An Expand the Verse additional scene requested by jennjenn615. This little peek into the Varcolac verse takes place about eight months after the events of the main story. Sorry it took me so long to fulfill this. March was not a friend to wording! This completes the second of three expansions from my follower appreciation event on Tumblr.

The diner bell chimed when they entered, Emma's rotund belly preceding them as Killian guided her to their usual booth with his hand fixed squarely on the small of her back.

"Here we are, Swan," he murmured, helping her get comfortable in the booth. Well, as comfortable as a nearly full term pregnant woman could be. "Sure you'll be alright here while I meet with Lance and Graham?"

"We'll be fine," she answered, looking up adoringly at her mate. "You go do your Alpha thing and we'll eat… again."

Killian smiled brightly and joined her hands that were rubbing soothing circles over her stomach. "You be kind to your mother, little cub," he cooed affectionately.

"We'll take care of her," Ruby interjected from behind them. "Lance and Graham are already in the back room."

"Aye. I best not keep them waiting." Killian leaned over and kissed Emma's cheek, his hesitation over leaving his mate's side was clear from his expression and demeanor, but he had other responsibilities to tend to. With a reluctant sigh he turned to leave, but not before muttering to Ruby. "See if you can get her to eat something green, won't you?"

"Yeah, yeah. I got it. Just go." The woman ordered playfully, ushering him towards the back of the diner to where the other Alphas were waiting.

Once he was out of sight, Ruby gave the signal and a plate of grilled cheese and onion rings were deposited in front of Emma. "You're a lifesaver, Ruby," Emma moaned around her first bite of gooey cheesy heaven.

"Anything I can do to make things easier on you," Ruby laughed.

Before she could turn away, Emma reached out and grabbed on to Ruby's arm. "You want to make things easier for me? Then get Graham to take Killian away for a few days," she pleaded. "Isn't there some Alpha bonding activity they could go do together? Just for a couple of days? He's driving me crazy, Rubes!"

Ruby wriggled out of Emma's firm grasp and slid into the seat across from her, a sympathetic look gracing her face. "You know as well as I do that all the packs of Storybrooke couldn't drag that man from your side right now. You're too close," Ruby reminded with a nod of her head towards Emma's belly.

"I know," Emma whined defeatedly, taking another bite of her sandwich. "It's sweet, really it is, but I feel so… so…"

"Smothered," Ruby offered up knowingly, to which Emma nodded. "Graham was the same way. Their protective instincts go into overdrive."

"I just want, like, an hour to myself," Emma complained. "One where he isn't hovering, or having others look after me when he can't be glued to my side." She shot Ruby a look that had the older woman smiling sheepishly. She loved Ruby, was glad for her company, but also knew that Killian had tasked both she a Granny to watch over his mate when Alpha business took him from her.

Emma had decided early on in their days as a new pack in Storybrooke to take a step back when it came to Alpha affairs. Killian had argued that she needn't make such a deference, that they were a team, but Emma knew deep down that in order to be given the respect his position as a pack Alpha should afford him from other Alphas and their packs, she would need to be the first to show dutiful regard to his position. Besides, Graham and Lance knew her value, and hadn't treated her as anything less than Killian's equal since the three packs had unified under a new charter.

There had also been the matter of her pregnancy to consider. Although she hadn't experienced anything out of the norm for an expecting werewolf, the fact that she was a hybrid left an element of the unknown in the back of everyone's mind. It was another reason as to why she'd been willing to take a back seat to her Alpha in order to alleviate some of the concerned tensions within Storybrooke… and within herself, if she were being truly honest. A first time pregnancy was daunting enough, add to it the complications of shifting, heightened senses, pack formalities, and the ever present question of what exactly she was pregnant with, and Emma had enough on her plate to worry about than the compounded pressures of leadership.

The bell about the diner door chimed, and the change in atmosphere became palpable when a simultaneous wariness among the establishment's patrons clenched the air.

"Hi, there," Ruby greeted cheerily. "Table or booth?"

"Oh, uh…" a male voice Emma did not recognize stammered. "Actually, my wife and I seem to be a bit lost. Would you mind giving us directions back to the highway?"

"Of course," Ruby replied.

