An early chapter today... the sun is shining and I am heading out to enjoy my day.
Mostly fluff...
One reviewer * Hi Nugget * asked how many more chapters I have planned and the honest answer is I haven't decided. I have two options, I have a way of ending this fic quite soon, maybe another few chapters or I have a way of adding another story arch.
You guys decide... let me know what you want in your reviews.
Enjoy
:)
David smirked to himself as he ran up the the stone steps ahead of Emma and Regina just dying to tell Hook about Gold's tantrum outside Granny's, Hook would find it amusing. He had already decided that he most definitely was not going to tell him about the broken window that he'd had to board up in the loft. Devin had returned for some reason and David wanted to know why. It had to have been important to risk being caught but he had no idea what it could be so he tried not to think about it too much. As he made his way across the patio Mary-Margaret sat up on her lounger shushing him and he realized that the Pirate was sleeping soundly in the shade from the parasol.
"He OK?" David asked in a whisper
"He's fine, just tired I think. He's actually not long fallen asleep. Junior and Henry have been keeping him entertained playing with Neal in the pool and he was happy to watch until Neal went down for a nap and he just nodded off."
Emma and Regina caught up and Emma immediately went across to Hook's side settling herself on the edge of his lounger hissing in a breath as she looked at the fresh bruising on his chest.
"God that looks sore" she cringed looking up at David
"I know" David cringed back and he wasn't lying as he looked at the deep purple marks "I'm gonna kill that Lost One, I swear"
"Not if I get to him first" Emma grit out reaching out to stroke the hair from Hook's face.
"Leave him be Emma" Mary-Margaret whispered "He's only just fallen asleep"
Emma nodded pulling her hand away but David could tell that all she wanted to do was comfort her Pirate and he decided right then that he needed to distract her.
"Come on Kid, you can help me start on that cake for dessert" he held out his hand to her and pulled her to her feet when she took it.
"OK, OK, I can take the hint" she sighed "Leave the Pirate to sleep, I get it."
David chuckled "He'll be awake soon Emma, he's not going anywhere."
She just rolled her eyes at him then turned to Mary-Margaret "Can you call me when he wakes up?"
"Of course" she smiled back then looked to David "Can you check on Neal, I put him down about half an hour ago."
"Sure" David replied before turning to the pool and waving at the boys. They swam over and he crouched down so he could talk quietly "If you want to help bake this cake you need to get your butts inside, dried and ready to go in five minutes"
Both boys took off swimming back up to the steps and scrambling out before rushing inside. David chuckled as he heard Junior call out to Henry.
"Do not run Henry, it is not a good idea on this floor with our wet feet." his little voice carried through the door.
"I remember" Henry said back seriously "Come on, take my hand. We'll be fine"
Emma and David followed them inside leaving Mary-Margaret and Regina sitting out on the loungers. Emma headed to the kitchen and started taking out all the baking things while David walked through to the bedroom and checked on his Son. He smiled to himself as he looked into the crib to find Neal still sleeping soundly. He looked so peaceful as he lay there that David lost himself for a minute just watching his little chest rise and fall. This kid had his whole future to look forward to and he now had TWO Uncles to look out for him. Neal was going to have such a great time that David could barely wait for him to be old enough to run around with both Henry and Junior but for now David was just happy that the kid was sleeping... he had a cake to bake so with a happy smile on his face to headed back to the kitchen to find the boys waiting for him with Emma.
"Come on Grandpa" Junior cried out rushing over and grabbing hold of his hand and practically dragging him back towards the counter where Emma stood laughing.
"Calm down Kid" she chuckled "We've got loads of time"
"I know" he replied climbing up on his chair to stand at the counter "But I want to decorate it and I cannot do that until it is baked AND cooled"
"He's got a point" David said raising his eyebrow.
In the end David and Emma found themselves mostly spectating as the boys did most of the work. Henry guided Junior to do most of the measuring and mixing only taking over if Junior asked him too and David was amazed again at how great Henry was with the boy. He just seemed to understand what others were thinking and how he could bring out the best in them. He made David so proud that he found himself beaming from ear to ear as the cake was finally put into the oven.
"You did good kid" David grinned reaching over and ruffling Henry's hair as Emma took Junior through to the wash room to clean him up "You know if the chef thing doesn't work out you could probably follow in Grandma's footsteps, I reckon you would make a really good teacher you know"
"I'd like that too... maybe I could teach cooking" he grinned back before looking towards the wash room and lowering his voice "Can I tell you something?"
"Of course Henry, you know that. What's up?"
"I'm worried about Junior" he said with a frown "He keeps talking to me about Liam like he's here. He's said a couple of strange things."
"Like what?" David asked sitting on one of the high seats at the counter with interest.
"Like... OK, earlier in the pool he said that I was going to love it when Liam could swim too. Does he think that his Liam is coming here?"
"I don't know Kid but thanks for telling me. I'll speak to your Mom and Hook. I know that Archie is gonna come back soon to talk to him again and I'm sure he'll be able to get to the bottom of it. Try not to worry too much, we'll sort this out."
