"Home for me is Where You Are"
Just a little bit of post-finale/finale missing scene with more of the sweetness and joy I wanted for Killian and Emma after all they have weathered…
They still don't belong to me, but I hope you enjoy!
It isn't until they have all traipsed into Granny's – weary, but home safe and victorious once more – and been seated around the Charming-Mills table in the corner for a calming return dinner that Emma notices the red marks fading but still present on Killian's neck. Frightened, though it might be belated, and startled that she hadn't noticed immediately, her hand comes up almost without her accord, her fingers tracing delicately over his throat with concern and a sharp intake of breath. Someone appears to have tried strangling him.
"Ah, Swan…" Killian tries to intervene, eyes darting around the table as the rest of their little family group's attention is arrested by her ministrations. Scratching behind his ear as he often does when discomfited, Killian dips his head, blocking both her view of the marks and her further exploration by touch. He clears his throat nervously before trying again, as he also catches her hand and interlocks their fingers. "Perhaps now is not the best time." He can feel her parents' and her boy's eyes on them, and it is too close in the room suddenly, like they are on display. At any rate, Killian can feel the tips of his ears heating and tingeing pink at the attention.
His Love is not one to be deterred though – not when it comes to him, not anymore. Shaking her head as if to clear away his protests, she pulls his hand in hers toward her body, drawing him closer. "Don't do that," she admonishes in a murmur for his ears alone, not wanting him to suffer in silence merely to spare her, or anyone of them, inconvenience. "What happened, Killian?"
Looking anywhere but into her intent green eyes, her pirate knows if he does he will spill everything right in front of her entire family: the gripping panic that he would get himself killed by some dark monster so soon after being brought back to life, the frustration of not being at Emma's side while she ventured off with Regina, who was clearly hurting and tempted to lash out, the stark despair at thinking Henry might succeed in destroying magic before they could get the portal reopened and that he and her parents might be forever separated from Emma. There is much more than the dull ache of a fading injury hovering on the tip of his tongue, but he refuses to mar this quiet moment, this chance to be with her and be happy in the presence of her – their – family while things are good and the immediate threat has passed.
However, while Killian is trying not to bring more focus to their misadventure in the world of Jekyll and Hyde – whoever the bloody hell they are – David appears to have no such compunctions, though he stumbles at the widening of his daughter's eyes and the way she stares at him as if trying to comprehend how they possibly got themselves into so much trouble and had almost lost her pirate again so quickly. Things could have fallen apart, gone completely to pieces and left her without him once more, and she hadn't even been there, wouldn't have even known where to go to bring him back.
Emma feels her fingers strengthening in their grip on Killian's when her father gets to the part where the four of them had been caged behind metal bars, and how Hyde had grasped Killian's throat and squeezed so hard David had been sure he could no longer breathe, no matter how he tried to help pry those monstrously strong fingers loose. Despite her best efforts to take the knowledge in stride and tell herself it was already over, Emma's heart still flutters in nervous distress for her pirate.
David could kick himself as he lets the story trail off at seeing the stricken look on his daughter's face. When they all sat down a few minutes ago, Emma had looked so happy, flush with love and carefree in a way he didn't think he had ever seen her. True, after the debacle with Lily, the revelation of he and Snow's horrible mistake before the two girls' births, and the exposure of their lying to keep the dirty secret, he never wants to withhold the truth from Emma again, but she should have had more time before the worry and hurt from the rest of her life came back in full force.
"Emma," Killian tries softly, placing his hook beneath her chin and tilting her face up to meet his while rubbing his thumb soothingly over her hand clutching his. "It's nothing, Love. We're right here together and fine. Don't give it another thought."
But she stands quickly. He can feel her trembling – practically vibrating – as, shaking her head, she tugs gently, urging him to stand as well and shooting her parents and Henry an apologetic look. "Guys, I'm sorry to run, but I can't sit here right now. I just need a minute. We need a minute. I want to look at what I can do for that welt before it scars and really, we shouldn't hang out here long…" She shrugs apologetically, a sheepish smile crossing her face to go with it, and her heart is warmed when her mom smiles back at her serenely, the look in Snow White's eyes telling Emma that she completely understands needing a moment just to be alone with her True Love when he has almost been lost to you, to hold him close and simply be.
