The following day, Killian parked his truck in the parking lot next to Granny's. He took a deep breath and ran his fingers through his hair.
From beside him, he then felt Emma squeeze his free hand. She then assured him, "I'm not going to say this is gonna be easy because we both know it's not. But, we'll get through it. Together."
Killian offered a small smile before he kissed her forehead. When he pulled back, he cupped her cheek and told her, "Thank you, Emma. I really don't think I could do this without you."
"Of course, Killian. I know how hard this has been for you," Emma began. She then took a breath and continued, "One thing that you won't have to worry about is me going anywhere. I'm here to stay."
Killian knew she was talking about more than just this dinner, and he couldn't help but smile at the thought. But, his smile faded nearly as quickly as it came as he remembered why he was here.
He let out another breath before he told his girlfriend, "I can't promise you won't regret that decision, love. You and I both know that my father is a sore spot for me - and that's an understatement."
Emma ran her hand up and down his arm as she reassured him, "It will be alright, Killian - that's why we're here. To try to figure all of this out."
He nodded before he spoke, "Aye, Swan. I suppose we better head inside so I can face this."
"So we can face this," she reminded him as she took his hand in hers. He offered her a small smile in response.
He then kissed her forehead once more before he told her, "Let's go, love. I'm as ready as I can be."
Emma nodded before the two of them got out of the truck. They then entwined their fingers together and began heading to the front.
The closer they came to the door, the tighter Killian gripped Emma's hand. She couldn't fault him save for the fact that both of their knuckles were white.
She then told him, "Killian, if you hold my hand any tighter, I think it might go numb."
He immediately loosened his grip as he apologized, "Bloody hell - I'm so sorry, Swan. I didn't mean to take a death grip to your hand."
"I know," she assured him before she let go of his hand to run hers up and down his arm. He offered her a small smile before they resumed holding hands and continued toward the door.
Killian glanced inside the glass door and saw his father sitting at a table near the back. He took a deep breath just before he heard his sister's voice: "Is he here?"
"Aye, love. He is," Killian told her as he turned around. Belle simply nodded at him in response.
Emma then let go of her boyfriend's hand to wordlessly wrap her best friend in a hug. When they pulled away, Belle offered a grateful smile.
The brunette then spoke, "I suppose we should head inside now." Emma and Killian both nodded before the three of them walked into Granny's.
Ashley, the new waitress that Granny had hired to replace Ruby, then walked up to them and asked, "Are you guys the three that the man in the back is waiting on?"
Emma simply nodded in response, and Ashley then led them to Brennan's table. When they were seated, Ashley spoke, "Let's see, I know I've seen you guys in here quite a bit, but I'm still learning the regulars. What can I get you guys?"
"I'll take a grilled cheese with onion rings and a hot chocolate," Emma relayed, and she saw realization dawn across Ashley's face.
She then commented, "Now I remember you! I've never had anyone order hot chocolate with a grilled cheese before." A moment later, her eyes widened with worry.
Killian and Belle – and even Brennan – couldn't help but chuckle before Emma assured their waitress: "I get that a lot – don't even worry about it."
Ashley couldn't help but breathe a sigh of relief before she resumed taking orders. She told them that their drinks would be out soon before she headed toward the back.
When she was gone, an awkward silence ensued as no one was entirely sure where or how to begin. Emma was rubbing smoothing circles into her boyfriend's hand as Belle drifted her gaze all around the restaurant.
Brennan then cleared his throat before he broke the silence: "I know that none of this has been easy for any of you – and I know it's my fault – but I have something that I think may help."
Emma, Killian, and Belle all took on a curious expression as Brennan reached for something in his pocket. He pulled out a worn baseball card and a child's rusty necklace.
He handed the card to Killian and the necklace to Belle before he explained, "I found these things years ago among my possessions shortly after I had moved again.
"As I was still trying to run from my past, my first thought was to get rid of them. But I found that I couldn't do it no matter how hard I tried. Something always stopped me."
Neither Belle nor Killian spoke for several minutes as they perused the items. Without looking up, Killian then said, "This was the Joe DiMaggio baseball card you promised me for my eighth birthday," trying in vain to keep his voice even.
"Aye. I realize it's long overdue, and you may not even want it, but I wanted you to have it," Brennan told him. He then turned his attention to his daughter and continued, "And that was a necklace that I had gotten you right after you were born. Your mother was rather worried about whether or not you could wear it without having an adverse reaction. So, we agreed that I'd save it for your first birthday."
Belle simply nodded in response as she continued looking at the silver chain with the letter "B" as a pendant.
