David sent them home well after midnight. There wasn't any point in staying until Mary Margaret could have visitors. He promised to call them if there were any updates to her condition. The doctor assured them that she would recover, but Emma knew that while physically that was true, mentally was another matter. Unfortunately, she had firsthand knowledge of the hell her friend was about to go through.
Miscarriage wasn't something that many people felt comfortable talking about, despite how often it happened. Emma had been so young then, young and thoroughly unprepared to be a parent. The sense of relief she felt when it first happened was palpable. Then she was ashamed of being relieved. Logically, she knew she wasn't ready to be a mother; likely, with her record, she wouldn't have been allowed to keep her baby, even if she hadn't decided to give them up for adoption. She'd been depressed for a long time after; even now, it affected her in ways she couldn't have anticipated then. Emma had been alone and scared; Mary Margaret would have her friends and family around her. That was a blessing at least.
"Love, are you alright?" Killian asked, squeezing her shoulder.
Emma nodded; god, she was tired. "'M fine. Tired."
"You can rest your head on my shoulder."
"We're almost home. I just want to curl into bed and sleep."
When they arrived in front of the townhouse, Killian helped her inside while Liam paid the cabbie and got their bags. The one good thing about arriving so late was avoiding the usual gaggle of paps outside. There were only a couple, and they were dozing on the stoop across the street. "It's bloody freezing out there," Liam complained once the door was shut securely behind him. "What the bloody hell are they playing at?"
"Everyone's got to make a living somehow," Emma replied. "It's too late to go off on a tirade, Liam."
He looked properly chagrined and pulled her in for a hug. "Apologies, love."
She closed her eyes and soaked in his warmth. "'S okay," she mumbled. Within seconds, Killian was at her back, cocooning her in heat. She adored these three way hugs, but she was too tired to properly vocalize it at the moment.
Liam's lips brushed her forehead. "We should get you into bed."
"I'm not the one who needs to be at work in like six hours."
"Aye, but we're used to it," Killian said. "Are you sure you don't want us to stay?"
Emma shook her head. "I have a feeling Mary Margaret won't be up for many visitors. At least not at first."
Killian knew she was drawing on her own experience; his heart squeezed. He hated that she'd suffered that way. "Very well."
The trio trooped upstairs, leaving the bags to be unpacked later. Emma moved on autopilot, changing into her most comfortable flannel pajamas before climbing into bed. Despite being in her favorite place, it took longer than she expected to fall asleep. Old memories haunted her; Killian spooned her from behind and rested his hand on her belly. She threaded their fingers together and focused on his breathing, counting each one. Finally her eyelids grew heavy, and she drifted off to sleep.
She was alone when she woke up, but that didn't surprise her. There was a sweet note and some water beside the bed; Emma smiled as she drank. It seemed despite needing to be up early themselves, her solicitous husbands left breakfast for her in the form of pancakes. She could still smell the remnants of Liam's cooking in the air; her stomach growled. She hadn't eaten since the train station in Paris. She glanced at the clock, stunned to see that it was nearly noon.
She snatched her phone off the nightstand; there were a couple of messages from David. None as urgent as the night before, just an update to say that Mary Margaret was awake and in her own room. He provided Emma with the room number and asked her to come as soon as she could. Had David told her yet? The poor man was still in shock himself; telling his fiancé that she miscarried a baby they didn't know existed had to be tough. Her friend suffered a pretty severe head injury too; Mary Margaret might not be in a place to fully understand what happened.
She wasn't going to find out by staying in bed all day. Emma got up and marched to the bathroom, going through her usual routine. She showered, brushed her teeth with a spare toothbrush, brushed out the tangles in her long hair. The latter always soothed her, though she preferred when Killian did it for her. He loved running his fingers through her hair; sometimes, he would massage her scalp, leaving her putty in his hands. She dearly wished her husbands were there with her, but this was not a time to be selfish. Mary Margaret needed her.
Once dressed, she went to the kitchen to reheat the breakfast they left for her. Liam made her favorite pancakes; Killian left some of the special French coffee in the coffee maker for her. She texted them to thank them and let them know she was heading to the hospital. Just as she was cleaning up, her phone rang. Worried it might be David, she picked it up on the second ring. "Hello?"
"Emma? It's Lily."
"Oh. Um, hi."
"You sound surprised to hear from me."
"No! I mean, technically, yes, but I just thought it would be someone else. One of my friends was in an accident yesterday."
"Oh. I'm sorry, I didn't know."
Emma sighed. "It's okay. Is this important? I'm getting ready to leave for the hospital."
"Did you know that Killian called me and asked me to arrange a meeting with his father?"
The almost accusatory tone made Emma bristle. "We talked about it," she said carefully. Emma hadn't known explicitly that Killian had contacted Lily, but she knew they were going to try and arrange a meeting. Ioan was still a sore spot for Killian especially, but he couldn't deny the logic that Ioan might have intel they could use.
"I had to call in a few favors, but I think I've arranged it."
"You think?"
"Well, it depends on how much he's willing to cooperate."
Emma's brow knitted in confusion. "What the hell, Lily? We're not doing the cops' job for them! Do you understand what happened to me?"
"Emma…"
She ploughed ahead like Lily hasn't spoken. "My crazy deranged ex kidnapped me! Oh, and he happens to run one of the most feared criminal organizations in the world. No big deal. Ioan Jones is fucking small potatoes in comparison!"
"Emma, I know…"
"No, you don't know. He tried to kill them, Lily. Neal tried…he tried…" Emma sucked in a deep breath to get a handle on her emotions. "That explosion almost took them from me. It did kill a lot of other people. But my gut is telling me this isn't over, despite Neal being in jail. Ioan might know something to help keep them safe. Hell, I don't even care about me. I just need them to be safe. And I know Ioan would too."
"If he talks, he's putting himself in danger," Lily pointed out. "The people he worked for don't take kindly to snitches."
"Then you'll just have to make sure he stays protected." Emma sighed. "I know this is just a job to you. Your big break or whatever. Fine. But we're doing this for us, not for you. If we find out anything useful, we'll consider handing it over. Those are our terms." She felt confident in speaking for her husbands on this, though it was curious that Lily decided to contact her instead of Killian. She'd never really tried to understand Emma's relationship and Emma stopped trying to explain. It wasn't anyone's business but hers anyway.
