Okay, we are back, finally. I hope everyone is staying safe and well during these times, and I hope this chapter is able to take your mind away from it for a bit. I do have to warn you though, it's not full of unicorns and rainbows, so please grab some tissues before you start reading. Even I was bawling my eyes while writing this and I knew this chapter was coming for several months! Trust me, you're going to hate me by the end of it and feel the urge to throw things, and I won't blame you one bit. I do hope to redeem myself in the coming chapters though, so please bear with me.
"I have to use the bathroom. Can I get you anything, baby?"
Emma smiles sweetly at her boyfriend and shakes her head. "No, I'm good, thanks."
"Okay, love." He leans over and kisses her forehead. "I'll be right back."
"Kay."
As Killian stands up, she sets down her pen and digs into her bag in search of a pen that works. The ink ran out when she was trying to finish writing out the last equation, and Mr. Meade always encourages them to use pens on their math homework because he says erasing makes math all about the right answer, and he'd rather it be about the learning process. Before Killian started tutoring her, she'd always used a pencil, but now she's confident enough in her work to use a pen.
She looks up as Killian is heading for the door. "Actually, do you have an extra pen? Mine ran out of ink."
"Sure, love," he says, turning around, his hand lingering on the doorknob. "There's one in my bag. And since we're almost done with your Trig, if you want to get out my Chemistry notes from my bag too, we can start on that afterward."
"Thanks, babe."
"You're welcome." He rushes over and kisses her again, this time on the lips. "Love you."
"I love you, too." She gazes at him with a sappy grin on her face and rests her hand on her baby bump. "We both love you."
Killian chuckles and bends over to drop a kiss to her belly. He strokes her belly, speaking in a low murmur. "Daddy loves you too, little love."
Emma's heart flutters, a giggle escaping her throat. She loves when Killian talks to their baby and kisses her baby bump, especially since she's only in her first trimester. This means there will be many more gentle kisses and sweet nothings spoken to her pregnant belly.
After he leaves the bedroom, Emma goes to the bed and unzips his backpack. She's so lucky to have him helping her with her homework. Her grades have improved significantly since she came to Storybrooke, since he started tutoring her. She needs to maintain a 3.0 GPA to go to Storybrooke University, so she can't let her grades slip. Her future with Killian and their little bean depends on it.
Emma pulls out his notebook labeled Chemistry . She unzips one of his front pockets and reaches into it, feeling around for a pen. When she finds one, she grabs it and pulls it out, accidentally taking something else with it. An envelope falls to his Star Wars comforter, and Emma picks it up to replace it in his backpack. But when her eyes catch the eagle emblazoned on the envelope, she pauses and takes a second look at it. It's a letter addressed to Killian from Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University.
Her heart tightens at the prospect of what the envelope may contain. She should just put the envelope back and not read it. She starts to replace it in the bag, but she knows if she doesn't look inside, the curiosity and guilt will consume her. Emma may not be the brightest, but she's not oblivious to the possibility that he's capable of getting accepted into the best schools in the country. So it's very likely she's only holding him back by being pregnant with his child.
Emma's curiosity gets the best of her and she opens the unsealed envelope. Killian had already seen the contents and yet he had never mentioned the university to her or that he even applied there.
She pulls out the crisp page and begins reading.
Welcome to Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University!
It's an acceptance letter.
Killian got accepted into the largest accredited university specializing in aviation and aerospace, and the ample opportunities that come along with it. Her heart swells with pride as she scans the letter, a smile lighting up her face. He had told her he didn't care where he got his education, but passing up an opportunity like this could be a huge mistake. The possibilities for Killian would be endless and he would have a degree he could be proud of instead of a degree from some small town no one who lives further than a fifty-mile radius has even heard of. Emma's face pales and her smile dims when she looks at the sender's address and realizes the university is in Daytona Beach, Florida. He couldn't get much further away from her than Daytona Beach unless he went to school on the West Coast.
