A/N: Hey all! Just a short little addition to 'In Your Light' this week that's fluffy and sweet. We are quickly making our way to the end of this AU which is so crazy to me, but I just took a look at my outline and I have two or three chapters left including the epilogue. As always, the next few chapters will establish a HEA for CS and for the rest of the characters in this story, but for now, we're getting Emma and Anna on a bizarre photo shoot, and Killian talking to Will about the future. Hope you all enjoy, and thanks for reading!
Staring out into the green pastures ahead of her, Emma had to wonder how exactly she'd gotten herself into this situation. Yes, technically the answer was clear: she was a photographer and a good paying job for her skills would always be taken on as long as it didn't demean her or the subjects of her photos, but still this was a lot to take in.
The space before her was filled almost to capacity with farm animals in all shapes, sizes, and types and the end result was madness. Pigs were rolling around in dirt patches and chickens clucked around looking for feed. A few cows were walking around leading their seemingly surprised handlers wherever they wanted, and a group of goats was currently gnawing at the enclosure itself. Since it was made of plastic, Emma couldn't possibly think it an appetizing meal for them.
"I don't know if 'Farm Fest' is an accurate name for this calendar. 'Animal Apocalypse' might be better."
The words from Anna pulled an immediate nod from Emma. There was no denying the truth of her sister's words but soon her disbelief moved to sincere worry.
"Jeez, look at that miniature pony!"
Emma's gaze followed Anna's over towards the far end of the enclosure and she saw the pony in question pushing its head against a very agitated looking donkey as if it were a rhino or a fighting buck instead of a mini horse. If someone didn't step in there was about to be some retaliation on the donkey's part and Emma was too in shock and too ignorant of these animals to do anything about it.
"There had to be a better way to do this," Emma said, her eyes never leaving the pen.
"We're not getting in there right?" Emma shook her head, feeling a queasy sensation kick in at Anna's question. The last thing she wanted was to embed herself in this chaos.
Before Emma or Anna could deteriorate into more worry about braving the bevy of beasts before them, Emma's contact for the shoot appeared looking harried but excited as she walked towards them. Sarah MacDonald was the proud owner of this farm and the liaison for the Farming Association in the region. Emma had never met someone so enthusiastic about livestock and crops but it suited Sarah, who was currently sporting a little bit of hay in her corkscrew brown curls like it was totally in fashion.
"Oh Emma, thank God you're here! Looks like our little pet project has really taken off, huh?" Emma took another glance around, making sure to school her features into a smile as best as she could.
"It's definitely something, Sarah, but I think it will make for some good pictures."
Sarah looked so joyous at the kind words and Emma's heart warmed at that. She might not be entirely comfortable with this shoot, but she did know when someone would be a truly grateful client, and that was Sarah. That knowledge almost always fueled Emma into taking really good pictures. Besides, how many people had something like this in their portfolio?
"Awesome! We were thinking over here to start, around the hay with some of the bigger animals and then there's some set ups that I had the farm hands build too. Come on, I'll show you."
Emma and Anna followed Sarah back from the pasture over towards the barn to find that Sarah was not kidding. There were half a dozen 'sets' for pictures. Emma couldn't believe it, and she definitely couldn't remember another client ever doing so much prep for a shoot before. Usually that was up to Emma as the photographer, but when Sarah booked the photos, she never mentioned how intense her vision was.
Each exhibit even had a theme some from nursery stories like the three little pigs and other's from less conventional areas like books and movies. They were built from planks of wood and many of them were painted and styled just so. The effort that it must have taken to make all this wasn't lost on Emma. This was dedication, and surprisingly good woodworking. She caught herself nearly asking why they'd done all of this, but instead she chose to find the good and compliment that.
"What animals are getting the Avengers treatment?" Emma asked with a laugh and Sarah grinned.
"The barn dogs. They are the only ones I can trust not to eat the costumes." They talked through the rest of the shots but in the end Emma thought it was best to just get going. The longer they waited, the rowdier the animals would become.
Each set of pictures came with its own headaches and funny moments, and Emma was especially glad that she'd brought Anna with her. Her sister made no secret of the fact that all of this was completely out of her wheelhouse. She had something to say and ask about everything, and Sarah took it all in stride as Emma snapped picture after picture of posed and candid animals.
The only problem was that as the morning wore on and shifted to the afternoon, Emma's early wave of nausea only grew. She was feeling overheated, and definitely a little sensitive to everything around her, but it came in waves. One second she was totally in the shot, the next the wind would shift and she was reaching for her steadily depleting water and praying just to make it through the next hour.
