with his good hand. "Not at all, love. I'm rather fond of the little royal and would enjoy an evening in with him."

"I don't know, Emma," Mary Margaret said, her brows creasing in concern. "He is sick. I don't think I should leave him…"

"Don't be silly, mom," Emma said. "Little bro will be fine with me and Killian. Even if my knowledge is fake, I remember how to take care of a baby with a cold. I've got this!"

"Indeed, Lady Snow," Killian said, one eyebrow raised playfully. "And should the little one become too fussy, there's always my flask of rum. A couple good swigs should knock him out right nicely."

Emma smacked him, growling "Hook!"

Mary Margaret gasped. "Killian! You can't give a baby rum! What are you thinking?!"

David gently caressed her shoulder, leaning in to kiss her cheek. "I think the pirate was trying to make a joke, honey."

"Yes, he was," Emma said shooting her boyfriend a dirty look. "And just to ease your mind, if he so much as pulls out his flask, I'll personally drag his ass to jail."

"You promise, love?" Killian asked.

Emma shook her head, a reluctant smile pulling at her mouth. "You're impossible, you know that?"

"Even so," Mary Margaret said, "I just don't know…"

"Come on, honey," David cajoled. "Emma's stayed with Neal before. She knows what she's doing. We haven't had a date night in weeks. A night on the town will do us both a world of good. You never know when the next villain might show up. We should take advantage of the peace while we have it. Besides, we'll both have our cell phones. If Emma needs us, we'll only be a phone call away."

"That's right," Emma said. "And hey, I've got magic, remember? If the little guy needs you too badly, I can poof him and me to your side in the blink of an eye—not that that'll happen."

Mary Margaret hesitated for another second, concern for her baby vying with the pleasing prospect of a little alone time with David. Finally she made up her mind and nodded. "Okay, we'll go out, but we'll only be two hours. Not a minute more."

As David grabbed her windbreaker and helped her on with it, Mary Margaret turned back toward Emma again. "Now, you know he's got several bottles in the refrigerator if he gets hungry…don't forget to warm them up a little before you feed him…but not too much, you don't want to burn his little mouth…and his diapers are under the changing table…and his favorite little stuffed bear is on his dresser…he loves that guy…and he can have some more baby Tylenol in an hour and a half if his fever comes back…and I've got Dr. Whale on speed dial on the phone if you need him…and…"

Emma stopped her with a quick hug and a gentle shove out the door. "Relax mom. I've got this. Have a good time and don't hurry back!"

Mary Margaret shot one last nervous look at the closed door, then deliberately took a deep breath and accepted her husband's proffered arm.

~c~s~c~s~c~s~c~s~c~s~

Emma collapsed onto the couch, feeling the nagging tension headache she'd had low-key all day blossom into a full blown headache. It had been a long…what was it?...hour and forty-three minutes since her parents had headed out on their date night.

Neal had woken up, congested and bad tempered, less than ten minutes after his parents left. Try as she might, it seemed nothing she could do would sooth him. She'd tried every trick and tip she'd learned from baby Henry, but little Neal Nolan was not having any of it. It seemed he took his stuffy nose and scratchy throat as a personal affront, and he held her personally responsible.

"Here love, let me take him," Killian had finally said, holding out his arms. "I've no experience with lads as young as your brother, but perhaps I could be of service all the same."

Emma had finally given the baby to her boyfriend and then watched as Killian visibly relaxed. Walking back and forth from the Nolans' living area to the kitchen, to the bedroom, and back again, Killian softly began singing. It was an old song, a lullaby or sea shanty by the sounds of it.

To Emma's amazement, the little guy quieted almost instantly, staring with mesmerized green eyes up at his sister's boyfriend. Emma smiled gently to herself as she watched her fierce pirate captain hold the baby with such gentleness, such tenderness. Her heart swelled at the sight, affection and…well, something more that she didn't even dare put a name to, even in her own mind, welled up in her at the sight.

What would it have been like if she'd had a man like Killian back when she was pregnant with Henry? Could she maybe have kept him? How different might her life—and Henry's—have been if she'd had Killian back then?

For the first time Emma understood, really understood her mom's confession in the Echo Cave. It wasn't that Snow had wanted to replace Emma, it was that she wanted to try again…in far better circumstances this time.

Wait….was she saying she wanted to have another baby with Killian?

