Chapter Seven

Emma doesn't plan to talk to Belle about the scripts. She doesn't plan to say anything, not to Killian, not even to Elsa. But when she sees Belle walking across the studio in her heels, carrying a folder, something possesses Emma and she finds herself running to catch up with her.

"Belle," she calls. "Hey, Belle."

Belle stops in her tracks and turns, her hair flowing with her. She fixes Emma with a small smile. "Emma. What can I do for you?"

There are still bags under her eyes. If anything, they seem darker than they were the last time Emma saw her. Those eyes aren't as bright as usual; they're almost dull. And if Emma's not mistaken, she seems to have dropped a few pounds. It puts her on edge, and she was already nervous, with the possibility of a baby, and the new scripts.

"What's going on with the scripts?" Emma asks, trying to keep her voice light and airy.

Belle's face drops. She averts her eyes. "Some… changes have had to be made."

"They're pretty significant changes."

Belle gives another one of those smiles, though it doesn't reach her eyes. "That's just the way it is. Now, if you'll excuse me, I've got some work to do." She scoots around her, clutching the folders so tightly, her hands are white.

"Hey!" Emma calls. When Belle doesn't turn, she follows, over camera wires and through extras in full-length period dresses. "Hey, I don't understand."

Belle keeps her head bowed as she walks. Her hair bounces with every step. "That's just how it is. If you don't like it, take it up with Isaac. Or better yet, take it up with the network."

She picks up her pace and Emma stops walking, powerless to do anything except watch her disappear into the crowds, a knot in her stomach.

Emma doesn't see Belle for the rest of the day. She passes by her office a few times, but the door remains firmly shut. Whether she's in there or not, Emma has no idea. She doesn't have time to find out, not with her upcoming scenes.

Her next scene if with Killian, one she knows she should be looking forward to, especially since their scenes are few and far between. But instead the thought fills her with dread. She hasn't seen him properly since their shared time in the trailer. Although it isn't for lack of trying.

His trying, that is.

He has texted her a few times, but she hasn't answered. He's tried calling her too, but she's let her house phone and her cell go to voicemail. When she's on set, she's been spending her time with Graham (and occasionally August, who's friendly enough, if a little clingy). If she sees Killian coming, she turns a corner to avoid him.

She knows deep down inside her that it's childish. She should talk to him like an adult. And after all they've been through together she should be able to tell him how she feels. But she doesn't want to face him, not until she's sure that there isn't going to be a little prince or princess running about.

God, she feels sick every time she thinks about it.

Maybe because you know you'd keep the baby, a voice says inside her head. She resists the urge to tell herself to shut up, but she knows she's right. She would keep the baby. She made so many mistakes when it came to Henry. Even now she sometimes lies awake at night, thinking about what would have happened if she had never given him up; would their relationship be stronger? She wouldn't have been alone. She'd have had someone to give all her love to. She owes this child all the love they deserve.

Her child.

Killian's child.

Killian finds her just before their scene. They're filming in the Throne room again. Emma sits on one of the chairs in the corner, watching as the crew pass by with wires, cameras and microphones. Occasionally her eyes flit down to her script, and she goes over a few lines, but before long her eyes go out of focus and she's left thinking of the possibility of a baby.

She should have known she wouldn't be able to escape him for long.

"You avoiding me, Swan?" he asks, in way of greeting. He lowers himself into the chair next to her.

She looks up at him. He's wearing his navy tunic and golden crown.

She gives him an empty smile. "Not avoiding you."

"Are you sure? Because I've tried texting, I've tried calling and this- this is avoiding me."

"Not avoiding you," she repeats, with another one of those smiles. "I've just been dealing with… stuff."

He frowns. "Stuff?"

"Stuff."

"Perhaps I can help?"

"No… no. I don't think you can." She closes her script with a sigh, looking up into his face. She feels a pang of guilt as her eyes focus on his eyes lined with worry, his downward mouth. Lips, she would kiss away the frown if she could find the courage.

"Emma…"

"Drop it, Killian." She doesn't mean her words to be so sharp. "Look, I love having you around. I really appreciate it and I love spending time with you. But sometimes I've just gotta deal with stuff on my own, okay? And that how I've always been."

He swallows. "Okay. Fine."

"Don't be like that."

"Like what?"

"Like… that." She gives him a look. "This isn't a slight at you. I just need some time, on my own."

He manages a smile but it doesn't quite reach his eyes. "Of course, love." His voice is soft. "Anything you need."

She takes his hand— "Thank you—" and squeezes lightly.

He runs his thumb across her fingers. "Anytime," and she knows she's forgiven. Then he looks down at her hand. "Bloody hell, you're hot, Emma. Do you feel okay?" He takes her wrist in his hand.

"I feel fine," but before she can properly reassure him, Grumpy is calling for them to get into their positions.

Their scene starts off well. There isn't any awkward tension, which is what she was worried about, especially since she has been avoiding him and regardless of how understanding he is, he's well aware of that fact. But it's fine. He's as professional as ever.

It's another kissing scene.

