Author's Note: So this chapter doesn't have much plot, and very little Killian, but it answers lots of questions and has some character development. Disclaimer - I still don't own OUAT.
Emma was bored. So beyond bored. Killian was at work - she'd insisted that he go to work even though he had been determined to stay at the hospital with her. She had been forced to call Tink, who came to the hospital and dragged Killian out, to get him to leave. But now she was regretting having forced him to leave. She had underestimated how dull it would be to lay in a hospital bed all day watching television. Soap operas were so not her style. Game shows and court shows could only be watched for so long before they became boring.
Getting lost in her thoughts, Emma reflected on the amazing weekend that had just ended. Despite being stuck in a hospital bed, she was sure this was one of the best weekends of her life. Killian had been glued to her bedside and Sophie, Neal, Tink, Mary Margaret, David, and Regina and her family had all visited.
On Saturday, Neal brought Sophie to the hospital. Emma had smiled at the sight of the girl wearing jeans, a sweater, and little girl style knee high boots. She then laughed when Sophie slid on a red leather jacket. "Look Emma!" she had exclaimed, letting go of her brother's hand and running to the empty chair near Emma's hospital bed. "I look like you! Isn't it cool?" Emma had been so flattered that tears had pricked at the corners of her eyes. Killian had squeezed her hand, smiling at her. The four of them played Monopoly, Life, and a host of other board games that Neal had brought. They spent the entire day together before Neal took Sophie home to sleep. Then Emma and Killian had stayed up late into the night, talking about everything and nothing.
On Sunday, Mary Margaret and David stopped by, followed by Regina and her entire family. Killian met Henry for the first time. Afraid that it would be awkward, Emma bit her nails in anticipation. But she had no reason to be nervous. Immediately, Killian adapted to the boy, along with Regina's other two children, Roland and Cora. He quickly became engrossed in conversation with the kids. When Emma met Regina's gaze, the older woman winked at her - a silent emI told you so. /emKillian went home for a bit to check on Sophie before showing up at the hospital again not even half an hour later with the girl in tow. "She wouldn't let me leave without her," he had explained, smiling bashfully. Emma's heart had warmed at the little girl's utter devotion to her. That night, as Sophie read Dr. Seuss to "her" baby, Emma pulled Killian close, placing a chaste kiss to his lips. After Neal picked Sophie up, Emma fell asleep with Killian's head laid in her lap.
Now it was Monday, and her joyous, eventful weekend was over. Now it was back to laying around alone, with only the nurses to periodically provide her with comfort. It was only lunchtime and Emma was already ready to pull the IVs out of her arm and run from the hospital. Not only was she bored, but she was dealing with an uncomfortable bed, a huge belly, and a kicking baby boy that clearly did not want to be inside of her anymore.
Stirring her from her thoughts was a knock on her door. Tink walked in with bags from Granny's Diner, Emma's favorite restaurant, and a smile. "Tink!" Emma nearly yelled. "You read my mind! I was so bored!" she smiled as Tink sat at the table in the room, dividing the food before bringing Emma her grilled cheese, onion rings, and hot chocolate.
"I'm here! It was the only way Killian would get work done. He said you'd be miserable here alone and he had contracts to complete and meetings, so here I am. I hope that's okay..." Emma nearly laughed at how insecure the bubbly blonde was. But she realized that it wasn't that long ago that she was the same way.
"I'm happy to see you Tink. I consider you a friend," she replied. Tink smiled brightly. The two women started chatting over their food before Blue, Emma's day nurse, walked in to take her blood pressure, admonishing her over the greasy food. After giving Blue a dirty look - hey, she's trapped in the hospital, she at least deserves some comfort food - turned back to Tink.
"So, how are you and Killian doing?" her friend asked. "He won't tell me anything..." she continued.
"We're doing really well. We've figured some stuff out, although we haven't completely solved all of our issues. Killian was really good with meeting my biological son, Regina's son, Henry. And I've been able to get to know Sophie and Neal. We've both moved past everything that we didn't tell each other. We are still deciding how we are going to handle Liam, but I am excited to at least know him. I don't know how I'll know him, but at least I will," Emma explained.
Tink nodded knowingly. "Well, do you want to be his mom?" she asked seriously.
Emma choked on her onion ring, taken aback by the question. "I... uh, um, I..." she sputtered. "I. I think so, yeah. I do," she said, rubbing her stomach absentmindedly. She had to admit that she was attached to baby Liam, the muffin had stolen her heart just like his daddy. "Killian said he wants me in his life..." she added.
"Good. I think you want that too. So if you both agree, what's the problem?" Tink asked curiously.
