Emma couldn't move, shock and confusion running through her system. "I.. You.." She tried to speak, but the words were caught in her throat, tears streaming down her cheeks.
"Swan.." Killian breathed, he couldn't believe he was finally back with her.
Emma shook her head, she was in disbelief. She thought she was imagining things, that her lack of sleep and how much she missed him had caught up to her.
"It's me, Love." He spoke softly, moving closer to her when she still hadn't moved. He ached to hold her, but was hesitant to initiate it after so long away from her.
When she was finally able to move again, she threw herself into his arms, holding him tightly as sobs began to wrack her body. She buried her face in his neck, her tears soaking the collar of his shirt.
"Killian.. I.. I can't.." She tried to speak through her tears.
"Shh.. My love, I've got you.. We don't have to talk." He whispered, pressing a kiss to her hair, his own tears falling.
Killian snaked his arms around her waist and held her closer, keeping them both upright, breathing her scent in for the first time in a year. He was covered in bruises and had sore ribs, but he didn't care about the pain when he had his wife in his arms again.
They both cried tears of joy, standing in the front hall of their apartment with the door wide open. They were unaware of the time that had passed until Mary Margaret came to check on Emma.
"Emma, Sweetie?" She said just as she turned to enter the apartment, stopping in her tracks when she saw Emma hugging someone.
Emma lifted her head from where it had been buried against Killian, her eyes red and cheeks tear stained, as Killian turned to look at the new person in the apartment.
"Oh my.." Mary Margaret was speechless at the sight of her brother-in-law. "Killian?"
"Hello, Lass.. " His voice was hoarse, as he continued to rub Emma's back gently.
"I'm going to call David.." She squeezed his arm gently. "I can't believe you're here, but I'm happy you are." She said softly to him. "Do you want me to have him bring Charlotte?" She asked Emma.
Emma glanced at Killian, wanting to make sure he was ready to see their little girl. Killian nodded, the eagerness to see his baby evident in his eyes.
"Please, I need my baby for this.." She said softly, drying her tears a little.
Emma pulled away from him slightly, in order to assess his injuries, wanting to be sure everything was okay. She traced her fingers over the bruises on his cheek and down to his neck. She stopped when she got to where his left hand should be, lifting his arm gently to her chest.
"Killian.." She breathed. "What did they do to you?"
He shook his head, he didn't want to have to tell her about this right now. "I'm okay.. It looks more painful than it is right now.." He was lying to her, but he just got home, he didn't want to scare her.
He had been captured and tortured, losing his hand had been the least of his worries. When the Navy rescued him, the doctors gave him a lot of pain meds, they had wanted to keep him for longer but he insisted on leaving and finding his family.
Emma hugged him again tightly. "I thought you were dead. They told me they didn't know where you were, and that I should arrange a funeral..They even brought me all of your belongings." She shook her head, tears threatening to fall again.
"I'm so sorry you went through that, Love.. But I'm home now. I'll have to go to the doctors and the base often but.. I'm home." He said softly.
Emma nodded, moving them to the couch so she could curl into his arms more comfortably. Killian settled with his arm around Emma, he needed to feel her close to him so he could be sure this was real.
After a few minutes, David and Charlotte entered the apartment, Charlotte immediately wanting to see her mother, squirming to be let down. David set her on the ground so she could toddle over to Emma, and Emma lifted her to her lap.
"Hi, Princess.. Did you have fun at the park?" Emma asked, kissing her forehead.
She nodded, curling into her mother's arms. "Yeah, Mama.." She said softly, her gaze landing on Killian. She seemed suddenly shy in the presence of someone she isn't sure she knows.
"Baby.. This is your Daddy.. You remember we listened to him read last night?" Emma asked, there were pictures of Killian all over the house, and Emma wanted her to know who her father was and how much he adored her.
Charlotte nodded. "Dada?" She looked to Killian, wanting him to confirm.
Killian nodded. "Aye, Lottie.. I'm your Dada.." He spoke gently.
