Hello dear readers (:
I'm back! I'm so sorry for the waiting! I know it's been centuries since my last update but I really couldn't finish this chapter and I'm still not one hundred percent happy with it but I decided to post it anyway. I hope you like!
Happy reading!
It's not the pain I'm afraid of; I know about the pain. What I'm afraid of is the end of this small, sweet dream ― Stephen King
Two weeks later
"Red is definitely your color" – Regina said as Emma tried one of the dresses that the Queen had picked.
An hour had passed since they entered in the store and Emma was starting to get tired and bored. Regina, on the other hand got more excited every time she found a new dress for Emma to try. She had already picked her wedding dress and was now focused on Emma's maid of honor dress.
"I don't think any color is my color anymore. I'm starting to show" – Emma said, looking at her reflection in the mirror – "And my belly will be the triple of its size"
"No one will notice your big belly because all eyes will be on the bride, more specifically, me" – Regina said trying to cheer up her friend.
She knew that Emma was worried about the pregnancy. The revelation of the baby's magic was something that Emma was still trying to process … and there was also Milah and her obsession with the baby.
The Savior tried to avoid the subject but Regina knew that Emma was doing some research on her own and that she hadn't found the answers that she was looking for.
Since they found out about the linking spell, Emma spent her free time trying to find a way to unlink Killian from Milah. Unfortunately she didn't find any unlinking spell so Killian's life was still at risk, which complicated things since they couldn't kill Milah, as a last resource, if she tried to harm the baby or Emma.
The Queen knew that Killian would gladly give his life away if that meant that Emma and the baby were safe but she didn't mention it to Emma because that would only make the Savior even more anxious than she already was.
"How is your research going?" – she asked, trying to get some information – "Did you find anything yet?"
"No, nothing" – Emma said after taking a deep breath – "It's like someone decided to rip all the pages about unlinking spells"
"I'm afraid it's worse" – Regina said, making Emma look at her as she tried to get rid of the dress – "No one did ever create that kind of spell, that's why linking spells are unbreakable"
"There has to be a way … some kind of loophole" – Emma said, refusing to believe that Killian's life would be forever linked to Milah's.
"Didn't Belle get suspicious? You spend more time at the library than at the sheriff station" – Regina asked.
"I don't usually stay at the library" – Emma said – "I prefer to read the books at home … besides I don't want any more troubles with Gold"
"I still don't understand why is he keeping this from Belle" – Regina started to say, running her finger through her dark hair – "She would be more alert if she knew about Milah"
"That's why I have to find a way to unlink Killian from her" – Emma immediately said – "I can't risk Gold to-"
"… kill Milah" – Regina completed her sentence.
"It would be the safest option for him" – Emma said, feeling her stomach ache – "And he hates Killian"
"But Belle doesn't" – Regina quickly said, trying to comfort Emma – "Killian and her are practically besties" – she explained – "If Gold kills Milah to protect Belle he will lose her anyway. She will hate him forever"
"I can't risk it" – Emma stated.
Killian was at the docks making sure that the men had everything they needed for the journey. The crew had decided to stay a few days in town after their hearts returned to their chests. Apparently Smee wasn't the only pirate in town who had fell in love with frozen yogurt.
Killian had helped them restore some of the old boats that didn't belong to anyone and were doomed to stay forever out of the water so they could sail in better and bigger boats than the lifeboats.
"How do you plan to travel to another realm without a portal?" – Killian asked as he grabbed one of the boxes full of provisions and carried it to one of the boats.
"Who said that we don't have a portal?" – Thomas replied. Killian raised one of his eyebrows, waiting for him to explain. Tomas took of his pocket two magic beans – "I stole them before we left the ship. The Captain had three but we used one of them to travel to your world"
Your world – Thomas words echoed in Killian's mind.
Thomas was right; this was his world now, this or any world with Emma in it. He never thought he could ever feel at home away from the sea; away from his ship but the truth was that now he couldn't imagine his life away from Storybrooke.
He loved his life. He loved living with Emma and Henry. He loved the lunches at Granny's with the all family. He loved spending time with Belle at the library. He loved his driving lessons with David. He loved cooking for the entire family. He loved babysitting Neal and Roland. He loved helping Henry with his homework. He loved watching Emma when she thinks no one is looking, noticing the small details that no one sees but him. He loved his family.
"Those aren't easy to come by" – he said, clearing his throat trying to disguise the smile on his lips.
"I'm well aware" – Thomas said smiling.
"Are you going to sell the other?" – Killian asked with curiosity.
"I have a debt to pay" – Thomas said extending his arm to Killian and putting one of the beans on his hand. Before Killian could react the crewman spoke again – "You saved our lives and got us new boats, according to the pirate code this is the least I can do, besides you never know when you might need to use a magic bean" – he added.
