After spending a week dealing with the aftermath of Hurricane Irma, I realized that my Captain Swan from the Beach House verse lived in Key Largo, which was one of the hardest hit areas in Florida. See what you think.

Hurricane Irma

A Beach House Story

Wednesday

As soon as he sailed into the Bay, Killian checked the weather alert that had popped up on his phone and frowned at what he saw. He had been in Florida for a little over three years now and had been fortunate when it came to hurricanes. But as someone who spent a great deal of time on the sea, he had a healthy respect for the power one could wield and worried this one could be trouble.

He and his team worked side by side, docking the Schwan, helping the passengers disembark and as soon as they were alone, he called them together. "Have you seen the weather?" He asked them worriedly.

"Killian," Tink looked concerned, "What's going on?" She made eye contact with both Wendy and Eddie and who shrugged their shoulders.

"We've got a serious situation coming our way," Killian looked at the three of them. "There's a Category 5 hurricane in the Caribbean and many of the tracks show a strong possibility she will be heading our direction. We need to take care of the ships and then take care of our homes."

"What do we need to do?" Wendy asked as she grabbed hold of Eddie's hand. "I've never been in a hurricane before but after seeing what happened in Texas, I'm scared."

Killian frowned down at his phone, trying to piece together what all needed to be done for both the business and for his home. He also needed to hear his wife's voice just to make sure she was alright. She was a Floridian and had experienced hurricanes before, but having been a small child when Hurricane Andrew paid a visit to her home state, they made her nervous. He needed to ascertain for himself she was fine and then he could take care of everything else.

"Wendy and Tink, you two go back to the offices and reschedule all the bookings for the next several days. Eddie and I will move all the ships into storage."

"Will do," Tink called already gathering her bag while waiting for Wendy to say goodbye to her beau.

"I'm going to change out of this," Killian shrugged out of his heavy duster and disappeared into his cabin. Once he had changed into a pair of old jeans and a t-shirt, he pulled out his phone and sent Emma a message.

K: Are you with a patient?

E: Not right this minute, why?

Killian quickly pushed the Emma button and waited for the call to go through. When he heard her voice, it immediately soothed his fears but not wanting to take too much of her time, he got right to the point, "Swan, have you seen the latest weather report?"

"Not since this morning," she answered him, "I had patients most of the day, why?"

"Remember hurricane Irma?" He tried to keep the worry out of his voice.

"I remember, Killian. Is she coming our way?" She sounded resigned to the possibility as if she had expected the reprieve they'd had from hurricanes the last few years to run out soon.

"Aye love, she is, and she's a monster too." He ran his hand through his hair and paced in the small confines of his cabin. "Eddie and I are taking the ships to storage and then we can protect our home. Shall I pick you up so you can leave your car in the parking garage?"

She sighed sounding tired, "That's a good idea, babe. Then do you want to stop by the store on the way home?"

Mentally, checking off the 'to do' items on his list, they made plans for him to arrive at an approximate time. "I love you," he whispered just before he hung up and headed back up on deck to begin the task of moving his flock of swans to higher ground.

Leaving the Schwan for last, he sent Eddie to meet him at the storage facility in the truck and climbed onboard the Cigno ready to fly. Feeling his phone buzz, the message from Emma added fuel for his flight.

E: I love you too ;-)

As soon as she had seen the last patient, completed the last note and sent all her staff home to prepare for Irma, she dropped down in her chair and reached in her drawer for a package of crackers. She had just taken a bite when Ruby entered the office. Emma frowned at her friend, "What are you still doing here?"

"Victor is picking me up," she grinned at her friend, "ls Killian picking you up too?" Emma's mouth was full so she just shook her head as she continued to eat her crackers. "Look at us," Ruby giggled, "Two old married women. Who would have ever thought?"

"Feels good, doesn't it?" Emma's eyes twinkled.

"Yes, it does," Ruby agreed. "Do you need anything before I leave?"

"I don't think so. Be safe." After Ruby left, Emma finished her snack and called to check on M&M.