Killian couldn't believe how gorgeous Charlotte was, and how much she'd grown in the last year. He knew she looked a lot like him too, but he could only see Emma in all of her features. Emma gave him a reassuring smile, leaning against his shoulder.
"Lottie.. When I lost you, I couldn't keep calling her that, it was your nickname for your baby girl.." Emma said softly, rubbing Charlotte's back.
Emma consistently told Charlotte about Killian, never wanting the memory of Killian to die. They read the book he recorded for her, and Charlotte knew who he was in the pictures around the house. Her favorite toy was the little stuffed duck Killian had purchased for her.
"Well, I'm glad I'm back. I know it'll probably take some time for her to be comfortable with me again, but I can't wait to get to know her again.."
Charlotte was still curled up with Emma, but she shifted to see him better. After looking at him a moment, she climbed over Emma's lap so she could sit between her parents. Emma played with her little pigtail absently, looking from her to Killian with a soft smile. Charlotte settled contently leaning against Killian's side, it was obvious she was getting ready for a nap.
They had completely forgotten that Mary Margaret and David were in the apartment with them until David cleared his throat. "Um, Em.. Do you want me to put Charlotte down?" He asked softly.
Emma shook her head. "I'd like to take her, um.. Killian, I'm sure you'd like to change, or shower if you want.. All your clothes are still in the closet.. If you need anything David or I can help."
Killian nodded, his hand had been messing with Charlotte's hair gently like he used to do with Emma's hair. "Aye, a shower might be nice."
"Alright, little one, I'm going to put you down for your nap.. And when you get up, Daddy wants to spend some more time with you, you think you might want to show him your toys?" Emma knew letting her play with Killian would help her get used to him again.
Charlotte nodded. "Yeah, toys.." She looked at Killian with a tired smile.
Killian smiled back at her. "Have a nice nap, Little Love.. We'll play when you get up."
Emma stood and lifted Charlotte into her arms, cuddling her close. She knew how tired Charlotte was, especially since she knew she hadn't slept well the night before. She walked her to her room and sat in the rocking chair with her.
"Your Daddy's home, Princess.. I know he can't wait to spend some time with you again.." She spoke softly, trying to get the baby to fall asleep.
Once Charlotte was asleep, Emma settled her safely into the crib, making sure her little duck was within her reach. She smiled softly, the reality that Killian was home and Charlotte would have both her parents was starting to really set in.
Emma went to their bedroom to check on Killian, he was looking around the room at all the pictures she had of Charlotte, he was focused on the few she left on the dresser.
"I probably take too many pictures of her, but.." She shrugged, trailing off when she noticed him looking at a picture of Charlotte on Liam's lap from a few weeks ago.
Killian startled a little, but glanced at her. "This is recent, aye?" He asked softly.
Emma nodded, wrapping her arm around his waist. "Yeah, a couple weeks ago."
"Liam is okay.. I.. I can't believe it.." He shook his head. "I thought our entire crew was dead.. Is he healthy?"
Emma nodded. "He is now.. He struggled for a while, but he's doing well. Why don't you get a shower and I'll call him and Elsa?"
Killian nodded, pressing a soft kiss to her head. "I love you, Emma. And I've missed you." He whispered.
"I love you too, Killian." She smiled a little, hugging him for a minute before pulling away so he could shower.
She moved back to the kitchen to make some coffee, and found Mary Margaret had already put a pot on. David and Mary Margaret were quietly talking in the kitchen when Emma came in and David immediately moved to hug his little sister.
Emma let her brother hold her, his hand cupping the back of her head. "I can't believe he's here, David.." Her voice was quiet.
He nodded. "I know, Ems.. But he is, and now that Charlotte is asleep, maybe he'll tell you what happened. We can leave if you want us to.."
"Stay.. Killian is your family too, and then he won't have to relive it all again to tell you what happened. And I'm gonna call Liam anyways." She shrugged. "And thank you, for spending time with my little one."
"Of course, Emma.. I love my niece, and I'd do anything for the two of you. I'm happy for you, that your husband is back in your life, and M and I will still be here when you need us." David kissed her temple.