After a long pause, Lily spoke. "I'll send you the date and time as soon as I have it."
"Thank you."
"I'm glad you're okay, Emma," Lily said. "Truly."
"I am too." They said goodbye and hung up. She considered texting the boys to tell them, but she would see them later. This was probably a conversation they needed to have in person.
Her car was parked out front; she shrugged into her coat and made a beeline for it. There were about a dozen paps braving the cold; she ignored all their questions. It was significantly less than there had been before they left for Paris; was it too much to hope that the press was losing interest? Neal's involvement in the Whitehall bombing wasn't common knowledge yet; when it was, the vultures would likely come back tenfold. Perhaps they could get a heads up and make sure they were far away when the news broke?
Traffic was heavy during the drive to the hospital; Emma kept flipping the station to find something to distract her. When were they going to catch a break? The quick trip to Paris was the most normal Emma felt since New York, but even that hadn't been purely a pleasure trip. They knew who the father of Clara's baby was, but now they had to decide how to proceed. Emma liked the idea of just telling Nottingham and allowing him and Clara to destroy each other. The only wrinkle in that plan was the innocent life they created. She couldn't imagine a child growing up with such truly awful parents. But if it got her out of their lives for good…maybe Clara's dad would make sure the kid had a somewhat decent upbringing?
Clara, Neal, Mary Margaret…so many crises at once would have sent Emma running for the hills before she met the Jones boys. In her old life, the moment staying in one place got a little too hot, she packed up and moved somewhere else. As much as things like the endless barrage of paps annoyed her, she couldn't imagine living anywhere else. She loved their home and all the memories they'd made there. She couldn't imagine living anywhere else.
Mary Margaret's floor was quiet when Emma arrived. She knocked softly on the door before poking her head in. "David?"
"Here."
Emma stepped inside. It was a private room; David sat in a chair by the bed, his hand holding Mary Margaret's, who appeared to be asleep. "I can come back…"
"No, please stay." Emma got a good look at him. David looked awful. He had dark circles under his eyes, and he hadn't shaved. "She was awake a little while ago. The doctors, um, explained her injuries…I'm not sure she understood it all. Her eyes…they were kinda vacant. It was scary."
Emma rested her hand on his shoulder. Mary Margaret probably understood; perhap she was just in shock like David was. "You look like you could use a break," she said quietly. "I can watch her for a while."
"I don't want her to be alone when she wakes up," David said hastily. "Her parents…they were here earlier, but hospitals freak Leopold out…"
Emma wasn't fond of hospitals either; she tried not to judge Leopold and Eva too harshly. Seeing their only child bruised and bloody had to be a shock. Mary Margaret's head was almost completely covered with thick white bandages; Emma wondered if the doctors had shaved her head. Probably. Mary Margaret kept her hair short, but still.
"I'm sure they'll be back. And you won't be far. You can't help her if you don't take care of yourself," Emma pointed out.
David sighed. "I know."
"I'll get you if she wakes up," Emma promised. "Get out of here."
"Okay." David stood and kissed the back of Mary Margaret's hand before he left. Emma shrugged out of her coat and settled in the vacated chair. She wasn't really good at this; in the past, she never really had friends. Until Whitehall, she had no experience waiting by someone's bedside in a hospital. That experience should have taught her patience; it had only done the opposite. They pushed to have the brothers discharged as quickly as possible; history repeated itself in New York. Mary Margaret suffered severe brain swelling; it would likely be a while before she could be discharged.
Time seemed to drag; Emma got out her phone and found a mindless game to play. Nurses came in to check Mary Margaret's vitals; they didn't seem alarmed, so Emma took that as a good sign. She couldn't imagine her friend not being alright. She had so much to live for. Marriage, the Olympics. That made Emma pause; would she be able to compete? Hell, would she want to? Emma would be the last person to judge Mary Margaret if she didn't feel up to it. Trauma affected everyone differently, at least that's what Emma's therapist said.
The blanket shifted; Emma looked up and saw Mary Margaret's eyes flutter open. She stood, resting her hand over her friend's. "Easy. Breathe."
Mary Margaret glanced at Emma, clearly confused. "Emma? Where's David?"
"I sent him to get some rest. I can get him. I know he'll want to see…"
Mary Margaret's hand tightened on hers, fear clouding her green eyes. "Not yet. Please?"
Emma nodded. "Okay. Can I get you something? Water?"
"If you don't mind."
"One sec." Emma found a plastic pitcher on the side table; she poured some water into a paper cup. Carefully, she raised the top half of the bed with the remote until Mary Margaret was mostly sitting up. Mary Margaret's hand shook when she tried to drink; Emma had to help her. "Better?"
"Mmhmm." Mary Margaret was silent for a long minute. "The doctors said…I was thrown?"
Emma nodded. "Do you remember?"
Mary Margaret's brow creased as she struggled to think; she winced in pain. "Ow."
"You hit your head on the jumping post, David said. They had to do surgery to reduce the swelling in your brain."
"That explains this," her friend replied, touching her head. Mary Margaret chewed her lip, glancing at Emma. "They said something else, but it didn't make sense." Another pause. "Emma, they said I was…I was pregnant?" Her green eyes looked pleadingly at Emma, hoping she would contradict the news.
"I'm so sorry, Mary Margaret."
Tears welled in her eyes. "I don't understand," she said helplessly. "I'm on birth control. We're not even married yet…" Her hand touched her stomach; her chin wobbled. Emma knew the moment the information truly sank in; Mary Margaret screamed. Her scream melted into a gut-wrenching sob; Emma wrapped her arms around her and held her friend as she cried.
A nurse flew into the room, drawn by the screams. "What's going on?"
"She's fine," Emma said, still holding her almost hysterical friend. "We'll call if we need you. Get out!"
The nurse looked like she wanted to argue, but prudently, she did as Emma requested. Emma rocked Mary Margaret back and forth, mindful of the other woman's head injury. "Shhhh, it's okay," she whispered, recalling what Killian and Liam often said to her when she was upset. "Just let it out."