Strangely enough, the thought only barely made her tense up. She groaned. Further tensing—even the slightest bit—was about the last thing she needed in her current headachy state.

Perceptive as always, Killian turned concerned eyes her direction at the sound of her groan. "You alright, there, Swan?"

"Yeah," she said tightly. "It's just this headache I can't seem to shake."

Without a word, Killian laid the now-sleeping Neal in his cradle and then hurried back to her side. "You're in a great deal of pain, aren't you, love?"

Emma shrugged…and then winced. "It's just tension," she said. "Carry it in my neck and shoulders when things get crazy. Next thing you know, it's like all seven dwarves are banging on my scull with their pick-axes."

"Difficult day?" Killian asked, taking a seat beside her and pulling her to himself. She went willingly, letting herself succumb to the comfort his arms provided.

"More frustrating than difficult," Emma said. "The dwarfs had an argument down at the Dark Star Pharmacy about something stupid—I never was able to quite get the details—and before you knew it, it was an all-out brawl down there.

Killian winced in sympathy. "And then your brother chose to regale us with his diminutive, but very capable set of lungs this evening. It has been quite the day for you!"

"Yeah," Emma said, "but, you know, this is nice. Just the two of us together. Seems like we've barely had any alone time in the last week or two. You'd think things would calm down more when there's no villain in Storybrooke, but I guess not."

"All the more reason to enjoy the quiet moments while we have them," Killian said.

Emma hummed in agreement, letting her eyes fall closed, enjoying the peaceful moment. "So, now that we got the kid back down for the time being, what do you want to do? Watch some Netflix?"

Killian laid his head on top of hers, and Emma felt the slight upturn of his lips. "Perhaps in a bit, Swan. For now, though, I have an idea sure to work out every bit of that tension you're carrying."

~c~s~c~s~c~s~c~s~c~s~

David placed a hand protectively on Mary Margaret's lower back as the two of them walked back up the stairs toward their flat. He laughed as she told him about something that had happened in school earlier that week.

He was happy, relaxed, energized, in love. It's how he always felt when he and Snow had a chance to spend alone time together. Those times had become few and far between since Neal's birth, and so David savored each of them like a rare delicacy.

Mary Margaret finished her story, and David took the opportunity to swoop in and kiss her breathless. She stiffened in surprise for a split second, and then wrapped her arms around his neck and kissed him back with relish. After long moments, Mary Margaret pulled back, a gentle smile on her face.

"Not that I'm complaining," she said breathlessly, "but what was that for?"

He smiled back at her. "Do you have any idea how drop-dead gorgeous you are when you laugh and your eyes sparkle like that?"

She leaned up and kissed him again. "Can't say I do, Charming, but you're welcome to tell me all you want."

David's grin turned mischievous. "What do you say we kick Emma and Hook out for a date of their own, make sure Neal's settled for the night, and then I show you…in great detail…just how gorgeous you are and what it does to me?"

"Sounds good."

Hand in hand, they took the last staircase up toward their front door, and then suddenly David froze.

The sounds coming from the other side of the door were unmistakable.

"Yes, Killian!" Emma moaned, "there! Right there."

"Oh, you like that, do you, love," Killian said, with a low, intimate chuckle. "Didn't I tell you I could make you moan. Just wait until you feel this"

"Killian, I don't moan….oh…yes! Yes! Just like that! Don't stop!"

"Wouldn't dream of it," he said breathlessly. "Oh…you're so bloody tight. Just relax, Darling. Yes, just like that. Good girl."

Silence for a moment.

"Killian! So Damn Good! Just a little deeper. Yes, just like that!"

David growled deep in his throat, seeing red. That was his daughter in there the pirate was…he couldn't even say it! His little girl. He certainly hoped the man liked having a hook for a hand, because he was about to have two. Hook would be lucky if the hand was the only thing he lost tonight!

"David," Mary Margaret said in an insistent whisper, her hand laid on his forearm. "Maybe we should wait, come back later."

"The hell we will!" David whispered back angrily. "Mary Margaret, do you know what they're doing in there? In our house! With our son in the next room! Where's my gun. I've got a pirate to shoot in the face!"

"David," Mary Margaret said, "don't do anything you'll regret. Emma is, after all, an adult. She's entitled to make her own decisions about what to do with her boyfriend."