Unable to reach her sister, she left a message and packed up her office, finishing just as she received a message from Killian he was on his way. Deciding to wait for him outside, she took one last look around and shut the door leaving work behind.

After Killian picked up Emma, with their condo protected, they drove toward Key Largo anticipating higher than normal traffic. With preparations underway, all visitors were being told to leave and individuals were shopping for last minute supplies. Deciding it would be most prudent to divide and conquer, once home, Killian started work on storm preparations around the house and Emma took inventory on food and light sources before leaving to make a grocery store run.

As he worked, Killian thought back over his conversation with Liam and how they were boarding up their home and he was taking Elsa and their newborn son, Brennan, north a couple of counties to stay with Elsa's sister and husband. A good plan, he thought, however with the way Irma kept changing course, not one where you could be confident the storm would miss you. "We do what we have to do to protect those we love, right Rumple?" He crooned to the dog who insisted on inspecting everything that was being done.

Killian looked over their property, trying to decide where to start and ended up removing all the furniture from the outside area and storing it wherever he could find a place. Then he started on the shutters, something which would take a while since their home had so many windows. He wondered how Emma was faring at the supermarket, assuming it was packed.

Emma bypassed the first grocery store she came to, driving farther to one that was a little bigger and she hoped better stocked. With a full parking lot, she had to drive around a few times before she was able to snag a parking place and then the real fun started.

The inside of the store was just as packed as the outside and many shelves were already bare. Emma grabbed some apples and bananas but none of the other fruits looked very good to her. The next aisle she grabbed the last case of water and a few bottles of juice that wouldn't taste too bad if they were warm before turning onto the bread aisle. One loaf, a few boxes of chocolate donuts, some peanut butter and applesauce were all that caught her eye before moving on to get some extra cat and dog food and getting lucky when she uncovered a package of 'D' batteries.

She moved on tossing some paper products and then stocked up on salty snacks that she knew Killian enjoyed. There were only a few aisles left where she added a box of bandages, some antibiotic cream, a box of ibuprofen and some gauze and tape. All done she thought, turning to work her way to the check-out counters when she spotted something she knew Killian would enjoy. Tossing two in, just in case, she took her place in line.

Arriving home where she was greeted by Rumple, she carried the bags inside and as Linus and Lucy wound around her legs, she searched for Killian's gift and tried to decide when best to give it to him. Nervous about the storm, she took the boxes and hid them in her 'to go' bag, thinking that when the time was right, she would know.

Saturday

When word came that they had to evacuate, Emma had been expecting it but still couldn't stop the tears from filling her eyes. She needed time to pull out the memories and play them over again. This wasn't how she wanted to spend the weekend.

"Emma, love," Killian called as he came in the front door, Rumple hard on his heels. "Our suitcases are in the car. What..." As soon as he was able to get a good look at her face, he stopped talking and wrapped her in his arms. "I know, babe. I feel it too," he whispered softly.

She circled her arms around his trim waist, "I know, but this place," she sniffed, "it's magical."

Killian separated them just enough to tilt her chin up, "It's magic brought us together, but our love keeps us together. Have faith." He kissed her, showing her that the magic wasn't in a place but in their hearts.

"But what if..." She started to say before he kissed her again not letting her finish the statement.

"If Irma touches our house, we can fix it, alright?" When she nodded her head, he gave her one last kiss before pointing to a waterproof container he had brought in. "Would you like to bring our picture books, love?"

The somber tone of his voice was so unlike him that it Emma's heart broke all over again. She loved their beach house but she had only lived in it a short time. It had been a part of Killian's life for as long as he could remember. It wasn't fair, it just wasn't fair. "Why don't you get the ones from the other rooms and I'll get the ones out here?" She thought he might like a few minutes alone to say goodbye.

He nodded his head and picking up the second box disappeared down the hall. Emma took her box and after taking the books off the shelves set them in the box. Every book had a special memory and as she flipped through the pages, she kept having to wipe the tears off her face. The last book she placed inside the box was the one that she had made for him for the past Christmas. It said, 'Our Courtship.' She remembered exactly what he said to her and how she had felt that night. And afterward he had taken her in his arms and they made love. She had felt wanted and cherished and so very loved.

