A/N: I've had this ficlet rolling around in my brain and just had to get it out. Apparently I have a mighty need for some Snow/Killian bonding in 4B. No Emma in this, but she is mentioned.
There's stillness at this late hour that is equally calm and foreboding, making him more alert as he makes his nightly rounds. The sounds of his footsteps are all that can be heard, outside of the occasional rustle of leaves or scampering of a cat in the alley behind Granny's. As he surveys the silence he hopes for another night of nothing, not content until he's sure, before he'll finally succumb to his slightly lumpy mattress back at the Inn.
His ears perk up suddenly at the unmistakable sound of a car rumbling around the corner, leaning into the side of the building to stay hidden, instantly on edge as he waits to see the owner of the vehicle. The appearance of Mary Margaret's station wagon couldn't have been a bigger surprise. She appears to be alone and not in any hurry, which somewhat alleviates his initial worry that something has happened. His curiosity, however, is indeed engaged and he steps into the streetlight to catch her attention.
She smiles as she sees him, slowly rolling up to where he's standing on the sidewalk. She has to unbuckle her seatbelt so she can lean across the vehicle to roll down the window, giving him time to do a quick scan of the car. Baby Neal is in the back seat, his chubby fingers wrapped around the half full bottle in his mouth.
"Killian? What are you doing out so late?"
He steps forward and leans down, giving her a look of confusion. "Your highness, I must ask you the same thing, especially since you have the little prince out with you. Can I be of assistance?"
Mary Margaret gives him an obviously tired smile before shaking her head.
"Oh, no, we're okay. The little devil back there just wouldn't stop fussing. I read in one of my parenting books that sometimes babies like the feeling of a moving car, that the motion will calm them somehow. I figured I'd give it a shot."
Killian looks fondly into the back seat, a wistful smile taking over his features. "Aye, I can understand that, milady. I must admit that it took me a while to learn how to sleep on a bed without the roll of the waves underneath me. The stillness was, I don't know, challenging."
When he turns his attention back to her he sees that Mary Margaret is looking at him with a contemplative expression, almost as if she's trying to read him somehow. The two of them had never spent any time alone, both of them slightly unfamiliar with how to go about a conversation without Emma or David as a buffer. He looks back at Neal, wondering what he should say to break the silence that has fallen between them.
Suddenly, she's leaning forward and Killian feels the passenger door pressing into his thighs, realizing she is attempting to push the door open from the inside. He steps back slightly and she looks up at him.
"Keep me company?"
Placing his hands on the door, he gives her a quick nod, before sliding in next to her and closing the door behind him. He notes the tiny unicorn hanging from her rear-view mirror, tiny prisms dancing from the streetlight on the corner reflecting on the glass charm. He feels as if there must be a story behind its presence, but doesn't ask.
"So, Killian, you never answered me as to why you are out and about at almost 2am."
The car was moving again now, slowly rolling down the empty street. He contemplates how to answer her question without revealing too much. He'd been able to keep his fears from Emma, not wanting to burden her unnecessarily unless there was a reason. Glancing over to Mary Margaret, he could see she was patiently waiting for an answer. He hopes he can somehow evade this line of questioning altogether through deflection.
"Just out for a stroll. I've always been a bit of a night owl."
"Killian, are you forgetting that we spent many nights together in Neverland? You were usually quick to fall sleep, but always the first to rise. I've also seen you pass out on our couch before 8pm on more than one occasion, so why don't you try again?"
What was it with the women in this family? They were too perceptive for their own good. He turns to look out the window, knowing he was caught, hoping he can find the right words to explain.
"Aye, my apologies… I was, well, keeping an eye on things, I suppose. It's been a bit too quiet lately and I don't want any of us to be caught unawares."
"You're worried Gold will come back."
She really cut to the quick. He was reminded of the Snow White he had encountered during his fateful trip to the past, her forceful nature and directness something he definitely admired, even if it was directed at him at the moment. Realizing she wouldn't settle for anything but the truth, he forged ahead.
"I can't let him hurt Emma. Or anyone she loves. He'll never be gone from our lives; I've fought him far too long and know how his evil mind works. With Belle still here, I know he won't stay away a minute longer than is necessary."
His fist was clenched at this point, determinedly staring at his hook in his lap. Mind reeling back to stupid deals and lies and pain, wishing that the Crocodile would prove him wrong, knowing that was a fools thought.
Mary Margaret's soft touch to his wrist pulls him from his internal darkness, realizing suddenly that the car was stopped and she had turned in her seat towards him.
"Killian. Look at me."
Unable to not abide her wishes, he straightened and met her gaze.
"I don't know if you've spoken the words to my daughter yet, but I know that you love her. And that love makes you want to protect her above all else, including yourself and your own safety. I admire you for that, but you need to stop. You're part of a family now, Killian. We look out for each other. Doing things alone isn't in the cards for you anymore, do you understand me?"
He was dumbstruck, completely overwhelmed by many things that she had just uttered aloud. Unable to find the words to respond, he forced himself to nod his acquiescence. She was apparently satisfied with that, as without another word she was turning back forward in her seat and pulling the car back onto the road.
"Now that we've settled that, what else shall we talk about, Captain?"
And that's how it began. Captain Hook and Snow White could be seen on many a night after this one, huddled together in her station wagon, patrolling the streets of Storybrooke with a sleeping toddler in the backseat.