Chapter 20
Hello Readers! I hope you are all having a great start to your week this last week and the next couple of weeks are crazy busy for me and I have a super weird schedule but I wanted to be able to get you an update. David and Mary Margret have come to visit and we'll see how it goes.
Please let me know what you want to see!
Enjoy!
The little family was caught off guard when they heard the knock at the door in the middle of their game. Killian immediately got up while Emma placed herself between Zoe and the door. They were all relieved when it was Mary and David.
"Oh, hello. Didn't realize you would be here so soon" Killian said letting them in
"Well we made pretty good time" David said carrying in their bags
"Yes, only because your father wouldn't stop to let me use the restroom. I'll be right back" Mary said making a b-line for the bathroom.
"Dad!" Emma scolded
"What? I told her to stop drinking those Arnold Palmer's! She would have had me stopping every two hours!" He defended himself
"Mate I don't' think you're going to win this one, might as well give up now" Killian said placing a hand on his father-in-law's shoulder before picking up one of the suitcases to take to the guest bedroom. David simply rolled his eyes before making his way over to Emma and taking her head in his hands and placing a gentle kiss on her forehead.
"Hello sweetheart. How are you?"
"Hi daddy. I'm good" Emma said with a sweet smile at her dad. She always thought it was funny how her dad always knew how to make her feel special.
"And you, young lady" He said stepping past Emma and over to Zoe "It's great to see you again" He said giving her hand a small squeeze. He wasn't sure what kind of affection his now granddaughter would be comfortable with so he decided touching her hand would be okay.
"You to" Zoe said moving a small piece of hair behind her ear. She really wasn't sure how she was supposed to act around Emma's parents. She had only just figured out how to act around Emma and Killian.
"Hey dad, why don't you come into the kitchen with me and help me pick what to order from the pizza place" Emma said pulling him toward the kitchen. She could see Zoe beginning to close up and she wanted to try and give her a minute to collect herself. David caught on and willingly followed Emma into the kitchen while Killian took up the seat next to Zoe.
"You okay love?"
"Yea" Zoe answered quickly while throwing a plastered smile at him
"Lass, I can tell this is all uncomfortable for you and that's okay" He said placing a gentle hand on top of hers.
"I don't want Emma to be mad at me" Zoe quietly whispered
"Why would she be mad?"
"Because I don't know how to be around her parents. I just figured out how to be with you two" She said wringing out her hands
"Zoe…Zoe look at me" Killian said using his finger to lift Zoe's chin to look at him "We are never going to be mad at you for not feeling comfortable around someone, even David and Mary. You have been through a lot and no one can blame you for being cautious." He finished by moving a small piece of her hair behind her ear.
"But aren't they technically my grandparents? Aren't kids supposed to like their grandparents?" Zoe said still feeling bad
"Not exactly. And your situation is very different than a normal teenager. You can cut yourself a break now and again lass" he said with a smile. Zoe smiled back. She was still not sure about all of it but she felt better knowing that she had her dad to back her up.
"Now, why don't we go in the kitchen before they order some of that nasty pineapple and ham pizza" Killian said holding his hand out to his daughter.
"That is the worst! We better hurry" she said letting him pull her up and wrap his around her. He would always do what he could to keep her smile on her face.
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"Dad…I'm sorry" Emma said as soon as they were out of ear shot.
"Emma, you have no need to be sorry. I know that Zoe is probably having an internal freakout right about now. I never expected her to feel comfortable around me and your mother"
"She really is doing well" Emma said with a half smile. She wanted her dad to be proud of her for how far Zoe had come. This wasn't exactly giving off the impression she had hoped.
"Emma, I know that you and Killian have been doing a great job with Zoe. This isn't easy for any of you. I'm actually really impressed. You handled her discomfort like a pro and did what any mother would do, you put your daughter first" He said placing his hand on the side of her face. She leaned into it let a gentle smile cross her face. There was something about her dad's touch that brought her utter peace, like everything was going to be okay.
"Thanks Daddy"
"Anything for you princess. Now, we better start actually picking the pizza before they come in here and squash our craving for Hawaiian pizza!"
