Note: Thanks for the responses to the last part. Hope you enjoy this part. ~Steph

...True Love Waits: Part 4/8…

~Killian's POV~

I stand in front of the door to the loft, my hand poised to knock, when suddenly the door is flung open. Mary Margaret stands before me, mouth agape.

"Hook," she says.

"Hello-..."

She cuts me off by stepping forward and embracing me. "I'm so glad you're alive. Emma told us everything that happened." She pulls back and smiles at me. "This is just amazing."

I nod. "Aye, that it is."

I realize in that moment how much I truly miss her and David. I miss being a part of their family. I miss feeling like I belonged.

"I heard you got to meet Lia. Isn't she wonderful?"

"She is a marvel," I reply with a proud smile.

"And Emma," she begins, her smile fading a bit. "She is so happy to have you back."

I bob my head but don't reply.

She looks down at her watch. "Speaking of which, I'm going to be late to meet her for breakfast at Granny's. I'm so sorry to just rush off like this."

"No need to apologize." I step aside to allow her to pass. "Please give her my best and tell her I will see her soon."

Mary Margaret nods and then squeezes my hand. "I will." She then yells out, "Kids, time to go! You're going to be late for school."

A little boy and girl come running to the door. I smile at how much Neal has grown. And their daughter looks like how I imagined Emma must have at four years old.

Mary Margaret smiles as she points at me. "Neal, Eva, this is an old friend of ours. His name is Killian."

I bend down before them. "Neal, you were just a wee lad last time I saw you. My how you've grown. And what a beautiful lass you are, Eva."

Mary Margaret smiles, as she takes their hands. "I hope they will get the chance to get to know you, Hook."

"As do I," I reply.

"Goodbye," she says, as the kids wave at me.

She then disappears down the hall and I close the door behind her.

"Mary Margaret, who was at the…-"

David stops in his tracks at the sight of me.

"Hello, mate," I say with a cocked eyebrow.

"Hook," he says.

I step forward to extend my hand to him. He slips his hand in mine and then pulls me toward him, his arm going to clap around my back.

"It's so good to have you back," he says and then pulls away.

"There's no keeping me down apparently," I say.

"You're like a cockroach," he chuckles.

"I've been called far worse," I reply with a shrug.

We laugh together and when the laughter subsides, we fall into an uncomfortable silence until he breaks it.

"How have things been with Emma?" he asks.

I sigh. "It was wonderful seeing her again and meeting my daughter, but, as you can imagine, things are rather complicated."

"I'm sure they are," he says. He eyes me for a long moment. "You want her back, don't you?"

I nod my head firmly. "Aye, that I do. I want the future that we fought so hard to have, that we planned for. I want the family that should have been mine."

"I can't blame you for that," David replies.

"I'm sensing a but looming."

"But," he begins. "Emma and Lia are happy with August. It took Emma a long time to recover after she lost you, but she wanted to give Lia the best life she could and she has. She knew that was what you would have wanted for them."

"It was," I reply softly. "But Emma isn't in love with August."

David shrugs. "No, she isn't. But he has been good to her, good to Lia. He's the only father she really knows."

"And I am grateful for what he has done for them both. But I am back now and I can't just step aside and watch as my daughter and the woman I love live a life that I should have been a part of."

David nods his head. "I understand that. But I think you need to look at this from Emma's perspective. She was always afraid of losing you, Hook. That's why she was hesitant to begin a relationship with you in the first place. Think of all the times she couldn't accept losing you. She embraced the darkness and turned you into a Dark One in Camelot because she didn't want to live without you. And then her worst fears came true and you died anyway. But she couldn't accept that either so she went to the Underworld to get you back. When she failed, she was forced to accept you were really gone and she was devastated. But then you returned so quickly that she didn't have to learn how to live without you. For a year, you two couldn't have been happier. And then the worst happened again."