Alexander tells Rose that he doesn't care what she thinks; that she should be his Queen, whether she's a peasant or not. Rose disagrees of course, but he cuts her off with a kiss. It's mild compared to what Grumpy had them doing last week.

This kiss is like a peck.

Well, there's some noises, and Emma has to throw her arms around Killian's neck, but it's a dream compared to the sex scenes. That is, until, Grumpy announces he's unhappy with it.

"I think it needs to be more passionate," he says. "Once again — uh — speaking for Belle."

"Actually," comes Isaac's voice. Emma shudders. She hadn't even realised he was there. "I think that's perfect."

"But—"

"I said I think it's perfect." He checks his watch. "And if I'm not mistaken, you're already running behind on scenes. It's time to move onto something else. Thank you for your work today, Emma, Killian." He nods and saunters back across the room to where he must have been residing, in the shadows.

"Uh-" Grumpy scratches the back of his head. "Uh, right. Okay then, guys. Take five. We'll review it and- uh- yeah, move on."

Killian and Emma exchange glances.

Emma is just on the way to her trailer, ready to settle down with a film, a bowl of popcorn and Elsa, when Killian grabs her arm. She spins around at his touch, eyebrows raised. The movement makes her feel sick and she shakes her head to clear the dizziness. It does little to help.

"Yeah?"

Though one look at his expression and she knows what he's about to ask. She doesn't know whether it's the heat, but she can feel a light sheen of sweat across her forehead. She wipes it away with the back of her hand, the movement causing her head to spin.

"You're sure you're alright?"

"I'm fine."

"It's just-" He shakes his head. The sun is too hot. She has to fight to focus on his words. "If there's anything you want to tell me you can, you know." His eyes are wide, sincere, pleading, but she hardly even registers. "If there's anything, anything at all. Even if you're scared of how I might… react. I would want you to tell me, okay?"

She removes her arm from his grasp, swallowing. "I said I'm fine."

"Okay." His voice is soft. "Okay."

Emma opens her mouth to tell him, once again, to drop it but when she opens her mouth, a strong wave of nausea hits her and she - to her utter humiliation - throws up on the ground next to him.

Like a school kid, she's sent home before her sickness can contaminate the rest of the actors. She knows at once what she's got - Henry's sickness bug. She's surprised. She doesn't usually pick up his bugs - she's always had a strong immune system, ever since she was a kid - but this one is stubborn.

She spends most of Friday night next to the toilet, with her head pressed to the cold bathroom tiles, a glass of stale water next to her. She watches the bubbles rise from the bottom of the glass to the surface. That is until the image blurs and she's emptying the contents of her stomach into the toilet. She hasn't eaten much, so it's mostly water, but it burns like hell and her whole body feels like fire.

She feels a little bit better on Saturday morning. Though she continues to visit the bathroom, her visits are less frequent. To her relief, Henry is back to normal. It means the sickness should be out of her system in time for work on Monday.

Henry is good to her. She's too exhausted to move on Saturday, so she stays on the sofa all day, wrapped in her bedcovers. He tends to her, making her soup (which she finally manages to keep down), placing a cold rag on her forehead when she gets too hot, filling her glass with fresh, ice-cold water.

She doesn't feel like speaking to anyone, so he takes charge of the phone.

Killian rings a total of five times and Henry tells him what he tells him every time. That Emma's exhausted and she doesn't want to talk to anyone, not now. Yes, she's fine. She just has a stomach bug and she should probably be back on Monday. No, there's no need to come over. Finally, he gives up, and Emma feels relieved enough to go back to sleep.

She sleeps the rest of the day. When she wakes up again, she feels fine, if a little weak.

Killian

Killian is restless all day on Monday as he waits for Emma to turn up. He fidgets during hair and makeup, which causes Ariel to snap at him. He's sloppy with his lines and slow with his acting. He can hardly eat anything, not when his stomach flutters as it does. Despite Henry's reassurances that Emma's fine, he doesn't quite believe it. Because he knows something that he very much doubts Henry knows.

Emma is pregnant.

He'd become suspicious after that time in her trailer. He was surprised - not because Emma was so enthusiastic, though that was a first, especially on set - but because usually when it's the end of the month, Emma puts a stop to all activities. That's when Killian buys her chocolate and brings his water bottle to set, because he knows that's what she likes when she's on her period.

But her period never came.

Maybe he had gotten it wrong. It wasn't his body, after all and she knew her own body best. He might have miscalculated the dates, but days passed and she still hadn't commented on the lack of chocolate or water bottle, which she had always done before.

That's when she started avoiding him.

That's when he knew.

Well, he thought he knew. He had a feeling, somewhere deep in his stomach. It was like a knot of worry, but it wasn't exactly worry. It was more like anticipation. Killian has always trusted his gut instinct and hit was screaming at him that Emma is pregnant.

Then she threw up. She claimed it was a stomach bug, but he wasn't so sure. It was too much of coincidence. Sure, she hadn't come to the phone all weekend, but that didn't mean anything; she could have been avoiding him.

Then he saw the paper.