Silence ensued once more – it was almost deafening. Brennan then broke it once more: "I know this hardly makes up for everything…"
Killian cut him off: "Of course it bloody well doesn't. You really think presents can just fix things?"
Emma placed a reassuring hand on his thigh. He then took a calming breath before he spoke, "Look, uh, I suppose it was a rather nice gesture. So, uh, thank you," rubbing the back of his head.
Brennan simply nodded before he told him, "I do appreciate you – and you, Belle," pausing to look at the brunette, "for coming here. I'm glad to have this chance."
"Chance to do what exactly?" Killian questioned with crossed arms, slight frustration in his voice.
With a deep breath, Brennan then answered, "To be the man I should have been all those years ago."
"And you really think you can be?" Belle questioned with genuine curiosity.
"I've done the most difficult thing anyone can do – I've changed, and I'm trying to make up for the mistakes I made so long ago," Brennan told her with utmost sincerity, cutting his eyes toward his son as well.
Killian's arms were still crossed as he pointed out, "Even with what's happened over the last months, it's still rather hard for us…me to believe you're here for good."
"But he has been here for over a year," Emma tried to offer, squeezing her boyfriend's hand as she did so and offering Belle a sympathetic look.
The brunette then sighed before she spoke, "But it's still not exactly easy to believe you won't hurt us again – no matter how much we – I – can see that you've changed and no matter how much I may want to believe it."
"It just isn't easy for us to trust you," Killian then added.
"I know," Brennan conceded. He then took a deep breath and told them, "And I understand that it will take a while to gain that trust back – if you even want to give me that chance."
"Let me guess – to be the man and the father you should have been all those years ago? You think you deserve to be back in our lives?" Killian offered, a sarcastic note to his voice.
"On the contrary, Killian," Brennan began, making his son raise an eyebrow. He then continued, "I know that asking you two to accept me as your father and to let me back in your lives is asking so much more than most people would want to give – and within reason. All I truly want is the chance to show you two that I've changed. The rest is up to you."
"What about making amends?" Emma then questioned as she tilted her head.
Brennan took a deep breath before he admitted, "That is my hope – I would love nothing more than to eventually have a relationship with all of you."
"But?" Belle then perceived.
"I know the pain I caused wasn't healed easily, and seeing me only reminds you of the ways I hurt you. In coming here to New York, it was never my intention to cause you any more pain, and I certainly don't want to make it more difficult for you. Just knowing that you're truly happy is more than enough for me," Brennan sincerely told the three of them.
"So, you'd stay here just to be near us no matter how long it takes us to trust you - if we ever trust you?" Killian incredulously asked.
Belle sighed before she conceded, "It is a little hard to believe that you'd still want to stay."
Brennan sighed as well as he ran his fingers through his hair. He then offered, "I know that I don't have the most promising track record for sticking around, but I do want to stay here in New York. I've grown to rather like the place, and I've made myself a home here – I also want to be near you two. I know that you're not likely to believe me, but it is the truth."
Silence ensued – again – as neither Belle nor Killian knew how to quite respond to their father's promises. After a few minutes, Killian finally broke it: "How you'd even find us anyway?"
His arms were still crossed, but he didn't seem quite as frustrated. Brennan didn't know if that had more to do with him or the presence of Emma and Belle – he suspected the latter.
Brennan then took a deep breath before he answered, "I started with a Facebook search. That's how I discovered where the two of the lived, as well as the fact that you two actually knew each other – along with how close you were with Emma. A bit more searching – the city of New York website, newspapers, and public records – led me to find out a bit more about you two. After that, I decided that I wanted to see both of you."
"And you decided that this move would be your last?" Belle thoughtfully surmised.
"Yes, I did," Brennan answered. He then elaborated, "It wasn't an easy decision to stop running from my past and face it, but I knew had to do it for my sake, as well as yours," his tone filling with slight regret as he finished, "I only wish I had made the decision sooner."
Belle took a deep breath before she pointed out, "But you're here, now. I think that should count for something."
"Even though 30 years have passed," Killian coldly muttered, but it wasn't quite under his breath. When he became aware that everyone had heard him, he cleared his throat and addressed his father: "Look, I can see that you're at least trying, but part of me still wonders if it's too late."
Brennan only nodded in response. He then conceded, "It very well might be, but I still wanted to take this chance."
Belle only sighed in response while Killian took a deep breath. Emma ran a soothing hand up and down her boyfriend's back while squeezing her best friend's hand.
Killian then ran his fingers through his dark hair as he admitted, "I suppose I can't rightly fault you for that. It couldn't have been easy realizing that you've been a bastard for most of your life."