The rustling sound of a map being unfolded and placed upon the counter filled the diner. Emma heard a whispered remark of having to use the restroom come from the man's wife, and Ruby's response, directing her to the back hallway. When the woman walked by Emma's booth on her way to the ladies room, Emma froze. The onion ring hanging from her fingers suddenly became an unsatisfactory offering compared to the scent that now filled her sinuses, making her mouth salivate. She dropped the onion ring onto her plate and gripped the edge of the table, willing herself to remain seated and not follow the unsuspecting woman down the deserted corridor. Panic warred with her visceral urges, which had already caused her fangs to release, forcing her to croak out a desperate plea.

"Granny? I need you to go get Killian for me."

Misunderstanding the cause of her strained words, Granny rushed over with excitement gleaming from her eyes. "Is it time? Is the baby com-" The word died on her tongue when she saw the crimson glow emitting from Emma's eyes. "Ruby," she said with practiced calm. "Go get Killian, now."

"One sec," Ruby called back, still relaying to the man the best way back to the highway, unaware of the mounting problem.

Granny glanced back down to Emma, placed her hand over top the one indenting the edge of the table, and gave her a look to hang in there before squeezing her hand and hurrying off towards the back room. Emma's pulse thundered in her ears, and her breaths stuttered in short labored spurts. She'd never experienced the bloodlust this way. Not that she hadn't gotten a craving from time to time, but they were usually easy to swallow down and ignore until she could remove herself from the temptation. This time, though… Maybe it was because she hadn't been around humans in so many months? Was that why the need to feed felt so strong in the presence of the hapless couple who'd wandered in unexpectedly?

Emma didn't have a chance to mull things over any further. All logical thought completely shut down, allowing her instinct to fully take control, when the woman made her way back from the facilities. A low growl resonated in the back of Emma's throat, and before she could stop herself she lunged from the booth with a speed and agility inconceivable in her current state. A startled cry escaped the woman when Emma pounced. She trapped the woman against her protruding belly, her exposed neck on full display with the flicker of her heart beat pulsating wildly beneath the blue tint of the vein.

A cacophony of chaos erupted around her; the husband's outraged shout, Ruby's protests, the diner patrons adding their words of urging that she let the woman go, but all Emma could hear was the rush of blood flowing underneath the surface of the woman's skin. With her fangs now fully engaged, Emma bent over the now crying woman's neck and ignored the buzzing of the crowd, determined to quench the thirst which had thoroughly taken over.

"Emma, stop!" Killian barked in an authoritative tone that left her with no choice but to comply. It hadn't been persuasion, a skill of their nature that had no effect on either of them. No. It was an Alpha command that resonated in both her natural hearing and their bond. A tone and usage Emma had never heard her mate apply to his words before, but an effective and welcomed one in that moment.

The woman nearly hit the floor when Emma released her and took a startled step back. Fortunately, she was caught by those close by, her knees too weak from fear to support her weight. A scream pierced the diner when she looked up at Emma, who could feel her eyes blazing and fangs throbbing with unsated need. Pulling her gaze from the panicked woman, Emma's eyes settled on her mate then quickly flicked down to the floor. Shame washed over her, and she couldn't bear to meet Killian's eyes.

"Ruby," her mate said softly, but with a heavy tone of authority. "Take Emma upstairs to one of the spare rooms and stay with her until I get there."

Head still cast downward, Emma let Ruby lead her to the back stairs and up to a vacant room. No words were spoken between the two women for many long moments, until Ruby finally deposited herself on the bed next to Emma and let go a long held breath.

"Well, I guess the mystery of your little bundle has been answered."

"What?" Emma said, looking over at the woman in confusion.

"The baby," Ruby clarified with a soft smile. "What happened downstairs kind of confirms the fact that's more than just a Born you're carrying, don't you think?"

Emma blinked in rapid succession while processing Ruby's words. She hadn't considered the possibility of her response being intrinsically linked to the nature of the baby within her. Before she could respond, the door swung open and Killian entered with an inscrutable expression on his face. A nod from him had Ruby up and out the door with one final compassionate look thrown Emma's way before departing.

"Are you alright, love?" Killian questioned gently, taking Ruby's place next to her on the bed.

Emma nodded, tears pricking at the corner of her eyes as he took her hand in his and brought it up to brush against his lips.

"How are," Emma cleared her throat, attempting to expel the lump that had formed there, "How are they?"