"Thanks Grandpa" Henry said with a sigh "I wanted to talk to someone earlier but Junior has been sticking to me like glue"
"You don't mind do you? I mean I know he's hard work. If you need a break just say so, no one will get mad " David was suddenly concerned that Henry was getting fed up being pestered by a five year old.
"Are you kidding me? I love it" Henry cried back "I always wanted a Brother or Sister and let's face it he is pretty awesome"
"Who is pretty awesome?" Junior suddenly asked hurrying back over with a fresh shirt on
"ME" Hook's voice called from the doorway as he hobbled back through supported by Mary-Margaret.
"PAPA" Junior yelled changing direction and dashing over "Are you to help with dinner now?"
David stood and made his way to the table to pull out the chair for Hook to sit on calling over to the boy "Give him a minute Kid, let him sit down"
"I am fine David" Hook grit out through clenched teeth as he made his way across the floor
"Yeah I can see" David replied with a scoff "You need more meds?"
"Aye Mate and some water too if you please"
Emma came back in a few minutes later and headed straight for her Pirate dropping down onto the chair next to him.
"You OK?" she asked taking hold of his hand
"I will be fine in a minute" he sighed back but David could tell that he was in pain both by his face and by the fact that Junior had stopped bouncing about and had a slight frown on his face.
David headed back over handing the meds to Emma and putting down the water before turning around and pulling Junior up into his arms where the kid let his head fall onto David's shoulder with a sigh.
"You're OK Kid" David soothed rubbing Junior's back looking towards Emma and motioning for her to hurry up.
As soon as Hook had taken his meds David went to the Pirate and handed the boy over. Junior cuddled onto Hook's chest and just sat quietly but it didn't last. Obviously as the meds started to kick in Junior got more and more animated and eventually he was back to bouncing on the floor again. When the timer on the oven sounded to say that the cake should be ready David actually burst out laughing when Junior squealed in excitement and took off towards the kitchen.
"Come on Henry" he yelled from his chair that he had climbed back up onto "I need to see if it is ready"
"You "need" to see it?" Henry laughed "OK but maybe we should ask Grandma to help for this bit, it's going to be super hot"
Mary-Margaret took her cue and headed over, she grabbed the oven mitts and pulled open the door "Mmmmmm... it smells delicious"
David had to agree, it really did smell good and he found his mouth watering at the thought of tucking into it later but they still had the rest of the meal to do and as he looked at the clock he realized that it was going to be a late dinner again
"Right Pirate you are obviously feeling better" David said nodding towards Junior in the kitchen "How's your chopping skills?"
"If I can have my hook they will be just fine as long as no one minds a more rustic style" he chuckled back
"I'll grab it" Emma said standing up and making her way across to the bedside before heading to the kitchen "I'll just clean this first, I know what you get up to with this thing"
David cringed "Eww, I'm not even gonna ask."
"I do nothing with it that you wouldn't do with your hand" Hook replied raising an eyebrow and suddenly David didn't like where this conversation was heading.
He shook his head and gave a fake shudder "Still don't want to think about it Pirate"
"Would you two stop" Mary-Margaret called over "And David you could do with washing your hands too, I know what you do too!"
"Touché" he chuckled heading over to the sink.
They all worked together until Neal woke and Mary-Margaret left to fetch him and by the time she returned most of the prep was done and the beef was slowly cooking in the oven. David helped Hook over to the couch where he practically collapsed into the cushions giving a gasp as he came down. He curled in on himself slightly for a few seconds before cautiously straightening out and leaning back with a sigh.
"Gods, these damn things were just starting to ease until earlier. Why did he have to hit me there? Hell, I'd even have taken another swollen eye rather than deal with this again"
David threw himself down on the chair and kicked his legs over the arm "He'll get his Hook."
"Aye" the Pirate agreed half heartedly before craning his neck to look back into the main room "Where has Emma gone?"
David shrugged "She said something about Ruby and went into the bedroom"
She came back in a few seconds later with a grin on her face "Ruby is on her way"
"Is she staying for dinner?" Junior asked running over and climbing up onto the couch to sit next to Hook who reached out and tugged him in closer.
"Yip then she's gonna cut that mop of yours. We can't have you going to school looking like that"
Junior frowned "My mop?"
"Your hair Kid" David chuckled
"I like my hair" he cried indignantly
"I know Lad" Hook suddenly said and for a second David thought he was going to tell the Kid that he agreed but he surprised David when he added "But believe me when I say that you will like it even better once it is cut. We have pretty damn fine hair you and I no matter the length of it. I think that you should do this, it is getting rather long and it is not how strapping young lads such as yourself wear it in this realm"
"I'll get mine cut too, Ruby's cut mine loads of times" Henry called over from the kitchen as he finished with the dishes causing Junior to suddenly grin.
"And so will I" Hook added raising his hand to his butchered hair "Maybe Ruby can fix it so I no longer look like I have been attacked by a hippogriff"
Junior giggled at that and cried out "Like Buckbeak?"