Killian hadn't closed the shutters to the sliding doors yet and as she looked out onto the sand, the memories crashed into her head just like the large waves were already crashing onto their dock. If she looked up the beach, she could find the exact spot where Killian had found her after she had left him that last letter. She had been feeling broken hearted, thinking she had lost him without ever having him and had heard her name in the wind.

But then she heard it again. "EEEMMMMAAA SSWWAANN!" She looked up the beach in the direction of the path and saw a silhouette. It was too dark to make out any features but someone was moving down the path, and she heard it again "EEEMMMMAAA SSWAANN!" and her feet started moving, slowly at first until she was running toward the figure, knowing without a doubt it was him. Her feet were flying across the sand until she came in contact with a warm body and she felt strong arms wrap around her, holding her close and she was hearing, "I've got you, Swan, I've got you, Swan," repeated, reverently over and over in her ear as she wept in his arms.

That moment would be forever etched in her mind, as one of the best moments of her life.

Following the beach closer to their house, she could point to the exact spot where Rumple had greeted her on the day that Killian had proposed.

Rumple was waiting for her, half way down, and when she tried to walk around him he refused to move. Patting her leg, she called, "Come on boy, let's go," but still he sat.

That's curious, she thought. Bending closer to make sure he was ok, he lifted his paw, like he did when shaking for a treat, and when she reached down she saw a piece of paper attached.

"What the…?"

Emma smiled to herself wondering what Killian was using courier Rumple for that he couldn't send in a text or tell her. She removed the paper and opened it. What she read made her heart race and tears form in her eyes. His letter said;

"I love you. Marry me?"

"Yes!" she shouted out loud. Then as her feet took off the rest of the way, she continued to chant "yes, yes, yes" over and over again, until she saw him standing by a group of cushions next to a low table. Hesitating just a split second, she watched the smile cross his face and taking off again, she ran right into his arms, and showered kisses all over his beautiful face, repeating her answer until his smile was so large, the tiny lines at the sides of his eyes crinkled.

And then just a few months later, her dream wedding had occurred directly behind their home, right on the sand.

The minister asked them if they had rings to exchange. Killian turned to Rumple and bent over. Rumple lifted his paw and Killian gently untied the rings and patted the dog on the head before murmuring, "Good job boy."

Picking up her hand, he slid the ring onto her finger. "Swan, this ring was given to me by my mother. She said it would lead me to my one true love and maybe she was right. For you see, on that fateful day, I had uncovered it while unpacking and slipped the chain over my head and it found you. It was waiting for you, Swan. I was waiting for you."

Emma took the ring that Killian had chosen, a simple platinum band with their initials and wedding date carved inside, and slid it onto his finger pledging her love and faithfulness.

The minister began his speech pronouncing them man and wife but before he could finish, Killian had tugged her toward him, wrapping his arms around her waist at the same time his lips captured hers in a scorching open mouth kiss. Feeling Emma reach up to wrap her arms around his neck, he pulled her body even tighter against his and as she sighed into his mouth, he plundered her lips conveying everything he was feeling, yet trying to maintain some decorum in front of their guests.

How could she say goodbye to so many memories knowing that when they returned their beach would never be the same?

Killian carried the box into the room and taking pictures off the wall gently wrapped them in towels before placing them inside. He prayed that when they were allowed to return, their house would still be standing here waiting for them. He wanted more time with Emma and, he hoped, time to fill it with their children.

As he skimmed the pictures scattered across the dresser, his eyes kept coming back to one taken not long after the house had been completed. It was of him, his parents and Liam and they were sitting on the beach. As he looked at it, he could hear the waves rolling in and smell the sea and hear his mother's musical laugh. "I wish you were here, mum. You would have loved Emma." He whispered to her image as he wrapped up the picture and included it with the others.