"I mean, what if we don't work out? Then what? Liam gets shuffled between me and Killian?" she asked.
"Well, what's the alternative? He wasn't even going to have a mom at all, right? More parents that love him can't be a problem." Emma nodded at Tink's point.
"Yes, but Killian is also paying me $50,000. It's not like I signed up for this for free…" she added.
"So, don't take the money. Be Liam's mom… see where you and Killian go. Emma, I've known him forever and I've never seen him the way that he is with you. I don't think Killian is going to let you go. And Liam deserves a mom, no matter what Killian's original intention was." Emma could see the sincerity in Tink's eyes. So Emma decided to take a chance and ask the questions that had bene burning in her mind for weeks.
"Tink, can I ask you a question?" she asked hesitantly, sure that Tink would awkwardly refuse to answer.
"Uh, yeah, sure," Tink answered.
"Did you know Killian's brother and Milah?" Emma asked.
"Killian never told you our history?" the other woman asked. When Emma shook her head, Tink continued. "I met the Jones brothers in middle school – we all went to school together. Killian and I were the same age and Liam was a year older. Liam and I fell in love. We began dating when we were fourteen. We married soon after I graduated high school. Killian and I went to college and Liam joined the Navy. When he was deployed overseas, Killian and I became even closer friends, keeping each other company through the loneliness of losing his brother. When he began his affair with Milah, I warned him, as did Liam. He was blinded. She was magnetic for him. He didn't notice how self-absorbed or selfish she was. And he didn't seem to care that she was married or had a child. I admit, he was young and immature at the time. He was happy, so I swallowed my criticisms and tried to support him. Then she became pregnant. And you know what happened with that.
"Liam was largely gone during that time, so I became Killian's support system throughout everything. Liam came home from the war about six months after Milah left… Everything was great between Liam and I. We were happy, trying to have a baby. I went to work for Killian when Liam got honorably discharged from the Navy. Killian was an emotional wreck at first, with Milah and the baby, Sophie, but over time he decided to throw himself into his business and push everything else away. He and Liam drifted apart – Killian stopped answering phone calls and no longer wanted to come over for Sunday dinners. He even distanced himself from me, only speaking to me about work issues. The business became successful, but Killian began to lose part of his soul.
"Three years ago, Liam started having seizures. Doctors in Boston told us that he had an inoperable brain tumor. They gave him a year to live, at the most. I was there when Liam told Killian. I could see Killian's heart break. He fell to his knees in front of Liam, crying and apologizing. Liam, of course, forgave him. Liam was also like that – always kind and forgiving. The three of us became closer than other. And then, about four months after the diagnosis, Liam didn't wake up one day…" Tink trailed off, wiping tears from her eyes.
Emma felt her own eyes moistening. "I'm so sorry," she whispered.
Tink forced a smile onto her face. "It's alright… I'm okay, now. It's hard. I miss him every day, but I survive. Killian really changed, though, once Liam passed. He let me move in with him for a few months to get on my feet. We became better friends that ever before. And he finally realized that family is the most important thing. The Killian you know would never have even consider breaking up Milah's family, no matter what he felt for her and he would em style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"never/em have given his child up. He's a better man. I like to think that Liam sacrificed himself to make me and Killian the best people we can be… I spend every day trying to prove myself to Liam."
"As do I…" came a meek male voice from the doorway. When Emma looked up, she saw Killian standing there, also with tears in his eyes. She beckoned him over and watched as he slowly walked over to sit next to her on the bed. She wrapped his hand in both of hers and placed a gentle kiss on his cheek, silently comforting him.
Once Tink had wiped away her tears and had a smile on her face again, she announced that she was leaving.
"Goodbye, Tink, I hope to see you again soon," Emma said as Tink leaned around Killian to hug her.
"Of course Emma. Think about our chat," she said as she gave Killian a kiss on the cheek and floated out of the room.
"So," Killian said.
"So," Emma replied.
"She told you everything about Liam, I guess…" Emma nodded. "What else did you two talk about?"
"Well," she started. "Baby Liam. You. Everything." Killian turned to face her fully, surprised at the mention of baby Liam, Emma guessed. She scooted impossibly closer to him in the tiny hospital bed.
"I love you," she whispered to him. His responding smile made her heart burst and she knew. She just knew that this was meant to be. Killian, Liam, Sophie and Neal – there with her every step of the way. A family. The family she'd never had was finally hers. For the first time in her whole life, she was confident in her happiness and someone's affection for her. And she definitely knew how she felt.
"I love you too, Emma. So much," Killian responded. And she finally 100% believed him.