"Gone," Killian replied, his thumb now stroking soothing circles along the back of her hand. "I persuaded them both to forget their little pitstop, and sent them on their way. Lance is making sure they leave the area without further issue."

"I guess he'll be doing the same with us when he returns?"

Killian's brows pulled together. "What do you mean?"

Hot tears slipped past her lashes. "I'm sure the packs are ready to run us out on a rail," she strained out in a whisper.

"Oh, Emma." Killian's arms circled her, pulling her into his chest. "No one blames you for what happened. Everyone was on edge with their sudden appearance this close to the full moon."

"Yeah, but none of them wanted to rip out the woman's throat."

"You didn't, though."

"Thanks to you," she sniffled, and felt Killian's body go rigid.

"I'm sorry I had to-"

"Don't." Emma pulled out of his embrace and placed a hand on his chest. "Don't apologize for doing what you had to do. If it weren't for that command I would have…"

"What happened, love?" Killian sighed, his eyes earnest in the desire to understand. "I've never known you to crave like that."

"Ruby thinks it might be proof that I'm carrying more than a werewolf," she confided. "She thinks it might have been a sign that the baby is actually a hybrid like us."

"That makes sense, I suppose," he said thoughtfully. "I've never heard of bloodlust as a pregnancy symptom amongst werewolves, and you never had a problem around humans during our time away from Storybrooke."

"What do you think the other packs will say when they discover we're having a hybrid?" Emma asked nervously, bringing a hand up to place protectively over her stomach.

"They've always known it was a possibility, love," Killian reminded her. "Don't forget, Graham invited us to join Storybrooke after he found out we were expecting, and the Camelot pack signed the charter with full knowledge they were sharing it with hybrids. I don't think this confirmation will change anything."

"How can you say that?" Emma erupted, standing from the bed so she could pace the length of the room. "This changes everything!"

"Swan, calm down," Killian insisted, reaching out to grasp her hand as she waddled past. "You are worrying over nothing, I assure you."

"How can you be so calm?" she questioned accusingly, allowing him to pull her in close by her hand.

"Do you really think I hadn't considered the possibility that this pregnancy would have unexpected outcomes? That I wouldn't have already discussed the potential problems that might arise with Graham and Lance?"

"Is that why you've been so… so…"

"Overbearing? Insufferable? Smothering?" He offered with a cheeky lopsided grin. "Aye."

"Because you knew I'd go homicidal?" Emma exclaimed.

"Because I knew this pregnancy would most likely be complicated, given what we are, and the fact that it is the first of our kind," he replied tenderly. "And Graham and Lance knew that, too. As did Ruby and Granny."

"So you've all be conspiring against me, is that it?" She pulled her hand from his grip and crossed her arms over her chest in indignation. "Why didn't you say anything?"

Killian swept a hand through his hair and sighed. "Perhaps I should have, but I didn't want to burden you with anything more than your natural worries as a first time mum."

His gaze filled with apologetic remorse, but lacked the regret that would indicate he would have done things differently. Emma knew he'd never apologize for doing what he felt was best for her and their child. He was their Alpha, after all. It was his job to look out for them, to consider every contingency of threat that might come against them, even if that threat was of their own making.

"You really think the packs won't hold what happened down there against me?" She worried her lip waiting for his soothing reply.

"Of course they won't, love. I attacked another pack member once as well, remember?"

Emma scoffed and rolled her eyes. "Yeah, not comforting, considering they banished you for a few decades after that."

Killian took her hands and pulled her onto his lap. It was a miracle she still fit, given her size. "No one is going to banish you, Swan. You and our wee one aren't going anywhere. I wouldn't allow it. We belong here. All of us."

Emma smiled and leaned in to press her lips against his, allowing the tender intimacy of the moment to calm her last remaining nerves over the earlier incident. He was right. They belonged in Storybrooke, and there was no reason to believe that the packs wouldn't accept their child just as they'd accepted her and Killian.

An acceptance that might come sooner than expected if the sudden tightening around her midsection was any indication.

"Oh," Emma breathed, clutching her abdomen when she pulled back from their kiss with a pained groan.

"Swan?" Killian inquired with a note of worry. "What is it?"

"I think our little hybrid might have one more surprise in store for us today."

"Never a dull moment with you two, is there?" Killian beamed.

"Nope," Emma quipped, her smile returning now that the contraction had subsided. "I sure hope you can handle it… Alpha Daddy."

THE END