Chapter 11

When he woke up, Killian at first forgot where he was. He blinked open his eyes and they adjusted to see the walls of his cabin on the Jolly. He heard the waves hitting the hull and the events of the past evening came flashing back to him.

Emma in that dress.

Emma smiling at him.

Kissing Emma against the door.

Telling Emma that he wouldn't make love to her for the first time against a door.

Leading Emma to his cabin.

Emma moving her hair over shoulder as he was pulling down the zipper of her dress.

Spending the whole night holding back the words he'd been wanting to say for the last four or five months.

Killian turned to his left but found the bed empty of his Swan. He heard movement up on deck, so he pulled a pair of light green pajama pants and grey t-shirt from the spare clothes drawer he kept. He made his way out through the galley and up the steps. The sight that greeted him was one he wished that he could be greeted with every day of his life: Emma stood at the bow in nothing but his dress shirt from the previous evening, looking ever the gorgeous princess he always saw her as. He smiled and walked as silently as he could. But he wasn't as good as he thought.

"I know you're there."

"I hope I didn't startle you."

She remained facing out to the water so Killian walked up behind and pulled her to his chest, resting his chin on her shoulder. She smelled like the ocean and vanilla and sunshine and perfection and he couldn't hold it in anymore.

"Emma, I l-"

"I love you Killian." She turned around in his arms and smiled at him. "I told myself that I wouldn't. I just wanted to enjoy being with you and have fun, you know?"

"Love-"

"Let me finish." He nodded. "I was scared. Neal hurt me, Walsh hurt me, I lost Jamie. I've dealt with a long history of people leaving me. When I saw how happy you are here, having Tink close, living in your hometown…I thought this wouldn't last beyond the time we were working and I'd resigned myself that I'd be saying goodbye to you at the end. It's why I've been a bit…how do you say it?...sullen lately. We're going to finish working in two months and I didn't think I'd ever see you again. What would happen? Would I stay here? Would you follow me to Boston? Why would you even want to?

"Why would someone like you ever care for someone like me? I was just a little lost girl who didn't matter and didn't think she ever would." A single tear fell down her cheek. Killian placed a finger under her chin and lifted it so she was looking at him.

"Are you quite finished?" It was Emma's turn to nod quietly. "Emma, I think I have loved you from the moment you rejected the first bouquet of flowers I sent you. I would be content to live out the rest of my days with you, never leaving your side, until you no longer wish it." He sat on the bow against the mast and pulled her to him, and she settled in between his legs with her back to his chest.

"What did I ever do to deserve someone like you?"

"On the contrary my love, it is I who doesn't deserve you."

"What are we going to do Killian? When this is all over?"

"I've had my eye on owning property in Boston. I do find it a lovely place to be an Irishman. How does a home in Beacon Hill sound?"

He just didn't tell her that he'd already had Smee looking into places in Manhattan since the moment they left Galway. He'd keep his home near Drogheda, Tink wouldn't mind keeping residence there, but he'd go anywhere his Swan was. It saddened him to think that she didn't think herself worthy of his love.

"You'd move there for me?"

"Aye, love, I'd do anything for you."

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Killian all but moved into the house Emma shared with August and Graham after their anniversary dinner and declarations. Much to Smee's dismay, who had to make sure where his boss would be so the car the studio sent to pick him up would arrive at the right place. August and Graham were happy for Emma, who sat down and told them both what she'd initially planned to do when they were done. And if either of them had anything to say about her sharing her bed with Killian, they kept it to themselves.

A week after, she called her parents in Boston.

"Hello?"

"Mary M-Mom?"

"Emma, sweetie! How are you?" Before Emma could answer, she heard her mother yell out. "David! YOUR DAUGHTER IS ON THE PHONE! GET DOWN HERE!"

"Geez mom."

"Sorry honey. He's been doing to some work on the bedrooms upstairs. We bought out the apartment in the duplex above us and we're knocking down walls to make one big house. There'll be a spare bedroom just for you, for whenever you come to visit."

"You don't have t-"

"Nonsense Emma. We may not have to, now that you're a grown woman, but we want to." There was a click on the line and David joined in.

