When Emma wakes the following morning and Killian's still asleep, she slips out from their bed, changes and kisses him on the cheek before leaving their room. The castle is quiet but Emma doesn't let the silence bother her as she finds her way to Pinocchio's workshop. After last night, Emma knows that she can't stray from her vision too much, but there are still some things she can do to set the future into motion.
Thankfully, Pinocchio is already awake, cleaning his workshop when Emma finds him. He acknowledges her presence and she comes closer to his work bench. "You remember when I asked you that hypothetical question about how long it would take to carve a wardrobe? Do you think if you're not too busy with anything else, you could start working on that now?" she asks.
He shrugs. "I could. Material shouldn't be too difficult to get," he reasons. "There's plenty of wood in the forest,"
"I know, but I think this job calls for a special type of wood, enchanted wood," Emma adds, "In my vision, I begged Killian to take our baby to an enchanted wardrobe, to save her from the witch's curse,"
"Her?"
Emma smiles helplessly. "It's hard not to use adjectives, but yes, I am expecting a girl," she confirms, "And very few people know about this, so I expect you to keep it quiet,"
"We'll call her, an 'it' then," he reasons, "I suppose I could start scouting around for enchanted wood I can use to make the wardrobe. When do you expect the curse to hit?"
"Another six months from now, but don't use that as an excuse to procrastinate about this,"
"I won't," he promises, "I promised your husband to look out for you, Emma and that's exactly what I'm going to do; including your 'it' baby,"
She glares at him. "She's not an 'it'!" she retorts, "but thank you Pinocchio,"
Emma finds Killian meeting her parents for breakfast and the Blue Fairy, who had notably absent since the day after her wedding. Snow stops talking quietly with her as soon as Emma enters the room and kisses Killian good morning. She still feels tense but determined not to make anymore mistakes. Emma knows what she saw and accepts now that maybe she can't change what happens in her vision, except set a series of events into motion.
Knowing what happens in the future is a tremendous responsibility and Emma knows that can't make anymore hasty decisions that could cost her later. Killian gives her hand a light squeeze as she sits down next to him and helps herself to some food. Snow dismisses the Blue Fairy as Emma catches a glimpse of her. She smiles at her solemnly but Emma doesn't say anything to her.
"We're a family," Snow says, forcing Emma and Killian's attention towards her. "This curse is coming, regardless of what we do but we can't ever forget that we're a family, all of us and that means, we need to stick together,"
Killian smiles at her thoughtfully.
"Emma, I understand that you want to protect your baby..." she continues.
"I can't change the future," Emma cuts her off, "It's like you said, this curse is coming in six months...I've tried to change certain aspects of my vision, thinking I could erase the bad and keep the good but the future doesn't work that way. It was wrong of us to risk your lives like that, and I know, it'll take some time before you forgive me for that but I'm done,"
"Emma?" Charming asks.
"I know certain things that are going to happen and I need to stop running from them, and simply accept what will be," she explains, "What will be, will be; I can't do anymore about it than freeze time itself,"
"That doesn't mean we stop fighting," Charming adds, "Not everything is inevitable,"
Emma shrugs, smiling solemnly, "Unfortunately, this curse is," she reasons.
Snow stands suddenly and comes over to Emma, smiling sweetly at her. She knows, understands this acceptance of the future couldn't have been easy for her but it makes Snow proud. "Charming's right, we shouldn't stop fighting but there also comes a point, where you realize, fighting won't do any good," she says, "but some things are worth fighting for,"
Emma smiles at her and glances at Red and her father, and even though she's not looking at him, Emma knows Killian's smiling at her lovingly and she knows, her mother is right. Some things are worth fighting for, but Emma also wonders, how long she can keep fighting until she gives up again?
Two months later...
There's a secret project in the castle, Emma knows this because her godfather's are more active than ever,
shuffling back and forth to a secret room and sometimes, she can't find Pinocchio in his work shop when he's normally there.
Emma tries not to think about what be going on but one day, she spots her mother slip into that secret room. She listens behind a pillar, hoping she can find some clue as to what might be going on. She hears Pinocchio give her mother a report that 'it's almost finished,' and 'it'll be hard to keep this a surprise much longer from her.'