Once Mary Margaret was calmer, Emma got some tissues to mop up her face. "I must look awful," Mary Margaret said sadly.
"David never left you," Emma said. "Not until I made him. Would you like me to get him?"
"I'm not sure I can face him. I lost our baby, Emma."
Emma shook her head. "You had no reason to suspect you were pregnant. It was an accident. It is not your fault." It took Emma a long time to accept that truth for herself; she wasn't going to allow her friend to go down that dark path. Not if she could help it.
"But Emma…"
"No. Don't do that to yourself, Mary Margaret. You didn't know. There isn't anything you could have done."
"Does it get easier?"
Emma's heart ached for her. Did it get easier? Yes and no. Emma did her best to put that entire phase of her life behind her, but the scars lingered. She was still unpacking it all. "You learn to live with it," she said at last. "I know it doesn't feel like it right now, but you will move forward, Mary Margaret. David loves you. You have all of us. And if you ever need someone to talk to…I'll be there."
They hugged once more then Emma went to get David. She found him passed out on an uncomfortable looking couch, but when she touched his shoulder, he jerked awake. She watched as he hurried to Mary Margaret's room; she considered following, just in case, but she didn't want to intrude. She sent David a text to let him know she was taking off; if she left now, she might beat the boys home. She had a sudden need for a hug or two.
"Emma? You home, love?" Liam called as he shrugged out his coat. It was still freezing cold; at least it was keeping all but the most diehard paps away. Bloody vultures.
"Up here!"
It sounded like her voice was coming from Killian's old room. They had it converted into an office during the renovation; if needed, it could be converted back into a bedroom. Liam smiled to himself; he would dearly love a scenario where they would be filling both the extra bedrooms. In the future. Not now. Emma was still recovering; they could wait until she was ready. There was no rush.
To his surprise, he found her perusing one of the old family scrapbooks. "What are you up to, wife?"
Emma shrugged. "Needed to get out of my head for a while. I couldn't concentrate, so I came up here."
Liam leaned against the desk. "How's Mary Margaret?"
She sighed. "Physically, she'll be fine. They've got her head covered in bandages. She's pretty bruised up."
"But that's not what worries you."
She shook her head. "The doctors told her what happened, but she didn't absorb it right away. David was dead on his feet when I got there; I let him take a nap while I watched her. She was still asleep, but after a while, she woke up. And had to relive it all over again when she asked me what happened."
"Oh, Emma, I am so sorry." When she got up from the chair, he wrapped his arms around her and held her tight. "It's good that you were there for her."
Emma sniffed and nodded. "I know. And I want to keep being there for her. I do. But…"
"It's bringing back memories you'd rather remain in the past."
"Exactly."
Liam's lips touched her temple. "I wish I knew how to make this better, sweetheart."
"You already are." She leaned up on her toes and pressed her lips to his. He stiffened for a moment, then kissed her back, that gentle give and take they knew so well. Just being in his arms was enough, but she craved the reassurance of his love. Liam seemed to almost read her mind; he quickly twisted them around and plopped her on the wooden desk. It wasn't exactly like the one in her office, but it was close. Wide and sturdy; it occurred to her that they hadn't christened this room yet. Not in its current state. Emma spread her legs, allowing him to get even closer as he thoroughly explored her mouth.
"You have a…bad day too?" Emma breathed as Liam's lips slid down her throat.
"Something like that," he mumbled. Between the late night, worry for their friend, and the lingering threat of crazed exes, Liam was not his usual efficient self. He lost track of how much coffee he had; he snapped at his assistant a few times. He just couldn't focus. He was physically present, but his mind was definitely elsewhere.
"Are we being selfish?" Emma asked, coaxing his mouth back to hers.
"Don't care," Liam growled, pressing her back against the desk. They heard the door open and close; Killian was home. "Nice to see my little brother is right on time."
Emma swatted at him playfully as he pushed her sweater up her belly. "You know he hates that," she scolded. "There's nothing little about either of you."
"Emma? Liam?" Killian called.
"Upstairs!" Emma called back. Her fingers wove into Liam's curls as he nosed the cup of her bra aside and ran his tongue over her nipple. Feet stomped on the stairs; when he appeared in the doorway, he appeared upside down from Emma's vantage point. "Hey."
"Hello yourself, love." Killian loosened the buttons of his uniform jacket and slowly entered the room. "Not that I'm complaining, but why are we in here?"
"Distraction?"
Killian saw the open album in the middle of the desk; he was curious, but those answers could wait. "Must not have worked very well."
"Maybe you should shut up and kiss me."
"Gladly." Killian leaned over and pressed his lips to hers. Emma sighed into it; it felt like her world was fully back on its axis. She let go of Liam and pulled Killian closer, sliding her tongue past his lips. "What sort of distraction are you looking for now, wife?"
"Do you really have to ask?"
"Indulge me."
"I want my husbands to fuck me on this desk. I think it's time we christened this room, don't you?"
"Indeed I do." Liam let her up; Emma quickly pulled her sweater over her head. Killian sat in the big leather chair and patted his lap. "Give her to me."
Liam scooped her up and settled her in his brother's lap, forcing her to straddle his thighs. While they made out like horny teenagers, Liam went to work on her bra, sending the scrap of lace to the floor. Emma arched as he cupped her breasts from behind, his thumbs teasing her nipples into hard points. Each flick sent waves of need to her core; she wiggled in Killian's hold. "Oh god."
"Why are you wearing pants?" Liam growled, dropping to his knees and kissing a wet path down her spine.
"It was…fuck…cold out," she reminded him. Killian yanked open her fly so Liam could slide his hand inside. "What's more important? Not freezing or easy access?"
"Maybe we should revisit you being naked in the house," Liam observed, circling her clit. Emma bit her lip and moaned as he teased her. "You're so beautiful, love."
"Anything you want," she agreed. "God, just make me come."
"You heard her, brother," Killian said. "Let's make her come." Emma gasped as he ducked down to suck one hard nipple into his mouth, all while Liam redoubled his efforts on her clit. Emma held onto Killian as they played her body perfectly; over a year together taught them exactly what she needed to fall over the edge. She climaxed with a hoarse shout, bucking against Liam's probing fingers.