"Killian…" Emma cautiously began. Brennan, however, put a hand up to stop her.
He then spoke, "He's right, Emma. I deserve that and more for how I treated my children and wife. All I can do is let you know that I'm truly sorry for all the ways I've hurt you. I know you can't forgive me, but causing you pain is one of the biggest regrets of my life."
"Regret that you've now put behind you," Belle surmised, though her voice was barely above a whisper.
Brennan opened his mouth to reply when Ashley came by to drop off their orders. She then asked them, "Can I get you guys anything else?"
Emma glanced around the table before she told her, "I think we're good. Thank you."
Ashley nodded before she headed over to another table.
With a deep breath, Brennan then continued, "I have put my past behind me, and I do hope to move forward."
"With us?" Killian perceived before he said, "So you've made rather clear, despite my sister and I's reservations."
"I know you've heard little else since you first saw me here, but it's only because I wish to make my intentions abundantly clear," Brennan told them before he admitted, "But I'm rather worried that I have become repetitive - or that I'm scaring you off."
"Scaring off may be an extreme exaggeration, but I think that overwhelmed is an accurate description," Belle told him, nervously playing with the ends of her hair.
Brennan nodded at her before her brother added, "If we were to consider trusting you - which is still a long shot at this point - how would you suggest we move on from here?"
Brennan ran his fingers through his dark hair as he spoke, "I have to say that I'm not entirely sure. I truly didn't think we'd ever get here."
"I think we can all attest to that," Killian said, crossing his arms back over his chest.
Emma then took a thoughtful sip of her hot chocolate. When she placed her mug back down, she suggested, "This might sound a little ridiculous considering the circumstances, but maybe you could guys could just try talking about normal, everyday things."
"No offense, love, but the idea is rather ridiculous. I doubt we could manage a "normal" conversation with our father," Killian quipped.
"Just hear her out, Killian," Belle told him, her voice coming out more pleading than intended. He let out a sigh before he thought over her words.
He looked back and forth between his sister and his girlfriend before he nodded. Emma took a breath before she spoke, "You know that when I first met Belle, I had my wall built up so high that it was practically impenetrable. I didn't trust anyone and that wasn't likely to change. But, after Belle helped me get the job at the station, we slowly became friends. Do you really think I told her all about my time in foster care and how my so-called boyfriend left me in jail?"
Killian - and Belle - both looked thoughtful for several minutes while Brennan simply looked on patiently.
Killian then ran his fingers through his hair as he conceded, "I suppose you have a point, Swan. It makes more sense when you put it like that."
Emma nodded at him before Belle addressed the blonde, "I seem to remember lots of conversations about baseball after you first wore your Yankees cap to compensate for a bad hair day."
Despite herself, Emma couldn't help but laugh at the memory. She then reminisced, "I remember that. It was my day off, and we were going to have breakfast. I overslept, and I didn't have time to wash my hair."
"So, you actually do own a baseball cap, love. I was beginning to wonder since you always borrow mine," Killian teased with a grin.
She rolled her eyes before she swatted his shoulder. Belle chuckled before she continued, "I think we talked about our favorite baseball players of all time. Starting with Babe Ruth."
"Ah, yes. 714 home runs throughout his career, and one of the first players inducted into the Baseball Hall of Fame," Killian began. He then grinned and cast his look toward his sister before he teasingly continued, "He played pretty well for a leftie."
Belle only rolled her eyes as she told her brother, "You're incorrigible."
His grin only grew while Emma and Brennan chuckled. The latter then spoke, "You know, Babe Ruth wasn't the only player known for being left-handed. Lou Gehrig was as well, while Mickey Mantle is known as the greatest switch hitter."
"A switch hitter?" Emma asked in confusion, furrowing her eyebrows.
"It means that Mantle could bat with either hand. If he saw that the pitcher was right-handed, he'd bat left-handed," Brennan explained before taking a bite of his burger.
"Hmm. Didn't know that - it's actually pretty impressive," Emma commented. She took a sip of her hot chocolate before she said, "Especially considering that I can barely send a text with my left hand."
Everyone chuckled at that before Killian teasingly added, "You also find it awkward to eat with your left hand, darling. Which I always found rather odd."
Emma only glared at her boyfriend before Belle told him, "I'd be careful, Killian. You may one day make a joke that won't be exactly easy to come back from."
The seriousness that she was trying to feign fell away when a smile graced her features. Killian shook his head while Emma and Brennan chuckled once more.
Killian then addressed his girlfriend: "Say, Swan, you still have that baseball that, frankly, you wouldn't have caught without me."