Once that room was empty, he moved into the second bedroom, which functioned as an office and laughed at the first picture he noticed. There sat Rumple on the walkway, with a large smile on his face showing off his pawprints. Killian looked down at Rumple, who hadn't let him far from his sight since he had started the hurricane preparations. "Don't worry, mate. You, Linus and Lucy are going with us too." Shaking his head at the way Rumple just blinked at him as if to say, "But of course," he moved on.

He had already sanded and primed so he just needed to place a tarp on the ground, pour the paint and he was ready to start. Deciding he needed a bit of music he went in, turned on his stereo and leaving the door open, set the speaker by it. Enjoying the warm day and the music, Killian had completed one side and was half way through the other when he noticed movement out of the corner of his eye. Looking towards the drive, he saw a black and white dog just sitting there, looking at him. Killian looked around to see if the dog came with an owner, but seeing no one, looked back at the dog, "Well, hello there. Are you lost?"

The dog tilted his head as if to contemplate his answer, stood up and headed down the walk. Killian assumed the dog was coming closer to be pet so was totally surprised when the dog walked right past him, but not before stepping in and out of the paint tray, tracking footsteps up the walk to the door. After recovering from the shock, Killian jumped up and tried to stop the dog, yelling, "Stop! Stop!" but as the dog reached the front door, he didn't stop. He just looked over his shoulder and then trotted right into the house.

And that he thought, was one of the best days of his life. Rumple had quickly become someone whom he could share his thoughts with and was never judged. He had talked to him about his frustrations about being able to be with Emma and when he had disappeared his heart had broken all over again. After all three of them had been reunited, life had once again been complete.

The last picture Killian packed was one taken just last Christmas when the newest members of their family had arrived. Linus and Lucy, two kittens that Liam had found abandoned at a construction site and with a little help from his mate, Robin, they had magically appeared next to their mailbox. A perfect addition to their family.

As he got further down the walk, closer to the postbox, he could see something black and orange at Rumple's feet. Stopping close to them, he finally had a look at the small balls of fur that had captured the dog's attention. Hearing Emma coming up behind him, he turned and saw that she appeared to be just as enamored with the scene as Rumple was.

"Oh Killian, look! Rumple found kittens!"

"Let's see what you have there, boy." He reached and picked up a little ball of orange fur, gently lifting her tail, before cradling it against his chest. "See here, Swan. We have ourselves a little lass." The kitten started purring and butting her face into his chest. Handing her to Emma, he bent over, picking up the fuzzy black kitten, and after checking turned to Emma. "And here we have a little lad. It appears that our family just increased in size.

One last look and he carried the box out to the SUV before walking back in to find Emma. She was standing in front of the glass doors staring out at sea and he could only imagine the memories running through her mind. "Emma," he wrapped his arms around her, pulling her tightly against him, "we need to go. The winds are picking up and I'm sure the traffic on US 1 will be bad."

"I know. I'm as ready as I'll ever be." They closed and locked the shutters and door and after taking one last look around began their journey to M&M and David's house where they would all ride out the storm.

M&M and David's house, located in Coral Gables, close to the University of Miami where she worked, was a sprawling Mediterranean style with plenty of room. David had almost finished with the shutters and after carrying their suitcases inside, Killian went to help him while Emma and her sister put together a quick lunch.

The first few hours after the outer bands of the hurricane started arriving, the atmosphere was almost party like. They contacted friends to check on their whereabouts, finding out that several of them had ended up back at Bayside General Hospital ready to lend a hand when the injuries inevitably started happening. Robin, a police officer, was on duty and so Regina had taken Roland, Robby, and Rosie to the hospital where her mother, Cora, was keeping them company.

Since Victor was in charge of the Emergency Room, Ruby had decided to stay at the hospital to help if she was needed. Ashley too had taken both Sean and Alexandra to work with her, where she could be available, yet not separated from her family. Emma hadn't been able to get hold of Belle, but since she and August had become almost inseparable, assumed she was probably with him. All their friends accounted for, Emma leaned her head against Killian's shoulder, listening to the winds as they howled outside of the house.