"Oh fuck," she panted as another jolt of need hit her. They didn't stop touching her, making her crave more. "God, I need you to fuck me."
"How shall we have her, brother?" Liam asked, skimming his wet fingers over her stomach.
"I want to see her draped across this desk."
Emma nodded, pure lust shooting through her veins. She loved christening new places with them. Liam picked her up again and set her on unsteady feet. "Strip," he ordered. She hastened to obey, shimmying out of her jeans and underwear. Before she could properly catch her breath, Liam pulled her back into his arms, kissing her hard. She moaned into it, smoothing her hands over his now bare chest. She worked his belt and fly; he groaned as her hand wrapped around his swollen cock. "Fucking hell."
"Missed you today," Emma murmured, brushing her lips over his pecs. "Missed you both so much."
She felt a second set of hands on her back; she smiled as Killian's rough hands slid around her waist. He pressed himself against her with his cock nestled against her ass. "We'll make you forget all about it," he promised as his lips skimmed over her shoulder. "Won't we, Liam?"
"Aye."
She turned slightly and pulled Killian in for a hungry kiss all while wrapping her free hand around his cock. She stroked them both slowly, relishing their soft moans of pleasure. "Please," she breathed.
Killian pulled her hand away and lifted her onto the desk. She looked pale and perfect against the rich color of the hardwood with her golden hair falling over the edge. He moved her slightly so she would straddle the corner, giving Liam access to her mouth while Killian fucked her cunt. Emma spread her legs invitingly; Killian surprised her by bringing his large hand down hard on her clit. She yelped and tried to close her legs instinctively, but Killian wasn't having that. "Ah, ah, love. None of that now."
Emma bit her lip, her core throbbing with need. "Please, please, please," she chanted. "Need your cock. Please!"
Killian slapped her clit again; Emma jerked slightly but kept her legs spread. "Good girl. You're such a good girl for us, sweetheart."
She felt like she was on fire; leave it to her husbands to know what she needed better than she did herself. She looked up at Liam with pleading eyes; he reached out and palmed her breast. She arched into his touch, moaning as he plucked at her nipple. This time when Killian smacked her clit she cried out as the pain faded into pleasure; the dual pinpricks of pain had her on the verge of floating. Liam ducked down and sucked hard on the neglected nipple; her world collapsed into the heady sensation of being their plaything. It was exactly what she needed after the emotional roller coaster of her day.
Killian couldn't resist her scent; he dropped to his knees and lapped at her arousal. She was dripping now; her clit red and swollen. He sucked the pearl into his mouth and Emma climaxed hard, screaming herself hoarse. Liam had to hold her to make sure she didn't fall off the desk; Killian tasted her until she stopped trembling. "Need you, love," he growled, rubbing the tip of his cock over her abused flesh. "Need you so fucking much."
She shivered, still not completely coherent after that intense climax. "Take me. Need to feel you." Her mouth dropped open in a silent cry as he pushed inside in one thick stroke; she scrambled to grip the desk for purchase. Killian wasn't gentle, riding her hard into the desk. Above her, Liam watched her with stormy blue eyes; she wet her lips. "Please, Liam. I need you."
Unable to deny his wife anything, Liam made sure her head hung just right over the edge of the desk before feeding her his cock. He groaned loudly as her warm wet mouth wrapped around him; she looked stunning like this, taking cock from both ends. She reached up and held his hip, silently letting him know she was okay. He watched as his cock made her throat bulge slightly and he groaned. "Fuck, you're perfect."
"You should feel her cunt, brother," Killian said. "So wet and tight."
"Perhaps you should share then, Killian."
Emma shivered; she secretly loved when they spoke to each other like that. She loved listening to them talk about exactly how they planned on using her body. "Looks like the lass would like that, wouldn't you, dirty girl?"
Emma couldn't respond properly with Liam's cock down her throat; she whined hopefully. A moment later each brother slipped out of her, and she pouted. Killian chuckled. "We're not through with you yet." He coaxed her to sit up and perch herself on the edge of the desk with her knees under her. Her feet dangled off the edge; Killian coaxed her knees a bit wider apart, exposing her swollen cunt. "That's a good girl. Look how pretty you are for Liam now."
Emma bit her lip as Liam moved and disappeared from her line of sight. But she felt him behind her; his hands caressed her ass. "You're gonna feel so good, love," he promised. She felt him there a second before he sank inside her aching cunt.
"Oh god," she breathed. Her boys were large, but Liam felt even larger like this and she craved it. "Oh fuck yes, Liam. More!" He obeyed her, rocking into her with firm deep strokes. He loved watching her take his cock; it was like she was made for them.
Killian appeared in front of her, slowly stroking his cock. It still glistened with her arousal. "Feel good, sweetheart?"
She moaned as Liam hit her sweet spot. "Fuck, you know it does," she replied, breathless.
"Tell me. Tell me how it feels when we fuck you."
She was rapidly losing the ability to think coherently, but she did her best. "Good. Killian…god, it feels so good. I'm full. Fuck, I love how you fill me up."
"Fucking hell." Killian got up on the desk and settled on his haunches in front of her. "Lemme have that sweet mouth, Emma." She braced her hands on the desk and opened, leaning forward to take him deep. Killian held her hair back as she rocked back and forth, fucking both of them at the same time. Liam grasped her hips, steadying her as he matched her rhythm, taking her with rougher, harder strokes until he bottomed out.
"Gonna come," Liam grunted. Watching Emma fuck them like that was too much. "Fuck!" Emma felt him explode, his cock twitching as he emptied himself inside her. His climax triggered hers; she moaned around Killian's cock as she took all Liam had to give. The younger Jones pulled himself away before he could follow; Liam collapsed in the chair, spent. Emma rolled onto her back, her head lolling as Killian grabbed her ankle and twisted her toward him.
"Such a naughty girl," he murmured as he sank into her leaking cunt once more. Emma moaned, reaching for him blindly as he rocked into her. "God, I love watching you come."
