Sharpening This Hook

CS Genre: Future Fic

"Leave the bottle, would you mate?"

David looked over at Killian. Only 12:30 in the afternoon, and the man was already asking the barkeep to leave the rum bottle. He'd misjudged the situation. He'd thought his son-in-law was agitated, but this…well, this was nothing short of completely overwrought.

"Bit early to start the heavy drinking, don't you think, mate?"

Killian glared at him. "You're the one who suggested we adjourn to the Rabbit Hole. What did you think we would be imbibing here, goat's milk?"

Point taken.

Killian had arrived at the Charmings' flat promptly at 11:00 this morning, both sons in tow. The Jones boys had been summarily banished from their own home, in which the female members of the family were engaged in the time honored—and deadly serious—task of preparing for the prom. Liam and Charles were to spend the night with him and Snow, so as to minimize the possible embarrassment they might cause Eva—either before the dance, when Philip came to pick her up, or when she got home.

David had taken one look at Killian when he opened the apartment door, turned toward Snow, and told her they would be heading out for a while. There was no question his friend needed a little liquid fortification.

"I find, Dave" Killian said after a long pull directly from the bottle, "that I owe you a profound apology."

David furrowed his brow. "What for?"

"Neverland."

Okay… "Pretty sure you aren't to blame for the dreamshade or psychotic teenagers we had to deal with there."

"Not that," Killian said. "You saw my interest in Emma, and you knew precisely who I'd been; who I was."

"Well, yeah…" David said, wondering exactly where this was going.

"You warned me away from your daughter, believing my intentions were nothing but…er…carnal, and I mocked and bated you. Rather bad form that."

David laughed. "I may not have had the opportunity to do much fathering in Emma's early years, but no way was I going to stand by and watch someone who was 'nothing but a pirate' break my little girl's heart."

"I loved her even then," Killian said reflectively. David could tell he was recalling those early days in his relationship. "I hadn't yet realized it, but already then I would have given my very life for her."

David clapped a comforting hand on his best friend's shoulder. "I know. Didn't take long for me to realize just how serious you were. It's why you never got more than a half-hearted 'I think it's time we talk about your intentions with my daughter' after that. All is forgiven where Neverland is concerned; no point in beating yourself up over ancient history."

Killian gave him a long, tortured look, and then took another sip from the bottle. "I didn't understand then; had no idea…the protective instincts having a daughter brings out in a man."

Ah, so that's what this was about. David should have known, this being prom day and everything.

"You're worried about Eva?"

"Aye."

David merely waited until Killian continued. "It's a paradox, Dave. On the one hand, my little lass has been walking on air since the young swain invited her to the dance. I don't think I've ever seen her so happy."

"And on the other," David said with a grin, "you want to tear said swain's heart out with your bare hands for so much as looking at your princess."

"Just so," Killian said with a nod. "How, precisely did you survive it?"

"Being the father of a beautiful daughter is not for the faint of heart."

Killian grunted moodily.

"Can I offer you a piece of advice?" David asked.

"Of course, mate," Killian answered. "That is precisely why I raised the bloody topic."

"Take your protective instincts and use them to your advantage," David suggested. "You may not be able to stop your little girl from growing up and catching the eye of every boy within a twenty mile radius, but you can let said young men know in no uncertain terms that you love your daughter more than life and that you won't take kindly to them treating her with anything less than absolute respect."

Killian grinned, and David could see the wheels turning in his head. "That, mate is one of the most brilliant ideas you've ever devised."

"Brilliant ideas," David said with a grin. "That's what fathers-in-law are for."

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"Seriously?"

Killian looked up and caught his wife's eyes in the bathroom mirror. He grinned and went back to the task at hand—meticulously applying the last layer of guyliner.

"Aye, love? Did you wish to say something?"

Emma stepped to his side, and put an arm around his waist. "You're seriously planning to look like THAT when your daughter's date gets here?"

Killian looked at himself critically. Aye, there were hints of gray at his temples, and the lines around his eyes had expanded and deepened, but he was no less able to cut a dashing—and, most important of all, tonight, dangerous—figure. "Have you a problem with my appearance, Swan?"

"You've got to admit you're laying the whole 'dangerous Captain Hook' thing on a little thick tonight."