"Oh, I won't regret this," David insisted, hands on hips. "I won't regret a moment of it."

And without further ado, David opened the door so quickly it banged loudly against the back wall. The relative quiet of the loft was shattered by baby Neal's (rather congested) wail.

"What the hell guys?" Emma exclaimed. "We'd just got him back to sleep!"

Mary Margaret hurried to the crib just off the main bedroom, while David turned toward his daughter and her pirate boyfriend, his hand resolutely shielding his eyes.

"Aye," Killian growled, "what the bloody hell are you on about, mate?"

"I'll tell you exactly what I'm 'on about' mate," David said through gritted teeth, "just as soon as you put some pants on!"

"As soon as he what!?" Emma growled. "Dad, have you lost your mind? Did some kind of psycho big bad come into town and curse you? What are you talking about?"

"I'm talking about…"

Mary Margaret, baby Neal in her arms, came over and tapped his shoulder. "Um..Charming? I think maybe you'd better take a look before you dig yourself any deeper."

David tossed his wife an incredulous look. She merely raised an eyebrow and bobbed her head toward the couch in their sitting room. Taking a deep breath, David slowly turned back toward Emma and Killian, feeling more than a little trepidation…

And found the two of them, fully dressed—aside from his pirate duster and her red leather jacket, which were hanging on the hat tree by the door—looking completely respectable. (Angry, but respectable.)

David felt the heat fill his cheeks. "Er…" he said sheepishly, "looks like maybe I jumped to conclusions."

"And just what conclusions might those have been, mate?" Killian asked, voice deceptively soft and measured.

"Well," David said, scratching behind his ear…and remaining completely oblivious that he was starting to imitate his daughter's boyfriend's nervous tell. "It's just…we heard the…sounds Emma was making, and the words. You can understand why I might have come to the conclusion that you two were…"

"Are you kidding me?" Emma asked? "You thought we were...Dad! We are in your living room, knowing you'd be home any moment and my baby brother was ten feet away. Just what kind of a person do you think I am? Killian was giving me a massage. I had a killer tension headache, and he was working out the knots in my neck and shoulders with his hand and hook!"

David had a sudden and intense desire for a portal to open up below his feet and take him to—well, he didn't really care as long as it was far from here—but if Emma's explanation embarrassed the daylights out of him, it was Killian's words that made him feel about two inches tall.

Hook got to his feet and took a few steps until he was toe to toe with David. "Mate," he said earnestly, "if you think I'd ever do anything to dishonor your daughter in any way, you've gone mad. I'd rather cut off my remaining hand than cause her pain. When I make your daughter mine, it will be because she wants me—and it will not be a clandestine and hurried coupling in her parents' apartment with her infant brother lying in the next room."

David sunk wearily into the nearest chair, dropping his eyes for a moment. He was vaguely aware of Killian re-taking his own seat and wrapping an arm around Emma. After a deep breath, David looked back up at Emma and Killian. "Looks like I owe you two an apology. I guess I let my 'overprotective dad' instincts run away with me."

For a moment, Emma continued to look stormy, and then she suddenly smiled gently. "You know, Dad," she said, "I'm a grown woman who's capable of making my own decisions about my love life."

David nodded, and opened his mouth to apologize again, but Emma stopped him with her hand in the air.

"The thing is," she continued, "I can't really be that mad at you. The fact that you are so protective…I guess in a strange way it's kind of nice. I mean, it's not like I want you to keep it up, but, I don't know. I guess most of my life no one gave a damn about where I was or who I was with. There's something nice about having parents who care about me enough to cause insanely embarrassing scenes."

"And we do care about you Emma," Mary Margaret insisted. "More than you'll ever know."

"I know," Emma said, eyes trained on her father. "And…I love both of you too, but this whole situation just reminded me of one very important thing."

"What might that be, Swan?" Killian asked.

She smiled gently, leaning forward to kiss his cheek. "I really need my own place."

Notes:

-Welcome to the last Friday before OUAT is back! Did you see the sneak peek they released yesterday? I think we are in for some serious CS goodness this season! They've finally gotten their own place!

-This story was originally posted for a CS Group Prompt project on Tumblr last week. Several writers gave their take on the prompt: David walks in on CS during an intimate/compromising moment.

-Up next: I'm not sure yet. I guess you'll have to tune in to find out :-)