A/N:Sorry this is so late. I changed the order of some plot points last night to make the story move a little faster but it left this kind of awkward pause between the last big thing and the next. I'm thinking there's about two more chapters before we really get into the plot changes so I hope you'll be content to wait and read until then! Thank you so much for the lovely reviews by the way!
FYI:The first part of Mary Margaret's dance is Aurora's Wedding Variation and the second part is the Rose Adagio (minus the partners though). I know those are out of order as to the actual ballet but in my mind it's just the order she decided to practice the dances in. I also just put the fouettes in because I like them- technically what I was picturing was another role's steps. Sorry if changing things around or getting anything wrong upsets any of the ballet folk out there. It's been a few years since I was actually competitive in the dance world. If you haven't seen the clips of the Sleeping Beauty ballet look it up on YouTube!
Disclaimer: All aspects of Once Upon A Time belong to ABC and the show's creators.
David arrived at quarter past twelve to pick up Emma from the hospital. Killian had offered to take he home but he was scheduled to set sail the next day again and needed to go to Boston to pick up some new equipment beforehand. Making the trip there and back before his captain's curfew was just too tight not to leave early in the morning. He'd taken off as much time as he could to be with Emma and while she appreciated it she wished he could manage just a few more days.
David met her in the lobby where Emma sat in her wheelchair, arm in a sling, bag of clothing balanced on her legs. Because the bulky gauze had been removed, replaced by just a wide bandage, Emma had struggled into a long sleeve Henley she found tucked in the bottom of the bag. Her police uniform's jacket had been ruined as well during the accident so she'd wanted the warmth the long sleeve could give her in its stead. Emma had waited for Killian to leave and the nurse to unhook her IV before changing herself, cringing and cursing as she eased the sleeve up her bad arm. She wanted to do it herself because she'd be living by herself and honestly, she wasn't ready for Killian to see her naked. That would not have been natural. The black leggings she put on afterwards had been more difficult than the sweatpants Emma had put on at the first part of her stay but easier than the shirt. Still, when Emma had finished she was sweating and exhausted and had to plunk back down on the bed and rest until a nurse arrived to sign her out.
She was supposed to wait in her room for David but she was bored sitting there so had wheeled herself to the elevator and gone down to the lobby right after the nurse left with her signed discharge papers. The lobby bustled around her but she had found a quiet spot beside the doors, tucked up next to a bench. It kept her out of the way of nurses but still in a spot David would see as soon as he entered. David arrived not long after Emma had gotten herself situated.
"So much for following orders, sergeant," David greeted shaking his head as he walked up to her. By the smile pulling up the corner of his mouth Emma knew he hadn't expected her to stay in the room.
Emma shrugged casually. "I've been up there for ten days. That was more than enough."
"And Killian deserves a medal for keeping you there for that length of time," David laughed as he started to push Emma out the door and to the parking lot.
"Jones didn't keep me there," Emma answered, not appreciating his insinuation.
"But he certainly provided a nice view, no?"
Emma turned in her chair and gave him a look, eyebrow raised. "Well if you're that into him by all means make a move. We haven't made anything official."
"I don't think Mary Margaret would appreciate that," he answered drily. He opened the door to his car and helped ease Emma out of the chair. She pushed off his hand when he placed it on the small of her back to move her to the car. Emma could do it herself. David just shook his head at her stubbornness and waited until she was inside and buckled up to shut the door for her, eyebrow raised in defiance.
Emma rolled her eyes at him when he slid into the driver's seat after returning the wheelchair and started the car. David backed out of the parking space and turned towards Emma's house. She was excited to be going back to her place. To have her own bed and her own shower. She probably looked forward to that more than anything.
"Just so you know, Mary Margaret is already there, probably using your living room as a dance studio since today's her off day. She's staying the night and Ruby's coming over after her shift is done at the diner." That meant Emma's furniture would all be pushed into the corners so Mary Margaret would have enough room to dance across the hardwood floors. At least watching her dance would provide some entertainment during the mid-afternoon television slump.
"You guys aren't going to let me have a moment's peace are you?" Emma asked, but not in an angry way. It was touching, how devoted the three of them were. How much they wanted to make sure she didn't feel alone. How they felt it was their responsibility to make sure Emma knew she wasn't the same person she had been as a child.
"Well, no. Not really." David smiled over at her and parked in front of Emma's bungalow.
Emma just stared at her house, pleased that she was finally back. This was her home, as strange as that concept was to her. While still a foreign idea, the house had quickly become Emma's favourite place in the world. The landlord loved her and with the lease Emma had signed she knew she would not be kicked out unless she decided it was time to go. No one would decide she wasn't wanted or too much trouble and call social services on her. It was Emma's little place in this great big world and she wouldn't have it any other way.