By the time the final scene was completed Emma had to beg to be excused. She bee lined towards the house only to know that wasn't going to happen and the next thing she knew she was getting sick at the tree line as a couple of sheep looked on. Perfect, just perfect, that was exactly what she needed in her life – judgmental sheep sizing her up.
"Okay, I didn't want to say anything before, but you've looked terrible most of the day." Emma looked over her shoulder to find Anna offering her another bottle of water and she took it as she shook her head.
"Thanks for that."
"Don't get me wrong, Emma. This place doesn't exactly smell like roses, but are you sure you're okay? Every time you get too close to an animal you turn a little green."
"I've had a bug the last few days. It's on and off, but I don't have a fever or anything and it was pretty under control until… all of that." Emma waved back over at the field filled with animals and tried to smile and lighten Anna's mood, but her sister's eyes had widened and something serious crossed her face.
"Nausea, sickness, no fever, and it comes in waves… Emma, you don't think you could be pregnant, do you?" Emma shook her head, knowing that it was too soon to be talking pregnancy. She'd gotten her monthly… oh wow, more than a month ago. Her realization must have been clearly written on her face because the next second Anna was coming to hold her hand.
"I – I don't know." Only Emma was starting to suspect that she did, and the thought sent butterflies off low in her gut, which only sparked the roll of nausea all over again.
"Do you have enough pictures?" Anna asked and Emma nodded and Anna let out a relieved sigh. "Good. I'll grab the rest of the gear and tell them we're leaving and you'll be in touch with your prints. Then you and I are going to the drug store. Got it?"
"Got it."
Once they had their plan, it didn't take too long to see it enacted. Anna said their goodbyes, Emma slugged her way to the car and thanks to some slight speeding on Anna's part they were at the drug store in record time. Now though came a moment of truth: this was Storybrooke and there wasn't going to be anything like discretion from her neighbors. Not that she'd ever want to hide a pregnancy, but it would be nice not to worry about someone informing Killian of her sighting with the tests here before she even had something to tell.
"Siri, what other things can you use pregnancy tests for?" Emma looked at her sister quizzically and listened as the phone AI responded negatively.
"What was that? I didn't understand the question."
"Damn it, Siri! You had one job." Emma barked out a bit of laughter at Anna's frustration and pulled her sister into her across the dash for a hug.
"We can always say they're for me -,"
"And send Kristoff into a tizzy? Yeah, I think I'll spare you that."
Emma knew her brother in law and Anna well enough to know that both of them had agreed that the twins and them made for the perfect family. They weren't expecting any more kids, and since he tended to liked things planned to the last letter, Kristoff was not the kind of person they wanted dragged into this.
"I can call him right now and tell him the truth." It was a nice offer, but Emma knew it wasn't necessary. Since Anna had made her point about Emma maybe being pregnant, Emma had known the truth. This test was going to come back positive and when it did that was going to be very good news.
"No this is fine. And who knows, maybe we'll get lucky and no one will be in today." Anna nodded, keeping the hope alive as they both hopped out of the car and walked into the store. It did seem a little bit slower than normal today, but when she noticed who was at the front counter, Emma groaned.
"And there goes any hope we had."
Anna took the words right out of Emma's mouth with that one. They were both looking to Doris, the one member of the gaggle of older ladies with the biggest mouth in town and how she was the only person manning the counter in the store. In short, everyone would know Emma bought this test in roughly ten minutes.
"We can do some digging, see when her shift ends. Or we can go to the next town."
Emma shook her head. That was going to take time, and the longer she went without knowing for sure, the worse this was going to be. Her body was shaking with anticipation. She wanted to be pregnant, but she also really did not want Doris to know before Killian did. Emma reached for the pregnancy test that she needed and clenched her jaw, knowing what she was about to walk into when someone spoke out.
"Hold it." Emma and Anna looked up to find Tink smirking at them. "If you're really gonna buy that here, you should get four or five and then say they're gag gifts for some made up party. It's expensive, but it's a good cover."
"But how did you…?" Emma trailed off before asking how Tink could possibly know she was pregnant.
"I've been eavesdropping since you walked in here. Between the panic and then reaching for the test, it was pretty obvious." She said it casually as if that was completely normal behavior. No 'hello' or 'how you doing' just listening in on Emma stressing out. It didn't matter though because in this moment Tink was a lifesaver.
"You are a genius, Tink. Terrifying, but brilliant." Anna's praise made Tink laugh.
"Happy to help. Plus, just think how angry Doris will be is she doesn't run her mouth about this purchase and it turns out you are pregnant." Emma smiled, hoping that would actually be the outcome here.