"Emma honey, how are you?" She smiled big; she loved when her father called her 'honey' or her mother called her 'sweetie'.

"Super, dad."

"How was the big anniversary?" he asked.

"How'd you even know about that?"

"Emma, your mother reads People and watches that awful entertainment gossip channel."

"Excuse me if I enjoy a little gossip now and then!" Emma couldn't help but laugh at her parent's playful bickering.

"To answer your question dad, it was perfect." She told them everything, except for how dinner ended up being breakfast.

"I'm glad you had fun princess. I'll let you finish up with your mom, I've got to get back to work. Love you."

"Bye dad, love you too." He hung up and left Emma with Mary Margaret. "I have to go mom, but I'll try to call you again soon. We're finishing up in the next month, so I'm going to be super busy."

"It's okay Emma. As long as we get an email or a text letting us know how things are going, I'll rest easy."

"I'll talk to you soon mom. I love you."

"I love you too sweetie. Tell Killian hello for us."

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One week became two and then suddenly it was six weeks later when Emma was pulled aside by Graham while on set. She was outside the wardrobe tent working on staining Killian's coat.

"Emma?" She tossed her tools onto the plastic tarp next to her area. Graham was standing nearby.

"Hey Graham. What can I do for you?" She wiped her hair out of her face as she took a seat and he joined her. He looked a bit nervous to her. "Is everything okay?"

"Yeah, yeah. Everything is fine. I just needed to ask you something."

"Shoot."

"You know I love your brother…" he began.

"Yeah."

"While we wouldn't be able to do it here, I was wondering if I could ask him to marry me." Emma just stared at him and then proceeded to run to a nearby trash bin and lose her lunch. When she'd finished, she wiped her mouth with her already dirty sleeve.

"You're asking me for my brother's hand?"

"Yes, but I'll have to admit that that wasn't the reaction I was hoping for. Are you feeling okay?"

"Not really, I think I ate something iffy."

"You should go see Whale. Remember what happened last time you refused to see the doctor."

"Don't worry, I've learned my lesson. I'll go find him when I'm done here." She took a pull from her water bottle. "As for you, not that you need my permission, but I'd be more than happy to have you in the family."

"Thank you Emma." He gave her a kiss on the forehead and turned to leave.

"Graham? Could you keep the throwing up between you and me?"

"He's going to find out."

"I'm going to tell him. I just don't want to worry him while he's working hard."

"I promise."

After Graham left her, Emma went back to work. She was putting away her things in the tent when the urge to vomit hit her again. This time, she was busted by Ruby and August.

"Girl, you okay?" Ruby was looking at her with apprehension, remembering what had happened last time.

"Emma, why haven't you been to see Whale? Graham told me you were sick earlier."

"God that man is a gossip queen. I have half a mind to rescind my permission for that favor he asked me. I told him to keep his mouth shut."

"You told him not to tell Killian. I'm not Killian." August handed her some water and a napkin.

"I just don't want to worry anyone. I'm sure it's not the same thing."

"Doesn't matter." Ruby stood and pulled Emma with her. "Let's go see Whale. You're okay to take over, right August."

"Of course. And don't worry Emma, I won't tell him where you've gone."

"Thanks Auggie."

"I hate when you call me that."

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Lucky for Emma, Dr. Whale wasn't busy and was able to fit her in that afternoon. The office that the studio had set him up in was a couple miles from where they were filming so they arrived several minutes after speaking to the nurse. Emma was greeted by a nurse named Anna and led into an exam room with Ruby in tow.

"Dr. Whale will be right with you." Anna left them alone to wait. Since he wasn't busy with normal patients, Victor walked into the room 10 minutes later.

"Emma, Ruby…what brings you two in today?"

"This one here-" Ruby jerked her thumb over in Emma's direction, "-has been throwing up a lot."

"Oh she has, has she?" Emma rolled her eyes.

"I'm right here you know." Whale laughed and pulled a pen from his pocket and a clipboard from the counter.

"Alright Miss Swan, go ahead and tell me what you're other symptoms are and we'll see if we can't get to what's wrong." He jotted down everything Emma told him, how she'd been super tired and having headaches, mmhmm-ing and uhhuh-ing in all the right places. "How long has this been going on?"

