Chapter 22: A Peek Within

Emma and Killian checked the Jolly Roger, finding that things were exactly as they'd left them when Odalee had sent them back to Storybrooke. Examining a shirt that she'd left on his bunk, Emma observed, "Looks like we really were there. I mean…part of me always wondered if it was a dream or an illusion."

Stepping behind her, Killian's hand slid over her stomach as he countered, "There seems to be ample evidence that our journey wasn't an illusion."

"True."

His hook slid along the back of her neck, pulling her hair over to one side. His lips slipped across her ear as he whispered, "Not often we get a place all to ourselves anymore."

"Everyone's waiting for us at my parents' loft."

"Then I'm sure they won't mind waiting a moment more," he replied as his beard dragged down her shoulder and his fingers nimbly opened her jeans. They were sitting so low on her hips now, since she stubbornly refused buy new clothing.

"We don't have time for this," she said, although she leaned back against him and parted her thighs. Looking down, she watched his hand slip into her pants and his fingers reach under her panties and she leaned her head back and groaned, "God, I'm so fucking horny lately."

"I'm not complaining," he replied as he leaned against the table in his cabin and his arm wrapped around her to hold her body against his. "Relax, love. Give me a few moments and I'll meet those needs you're having."

His fingers drifted down her slit, wiggling to part her tender folds, her eyes still focusing on the way his hand looked as it disappeared into her clothes. With the heel of his palm against her clit, his fingers pressed into her opening, feeling the erotic twitches of her body as she awaited him. She clenched her jaw shut as she started to moan, and he answered, "No one's around. There's no need for silence."

She was so aroused by each touch that she didn't have to intentionally make a sound, she simply stopped choking down her sighs of delight, and the moment her lips parted, she breathily moaned his name as she rocked her ass back against his groin. Their mutual arousal was equally erotic to each of them. He watched her face as she responded, instantly lost in the moment as worry and thought and caution slipped from her body as his fingers danced against her sex.

Rocking against the bulge in his pants, she wasn't even trying to make him crazy, but her body was compelled to move as it did. She came fast and hard, her knees growing too weak to bear her own weight, but he held her up. Gravity pushed her down against his hand, the pressure sending orgasmic aftershocks through her body. As soon as she was able, she reached behind her back and opened his pants, immediately shoving her hands in, her fingers surrounding his thick, hard cock. He groaned out, surprised by the furtive attention she paid. Her hands were tight around him, quickly stroking as he shoved into her fists.

With great effort and the last of his focus, he hopped up on the table behind him and pulled her up onto his lap. Her hands were immediately on his erection, aiming the tip at her core as she sunk down onto him. After a moment to adjust to his girth, she started to rock in his lap as he leaned back and watched the beauty of her riding him, her hair cascading down over her spine as she tipped her head back. He sat up, wrapping one arm around her as the other braced against the table and he started lifting his hips, thrusting into her. They both threw themselves into their lovemaking, lost and delirious and fully as one.

The next afternoon, they went for Emma's ultrasound. Killian studied the equipment around the room. Modern medicine tended to make him feel uncomfortable. He always felt ignorant in contexts like those because it was all so foreign and unfamiliar. The ultrasound technician came in, politely introducing herself as Sara and briefly explaining what she was about to do. Looking at Killian, she said, "First time dad?"

"Aye," he answered, trying to look nonchalant.

"There's nothing to worry about. This won't harm the babies or the mother. I promise."

"You'll be able to tell how far along I am?" Emma asked.

"I should be able to tell with reasonable accuracy," Sara replied as she readied Emma for the procedure. "And if they cooperate, we'll be able to see a great deal. Depending on how far along you are and their positions, we may even be able to tell the gender."

Sara began, and Killian watched with fascination as he asked, "Is it supposed to look like that?"

Emma nodded, her fingers loosely holding his, "Ultrasounds are always fuzzy like this, if that's what you mean."

"I clearly see two fetuses," Sara said, and then she grew worried, going back and forth on the image.

"What is it? What's wrong?" Emma asked nervously.

Sara evaluated as quickly as possible and said, "Everything's okay so far. I was concerned because I only heard one heartbeat. But I can clearly tell there are two…they just beat at exactly the same time. I've never seen anything like it."

Sara took measurements and studied the images, carefully recording information as Killian and Emma tried to wait patiently for feedback.