Emma skims through the letter and searches for the date he has to reply by and finds it toward the bottom. May 1st. She tucks the letter into the envelope and sticks it into his bag where when she finds a few more letters. They're all from schools with the best aviation programs in the country, and every one of them would require him to leave the state to attend. They would all take him away from her and the baby. They would take him away from their plan.
Her heart physically hurts, tears springing to her eyes as she reaches for the promise necklace Killian gave her and fingers the pendant. She knows she could never get into one of those colleges. It's already too late in the game. She barely has the grades to get into Storybrooke as it is. And she doesn't want to move that far from home and deprive both their child and their parents of the chance to be close and spend time together. Killian would have to choose either one of those colleges or her and the baby. He wouldn't be able to have both.
Emma releases the pendant, letting it dangle from the chain and replaces all the contents in his bag before zipping up all the pockets she had opened. She grabs the pen and notebook, taking them over to the desk and reclaims her seat, trying to fight back tears. She tries not to think about the acceptance letters, but she knows the guilt of making him settle for Storybrooke University will eat her alive.
Killian returns with two Cherry Cokes, flashing a warm grin.
Emma looks away before he can see the despair written all over her face, and she blinks away her unshed tears as she returns to the equation she was working on when her pen had run out.
He cracks open one of the cans and hands it to her. "Here you go, love. In case you get thirsty," he says sweetly, dropping a kiss to the top of her head.
Emma accepts the soda with a small smile and thanks him before taking a sip. She wants to mention the letters, but if she does, she knows Killian will say he's not going to any of those colleges. He'll say he doesn't want to be separated from Emma or the baby. He made a promise to her, and if there's one thing she's learned about Killian, it's that he always keeps his promises.
"Are you ready, love?"
Emma nods and offers a small smile, even though she's nowhere near ready. She's a nervous wreck. Why? Because today, she and Killian plan on telling her father she's pregnant. After informing Killian her mother figured it out already, it relieved him to know how well she took the news and that she's allowing Emma and Killian to tell David. They also plan on telling her father they're raising the baby together. But ever since Emma discovered that letter from Embry-Riddle a few days ago, she's not even sure how she feels about dragging Killian to Storybrooke University with her. She knows he can do so much better than this place, and she'd feel too guilty if he chose another path because of her. "As ready as I'll ever be. Are you?"
Killian places his hand on her baby bump through her thick winter jacket, delicately stroking her stomach in soothing circles, and smiles as he kisses her temple. "Aye. Just pray for me, love, will you? I wish to live long enough to hold our baby in my arms."
Emma laughs, despite the nerves eating away at her insides. His touch has a calming effect on her and eases her more than anything in the world ever could. The laughter dies quickly in her throat, though. The possibility of her father overreacting is very possible. She just hopes her worst fears won't come true. She hopes her father won't try to hurt him. Her father has never been a violent person, he's always been the exact opposite—loving and caring and composed—but then again, no one's ever knocked up his daughter before… until now.
Killian had told his father she was pregnant, and Mr. Jones was angry at first because he had warned Killian not to go after the pastor's daughter, that there would be consequences from the pastor. Thankfully, he calmed down and had an open discussion about it with his son. Killian told his father he was helping Emma raise the baby, and pride had replaced his disappointment. He only wanted Killian to do the right thing by Emma, and they were able to talk through it.
Emma's hoping her father will react in a similar fashion—disappointed, but able to talk through it.
Killian kisses her lips for a few seconds before resting his forehead against hers, his hand still caressing her stomach. "Whatever happens, we'll get through it together, okay?"
"Okay," Emma whispers and swallows the large lump in her throat. She feels nauseous, but not because of her pregnancy.
As Killian gets out of her car and goes to his truck, jumping into the driver's seat, her heart is aching at the thought of ruining his future. He waves and smiles at her through their windows as he fires up the engine. She waves and smiles back, hoping he can't see the devastation and conflict she feels at the moment. She pulls out of the school parking lot and heads home, stewing in her thoughts, being tormented by how slowly the moments pass until that inevitable moment when both of their lives may change.
Less than a year later...