David got out of the car and rounded the front to Emma's side just as she swung open the door. He extended a hand to pull her up, which Emma took. Once standing David slipped her hand into the crook of his elbow and helped her step up the pathway towards the door. Halfway towards the door it flew open to reveal Mary Margaret wearing a black leotard, light blue skirt, matching legwarmers and her pointe shoes. Tchaikovsky blared in the background.
Mary Margaret waved them in from the doorway, not wanting to dirty the silk of her shoes by running out to them. Though she looked like that was all she wanted to do. The petite little woman was nearly exploding when Emma took a step up the porch. As soon as Emma was within arm's reach Mary Margaret grabbed her arm from David's and pulled her forward, slinging her arms around Emma's waist, careful not to put pressure on her arm.
"I'm so glad you're home," she murmured into Emma's ear before kissing her cheek. Emma didn't have a chance to respond before she was pulled inside and to her couch. Emma sunk down into it gratefully, propping her feet up under her. A mug of hot chocolate with cinnamon as well as a sandwich was delivered to her within moments.
Emma held the mug feeling a little overwhelmed at the care. "Guys," she called out, loud enough to be heard over the symphony currently blaring through her house. "Honestly, I'm fine."
Mary Margaret's head peaked out around the kitchen doorway. "I know. Now eat." A few moments later David arrived with her pain meds, sitting down next to her with a gentle smile.
"She'll get it out of her system soon," David murmured, handing Emma the extra strength Tylenol. She downed them before answering.
"It's not that I don't appreciate it. It's just that-"
"You aren't used to it, I know," David answered. "We know. Even if she isn't acting like it right now. You scared her so much and then there wasn't much she could do for you in the hospital. I think she's trying to make up for it now." And that was why she couldn't be mad at Mary Margaret for smothering her with kindness.
Emma finished her lunch then stood, using the arm of the sofa to lever herself up. David looked at her questioningly. "I need a shower." When he opened his mouth to call for Mary Margaret, thinking she was unable to do it herself. Emma held up a hand immediately. "Alone," she told him, annunciating the word as clearly as she could. David looked over her carefully, checking for any signs of weakness before giving her a nod. "Don't freak out if I'm a while. It takes time to get hospital grime off."
David rolled her eyes and waved her off. Emma started down the hall slowly, running her good arm along the wall in case she needed support. But the trip wasn't that far to her bedroom from the living room and her ensuite bathroom was just inside her bedroom door. Emma loved her room, with the added luxury of an attached bathroom. She didn't think she'd ever be that lucky to have such an amenity. The bathroom wasn't large, and neither was her bedroom for that matter, but it had a shower and bath combination mounted on one of the walls and lots of shelving on another. Mary Margaret had put some knick knacks along the top shelf but Emma honestly wouldn't have minded not having them. Ceramic and glass figurines of animals weren't really her style. She didn't need extra things but as Mary Margaret had given them to her she kept them and deep down had even come to like them. Just a little bit.
She slipped into the bathroom and turned on the shower to as hot as she thought she could stand before carefully undressing. The painkillers she had been given at lunch helped numb the pain enough that pulling off her sling and shirt wasn't actually that bad. Her range of motion still wasn't great because the pulling of her skin continued to hurt but it was manageable and Emma was tough. She could get through it easily.
Emma pulled off the bandage since it wasn't waterproof anyways and glanced at her shoulder in the mirror. The stitches had dissolved almost completely leaving behind two jagged but vaguely circular scars that were nestled just under the outside scar that cut across her shoulder. Emma raked a hand across her face. That shoulder was a complete mess now, even if she had started to become okay with the damage after spending the whole hospital stay looking at it. She might have revealed it in the hospital but out among everyone else, specifically Graham since she'd still been able to hide the truth from him, she was more than content to keep everything hidden. She wasn't ready for the world beyond what she controlled to know.
Emma drew back her shower curtain and stepped inside, hissing as the hot water hit her bad shoulder. She angled herself so the spray on her injured side was less direct and sighed as the steam and pummelling drops worked over her sore muscles. If Emma could stay in the heat and satisfaction of getting clean after ten days of medical treatments and filtered air grim for the rest of her days she would be happy. Blissfully so. Well maybe not blissful unless Killian was in there with her. Wait? What? That's so not a natural step. Emma shook herself out of the panic inducing thoughts and grabbed her shampoo bottle.
She squeezed some out onto her hand and used her good arm to wash her hair. It was completely matted from rubbing her head around on the pillow so much at the hospital. When Emma was completely clean and her legs were growing weaker she sunk down into the bathtub proper and plugged the drain, letting the hot water fill up around her. She floated her arms on the surface of the water and shut her eyes.
