A/N: I wasn't sure if I was going to write it, but y'all wanted it and I apparently did too. Trigger mention.

"Have you ever been overseas?"

"Does this abode look like it lends itself to many overseas holidays, Jones?" Emma retorted, looking up at him doubtfully from her spot in his lap. Staring at his chin, she watched him laugh.

"Well you never know. I live in an abode like this and I was born overseas. Perhaps you were born in Australia?"

He was joking. But it still hit close to home.

"Emma, you okay?"

It was weird the way he could switch so quickly between joking and concerned. But he did it a lot. Emma supposed they were both fairly haunted people because it happened quite often.

"I'm sorry if I –"

"How long have we been together, Killian?" Emma asked, sitting up, clutching a cushion to her body as she faced him.

"Two months next Monday, Swan, why?"

He looked adorable when he was frustrated. But she hated seeing it, and so she kissed his forehead and gave him a soft smile before she whispered, "I don't know where I was born. But it was in the US. I think."

"Emma you don't have to –"

"No," Emma answered, folding her hands over his. "I want to. I haven't had anyone to tell this to before, but…I kind of was between homes a lot as a kid. Adults hated me, kids picked on me because I was smaller, and when I got older it got worse and different, so I'd spend more and more time at school and I got smarter. I got a job and I saved enough money. Second I was eighteen, I was out."

"And here you are," Killian whispered, with a soft smile, pulling her close, his warmth filling her. "Safe, with me, at Christmas."

"Mmm," Emma answered, snuggling closer. "Where's my hot chocolate?"

"Alright woman, no need to be so demanding." Killian shuffled over to the kitchen, making his way around with ease. Emma took the chance to stare openly at his butt, which he noticed with a smirk.

"Don't look at me like that, Swan," Killian warned. "Unless you've changed what you want for Christmas?"

Emma chuckled. She hadn't, but she still wished.

After that time when they'd almost slipped up in the pool, Emma had put a stop to any more physical interactions. They were of a hand-holding, cuddling, kissing stage.

And sure, she wanted him. But, Killian had also been dealing with a lot more of Emma's nightmares, so they were both okay with it. He was more concerned with the fact that she kept throwing up randomly but refused to go to the doctor, because they would run tests which she didn't exactly have the money to pay for. Besides, it never stuck around for too long anyway.

"No, that hasn't changed," Emma grinned as he heated up the milk. "So, what are you and Liam doing for Christmas?"

"Dinner," Killian answered, coming towards her with two mugs, "Which you are more than welcome to join."

"I don't want to intrude."

He answered with a kiss to her forehead. "It would be the best Christmas gift in the world!"

"Okay, then," Emma grinned. "I'll come."

"You know," Emma said over the blaring music and sound of people, "When you said dinner, I thought you meant dinner."

"Well, it appears Liam was sick of morose duo dinners and he decided to liven it up a little. Dave and Mary will be here soon."

"No," her hands flailed before she finished, "dancing."

"Okay, love," Killian laughed before pulling her into the living room. They swayed together innocently until Killian brought out all the stops. Make the pizza, lawnmower, sprinkler – he brought it – and Emma couldn't help but laugh at how ridiculous he looked. Ridiculous and all hers.

Pulling him close, she crushed her lips to his, threading her hands up around his head and tugging on his hair. She was lost in him, opening her lips to him and her being to him, but that was broken by five eerie words behind her.

"Fancy seeing you here, Emma."

She froze. She knew that voice. It was the voice of her nightmares. The one that haunted her through every moment she thought she could breathe.

"Neal," she breathed, spinning round. Killian's hand tightened around her arm protectively.

"Who's this?"

"Killian Jones," he said, slyly pulling Emma into his side. "Her boyfriend."

"Lucky man," Neal chuckled, hitting Killian on the arm to which Killian proceeded to continue to look at him stonily. "She's brilliant in b-"

"She is standing right here," Emma whispered, barely concealed anger in her tone. "What the hell are you doing here?"

"My girlfriend works with Liam."

"Lucky girl," Emma answered – completely sarcastic. "If you'll excuse me, my boyfriend and I are going to go grab a drink."

Emma practically hauled Killian out of there, her heart beating so fast that she wasn't sure she could continue breathing for too long. How dare he show his face there!

"Hey, Emma, breathe!"

They were alone in the kitchen but Killian was still whispering to her, creating their own little bubble which was exactly what she needed. She wanted to cry, but at the same time she wanted to go back out there and punch Neal in the face.

"Let's just go home, please?" Emma begged Killian, her forehead leaning against his chest. "I don't want to be here."

"I'll text Mary Margaret and David, they were running late anyway, so I'll tell them not to come."

"Okay," Emma answered mutely.

They headed out the door with the excuse to Liam that Emma was sick. He gave her a small hug and they went on their way. The car ride was heavy with tension. Killian didn't know what to say – Emma could see it on his face. And Emma didn't know what to tell him. Surely he'd guessed…

Emma went to open the door, but her hands were shaking. Killian wrapped his hand around hers and unlocked it quickly, following her inside where she practically collapsed on her bed. It was a moment before Killian heard her sniffling.

