This chapter is a bit longer and fluffier than the rest of the story. I've been reading angsty fanfic lately, so I decided to lay off the angst for this chapter. Fret not, the next chapter is about to get...um messy. Enjoy! As always thanks for the faves, reviews etc! -mads
It's been one week since the battle with Gideon and her stomach suddenly exploding. Since then, Hook has been extra attentive to her. She's at the oven making a grilled cheese at one in the morning. Her cravings have been erratic lately, and she finds herself hungry at times when she should be sleeping. She manages to make minimal noise since Hook and Henry are asleep upstairs.
Rummaging through the cabinets, she searches for something salty to accompany her sandwich. What she wouldn't do for a fryer to make onion rings. And if only Grannys delivered at one in the morning. Finally finding a bag of Cheetos, she reaches up to grab them, but a box of Keurig coffees falls to the ground. The sound of footsteps comes running down the stairs.
"Swan?" Hook squints to see her picking up the coffee from the ground. He stands there with his hair a mess and his pajama pants nearly falling from his waist. David gave him some of his hand-me-downs, but they're a bit big on her boyfriend.
"Hi, handsome," she greets him. Her hormones are picking up speed at the sight of his rustled state.
Hook walks over to her, reaching his hand out to her to take. She grabs it, and he brings her against him. "Are those your hormones talking again, love?"
"Mmm…" she runs her hands up his chest. "Henry's asleep…"
He arches an eyebrow at her. "That he is."
She puts her hand against his cheek before kissing him. The kiss starts off soft, but then she opens her mouth to him. His hook snakes down to her waist, and his hand thrusts through her blonde waves. Emma groans against his lips as he moves his lips to kiss her neck. She backs them up to the counter, and he lifts her onto it, once again bringing his lips to hers. Pulling back, she lifts her hands up for him to take her shirt off, just as he has it over her head, the sound of a startled gasp stops them. Hook rests his head in between her neck and shoulders.
"I-uh…" Henry starts to back out of the kitchen.
Hook pulls away from Emma, picking up her shirt and she shrugs it back on. "What are you doing up?" he asks Henry.
Henry finally looks over as soon as Emma has her shirt back on, jumping down from the counter. "I smelled something burning and wanted to make sure the house wasn't burning down."
"Shit!" Emma totally forgot about her grilled cheese that was on the stovetop. "Sorry for waking you, kid."
"It's okay. Like I said, just was making sure the house wasn't in flames," he shakes his head. "Oh, and by the way, you do realize people make food on that counter?" With that he walks away, leaving Hook and Emma's faces completely red from embarrassment.
Emma throws the charred grilled cheese away, getting the ingredients back out to make another.
"He's right you know," Hook laughs.
"About what?" Emma spreads butter on one side of the bread before putting the cheese on the sandwich.
Hook points to the counter where Emma recently vacated. "What the boy said about the counter. About us almost having sex on a place where people eat."
Emma bursts into laughter. "Since when did Captain Hook care about where?"
"Since his girlfriend's son walked in on them almost…" he shrugs his shoulder.
"Well if only he knew about the couch," she smirks at him, flipping the sandwich on the fry pan.
Hook takes the bottle of rum from the fridge. No use in sleeping now that Emma's wide awake. And after Henry walking in on them, he wouldn't be able to fall asleep. Or for that matter, ever look at him ever again. Maybe if he bought him something to deter him what he saw. Emma's family sure does have bad timing when it comes to them being intimate.
"How are you feeling?" he asks between a swig of the rum.
Emma shrugs her shoulders. "As good as being over four months pregnant can feel. At least I've had practice with being pregnant before. It's like riding a bike. A very painful, expanding bike."
She smiles as soon as the cheese starts to melt. Her stomach growls from hunger as she reaches her hand into the chip bag. Shoving them in her mouth, Hook looks at her with dark eyes. "Is this really turning you on?"
"Um…" he pours himself some more rum. "Course not, love."
She slides into the seat across from him, ready to devour her grilled cheese. It seems as if her and Hook's baby also shares the love of melty cheese. Eating her sandwich in two bites, she places her hands on her protruding stomach. It feels so weird to be pregnant and have someone by her side during it. As much as she wishes Neal would have been by her side while she was pregnant with Henry, she realizes she may have never met Hook and had the life she has no with him in it. For that, she is insanely grateful for the turn of events. Even if those events may have been literal hell at the time.