After hours of listening to the creaking of the house every time a strong gust swirled around, or the moans of the winds as they snuck between the vents in the shutters, her anxiety was running high. Looking over at her sister, she wished she could as easily fall asleep on her husband's lap, but she didn't have that luxury. She was too busy worrying about their house and what they might go back to, or not go back to. The house, their things, possessions that can be replaced, yes, but so many memories too. And Killian's gift to her, given when they still had never met, but somehow it had survived and thrived, still standing tall today. Would it still be there after the destruction of Irma?

"Oh, Killian," she whispered, "What have you done? You planted a tree, for me?" Emma walked around the trunk, running her fingers over the bark, feeling the ridges of the heart and of their initials. Reaching up she took a leaf and pulled it free from the branch. It was smooth and while the blossoms wouldn't be present until late spring or summer, she could imagine their smell.

"You did it, Killian. You must really be a pirate, as you've managed to steal a little piece of my heart." Pressing her lips against the spot where their initials lay, she imagined, it was his heart she was touching, just as he had touched hers. Wiping the tears that had fallen, she knew what she needed to do.

Leaving him a note in the mailbox, she turned to get back in the car, but Rumple was digging in the dirt under the Magnolia tree.

"Rumple, no! Come, let's go." A few minutes later he picked something up and trotted happily to the car. Emma noticed his nose had a little dirt on it but in his mouth, he was carrying a bone. Reaching to take it away, he growled a warning, "Fine, take the old dirty thing with you." Looking back at the house, she wondered where it had come from and how long it had been buried under the tree.

When a particularly strong gust made the house feel like it was shaking and then a sharp crack was heard, Emma jumped.

Killian tightened his hold on her, leaning closer to nuzzle her neck, "Hold on to me." He whispered in her ear his hot breath giving her ideas best not to have when they weren't alone. "If we were alone, I would find other ways to distract you."

Tucking her feet underneath her, she leaned closer, "And I would let you," she whispered back, feeling herself relax under the hot, mesmerizing stare of her husband. He always knows exactly what I need, she thought, which made her think of the precious gift that he had given her, of which he had no knowledge. Should she take advantage of this quiet time and use one of the surprises she had purchased when she had gone to the store? It had only been three months since they had been trying, but when he had asked if she were ready, exactly six months after she started her practice, he had been nothing if not diligent in his goal to succeed. Finding out that they had been successful would make him happy and because she found herself unable to keep it to herself any longer, whispered for his ears only, "Remember what we started working on a few months ago?"

She felt his body tense and knew the minute it registered what she was saying, before he turned his head, locking eyes with hers trying to read her mind. "Swan, do you know for sure?" His voice just as quiet as hers but a glance at David told her he had leaned his head back closing his eyes.

"Well, I'm not exactly sure, but yea, I think so." She finally got out knowing that didn't give him much more information than before.

"We need a test." He declared.

"Well, it just so happens, I bought some at the store and th-"

-here," he interrupted her excitedly.

She nodded her head, starting to feel a little bit excited about finding out.

He didn't say anything, just gave her a huge smile, and stood up swinging her into his arms, carrying her down the hall.

"Behave you two," David called as they passed by before he was shushed by his wife.

Kilian dropped her legs, allowing her to stand on her own two feet. Pulling her flush to his body, he kissed her with all the pent-up excitement that he was feeling over the possibility that she might be carrying their child. Releasing her lips, he smiled at her, "So what do you have to do?"

Emma went to her suitcase and after rummaging around a few minutes pulled out a box holding the answers. He watched her slowly open it and read the instructions before giving him a shy smile. "I'll be right back."

"You don't need my help," he called, anxious as to what it might say.

"I'm good," were the last words he heard before she shut herself in the bathroom and he was left with nothing to do but pace.

While she was gone, the winds seemed to increase causing the lights to flicker. Realizing that it would be only a matter of minutes before they were without power, Killian ran to the front of the house, grabbed a lantern and ran back, hoping they stayed on until she was done. Just as he returned, the bathroom door opened and after one last flicker, they were plunged into blackness.

