Disclaimer: Reluctantly I have to admit that I don't own these characters. They are property of others far luckier than myself.
"I don't need a, what do you call them…a babysitter," Killian grumbled while making himself comfortable on the Nolan sofa.
"I've told you ten times already," Emma rolled her eyes, "David is not your babysitter. I just thought you might like some company while Mom, Henry and I go to New York City to pack my things."
"I thought we were going together," he released a dejected moan.
"We will," Emma assured him, "But you're too injured to be of any use. I'd wait, but I sign the lease tomorrow. Henry and I will need furniture. We have perfectly good furniture in our New York apartment, and you need to be here in case your new crew returns with your ship so you can send them out to retrieve Will's girlfriend."
Killian resumed the muttering he'd been doing since they'd left his ship in the early hours of the morning.
"We're only grabbing the big stuff and a few essentials," Emma told him just before kissing the tip of his nose, "We'll be back before its time to tuck you in to bed."
"Your condescension is not appreciated," he scowled at her.
"Be a good boy for David, and I'll bring you home a treat," Emma patted his head as she continued with the condescension, "I love you."
"I find you rather irritating right now," Killian responded, rather than with the standard 'I love you too'.
"I'd have waited if I could," she told him sincerely.
"I know," he nodded when she bent down to kiss his lips.
"Call me if you need anything," she told him.
"Even if it's just to hear your voice?" he asked.
"Especially then," Emma pecked at his lips a second time.
"We'd better get going," Mary Margaret chimed in while she handed Neal off to David, "We have a flight to catch and a bit of a drive to get there."
"Are you sure Ruby is okay with driving you to the airport?" David asked while cradling his sleeping son in his arms, "I could drive you."
"You need to stay with Neal," Mary Margaret kissed his cheek and then her son's. "I'll call when we land in New York."
"You packed the pepper spray that I bought you, right?" David asked his daughter.
"You've been watching too much cable television," Emma rolled her eyes as she tugged on Henry's sleeve, "Come on, Henry, let's go."
Henry was barely conscious yet he followed his mother and grandmother out the door with a hearty yawn.
Killian drifted off to sleep moments later, and slept most of the morning. It took a banging of dishes in the kitchen to startle him awake.
"Bloody hell," Killian shot upright in fright. The sudden movements pulled at his injuries in the worst of way.
"Sorry," David called over to him, "Multitasking is not my strong suit."
Neal was giggling in his father's arms.
"What time is it?" Killian looked around the room in an effort to get his bearings once the aching subsided.
"Nearly noon," David responded, "I was starting lunch. How do you feel about macaroni and cheese?"
"Is that supposed to mean anything to me?" Killian looked to David in confusion.
"Right," David concluded that Killian had no clue what he was talking about, "How would you feel about trying something new?"
"I'll try anything once," Killian slowly rose to his feet, groaning with each movement.
"Emma left your pain medication with me if you feel you need it," David winced in sympathy as he watched Killian's movements.
"No, I'll tough it out," Killian shook his head slowly.
Neal began to squirm in David's arms.
"Mary Margaret warned me about this," David adjusted his grip on his son, "She says Neal has a taste for the hook."
Killian chuckled as he twisted his hook off his brace and handed it to David, "Keep the tip out of his mouth."
David brought the metal close to Neal's reach, but that wasn't apparently what Neal wanted as he continued to squirm. "This is all you get."
Neal squirmed more.
"You look like you need two hands for cooking," Killian motioned for David to hand Neal over.
"Are you sure?" David was hesitant only because Killian was hurt.
Killian nodded and David handed him off. David stayed at their side to see how Neal would act in Killian's arms. He knew the pirate wouldn't be able to handle much in the way of movement out of Neal, but the tot sat completely still in Killian's arms.
"Whatever works," David returned to the stove to get lunch started.
"That's the last of it," Emma stated to the men she hired when they loaded the last of the furniture into the moving vehicle, "We can take it from here."
She pulled out several bills and paid them what was negotiated earlier.
"Sure you can handle the vehicle?" one of the men inquired.
"We got it covered," Emma nodded while Mary Margaret loaded another box into the back. "Thanks for the help."
"Have a safe trip," the other name stated as he took his share of the money.
"Your father just sent me the most adorable picture," Mary Margaret pulled out her phone to show Emma the picture of Killian sound asleep with Baby Neal lying on his chest.
"Awe," Emma beamed, "Bet Dad was super excited about this."
"Hook and Neal have really bonded," Mary Margaret responded. "Killian will make a good dad some day."
"Whoa, hold on there, Mom," Emma choked on her own surprise, "We are nowhere near children. Just talking about the future gives me hives."
"Come on, admit it," Mary Margaret prodded her daughter, "You've thought about it."
"No," Emma shook her head vigorously from side to side.
"I know you have," Mary Margaret continued on.
"No," Emma held firm.
"Come on," Mary Margaret scoffed, "Can't you picture a little boy with his dark hair and blue eyes?"
"Mischievous smile and a sense of adventure," Emma caved.
"I knew you had at least some thoughts," Mary Margaret responded, "How can you not?"
"It's still an awful long ways off," Emma insisted, "I'd rather he just get himself healed."