True enough. He'd dusted off his old pirate attire for the night—leather pants, blousy black shirt, red vest, leather great coat, sword and scabbard slung low on his hips. He was inordinately pleased to find he'd retained his trim figure to a large enough extent the clothing still fit. There was but one element missing. "Speaking of which, darling, might you know where my hook is currently residing?"

Emma laughed. "I reiterate: Seriously? Don't tell me you're planning an encore performance of 'ridiculously over-protective dad' tonight of all nights! You do, realize Eva will killyou?"

Killian deliberately mussed his hair with his good hand. "She may be…less than pleased…tonight, but one day she shall profoundly thank me."

"Wouldn't count on that."

"Come now, Swan, I merely wish to converse with the lad; allow him to see just how much I love my daughter."

"And scare the living hell out of him," she said with a smirk.

"I'm an intimidating man; if the young Romeo should become alarmed in the process of our conversation, I'm hardly to blame."

Emma stepped out into the bedroom, rummaged around in their walk-in closet, and reemerged with the attachment that had been eponymous to him for so many years.

"Eva's nearly ready; you'll have like thirty seconds once Philip shows up to put the fear of God into him before your daughter puts a stop to it."

Killian had given the matter some thought. "Stall her, would you love?" he asked, fluffing her hair with his hook. "Insist you must touch up her make-up or launch into a long speech about how your little girl is growing up or, once again, give her the talk about (what did you euphemistically call it?) the 'birds and the bees'. I care not how you accomplish it, but I desperately need ten minutes."

Emma rolled her eyes, but reached up to peck him on the cheek. "Fine, you've got ten minutes, captain, but no bloodshed. That's a new couch, and you have no idea what a pain in the ass it is to try to clean blood stains out of suede."

"You have my word of honor."

A moment later the doorbell pealed through the house. "Looks like you're up, pirate," Emma said, already stepping across to the room where Eva was primping.

Killian casually made his way to the door, careful to position himself so that his hook was prominently displayed when the lad got his first glimpse of him.

"Ah! Philip lad," Killian said cordially, taking note of the young man's tuxedo and corsage of forget-me-nots, perfectly chosen to complement Eva's dress.

"Hi, Captain Jones," Philip began with a friendly smile. "I'm here to pick up Eva."

Killian noticed the exact moment the lad became aware of his rather unusual attire. His blue eyes, so much like his mother's, became huge, and his adam's apple bobbed with his sudden quick swallow.

"Come in, come in," Killian said amiably, gesturing with the hook. "Eva's not quite ready. You know how it is with women."

"Ye…" Philip's voice had risen an octave. He cleared it, and started again. "Yes, sir."

Killian gestured to the sofa, and then took his own place in the easy chair. Taking up his file, he began meticulously sharpening away at his hook. Philip dropped to the sofa as though his legs no longer wished to support him.

Killian chuckled, being sure to make the effect far from benign. "'Sir' is far too formal, lad," he said, blowing dust from his hook. "Captain is fine."

"O…okay, Captain."

"I'm rarely ever addressed as such anymore," Killian continued. "Ah, those were the days. There was nothing like the freedom and adventure of being Captain Hook, terror of the high seas."

"I…I'd imagine there wasn't."

"Did you know lad I once took on ten heavily-armed men, well, single-handedly?" Killian gestured between them with his hook. "Truly a marvel, this hook is. When filed to a fine enough point, it has the power to cleave a man entirely in two."

"Really?" Killian would wager that was a two octave jump this time.

"Undoubtedly. Pirates' honor." Without warning, Killian sliced through the air, thoroughly impaling an apple in the fruit bowl. The lad jumped. Eloquently ignoring him, Killian brought the fruit to his mouth and took a healthy bite.

"My apologies, lad. Where are my manners? Would you like some refreshments?"

Philip shook his head. "No thank you, sir, I mean Captain."

Killian shrugged. "So, Philip, you fancy my daughter do you?"

"Yes, Captain," Philip said.

"Quite the young lady, my Eva. As spirited as she is beautiful."

"Yes, yes she is."

Killian went back to filing his hook. "Never shall I forget the moment I first held her in the hospital. I knew right then that there was nothing I wouldn't do for that little lass. No lengths I wouldn't go to protect her."

Philip swallowed. Hard.