He knows he shouldn't trust the paper, especially not The Mirror and especially not the articles written by Sidney Glass.

The paper is in his trailer right now, hidden underneath a pile of books. He feels safe with it there, knowing no-one would see it if they happened to stumble in. (It's shocking how many fans or extras accidentally 'stumble in', lost). He can still remember the headline.

Princes and Princesses: Emma's Bundle of Joy.

He can't remember everything from it, but he can remember the gist. Apparently Emma had been overheard speaking to a friend about her pregnancy, and the friend was heard urging her to tell him, Killian.

When confronted by her friend, Emma's hands flew to her stomach, a tender look in her eyes. "Of course I will. We'll both be so happy…"

And though he has to admit that doesn't sound like Emma at all, there must be some truth in it.

He's still processing it.

A baby. They're going to have a baby.

Every time he thinks the words, his head spins and his stomach knots a little more. Part of it is utter terror. How is he supposed to be a father? He can hardly take care of himself at the best of times, let alone a little one. How is he supposed to step up to this?

The other part of it is excitement. He can feel it in his heart. He can find himself wondering about them. Will they be a boy? A girl? There's one thing he's sure of; whoever they are, he will protect them with everything in him.

But bloody hell, how is he supposed to do this?

Then a thought strikes him.

Would they move in together? Surely, they'd have to. It's a huge step, considering they haven't even admitted they love each other yet.

He drags his hands through his hair. His heart is racing.

Bloody hell.

No, he can do it. He loves her. He can do this. He knows he can. He just needs to grow up a little bit, is all. He'll need to stop drinking so much. And stop swearing.

Bloody hell, he thinks again and immediately laughs out loud. A few of the crew turn to look at him, eyebrows raised. He waves them away.

That's when he spots her walking onto set, her dress flowing with every step, and everything in him softens. She looks so beautiful - glowing, almost - and she smiles at a few of the crew members as she passes them. There's a spring in her step.

She wants this as much as I do, he thinks and then laughs again because seconds ago he wasn't even sure he wanted it at all. He runs his hand across his jaw.

She stops in front of him, a radiant smile on her face. "Hey Killian," she says, looking up at him through her eyelashes. God, she's beautiful. Bloody hell, bloody hell, bloody hell. "How are you doing?"

"I'm good, thank you." He smiles back at her. He can't help himself; her smile is infectious. "What about you? How are you feeling?"

"Oh much better. Whatever it was, it's passed now."

"You think?"

"Uhuh." She smiles again and flips her hair over her shoulder. "Actually, I have something to tell you."

And just like that, his chest tightens and his stomach is in knots again. He glances around at all the crew members and extras, anyone who could possibly listen in. Sidney's source might be here.

"Maybe we should go somewhere more… private."

"Okay?"

They go in the corridor. Killian can feel the blood rushing in his ears with every step. They come to a stop underneath the air conditioning, but Killian hardly notices. He can hardly think over the sound of his own heart. There's no-one about, bar the occasional intern running past with coffee, but they pay no attention to Emma and Killian.

"Look," she begins. She folds her arms, glancing down at her feet. "I don't know how you're going to feel about this…"

"I know."

She frowns. "You… know?"

He nods. "And I already know how I feel." It's best to be honest. That's what she needs right now; not someone who is going to beat about the bush. She needs certainty. She needs to know he's there for her. "It's all going to be alright."

Her frown deepens. "It is?"

He takes her hands in his own and looks into her eyes. "Aye. That I'm sure of." He brushes his thumbs over the knuckles and gives her a reassuring squeeze.

She smiles, though it doesn't seem very natural. She seems confused. "Great…" she says, slowly. "Graham will be happy."

Killian frowns. He has to make sure he's heard her properly. "Sorry, what? Graham?"

"Uh, yeah?"

"Why would Graham be thrilled about our baby?"

Emma snatches her hands from Killian's, taking a step back. "What?" It makes him flinch.

"What?"

Her eyes are wide, her face paling. "I meant our meal." She speaks slowly, so he doesn't miss any word. "Graham and Ruby want to go on a double date with us. What the hell are you talking about? What baby? What?"

The knot in his stomach twists again, but this time for a very different reason. He can feel the beginnings of humiliation creeping through his veins as he says, "You're not-" His voice falters. "... pregnant?" How did he get it so wrong?

"No."

"But your period- it's late."

She shakes her head, eyes still wide. "I got it this morning. It's late but I got it."

Colour creeps up Killian's neck. "The article…"

The article had confirmed it for him. He'd read it in utter shock, but he was beginning to become so excited. So why is it that all he can feel is relief? And a strange emptiness he hadn't expected.

He was so sure.

God, he's an idiot.

"Well-" He swallows thickly. "Maybe in the future…" He intends it to be a joke but her eyes widen at his words in complete and utter horror.

"I have to go," she says. She's uncomfortable, he can feel it. He places a hand on her arm, but she jerks away from him. "I have to go," she repeats. "I'm having lunch with August."

"Emma-"

But she disappears down the corridor before he can stop her.

Sorry this took so long!