Chapter 19
Hello my lovely readers! I hope you are all having a fantastic week! If you haven't seen the sneak peak for this Sunday's episode I highly encourage you go to youtube right now and watch it. It makes me SO Excited for the lead up to the musical episode May 7!
Well here is another chapter. It's a bunch of Fluff but I think after all that they have been through so far we needed to see them just being a family. The next chapter we will have to focus on the reality of things but for now, they get to be a family. As always please let me know what you think and please let men now what you want to see!
Happy Reading!
Emma rushed around the housing trying to clean everything and make sure that the house was ready for her parents to come. It was strange but Emma had this deep need to impress her parents. Today that included making sure that she had a clean house when they arrived. She never admitted it, but ever since Zoe had come to live with them, she was afraid that they would think that she was a bad mom and that she couldn't handle it.
"Mom?" Zoe said dragging out the word. She was a bit confused at Emma's manic state of cleaning. The word stopped Emma in her tracks. Zoe had just recently started calling them Mom and Dad around the house and she absolutely loved it but was still getting used to hearing it.
"Yea Honey?"
"What's going on? Why are you rushing around cleaning?" Zoe had never seen Emma be so worried about what the house look liked.
"Oh, didn't Killian tell you? My parents are coming into town"
"Really? Why?"
"Well, they want to get to know you better"
"And?"
"What do you mean and?" Emma said stopping her cleaning spree to walk over to Zoe
"And what else? They aren't just coming here because they want to get to know me. I mean, I'm sure that's part of it but there has to be more of a reason"
"Zoe…"
"Emma…it's okay. If there is more than one reason they are coming I understand. Our situation isn't exactly normal" Zoe said placing a gentle hand on her mothers arm.
"Well, they are coming to prep you for the trail"
"Oh" Zoe said taking a step back from Emma. She was expecting there to be something in relation to the whole situation, but not something where she was going to have to talk about it.
"We don't have to do it right away. I know you don't know them very well and we can have some time for you to feel comfortable before we talk about anything" Emma said coming up to her and placing a hand on both arms. She hated that Zoe was starting to retreat into herself at the mention of the trail. She wished with everything in her that she could just tell her that she didn't have to testify and make this all go away.
"it's okay…I mean…it's why I'm here right? To make sure that I'm safe from being kept from testifying"
"That is part of it, yes. But ultimately it's to make sure that you're safe period." Emma said taking Zoe's face into her hands and placing a gentle kiss on her forehead. "Now why don't you grab a snack and we'll relax and watch a movie before they get here okay?" Zoe nodded and headed to the kitchen while Emma walked around and collected the cleaning supplies to put back in the closet.
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Killian was finishing up things at the station. Overall the day had been pretty quiet which was great for Killian because he was able to get caught up on some paperwork that had piled up since Zoe had come to live with them. He had been trying to spend as much time home with her and Emma as he could in order to make sure that Zoe felt safe and they were able to build their family bond.
"Hey Sarg"
"Yes Anthony? What can I help you with?"
"This just came in" the officer said handing Killian the piece of paper
"Thank you Anthony." He said taking it from the young man. His face dropped at the heading on the announcement. The date had been set for the trail in which Zoe was going to have to testify and it was only a week away.
"Everything okay Sarg?"
"Do you have children Anthony?"
"I do, a little boy who is about to turn 5"
"Thank you know when you're kids have to face something difficult, you wish you could do it instead"
"Oh yea, but it makes them stronger in the long run right?" Anthony said with a smile. He than noticed that Killian wasn't smiling. "Sarg, I don't know what's going on with your daughter, but I'm sure she'll be okay. She has a great dad to take care of her"
"Thanks for the vote of confidence Anthony. I hope you're right"
"I am. Have a good weekend"
"You as well Anthony" he said briefly looking up from the piece of paper to big the officer farewell. I guess it's a good thing Mary and David are coming this weekend he thought. He knew she was going to need as much prep as they could possibly provide for her. He was wondering if David and Mary even knew about this yet. He quickly stuck the paper in his bag and decided that he would head home ahead of his in-laws arrival and enjoy some down time with his girls before things got serious.
