Yay! Last chapter! At last! Hope you guys enjoy..and don't hate me in the end.
Chow. Adios. 안녕. Au revoir. Freilos.
Sincerely,
내 이름은 비밀임니다. ㅇㅋㅋㅋ
Third Person (again)
Henry remained comfortable in his mother's arms. Emma kissed his forehead, brushing his bangs to the side with her fingers.
"When can we go home, mom?"
"Soon. I'm sorry, I scared you so much."
Henry shook his head, pulling her closer. "Don't, mom. It wasn't your fault anyway."
The door slid open. Emma desperately looked straight at the doorway, hoping it would be Killian. But she was disappointed to see Ruby walk inside instead. She walked toward the foot of the bed, her manicured hands stuffed in her jacket pockets.
"Henry, granny is waiting for you outside. You need to go home now."
Henry nodded. He looked up at his mother's eyes. "Get better, mom. Eat something and try to sleep."
"I will." Emma whispered, giving him another kiss on his temple. "I love you very much."
"I love you too."
After a long embrace, the two parted ways. As Henry left the room, Ruby walked around the hospital bed and sat down on the edge of it. She removed one of her hands from her pocket and took one of Emma's.
"Did you see the baby?"
Emma sighed. "Not yet..The doctor said I won't be able to see her for a few days. But she's fine."
"Huh, that's good. Oh Emma, you really gave all of us a big scare."
"I'm sorry, Rubes."
"Jesus, Emma, stop apologizing. It wasn't your fault that son-of-a-bitch went insane."
"But, Rubes..." The haunting images of sweet Grace and the helpless Bae came to mind. She blocked her eyes with her forearm, not wanting for her friend to see her tears. "I..I'm a murderer, Rubes."
"What are you talking about? You weren't the one who decided to go out and shoot people."
"Bae was willing to help me. He was blind, God damn it. And all this time I thought he left me because he didn't love me anymore. I was so stupid to forget what kind of person Bae really was. He was never a person to give up on something he loves, or even runaway from it..And Grace, oh God. She ran out of that diner to save me. Me, Rubes?"
Ruby inched closer to Emma. "Emma, stop torturing yourself. It was an accident."
Emma blocked her comforting words from her mind, releasing her true feelings that she held into for too long.
"I gave that sweet girl false hope that I could be her mother. A mother who can love her, care for her, and laugh with her in times..A woman who'll remain beside her father's side. I always thought I was doing the right thing, Rubes, but I was a fool to believe that shit. First, I broke Jefferson's heart than took the life of someone he'll risk a bullet for. I've..I've broken that man."
"Emma."
Ruby was lost for words to see Emma like this. To see tears from Emma's eyes was always a skepticism for her. She always seen Emma as a strong woman who had the talent of endurance, painful or not. The very fact that belief is proven false it only gives Ruby the feeling of pity for as much as she cares for Emma, there is nothing she can do for Emma to heal her pain.
She lowered herself closer to Emma and wrapped her arms around Emma. Emma quivered as her voice drowned with shaky sobs.
~ Milah almost screamed as the door kicked open. By the door stands a furious Killian. He marched toward her desk with a terrifying expression masked on his face.
She stood from her office chair, not pleased with his sudden, harsh entrance. "What the hell? The least you can do is knock for fuck's sake."
"Don't start with me, bitch."
"What is wrong with you? I know you're upset about Emma being in the hospital. But that gives you no excuse to be all pissed at me."
"You told Emma about me. About my past. About all my mistakes that I regret doing."
Milah nodded. Confidence overtook her for she has prepared herself for this moment ever since she told Emma about Killian's dark past.
"That's right. I did."
"But that was a lie. You know very well I haven't seen any of those whores for years. I stopped being that heartless player."
"Your blonde whore didn't know that. It seemed to be the only easy way to push her away from your life. After all, as your partner, I couldn't just stand back and see that bitch take control of you."
He slammed his fist hard on the center of the desk. "YOU HAD NO RIGHT TO DO THAT!" Milah took a step back as he dangerously lifted his fiery eyes at hers. "There was no control. And she is not a whore. You know why?"
