Another chapter of fluffiness but come morning the Nevengers will be back on the case.
As always please review
Enjoy
"Oh my God" Regina cried out dropping down onto her back on the bed and laughing "I am done, who knew that bed bouncing could be such hard work?"
Emma felt Junior tug his hand out of her's as he launched himself towards the mattress too lying down next to Regina with a wide grin on his face. Emma turned to see an identical smile on the face of the man she loved as he lay watching them while trying to clutch onto both Henry's storybook and his hook to stop them being bounced on but her attention was drawn back to the others when Regina spoke again. She was still breathing heavily but now she seemed pensive as she turned to look at Henry.
"I am sorry Henry, I wasted far too many years focusing on things that didn't matter instead of focusing on the fun stuff." she said giving him a sad smile
"Yeah well if you hadn't things would be different, if we had been doing this for all those years I would never have gone looking for Mom and we would all still be cursed so I forgive you" he gave a huge grin "Besides I'm all for you making it up to me now if you fancy buying me a new bike"
Everyone laughed but David suddenly pointed to the other side of the bed and made a "shushing" motion Emma looked to the side to see that Hook had dozed off again and he was sleeping with a little smile on his lips. Her heart clenched at the sight of him, he looked so happy but at the same time she could see in his face from his sunken eyes that he had lost weight again.
She sighed to herself deciding that she'd let him sleep for another ten minutes then he was eating whether he wanted to or not.
They all crept from the room but Emma left the door wide open so that if Hook woke he would know where she was, the last thing she wanted was for him to try and get out of bed by himself... and he would, of course he would because he was Hook.
Junior was still full of energy and Emma gave another sigh, how was going to get that kid to bed this side of midnight? But she laughed to herself as she watched him "helping" in the kitchen.
"Here Kid, take these over to the table" David said handing him the silverware "and when you've done that come back and take the napkins too, Henry will be back in a minute so he can show you where everything goes"
"I know where they go Grandpa, I had to lay the Captain's table everyday!" Junior cried indignantly
"Of course you'd know... what don't you know kid?" David chuckled
Junior just gave a confused little shrug then skipped his way across to the table clutching the silverware against his front, the cast made it hard for him to carry them but he managed and she watched as he first placed them on one of the chairs then took a few at a time and slid them onto the table before pulling himself up. He stood on the chair and worked quickly laying the place with a look of utter concentration on his face before grabbing another set, dropping down onto the floor and repeating the process with the next seat. He finished quickly then ran back across to the kitchen counter taking the napkins that David handed him and scuttling back.
Emma walked towards the others as she carried on watching "He's like a little machine" she laughed when her Mom smiled up at her.
"It's something he knows Emma, he's probably done it every day of his life for a long time. Bless him, he likes helping" Mary-Margaret cooed as she watched Junior working
Emma looked back at the boy as he pulled himself back up onto the first chair but this time he knelt by the table.
"It's hard to think that Hook did all those things, he really did a good job at burying his childhood" Emma said with a frown as she looked back at her Mom
"Hook has learnt to deal with his past and Junior won't ever have to do any any of that stuff ever again Emma. Look at him, he might be concentrating hard but he is happy and relaxed, there is no Captain to be frightened of here, he's doing this because he wants to not because he's being forced to do it"
"You're right Mom" Emma agreed suddenly smiling, she was just about to grab the plates to carry to the table when Junior called to her.
"Swan, where are you to sit?"
"Where do you want me to sit Kid?" she called back
He tilted his head a little and then gave a little smile "Between Killian and Henry"
"Sounds perfect" she replied with a smile.
Junior jumped down off of his chair and immediately pushed it out of the way taking off with it across the tiles before leaving it by the wall and when she noticed that it was the space closest to the bedroom doors Emma realized that he had made the space for Hook's wheelchair, this Kid was smart!
He did one more little circuit of the table then nodded to himself and headed back over towards her.
"If you carry the plates over to the table for me I can lay those too" he said looking straight up at her "I do not wish to drop them otherwise I would have carried them myself, with this thing on my arm it makes things a little awkward"
"Sure Kid" she replied ruffling his hair "You do that and I'll go get Killian up"
"He is feeling better but his belly still feels a bit funny" Junior suddenly said with another little frown
"Do you think that he would maybe prefer some broth instead of the lasagna?"