"If it makes you feel better about yourself, you just keep on thinking that," Emma teased with a wry grin before popping an onion ring in her mouth.
Killian rolled his eyes in response while Belle giggled. She then took note of her father's confused expression and explained, "Over a year ago, Emma, Killian, August, and I were at a Yankees game. It was the last inning, and when Voit stepped up to the plate, he hit a homerun into the stands. Emma caught it…"
"While wearing my lucky cap. It's rather unfair," Killian finished, feigning contempt as he crossed his arms.
Emma and Belle shook their heads while Brennan smiled at the interaction. He then considered his words before he spoke, "You might want to just let her have this one - I'd wager you wouldn't want her to be unhappy," a grin playing across his features, his tone a joking one.
Killian's eyes never left Emma as he replied, "Aye. Especially considering how bloody stubborn she is." Despite his teasing tone, he still felt slight trepidation as he was rather unsure as to what to think of this seemingly normal conversation with his father.
He was pulled from his thoughts when he felt his girlfriend hit his arm. She then told him, "You are the one who brings out my stubbornness, Killian."
"Oh, I know I do," he replied before he planted a quick kiss on the side of her head. When he pulled back, he continued, "At said game last year, you were rather stubbornly set on quite a few things."
Emma rolled her eyes while Belle let out a chuckle. The brunette then spoke, "From what you've told me, I don't think Emma's as bad as Mrs. Ava was."
A smile made its way across Killian's features as he conceded, "I dare say that no one could quite match Mrs. Ava on anything. She was truly one of a kind."
Emma then chimed in, "Wasn't she the one who helped out you and Liam?" She couldn't help but notice Brennan's grateful look for leaving her explanation at that.
Killian nodded before he spoke, "I remember that the first game that she took us to ended up being rather eventful for reasons other the game itself."
"I feel like there's an interesting story there," Belle commented, resting her chin on her hand before taking a bite of her BLT.
"You'd be right, love," Killian replied before eating some of his burger. After he had swallowed and took some sips of his soda, he began, "Mrs. Ava was like that sweet old grandmother that everyone loves, but she also wouldn't let anyone cross her. Three men who were sitting behind us learned that lesson quite thoroughly."
"What did they do?" Brennan curiously asked.
"They made an incorrect assumption about Mrs. Ava," Killian answered. He paused before he elaborated, "Though she had, in fact, brought her knitting materials with her to finish a baby blanket for one of our other neighbors, she was quite engrossed in the game. She was cheering for all of the players, citing their stats, and making comments on the plays."
Belle finished taking a sip of her lemonade before she questioned, "Then what could those men possibly have to say about her?"
"I could probably imagine," Emma quipped. Her tone became slightly bitter as she continued, "You'd be surprised by how many macho jerks I come across who think less of me for being a female detective."
Killian reassuringly rubbed his hand up and down her arm before he said, "And those are the kind of bastards who were sitting behind us. They said something along the lines of Mrs. Ava being better suited to staying at home knitting or sewing. Or preparing something in the kitchen."
Both Brennan and Belle's eyes widened before the former surmised, "I can't imagine that ended well."
"No, it didn't," Killian conceded before he continued, "She quite literally laid into them. Aside from the fact that she actually knew more about the team than they did, she then chastised them for being so insecure that they felt the need to attack an old woman who was just trying to watch the game with the neighbor boys, who were frankly more mature despite being half their age - or more."
"Go, Mrs. Ava," Emma interjected with a triumphant smile.
Killian couldn't help but smile back before he finished, "Suffice to say, they didn't say anything to her for the rest of the game."
Emma, Belle, and Brennan all laughed at that before the brunette spoke, "I do wish I could have met her. She sounds like she was rather wonderful."
"She really was - Liam and I missed her terribly when she passed away my junior year of high school," Killian said, his melancholy tone matched by a saddened expression.
He then took a deep breath and ran his fingers through his hair before he added, "But we had some great memories, and we just focused on that, knowing that if she had been there, she'd scold us for doing anything less," his expression changing to a small smile.
Emma and Belle - and even Brennan - offered smiles in return. The brunette then spoke, "Well, I'm sure she'd be proud of you, Killian."
"Aye, she would be. She was proud of me as a boy, even if I could be rather temperamental, and I think I smothered her a bit because I would drop by every day to check on her. I may have worried a bit too much, and she always let me know."
"So, you were even overprotective back then?" Emma then teased with a grin.
Killian rolled his eyes before his sister added, "While I do appreciate having an older brother to look out for me, you have a tendency to be overzealous."