Once the assessment was done, Sara said, "From what I can tell, you are sixteen to seventeen weeks along. I can also tell you, with about ninety-seven percent accuracy, that you are having one of each…one boy and one girl."

"But are they healthy?" Emma asked.

"Emma, they are developing beautifully. Very strong hearts. I don't see any cause for concern. You're too late for a CVS test, but if you want to do an amnio…I can do that for you."

"What's that?" Killian asked. He watched as she explained the procedure, and he interrupted, "There is no bloody way I'm letting you stab at her with some spike. What if something or someone interrupts this and—"

"It's okay, Killian," Emma said, turning to Sara and adding, "I think we'll pass on the test for now."

Sara responded, "You have a few more weeks to decide. I don't visually see anything that indicates any problems, you don't have a family history of birth defects to the best of your knowledge, but I wanted to make you aware that it is available, " Sara put the ultrasound probe back on Emma's tummy and said, "Here's their arms…can you see? They're holding each other."

Sara started to show them different body parts, the hands and feet, the positioning of each one, and once they were relatively certain everything was okay, they could enjoy just looking at their babies. Emma's eyes were full of tears as an enamored smiled crossed her face. She looked up at Killian, and he looked stunned, but equally taken with these tiny beings they'd created. Tugging the bottom of his shirt, she whispered, "Our first look at our babies."

His grip tightened on her hand and he answered, awed, "Indeed it is."

Emma watched him as he studied the screen, and she thought she could see the moment when he began to truly love the tiny people growing inside her.

"Everything's developing nicely," Sara said as she finished up. "If you come back in a month, I can confirm the genders with a bit more certainty, but, as I said, I'm pretty sure it's the best of both worlds: one of each."

As they left, prepared to tell everyone about the appointment, Emma said to Killian, "You know…no one was going to dig an actual spike into me."

"I don't think we can be too cautious. How can you be sure that woman in there wasn't under Facilier's control? I distinctly remember trusting that soldier who led us to the talisman, and it was that monster all along. So what if we gave them permission to do this test, and we're trusting the wrong person?"

"He wants them alive," she replied.

"That may be, but if he gets you in the right position, I don't want to risk the chance that he'll hurt you or attempt to take them before their time. I'm sure ideally he wants to wait, but if he senses we may be able to defeat him, it's always possible we'd force his hand."

"True."

"We need to be careful about who we trust until this problem is dealt with."

There were a few moments of excitement and celebration when they arrived at Regina's and told everyone about the appointment, and then the conversation turned to more pressing matters. It was time to take the journey to New Orleans, and confront Facilier head on. Killian and Emma were obviously going, and although David and Mary Margaret really wanted to be there to help, the group agreed it was in the best interest of baby Neal and the people of Storybrooke if they stayed behind. Much to their surprise, Regina immediately offered to accompany them.

"We've shown before that if we combine our powers, we're definitely a force to be reckoned with," Regina rationalized. "If we have to find and destroy these talismans, my particular brand of magic may be especially useful."

"Why put yourself at risk?" Killian asked.

"I can't imagine how much it would hurt Henry if something were to happen to his brother and sister. He's already become…quite attached. Emma, losing you would be devastating. Even you, pirate. Besides, as I've said before…Facilier knows we're here. If he were to succeed, he won't stop with your babies. He'll be back. I'm sure he'd love to get his hands on my vault. He needs to be stopped."

"What if we can't figure out how he rendered Gold's magic useless? You'd be defenseless," Emma asked.

"I'll be happy to provide additional support," Robin offered. "I can teach Regina how to use a bow during the voyage so she has some manner of defense."

"Or a gun," Emma added. "I could show you how to use one."

"According to what you've told me, Hook needs to be the one to destroy this Facilier," Regina noted.

"Yea. That's what the prophecy said. Likely because our magic will probably be useless against him," Emma added.

"I had an idea about that," Regina revealed with a glint in her eye. "I think Facilier can only block out magic that comes from people near him. The enchanted sword is magic, and doesn't lose its power around him. It isn't magic itself he stops, he stops the people who actually wield it, the source of the magic."

"Makes sense," Emma replied. "But how does that help us defeat him?"

"You and I may not be able to defeat him with magic, but what if we can protect the pirate from a safe distance. Either through some sort of talisman of our own or, if your magic is as strong as I think it is, it should work from afar. If we can find out the range of his powers, we may be able to provide support without him disabling our magic."