He walked around the desk to get to her, smearing his bloody knuckles on the hard surface of the desk. He carelessly knocked over a few things off the table with his moving fist. Once he got to where Milah was, she helplessly backed away but he came forward.
"Answer me, Milah. Tell me why?"
"I-I don't know."
"Of course, you don't. You were too blind to realize any feelings I had for that woman."
She closed her eyes as her back hit the wall. "You're not yourself right now, Killian. Stop this." She touched his arm. But Killian shrugged it off as if her hand was fire.
"Oh, I am myself, Milah. I know that Emma and I are both guilty and unfaithful. But no matter how angry I am at her, there is still a baby that's pulling me back. My baby, damn it. And because of your little plan, I almost lost that child. Emma could have ran away and never see me again. She..She has been the only woman who gave me a desire for a commitment, to settle down and fall in love."
"Killian."
"And you wanted to take that away from me. After all the work and effort I put to make that beautiful future possible, you thought it was right to sabotage that." He punched the side of the wall that was close to Milah's cheek. She almost screamed but composed herself when she realized he didn't hit her.
"You're fired. Pack your stuff by tomorrow and leave. I can't promise you I'll be able to control myself if I face you ever again."
He lowered his wounded hand back to his side, stepping back from Milah. She silently watched him leave in disbelief.
~ Gold pulled over the car at the front of the hospital. Marjorie nervously looked down at her hands, each one trembling.
He took one of her hands, giving it a light squeeze. She looked at his eyes and gave him a weak smile.
"You don't have to do this, Marjorie."
"My father murdered two people, Rumple. Emma was even close to death, along with her unborn babies. How can I sit back and keep quiet after what my father had caused?"
"You won't be considered as a welcoming presence. Don't you think it's best to return after a few days?"
Marjorie licked her lips, shaking her head in disagreement. "No. Rumple, I won't be able to eat or rest until I see Emma for myself. Please, I have to do this, don't stop me."
"I'm only thinking of your condition."
"My condition is not the problem right now." She lifted his hand to her lips and gave it a kiss. "Wait for me in the car. I won't be gone for long."
"Be careful."
"I will."
She slowly released his hand and got out of the car.
Marjorie went up to the receptionist seated behind the front desk to find which room Emma is staying in. She laid her hands on top of the top edge.
The receptionist smiled at her. "Yes, how may I help you?"
"I'm here to visit a friend. Her name is Emma Swan."
"One second, please."
She typed down the name on the keyboard. After a brief moment, the receptionist lifted her eyes away from the computer screen.
"She's in room 305, second floor to your right."
"Thank you."
Before Marjorie can turn around, a firm hand gripped her by the arm. She turned her head to see who it is and saw it is Ruby.
Ruby dragged her out the door, despite Marjorie's struggle to break free. As the two exited the hospital, Ruby pulled her away from the entrance, still grabbing hold of her arm.
"What the hell are you doing here?"
"I came here to see, Emma."
"Marjorie, Emma is still recovering. The last person she needs to see is you. Really, don't get me wrong. It's not your fault of what your father did. But it happened. And Emma is still haunted by everything that happened last night."
"Please, Ruby. Don't stop me. I know it's not right for me to see her, especially now. But she deserves an apology, it's not from my father's own voice, yes, yet it's at least soemthing from a murderer's daughter."
"Why the hell should you apologize? It wasn't your damn fault, Marjorie. Think about it, it wasn't. Stop blaming yourself because it's only hurting you."
"Thank you, but..Huh, I always knew how my father was strangely changing. I knew, Ruby. And I can't help to think how I could have stopped it all his madness if I never left him."
Ruby finally released her arm and pulled Marjorie for a hug. She sighed as Marjorie accepted her embrace, pressing her cheek on her shoulder.
"I feel like a human teddy bear today." She mumbled. "Marjorie, just stay strong. Okay. I'll be there for you."
"You don't understand, Ruby. I really could have stopped him."
"No you couldn't have."
"Yes, I could have. Dad only started the whole murder because of Bae."