Emma pulls out of the Riverbend Apartments parking lot and makes her way through heavy traffic. She glances at the clock for the hundredth time before returning her eyes to the road ahead. She's running late again for her first class of the day, but luckily it's a big, dimly lit lecture hall, so the professor rarely acknowledges or even notices when students arrive late. Even so, she hates being late for class. Luckily today, the traffic is flowing smoothly, and Emma's able to make it to her destination quickly.
After killing the engine, she gets out and shoves the car keys in her pocket before tugging her grey beanie more snugly over her ears as the chilly wind hits her face. She reaches the backseat door and hauls it open.
A smile lights up her face when she sees her daughter blinking open her beautiful, sea-blue eyes above the pale pink blanket with grey polka dots draped over the bottom half of the car seat to keep her warm.
"We're here, kiddo," Emma coos as she brushes a thumb over her daughter's cheek.
Hope stirs a bit, lifting her mitten covered hands to each side of her face as she lets out a little yawn, a bubble forming at her mouth. By the looks of her sweet, angelic face, you could never tell she made a big fuss and gave her mommy a hard time this morning when Emma was getting Hope in her cute little outfit, comprising a sleeper onesie, a white, long sleeved shirt, pink pants with elephants printed on them and a matching cap on her head.
It feels like only yesterday when she brought her sweet baby girl home from the hospital. Emma's heart was bursting with love when she first gazed upon Hope. It still does when she looks at her, and it hurts like hell whenever she has to drop her off and leave her before heading to class.
Hope is her world, and she thanks God every day for the precious gift she's been given.
Present...
When she reaches her house, her heart is hammering in her chest as Killian pulls up behind her car. The entire drive here had been torture. She takes a long, heavy breath and gets out of the car.
As they make their way up the walk, holding hands, she places her other hand on her belly, as though trying to reassure her baby that everything will be alright. Killian senses the uneasiness she feels and offers her an encouraging smile, giving her hand a gentle squeeze.
She puts on a small smile of her own, and they walk up the porch steps as he whispers in her ear, "Everything will be okay, love."
And here she's supposed to be the optimistic one because she knows everything that happens is God's will. Or so her father has preached about all her life.
Her heart is pounding mercilessly as she opens the door and they step inside, releasing each other's hand. The kitchen is buzzing with pleasant chatter, so she leads her boyfriend there without even bothering to remove her coat, only unzips it so she can breathe properly as she prepares to ruin her father's day. She just wants to get this over with as quickly and painlessly as possible.
It's just her parents here; her mother had suggested to Leo that he go over to his friend's house for a couple of hours before dinner, so of course he didn't argue with her about that.
Her father is the first to see them, and his friendly demeanor fades, his eyes shooting daggers at Killian as he rises from his chair. "What's he doing here?"
Mary Margaret places a hand on her husband's arm, looking up at him from her chair with pleading eyes. "Sit down, honey, Emma and Killian have to tell you something."
"Tell me what?" he demands, eyeing his wife in confusion.
"Just sit and let them speak."
David gulps as he glances between his daughter and Killian. "If you're telling me you're dating, I already told you I forbid it."
Emma's praying her voice doesn't give out on her or that she doesn't chicken out when she speaks. "That's not what we're about to tell you, Daddy." It's not the most important thing at least.
The walk from the kitchen door to the table only takes a few seconds, but it feels like the longest trek she's ever made, maybe because she can hear her erratic heart pounding in her ear, or because her father's death glare pinned on her boyfriend sucks the air completely from her lungs.
David is sitting at the head of the table, so Emma claims the seat next to him and Killian sits on the other side of her. He can't seem to keep his knee from bobbing up and down, nor can he stop scratching behind his ear, so Emma reaches for him, threading her fingers through his underneath the table and rests their joined hands on his knee. His leg stops shaking, and he gives her a frail smile.
David reclines back, folding his arms as he glares at Killian. "Well, whatever it is, I'm telling your father about this. I specifically told you to stay away from my—"
"I'm pregnant," she blurts out, cutting him off. She hadn't meant to say it like that. She had meant to ease into it, but she thought she'd save Killian from having to hear her father's unnecessary lectures.