"I still don't get why you won't heal him?" Henry loaded another box into truck.
"I don't trust my magic," Emma looked to her hands with a frown, "I don't want to hurt him."
"You wouldn't hurt him," Henry responded, "You don't have it in you to hurt him."
"I wish I was as sure as you," Emma hugged her son, "Are all the essentials packed? It's going to be a couple of months before we can get the rest."
"Yep," Henry responded, "All my video games are packed."
"How about some clothes?" Emma suggested.
"I have plenty back in Storybrooke," he replied.
"All right, I'm going to go look around one last time and then lock up," Emma stated.
"Okay," Henry nodded.
Emma smiled as she looked around the apartment. It felt empty. It was a weird feeling. This had been her first true home, albeit with false memories, but it had served them well. She could still hear Henry laughing at her attempt to play his newest video game or her bugging him to finish his homework. When she went to the door, she recalled the day Killian first came calling with his nonsense and kiss. Just the memory of it still made her weak in the knees. She laughed while locking the door.
"Ready to go?" Mary Margaret inquired when Emma climbed into driver's seat of the moving van.
"Yeah," Emma revved the engine and threw the vehicle into drive. "Did you tell Dad we're on our way home?"
"Yep," Mary Margaret replied, "I told him not to wait up for us."
"We'll see about that," Emma smiled. She fully intended to get them home as fast as the beast of a vehicle could get them there.
The trio arrived back in Storybrooke just in time for Mary Margaret to be able to put Neal to bed.
"Hook wore him out," David spoke softly so as not to wake either Killian or Neal.
"Or vice versa," Emma gingerly lifted Neal off Killian's chest as the pair had fallen asleep in the same way they had in the picture David had sent earlier.
"You made good time," David noted.
"Just call Mom Dario Franchitti," Henry responded, "She pushed the needle past the truck's odometers. It was shaking so hard, I think we lost half our belongings."
"Mom wanted to get home to tuck Baby Neal in," Emma stated defensively.
"I don't recall verbalizing that thought," Mary Margaret claimed her son and rocked him gently to keep him asleep as she brought him up to his bedroom.
"Killian," Emma brushed the hair away from his face.
"Swan," Killian muttered in his sleep.
"This really isn't suitable for a father or his grandson," David pulled Henry into the kitchen to give Emma and Killian what little privacy the loft allowed.
"Up and at 'em, Captain," Emma shook his softly.
Killian continued his slumber.
Emma bent in and kissed his lips softly. Killian woke immediately and reciprocated.
"Did you behave today?" Emma caressed his chest softly.
"I was a very good lad today," he grinned, "I believe I deserve the reward you offered."
"Let's get you back to your ship," Emma suggested, "Then we'll negotiate."
Emma helped Killian to his feet.
"We'll see you bright and early tomorrow at your new apartment," David walked Emma, Killian and Henry to the door.
"Mom, can I stay with Grandma and Grandpa tonight?" Henry inquired.
"Are you sure you want to?" Emma asked, "Regina is expecting you."
"I'll call her," Henry responded, "I never sleep here anymore."
"I'm okay with it if Regina and your grandparents are," Emma looked to her father.
"He's always welcome," David patted Henry's shoulder.
"Alright," Emma nodded, "We'll see you first thing tomorrow morning at our new apartment."
"Damn this hurts," Killian trudged along the docks to his ship, waiting proudly at the end. Every step he took hurt.
"Henry says I might be able heal you," Emma frowned, "But I don't know if I can."
"I trust you, Swan," Killian brought her hands to his lips, "These hands can do to me what you wish."
"What if I hurt you more?" Emma gulped nervously.
"I would happily endure any pain you could inflict," he grinned mischievously.
"That's not funny," Emma gave him a sour face.
"You won't hurt me," Killian touched her chin lightly.
"I might not succeed," she bit her lip while he brought her hands to his chest.
"You will," he assured you, "You have yet to fail."
Emma took a deep breath and closed her eyes, focusing all her energies on her hands, hoping that the magical force would flow from her into Killian and heal him. An electric current shot through her and knocked Killian flat on his back several steps from where Emma stood. He lay on the ground for several moments as he tried to catch his breath.
"A little softer next time, Swan," he kicked at wooden boards of the dock as he rode out the sudden pain he was feeling. As the pain began to ease, he discovered there was less than he'd felt all day.
"Are you alright?" Emma rushed to his side. "Are you hurt? Do we need a doctor?"
"No," he shook his head from side to side slowly, felting along his torso with his hand, "I think it's better."
Emma lifted his shirt and peeled away part of his bandage. He wasn't fully healed, but he was much better off than he'd been earlier that morning when she'd bandaged him.
"How do you feel?" Emma's hand ran along the exposed skin. The scars were tender and fresh. Red lines dotted his skin, but it was a definite improvement.
"Like I want to do this," he pulled her down to kiss her soundly on the lips.
"Can you stand?" she whispered against his lips.
He nodded slightly, and she helped him to his feet.
"You have yet to fail," he pulled her aboard his ship and immediately into his cabin.
TBC…
Many, many thanks to all of you for reading. Hope you're enjoying. Only a couple of chapters left.
Stay tuned.