Ruby frowned at this. She dropped her hands to Marjorie's shoulder and broke the embrace apart. "How do you know Bae? Who told you about him? Was it Emma?"
Marjorie shook her head. "No, Rumple did..My boyfriend. He told me everything about his past during our relationship. And the first thing he told me was that he has a son and a ex-wife. His son was named Bae and he told me how he never seen him for years."
Ruby's jaw dropped. She never thought Marjorie could get this involved in Emma's situation. "Are you serious? So..So, let me get this straight. You're technically Henry's grandmother. Oh my God this is so unbelievable."
"I'm not married to Rumple, Ruby. But I..I suppose my label does stand that way."
"So you left Grumpy for your old boyfriend and last night was just a revenge your father did against the guy?"
Marjorie nodded. "It's not difficult to understand. There's no need for an entire police force to investigate my dad's reasons to murder Bae. He never liked Rumple in the first place..He thought he manipulated me to be with him. For an entire year, I tried to prove him wrong, but he was too stubborn to listen to me. So I completely removed him from my life. But I..I never knew dad would take the past this harshly. I never knew."
"Marjorie, I'm sorry that I'm not playing the comforting friend anymore. But you just confessed the biggest puzzle of the entire crime. You have to tell this to the police."
"I will. I just can't find the strength to tell the secrets I've been hiding for so long."
Ruby squeezed her shoulders. "Go home, Marjorie. Come back when the time is right, okay? As much as I pity you, I'm still Emma's friend and don't desire for her to be in any more pain."
"I understand..Perhaps you're right. I have to be patient."
"But before you leave, do you mind telling me who his ex-wife is?"
"I don't at all. Her name is Milah."
"Wait what? What did you say?"
"Milah. That's her name."
Marjorie took a step back as Ruby's hands went to her cheeks. She looked down at each manicured hand with unease.
"Wh-What's wrong, Ruby?"
"You're positive? Milah. That's the name, for real?"
"Yes, I'm completely positive."
Ruby's hand left Marjorie's cheek in the next passing second. Marjorie stood there stunned, watching Ruby run like the wind back inside the hospital.
Ruby ran back to the front desk, sliding her shoes that squeaked the floor to stop. The receptionist gasped as Ruby jumped over the front desk. She carelessly pushed the office chair the receptionist was sitting on so she can use the computer. Quickly, she went to the internet and typed down the business name Killian owns. As she found it, she picked up the telephone and dialed the business number.
"Excuse me, miss? You can't be over here." The receptionist warned.
"This is an emergency, woman. And I don't have my phone with me, so just chill for a moment."
"Miss, you really can't."
Ruby ignored her, waiting for someone in the other end to answer.
"Hello? This is - "
"Oh thank God, you finally answered," Ruby cut in the woman. "Okay? This is a big emergency. Is your boss there? Killian Jones?"
"Mr. Jones just left about an hour ago. Who is this?"
"I'm his girlfriend's best friend. Do you know his number?"
"I'm sorry, madam. But I can't share personal information to just anyone."
"Didn't you hear me, lady? I'm his girlfriend's best friend. She's in the fucking hospital, for crying out loud."
"I'm sorry, I don't know that for sure if you are of what you say?"
Ruby huffed a strand of hair away from her eyes. She angrily gripped tightly to the phone. "Oh fuck it. You're no help." She slammed the phone back down.
She jumped back over the front desk and ran past a few walking patients before the security guard got to her. Marjorie was still there, heading back to the parking lot. Ruby caught up to her.
"Marjorie! Hey!"
Marjorie stopped and turned to see who it is. By the time Ruby reached her, she paused breathlessly to catch her breath.
"You okay?"
"I'm fine...Ca-Can you give me your phone real quick? I don't have mine with me."
"Sure." She took out her phone from her pocket and gave it to Ruby. "But why?"
"I need to call Gran real quick."
Ruby dialed her Granny's number and pressed the phone to her ear. Impatiently she nimbled on her lower lip as the phone continued to ring.
"Hello?"
"Hi, Gran. It's me Ruby. Can you put Henry on the line?"
"Alright. Wait a sec."
