An Unexpected Visit
He loved this time of night. It was so peaceful, even when he had been out at sea with a ship full of mostly drunken crew. He missed it sometimes being out on the ocean, but he would not trade what he had for anything in the world.
Casting the dark sky, a last look he walked over the gang plank. Perhaps he and Henry could take the Jolly Roger out this weekend. Jumping onto the dock he looked back at his ship in time to see a shooting star.
A few years ago, he could have been making a wish upon it, but not tonight. He had everything he could possibly wish for. Anyway, making wishes in Storybrooke could lead to all sorts of trouble. He had no desire to screw up what he had.
It was a short walk home and he preferred to leave the car with Swan in case she needed it. Having a new-born made him more cautious than ever. Never in all the years he had been alive, did he think he'd be a father. There was the brief time with Milah when they had talked about fetching Balfire from his father when he would have been a Stepfather. But Hope was his and Emma's and living up to her name.
Fatherhood was a blessing. Any concerns he had regarding his ability had disappeared when Hope had smiled at him. Grumpy had said she just had gas, but he was certain the dwarf was wrong. His little Princess had him wrapped around her little finger.
Crossing the field, he could see the lights in their house already. Red and Dorothy waved to him as they headed to Granny's. Despite the magic buzzing constantly through the air, Storybrooke was a friendly supportive town. It had been centuries since somewhere on land felt like home and that was exactly what it felt like here.
He thanked his lucky stars shooting and otherwise for his fierce, beautiful wife and amazing family. Emma floored him from the moment they met. It was humbling how Henry accepted him as a father figure so easily. He only wished that his mother had lived to see it all and be part of the family he now had. It was his one regret. Not that he could have done anything to prevent his mother's death. His fathers was a different story.
Letting himself in their home he raced up the stairs to see if Hope was still awake. Emma had managed to get her into a routine relatively quickly despite Killian never wanting to put her down. Quietly walking into their daughter's room, he saw Emma watching Hope sleep. She looked up when he reached the cot. "How's the Jolly Roger?"
"Fine. I thought Henry and I could take her out this weekend. Lucy might want to join us." That took some getting used to: Henry being a Father, especially when he had a daughter older than Hope.
"It's been a while since you did that. Maybe Hope and I will join you. Dad can keep Storybrooke safe for an afternoon." Emma loved how he still made time for Henry even though he was a grown man with a kid of his own. There was no way she was being called Grandma though.
"That would be perfect." Kissing he wife, he peeked down at his daughter. "How long has she been asleep?"
"About ten minutes so don't wake her." Emma headed back downstairs.
His heart always felt so full when he gazed at his little Princess. A chill filled the room, so he moved over to the window to close it, but it wasn't open. Frowning he turned back to his daughter and was stopped in his tracks. "Mother?"
Gazing lovingly at her Granddaughter was his mother, just as he remembered her. "She's beautiful Killian. She is a perfect combination of you and Emma."
"You've been watching over us?" He had always felt as though someone was watching over him, but he thought it was Liam.
"Of course, Sweetheart. I am so proud of what you've become." Alice Jones beamed at her son.
"I've done some terrible things and yet I have the perfect life and family." Some days he waited for the other shoe to drop and he would find out it was all a dream.
"But you are repentant about those things. You do deserve the life you now have. Do not doubt that." She took hold of his hand, her touch comforting yet cold.
"I do wish you had been alive when we were growing up. Liam tried his best but he was only a child himself." Yet his mother who had been calming in life was equally so in death.
"To appreciate the blessings we are given, we must experience the hardships." She glanced back at her Granddaughter. "And you are blessed."
"I am indeed. Will you be close by?" He knew she could not stay but maybe one day Emma could meet her.
"Always." Alice caressed his cheek.
"Killian? You're not talking to Hope are you?" Emma walked back in the room and the temperature increased.
"No Love." Killian knew without turning around that his Mother had gone. "I was just talking to my Mother."
Emma studied him for a moment. "What does she think of her granddaughter?" This was not the strangest thing she had heard since moving to Storybrooke.
"She said Hope is the perfect combination of us both." And his mother was never wrong.
"Next time I hope I get to meet her." Emma checked on her daughter before her taking her husband's hand. "Come on. Let's allow our daughter to get some sleep." Reluctantly they let their daughter sleep knowing that she would be watched over, even in their absence.