Then, she hears her mother's voice saying she knows that it'll be hard but Emma needs a distraction from what's going on and she hopes, this surprise will provide the perfect distraction. Emma runs away, sneaking into a room close by once she hears her mother and Pinocchio leave the room.
Emma peaks behind the door, trying to catch a glimpse of what's behind it but her mother closes it quickly and puts away a heart shaped key in a pocket. She thanks Pinocchio for all his hard work and they part ways.
From that moment on, Emma is determined to find out the mystery behind this secret room. She stops by Pinocchio's work shop early every morning, asking him about the progress of the wardrobe. In the meantime, she studies the shop, trying to find anything that resembles room plans but never finds them and he never looks at her, saying that he's still working on finding enchanted wood which is a very difficult task. One day, she recommends that he work with the Blue Fairy, because she would know where to find some.
One day, Emma's resting in her husband's arms, feeling very tired but still thinking about that secret room and what might be there. She sighs, turns and rests her head on his arm and Killian kisses her temple, raking his fingers through her blond hair. She rests a hand on her growing belly, not really paying attention to the slight vibration coming up from her stomach.
"Killian," she breaths.
He raises an eyebrow, looking at her. "What is it love?"
Emma's eyes shoot open and she feels her belly, moving from one spot to another and she smiles. Killian pulls away from her and looks at her worriedly. "Is there something wrong with the baby?" he asks.
"No, nothing's wrong," she says and grabs his hand, placing it on her stomach. "Do you feel that?"
"What is that?" he asks breathlessly, smiling.
"A kick, I think," Emma cries.
Killian laughs, "That's our baby, kicking away; feels like a tough lad," he says.
Or a tough girl, Emma thinks, which she will need to be if she is going to save us all.
The mystery of the secret room continues to plague Emma's thoughts; it quickly becomes an obsession and when she's well enough, she finds herself sneaking around the hallway where the room is. She knows her mother keeps the key and whatever is behind that door, it's meant to provide a distraction for her. Emma ponders asking her mother about it is but she second guesses herself a few times before she decides to let it be and her mother will tell her about it when she's ready to.
So Emma waits patiently, biding her time, between rest and snacks in the kitchen. One day, passing that secret room she's trying to ignore, she hears Killian's voice behind it and now, Emma can't stop thinking about that secret surprise.
She doesn't even bother concealing herself once they leave and she's staring back at her mother, Pinocchio and her husband. But she also hears her godfather's voices behind the door and her dad's voice too, quietly giving instructions.
"Emma, sweetheart," Killian starts, "I thought you were sleeping,"
She shrugs. "I thought that I would walk around the castle," she says, "So, what's the surprise?"
"What surprise?" Pinocchio counters.
Emma glares at him. "We both know you are the worst lier, even worse at keeping secrets," she says, gesturing to the room behind them. "What's going on in there?"
"It's a surprise," Snow admits, "but it's not quite ready yet. There's still some finishing touches that need to be made before it's perfect to present to you,"
Emma looks to her husband, skeptically. "And you knew about this surprise?" she asks.
Killian clears his throat. "Not until recently, but I promise darling, you will love it," he says.
"Okay," Emma breaths and turns to leave.
"You're not angry with me for keeping something from you, are you?" Killian asks, finding Emma lying in their room, eating some leftovers.
Emma shrugs. "If it's a surprise, then I can understand the secrecy," she reasons, "although, I have to admit, I've known for awhile that something has been going on. It's hard not to notice seven dwarves making errands and never finding Pinocchio in his workshop when he should be there,"
"Why are you visiting the wood cutter's workshop?" he wonders, not in an accusing but curious tone.
"He's working on a project for me," Emma muses. "And apparently, I'm not his only costumer,"
Killian smiles, comes over to the bed and kisses her forehead. "Snow's sworn me to secrecy love, I can't spill any details about her project until it's ready," he says.
"I know," she says.
That secret surprise is finally ready for Emma two weeks later. Killian finds her and let's her stand outside of the room. Her parents and Pinocchio are there too, smiling proudly and Emma looks at Killian. He winks at her, steps aside and removes a black scarf from his pocket. "I know you already know that this is a surprise but humor us, love?" he says and she lets him tie the scarf around her eyes.
Killian holds onto her hands, guiding her into the room as Charming and Snow step aside. He guides her to the center of the room and Killian whispers something to Charming and Snow, before removing the blind fold. Emma's hesitant to open her eyes and then Killian whispers into her ear, it's okay to look, stands behind her and plants his fingers around her waist.