After a brief moment, Henry took the call and answered. "Hi Ruby. Is everything okay?"
"Yeah, Henry everything is okay. Do you happen to know Killian's number?"
"Yeah. Why?"
"I need you to call him and tell him to come here immediately."
Henry started to panic of hearing this immediate need for Killian's presence. "What's really going on? Is it my mom? Is she dying?"
"No, no, no, no. She's fine. I swear. Your mom needs better company that's all. She's been wanting to see him for awhile."
"Okay..But promise to call me if anything happens to Mom."
"You know I will. Goodbye, Henry."
"Bye, Ruby."
~ "Emma..Emma, wake up.." A warm breath blew lightly on her nose as he spoke.
Emma opened her heavy eyes. Her heart skipped a beat to see Jefferson's broken face right before her eyes. She blinked a few times, uncertain if the moment is just a dream. But it wasn't yet a reality.
"Jefferson, what are you doing here?"
He placed his orange gloved hands to her cheeks. Then he lowered his lips to hers and gave it hard kiss. Her eyes widened. Her need to use her reflexes triggered her mind. But she was astonished that she cannot feel her own hands nor feet nor a single muscle.
When Jefferson released her mouth, he let out a frightening laugh that gave Emma the chills. He rubbed his thumbs on her cheek.
"You need to go somewhere with me, beautiful."
"D-Did you give me something?"
"It won't last for long."
"Jefferson, you're scaring me..."
"Don't be. Because I'm here to save you."
He grabbed her by the arm and pulled her up to sit upright. The drug in her system kicked in stronger as Jefferson lifted her in his arms. Her throat fell numb, making it difficult for her to speak.
He set her down on a wheelchair and took control of the handles. Her head fell awkwardly to the side, unable to hold it up properly by her own control.
The stage to put her body to sleep came closer to happen. But Jefferson took the short few seconds of her consciousness to tell her something.
He arched his back and lowered his lips to her ear. "Our baby is waiting for us. She misses you. By the time we start our trip, she needs to be fed."
~ Killian started his way back to the second floor. His wounded hand is dressed a bit improperly, but fortunately, he cleaned it well with alcohol and salt.
He frowned at some of the few policemen present as he walked by; they were questioning some of the nurses and doctors. When he reached to Emma's room, Ruby was there, seated outside talking to a policeman. By the time she saw him, she jumped out of her seat and ran toward him.
"Oh thank God, you're here."
"What's going on?"
"Emma is gone. She's been kidnapped by Jefferson."
"What?!"
He marched toward the policeman that Ruby was just talking to. The policeman turned to him.
"I'm sorry, sir. But we are in a middle of a investigation."
"He's her fiancé, officer," Ruby defended. "It's okay."
"If that's true, I have a few questions for you."
Killian shook his head. "Mate, you're not going to get anything from me. I wasn't bloody here. I just want to know a confirmation. Did my own friend really abduct Emma?
"We have it on camera, sir. And I'm afraid your baby is gone too."
"What?!" He turned to Ruby. "How did that happen? How the fuck does this hospital operate anyway? They have rules and security guards for a reason. Why the fuck did they not make that useful?!"
Ruby raised her hands in surrender for him to relax. "Killian, I know this is a lot for you. But the reasonable thing to do now is to try to think of where Jefferson could have taken Emma. You're by far the only person who knows him well enough."
Killian frustratingly sat himself down on a chair and covered his eyes with his hands. "This is too much..Too bloody much."
"Please give us a moment, officer."
The policeman nodded and left them alone.
Ruby squatted in front him, hugging her arms around her folded legs. "Killian, please cooperate with the police. I know I'm not helping but I'm..Huh, I'm worried. Jefferson is on the run with Emma right now, at this very moment. She's not even fully recovered from the surgery, and who knows if her stitches opens up. The doctor warned her to be bedridden and try not to move too much..And I haven't even told Henry yet. I don't even know what to tell that little guy."
"Don't tell him." He lowered his hands away from his eyes. "Just not yet. Let's give him at least a day or two. After that, I'll tell him myself."
"Are you sure?"