"Aye," Killian continued. "She and her siblings are my whole world. Her mother's as well. Should anything or anyone harm her…"

Killian laughed humorously. "Well, let us just say there are reasons I'm careful not to allow my hook to become dull. As deputy of this town, I've long since renounced my villainous ways, but there are exceptions to every rule."

"I…I'll be sure no harm comes to her tonight," Philip vowed.

Killian clapped him companionably on the shoulder. Philip's eyes widened, in what Killian was pleased to see looked very much like terror. "Of course you will, my lad! I have every confidence you'll treat my cygnet with the utmost honor and respect."

"Yes!" he squeaked. "Yes, I will."

"Good," Killian said with a nod. "I'm sure she'll be ready in mere moments. Have a marvelous time tonight; I'll see you when you return."

Killian eyed his hook carefully. "Chances are good I'll still be awake when you return—sharpening this hook, you know. I've let it go for far too long."

E+P+E+P+E+P+E+P+E

Emma let the movie credits run to the very end, reluctant to move. It was far too comfortable here on the couch, snuggled against Killian's chest, his hand caressing her arm as he placed a soft kiss against her hair.

It had ended up as a date night of sorts. With Eva at the prom, the boys spending the night with her parents, and Leia at Regina's for a sleep-over with her and Robin's daughter, Lydia, they had the house to themselves. Normally, Killian would have been delighted—and the innuendos would have started as soon as the door closed behind Leia and the Hoods. Tonight, however, he was far too busy freaking out about Eva's first date.

As they sat on the couch trying to decide what to do with their suddenly empty house, Killian's fears had come to the fore, ranging from the ridiculous ("Swan, what if there's an earthquake and the entirety of Storybrooke High is swallowed up?") to the even more ridiculous ("Emma, suppose a new villain comes to town and spikes the punch with a potion that will turn Storybrooke's teenagers into heartless killers that the villain uses to destroy the town?") to the more mundane ("Darling, Eva looked lovely and so grown up tonight. I know Philip is a good lad, but can we truly rule out the possibility his baser instincts will prevail in light of her beauty?")

"Killian," she'd reassured for the five hundred sixty-seventh time, "nothing is going to happen. Philip's not going to take advantage of her. Even if he wanted to, my mom and all seven of the dwarfs are chaperoning the prom. You really think they're going to let him do anything?"

Emma figured they had a good twelve years before the last of the kids were through college and on their own. If she had to put up with this during every one of their kids' date nights during those twelve years, she was going to go crazy. Maybe she should talk to Regina about how to get her hands on another sleeping curse.

To Killian's credit, he finally forced himself to relax, and at the very least keep his fears to himself. They'd ordered in pizza and then decided on a newly released romantic comedy on Netflix. Emma wasn't really the romantic comedy type, but this one had come highly recommended. She'd enjoyed the movie, but even more, she'd enjoyed being held in her husband's arms. With four kids and two busy lives, it seemed they never had time to just be alone together anymore.

Finally, Emma sat up, turned off the TV and hit the lights. Killian looked anxiously at the clock. Just past midnight.

"Shouldn't the lass be home by now?" He asked.

"The prom went till midnight and then the school was sponsoring an after party. We've got time yet before we need to send out a search party."

"Aye, I suppose," Killian murmured noncommittally.

Emma rolled her eyes, realizing it was time to find something else to distract her husband before he decided to do something stupid like go down to the school, hide behind the bushes and spy on the teenaged love birds. Well, there was one line of distraction that had never yet failed to capture his attention.

"I can think of something we can do to pass the time until Eva returns," Emma whispered, framing his face with her hands.

Killian's face lit up, and his lips curved up into a grin that started the butterflies dancing in her stomach. "If your thoughts are running in the direction I think they are, I highly approve."

In answer, Emma leaned forward and kissed him. Thoroughly. The fire was intense and immediate. It was kind of ridiculous, really. They'd been married for 17 years, and yet every kiss, every touch was still as explosive as the first on Neverland.

Emma cupped the back of Killian's head and angled her head, trying to get closer. He moaned, responding instantly, hand and hook roaming. "Emma, love, perhaps we'd best move this to the bed chamber."

In response she straddled him and went to work on the buttons on his vest. "No. I can't wait that long."

He kissed her again, hand fisting in her hair, and then reluctantly pulled back. "I don't want you to be uncomfortable, my love; we're no longer as young as we used to be and this couch is not the most conducive surface for this kind of activity."