He gave a wide smile and cried "Aye broth. His belly will like that"
"OK" she said putting the plates down "I'll go have a look and see if we've got some"
"Already on it" Regina called from the kitchen as she started untying her apron "I made up a batch of chicken broth earlier, I was going to freeze it in portions. I'll just pop up to the house and grab some"
With that Regina disappeared through the doorway and headed up towards the main house where Henry had already gone to grab pajamas for both himself and Junior after they realized that they hadn't brought them down already.
"Right well, I'll go get Hook then" she said to no one in particular.
When Emma walked back into the room it was to find him snoring lightly and she gave a little giggle when she realized that he was still clutching Henry's book in his hand. She crawled up the bed and gently tugged it, it came away easily and she gave a sigh as she held the book in her hands. This book had been the start of everything for her. If her Mom hadn't given it to Henry he would never have found his hope and he would never have traveled to Boston to find her... she would never have become the savior and she would never have met Hook.
Her eyes moved from the book to look at him as he slept and she smiled to herself as she began to sing their song
All of the lights land on you
The rest of the world fades from view
And all of the love I see
Please please say you feel it too
And all of the noise I hear inside
Restless and loud, unspoken and wild
And all that you need to say
To make it all go away
Is that you feel the same way too
His lips twitched as she reached the end of the first verse and she knew that he was awake now but he just lay with his eyes closed
And I know
The scariest part is letting go
'Cause love is a ghost you can't control
I promise you the truth can't hurt us now
So let the words slip out of your mouth
He peeked an eye open and gave a little lopsided smile before clearing his throat a little and joining in for the next part, they sang in unison both smiling at each other
And all of the steps that led me to you
And all of the hell I had to walk through
But I wouldn't trade a day for the chance to say
My love, I'm in love with you
The song wasn't quite done but Hook broke the moment by giving a hearty laugh clutching his ribs a little.
"I love you with all my heart Love but singing is not really your best asset"
She swatted his arm playfully "Hey, I can carry a tune"
He just raised his eyebrow "I appreciate the effort, it was a nice way to be woken. Is it time to eat?"
"Yeah, Regina's gone to get you some soup, Junior said your stomach might not be up to anything else"
"I think he may be right" He replied with a heavy sigh
"Hey, it's OK. Have some soup tonight and tomorrow we can try you on something with a bit more substance"
He just nodded giving a small wince when it obviously hurt his neck but he didn't let it stop him as he threw back the covers and started pulling himself up to sit on the side of the bed.
"I'll grab your chair. Junior made a space at the table for you so you could sit in it, it'll be easier than using that crutch and besides you're too tired for that tonight anyway"
"He's a good Lad" Hook said with a smirk "Which is odd to say knowing that he and I started off the same way. I got so lost Swan, when I see how he is I remember what was drummed into me as a child and in my Navy days, I can't help thinking what would have happened if I hadn't lost Liam... " he looked up at her with a sad smile before pulling in a breath "But then I think, if all that had not happen I would not be here now and here is where I wish to be... with you"
Emma lent forward and stroked the side of his face lovingly and he turned his head into her hand.
"I love you so much" she whispered
"I know" he grinned back
Emma laughed hard "I'm going to kill Henry for showing you that damned movie, Come on Han, let's get you in the chair. You ready?"
"Aye Love"
It wasn't as hard as Emma thought it would be, with the bed being lower than the one in the hospital they kind of just managed to spin Hook around only briefly having him on his feet and in seconds he was dropping down to sit in the wheelchair with a sigh.
"You still tired?"
He gave another nod "Aye Love but I am fine for the moment"
"OK, just don't overdo it. I know what you're like, you'll get carried away with the kids and we'll never get you back to bed" she suddenly stopped and stood up straight gasping "Oh, God. We have "kids" Hook, as in plural. How the hell did that happen?"
"I'm not quite sure Love" he laughed "but our youngest one is getting impatient, I can literally feel his frustration."
With that Emma took the brakes off the chair and pushed it through to the other room to find everyone was back. She wheeled the chair straight up to the table where the others were all starting to sit down leaving only Regina and Mary-Margaret in the kitchen.