"Henry is part of my life, Ruby. It's my responsibility to take care of him and let him know the truth. It's wrong to lie or keep things from him, especially now."
"But what about the baby?"
"I don' t know. Argh! I still bloody can't understand why in the hell that bastard took my child too. She's only an infant."
"The police are trying their best. Let's just hope though they'll find something..Who knows, things might come back to normal by tomorrow? Jefferson couldn't have gone far, not with a baby and an injured patient all in the same car."
~ Three weeks later ~
"I never knew my dad very well. The story I've only known about him was that he loved my mother, he stayed with her and made her happy, and a few years after I was born he left us. I feel ashamed sometimes that I considered him a bad person, a traitor to leave my mom so sad and alone to take of me all by herself. I felt more ashamed after finding out though, of how he sacrificed his own sight for money but never had the courage to face us, thinking we wouldn't accept a blind family member."
Henry looked down into the eyes of his cold father, laid wearing a suit in a casket. "We would have accepted him if he came back with no legs or arms. Because this is the man who is still my father and a good partner for my mom. I..I don't feel like crying. I've cried too much over the last few days. And the pain seems to hurt more in here." He lightly pounded his chest. "This pain will never go away. Including my love for such an amazing father. I love you, dad. And I swear I'll find mom for you."
He leaned closer into the casket and gave his father a kiss on his cold temple. After a last look at his face, he slowly returned back to his girlfriend's side who attended the funeral with her father.
After the Reverend made another prayer, two gentlemen closed the casket and lowered it down in the deep pit they dug up. Henry left Emily's side to say his final farewell to his father. He picked one of the shovels and helped the gentlemen bury the casket, they did not complain him volunteering.
When they finished, Henry brushed the soot off his hands and returned to his girlfriend's side. He took her hand and guided her to another gravestone.
"Where are we going, Henry?"
"My mother's little friend died the same night as my dad. She tried to save my mom, you see. I think it's respectful to give her some flowers."
Emily smiled and followed him.
As the two approached Grace's grave, Emily handed Henry one red tulip from a small bouquet she held in her other free hand. Henry took a few steps closer to the grave and placed the flower down on the center.
"I hope you rest in peace, Grace. And thanks for what you did for my mom. I don't think I could have been that brave like you...And find your dad for me, tell him he doesn't have to do this anymore. Because I miss my mom and my sister who I haven't even got the chance to know like crazy. I can't go through another day without them. Please tell your dad, soon. For me, for Ruby, for Granny...and my new dad."
~ The chains bruised Emma's wrist, each one shackled to the bed rail from above her head. Her eyes closed, sleeping as much as possible for night times passes by with her unable to rest.
In the misery of her situation, the same dreams trapped her in a fantasy where all her loved ones are kept, the ones wistfully wanting her presence, the ones still searching for her to this day. Henry. Dearest Ruby who's strength, Emma hopes, hasn't worn off. Sweet Granny who has always been the best caregiver. Marjorie, a girl she'll never blame for what her father done. Bae's grave that she yearns to visit. And lastly, the man who has risked this difficult journey for her, a second love she never thought would exist, Killian.
It has always been money and Henry's future during this deception to be a woman she's not. However, this is the first time she's ever considered to think for one moment of love, a warm feeling that arouses a emotional affect to her scarred heart. It is still new for her to actually want Killian to be here by her side, to feel his arms around her, and to be able to hear his familiar voice. But it is still desiring.
Jefferson's refusal to leave this prison has broken her into depression. When he's not in the same room as her, he's gone to the nursery, carrying the baby he named Grace. Emma hated it when he brings the baby for her to be fed or carried, and he sometimes stays. It pained her to see Jefferson so torn over his daughter's death and now overpowered by his obsession to start everything over with her and her child who he thinks is his, even though it belongs to Killian.
Jefferson entered the room quietly with a half filled insulin on his hand. He sat on the edge of the bed and injected the substance on the back of one of her forearms.
Her eyes burst open when the needle was removed. He smiled that wicked smile that gave her nightmares in most nights and gave her a soft kiss on her lifeless mouth.
"Why do you give me that stuff so much?"