With Tink's ruse in mind and some amazing acting from both Emma and Anna, they moved to the front counter and Doris scheming and gossipy as she always was completely bought it. She wished them a lovely evening and told them all not to do anything she wouldn't do. The next thing Emma knew she was free and clear back in the parking lot thanking Tink for all her help.
"Just make sure you name the baby something somewhat normal. You'll spare them a heck of a lot of teenage angst." Emma laughed, knowing Tink's suggestion came from personal experience. It couldn't have been easy going through life with the name Tinkerbelle.
"That I can safely promise you." Tink smiled and set off but not before Emma and Anna made her promise to actually come to a real girls night with them soon so Emma could properly thank her with the drinks and food she deserved.
It was a quick drive from the drug store back to Emma and Killian's home and Emma fully expected to arrive back to an empty house since Killian was working, but instead she found her other sister pacing her front porch.
"Did you…?" Emma trailed off as she cast a look to Anna.
"Text Elsa the second you said you might be preggo? Yeah. She responded with more emojis and capital letters than anyone needs to, but trust me if she found out about this later you would have had hell to pay." Emma smiled, knowing Anna was right, and a little relieved she had thought to include Elsa. It was a weird thing to go through with other people, but these were her sisters and they'd been through hell and back together.
Walking up the steps Emma noticed four gallons of water sitting by the doorway and she looked back at Elsa with a little alarm. It was hard enough to imagine her sister lugging these all the way here, but more than that, there was no call for them.
"What's all this?"
"Water."
"Yeah, enough water to kill me. Why did you get so much?" Elsa looked down and seemed to consider for the first time the excess of her purchase.
"Um… for good luck?" Anna snickered behind them and grabbed two of the jugs as Elsa did the same and Emma let them inside.
Within thirty minutes they had their answer, and the reveal was enough to deafen anyone. Elsa and Anna both were overwhelmed with joy and Emma found herself wishing she'd gotten earplugs at the drug store too. That being said, she couldn't think of anything in the world that could make her this happy. Except telling Killian, which she intended to do as soon as possible. He would be home in just a matter of hours and Emma was going to tell him tonight but in the meantime she had some precautions to take. Basically she had to threaten her sisters so they kept quiet.
"Neither of you breathes a word about this to anyone. Not your husbands, not a stranger, not anybody. Do you understand?" Both Anna and Elsa made motions to zip up their lips and throw away the key. "It's bad enough Killian wasn't the first to know. He's definitely going to have things to say about that, the last thing I need is Liam or Kristoff knowing before him."
"He's not gonna have time to be upset. If he's anything like Liam you are not leaving this house for the whole weekend." Emma stared at Elsa as Anna groaned. "What? I'm just being honest."
"Too honest, Elsa. Too honest." Anna's censure pulled an eye roll from Elsa and a smile from Emma. God she loved her family, and she couldn't wait for this baby that belonged with her and Killian to meet their aunts. Just the thought brought happy tears to Emma's eyes.
"We love you, Ems. And we're so happy for you." Anna's words as she hugged Emma were the last bit needed for some of the tears to shed which of course sent Elsa into a fit of her own tears.
"It's all just a big happily ever after," Elsa said as Emma laughed, hugging her older sister back.
"I'll remind you that you said that when your kids are teething or failing potty training." Anna's words were said in jest though, and Emma knew that through all of it, the good, the bad and the ugly, this was going to be worth it. Having kids would be an incredible next step and she couldn't believe she was getting to take it.
After their affectionate goodbyes Anna and Elsa decided it was best to leave Emma with some privacy, which she definitely appreciated. She only had a little bit of time before she told Killian the good news, and something this momentous deserved more than a blunt 'I'm pregnant.' So Emma set out to find the best way to tell her husband that one of their shared dreams was coming true, finding that the butterflies from before were there all the while but this time in the best possible way.
…..
Walking back from work to his home after a long Friday away from Emma, Killian took time to look at his surroundings finding that, as always, there was the same peace and good feelings that he'd come to know in this town. The sun was still up, the winds slight and calming, and the people milling about on the route back to Emma were happy and friendly.
What was missing though this time around was quiet, something Killian had precious little of over the past month given his newest work associate and usual escort home. Not that he really minded. It was great to have Will here with him after missing his friend for so long, and in truth it made Killian's strolls home a lot more entertaining. There was something more substantial to fill the time before he got to see his wife again, and for that he was grateful.
"I tell ya mate, it's like every day there's something new about this town and it always comes down to some nosey neighbor or other. I tried to meet Belle for lunch at Granny's yesterday, and I swear half our time was a bloody press conference. We were taking questions from investigative minds on the 'state of things.' It was mad."