Emma sat like that until the water grew cold and her hands turned wrinkly. She let the water drain before getting out of the tub and wrapping her body in a thick towel. She was careful to dry her injury before putting a new bandage on it. Fully washed it didn't quite look so bad. Emma dried the rest of herself before dressing in leggings and a bulky knit sweater, slipping her sling on last. She left her hair down because a one handed ponytail was not something she had the energy to do at that moment then moved back to the living room.
Mary Margaret was spinning around the living room on her toes, strong legs carrying her across the entire expanse of floor in a matter of steps as she practiced for her upcoming show when Emma reached the room. Mary Margaret moved her arms in time, making wide and grand arcs with her leg every time the music swelled to a crescendo. Emma slipped past her when he music changed she began a series of fouettes in the center of the room, leg extending with each turn, arms held gracefully at shoulder height but barely moving from her position as she rotated, as if she was a figurine in a music box. Emma settled on the couch, tucking her legs out of the way. Beside her David watched enthralled. David wound his arm around Emma, pulling her against his side.
"She's something else isn't she?" David murmured and the love in his voice was palpable.
Emma nodded, watching the flickering of Mary Margaret's feet as she moved en pointe towards the window. "She's beautiful." Emma couldn't keep the awe from her voice.
"The show will be fantastic," David breathed during a lull in the violin music she practiced to. Mary Margaret, as the company's principle dancer, was set to star in the upcoming Tchaikovsky ballet of Sleeping Beauty. Emma couldn't imagine a better choice than Mary Margaret who was practically a fairy tale princess anyways with her grace and kindness and beauty. The show was set to be fantastic and Emma, who really wasn't into those kinds of things, couldn't wait to see her best friend shine.
Nestled against David's chest and being swallowed up by the music as the CD switched to The Rose Adagio- David being the one to tell her that- Emma let herself be happy and content. It was a good feeling.
The next thing Emma knew, Ruby had arrived with dinner from the restaurant. Mary Margaret finally stopped her heavy workout and slipped off to the shower. When she returned everyone dug in, scooping out bits of everything from the miscellaneous dishes set across the table.
They ate in companionable silence and when it was time to wash the dishes Emma was sent to the living room even though she insisted she could help. While Emma waited for them to finish up, listening to their playful bickering.
The doorbell rang and Emma pushed herself up from the couch to see who would be showing up a- she checked her watch- eight forty five. Before she could make it all the way to the door it swung open to reveal a rather flustered Killian. In his hand was a vase but instead of being filled with flowers it was filled with circular knots of rope, each knot a different colour. The strands wound around each other tightly to form a ball shape. Some of the rope was synthetic, other bits made from twisted cotton faded from the sun. Killian thrust the vase forward, blushing slightly.
Emma took it with a confused raise of her eyebrow. "They're monkey fists," Killian explained quickly. "A sailor's knot. I didn't think you'd like flowers as a get well gift."
"Did you make these?" Emma asked, staring at the strange but beautiful rope creation.
"Aye. But if you don't like them, you don't have to keep them. They're just knots."
"Shut up, Jones," Emma said quickly. She shifted the vase to her bad arm and extended her good one to grab his hand and pull him inside "Thank you."
Killian smiled. "I wanted to give you something that lasted as long as I'm going to be away. And longer. These will last forever should you wish to keep them. Like a reminder that I'm not leaving. Not permanently at least," he added with a wry smile.
Emma glanced down at the vase, letting go of Killian so she could run a finger over the skillfully made knots. She hadn't known Killian was capable of such artistry. But she was touched beyond words. He had given her something that she knew without a doubt would last. The rope knots left no room for her abandonment issues to make her fearful, as flowers would when they died. Well that was a first.
"Do you want to come in? Everyone's here," Emma asked as she motioned for him to come closer.
Killian gave her a sad smile and shook his head. "I wish I could, so very much but I have to be at the boat in a few minutes. I just wanted to make sure you got those before I left for two weeks."
"Okay," Emma answered with a nod. "Thank you, Jones."
"I'm glad you like them. Well, I should be going. Say hi to everyone for me. Get well, lass." Killian stepped back but Emma jumped forwards after him.
"Wait, Jones. That is not a natural way to leave." Killian stepped closer and Emma crushed her lips against his quickly. "Much better," she breathed as she pulled back, smirking at the slightly dazed look on Killian's face. "Stay safe."
Emma shut the door but stayed near it, peering out through the window to the side of the frame. She didn't leave her spot until Killian's car drove away. Two weeks. That's all she had to wait to see that same silver car pull into the driveway, to see that same dishevelled sailing scientist strolling up the path. That would be worth the wait.