"Yes! Killian and Zoe Hate Hawaiian pizza so I never get to have it!"
"Because fruit doesn't belong on pizza" Killian said coming up behind Emma and wrapping his arm around her waist"
"Says the man who dips his pickles in orange juice" She shot back
"Both of you have disgusting food habits" Zoe jumped in rolling her eyes at their mushy back and forth"
"I agree" Came a voice from behind them. They all turned to see Mary who had finished going to the bathroom and changing into something a bit more comfortable "Now, why don't we see what we can do to make everyone happy?" She said holding her hand out for the menu.
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Mary Margret always prided herself on being a good negotiator. She found a way to get everyone what they wanted. When they opened the boxes you would have thought someone decided to get artistic. They got two large pizza's with a third of each pizza being something different.
They all got a plate and loaded it up with their favorites before making their way to the living room.
"Alright you two, this is what we are doing from now on" Emma said picking up her pizza and using it to point from Killian to Zoe. She wasn't going to have to live without her Hawaiian pizza any longer.
"Whatever you say love"
"Yea mom, whatever you say" Zoe said with a hint of sarcasm. She then quickly froze when she realized she called Emma mom in front of her parents. Emma immediately saw the reaction and immediately gave Zoe a wink to let her know it was okay.
"I have taught you well my daughter" Emma said "You're sarcasm is coming along nicely"
"Oh boy, if you're teaching Zoe your sarcasm we are all in trouble" Mary said
"What's that supposed to mean?" Emma asked a bit shocked
"Emma you are the queen of sarcasm and obviously Zoe is a quick learn. She's going to surpass you in no time" Mary laughed.
"Well of course!" Emma said giving Zoe another look. She really wanted her to know that she was apart of this family.
"So Zoe, how have things been here?" David cut in.
"Um…good. Emma and Killian have been really good to me." She said shyly picking at her pizza
"Good, if they ever aren't you just call me" He said giving Killian and Emma a side glace "I'll buy you a pony" He said in a whisper with his hand to the side of his mouth to act like he was keeping her parents from hearing
"Hey! You never bought me a Pony!" Emma said exasperated
"I'm not your grandfather either" He said with a smirk. Zoe couldn't help but laugh. Her mom looked like a teenager with the pout on her face. She also pleasantly surprised at how David was trying to act like a grandfather already. Maybe she could get close to him and Mary like she had Emma and Killian.
The banter continued over dinner but Emma and Killian were waiting for the other shoe to drop and they were worried about how Zoe would take it. They just wished that they could keep up the happy family moment forever.
Soon everyone was starting to get tired and Emma and Killian suggested that everyone head to bed and they could pick up in the morning.
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David had always been an early riser, he figured it was from growing up on a farm. He walked out of he and Mary's room and into the kitchen to make a pot of coffee before everyone got up. He was looking around in the cupboards for the coffee filters when he heard another door open. He figured it was Mary as she had started getting up early as well. He turned around and was shocked to see a small figure wearing a black zip up hoodie with the hood pulled down so you couldn't see their face and they were walking toward the front door after having punched something into the alarm keypad.
"Ahem" He cleared his throat. Zoe immediately stopped in her tracks. Emma and Killian never got up early, she figured her grandparents wouldn't either.
"Where do you think you're going?" He said stepping closer to her
"I was just going for a run" She lied but kept her back to him
"In jeans?" He asked sarcastically. He then put a gentle hand on her shoulder and turned her around before putting a finger under her chin and forcing her to look at him "Wanna tell me what's really going on?"
Zoe let her head fall once David removed his finger and started ringing out her hands. "Do I have to?" she asked in a small voice. She felt horrible that she had been caught sneaking out but even worse that she got caught by David, she really hope he didn't think less of Emma because of this incident.
"It would definitely be in your best interest, but no, you don't have to tell me he said standing there with his arms folded across his chest. "How did you know what to punch into the key pad? I know Emma and Killian change the code every day" He figured asking questions would get him further than trying to get her to come out with it.