"You're a good brother, David.." She leaned against him. "Um.. Have you seen my phone?" She asked softly. "I need it to call Liam and Elsa.."
Before Emma could try to find her phone, Mary Margaret stopped her. "Use my phone, Sweetie.. I'll find yours while you talk to them."
Emma nodded and dialed Elsa's number. She answered on the first ring, worried something was wrong with Emma or Charlotte.
"Mary Margaret? Is everything okay?" Elsa answered.
"Hey, El.. It's actually Emma. And everything is fine.."
"Oh, Emma.. It's good to hear from you today, are you doing well?"
"I'm fine, Elsa.. But, I do have something to tell you and Liam. Is he around?"
"Of course, I'll put you on speaker."
Emma took a breath, biting her lip nervously. "You both should probably be sitting when I tell you this.."
"Um, okay.. We're sitting, Emma. You're scaring me." Elsa sounded worried again.
Emma took a deep breath. "Well, Killian is alive. And he's here. At the apartment."
Elsa gasped softly. "Killian's.. Alive?" Her voice was soft, the shock evident.
"Yeah, he's alive, and he's mostly okay. He wants to see you guys, so I thought you might come over, unless you're busy.."
"Oh, of course we'll be there, Lass." Liam spoke up. "I can't believe he's okay.. Do you need anything? Have you eaten today? Is my Charlotte alright?"
Since Liam had gotten his strength back he had made sure to take care of Emma and Charlotte whenever they needed anything. He would help Emma when she got busy with work, get them groceries, and he and Elsa would have them over for dinner at least once a week.
"David and Mary Margaret have been here all day helping me with Charlotte, they've made sure I've eaten. Charlotte is good, Liam, she's napping now. Just come on over when you're ready, the door will be unlocked.." Emma appreciated Liam's concern for his niece.
"See you soon, Emma. We can't wait to see him." Elsa said, the shock still evident in her voice, but Emma knew she was happy.
Emma said goodbye and moved to the living room just as Killian was coming out of their room. He had showered and changed into a pair of sweatpants and one of his old t-shirts.
"Feel better?" Emma asked.
"Aye, thank you, Love." He gave her a small smile. "I see you still steal my clothes." He said softly, settling next to her on the couch. His good hand came to toy with the sleeve of the shirt she had on.
"It made me feel close to you, some of your stuff still smelled like your cologne.. And, my husband was missing, presumably dead, and I became a single mom. It was hard, but Charlotte deserved not to have a mom who's depressed all the time, so I did what I could to feel better." She shrugged, kind of rambling.
She didn't know why, but she was nervous he wouldn't like some of the choices she'd made while he was gone. She bit her lip nervously. "I um.. I wear your dog tags." She pulled them from beneath the shirt. "These are the set they brought back in your belongings.."
"Have you ever taken them off?" He asked, and she shook her head. Killian ran his fingers through her hair, taking a moment. "All I want is for you to be happy, Emma.. No matter what. You know, if you moved on from me, I'll understand."
Emma turned so she was facing him completely. "You're kidding right? You are my husband, Killian, my true love. There's no 'moving on' from you." She placed her hand on his knee so he'd look up at her.
"I probably would've spent the rest of my life alone, because I couldn't bear to be with anyone else." She shook her head. "I told you on our wedding day, you're it for me, Killian."
He nodded a little. "Your heart's desire, Swan, is all I want you to have, Love.. And if that meant you finding someone else I would've been okay eventually."
Emma leaned forward and kissed him softly. "I love you so much." She rested her forehead against his for a moment. "Will you tell me about what happened? And so you don't have to tell the story a lot, I asked David and Mary Margaret to stay, and your brother and Elsa should be here soon.."
He nodded. "Aye.. I'll tell you everything I remember.."
Killian held Emma as they waited for his brother and sister-in-law to get there, he could tell she was exhausted. She was being kind of clingy with him, but he didn't care he knew he was clinging just as tightly to her presence.