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Zoe grabbed some tortilla chips and salsa before coming over and putting them on the coffee table.
"What movie you wanna watch?" Emma asked trying to lighten the mood
"Um…how about she's the man? I know it's older but it's always been one of my favorites"
"Mine to!" Emma said elated at her daughters choice. She was always amazed at the ways that they were so alike. Even though they weren't related by blood, Emma was starting to see parts of herself and Killian in Zoe that she attributed to her belief that Zoe was always meant to be their daughter.
"Perfect! I'll put it in"
"Good choice of snack too!" Emma said as she put a cup into her mouth. "Now come sit next to your mother" She said holding out her arm for Zoe. Zoe obliged and came over to sit next to Emma who wrapped her arm around her daughter and pulled her in closer. She hated that she had had to tell Zoe about the logistical reason for her parents visit and wanted to try and help her feel at ease before they arrived.
Zoe laid her head on her mom's shoulder as she allowed her to hold her while the movie started. She had always dreamed of something like this growing up. No one had ever cared about her enough to hold her and actually take care of her. It was all so new, but she was desperately trying to accept it and let them in.
About half way through the movie the heard the door to the garage open and both women looked up to see Killian come in and place his bag on the table "Hello loves, how was your day?" He said coming over and placing a kiss on top of each of their heads.
"Fine, how about you?" Emma asked looking at him with a questioning look.
"It was good. I just wanted to come over and spend some time with my girls" He said giving her a look that let her know that he would tell her later.
"Good, now come over here and watch the movie with us" Emma said sitting up for Killian to sneak in behind her on the couch
"No making out behind me got it?" Zoe said sitting up and pointing an accusatory finger at her parents.
"Oh, you mean like this?" Emma said turning and kissing Killian
"Guys!"
"Here" Killian said placing his hand over her eyes and kissing Emma again
"I still know what you're doing and it's still gross" Zoe complained. She went to get up off the couch when Emma grabbed her wrist and pulled her back down before wrapping her arms around her daughter
"You can't walk out on family time!" Emma said placing little kisses all over Zoe's face while Killian reached around and started to tickle her
"STOP IT! STOP IT!" Zoe said through her giggles.
Finally they stopped and let Zoe catch her breath "You two are terrible!" Zoe said with a smirk. She actually loved how comfortable that they had all become over the last few weeks. Sure there had a been a few bumps in the road but they had really shown her that they loved her no matter what.
"Alright you two, we better straighten this place up" Emma said getting up off the couch and grabbing the chips and salsa.
"Mom, you already cleaned the whole house. Are your parents really going to be upset if the place doesn't shine like the top of the Chrysler building?"
"Alright little orphan Annie…fine..you're right. I'm just nervous" Emma admitted looking from her daughter to her husband
"Why ever for love?"
"Well…" She didn't really want to tell Zoe her fears of what her parents would think of her as a mother
"Mom, you're doing a great job, and I haven't made it easy for you or dad. But if they question anything I promise I can set their concerns aside" Zoe said looking between her parents. She really loved that she was trying out calling them mom and dad, it just felt…right.
"Thank you Zoe" Emma said with tears in her eyes "I just don't want them to be disappointed is all"
"Our daughters right, we have done our best and she's still breathing so we did something right" Killian joked as he come up and hugged Emma. He had known her fears and knew that it mean so much to her to hear Zoe say that she was a good mother.
"Alright you two, what do we do than till they get here?" She said wiping away a few stray tears
"We could play life?" Zoe offered
"Life it is!" Killian said coming over and laying a kiss on top of Zoe's head. He than was off to get the game. He knew that no matter what, his little family was going to be okay.