Emma breaths slowly, opening her eyes and stares disbelievingly at her surroundings. The room is so grande, stenciled carvings, charms, dolls, stuffed animals and a beautiful, white crib in the center, and a rocking chair not far away with even more baby toys than one child can play with and decorative sea-blue floor with sparkling, golden serifs.
Everything is so beautiful and Killian pulls her towards the baby's crib, excited to show her something. He points to the mobile hanging above the crib and she laughs: a pirate dressed in black with a red vest holding a cutlass that bears a striking resemblance to Killian and next to that, a princess with blond curls and green eyes wearing a blue gown and she looks at him.
"I specifically requested that tiny detail," he says, grinning.
"So, this what you've been up too for weeks?" Emma says, turning to her parents. "All of this is so beautiful, mom; thank you,"
Snow walks over to her and hugs her tenderly. "I know this curse is still coming, but I thought giving you this nursery might lift your spirits," she says.
"You love it?" Charming asks, watching Emma continue to marvel at the nursery.
"It's beautiful, of course I love it," she cries, "This room, it feels familiar..."
"I would hope so since it was yours at one point," Snow adds, "This was your nursery, I'd sit and play with you for hours, and your father would rock you to sleep,"
Emma walks over to the rocking chair and looks back at her parents. "Thank you," she cries as Snow and Charming come closer to her. "Thank you, both of you," She hugs her mother again and then her father.
Killian pulls her away for a moment, holding her hands in the archway overlooking the kingdom. Snow gestures that they leave them alone and they quietly leave the nursery. Pinocchio starts to leave too and then lingers a moment, watching them curiously.
"I know, we may never get to meet him, but spending the next couple of months with you or however long we have until the curse, I am not going to waste one moment with you, sharing in your joy," Killian says and wipes away a stray tear on her cheek, "I love you; you're my girl and you always will be. No curse can change that,"
Emma smiles, her vision a bit blurred because of the tears and she kisses him. She looks around the nursery, admiring all the finer details, everything is really perfect and so breathtakingly beautiful. Emma thinks she sees Pinocchio and then shakes her head, looking back at Killian but when she glances in the direction, he's gone.
"Thank you for this nursery and our baby," Emma cries, "I really do need you with me these next couple of months, Killian. I know you want to fight for me and our baby, but I cannot lose you before our baby is born,"
He wipes another tears from her face and brushes his hand through her hair. "I know love," he cries and lets her rests her head on his chest, "Whatever you need, I will be there for you,"
Emma sighs and braces her arms around his back.
She finds Pinocchio later in his workshop, talking with the Blue Fairy and as soon as they notice her, they stop talking and regard her. Emma glances at the fairy before coming over to Pinocchio and hugs him. He hugs her back and she pulls away, looking at him and the Blue Fairy. "I just wanted to thank you for your work on the nursery," she says, "You did a really good job, everything is perfect and beautiful and it means a lot to me,"
The Blue Fairy clears her throat and Emma looks at her. "It's nice to see you happy again Princess Emma," she says and looks at the wood cutter. "We'll continue this discussion later Pinocchio," and she hovers out of the room.
Emma doesn't say anything further, watching her leave and she looks back at him. "She really does feel horrible about lying to you about your vision, Emma," he says, "She was only trying to help you, helping people is what she does; she had no idea that you would give her the silent treatment,"
"I was upset with what she did, five months ago but I don't hate her," she says.
"I never said anything about hate," he reasons, "but it wouldn't hurt to talk to her, so she knows where she stands with you,"
Emma sighs, thanks him again for the nursery and leaves the workshop, hoping to catch up with the Blue Fairy. She doesn't hover very far and smiles, greeting her again.
"I know you're sorry," Emma starts, "and I've been stubborn and angry with you but I'm not anymore,"
"My purpose is to help Princess, however I can as long as my magic allows it but I never meant to mislead or lie to you about your gift," she says.
"I know," Emma sighs, "and if you want to still help, Pinocchio's working on a secret project for me and he could use your guidance and special talent,"
"As you wish Princess," she bows and returns to the workshop.
Emma smiles thoughtfully, watching her and sighs again. This curse is coming but Emma sees now, there is hope in the darkness and she cannot lose faith again.
tbc