Emma's quick inhalation alerted him as to where she was standing and with a flick of the switch, the blackness was replaced by the soft glow of light from the lantern.

Her eyes met his across the room, "Are you ready?"

Killian set the lantern on the dresser and made his way to where she was standing. Taking her hand in his, he brought their hands up so they could read the test together, "Pregnant," he whispered.

Emma dropped the test and jumped into his arms, laughing and crying at the same time, "We did it, Killian. We're going to have a baby."

"We certainly practiced enough," he quipped before swinging her around in a circle. After a gentle kiss, he placed a hand on her still flat stomach. "If it's a lass we can name her Irma."

Emma rolled her eyes, "I have a feeling you'll be calling her that no matter what we name her."

'Most likely," he gave her a cheeky grin and a kiss before they left the room to share the news with their family.

Wednesday

It was three days after the storm had passed before they were allowed to take US 1, the only road in or out of the Keys, to check on their house. Driving was slow and the closer they got to Key Largo, the more Emma's stomach tied itself in knots. "Oh, Killian." She looked around and as far as the eyes could see there were cars, both on the road and deserted off the road. Boats normally in the water had blown up onto land and several streets that normally would have homes, were now just piles of twisted metal and wood.

The roads were littered with debris, buildings were flattened, signs were twisted, and yet Killian could see signs that clean-up had already begun. "Swan, I've never experienced anything like this."

"It changes a person, I think." Emma whispered as Killian turned off the highway onto their drive.

Unable to go more than the length of the car, Killian parked and went around to help Emma down. Glad they had left Rumple and his kittens behind, they stepped over and around the fallen branches, holding their breath as they rounded a curve and their house came into view.

Emma breathed a sigh of relief that it was still standing as was their magic mailbox. Holding Killian's hand, they walked by the magnolia tree noticing that one of its large branches had been twisted around as if it were a small twig. Taking a steadying breath, Killian unlocked the door and they walked inside to a too warm, too silent and musty smelling house.

They considered themselves fortunate when after a cursory examination of the inside revealed only a few small leaks that were creating spots on their ceiling. Their shutters had all held firm but with no power, no water and limited supplies for daily living, they realized they couldn't stay there. Emma stayed inside to pack up the food in the kitchen as well as whatever else she felt they might need for the next few months.

Killian went outside to move limbs, and other fallen debris so he could move the SUV closer to the door for easy loading. Once he had moved the vehicle closer, he surveyed the overall damage realizing that although they had lost much of their landscaping, the jasmine that his mum had planted all those years ago had survived. A sliver of sunshine to cover the gloom, he thought.

With nothing else that he could do, he went inside to collect the boxes Emma had packed and then shutting the door one last time, their steps carried them toward the driveway. When the last box was loaded, Killian turned Emma back toward the house, "What do you see, Swan?"

She leaned back against him, gazing up at their house, and while a part of her thought it looked sad and alone, with its broken plants and covered windows, she couldn't help but smile at the set of pawprints that covered the walk. "Rumple's pawprints."

"Aye," he led her toward the beach path, "he'll be there to bring us back home."

Down on the beach they discovered their dock would have to be rebuilt and that their deck and the support posts to the house would need to be strengthened. They had damage but their house still stood, which was more than their neighbors could say. Looking at the carnage around her, Emma couldn't stand it any longer and burying her head against Killian's chest, wept.

When her tears had slowed, she sniffed, "I'm sorry. Stupid pregnancy hormones." But looking up at Killian, he too had tears in his eyes.

"These," he waved his arm around them, "are just things that can be replaced." He tender voice continued, "what we have between us, and the life we've created," his hand covered her stomach, "are the most important and powerful magic of all." Their lips met in a kiss that conveyed understanding, tenderness, sweetness and above all love for even without their beach house, they knew that they were living their happy beginning.

Thanks for reading. It was nice revisiting this couple once again. I hope you enjoyed.