"I'm not planning to go anywhere, mate" – Killian said, remembering once again that Storybrooke was his home – "But thank you"
A few hours later the men disappeared in the ocean. Killian stood at the docks, remembering the times he used to sail; the people he met during his trips; the places he saw; the food he tasted; the storms he fought; his time at the royal navy … Liam.
I hope you're proud of me, brother – Killian said to himself.
"Thinking about me?" – a voice startled him.
Killian immediately grabbed the gun that, like all the deputies and Emma, he used to carry with him.
"Leave" – he said through gritted teeth, turning his body to face her.
Milah ignored the gun that Killian was pointing at her and smiled.
"I was right, you're still a pirate after all" – she said.
"Everybody knows about your twisted plan so I suggest you leave Milah, now" – Killian said stiffly.
Milah seemed to be taken aback for a moment but she quickly disguised it with a neutral face.
Killian immediately realized that she wasn't counting that he would tell her plan to Rumpelstiltskin. That would definitely destroy the element of surprise and could also put at risk her plan.
"You told him?" – she asked in disbelief. Killian clenched his jaw – "How could you do that? That man destroyed our lives and now … now you two are friends?" – she exclaimed.
"We're not friends" – Killian immediately said.
"This is about his wife, isn't it?" – Milah asked, narrowing her eyes – "You warned him so he could protect her from me" – she stated, putting all the pieces together.
"This is about me trying to stop your madness" – Killian said, raising his voice – "You threatened people that I care about. You threatened my family!"
"You have to stop see me as the enemy! We're in this together, Killian!" – Milah exclaimed.
"We're not together!" – Killian said, grabbing her arms so he could put some reason in her – "I don't even know you anymore"
"But I know you …" – Milah softly said trying to touch his face.
Killian took a step back avoiding her touch.
"No you don't" – he said shaking his head – "because if you did you would know that I would never agree to this sick plan of yours"
Milah remained in silence for a few seconds, looking at Killian through narrowed eyes.
"You know, it's kind of ironic because this illusion that you have about this little life of yours is what will make you want to fulfill the prophecy …" – Milah said with a mischievous smile – "You may not see it now but I know that when the time comes you will be the one to want to crush the child's heart" – she explained before disappearing in a dark smoke.
Killian stood in silence looking at the place where Milah had been with a million questions in his mind. He could feel his hand trembling at the thought of crushing his child's heart. Fortunately the sound of his phone ringing erased Milah's voice from his mind.
"David" – Killian immediately said, trying to disguise the nervous of his voice.
"Killian, it's an emergency" – David said, making Killian's heart beat faster than ever. Milah – "Robin needs my help on some wedding arrangements; I hope he doesn't drag me to wherever he wants to go to pick the color of the towels" – the prince explained and Killian released the air he didn't know it was trapped in his lungs – "Anyway, Snow has some businesses to attend at school and Granny called saying that she has an appointment at the hospital so she can't take care of Neal … oh, and the Merry Men are with the flu so Roland can't stay with them" – Killian tried to speak but David continued to talk – "As you know Regina and Emma are shopping so…"
"You want me to take care of the lads" – Killian stated.
"Yeah, that was the idea" – David said.
"Alright, so where –"
"Robin is going to meet me at the loft with Roland in about five minutes so you better run, old man" – David interrupted Killian.
Killian rolled his eyes and bit his tongue, trying to ignore David's teasing.
"I'm on my way, Charming" – he said, emphasizing the word charming.
As soon as Killian entered in the loft Roland ran towards him and jumped into his arms.
"Can we play pirates today, uncle Killian?" – Roland asked with his big brown eyes shining.
"Play pirates?" – Robin asked confused, before Killian could answer the little boy.
"Uncle Killian and I stea-"
"No pirate games today, lad" – Killian said before Roland could finish his sentence and reveal to the family that he had taught a four years old boy how to steal a boat.
Robin raised one of his eyebrows but Killian ignored him.
"You have food in the fridge" – David said from the kitchen – "If he gets too grumpy give him a cup of milk and some cookies but not the full packet" – he explained, putting his son on the couch, then he kissed his forehead – "Have fun" – he added as he passed by Killian and opened the front door.
Killian was almost sure that he heard Robin asking David if he knew what playing pirates meant as he closed the door.
The pirate put Roland next to Neal and looked at the two boys sat on the couch.
"So what are we going to do today, lads?" – he asked smiling.
A few minutes later Killian was down on the ground attempting to imitate the two boys' sounds of cars at full speed. Each one of them had their own vehicles and was driving it under the dinner table and over the couch. Killian hit his head a few times on the dining table, making the boys laugh every time he cursed himself and said bloody hell.