"What do you think Gold's going to do with Gideon? Eventually Gideon will break from the cuff," Emma munches on chips, eying the bottle of rum. After a day like she had last week, she wishes she could drown her anxieties with alcohol.
Hook looks at her with hooded eyes, the alcohol slowly working its way into his system. "I wish I knew, love."
"You know what we should do," Emma scoots in closer as if about to tell him a secret. He loves the way she gets excited over such minuscule things. Especially since finding out she's pregnant, the light in her eyes have burned even brighter despite all the hell she's been through since. But nothing can deter his Swan from getting her happy ending. No matter what, she's a fighter. He's always known that about her.
"What's that?" he matches her smile.
She presses her hands against the table. "Take a weekend trip. You, me, Henry, it would be fun. Plus, I could show you more of the world than just Storybrooke."
"I've seen New York already, love. Bloody strange place that was," he recalls his couple of times in the strange city. First when he tried to kill the crocodile and then when he brought Emma back after the missing year. There's not too many fond memories of the world outside of Storybrooke.
She shakes her head. "We don't have to go there. Maybe to the beach somewhere in the south," he can tell she's getting discouraged. "Or not, it doesn't matter. We don't have to if you don't want to. Forget it; it was a stupid idea."
"Not a stupid idea at all. I would like that. You and your boy deserve some much-needed break. We should go. Perhaps this weekend? Make it spontaneous?"
The smile is back on her face when she nods at his suggestion. She gets up from her chair, dropping a kiss on top of his head as she throws the bag of chips away. "So…?"
"Yes, love?" he asks her even though he knows exactly what she wants by the way she's practically devouring him with her eyes.
"Meet me upstairs," she whispers before running up the stairs.
When the weekend comes, Emma finishes zipping her luggage. Her father was all aboard for Emma and Hook taking a weekend vacation and did not mind covering the police station while she was gone. Since things with Gideon have been tamed lately, Storybrooke has fallen into a lull. For that, everyone is grateful for.
"Need a hand, love?" Hook looks down at Emma sprawled on the floor, her back against the bed.
She reaches for his hand and he pulls her upright. He takes the luggage in his hand, going to load the car. They decided to visit a place called the Jersey Shore for the weekend. Emma says it's located in some state called New Jersey. All he knows is that it's a place where he has to wear things called swim trunks.
"Henry!" Emma calls from down the hall, resting her hand against her now-swollen stomach. In the past week, it's like she's gained twenty pounds.
He comes barreling out of his room with his duffel case slapping against his back. He eventually forgot about Hook and hers little rendezvous in the kitchen, but the poor kid could barely meet their eyes the next day. Not like she blamed him. When she walked in on her parents after returning from the Enchanted Forest the first time was enough to have her not look in their eyes for a couple of days.
"I can't believe we're finally going on a trip. We should go again after the baby is born."
Emma smiles at her son. She's glad that his happiness for the baby is there. At first it was hard for him to wrap his head around his mother having a child with Captain Hook's child. Sometimes it's even hard for her to believe it too. However, she knows Hook's going to be a wonderful dad. She has no doubts about that. Despite his hesitancies. Neither of them really know how to raise a child, so at least they'll succeed and fail as one.
"That's a good idea," she agrees.
Henry starts walking pass her. "Do you think…um…a wedding is possible sometime soon?"
Emma balks at her son. Sure Hook and her have talked about it, but they've never put it in cement. "I guess we'll see."
Hook presses his back against the hallway's wall as he quietly makes his escape down the stairs. He's thought about marrying Emma for as long as he can remember. In fact, he's had his sight on a beautiful ring for Emma. The perfect one that he knows she'll love. First he must talk to her father and Henry about marrying her. The least he can do is make sure he has their blessings.
Hook is waiting for the two of them by the car. He kisses Emma lightly on the lips, pressing his forehead against hers. She quirks her eyebrow at him as Henry slides into the car.
"What was that for?" she puts her hands against his chest.
"I just love you is all," he smiles at her.
She smiles back at him, getting into the driver's side. David has started taking Hook out to teach him how to drive, but for this road trip, she's doing all the driving. He isn't quite familiar with the outside world just yet. Plus, she doesn't exactly trust his driving yet either. But she won't tell him that.