He pauses as memories of what should have been one of the happiest days of our lives come flooding back to me. I can still feel Emma's tears on my face and her arms cradling my body. I can still hear her anguished cries. We should have been celebrating our marriage and instead she was planning a funeral. I remember feeling trapped inside that bloody case, listening to everyone bid me goodbye. I wanted to scream that I was still alive.

I am snapped from my thoughts by the sound of David's voice again. "She lost you once more and with your child on the way. She didn't think there was any chance of you coming back again. I honestly didn't think she would recover, but she eventually forced herself to move on for Lia's sake. She had to learn to live without you, Hook. But her heart? Her heart never truly recovered. She didn't build walls like before you came into her life, but she kept it protected, hidden away. It still belonged to you and she knew it always would. And now that you're back, she doesn't want to hurt August or Lia, but she also doesn't want to get hurt again either. If she opens her heart to you again, then she also opens it to the possibility of losing you again."

I swallow roughly. I should have realized Emma would feel that way. I can't say I blame her.

I shake my head. "I can't just walk away from her. I swore I would never stop fighting for us and I meant it."

He nods. "I don't expect you to walk away. I know you too well for that and I wouldn't want it anyway. If there's a chance for you and my daughter, then I want you to have it. I'm only suggesting that you let Emma deal with all of this in her own time. If you pressure her, then I think you will only push her away."

"Thank you," I say. "You're right. Emma must be willing to risk her heart to be with me again. She must come to that conclusion on her own. And I'll be waiting when she does."

"It won't be easy. She knows doing so will cause August and Lia pain. You know Emma. She puts everyone's feelings above her own."

"I do not wish for anyone to be hurt," I say.

David shrugs. "I think it's inevitable at this point."

I drop my eyes to the ground, but do not reply.

...

~Emma's POV~

I sit in Granny's, staring out the window at the table where we had our first real kiss. It was where our relationship really began. I can still feel the way his lips felt on mine. I miss that feeling. I miss everything about him.

I'm pulled from my thoughts by my mother sliding into the booth across from me.

"Good morning," she says brightly.

"Good morning," I reply, my eyes moving to the menu.

I can feel her gaze on me.

"What?" I ask, finally meeting her eyes.

"How are things with August?" she asks.

I sigh and drop the menu to the table. "Tense. Uncomfortable. He thinks things are changing between us because Killian's back."

My mother arches an eyebrow. "August is a smart man, Emma. He must sense that things are off."

"Of course they're off," I snap. "The father of my child, the man I was supposed to marry, my true love, just walked back into my life after believing he was dead for six years. How could things not be off?"

My mother sighs heavily and reaches across the table to cover my hand with hers. "August knows that you never would have married him if you didn't believe Killian was dead. He knows that you and Killian would be married right now, you'd be a family right now with Lia."

I swallow roughly. "I made a commitment to August, which I intend to honor. I don't want to hurt him or Lia."

My mother tilts her head. "I know all about the desire to protect your child at all costs. But, sweetheart, you deserve happiness too. You shouldn't have to sacrifice your happiness to honor a commitment you made to a man under false circumstances. Do you honestly believe that continuing in a marriage with August while your true love is still alive will make for a happy family for Lia? You have a chance to give her a family with her father, with two parents who love each other so deeply they would do anything for one another. Isn't that what you want her to grow up seeing? Not two people who are in a marriage to provide stability."

I blink back tears. "It's not that simple, Mom."

"I didn't say it was. But you and Killian fought tooth and nail to be together. True love is so rare. Most people go their whole lives without ever finding it. You can't just throw that away now. True love conquers all, Emma. You know that."

"Do I?" I say softly. I squeeze my eyes closed. "What if we're not really meant to be? What if all the times I lost him were signs that despite true love we'll never be able to make things work?"

She shakes her head. "That's your fear talking, Emma. You're afraid to risk your heart because you could lose Killian again."

"I don't think I could survive it this time," I whisper.