"You need rest. You don't sleep at nights so this is the only way for you to sleep. I can't afford you to get sick with a baby in our care."
"Jefferson..For the last time, she's my baby. But you're not the father. Stop being in denial. Your baby died, this one is Killian's. No matter how much love you give her, you'll never - "
Jefferson hushed her. His eyes remained distracted, looking at the window where a black raven can be seen, perching on a tree branch.
"Will you look at that. A raven. I know a riddle about a raven. Do you wanna hear? It goes like this - why is a raven like a writing desk?"
Emma's eyes watered, she looked the other way. There are times when Jefferson goes through this dangerous changes, being this mad man she does not know.
"You have no idea?"
She didn't respond.
"I didn't either at first. But the answer is that the similarity between a raven and a writing desk is that both - "
"Just stop this!" She shouted.
The baby from the nursery heard her and started to cry. But Jefferson didn't rush back to the nursery just yet. He looked down at Emma.
"A woodworm feeds deep into the insides of a writing desk. A raven feeds the flesh of the dead. Those are what they have in common. Now, if you can't let go of your claim that Killian is the real father, perhaps, I should kill him to make matters more clear to you of why I should raise Grace with you. After all, ravens and woodworms finish their lives by feeding, I should do the same then, finish off the mess that's pulling you back from accepting our new future together."
Emma shook her head nervously, the tears that's pooling her eyes fell down to her cheeks. "Don't touch Killian. Please don't. I..I will accept this. I will. Just leave him alone."
"That's what I want to hear. Good girl." He brushed his thumb across her lower lip. "Grace is crying. I better take care of that."
~The few guests who attended the funeral were moved to a reserved room where food and refreshments were available. Henry and Emily sat on the furniture, sharing a few cookies together.
Ruby went over to where the drinks were. She picked a coffee cup and filled it with hot steamy coffee. As she got enough of it, she picked up a napkin and placed it on the waist of the cup. When she turned around, someone caught her eyes. From the large glass window ahead of her, she can see someone standing in front of Bae's gravestone. A woman dressed in black.
Ruby left the table and searched the room to find Killian. When she found him, she casually walked up to him to tell him the news.
"Killian, we got a problem."
"What's the matter?"
"She's here. I don't know how she found out. But I saw Milah out there. Should I ask someone to escort her out?"
Killian shook her head. "The man is her son. Allow her to grieve."
"Are you going to talk to her?"
"I have nothing to say to her. Just leave her be, Ruby."
"Killian, whether she's the kindest human being in the world or not, she's still Henry's grandmother. She had no idea she even had a grandson and that her son was the one murdered. The least you can do is go out there, bring her in here, and have her meet Henry."
"Ruby, I can't do that."
"Henry deserves to know everything, those were your exact words. Don't make it a lie now. Go."
"Not today."
"Then when? Tomorrow? The next week? Next year? That bitch hasn't seen her son for years or even knew she has an amazing little grandson. Let her know now."
He was still hesitate. "..Alright. But come out with me. I don't trust myself with her."
"Okay. Let's go."
Together the two exited the room. Ruby waited outside by the door while Killian started his way down the grass to reach where Milah stands. Milah wept silently, her tearful eyes unable to leave from her son's own gravestone. When Killian was finally standing near her reach, he prepared himself to control his temper and the desire to hurt her.
"Why won't you come inside?"
She slowly turned around. "You told me to stay away from your life. I didn't want to break that promise."
"Of course, I want you to stay away for me, for life. But today, let's break the rules. I have someone you need to meet."
"Who?"
"The grandchild you once called the whore's kid."
"I..I don't have the right to meet him. I don't."
"I agree. You don't. But Henry has been under the shadows for so long, it's time to bring him out to the reality that has been hidden from him. Come. Meet the boy. Hug him, or walk away, for all I care. But just see the boy with your own eyes."
Killian succeeded of bringing no harm to Milah or brought any disturbance as Milah introduced herself to Henry and gave him a embrace.
Henry again did not cry. But he forgave his grandmother and made the respectful decision not to question why she never was in his life or his father's.
