11. right here

Prompt: ''I'm pregnant.''

A/N: Lieutenant Duckling modern AU. Not quite as fluffy as the prompt would suggest.

It takes a little while for the door to open after he knocks on it, but he finds he doesn't mind waiting when it's Emma Swan standing in the opening of the apartment. His face lights up at the sight of her, delighted that it's her instead of the other occupant of the residence.

''Good morning, Swan. I just wanted to ask-'' The part about borrowing the book she was gushing about last week dies on his lips when he notices her expression. Killian's smile fades just as quickly as it had appeared.

''Are you alright, love?'' The worry in his tone is not even slightly concealed. He sees puffy eyes, the twitch of a poorly faked smile, the way her gaze averts his as if she's just been busted doing something she shouldn't have done.

''Yeah, yeah, I'm- I'm fine.'' The crack in her voice tells a vastly different story.

He doesn't say anything, just looks at her intently, hoping and praying she'll open up to him about what upset her. Whatever it is, he already knows he will do anything in his power to make sure it never hurts her again.

''Really, I am. What did you want to ask?'' The matter of the book seems like the most trivial thing in the world right now.

''It matters not. What does matter is that I can tell that your heart is uneasy. Please, let me help.'' He longs to reach for her, to stroke his hands over her back, to soothe her sorrows with a comforting touch.

In the end, it's the gentle blue of his eyes that nudges her over the edge.

''It's Neal. He... left.'' The last word is spoken with a tinge of confusion amidst the grief, indicating her own disbelief over what happened.

He's struck with a loss for words. His first instinct is anger. He wants to make the bloody bastard pay for what he's done. Hell, he wants to make the entire world personally apologize for its cruelty. He wants to protect Emma from its unfairness. He wants to ask it how anyone could ever possibly choose to abandon her.

Instead, the only thing he can say is encompassed in one word, a word that echoes her disbelief.

''Why?'' His voice is breathy and his anger audible. He knows he has feelings for this woman. He's known it for quite some time. They've been neighbors for a year now. He's known it for just about as long. But the effort it takes for him not to close the gap between them at this very moment surprises even himself.

''I'm pregnant.'' She's finally stopped avoiding eye contact, as it seems she needs to see his reaction. However, when he can't find words to say within a few seconds, she continues in a shaky voice. ''It was an accident, it was stupid, we weren't thinking and I never meant for it to happen and-''

Her own sobs cut her off in the middle of her sentence, words of regret stuck in her throat, words of heartache left unsaid.

Their bodies crash into each other, and it's not clear who initiated the mess of an embrace, but now that they're there neither of them wants to leave. They sway unsteadily while her tears and mascara create dark stains on his navy blue shirt. His arms around her torso radiate warmth into her veins. Strands of her hair curl itself around his fingers, as if even they are afraid he'll let go. Her sobs are like waves crashing against the shore, but he's her rock who refuses to let it drive him away from her.

He doesn't know how long they've been standing there, but he does know that he needs to ask her a crucial question. She can't run from this.

''Emma, please look at me.'' He has to pull away from her slightly for her to be able to do that, and the pain of his departure rips through him, the uncertainty of them ever resuming that position in each other's arms weighing heavy on his heart.

''Do you want to be a mother?'' His voice is hoarse, his question raw and genuine. She doesn't seem surprised by it, but she also doesn't have an answer ready.

He gives her time. The long seconds are filled with soft strokes of his thumbs over her upper arms. She bites her lip in contemplation, her shoulders shaking slightly every now and then.

''Yes. I do.'' There's something stubborn in the way she says it, something determined, something completely and utterly Emma Swan. A reassuring smile tugs on the corner of Killian's lips.

''Then keep the baby. You can do this.'' Her newfound confidence in the matter is reflected back to her by the faith in his words.

''You think so?'' She sniffles, her voice soft and tentative as if she can't quite believe the support he's offering her.

''I know it. And if you ever need anything... I'll be right here.''