After the car race it was painting time. Killian helped the boys choose the colors and prevented Neal from eating one of the markers. In the end the boys' hands and faces had more color than the paper sheets, so Killian decided that it was bath's time, otherwise Regina and Mary Margaret would kill him slowly as soon as they saw the ink on the boys' skin.
He was so focused on the two boys in the bathtub that he didn't even notice Emma leaning on the door frame of the bathroom. A small smile graced her lips as she watched Killian and the boys.
"Maybe we should teach Neal how to sail a boat too, uncle Killian" – Roland said as Killian washed his hair.
"You think so?" – Killian asked. Neal looked at the two of them for a second and then continued to play with the plastic boats that were floating on the water.
"Yeah, so he can play pirates with us" – Roland said, playing with a plastic submarine.
"I think you're right, lad" – Killian said – "We're going to drive David nuts" – he added.
"Can we make Will walk the plank?" – Roland asked, turning his attention to Killian again.
"Does he know how to swim?" – Killian said, trying not to laugh at Roland's idea.
"I don't know …" – Roland said after thinking about it for a few seconds.
"Maybe we should ask him first, you know … good form and all" – Killian suggested.
Roland was about to ask another question when he noticed Emma's presence.
"Aunt Emma!" – the boy exclaimed, making Killian turn his body so he could look at Emma.
He immediately noticed a sparkle in her eyes that made his heart beat a little harder against his ribcage.
"It's bad form to eavesdrop, Swan" – he said smiling.
"I didn't want to interrupt you and your plans to throw Will overboard" – Emma said.
"It was Roland's idea, not mine" – Killian said, winking at the boy.
"And he only has this kind of ideas because you taught him how to steal boats and –"
"Correction: I taught him how to sail a boat" – Killian interrupted Emma – "Wait, how do you know that the boy and I use to steal boats?"
"I might have seen you with Roland and Henry at the docks, once or twice, pretending to be the owners of all the boats of Storybrooke" – Emma said.
"That's bad form, Swan" – Killian said, pretending to be shocked.
"No" – Emma said approaching to the bathtub – "This is bad form" – she said before splashing water at Killian.
Neal and Roland started to laugh while Emma bit her lower lip trying not to laugh at Killian's shocked face.
Killian ran his hand through his damp hair and then looked at the woman next to him.
"Will is not going to be the only one to walk the plank, love" – he whispered with a hoarse voice, sending shivers down Emma's body – "Lads, I think a certain princess needs a bath too" – he said, turning his attention to the two boys.
As soon as Killian said those words Roland yelled attack! and started to throw water at Emma. Neal did the same wetting not only Emma but also Killian.
Regina and Robin were in the living room. They were sat on the couch reading some of Regina's spell books.
"Do you know what playing pirate means?" – Robin asked, closing the book he was reading.
"It means that Roland is spending too much time with Killian" – Regina said without taking her eyes from the book.
"It's okay to admit that you like him. Everybody knows that you like him" – Robin said making Regina narrow her eyes – "Operation The three musketeers kind of revealed the shocking truth that the two of you can be friends"
"It was a shock for me too" – she said after rolling her eyes. Robin gave her the just-admit-it look – "Okay, fine, I like him from time to time when he's not against my plans and ideas" – Regina admitted suddenly closing the book, making Robin smile – "And he's good with Henry and Roland (obviously) and with you" – she added – "But no more boat trips while crazy Megan is still around"
"You're worried about him, aren't you?" – Robin asked softly.
"I'm worried that he's going to do something stupid" – Regina said, running her fingers through her hair – "You saw the way he reacted when Emma was gone. Do you really think that he's not going to sacrifice himself if that means that Emma and the child live?"
"Hey, we're going to find a way to unlink him from Milah" – Robin said, holding Regina's hands.
"There isn't any unlinking spell, Robin" – Regina said, trying to hide the trembling in her voice – "We're looking for something that doesn't exist" – she exclaimed as she pointed at the books that were scattered on the couch.
"That doesn't mean that there isn't any other spell or another way to defeat her" – Robin insisted – "We're going to find a way, together. That woman is not going to succeed. I saw you defeating Zelena even when you didn't think you could, why would this time be different?"
Regina couldn't take her eyes from the beautiful man in front of her. Even when she didn't think he could have more faith in her he proved her wrong. Her heart started to beat faster. She still couldn't believe that someone could see her as a hero and especially as Regina, just Regina.
Sometimes she had to tell herself that she wasn't dreaming; that this was real; that Robin was real. He had given her so much: faith, happiness, love, family.
"I could marry you, right here and right now, do you know that?" – she said, cupping his face in her hands.
"No, no, no" – Robin said, rubbing his nose against hers in tender motion – "I've spent the afternoon searching for that towels that you asked for. I even dragged David with me for back up and he didn't stop complaining during the entire time that we were in the store"
"Did you find the green towels?" – Regina enthusiastically asked, smiling.