Emma caught his hand; he pulled her up into his arms. Their mouths met in a wet sloppy kiss; Emma clutched at his neck. "Come inside me," she breathed. "Fuck, I love when you both come inside me."
"Only if you're a good girl and come on my cock."
"Fuck." Emma locked her ankles behind his back and reached between them. She circled her swollen clit, desperate to wring that last ounce of pleasure from her body. Almost instantly, her body started to tighten, winding itself back up for another explosion. Killian grabbed her legs and lifted them up under his arms; Emma dropped back to her elbows as he fucked her with hard rough strokes. The change in angle was exactly what she needed; her head fell back as she screamed out her last climax. Killian followed her quickly, his hips jerking as he filled her with his seed.
Emma collapsed against the desk; she drifted in and out consciousness. One of them carried her to the bedroom; she stirred long enough to use the bathroom before they let her sleep. The smell of food eventually woke her; her stomach growled. "Hmm, there she is," Liam murmured.
"How long?"
"Only an hour, love."
"Oh okay."
"Would you like a shirt?"
"If it's not too much trouble."
"One second." The bed creaked as Liam went to fetch her a shirt; he brought her one of his soft tees. Emma thanked him with a kiss then slipped it over her head. "Where's Killian?"
"Organizing dinner, I expect. We ordered in since it's late."
"Makes sense." Her husband arrived a few minutes later with a tray piled high with Chinese takeaway. It smelled heavenly to her food deprived body. "I love you."
Killian smiled and kissed her temple. "Love you too. I'll be right back." Emma and Liam waited, each sitting cross legged on either side of the tray.
"How do you feel now?" Liam asked.
Emma shrugged. "Better, I guess."
"I know this is hard for you, love."
She shrugged. "It still feels selfish to worry about me when Mary Margaret is in the hospital."
"Emma, that's not selfish. I have no doubt that you will be there for her, but you can't do that to the detriment of your own mental health. You're not that far removed from New York. And she's got all of us to support her too."
"Yeah, but I'm the only one who knows how it feels. Not the head trauma part but the losing a baby part."
Killian reappeared with three tall glasses of water. Emma accepted hers gratefully; she needed a moment to gather her thoughts. Her therapist would have a field day with this; she could already hear the woman's concerns in her head. "You know what my therapist thinks?" She huffed. "She thinks I'm self-medicating with sex."
Both brothers looked at her strangely. "She said that?"
"Not in so many words, but she implied it." She looked from one to the other. "I tried to explain it to her. How we are. How we…you know…connect."
Killian grinned. "Oh, I wish I could have heard that." She swatted at his knee. "What?"
She rolled her eyes. "I don't know. All I know is that I came home today, and I missed you guys. And I couldn't help but think about the future and all the things that we want. I stumbled on the albums and seeing you two as kids…right now, the idea of our kids seems so far away."
"Oh sweetheart." Killian scooted over and wrapped his arms around her. "There's absolutely no rush, you know that."
"I do, and this is a spectacularly bad time, but…" She trailed off her fear choking her. "What if I can't?"
"Can't what?"
"You know…actually have children. What if there's something wrong with me and I can't get pregnant? Or worse, I get pregnant and lose…" The memory of her alone in her cell hunched over as she miscarried felt as fresh as if it happened yesterday. Only this would be a thousand times worse, because this baby would be wanted and loved, and she wasn't sure she could handle that.
Her tears soaked Killian's shirt; he held her tightly. He glanced at Liam; his brother looked as lost as he felt. Killian rocked Emma gently, brushing soothing kisses into her hair. "Shhhh. It's alright, love."
"How is it alright?" she demanded. "Everything's messed up! Liam's ex is deranged; mine tried to kill you! Our friend in the fucking hospital and my body might be defective!" Abruptly, she got up and marched into the bathroom, slamming the door behind her.
Seeing her hurting like this tore at Liam's heart. He walked over to the bathroom and knocked gently. "Emma?"
"Go away!"
Liam turned to Killian. "Help me."
Killian nodded and moved to the door. "Emma, please come out." Silence reigned. He tried again. "Sweetheart, you are not defective. We've been through worse…"
"You don't know that," she argued through the door. "You don't know I'm not. I couldn't take it. I couldn't take it if you guys got so excited about a baby and then…" There was a thump and the door rattled; Killian realized she was leaning against it. He and Liam sat on the floor too; they weren't leaving until they figured this out. "I was relieved." Her voice was quiet, hardly more than a whisper; they had to strain to hear her. "Relieved, then I felt guilty for being relieved. But I wasn't ready and Neal…" She let out a strangled sound. She'd told them about this before, but Mary Margaret clearly dredged it all up again. "I know this is different, but you guys want to be dads so badly…"
Liam wedged his fingers under the door. "Not this badly," he said firmly. "Not if it means losing you."
"That's easy to say."
Killian couldn't take how dead her voice sounded. "Emma, please. Please open the door. We don't need anything else. Just you. It's only ever been you." She was everything to him; seeing her like this was destroying him. "Please."
"Promise?"
"We promise." Killian didn't even look at Liam; he knew in his heart Liam felt the exact same way. Nothing was more important than their wife's happiness. Killian silently cursed anyone who ever made her feel like she wasn't enough. She was. She was and he would spend the rest of his life proving it if that was what she wanted.
After another long pause, the door opened. Emma had tear tracks down her cheeks and her eyes were puffy from crying, but the brothers enfolded her in their arms and held her. "I'm sorry for being such a flake," she sniffed.
"Hush," Liam murmured. Emma suffered so much trauma in her life, especially recently. No one expected her to be okay. She'd been doing much better lately, but he knew from personal experience that it could rear its ugly head when you least expected it. Seeing Mary Margaret deal with the aftermath of her accident triggered something; they would deal with it as a family.
Killian kissed her hair. "There is nothing wrong with you," he said firmly.
"But…"
"I wasn't talking about that, love." He took her hand and squeezed. "Though if after a good night's sleep and some reflection you want to see the doctor, we'll go with you. I meant your emotions. It's okay to not be okay."
"I am so sick of not being okay."
Liam rubbed her back. "I know, but it's not that simple. You have to give yourself time, sweetheart."