Ruby went to Killian's side. She nudged him on the shoulder with her own. "I'm proud of you. I seriously thought I had to call for some of the guys back here to have you separated from Milah."
"I was surprise myself..Thank you by the way."
"You're welcome."
Killian's phone suddenly buzzed. He fished his hand into his pocket to find his cellphone. When he pulled it out, the screen showed no name by a restricted number.
"Excuse me?"
Ruby nodded. "Of course, take the call."
Killian answered the call. "Hello? Who is this?"
"Mr. Jones, this is Detective Gilbert. I have great news. My team and I got a perfect signal from Vermont. You friend made an anonymous phone call to a hardware store about three minutes ago. His voice matches perfectly to the kidnapper we're looking for."
"Oh God, thank you so much, detective."
"We have a SWAT team starting their way there. I'll call again when things settle down."
"Alright. Thank you."
~ Nightfall fell, Emma's wrists were unshackled because she had to breastfeed her baby. Jefferson sat on a arm chair by the door, a armed rifle held ready on his hand.
Peace have dulled as a friend in the lonely house. But that silence was taken away when a flying helicopter flew by the house. Jefferson jumped off his chair and rushed to the window.
A spark of hope brought life to Emma's dead heart.
Things got more hopeful when the entrance of the door was knocked over and loud footsteps of many people started.
"Get up! We're leaving."
She gently lifted her baby's head for her small mouth to release her nipple. Then she lifted her bra back up and pulled her shirt back down. Protectively she carried the baby close to her heart. Jefferson impatiently threw an arm around her shoulders, pulled her close to his side and rushed out the door.
"It's too late, Jefferson. The police is here."
"Shut up. This isn't over."
The SWAT team reached to the stairway and trapped the three. They pointed their weapons straight at them. They were not the only ones prepared for defense, however, Jefferson wrapped his arm around Emma's neck and placed his rifle to her head, ready to blow her head off.
"Sir, put your weapon down." One of them warned.
The baby in Emma's arms cried. Emma hushed her, wavering her gently back and forth. She can't help but cry too.
"Jefferson, please..Stop. It's all over."
"No it isn't. You let me walk free with my girls, then Emma lives."
"Grace.." It tasted like acid in our mouth to say that name. "She'll never forgive you, Jefferson."
"Shut up," he growled.
"You know she won't. Secrets can't be kept forever. How do you think your..your daughter will feel when she finds out you killed her own mother?"
"Sir, I won't repeat again. Put your weapon down." The same man warned.
"Let all this go..For Grace. She won't be able to accept you to be this kind of person. She never will because she always loved the man you once were."
"This won't convince me to let you go, Emma."
"I know. Because I was hoping for you to do the same thing before I do this."
She held the baby with one arm and used her free arm as a weapon. She angled her arm into a ninety degree angle and crushed Jefferson in the ribs with great force with her elbow. He lowered his arm down from the pain.
She took that opportunity to escape.
Both Emma and the baby were protected as the men captured Jefferson and separated him from his weapon.
~ Emma held her baby close every step of the way. Detective Gilbert personally went with her on the train to return back to New York. Killian and Henry are already there in the station, waiting for their arrival.
As the train reached its destination, the two exited the train together.
"What will happen to Jefferson, detective?"
"That all depends on what kind of punishment the judge sees fit for him."
"..I see. But about what has happened...Please keep everything a secret. I don't want Killian or Henry to find out how I've been treated from the last three weeks. I just want them to be happy that everything is back to normal."
"I swear, Mrs. Jones, I'll never tell them."
Emma chuckled, shaking her hand at that mistake. "I'm not married to Killian, detective."
"Oh really? My apologies. You see, every time I meet up with Killian or give him a call he always calls Henry 'my son'. Even the little guys calls him 'dad'."
"Really? My Henry calls Killian 'dad'? Oh my gosh."
Detective Gilbert pointed straight ahead. "And there they are."
At that point, Emma cared less of the unbreakable rule a mother should follow: never run when you have a baby in your arms. She held her baby close, covering the back of her small head with her hand and in great speed, she ran to where she Killian and Henry are.