As David's eyes widen with pure shock, his face draining of all color, as he takes time to process what his daughter has just told him, she glances at Killian and squeezes his hand, giving him the signal (and the courage) to speak.
Killian looks at David dead in the eye and clears his throat. "I'm the father."
Emma's expecting her dad to rise from his chair. She's expecting anger to consume him, and maybe that will come eventually, but at the moment there's silence.
Loud, deafening silence.
She can almost hear crickets chirping, as though she had just told an awful joke. She doesn't know if she should speak again or she should wait for the news to take hold of him. So she waits with bated breath while wearing the weight of his certain disappointment and possible anger. Then there's the indescribable and overwhelming feeling of shame that washes over her in waves. She's ashamed of lying to him. Ashamed she went behind his back. But she'd feared he would never be okay with her dating Killian. She's also ashamed because now her father knows Emma had broken her promise when she had accepted her purity ring. She went against her father's wishes and had sex out of wedlock. She went against God. She had committed a sin. But so did her father, eighteen years ago.
"I know you said I couldn't date, but when Killian and I met, we couldn't deny our feelings for each other," Emma explains. "And when you made him promise not to see me anymore, we tried to stop it."
That might be a slight alteration of the truth. They hadn't tried very hard.
"I love your daughter, Mr. Nolan," Killian professes to her father, even though David has yet to breathe a word. He looks at Emma again and places his other hand over their joined ones. "We didn't mean for this to happen, but I promise you I will take care of them." His eyes are still locked on hers as he raises her hand and plants a gentle kiss on her knuckles. His gentle lips soothe her soul more than she can even begin to comprehend, and she graces him with a soft smile.
Emma's father is still speechless, just staring off into space, and Mary Margaret is eyeing him in concern.
"David, say something."
Finally, his eyes slowly travel to his wife. "You knew about this?"
"I figured it out a week ago on my own, but I wanted Emma and Killian to tell you themselves."
"You knew they were seeing each other behind my back?" he asks her, but his voice is surprisingly calm, lacking any trace of anger. If he's enraged, he's doing a damn good job at hiding it.
"Only after I figured out Emma was pregnant."
"And you said nothing to me about it?" he asks her in a stoic tone.
"David, that's not important right now," she says softly and places a hand on his arm. "What's done is done."
Her father's shoulders sag as he joins his hands on the table, hanging his head. Emma can't tell if he's inwardly praying or just contemplating what to say.
They sit there in silence again, but the silence is so tense and overwhelming, she swears she can hear her blood pumping.
Finally, her father raises his head and looks at her with tears in his eyes. "Sweetheart, I am so disappointed. I am."
Now it was her turn to hang her head.
"You've made poor choices, which now have consequences," he continues. "It won't be easy and there will be struggles and a hard path ahead of you. But I love you. I want you to know that. No matter what decisions you make, you will always be my daughter." Emma swears she can see the slightest smile tugging at his lips. "And now I have been given more to love."
Wait, what?! Her mouth is agape. Before she can respond, her father gets up from his chair, and he looks like he'll burst into tears. She rises from her chair and turns to face him. He reaches for her, wrapping her up in his arms, and simply holds her.
It's exactly what she needed and nothing she expected.
Emma squeezes her eyes shut, trying to fight off her tears as he cradles the back of her head and drops a kiss through her hair. Emma's heart bursts and the dams break, tears streaming down her cheeks, her body shaking as she cries, "I am so sorry I broke your rules, Dad. I am so sorry. Will you forgive me?"
"Of course I forgive you."
What she encounters is something she'd been taught by him all her life, but never fully grasped… until now.
Grace.
She wasn't expecting this at all, but she is very grateful.
When they break the hug, Emma sniffles and wipes her tears. Mary Margaret is beaming with tears in her eyes, and she gets up and returns with some tissues, handing one to Emma and David.
Killian stands, and Emma can tell he's less nervous as he offers a smile of relief. His gaze meets her father's as he speaks sincerely. "I'm also sorry I lied to you—"
"Get out."
