Chapter 3
As the family made their way down the street, toward the park, Melanie skipped along holding her father's left hand. His right arm curled around Emma's waist as she pushed Liam along in the stroller. The sun was shining and everything was perfect for them.
"I love you," Emma whispered in Killian's ear with a smile on her face.
Killian beamed back at her. "And I love you, Emma," he said and leaned over to kiss her.
"That's gwoss! Come on! We're almost there!" Melanie interrupted, pulling on her father's hand. The couple broke apart laughing as their daughter pulled them toward the park entrance. "Daddy, what are those?" Melanie asked, pointing towards the large, white birds drifting gracefully across the pond.
"Swans, Little Love." Killian replied. "Very majestic and beautiful creatures." He said looking at Emma who was fussing with Liam in the stroller. "Swan…" he said slowly, brow furrowed.
Emma's head snapped up to look at him in confusion. Liam's crying interrupted them both as Emma leaned back down to pick up the baby.
"Can I go swide, Daddy?" Melanie asked, looking up at Killian with her big blue eyes.
"Aye…um yes. Of course, Sweetie." Killian said, shaking his head. The little girl cheered and ran over to the play area. Killian and Emma followed her and settled on a bench nearby. They watched their daughter race across the jungle gym and up and down the slide.
Emma looked down at their entwined fingers, her brow furrowed, trying to track down the thoughts that had been hovering just out of reach all day.
"What is it, Love?" Killian asked, looking at her.
"I just can't shake this weird feeling. That there's something we're missing. Something we should be doing?" She struggled to put the feeling into words.
"Aye. I have that feeling too, Love." Killian replied.
"Since when did you start talking like a pirate?" Emma laughed, her brow still furrowed.
"Pirate?" Killian asked, startled.
"Mommy! Push me!" Melanie called from the swings. Emma chuckled and placed a kiss in Killian's hair.
"I'm kidding," she said as she got up and headed over to their daughter.
Killian watched her leave and reached down to pick up a fussing Liam. "There, there. Everything's fine." He murmured, trying to comfort both is son and himself. Something was still not quite sitting right with him.
After Melanie had tired herself, and her mother, out from all the swinging, they decided to head to a small diner for lunch. Walking past the harbor on their way, Killian stopped to look out at the ships. "Thinking of going for a sail, Killian?" Emma asked him.
"Just thinking that I'd make one hell of a Captain." He replied absentmindedly.
Emma's eyes went wide and she looked at him. "What did you say?"
Killian looked at her in confusion. "Daddy said a bad word!" Melanie interrupted.
"That I did, Little Love. I am sorry, I don't know what came over me." He reached down to pick her up. Emma pushed the stroller after them, still watching Killian in confusion.
They reached the diner quickly and waited for the server to come over. Emma looked around, noticing how empty the place was. Killian followed her gaze around the room.
"What can I get you?" Their server asked.
"Three grilled cheese please." Emma ordered and the server quickly walked away to put in their lunch.
"Not many people here today, are there?" Killian said to Emma, his eyes still glancing around the room.
"No," she replied "There must be something going on that we're missing out on."
"I have you and our children, Love," Killian said with a smile. "I'm right where I have always wanted to be."
Emma smiled back at him, becoming more at ease in the restaurant. "You are such a dork," she said.
"Aye, but you love it." Killian challenged back with a smirk.
"Three grilled cheese." the server interrupted, setting the food on the table and dropping the bill, before heading back to the kitchen.
Emma busied herself with cutting her daughter's sandwich and Killian held a sleeping Liam in his arms until the meal was complete.