Killian grinned at Will's assessment because he knew exactly what his friend meant. Storybrooke was a small town and according to Emma the culture of information gathering here had always been this way. People were hungry to know every little detail, and it didn't come from a bad place, just a slightly too invested one. Only recently had Emma and Killian started to get a little more freedom from prying eyes, and sad as it was for Will, him and Belle's relationship had largely helped with that.
"It gets easier." Will shot a doubtful look his way.
"When? When will it possibly be safe for me to take my girl on a date without the whole town listening in? Because I reckon it's up there. Two years? Five? Ten?"
"I guess when you marry her. People like a happy ending in this town." Killian watched as Will nodded and his hand reached into his pocket.
"Right, well that actually works well because I'm planning to, ask her to marry me I mean." Killian tried to tamper down his shock. He knew that Will loved Belle, there could never be a doubt in his mind of that, but it was rather soon. His friend had only been in town a month, which meant they'd only really been seeing each other that long.
"Uh – when?"
"This weekend." Will pulled a ring box out of his pocket and offered it to Killian.
"I'm a married man, Scarlet. I can't be going around accepting rings on the fly."
"Oh sod off. Just look at it and make sure I'm not walking in with a dud." Killian opened the box and found a tasteful ring there with a traditional diamond. It was nice, and well suited to Belle who Killian was sure would love it.
"Is it real?"
"Of course it's bloody real!" Killian smirked and Will realized he'd been had and muttered under his breath that Killian was a shit friend.
"It's good, Will. She'll like it. How are you going to go about giving it to her though?"
Will spelled out his exact plan, outlining the intricacies and the grandness of the gesture. Killian was impressed, because it was all predicated on a weekend away in Boston that ended with a night for the two of them in the Boston Public Library. Apparently it was Belle's favorite place she'd ever been and there was one room in particular that she loved. Will's plan was to woo her with dinner there and then propose after. By all accounts it was a brilliant plan, well suited to the lady.
"How did you manage all of that?" Killian asked when Will was finished going over the details.
"I called in every stinking favor that I squared away, well, ever. It wasn't easy, but it'll be worth it to see her face." Killian slapped a hand on Will's shoulder, happy to see his friend so excited.
"I'm happy for you, Will. You deserve this."
"I don't think I'll ever deserve her. But I'm trying."
Again it was like Will had a window into Killian's own mind. That was so often how he'd thought of his life with Emma, until one day his doubt had gone away and he'd realized they were both destined to be happy together. Killian smiled at the thought that he and Emma always would be a team now.
"Hey, I meant to ask before you badgered me for information about my love life who you slipped away to call earlier. It wasn't Emma. You didn't come back with the Emma smile." Killian laughed and shook his head.
"No it wasn't. You know Marco? The woodworker in town?" Will nodded. "That's who I was talking to."
"He know anything about ships?"
"Not really." Killian left the words out there, knowing full well that wouldn't be enough for Will.
"So why call him?"
"Because I was looking for advice on a crib." Will gawked at Killian.
"You're going to build a crib? Why not just buy one?" Killian shrugged.
"I like the idea of making it myself. Knowing that I built it with my two hands so it's safe." It wouldn't be a particularly complicated process. He'd discussed all the details with Marco about getting defined pieces from the man, but Killian would just be the one to construct it, and add maybe a bit more individuality to it in the process.
And Emma will like it, the thought remained inside Killian's head but the truth of it was there. Emma would like that, and Killian knew he would to. It was something special, an extra show of want and care from him to any child they might have.
"Well that's alright then, but if I show up to your house and you've taken to building all the furniture we might have a problem. I can't have you besting me at every turn." Killian laughed at Will's words and then turned to see that he was home, and that by the looks of the lights on inside, Emma was too.
"I'll be more careful of your fragile sensibilities in future." Will waved off Killian's joke before continuing down the street and Killian meanwhile hustled up the stairs, happy to be home and with Emma once more.
"Swan?" Killian called out for Emma as he closed the door behind himself.
"In here!" Her voice sounded from the dining room and Killian moved through the house to find her.
They might not use this room that often, but seeing Emma in here always made him smile. It brought back memories of that first night he'd had her to his home and the dance they shared when there was nothing in here but bare walls and empty space. Since that time this house had become a home and the life they'd built here was real instead of just a hopeful wish he carried in his heart.
"What's all this, love?" Killian asked when he took in the set up before them.
Somehow Emma had filled this room with things that mattered to both of them. There were her favorite flowers, and both their favorite foods. He could see a jersey from the football team he followed, and the single best record he'd ever heard propped up on the table amongst other things.