Emma's eyes snap to her father's, shock washing over her once again. "But, Dad—"
"Not you, sweetie." David stares at Killian with a steely expression. "I asked you to stay away from my daughter and you stood right in front of me and lied to my face."
Guilt flashes in Killian's eyes as he hangs his head. "I know… and I'm sorry..."
"Saying your sorry doesn't change anything. I said, get out of my house."
Emma eyes her father in disbelief. What happened to the grace he had just shown? "He is the father of my child! You can't keep us apart anymore."
"Emma, as long as you live under my roof, I want him out of my house and out of your life." David tries to walk away, but his wife grabs his arm trying to stop him.
"David, Killian is accepting his duties as a soon to be father. He's not running away from this. Why would you deny him that?"
David spins around and looks her in the eye. "Because they're too young. They're barely children themselves. In fact, I think it's better if you and I adopted Emma's baby so we can give Emma her best chance."
"Um, what?!" Now Emma is furious. She's beyond furious. She raises her hand to her belly through her thick sweater. "This is my child." She looks at Killian and takes his hand in her free one. "Our child. And we're keeping the baby."
"Emma…" David looks at her with pleading eyes. "I'm only looking out for your future here."
Something sweeps over Emma that she's never quite experienced before… not like this, and it's something she's witnessed with her own mother, something she's seen on Animal Planet when the mother bear is protecting her cubs. Before that pregnancy test showed positive a month ago, Emma had never realized how much a pregnancy forces a woman to grow up, whether they're a teen or a fully grown adult. And all of those protective, motherly emotions hit her like a freight train, and she expresses them twofold. "My future includes Killian and this baby—as my child!" she clarifies vehemently. "So if you're not on board with that, then that's fine! I won't be living under your roof anymore. We're leaving!" She tugs on Killian's hand, pulling him through the kitchen door.
"Emma, please, don't go," her mother begs, her words choked between sobs.
Her mother's heart wrenching pleas almost break her.
Willing herself to ignore them, Emma continues through the front door and makes her way down the porch steps, hauling her boyfriend with her. The image of her mother's gutted expression makes her want to turn around and go back, but she fights the urge. Her long, loose hair whips around in the cold, frigid winds as they head to his truck. Tears sting her eyes as the chill in the air makes her shiver all the way to her bones, and she pulls down the sleeve of her jacket to cover the hand that's not clutching tightly around Killian's left one.
"Wait, Emma…" Killian tugs on her hand when they reach the walkway, forcing her to stop and turn around. "Do you really want to leave your parents?" he asks, his expression and tone racked with guilt. "I don't want to be the reason you shut them out of our lives, baby. I mean, I don't want you to shut them out at all. They're your parents."
Emma loves how he says our lives, but somehow his statement sends a shock wave of realization through her. He's right; she doesn't want to shut her parents out. Despite her father's behavior toward Killian, she still loves him and wants him to be a part of her child's life. Utterly confused and conflicted, Emma sobs uncontrollably, and Killian pulls her to him, wrapping his arms around her. "No, I don't wanna leave them."
Her parents rush outside, pausing on the porch when they see Emma and Killian on the lawn. Emma sniffles and lifts her head, wiping her tears as she looks at her mother through a watery gaze. The fear and devastation is evident in her mother's pale features as tears run down her cheeks. David wraps his arms around his wife and holds her, both of them wrecked and broken as they pray and wait and gaze at their daughter with desperate, pleading eyes.
Emma gulps and glances between them and Killian as she places her hand on her belly. She could go with him and leave her parents behind. Her brother. But she can't bear the thought of never seeing her parents or Leo again. She loves her family and can't stomach the idea of her baby growing up without knowing them. She can't stomach the idea of being away from them. She also can't stomach the idea of preventing Killian from living his life. He wants to be a pilot, and he can literally go to any college in the country. And she would forever regret it if she kept him from living his dream.
Emma turns around, taking his hands in hers, her fingers trembling. "Killian, I saw the letters."
"What letters, love?" he asks softly, furrowing his brows.
Emma forces a doleful smile through her tears. "You got accepted to Embry-Riddle. I found the letter a few days ago in your bag when I was looking for a pen."