I realized last night as I was lying in bed staring at the ceiling for hours that the real thing holding me back is my fear of losing Killian again. If I invest in a life with him again, a future with him and our daughter, and then it's all stolen from me once more, I'm not sure I would ever recover.

"Yes, you could because you are a survivor. But look at yourself. You're miserable right now and that's because you don't have him. That's not going to change. You can try to hide it and pretend, but August will know and Lia will sense it. And that happy family that you created for her will crumble anyway. Trust me when I tell you the pain will only get worse the longer you wait to make the choice to follow your heart."

I swallow roughly and return my eyes to my menu.

...

~Killian's POV~

I ring the doorbell and wait, as I nervously balance the package on my hand and hook. A moment later, August flings the door open.

I'm disappointed it's not Emma, but I attempt to hide it. "Hello, August. I'm here to pick up Lia."

He nods. "She'll be down in a minute. Emma's doing her hair. Come on in."

I walk inside and he shuts the door behind me. We stand in an awkward, tense silence.

"So, are you staying on the Jolly Roger? Or are you at Granny's?"

I shake my head. "Jolly Roger."

It's where I feel most at home. Emma and I lived in the house I picked out for her until my apparent death. It's the only other place that's ever felt like home before. With that gone, the Jolly Roger is all I have left.

"What about a job? I know you were working at the Sheriff's station before you...well, before."

I shrug, a bit irritated with the third degree. "I'm considering my options." I pause and then look at him, "I imagine working with Emma at the Sheriff's station now would be rather awkward."

August nods. "I'd imagine."

My eyes move to the stairs as I hear footsteps. They land on Emma and Lia, walking hand in hand. I smile at them and they return it. My lasses. My beautiful lasses.

Lia runs toward me, her eyes wide with curiosity as she stares at the wrapped package in my hand.

"Is that for me?"

I kneel down in front of her. "Well, I bought it for a beautiful young lass with big, blue eyes and the loveliest smile in all the realms."

She grins, revealing a gap in her front teeth. She lost a tooth. Something inside of me sinks as I realize I'm still missing moments in her life.

She raises her hand. "That's me! That's me!"

I smile and hand her the package. She tears into my twenty-five minute wrapping job in 2.5 seconds. It's not easy wrapping with a hook. She pulls the top off the box and I watch as her mouth drops open at the ship inside.

"It looks just like the Jolly Roger!" she screams.

"It's a replica. Gepetto made it," I say.

She looks at me, her eyes dancing in delight, and throws her arms around my neck.

I close my eyes and revel in the feeling of my little girl's arms around me for the first time. I pull her close to me.

"Thank you," she whispers in my ear and then kisses my cheek.

I open my eyes and she pulls back. I look up at Emma, noticing how her eyes are glassy from tears held back.

Lia looks at me with barely contained excitement. "Can we go sailing on the Jolly Roger today? I want you to teach me to sail. Please?!"

I nod. "Aye, I think it's well past time," I say, as my eyes meet Emma's.

Lia practically jumps up and down. "This is going to be so much fun!" She turns to Emma. "Do you want to come too, Mommy?"

I look at Emma. I can see she'd like nothing more, but she shakes her head. "I don't want to intrude. You two go and have fun together."

I lick my lips. "No, Emma, it wouldn't be an intrusion. We'd like it if you came." Out of the corner of my eye, I notice August shift his feet and look down at the ground. "You're welcome to come, too, August."

August looks at Emma, waiting for her response. She smiles. "Well, it has been ages since I went sailing."

August drops his head. It's clear he was hoping she'd refuse.

"What about you, August?" I ask, convinced he'll come along just to keep an eye on us.

But he shakes his head. "I can't. I've got some errands to run. You guys go and have fun."

Emma looks at him and I can tell there's tension between them. She walks over and gives him a chaste kiss on the cheek. "We'll see you later then."

We walk out the door together. I'm aware of August's eyes following us as we move out of sight.