"Everyone buckled?" she asks.
"Aye." "Yep!" Hook and Henry reply at the same time.
They drive for a couple hours before Emma has to stop to go to the bathroom and eat. It's like that for the rest of the day until they finally arrive to their hotel along the shoreline. Emma checks them in as Hook marvels at his surroundings. He's like a fish out of the water here. His hook has been replaced with a prosthetic hand, and Emma can't help but miss his hook. He's even wearing a hoodie that David let him borrow with his normal, skin tight black jeans. The earring and eyeliner are still on. As are his rings and necklace. Can't take the pirate out of him all the way.
The front desk girl gives her two key cards as she eyes Hook from where he stands across the lobby from then, Henry and him observing the fish tank. A flash of jealousy rushes through Emma. She's never been that kind of girl, but she can't help being annoyed by the way the girl is looking at him.
"He's cute, huh?" Emma goads the girl. She can't be older than twenty.
The girl smirks at Emma. "Certainly wouldn't kick him out the morning after."
"Babe?" Emma calls Hook from across the room. "Mind taking my bag?"
"Not a problem, love."
The girl gapes at Emma as Hook comes towards them. He bends down to pick up Emma's bags. "I know I certainly don't," she tells the girl before walking away.
Hook walks beside Emma, casting her a curious glance. "What was that about?"
"I didn't like how she was looking at you," she crosses her arms over her chest, stopping before they come within hearing distance of Henry.
"Jealous are you Swan?" he wiggles his eyebrows at you.
She smacks him on the arm, calling for Henry to meet them over by the lobby elevator. They descend to their room in silence, the long drive has driven Emma to utter exhaustion. She's not used to driving so far. And she's certainly not used to doing it while pregnant. She just wants to lie down and watch some trashy reality show. It's only eight, but she feels like it's past midnight.
"Can we go swimming in the hotel pool?" Henry throws his bag down onto the opposite bed.
Emma lies down, her hand against her stomach. Hook, thankfully, answers before she can reject the idea. "I can take you, lad. We'll let your mother rest up. Go on and change into your trunks."
He unzips their luggage and searches for his own trunks. Emma said they are used to go swimming. Hook always preferred sailing on the water as opposed to being in the water. For Henry's sake, he can suffice being in the water for a little bit. Plus, he doesn't want to bore the lad as his mother lies on the bed watching TV. They went on this trip for some adventure that doesn't involve monsters chasing after them.
Henry comes running out with his trunks on, and Hook retreats to the bathroom to change. "You sure you don't want to come, Mom."
"I'm sorry, Henry. Your brother or sister doesn't seem to want to let me go," she purses her lips out.
"It's okay," Henry says.
She hates how much she hasn't been able to spend time with him lately. She feels like the worst mother alive. "As soon as this baby is out of me, I promise to be a better mom."
He shakes his head at her. "You're a great mom."
This brings tears to her eyes. Hook walks out of the bathroom in his dark blue trunks. Her eyes meet his as she gives him a watery smile of reassurance. He always assumes the worse when she cries. Her hormones are just in a tizzy lately.
"You boys have fun."
Hook grabs a shirt to pull over his head, kissing Emma atop her head. "Rest up, love." He puts his hand on her belly. "Let your mom get some rest, darling."
Her heart swells at him talking to their baby. It's the first time he's actually done that. She grabs him by his necklace, pulling him down to her lips. Kissing him, Henry clears his throat from by the door. "Really, guys?"
"Sorry, lad." Hook is still staring into Emma's eyes. "Someday you'll understand."
Emma grabs onto his hand when he starts walking away. "If any girl tries to flirt with you-"
"I'll tell them how I have a pregnant girlfriend who will surely kick their ass. Got you, Swan."
She chuckles as she watches her boys walk out of the room. By the time nine rolls around her eyes are already closed. About an hour later, she hears the two of them walk back into the room, laughing. She smiles in her sleep at how much the two of them have grown in their relationship. Henry wasn't all too keen on her dating the former villain, but he's warmed up to him now. She knows not only will Hook make a great dad to their unborn child, but she knows he'll make a wonderful step father to Henry.
Her eyes close as she feels Hook's side of the bed dip down, and he puts his arms around her. She leans into him as she feels his lips kiss her neck before falling asleep himself. And she knows in that moment, it's the calm before the storm.