"But Emma, I can explain. My father wanted me to apply for many colleges to keep my options open." A small smile tugs at his lips. "It doesn't matter though, I want to be with you and the baby, wherever that may be."
Emma shakes her head, as though the movement would stop her pulse from throbbing in her ear. "I want you to go to Embry-Riddle. You've earned this."
His smile fades, his eyes wide, flashing with fear. "I'm not going anywhere without you."
The plea in his features hits her hard, but she pushes through it, as much it hurts. She'd never forgive herself if he compromised his dreams to be with her. "I can't let you settle for less than what you deserve. Your dream is to be a pilot, and how are you going to be a father if you're gone all the time? That's not a life I want for my child, or for you."
His eyes glisten with tears as he releases one of her hands to caress the apple of her cheek, his fingers trembling. "But, Emma, baby, I can make it work." His words are completely shattered. "I can pick something else. I don't have to be a pilot."
She gulps down everything she feels for Killian and forces the words out, even though it kills her to say them. "You said the only reason you would ever leave is if I asked you to… so I'm asking you… I'm begging you..." Emma swallows the large lump in her throat, her bottom lip quivering. She's on the verge of bursting into tears again. "Please leave, Killian. I don't want to be with you anymore," she lies flat-out. She doesn't know if it's believable enough, but she's gotten good at lying over the past few months. Lying to her parents. Lying about being with him. Disguising her feelings for him. So she figures she should be a pro at it by now.
Judging by how white his face turns, how his hand goes limp as it falls from her cheek, how his expression completely knocks the wind out of her like someone sucker-punched her in the stomach, her claim must've been convincing enough. Now she just has to do the hardest thing she's ever had to do, other than telling him she doesn't want him anymore. She yanks the necklace from her neck and takes his hand, turns it over and deposits the silver chain and pendant in his palm, closing his fingers tightly around the contents. When she looks up, Killian is opening his fist and staring at the necklace. He lifts his head as tears stream down his cheeks. He looks like he's just been stabbed in the heart.
The ache clamps around her own heart so tightly, she thinks if she takes a full breath, her heart will just explode into a million pieces. This boy—this man… he is the only person in the world who sees her right down to her bones. And has accepted her completely. None of the self-discipline or things she's learned in church or from her father had mattered when she was around him. She threw all of it out the window for him. And she'll never once regret it. NEVER. She'll never regret giving in to her primal, lustful desires for him, she'll never regret kissing him or making love with him or becoming pregnant with his child. "I'm sorry, Killian," she whispers, her words completely cracked and barely audible as she places her hand on her belly. "I have to do what's best for my baby."
As wrecked and heartbroken as he looks, he nods and wipes at his tears. "As you wish, Emma."
She hates that he's keeping his promise, she hates that he's kept all of his promises, because if he hadn't, then she never would've allowed her heart to give in. And if she didn't love him completely, then this would be so much easier. But she's also glad he's not making this any harder than it already is. She hates herself for pushing him away, though. She regrets her decision as much as she's trying to keep his dreams intact. She regrets it even more when he does something she doesn't expect. He falls to his knees and places his hands on her belly. Emma peers down at him through a watery gaze as he leans in, whispering sweet nothings to their child. She can't believe this will be the last time he'll be whispering sweet nothings to her belly. The thought draws a tear from her eye that's blown into the snow by a sharp gust of wind.
"I have to go now, but just know that…" he pauses when his voice cracks, "I'll always love you... no matter what. Take care of your mum for me, okay?" He leans in and presses a gentle kiss to her stomach, and she feels the wetness from his tears as they soak her sweater. "Goodbye, little love." His voice is strained, and she can tell he's trying not to break down completely in her front yard. He stands up and lifts her hand, dropping a gentle kiss to her knuckles, his soft lips warming her soul, despite the ice running through her veins. "Goodbye, Emma," he says, never breaking eye contact with her. "I'll never stop loving you. Never."
She'll never stop loving him either, but she can't tell him that. She can't fill him with false hope that there's a possibility of them getting back together in the future. "Bye, Killian," she whispers, barely able to produce the words from her throat as another tear rolls down her cheek.