As they saw her, they too ran toward her. Once they reached each other, they embraced into a one way hug. Except gently to prevent crushing the baby Emma still has in her arms.
Killian kissed his daughter's head and then Emma's mouth. After a long lingering kiss, he released her mouth, his eyes watered with tears, and rested his temple with hers.
"I'm so glad you're alright."
"I've been okay. I'm..I'm sorry for everything."
"Don't start now."
"No. I really have to. I'm sorry that I brought danger to Lily like this. And made all you and Henry and everyone worry."
Killian smiled, kissing Emma on the nose. "You gave her a name. Lily is beautiful."
Emma shrugged her shoulders. "I figured giving her a long name like Liliana will be perfect for a half New Yorker and half British kid. Short for Lily."
"It's perfect."
~ The small family went out for some warm cinnamon rolls and warm refreshments. Emma allowed Henry to hold Lily after he finished his cinnamon roll and he went out to show his sister some of the passing trains. Killian and Emma sat together, his arms around her, holding her close. While the kids were outside, Emma digested the information she's been wanting to know since she's been gone.
"Thank you for taking care of Henry."
"He's been an amazing little guy. Even wrote his own eulogy for his father at the funeral. It was very touching."
"He did? What a brave kiddo? And..And Milah is really his grandmother? My God, that's by far the biggest surprise."
"It was for me too. But her meeting with Henry went very well, not perfectly, yet from a scale from one to ten I give them a five."
"And five is good?"
"It's just okay."
"And Marjorie? What did the police do about the murder?"
"Her boyfriend arranged a private court meeting and her confession finalized the case. I wouldn't say she's fine though. But Ruby and her old boyfriend has been the best support for her ever since."
Emma nodded. "Good. That's good to know...So, uh..Let's talk about us now."
"We don't need to."
"Yes we do." She sat a little straighter and turned to look at his eyes. "I've been an idiot to cause all this pain to you, for Lily and for Henry. I'm really sorry I drank so much that night and..and made the stupid mistake that got me pregnant in the first place. I know you won't be able to forgive me fully. Hell, no one can. But I want you to know, I'm not going to be that same girl again. I promise."
"You know what. You're right, love. I can't get myself to forgive you fully of what you did. It always haunted me over the fact you fooled me for my money, you slept with my friend after we got together, then you planned to leave me with my child..I never felt so betrayed. But I fought through it, because the one thing I wanted first was for you to come home, other than demanding for apologies, or any explanations."
"I deserve it, yes you're right. And I even understand if you don't want me..want me back in your life. W-We can still plan out a way for you to visit Lily and see her. But other than that, I'll take care of everything on my own."
"I actually thought of another idea. And you might not like it."
This is it..Time to say goodbye...
She closed her eyes to brace herself what he has to say. Killian reached into his pocket and pulled something out. He grabbed her left hand and slipped a ring down her finger. Her eyes opened then. She looked down at the ring on her finger and then back at Killian.
"Wh-hat the hell is going on right now?"
"Emma, I got a big question for you." He got off his chair and went down on his knee. Emma remained stunned at his every move. "When we met, it was never love in first sight. I admit. It was more of a complicated relationship we both went through. But as painful as things went along the way, I could never see a life without you by my side."
"Killian."
"Emma Swan, I don't give a damn how corny everything I'm saying sounds. But save the embarrassment, please give me an answer to this instead. Are you willing to wear this ring for life as my wife, as my faithful woman, and as the beautiful mother of my children? Because I trust that there's no more crazy secrets you're keeping from me. So I think it's safe that I propose to you now."
She silently laughed at that, her mouth twitching from the nervous trembles shivering her bones.
"What do you say, love? Tell me your answer."
"Are you sure?"
"I've never been more certain in my life."
"..If I'm able to live with you, to call you with a label that seems likely for most people, and give Henry a wonderful father and for our little Lily, then my answer is obvious. Yes. Yes I will."
She took both his cheeks with her hands crushed her lips against his.
The End
Author's Note:
If you want an alternative ending for this story, tell me because I can't think of anything for an alternative ending - PM me or type it down on your reviews. Because for now this story is finally done.