"It's never really been my strong suit."
"That's why you have us."
Emma glanced from one brother to the other. She loved them so much her chest hurt. In a good way. She didn't know what she would do without them in her life. "I love you guys. You've been so patient…it means a lot to me."
"You looked after us in similar circumstances," Liam pointed out.
"And you're our wife," Killian said. "This is exactly where we're supposed to be." History would not be repeating itself, not as long as he drew breath.
The floor was hard; Emma felt her leg going to sleep. "Maybe we should return to the bed?"
"Good idea."
Emma frowned the moment she was on her feet. "Oh, the food's probably cold. Sorry."
"So, we'll go downstairs and heat it up." Killian winked at her, and she couldn't help but smile.
Ten minutes later, they were gathered around the kitchen inland in their pajamas (boxers for the boys, a t-shirt and boxers for her) with the reheated Chinese takeaway spread out before them. "Love, can I ask you something?" Liam asked.
"Sure."
"This therapist of yours…I know we talked to her but…does she think our sex life…odd?"
Emma giggled. "Apparently we're the first…poly relationship she's dealt with. I've had to talk about you guys a lot, especially with all the Neal stuff."
"She's not giving you a hard time though, is she?" Killian demanded. He'd dealt with something similar with his therapist; he didn't have the energy to deal with anyone's judgement. They were happy together and that was all that mattered.
"I wouldn't say that," Emma said carefully. "Maybe she's just not used to dealing with someone who's open and willing to talk about sex?"
"Bloody odd for a therapist," Killian groused.
"She's not a sex therapist, Killian," Emma reminded him. "Just a regular one."
"Still…"
"When it comes to that, I don't care what she thinks. The few times we've had to go without were not times I would like to relive. This is who we are, and I love that." She slipped her hand over his and squeezed. "But I appreciate you guys checking." She paused. "Look about earlier…"
"Emma, you don't have to explain," Liam said. "Or apologize. I was bloody useless today because the office was the last place I wanted to be." He glanced over at Killian. "I completely understand why you're considering resigning. After a day like today, I might even consider joining you."
Killian shot his brother a wry grin. "Well, we can't all be unemployed at once," he teased.
"Hey, I'm not unemployed, I'm just…on sabbatical," Emma pointed out. "Though I might try taking some clients soon. Strictly background checks and web sleuthing." She knew they would object, but now that they knew who Clara's baby daddy was, she needed something to do with her time. Also, it would bring in some much needed income. They'd used most of their savings for the New York trip and house renovations.
"Emma, are you sure?"
She nodded. "Yeah, I need to work. At least then I'd feel useful." That reminded her of her call with Lily earlier. "Oh, I almost forgot. Lily called earlier about arranging that meeting with your dad."
Killian frowned. "Why did she call you and not me?"
Emma shrugged. "She didn't say. Though she did seem to imply that she thought you guys were going behind my back or something."
"I hope you set her straight," Liam grumbled.
"I did. And on a few other things. Anyway, she's going to call when she has a date and time."
"What do we do in the meantime?"
"Just keep living our lives, I guess. We could go see Mary Margaret tomorrow, if you want."
Killian frowned. "Lass, are you sure?"
She nodded. "Yeah. I'm not saying I'll be completely okay all the time or that something like this might never happen again…"
"Emma, whatever you need," Liam said seriously, "all you need to do is ask."
"I wouldn't say no to a hot bath."
Liam quirked a brow. "Right now?"
"Why not? That tub was expensive; we might as well use it."
Killian hopped off his stool and gently kissed her cheek. "That's my girl."
She blushed; she kinda liked that they could still make her blush. "Easy, sailor. Someone wore me out."
"That's because our wife is so alluring," he reminded her. Killian tipped her chin up and kissed her. "I love you very much, Emma."
"Love you too." She grinned at Liam. "And you."
"Do I get a kiss?"
She rolled her eyes and leaned across the island, brushing her lips to his. "Better?"
"Much."
She smirked at the pair of them. "Last one to the bathroom has to do laundry for a month!" She giggled and dashed off, making them chase her. It was certainly more fun than dwelling on things they couldn't change.
Emma munched on some crisps (god, she was even thinking like a British person now) while she reviewed the search results. True to her word, she looked through some of her case backlog to find something easy that she could do from home. She still had rent on her fancy office to pay, after all. She considered giving it up when her lease was up, but even with the office at home that didn't seem practical. She refused to meet clients at home; that was a sacred space. Besides, Killian and Liam went to a lot of trouble to find her that affordable office so close to home; she didn't want to give it up.
But a nice simple background check? She could do that in her pajamas in their little home office.
Though, every time she glanced away from the screen, she could recall every moment of her boys ravishing her across this very wood.
Focus, Emma, she scolded herself. It was Wednesday; the boys were at work. Mary Margaret was still in the hospital. They were planning on going as a group to visit her later. In the meantime, she decided to get some work of her own done.
She was about to do a deeper dive into her client's fiancé when she heard someone pounding on the front door. Then the doorbell rang. Twice. Emma sat there frozen for a second, her heart pounding. Then she heard a muffled voice. "Mrs. Jones! It's INTERPOL! Please open the door!"
INTERPOL? What the hell? Emma got to her feet and practically flew down the stairs. She hesitated at the door, glancing out the peephole. A tall blond haired man stood outside her door, his dark eyes glancing back and forth. "Show me your ID!" Emma yelled. She wasn't opening the door for just anyone.
The man didn't hesitate, grabbing his wallet and holding his credentials up to the little hole. It was hard to see, but she did make out his name. Kristoff Holme. It had INTERPOL at the top and the official symbol in the upper right hand corner. It looked real through the peephole, but she wasn't going to take any chances. "If you're from INTERPOL, tell me which agent I spoke to in New York?"
"Elsa Arendelle."
Emma let out a breath she didn't realize she was holding and went to open the door. Before she could even speak, he nodded at her. "May I come in?"
"Sure." He handed her the ID and badge as he brushed past her; she barely looked at it as he moved deeper into her house. "Hey, what's going on?"
"You're here alone?"
"If you'd spoken with the plain clothes officers outside, you'd know that."