"Need a hand?" Emma called over
"No, we got it" Mary-Margaret called back "Just sit"
Emma rubbed her hand across Hook's shoulders as she walked around the back of him and dropped down into the chair next to Henry. The others chatted and as she turned to look at them her eyes fell onto the table to find her napkin folded into the shape of a swan. She quickly looked around at the other places to find theirs all just folded normally.
Looking quickly to Junior she found him grinning at her like an idiot, he looked so like Hook that she actually turned to him and said
"I didn't know that you could do this" she pointed to the swan
"That's because I can't" he replied with a smirk
She gave a little frown , how could he not do it if the kid could? But when he lifted his left arm the answer was plain, of course he couldn't do it, he only had one hand!
She felt like such an idiot.
"Not anymore anyway. If I could have I would have used that trick long ago" he grinned then winked at Junior "Nice touch Lad"
Emma turned back to Junior with a smile "Thank you Junior, it is very nice"
But then the food was being served and the napkins were forgotten, the meal was delicious and Emma looked between her three boys as they all sat happily eating. Hook seemed a bit brighter after he had eaten his soup and even managed to eat some apple pie and Emma's concerns about Junior not going to sleep soon proved to be unwarranted as he yawned widely after the meal was done and actually asked to go to bed.
"Let me do it Swan" Regina said "you get your Pirate back to his bed before he falls asleep at the table"
When Emma looked at Hook she realized that the former Queen was right, Hook looked beyond tired and Regina gave a little laugh as Emma looked back at her "I'll tuck them in then head to bed myself and I promise that there will be no bouncing this time"
"We'll head off too sweetie" Mary-Margaret said "Leave the washing up, I'll get it in the morning... you look beat."
"Thanks guys" Emma said pulling her weary bones from the chair. She looked at Henry who gave her a sleepy smile before walking over to her.
"Night Mom" he said hugging her tightly and before she knew it Junior had joined in.
"Goodnight Swan" he mumbled against her thigh before turning to practically sleep walk his way across to Hook and added "Goodnight Killian"
"Do I not get a hug?" Hook asked with a frown
"I did not want to hurt you" Junior replied with a yawn
"Come on Lad, you won't" Hook said holding out his arms
Emma watched as her Pirate grit his teeth when he pulled the kid from the floor to kneel on his legs but the minute the boy was up his grimace turned into a smile and her heart gave another little flutter as Junior wrapped his arms around Hook's neck and let his head fall onto his shoulder
"Goodnight Killian" he whispered
"Goodnight Killian" Hook replied with a wink at Emma and a little smile appeared on Junior's face but he didn't say anything.
Henry wandered over too and lent in on Hook's other side "Night Killian"
"Night Lad, look after your Brother. Perhaps leave a light on, he is not frightened but he will sleep better with it on"
Hook threw Henry a little wink and Henry smiled in understanding then he held out his hand to Junior "Come on Junior, we might have time for one story if we are quick, let's grab the book while Killian uses the bathroom."
With that they headed down the little corridor with Regina. Her Mom and Dad gave Emma a quick hug then gave Hook a wave before leaving too. Emma gave a heavy sigh turning back to her Pirate after they left.
"This has been a long assed day" she groaned rubbing her neck as she walked heavily back to his side
"Sorry Love" he said in a small voice
"Hey, it's not your fault" she soothed rubbing his shoulder as she came up behind him to pull the chair away from the table "None of this is your fault Killian and don't you forget it"
"I know Love but I thought we were done with all of this" he said tipping his head back and looking up at her
"I know" she said with a sigh "But it's not forever and we get to use this place so that's a bonus right"
"Right" he chuckled back "It's not the Jolly but it will do"
Fifteen minutes later they were lying back in the huge bed and for the first time in days Emma found herself relaxed as she snuggling with her Pirate.
"This is nice" she hummed against his chest
"Aye" he hummed back in the darkness before pulling in a breath and saying "Sleep Love, you are exhausted. We can talk in the morning, for now just let me hold you"
She snuggled in closer "Sounds good to me, night Killian"
"Goodnight Emma"
She felt him tug her closer and as she lay there she could hear his double heart beat through his chest, it was strange but she found it oddly comforting knowing that she could hear Junior's heart too. With a sigh she closed her eyes and let the drum beat in her ear soothe her into sleep, she had all her boys under one roof, they were all safe and they were all most definitely loved.
She smiled against Hooks chest as he gave a slight snore... she had missed this.