At Snow's nod, Emma turns to Henry, but he is already grinning, wise beyond his years and his kind, understanding nature seeming restored after their trek to NYC, their wishes in the fountain, and Violet's faith and gift of a first kiss. "Kid, do you think-"
Henry interrupts before she can even finish, grinning widely at both she and Killian. "Go Mom, it's fine. I think my other mom might like to have me with her tonight."
She sweeps her wonderful, empathetic, beautiful boy into a tight hug, whispering into his hair that she'll meet him here for breakfast in the morning, that she loves him and she's proud of him. Pulling away, she sees Henry turn his eyes to her other True Love and actually seem to be blinking back and fighting down some emotion.
Killian holds out a hand tentatively as if to shake with her son man-to-man, but then appears near tears himself when Henry bypasses the offering to throw his arms around her pirate's waist and hug him tightly. There is a fair bit of manly sniffing and throat clearing, and both of them hold on for several healing seconds before separating once more.
Henry gives a nod and tremulous smile though there's a twinkle in his eye as he croaks, "I'm glad you're back, Killian," hoarsely.
"Glad to be here, Lad," her pirate rasps in return, squeezing Henry's shoulder affectionately.
Then they are outside on the sidewalk in the gathering dusk, her arm linked through Killian's, head leaning on his shoulder. A gentle cool breeze comes in off the water, lifting her hair and skirting across her neck and forehead, calming the agitation and concern she had been experiencing before they made their escape. Once out of sight of anyone who might look out from the diner, feeling a modicum of privacy on the deserted street, even if they are still near the center of their nosey, close-knit little town, Emma turns Killian to face her, hands on his forearms and gazing up playfully and full of love into his stunning eyes. "Okay, Captain, hold up a minute. Let's take a look."
Killian dutifully stands still as she brings up her outstretched palm, slowly moving it in front of him; there is a warm glow of light for a moment, he feels a pleasant tingling sensation, and the lingering discomfort from Hyde's strangling grasp is gone. He knows without looking that she has healed him completely. His eyes are adoring and awestruck as he lifts his hand to touch the perfectly restored skin though he never breaks his gaze from hers. "You're bloody marvelous, Swan," he whispers, lifting the back of her hand to brush his lips over her skin. "Thank you."
"No problem, Pirate," she replies saucily, giving him a wink along with her reply. "You didn't need to be hurting when I could fix it, but there was no need to have everybody staring like we're some spectacle. Besides," here she curls her fingers around the curve of his hook, urging him forward with her as she starts walking again. "I needed to get you out of Granny's. Going and hanging out there just makes us easier to find when the next catastrophe strikes, and I think we've earned a little time to ourselves."
Killian feels his pulse skyrocket; even though Emma is playing innocent, she is setting his blood on fire. Waggling his eyebrows at her, he lets his tongue push out the inside of his cheek a moment before salaciously licking his lips, his stare never leaving her face. By now, when she is no longer hiding herself from him, he knows just what he is doing to her. "Why Sheriff, do you have nefarious plans for this dastardly pirate?"
He expects her to flush, laugh, and brush the comment off, but instead she continues to hold his gaze until breathily whispering, "Maybe I do."
Their pace quickens after that until another five minutes find them at the front gate of the white picket fence surrounding the house he and Henry chose for her.
Hesitating a moment, Killian turns to speak to Emma once more. "Love, wait," he reaches out to tuck a strand of hair behind her ear. "I am grateful beyond measure to be back here with you, to have another chance, but this…this is your home, Swan. Yours and Henry's. I do not wish to impose, or to rush what we have. I can make my way to the Jolly and meet you both in the morning."
Emma doesn't even let him finish, winding her arms around his neck, delving her finger into the thick, black hair at his nape and pulling his lips down to hers, effectively silencing him. When they finally part, breathless, she makes clear her intentions, simply but with fervor. "No, Killian, stay. Please. I've been counting on sleeping for a week since Camelot, and I need you with me to do that. I need to know you're here and safe or I won't rest, not now, after everything."
His throat tightens at her heartfelt words, not sure he could sleep without her either. Giving a short nod, he only agrees with her in a soft, "As you wish."
Walking through the gate to their house – their long-awaited future – her smile as she turns to him is brilliant light. "It's yours too, Killian," she promises, "Welcome home."