1 1/2 Months Later...

Emma's never been a morning person, Killian knows this because when she was on board his ship, he remembers having to knock a few times before she would stir. But he's quickly found, pregnancy changes her. Now, Emma can't ignore the sun as soon as it rises, taking her breakfast early before making her way down to the nursery, where she stays most of the day.

Sometimes, she sits by herself, singing softly to the baby in her womb or Red comes by and spends time with her, if he's unavailable. Charming still requires that he attend daily war meetings, figuring out strategies about the curse or how to find the witch before she can enact it. But as soon as those meetings are done, Killian rushes to the nursery to be with his wife because he promised her that he wouldn't waste one moment without her.

Time is very important and their worst enemy. They still have two and a half months before the curse and the closer it gets to Emma's due date, the more nervous she gets again. He tries to soothe her worries, keeping her company in the nursery.

Some days after better than others but on the worst days, he can't console Emma and it pains him that he is

powerless and anything he says, promising that they will find a way when there isn't one, feels like a lie. But she appreciates his hope and attitude.

One day, he skips one of Charming's war meetings and goes straight to the nursery, watching Emma talk quietly to the baby. It's beautiful and sweet, how much of a connection she already has to their baby that he doesn't really pay attention to some of the things that she says to it.

Things that would almost certainly tell him the gender of the baby but he really doesn't want to know right now. They already know so much about the future, he's alright with not knowing that at the moment.

But he does make out some words she says.

"We may only get to know you for a few seconds, moments even after you arrive but I can tell you right now, your father and I love so much and if it takes thirty, forty, fifty or sixty years, I know you are the one destined to break this curse," she whispers, gently rubbing her round stomach. "We love you, I love you – I loved you and wanted you the moment I knew you were coming before I even knew I was pregnant with you,"

Emma sighs, glancing at the crib and her lips trembles. "I wish the future wasn't so dark, that your father and I could raise you, watch you grow, teach you how to walk, talk, see your first smile..." her voice wavers, "Your grandmother, my mother got to do all that stuff with me when I was growing up. I remember when she helped me dress for my first ball and taught me how to dance. My first dance was actually with my father, it was clumsy and I made mistakes but it didn't bother me, knowing I would have time to practice and get better. And by my sixteenth birthday, I was a better dancer than him,"

Killian watches a solemn smile form on her lips but also sees the silent tears threatening her. "My mother was so impressed with me but she was not amused when I asked my father to teach me how to sword fight. Your grandfather is an excellent swordsman, he taught me and those lessons served me well, but they also taught me to prepare for whatever comes your way," she says, "The day I met your father, it was night of my eighteenth birthday ball. My life changed after I met him, I fell in love and what I thought I wanted, changed; he changed me and I changed him too,"

"That's the beauty of True Love, it isn't always easy and sometimes, you do have to fight for it but once you have it, don't ever let it go because it is the most precious magic in this universe," she breaths and looks up, catching sight of Killian.

H smiles, walking over to her and kneels in front of the rocking chair, looking up at her. "Our baby will know true love Emma," he assures her, "Good will win and we'll be a family, the way it was always meant to be,"

She smiles at him thoughtfully and he stands, helping her stand and holds her close. "Destiny takes time love but you shouldn't lose faith," Killian continues, "We will get our happy ending one day, the three of us,"

He kisses her forehead and starts to leave, hoping she'll follow but she tugs him back. "Can you stay here with me for a bit?" she asks, "I miss being with you,"

Killian turns around and holds her a while longer, hoping if he holds onto her long enough, time will stop and the curse will never happen.

The curse is coming and it will separate him from Emma for twenty-eight years. All of their happy endings will be stolen from them and time will stop, all their memories erased. But there is hope, all curses can be broken and the is only one magic strong enough to break it: true love.

And their daughter, Clare.

That's her name, the one Emma chose for her before he even knew. He had hoped for a boy, someone who

would be a mirror image of himself but the idea of a daughter, puts him into over protective daddy mode right away. He wishes again that the witch's curse were not coming, he wishes that he would have the chance to raise their daughter, watch her grow and be there for her.

For his Clare.

She'll have a rough life without them, growing up in a different world than theirs.

She'll feel lost and alone and he won't be able to comfort her when she needs it, or guide her. Killian knows it's selfish but his Clare deserves better than to spend her life without her parents there, helping her along.

"So, her name is Clare," Killian offers, finding Emma alone in the nursery.

She turns and smiles at him hopefully, biting her lip. "Are you disappointed it's not a boy?" she counters.

"I was – at first but I'm not anymore because I love her regardless," he says, coming over to her and holds Emma's hands, caressing her knuckles softly. "She's going to be beautiful, Emma,"

"Just two and half more months," Emma sighs, "and she'll be here and then, she'll be gone,"

"She will always have us with her," he promises, "The witch's curse can't take that away,"

Tears threaten her again and she closes her eyes, trying will them back. "It's not fair, Killian; twenty-eight years is a long time, to be separated from you and our daughter," she cries, "What if she doesn't break the curse in time? I don't want to be without you, Killian,"

Killian holds her close, gently rubbing circles on her back, trying to soothe her worries. He tried to solve things before by taking Emma to Neverland but was forced to turn the ship around before they could even leave and now he knows everything about this curse, he feels that same desperation again but he can't give in otherwise he could damage the future and doom them all.

He has to trust in Rumpelstiltskin's prophecy, trust that their darling girl will break the curse and they'll have that happy ending as a family.

There is hope.

tbc