"Your confidence in me is astounding," Killian deadpanned, looking back and forth between his girlfriend and his sister. They both chuckled, and Brennan did as well.
When they had sobered, Emma continued teasing Killian: "He can be a little stubborn," nudging his shoulder with hers, "which I know well because I'm probably more stubborn than everyone here."
She earned more chuckles at that before Killian then offered, "While that is certainly true, I think that my brother was even more stubborn. You could scarcely tell him anything."
Brennan hummed before he spoke, "Even as a child, he was that way. I remember that he was always rather insistent to help sail the boat after I had taught him."
As soon as he said those words, he realized the memory could make things rather difficult and awkward. So, he ran his fingers through his dark hair and began apologizing, "Look, I'm sorry. I realize that…" when Killian interrupted.
"You don't have to apologize," he began, earning three sets of raised eyebrows. He then took a breath before he explained, "Even though Liam was dreadfully stubborn - and I have to admit, a bit self-righteous - he always tried to do the right thing. I believe he would consider this dinner the right thing, and he would want us to remember him in this way, though the git probably wouldn't admit it. He only ever wanted what was best for us - me more than himself."
He took another deep breath when he finished, and Emma reached over and squeezed his hand.
Belle smiled at him before she addressed their father: "Killian's right. You hurt all of us - Liam included - and we can't just forget that. But I don't think he'd want us to keep living in that pain."
"Once he stopped being a stubborn ass about it. Although it wasn't always unwarranted, it could be quite difficult for him to see reason if I had been hurt in some way," Killian added, and he couldn't help the small smile that appeared.
Brennan smiled as well as he told his son, "You remind me of him in some ways."
With a tilt of his head, Killian asked, "How did you come up with that?"
"Well, you can be a bit stubborn," Brennan began with a grin, earning an eye roll from his son and chuckles from Emma and Belle.
Brennan then took a breath before he continued, "He did always want to do the right thing, and he was hard on himself if he couldn't quite do it. But he never gave up and never stopped fighting - I see that same strength in you, Killian."
Killian ducked his head down and rubbed the back of his neck as he wasn't entirely sure about being compared to Liam. Though he recognized his brother's faults, he still idolized him after all these years.
He then took a breath and told his father, "Uh, thank you. That means a lot to me."
Brennan nodded in response. He then turned to Belle and spoke, "And you're just as strong. I can't help but admire the way you've handled all of this."
The brunette offered a small smile in reply, earning one in return.
With a deep breath, Brennan then finished, "I dare say that none of you got that strength from me. Your mothers were both strong, just in different ways."
"How so?" Emma asked before continuing to eat her grilled cheese.
"Well, Colette had this quiet resilience, and she always saw the best in each situation - and everyone. Alice, on the other hand, had this unbridled determination and a rather fierce perseverance, both of which could lead to recklessness," Brennan explained, a fond smile making its way across his features.
Killian and Belle couldn't help but smile. Emma smiled as well before her boyfriend commented, "I guess we really do take after our mothers."
With a nod, Brennan then conceded, "Aye, you do." He then added, "And they would both be immensely proud of you, as I am. I couldn't be happier knowing that you two grew up to be such amazing people who are truly happy and loved. It's all I ever wanted for you."
Killian and Belle only looked at their father as they considered his words. After a few moments, Killian spoke, "It's clear that you have changed, and you do realize your mistakes. I know you're trying. I can appreciate all of that, but I don't know that I can quite trust you yet."
A brief smile quirked up on Brennan's face at "yet" before Belle added, "Like I told you before, I really do want to trust you, but I'm - we're - not there. I know you understand that."
"Yes, I do. I will never push you beyond what you're ready, and I won't force myself back into your lives," Brennan assured both of them.
"As you've been doing so far," Killian surmised, with no trace of sarcasm in his tone.
Brennan only nodded in response, offering a look of reassurance. The gesture - though small - let his children know that he was putting them first this time.
He then took a deep breath before he suggested, "In the meantime, perhaps we should finish our meals and talk about that bloody awful call in last week's game."
The other three collectively groaned before Emma spoke, "I really believed that Killian was going to throw something at my TV and break it."
"You were only slightly better, darling. With the way you were wringing that pillow, I'm surprised the cotton didn't start spilling out," Killian reminded her with a mischievous grin.
She rolled her eyes at him before she swatted his arm, making Belle and Brennan chuckle.
The four of them then kept discussing said bad call - and the rest of the game - as they continued eating their dinner. The awkwardness and tension still lingered in the air, but the Yankees provided the baby steps to begin to move past it.