"Yes, the ones with the little red flowers" – Robin replied.
"Great!" – she said, giving him a quick kiss – "Now we have to pick the flowers and the music and –"
"Arrrrrggggghhhhh!" – Roland suddenly screamed just the way Killian had taught him, appearing in the living room.
"Shouldn't you be sleeping, little man?" – Robin asked as Roland climbed to the couch – "It's way past your bed time"
"Uncle Killian says that pirates don't have bed time" – Roland said smiling.
Regina and Robin looked at each other. Regina rolled her eyes and Robin shook his head.
Roland was spending too much time with Killian.
Emma watched Killian as he scratched another day off the calendar – the baby's calendar.
After knowing that Emma was pregnant, Killian had bought a calendar so he could count the days until the baby was born.
She loved that Killian knew that she was exactly thirteen weeks and four days pregnant. She couldn't help but smile at that little detail. He was always so supportive.
He really wanted this – she thought touching her stomach – He really wanted her; them.
She found herself moving forward until she was directly behind him, wrapping her arms around his shoulders, her head coming to rest in the crook of his neck.
"I had the strangest feeling I was being watched" – Killian teased – "Shouldn't you be in bed, Swan?"
"I thought pirates didn't have bed time" – she said as he turned his body to face her.
"Well, sometimes they do" – Killian said – "You should be in bed" – he insisted.
"And I was but I got tired of waiting for you" – Emma said, making Killian smile.
Before she could react, Killian put her arms around her and carried her bride style to their bedroom. He put Emma in their bed and then slid into bed as well.
Killian lifted his good arm in invitation and Emma immediately shifted closer to him. Her head was now rested against his shoulder as his arm came to rest at her waist. She grabbed his hand with hers and pulled it up higher until they both rested against the side of her abdomen.
Killian stood in silence, contemplating Emma's peaceful sleep and remembering his secret talk with David when he returned to the loft:
"Next time I stay with the boys and you go with Robin" – David said, sitting on the couch. Killian was in front of him with a serious look on his face – "What's wrong?" – he asked.
Killian hesitated for a second before answering:
"I need to talk to you" – he said, sitting next to his friend. David waited for Killian to continue – "You have to promise that this conversation doesn't leave this room" – he added quietly.
"Killian –"– David tried to protest before Killian interrupted him.
"You know I wouldn't ask you this if it wasn't important" – Killian said, looking at the kitchen, making sure that Emma wasn't listening – "I don't like to keep secrets from Emma but I don't have a choice. You have to promise me that you won't tell her anything"
David nodded and Killian took a deep breath before continuing.
"You're Emma's father. You would do anything to protect her right?" – Killian asked, already knowing the answer.
"Of course" – David immediately said.
"Milah is not going to give up from her plan which means that Emma and the baby will never be safe unless we find a way to stop her" – Killian explained.
"And we will. Emma and Regina are going to find a way to unlink you from her and then her threats will end" – David said – "She will no longer have the upper hand"
"David, there is no unlinking spell" – Killian said quietly – "I know that Emma has been searching for a way to unlink me from Milah but you heard Regina, there isn't any spell capable of doing that"
"What are you trying to say?" – David asked, fearing Killian's answer.
"I want you to promise me that you will do whatever its necessary to stop Milah from harming Emma and the baby" – Killian said, looking at David's eyes.
Suddenly, David realized the double meaning of Killian's words.
"Killian …" – he tried to say.
"It's the only way to stop her" – Killian interrupted him.
"Emma would never forgive me" – David said, trying to make Killian see that there had to be another way.
"And I will never forgive you if you don't do what I'm asking you to" – Killian said, running his fingers through his hair, trying to sound calm – "You have to promise me, David. Promise me that you will kill me if Milah tries to hurt them – if she tries to kill them" – he insisted – "I can't live a life without her, David … I can't live that life, I can't …"
David stood in silence looking at his friend, seeing the despair in Killian's eyes. He knew that Killian would gladly give his life to save Emma. He knew that Killian would gladly give his life to save his children and David could relate with that. He would gladly give his life to save Mary Margaret; to save Emma; to save Neal.
After a few seconds David nodded and Killian knew that the prince had agreed.
Killian's fingers were drawing patterns across Emma's belly while he dreamed about a world with no villains.
I started a prequel that explains Operation The Three Musketeers that Robin talked about. The story will be different from the show, since in my story, after Emma becomes the Dark One she will be gone a little longer and our heroes will have to figure it out a way to reach her, anyway, it will be a small fanfic showing the development of Killian's friendship with Regina and Robin.
I hope you liked this chapter and don't forget to check The Three Musketeers, it will be released soon! Love you guys! (:
PS: I changed the cover of this story!