"That's just it. They're not out there."
Emma's blood ran cold. "What?" She hadn't realized how much she'd been depending on their silent presence for her peace of mind.
"We have reason to believe you're a target. I'm going to need you to come with me. Right now."
"Wait, I'm not going anywhere until you tell me what's going on. A target?" Her eyes flew wide. "Is Neal out?"
Agent Holme shook his head. "No, but his organization hasn't been dismantled yet. And the British are about to accuse the Russians of harboring terrorists based on your testimony. When I realized the officers were gone, I called Agent Arendelle. She asked that I get you to a secure location."
"What about Liam and Killian?" If they came home and saw she wasn't there, they would worry.
"You can call them on the way, but we really should leave."
Something else he said made her pause. "Wait, how did you know the officers were gone?"
"I come by here every few hours, just to check. We've been monitoring you since you returned to London."
"How long?"
"I'm sorry?"
"How long will I be gone? I'm not going anywhere that Liam and Killian can't come too."
Agent Holme ran his fingers through his hair, sighing heavily. "Agent Arendelle said you might say that. Once we're there, I'll send someone to collect them. I promise."
She hated that their home might not be safe, but she'd long suspected that this wasn't over. And she trusted Elsa. If Elsa trusted this guy, then Emma figured he was alright. "Give me five minutes." She didn't wait for a response; instead, she dashed up stairs to throw some necessities into a dufflebag. She was still in her pajamas, but she didn't want to encroach on Agent Holme's generosity any more than she already had. So, she put on her sneakers and hurried back downstairs. "Where are we going?"
"I'll tell you once we're moving."
"Why?" But he refused to answer her. Holme beckoned her to follow, leaving her to grab her keys and wallet on her way out the door. There was a car waiting for them; Holme joined her in the backseat. There were no flashbulbs, which Emma would have found strange if she wasn't already freaking out.
Before they got to the end of the street, Holme shoved his phone into her hand. "It's Agent Arendelle."
Emma brought the phone to her ear. "Hello?"
"Mrs. Jones, it's good to hear your voice," Elsa said.
"Agent Arendelle, what's going on?"
"A precaution. When Kristoff told me your detail was missing, I took the liberty of taking charge of your safety."
"So, you don't think this is over either," Emma replied.
"No. I don't. Our friends at British intelligence gave us the heads up on the upcoming speech in Parliament…"
"Speech? What speech?"
"The Prime Minister is going to lay out the case against Russia in a few days time. They didn't tell you?"
"No. No one's told us anything! They're certain?"
"I can't go into details right now, but yeah."
"Oh my god." Did Liam and Killian know? If they did, they would have told her. They wouldn't keep something like that from her. "Where are you sending me?"
"A safe house. I'll meet you there."
"Agent Holme said Killian and Liam could come too."
"I know how important they are to you. I can have agents collect them now."
"No, I need to call them first." A horrifying thought occurred to her. "My phone hasn't been bugged or anything, has it?"
"Not that I know of. Is that a concern?"
"I honestly don't know." She didn't know what Neal and his organization were capable of. They organized a terrorist attack for crying out loud. The largest one since 9/11. Anything was possible. They hung up and Emma handed Holme his phone back. "After I speak to Liam and Killian, Agent Arendelle said she'd send agents to get them."
"I've got them on standby."
"Thanks." Her hands shook as she pulled her phone from her pocket. Breathe. It was almost lunchtime; she hoped they weren't in any meetings. She dialed Killian first. "Come on, pick up," she muttered as the phone rang several times. She was about to hang up when it connected.
"Emma?"
She sighed in relief. "Killian. Where were you?"
"In the head. What's wrong?"
"Let me see if I can conference in Liam before I tell you."
"That sounds ominous."
She ignored him and hit the right buttons to add Liam to the call. "Hello, love. This is an unexpected pleasure."
"Liam, Killian, I'm about to tell you something and I need you not to freak out."
"What's going on?" Liam demanded.
"I was upstairs working and an agent from INTERPOL came to the house."
"What did he want?"
"Well, I'm still with him. He's taking me to a safe house."
"What?" Killian cried. "Why? Where?"
"Remember the part about not freaking out? This is why. I'm safe. He saw that the detail was gone and…"
"Emma," Killian growled. "You are not making this better."
Emma knew he would try to confront his boss about it, since Anderson confirmed the officers were watching the house to begin with. "Killian, you won't have time to go to Anderson, because they're sending someone to get you. To get both of you. I spoke to Agent Arendelle; she's doing this as a precaution. I'll tell you the rest when we're together, okay?"
Liam spoke first. "Emma, you're sure you're safe?"
"Yeah. A little freaked out, but safe. I'll feel better when you're here."
She heard a knock in the background. "That's probably them. I'll see you soon, okay?"
"Okay. We love you."
"Love you guys too." When she hung up, she felt…calmer. She would see her boys very soon.
It took more than two hours to get to the safe house. It was outside of London in the sprawling English countryside. The cottage sat alone along the road; it would have been unremarkable if not for the nondescript government vehicles lining the driveway. There were at least five that she could see.
"Let's get you inside," Agent Holme said softly. They hadn't spoken much on the drive, but Emma felt like she could trust the big man. He guided her inside; Agent Arendelle was waiting in the cottage's kitchen.
"Mrs. Jones."
"Please call me Emma."
"Okay, Emma. Let's have a seat."
"Are my husbands on their way?"
Elsa checked her iPad. "ETA twenty minutes. They're right behind you."
Emma sighed. "Thank god."
Elsa looked somber. "I know this is an inconvenience, but right now, I feel it's a necessary precaution."
"Do we know why my detail is missing?"
Elsa shook her head. "Not yet. I'm in contact with the British authorities about that very thing. It's a concern."
"I'll say."
Elsa looked sympathetic. "Can I get you something? Water? Tea?"
"Tea would be great." Elsa busied herself with the kettle; Emma couldn't sit still. "Your guy out there says you've been watching us since we came home?"
Elsa cringed. "Yes. We tried to remain as unobtrusive as possible, but given who we're dealing with, I thought it would be wise."