"Emma, I'm just going to ask you this once," he said gently, sitting down next to her curled figure. "Did Neal rape you?"

Her crying got louder and that seemed to be all the confirmation Killian needed.

But Emma knew him. Knew he was likely to go out and do something stupid and reckless so she reached out for him, sitting up abruptly and feeling a wave of sickness as she did.

And suddenly, she felt disgusting. Everywhere. She felt sick.

"Killian," Emma whispered through her tears, "I need you to go down to the pharmacy."

"Are you feeling sick?" His eyes were wide, worry for her cutting through his anger.

"Yes," she answered brokenly. "And I think I know why."

"Emma?"

"Go, home Killian," Emma said, her voice deceptively strong.

"Not until you're okay." And not until that party was over. But he had to know – they both did.

"Emma," he sighed against the door. "It's been long enough, you need to come out."

She was silent for a moment, before coming to the door. Her eyes were wide and terrified as she held it out to him. "I can't look."

"You peed on that stick and you expect me to touch it?"

One glance at her face and he bit his tongue.

"Right. Sorry. Wrong time."

He took the stick from her hand and glanced at it, confirming what he already knew, and what she too knew.

And the little stick fell with a clatter on the tiles as Emma fell into his arms, her tears staining his shirt and the little pink positive leaving them speechless.

He didn't get a call from Emma for two days. He knew she needed space, but he was so worried about her. When he finally finished cleaning and working down at the grocery store, he practically sprinted to Emma's front door. He was just about to knock when she came bursting out the door.

Surprisingly, she actually looked well. He thought she'd be sick and moping, but she'd done her hair, was rugged up against the cold and had her wallet in her hand.

"Oh, hey Killian," Emma said with a soft smile. "I was just heading to the doctor. Just gonna get my blood test results and some vitamins and things."

"But you're okay?" he enquired, wondering how she could be so flippant about all this. She hadn't told him anything, just disappeared and now she was perfectly fine.

And remarkably distant.

"Yeah," she smiled. It didn't reach her eyes.

"Emma…"

She was silent for a minute before she said, "You can come with me if you want."

Killian followed her down to the sidewalk, offering, "I can drive?"

"You don't have to feel sorry for me," Emma snapped. "I can walk."

"I know you can, Emma," Killian rolled his eyes, "But I want to. Just…let me help you, okay? Let me be with you."

"You're totally gonna run when you see the ultrasound," Emma murmured under her breath as she got into the car. Killian didn't respond. He knew for certain he would stay right where he was.

"Well, you're a healthy seventeen weeks along," the smiling doctor said. "Your sugar levels are normal, but you should be keeping up your folate and iron, they're a little down. Now, are we ready to see the baby?"

Emma was a little on the stunned side, still trying to get around the concept that the thing inside her was already seventeen weeks old. It coincided with the time…

"Can you tell the sex yet?"

Emma's eyes shot towards Killian. She'd almost forgotten he was here, but that wasn't something she wanted to know. Even just looking at it was making this all too real.

"Not quite yet," the doctor answered with a tentative smile, "Perhaps at the next appointment."

"And what about other options," Emma interrupted quickly. "They aren't ruled out yet?"

"No," the doctor said. "Not yet. You still have a few more weeks. Or there is adoption. I understand that you're young, but you do have options. You've got a strapping young man to help out as well. But I do have some pamphlets for you to look through." The doctor gave her some pamphlets as she wiped off the ultrasound gel and slid her shirt back down quickly to avoid Killian's gaze.

"Thank you," Emma said, taking the pamphlets and the script as she slid off the chair.

"You'll need to book in for another appointment next month," the doctor said kindly. "The baby's your first so I want to keep a close eye on you."

"Thanks," Emma answered once more. She needed to get out of there. She needed to breathe. She signed her paperwork and was out of there. She booked an appointment on autopilot, walking out of there with a prescription and Killian tagging along behind her.

"Emma."

She kept walking.

"Emma, please talk to me."

"And say what?" Emma spun round, glad that there was no one around to cause a scene for. "That I have no idea how to raise a child? That, to me, that isn't even an option. That I am seriously considering getting rid of it, because I can't bear the thought of giving birth to him and abandoning him."

"You think it's a boy?"

"That's not the point, Killian!" she groaned in frustration. "My parents abandoned me!"

They were both silent for a moment before Killian scooped her into his arms in one movement. He was warm and comforting. But Emma didn't want comfort. In fact, she wasn't too sure what she wanted.

"You aren't them," he whispered against her hair. "Whatever you choose, you know I'll be there. And it's your choice – no one can make it for you. Not me, Neal, a doctor or the parents you never knew."

"Sounds like a lot of pressure on one eighteen year old girl," Emma breathed, pulling away.

"You'll be brilliant, Swan," Killian said, sliding his hand down to hers and entwining their fingers. "You always are."

After a month of texting and casual conversations over coffee, he got a text.

Emma – Told you so.

Underneath the text was a picture of her latest ultrasound. He didn't quite get what it was showing, except there was a baby. A tiny little human.

Emma – In case you were wondering, it's a boy.

Killian couldn't help but give a little chuckle.