"It's our favorite things all here in one place." Killian moved around the table to take Emma in his arms. When he held her, it felt like that little piece of him that had been missing all day was back again.
"The only thing that truly matters in this room is you, Emma." Emma smiled, but the green in her eyes turned glassy as if tears were forming and he couldn't understand why. "Why the theme, love? Why the need to bring this all together?"
"I wanted us to be surrounded by the best things when I told you the best news. News that blows everything else out of the water, even grilled cheese and cocoa." Killian still didn't take her meaning, but then all of a sudden a trickle of hope broke through and when Emma smiled in understanding he knew, even before she said it. "I'm pregnant."
Emma said the words and something inside of Killian snapped into place. He kissed her passionately, feeling her meet him in a mere moment with heat and love and everything good and right in the world. They were going to have a child! Emma had given him this gift, and in a few months time they'd have another member of this family who was a part of Emma and of him. How could anything be more wonderful apart from finding and loving Emma in the first place?
Killian moved Emma onto the table itself and she gasped when he did, but then it turned into a laugh. She was delighted with this and his reaction and she looked so happy and light. Everything Killian felt Emma mirrored and it only made his feelings all the stronger. This blessing was unlike anything he'd ever known, and it was amazing.
"I don't know how I ever got so lucky, Emma. All I know is that you were right." Emma smiled at his words, her hand running over his chest lightly.
"About being pregnant? I know. I have four tests to prove it." Killian stole another kiss from his teasing wife before continuing.
"No, love. This news – well it's nearly the best thing I've ever heard. Right up there with when you told me you loved me, and when you said you were mine. I can't imagine how a heart can be this full, Emma."
"I can't either, but it's happening. It's real, we're real, and so is this baby." Killian's forehead came to rest against Emma's as her hand came up to hold his cheek and in that moment. The same spark that always came with the touches Emma instigated returned, and Killian felt his chest aching with it.
"God, I love you, Emma." She giggled, and the sound caused his hands to bring her closer and to roam across her body more.
"I love you too."
"I hate to make a mess of everything you've put together, but if I don't make love to you right now, Swan…" Emma nodded at his words, clearly just as interested in his line of thinking.
"Bed?" Killian shook his head.
"Too far." Emma smirked, but when his hands came to move along her thigh up and under the dress she'd put on for the evening, he heard her gasp and the smile faded into raw wanting again.
"C – Couch?" Her stuttered word burned straight through him.
"That'll do."
They were moving in seconds and he practically carried her into the living room, with Emma falling over the side and onto the spacious lounger. Killian moved above her and Emma clung to him, wanting him closer. Fuck he was very nearly gone already but they had to make this last. Emma's hand unbuttoning his jeans did nothing to help with that though. Killian needed distraction, and he found it when he moved his kisses from her mouth to her neck.
"Mmm, Killian," Emma's purr of satisfaction made him grunt in reply as his hands came between her legs. His temptress of a wife had been bare underneath this dress.
"Smart, lass. Ready and knowing I'd need you like this." Emma hummed.
"I knew we'd need each other." Her uniting them with her words always worked him up into a state and his hand moved to strum her needy sex to the climax that she wanted. When she had it, Killian moved back instructing her to strip away her dress as he removed his own clothes.
For a moment Emma didn't comply, watching him take off piece after piece of his clothing instead. When Emma licked her lips and Killian looked into those hungry green eyes of hers, he nearly lost it.
"Emma." Just her name and she snapped back to attention, losing the dress and blinding him with her beauty in the process.
"You are perfection, love." Emma smiled.
"You're not so bad yourself, Captain."
Killian growled and was on her in seconds and relished every single groan and moan that his lovely wife and the mother of his future child made. And while he might not have had the room he would have had on the bed, he took extreme care to take Emma the way that she deserved. By the time he was ready to claim her fully, she was pleading for it, crying out his name and clinging to him. He couldn't deny her, and so he set himself and her free by making love to her relentlessly over and over.
It wasn't until quite a while later that they enjoyed the collection of things Emma had produced for the night back in the dining room, and even that was undertaken sparingly, for as soon as his Swan was sated Killian brought her back up to their bed where he fully intended to keep her for the weekend and the whole week thereafter, reminding Emma over and over again just how right they were together.
Post-Note: So there we have it. This week's fluffy update is here. Since the chapter way back when where Emma and Killian tried to go on the movie date I have been envisioning a way to bring back both Doris and Tink and this was what came to mind. Then of course Killian building baby cribs and Will and Belle cuteness, I mean come on. Weird animal photo shoots and feels – what could be more me? Anyway thank you so much for reading and I hope you guys all enjoyed!