"You did a good job; I had no idea." Of course, she'd hardly left the house since they returned to London; aside from visits to her therapist, the hospital and Paris, she'd turned into a homebody. Sooner or later, it would start to get on her nerves; she just hadn't reached that point yet.
"From you, I'll take that as a compliment."
"You should. Do you really think this could be connected to Neal?"
"We've long suspected the Vatra had connections with the Russian government; we just didn't know how deeply those ties ran. Your case is the first serious break we've had in years."
"I'd feel honored but…"
Elsa placed a stealing cup of tea in front of her. "I get it. This isn't fun."
"I just don't understand how Neal got involved with those people. He was never a saint, but he's not the same man I knew. Or thought I knew. The idea that he could still pose a threat to me or my family…" She shuddered. "It's scary as hell."
Elsa nodded. "I won't lie to you, Emma. Neal Cassidy is a very dangerous man, even in prison. But we are going to do everything we can to keep all of you safe. You just have to let us do our jobs."
"Sitting around has never been my strong suit."
"At least you won't be alone," Elsa said, smiling as they heard the door open.
Emma was on her feet in a flash; her husbands came marching through the cottage. Killian reached her first, wrapping her up in a bear hug. "Thank god, you're safe," he muttered into her shoulder.
Emma squeezed back just as tightly. "I could say the same about you." Liam joined them, holding them like he could shield both of them from the horrors of the world. Emma loved them both so much. "Sorry about all this."
"Don't you dare." Liam growled. "This is not your fault."
"He's right," Elsa said. "It's not."
Emma brushed her hand across her cheeks as Killian kissed her temple. "It doesn't really feel like that." Whatever role Neal had in the Whitehall bombing…it was because he was obsessed with her. If she'd never met him, everything would be different. Though if she hadn't met him, she might never have found the Jones boys and that was truly frightening. They changed her life for the better.
"We'll keep saying it until you believe it," Killian murmured, keeping his arm around her. He looked at Elsa. "Care to explain what exactly this is about?"
Briefly, Elsa explained what little she knew. Bringing them to a safe house was a precaution in case Neal's people were gunning for Emma. Frankly, the longer Elsa talked the less Emma worried about herself. She was worried about her boys. Neal knew the best way to punish her for all her perceived crimes was to come after Liam and Killian. Not her.
"Emma mentioned that she thought it was possible her phone was bugged. Have either of you noticed anything amiss?"
Both Liam and Killian shook their heads. "Not really. Though we've been distracted with other things of late."
Emma frowned. "Damn it, we were supposed to go see Mary Margaret."
"So, we call David and explain."
"I wouldn't recommend reaching out until we've cleared your devices and your home."
"You're searching our home?" Liam demanded.
"Don't you want to know that it's safe?" Elsa asked, not flinching in the face of Liam's anger. "I know this is scary and frustrating, but please let us do our jobs."
"What have you done so far?" Liam shot back. "I'm not convinced all this is really necessary."
"Liam," Emma said, covering his hand with hers, "the government is about to formally accuse the Russians."
Killian caught on immediately. "If they're smart, they'll disavow any knowledge and place the blame strictly on Neal's people. A rogue operation not sanctioned by the state. They'll let Neal hang before admitting anything."
"I'm the one he confessed to," she reminded her husbands. "He chose that target because of me."
"He's trying to eliminate the evidence and survive, brother," Killian added. "Too many people want a piece of him."
"And if we do our jobs correctly," Elsa added, "then he will never get out or threaten your family again."
"But he's in now and still a threat," Liam complained. "Why?"
"Papa might know," Killian murmured. "He knows how these organizations work, Liam. He might be able to tell us how Neal's communicating with his minions."
"That's not a bad idea," Emma said. "We're planning on seeing him anyway."
"I'm lost," Elsa said. "What does your father have to do with anything?"
"Our father is Ioan Jones," Killian informed her.
Elsa's eyes widened. "You three ran your own entrapment," she said. "I heard about that, though the file didn't have names."
Emma was mildly surprised by that, though the tabloids didn't really focus on Ioan that much. They seemed much more interested in manufacturing drama of a more salacious nature. That stirred something from the back of her mind. "The paps outside…they were gone when I left. Was that you?" she asked Elsa.
"Their cameras might have evidence," she replied with a knowing smile. "If they do, we'll find it."
"What are we supposed to do now?" Liam asked. He didn't look happy about any of this; Emma couldn't really blame him. All any of them wanted was to get back to some sort of normal life. Or what passed for normal for them.
"We need some time. Two days, maybe three. We just need to figure out what happened to the detail and make sure your home and devices are clear."
"Three days?" Liam exclaimed. "What about our jobs?"
"Taken care of. Your superiors are aware of the situation. You'll not be docked any leave. Anything you need, someone from my team will get for you. This place is surrounded by INTERPOL agents; it's safe."
"Thank you for all you've done," Killian said. He was taking this much better than Liam; Emma was a little surprised.
"You're welcome. I'll leave you to talk."
The moment Elsa was gone, Emma sighed. "I'm sorry for all this…"
"Love, we talked about this; it's not your fault," Killian said. "Don't do that to yourself."
"You're taking this better than I thought you would."
"As long as you're safe, I can handle anything," he replied, kissing her temple. "That's all I care about."
Emma smiled softly and brushed her lips to his. Then she leaned her head on Liam's shoulder. "Say something."
"Of course, I'm relieved you're safe," Liam murmured. "I just hate that monster seems to have run us out of our home."
"I don't like it either," Emma confessed. "I hate everything about this. But I know Neal would do anything to punish me for loving you. At least here we're all together and safe."
"You think we might be in danger?"
She nodded. "Neal's just as deranged as Clara. He knows hurting you would destroy me."
Liam wrapped his arm around her. "May we be rid of both of them soon."
"I'll second that," Killian agreed.
"So…we suddenly have time on our hands," Emma said. "How should we spend it?"
"I don't know about either of you, but I'm starving," Liam said. "Late lunch?"
She grinned. "Sounds like a good start to me. Then what?"
Killian's grin was sinful. Of course, he would see the positive in whatever situation they found themselves in. "Whatever we want, love."