He releases her hand and turns around, his shoulders sagged as he heads to his truck.
Correction. Watching him walk away is the hardest thing she's ever had to do.
She can no longer breathe; as many breaths as she tries to take, the surrounding air is too thin, and she feels like she's suffocating. Drowning in the middle of the ocean and she can't keep her head above water.
As she watches him get in his truck, watches him pull out of the driveway, it takes everything within her to not run after him, either that or break down and cry. But as soon as the truck is out of sight, she no longer cares about maintaining her semblance of strength.
Emma takes a raspy, painful breath and lets the powerful torrents pull her under, lets the ocean consume her completely. She sobs like she's never sobbed before. The painful clamp around her heart just closed shut, making her heart combust, and it hurts so fucking badly, unlike any other pain she's ever experienced before, she's worried her baby can feel her pain. She almost falls to the ground in a blubbering mess of tears, but two pairs of arms are holding her up and drawing her in. Her parents hold her in their arms, letting her cry to her heart's content as she tells them she let him go. She let the only boy she's ever loved walk away so he could live his best life.
"Everything will be okay, sweetie," David whispers softly and drops a kiss to the crown of her head, squeezing her tight.
Any resentment she feels for her father still lingers in her gut, but she would never forgive herself if her baby had to grow up without knowing Emma's parents.
Less than a year later...
Emma unstraps Hope from the baby seat, and carefully picks her up, holding her three month old securely in her arms with the blanket wrapped around her little body and presses a delicate kiss to her little cheek. She goes around to the other side and grabs Hope's diaper bag containing everything her baby will need while Emma is at school, before making her way up the familiar walkway. The walkway where she'd broken Killian's heart (and her own). A bitter, unforgiving wind slices through the air and swallows her, making her shiver. But of course, it could be the memory that makes her shiver. Or both.
She pulls the blanket higher over the back of Hope's head and holds her closer as she ascends the porch steps. Before she reaches the front door, it's already being opened as her father steps outside.
He's donning a big, happy grin on his face and relieves Emma of the bag, strapping it over his shoulder. "There are my two lovely princesses."
Emma smiles as they head inside the house. Once they reach the foyer, she transfers her baby to David's arms without the blanket and removes Hope's mittens and hat, revealing the wispy blonde hair on top of her head.
"Sorry we're running late again. You know how fussy Hope gets when I'm getting her ready for the day."
"I have no idea what you're talking about," he chuckles as he lifts his granddaughter into the air and swoops her down, kissing her cheek, making Hope giggle. Emma's heart always melts when she hears the gleeful chime of her baby's laugh. It warms her soul. There is no better sound in the world. His eyes are glued to Hope's face as she curls her little hand around his finger. " She's always a perfect little angel for grandma and grandpa."
As though on cue, her mother steps into the foyer, her face lighting up when she sees her granddaughter. "There she is!" Mary Margaret takes Hope's little hand and kisses both of her cheeks. Her eyes are full of love when she looks from her granddaughter to her daughter and scoops Emma up into a big hug. "Oh, I've missed you both so much."
"You just saw me yesterday," Emma laughs, wrapping her arms around her mother. Though, she can certainly understand missing her bubbly baby girl every second of the day whenever she's not in her presence.
"True, but your father and I always miss you when you're gone, right sweetie?" she asks her husband, breaking the hug.
"Of course we do," David replies, looking at Emma. "You're our baby girl. You'll always be our baby girl." He transfers Hope into his wife's arms and pulls his arm around Emma's shoulders, kissing her temple. "We don't even know what we would do without you."
"Ugh, I don't even want to think about that," Mary Margaret murmurs as she gently rocks Hope in her arms.
Emma smiles weakly, her eyes welling with tears when she thinks back to that dreadful day almost a year ago, that day she'd almost left her parents and shut them out completely from her and her daughter's lives. She's so grateful she had made the right decision and stayed with them. She's so glad she didn't leave.
She's so glad Hope has her grandma and grandpa Nolan.