"It's possible, I guess."

"It certainly is. We'll have to do some testing from various distances. If we can find out the greatest distance your magic can reach, we can find a safe location to work from. I can use mirror magic so we can see what's going on. Or if your magic needs a boost, I can provide that instead. Assuming, of course, that our magic will work there."

"That could work," Killian interjected hopefully. "If something should go wrong, you may be able to get me out of there."

"Then it's settled," Regina answered. "Robin and I will accompany you."

Emma asked, "Can you be ready to leave by tomorrow afternoon?"

"I think so," Regina nodded.

"Henry can stay with us," David announced.

"No way," Henry said, quickly coming down the white curved staircase.

"Were you eavesdropping?" Regina asked.

"Family sticks together," Henry argued. "I want to help. Besides, I can't think of any place that would be safer. I'll have all of you around me."

"We aren't even sure if our magic will work there," Emma argued.

"Even if it doesn't, Mom, you were tough before you had magic. And Killian and Robin will be there. Let me come. Let me be part of this. I'm not a little kid anymore. They're my brother and sister. Besides, I've learned a lot about sailing. Ask Killian. You might need me. What can I do to prove that I'm ready?"

"Your mom and I will talk about it," Regina answered. "We need to be sure we can protect you."

As Gold closed his shop for the night, he heard a thudding from outside. He could see Facilier leaning down and staring through the glass panes of the door. Gold lowered the protection spell over the shop, but before he could even open the door, the same black slinky spirits opened the door and made a path for the man who controlled them. Facilier stepped in, propping his hand on his cane and saying in his distinctly booming voice, "Good evening, friend."

"You're no friend of mine," Gold replied, remaining behind the counter.

"Well, it seems I may have made a mistake the last time we met. I'm not perfect, but who is? You see, I miscalculated when I tried to strike a deal with that one-handed nemesis of yours. I thought he was a reasonable man, an intelligent man, a man who could recognize an opportunity. Sadly it seems he's not the man he once was…but you…," Facilier said as he stepped closer.

From behind the counter, Gold lifted a small sword and smirked at his visitor. "Before you come much closer, I should warn you. I don't take threats lightly."

Annoyance flashed across Facilier's face before he forced a smile, "You won't need that."

"I just want to make it clear…the Captain isn't the only one capable of striking back."

"Where did you get that?"

"It's none of your concern," Gold answered.

"Then I suppose it's best that we keep this visit amicable. I've decided that I approached the wrong man. I need someone with cunning and intelligence…someone who can see the bigger picture…and knows that sometimes difficult choices have to be made in order to succeed."

"I'm also intelligent enough to know that I don't want to deal with you. And flattery won't work on me."

"I know we got off on the wrong foot. But…even I deserve a second chance."

Gold waved his hand through Facilier, and he watched the "man" disappear into black smoke at the places where his hand had waved, and then reform into the image of the visitor. "You didn't even have the courage to come here yourself. You're just a projection," Gold argued.

"I'm a busy man. Plus I'm awfully fond of home. Now…back to my offer."

"You're too late. I already made a deal. I cannot do anything to harm those babies. I don't break deals."

"Well, you know as well as I do…the devil is in the details! Check the fine print, friend. You don't have to hurt the babies. I won't ask you to harm a single hair on their tiny newborn heads. What do you think?"

"I think…I don't trust you. Get the hell out of my shop."

"Hasty! You're being awfully hasty! How about this. Think about it. Tomorrow at sunset, if you decide that a little alliance between the two most powerful beings on Earth is the right course of action…meet me at the well in the woods. You can bring your sword to level the playing field if that makes you feel better."

"And if I refuse?"

"He who is not my friend is my enemy," Facilier threatened. "I have associates looking for that dagger of yours. And I will get it. I'll just have to decide if I want to control you…or if I want to take your power for myself." He smiled broadly at Gold, his grin so wide that it looked like pure evil, and then Facilier tipped his hat and said, "Have a lovely evening. I'll see you tomorrow at the well."

He evaporated into black smoke. The door of Gold's shop shot open, and the spirits swam through the air and out into the night.

"Were you talking to someone?" Belle asked as she walked in from the back room.

"Myself," Gold answered stiffly, tightening his hand on the small sword. "Let's get out of here."