"I just know" She said a bit more snarky than she planned. David let out a sigh before putting am arm around his granddaughter and leading her over to the couch.
"Zoe, I can't imagine how hard all of this must be for you. I know you have been on your own for a long time and you're probably not used to having someone to look out for you"
"Emma and Killian really are doing a great job. Please don't be mad at them. I'm just not good at being a part of a family" Zoe said hoping that David wouldn't get upset with Emma or worse, take her away and put her with a different couple.
"I'm not mad at Emma, I promise. I'm also not mad at you. All I want for you Zoe is for you to feel safe and loved. But part of your safety is that you are always accompanied by someone, not sneaking off on your own" He said with a pointed look
"I know" she said feeling his gaze on her. She just kept her head down and started picking at her nails.
"So how long have you been doing this? Sneaking out?" He said leaning back onto the couch to try and make Zoe feel more relaxed. She stayed hunched over but did take a minute to look back at him to see he had moved.
"This is my first time" She lied
"Really? Seems like you were pretty relaxed if this was your first time" He said a bit sarcastically
"It may have been my first time sneaking out here but, I've snuck out of other places" She defended herself
"That's fair. So how did you know the code? That only gets sent to Emma and Killian and it's always different"
"What's always different mate?" Killian said coming into the living room with a puzzled look on his face as to why David was sitting next to Zoe in his pajamas when she was already dressed for the day.
"The daily code on your security system"
"Aye, it is. Why?" He said feeling even more confused why David would be talking about their alarm system when it hit him.
"How'd you do it?" He asked
"What are you talking about Dad?" Zoe said trying to play innocent
"How did you get the daily code?" He said a bit more strict but not unkind
"I didn't" Zoe was trying really hard to keep up her innocents
"Killian I think you should probably call your security company and find out what number get the texts and make sure it's only you guys, I have a feeling your daughter is taking after her mother and somehow found a way to get her number added as well." He said giving Zoe another pointed look
"So this is the only time you have snuck out?" he pressed
"The first time who snuck out?" Came Emma's voice. She had also woken up and had made her way into the living room. "Zoe? What are you doing in jeans?"
"Looks like our daughter figured out a way to get the daily code and was attempting to sneak out. Gramps over here happen to be up and caught her" Killian said trying to catch her up quickly
"Nice job kid, but no way you're getting away with this" Emma said giving her a look. She always took a straight to the point approach when she confronted her daughter
"Mom"
"Zoe" She sent back
"I'm sorry…I won't do it again"
"Good, we can talk about your punishment later, let's make some breakfast" Emma said coming over and taking Zoe by the hand and pulling her into herself and placing a kiss on the top of her head as she led her into the kitchen. She wasn't going to treat this lightly but she also knew that today was already going to be tough on her daughter.
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"Thanks for catching her mate."
"Not a problem. She really is a good kid, I'm sure this is still just a lot for her"
"She really is. This is the first time…" David gave him a look that said really "Okay, the first time in a while that we knew she was sneaking out"
"Don't beat yourself up Killian. You and Emma are doing a great job. Even Zoe said so. She was worried I'd be mad at you"
"Really?" Killian said. He felt his heart swell that Zoe felt any kind of affection for them, even if it was just not wanting David mad at them for her actions
"Yea, she said you guys are doing a great job. I agree. She has come a long way in these last few weeks"
"For now" Killian said rubbing the back of his neck nervously.
"What do you mean by that?" David asked concerned and sitting up a bit straighter
"After today when we talk about the trail…I just hope it doesn't set all this back for us" He hadn't voiced his concerns like this before but after this stunt, he was worried that bringing up the trial and making her talk about it would blow up in their face.
David walked over and put a reassuring hand on his son-in-law's shoulder. "Don't doubt yourself Killian. Zoe knows she can count on you two. She may not utilize your strength and your love the way she should, but I can tell that she knows it's there. This isn't going to be easy for anyone but if anyone can get her through this, it's you two"
"Thanks mate"
"You're welcome. Now, let's go help Emma before she and Zoe burn down the kitchen"