"Aye" Hook replied but David could tell by the blank look on the Pirate's face that he didn't have a clue who Buckbeak was but he grinned at the boy anyway when Junior just carried on pulling himself from Hook's side to face him.
"Buckbeak is a good hippogriff though, he would not do that to you" he looked up at the scar that ran along the side of Hook's head "He only attacked Malfoy because he was a bad boy and insulted him which Hagrid had told him not to do"
David only knew what the kid was talking about because he'd just happened to find the movie on Netflix one night when he was home with just Henry and Neal. They had found themselves watching it just because they could and it turned out to be pretty good but Mary-Margaret suddenly cried out from the kitchen where she stood with Neal on her hip.
"Killian Jones Junior. Have you been reading ahead? We have not even started that book yet?"
Junior gave another little giggle and raised his hands up to his mouth to hide his grin. He raised his eyebrow and laughed out "Maybe"
"You cheater" Mary-Margaret laughed
"Sorry" he giggled "But I just had to know what would happen to Harry"
David laughed along with everyone else and when Junior gave Henry a little knowing look David narrowed his eyes, that Kid was up to something...
"Just how far ahead have you read?" David asked thinking he already knew the answer and when Junior burst out laughing and jumped off the couch to run into the laundry room he knew he was right.
"I am not telling" Junior cried out with a squeal as he disappeared from sight
David jumped up and started after him "GRANDMA... he's read them all."
"WHAT?" Mary-Margaret cried out with a giggle practically running into the laundry room after David with a giggling Neal in her arms.
David ground to a halt as he came in, he could clearly see Junior hiding under his covers and could hear his little giggles but he gasped and cried out.
"Grandma, can you see him?"
"No" Mary-Margaret played along "Where did he go Neal?"
Junior threw back the covers and laughed loudly "I am here"
"Let's get him" David yelled out rushing forward "Here comes the tickle monster"
Junior squealed and squirmed as David and Mary-Margaret tickled the life out of him but after a while his little voice changed and he was no longer laughing.
"Grandpa...Grandma...please stop... Papa... we are hurting Papa"
David stopped in an instant, he was breathing heavily from all the laughing but got up quickly and practically ran back to the other room to find Hook bent over double gripping his ribs with Emma rubbing his back.
"Oh my God Hook, I'm so sorry" David cringed rushing over "You OK?"
"It's alright Mate but perhaps lay off the tickling until I can laugh without killing myself" he grit out through clenched teeth still trying to smile
Mary-Margaret came back in a few seconds later holding Junior's hand "Are you alright Killian? I'm sorry, we didn't think"
"I am fine now"
Hook sighed leaning back and David was horrified to see a sheen of sweat across the Pirate's brow and that he had gone quite pale. Junior had gone quiet too but no sooner had the kid climbed up to tuck himself into Hook's side again than the Pirate grinned and tickled the boy himself causing Junior to give another squeal but it was over as soon as it started as Hook sat back with a huge smile on his face.
"That is what you get for cheating young man" Hook chuckled looking down at the kid
Junior grinned "I will be happy to read them all again with Grandma... they are awesome"
"I should think so too" Mary-Margaret said sitting down on the couch next to Junior "I was enjoying our reading time"
"Me too. I love to read with you Grandma" Junior beamed back
"OK, you're forgiven" Mary-Margaret chuckled "Just don't tell me anything after book four, I've not read them all"
David chuckled to himself then said in a serious voice "Yeah Junior, don't give it away. It will ruin the story if Grandma finds out when Ron dies"
"DAVID" Mary-Margaret yelled "That better be a lie"
Junior giggled "He is lying Grandma... it is Hermione that dies"
"JUNIOR" she cried out again turning to the kid
"I am only teasing Grandma" Junior giggled then became very serious "But there are deaths in it. I had to hide my book under my pillow until I was ready to read it again... several times"
"Great" Mary-Margaret sighed "I better get my Kleenex ready then. I will be a total mess. I thought they were supposed to be kids books?" With that she pulled herself to her feet and handed Neal to David "I'm just going to baste the roast beef and try to not to think about Harry Potter for a while"
Junior pulled himself off the couch and followed her as Emma took up Hook's hand pulling it up to her chest and snuggling into his side making David cringe again when he thought about the look of pain that he'd seen on the Pirate's face a few minutes before but he relaxed a little when Hook smiled at him obviously seeing the worry on his face
"I am alright Mate, I promise. I just have not laughed so much in a long time and if it were not for these bloody sore ribs it would not have been an issue. Forget it, it is done. The Lad was having fun I am just sorry that I ended the game"
David gave a sigh and lent back on his chair but when he looked over at a still smiling Junior who was now standing back up on his chair in the kitchen he wagged his finger at the Kid "Don't think that this is over Junior Jones. Once your Old Man's ribs are better you are gonna get it, this tickle monster will be back"
"When my ribs are better Mate make that two tickle monsters. I am not missing out on any more fun"