"Few days."

"Okay then. I have a few tests I'd like to run." He stood and opened a cabinet above the counter, pulling a small plastic cup from it. "If you could um…fill this, we can get started."

"I have no idea why I have to pee in a cup for an upset stomach…"

"Just do what Whale says Ems." Ruby gave her a pointed look from where she sat.

"Okay mom. God, you're lucky I've had to go a lot lately." Emma disappeared into the small bathroom across the hallway and returned a few minutes later. "What do I do with this?"

"Anna?" called Whale and the young nurse appeared in the doorway. "Please take Miss Swan's sample and run these tests on it please." The doctor handed her a piece of paper and Anna retreated from the exam room, small smile on her face. Emma sat back on the exam table.

"Now what?"

"While we wait, I'm going to take your temperature, blood pressure, and some actual blood just to make sure we're not dealing with something as bad as last time. From what you've told me, I already have a suspicion as to what's wrong. I just need the tests Anna is running to confirm."

"Okay." Whale wrapped the blood pressure cuff around her arm and put on his stethoscope. "Shouldn't a nurse be running these tests and then you just come in and read them?"

"Normally, but I know Killian. If I didn't give you my undivided attention, I'd never hear the end of it. That being said, he knows you're here right?" Before Emma could answer, the theme song for Pirates of the Caribbean erupted from her purse. Ruby got the phone and handed it to Emma, who looked up at Whale. "Yes you can answer, just don't move around a lot and try to be calm." Emma dragged her finger across the screen.

"Hello?"

"My Swan, why didn't you tell me you were feeling unwell?" Emma could hear the worry in his voice, evident from what happened all those months ago. She loved when he used his endearments though.

"I'm sure it's nothing Killian. Threw up a few times-"

"What's your temperature? Have you been around anyone who's been sick lately? How-"

"Would you relax? I think I ate something that didn't agree with me and I'm just at Whale's making sure. August and Graham convinced me to come as soon as I could, to prevent what happened last time."

"Would you at least let me know how you are as soon as you leave the office?"

"Of course."

"Okay then. I'll have Smee pick you up from Graham's so we can spend the weekend at my house, how 'bout my love?"

"Sure. I'll see you tonight?"

"Of course. I love you Swan."

"I love you too." She hung up and handed her phone to Ruby, who had a big kid grin on her face. "Shut up."

"I didn't say a word."

"Uh huh."

Whale finished writing her blood pressure stuff on his clipboard and started piling the necessary items to take blood on a small metal tray. When he finished, he put on some rubber gloves and rubbed alcohol over a vein in Emma's arm. He stuck a needle in and taped it down, sticking a small vial onto the opposite end. It filled quickly, and he removed it, attaching another. When that one was done, he wrote Emma's name on both vials.

"I'll be right back. I'm going to pick up your other results from Anna and I'll have her start on the blood tests. Those you'll get back in a few days, but I'm sure they'll just be confirmation."

"Confirmation of what, Whale?"

"I'll be right back." He left the exam room quickly. Emma was staring at the door when she heard Ruby gasp.

"OH-MY-GOD. I think I know what's wrong with you."

"What? Did you eat something bad too?"

"No, but I just don't get how you haven't realized it yet."

"Realized what Ruby?" Emma was exasperated by now. It seemed to her that everyone knew what was wrong with her and she didn't. Luckily, Whale returned and he had a big smile on his face. "Why are you so happy?"

"The first batch of tests have confirmed my suspicions."

"Which are…?"

"You've got a parasite."

"A parasite? How do I get rid of it?"

"Unfortunately, you can't ever get rid of it. Not really."

"What the hell are you talking about Victor?"

"This parasite will be in you for nine months, and after that is up to you." That's when it hit her. She couldn't be. She and Killian were always careful, they always used protection.

Not always. Don't you remember the first night? The one on the boat, where you told him you loved him? And the multiple times below deck?

Shut up.

Not listening won't change the truth.

"Emma?" Ruby was looking at her with a worried look on her face. Emma ignored her.

"Tell me Whale, I need to hear you say it."

"Emma, you're pregnant."