Emma pulled his shirt free from the waistband of his trousers and then up over his head. "Killian, just shut up and make love to me."

He growled in response, hand disappearing beneath the hem of her own tank top. Emma leaned forward, nails raking through the hair peppering his chest; mouth taking his, pillaging and plundering like the pirate lass he'd turned her into.

This was heaven.

And then it stopped.

Killian sat up, ran a hand through his hair, and shot her a startled look. "Swan, your mother and the dwarfs are chaperoning the prom, aye, but Eva and the lad will be utterly alone during the drive to and from the venue!"

Emma climbed from his lap, adjusted her clothing, and threw up her hands in defeat. "Killian, I give up; there's no hope for you."

A minute later, headlights cut through the darkness of the living room, and Emma heard the unmistakable sound of a car pulling into the driveway. Beside her, Killian exhaled in obvious relief as he pulled his shirt back on.

"She's back, our little lass made it back," he murmured under his breath.

"Yeah, right on time too," Emma pointed out with a smirk. "Looks like we survived our daughter's first date."

"Barely," Killian breathed, as Emma reached over him to turn on the table lamp. He snagged her on her way back to her seat, and pulled her mouth down for one more quick kiss. "Thank you for bearing with me through this ordeal, my love."

Emma caressed his face and looked down at him affectionately. "Well, I'm your wife; it's kind of in the job description."

The door opened and then softly closed. Emma looked up in amusement to see Eva collapse against the door, her face turned up, her eyes closed in what looked like ecstasy. Come to think of it, that was eerily similar to the expression she'd worn following her own first date with Killian.

"Have a nice night, little love?" Killian asked.

Eva jumped and turned in their direction. "Mom, Dad. You're still up!"

"Yeah, kid," Emma said with a grin, "that's what parents do. So, how was it?"

Eva toed her heels off and rushed forward into Emma's arms. Emma closed her eyes and wrapped her arms around her little girl.

"It was the best, most amazing, most awesome night of my entire life." Eva gushed, pulling back from the hug to look back and forth between both parents. "It was magical. Like a fairy tale, and I know that sounds cliché given where we live and everything, but it really was. It was like a fairy tale's fairy tale. And then when Philip kissed me goodnight…"

Emma felt Killian tense beside her, and she squeezed his hand bracingly.

"…I swear heaven opened and the angels started singing!"

"Sounds most enjoyable, lass," Killian said in a strangled voice.

"Absolutely!" Eva said, turning more fully toward her father. "And don't worry dad! Nothing happened. Philip was a total gentleman."

"As well, he should be," Killian said firmly.

"It was almost kind of annoying at first. He seemed afraid to get within three feet of me," she said. "I don't know what you said to him before I came down, but I think he's scarred for life."

"I merely let him know that I love you more than life and would be most displeased if any harm were to befall you."

"Well, he took it to heart. We were three songs in before he'd even agree to dance with me, but after the ice was broken, we were inseparable."

Killian frowned. "I trust not too inseparable."

Eva rolled her eyes. "I told you, Dad, he was a total gentleman. Not just because of whatever you said to him, either. That's just how he is."

Emma caressed her daughter's arm. "I'm glad you found a boy like that, Eva."

"Yeah, me too." Eva said.

Suddenly she yawned, and Emma got to her feet, guiding her toward the stairs. "Time for bed, kiddo. You've had a big day."

Eva let herself be led for a few steps, and then abruptly turned back and threw herself into Killian's arms. "I love you, Papa."

Emma felt the tears burn the back of her eyes at the tender expression on Killian's face. "And I you, little love."

"I know how worried you were," Eva continued, "and I kind of rolled my eyes about it and everything, but…I don't know, it kind of feels good to know there's someone around who cares enough to worry."

Killian tightened his arms around her. "You need not fear. I shall care for you until my last breath, my lamb."

Emma's heart turned over, and her breath hitched. This was right; this was perfect; this was family.

Notes:

Notes:
-This chapter was inspired by (and largely based on) the Rodney Atkin's song "Cleaning This Gun." Seemed appropriate for Killian as his daughter went off to prom.
-And with this chapter, my "The Girl That I Adore" reruns come to a close. What's up for next Friday? *shrug* I'll probably go through my list of prompts and see what tickles the muse's fancy. Any suggestions?