…

~Emma's POV~

The three of us walk along the sidewalk, Lia between me and Killian. It feels surreal. I've imagined moments like this so many times. Simple moments where we just spent time as a family. And now that's exactly what's happening.

"Can we get lunch before going on the Jolly Roger?" Lia asks. "I'm hungry."

Killian nods. "I'm famished as well." He glances at me. "What do you say, Swan?"

"Granny's?" I ask.

"Yeah!" Lia says.

"Granny's it is then," Killian says.

We walk the short distance to Granny's and step inside. News of Killian's return spread quickly through Storybrooke, so everyone is aware he is alive and well. But I still see all eyes on him, on us, as we enter and sit down at a booth. Lia and I slide in across from him.

I glance around Granny's, remembering all the times Killian and I spent here together. I've had dreams about the three of us sharing family meals here. It feels like all of my dreams are coming true.

"Place hasn't changed a bit," he says, gesturing with his hook.

I nod. "Ruby wanted to keep it that way after Granny passed."

I see his face fall. "I was sorry to hear that. She was a lovely woman. She will be missed."

I simply nod and we fall into a silence that feels awkward, something we never had before. I pick up the menu and busy myself, pretending to study it, even though I know it by heart and always get the same thing for lunch. I notice Killian do the same thing, but he keeps stealing glances at me over his menu.

"I want grilled cheese and onion rings," Lia declares.

Killian's gaze moves from me to her, a smile upon his lips. "Looks as if someone inherited her mother's love for comfort food."

A smile pulls at my lips and I nod. "And her father's hate of bologna. She won't touch the stuff with a ten foot pole."

I see his smile widen and his eyes soften. "Is that right? Well, she's a brilliant lass, now isn't she?"

"Bologna's gross," Lia says wrinkling her nose.

"I couldn't agree more, love."

I watch as Lia tilts her head and studies him for a long moment. "Did you get hungry and thirsty in that case?" she asks.

I watch as his smile fades and he shrugs. "I wouldn't describe it as such. It was more like cravings. Things I missed that I wished I could have again."

I raise my brow. "Like rum?"

I had placed his flask beside him in the case. I knew it belonged with him.

He bobs his head. "Aye. There would be moments when I wished I could take a swig of rum."

His voice is low and oddly sad as he says it. It takes me a moment and then I realize why. Rum was always his solution to everything. He was stuck in a case for six years, unable to speak or move, unable to be with us, and he couldn't have the one thing that always made him feel better, at least for a few moments.

His tongue sweeps across his lips, his eyes meeting mine. "I knew my flask was within my reach, but I couldn't move my hand to pick it up. I yearned to take a swig to help the numb the pain for a bit, to help me forget everything and everyone I was missing."

I swallow hard. "That must have been very difficult."

"Aye," he replies softly.

The waitress comes a moment later and takes our orders. We all order the same thing. Killian also developed a love for grilled cheese and onion rings. We lapse into another awkward silence that makes my heart sink. Maybe too much has happened for us to regain the comfort and familiarity we once had. Thankfully, our food arrives quickly, giving us something else to focus on.

I watch Killian as he eats his grilled cheese, recalling something I had forgotten. He always had a peculiar way of eating it. Most would eat from the inside out, working their way to the crust. He always started at the crust, eating all the way around it. I turn my eyes to Lia and watch as she does the same thing. A smile pulls at my lips. For some reason, I hadn't realized she had inherited this particular odd habit from her father until right now.

I nod at our daughter and then look at Killian. "Like father, like daughter."

He looks at me for a long moment and then moves his eyes to Lia, his lips turning into a grin. He doesn't say a word, but the grin stays upon his lips for the rest of the meal.

And as the moments pass, some of the awkwardness disappears. We fall into an easy conversation and for a few minutes it feels as if he had never left.

...

End of Part 4

Thanks for reading! I'd appreciate any feedback you'd like to give. ~Steph