Killian had told Emma that he was a patient man. For so many years, it had rung true. Now, it seemed his patience had reached its end.
rated T | 1,665 words
back from a bout of writer's block, i decided to dip my toe in the water with this small one-shot that had been swimming around my brain for quite some time. some captaincobraswan for you beautiful people. i hope you enjoy!
beta'd by the extraordinary @profdanglaisstuff *chef's kiss*
Killian had told Emma some years before that he was a patient man. A man willing to wait for her walled-up heart to open to his love. A man willing to wait for all of them to see the change in him. A man willing to wait for a spot in her heart and in her family. In a rushing world where everyone is eager to stretch her in every direction, having Killian's steadfast and calm love on her side was a relief.
However, for all his patience with her love, there was no ignoring the anxious and vibrant energy coming off him in waves ever since their conversation. Emma was glad he had no magic of his own for she was sure there would be mayhem in their cosy kitchen. For all his patience with her family, his pointed look as he handed her an extra mug of hot cocoa - with the obligatory whipped cream and cinnamon - was loud and clear. You'd think a man who waited centuries for his revenge and years for a second chance at love would be able to wait another week.
But she couldn't blame him, he was excited. And, under all her nerves, so was she. And he was right - not that she would admit it. It was Henry's last night with them. They wouldn't see him in the morning before school and he would spend the rest of the week at Regina's. It was now or never. Well, it was now or have to deal with Killian's impatience for another week.
With a roll of her eyes to hide her own anxiety, she made her way out of the kitchen side door.
The house Killian had chosen had a porch. It had seemed important then that they would have it - a place to relax, to look at the sky, to enjoy a hot cocoa in the evening. Henry had chosen the porch swing that David and Killian had spent a whole spring afternoon trying to assemble only for Emma and Snow to actually install it. It had amused her that even fairy tale men were too stubborn to ask for help.
Henry was also the one using it at that moment. He also enjoyed the calm seat to make use of the extensive library Killian had moved to the house. With a subtle deep breath, Emma put on her best smile, hoping to conceal her true intentions. She could feel Killian's eyes on her as she crossed towards the swing from the wide kitchen window. Soon though, as soon as she crossed it, it would just be her and Henry on the porch and Killian inside wishing for x-ray vision.
"Hey kid, thirsty?" Emma asked, taking a seat next to him and extending the steaming mug.
Henry's attention shifted from his book to her and from the initial smile at the offer, she could see his brow furrow as he seemed to take stock of her expression.
Damnit, she was surrounded by perceptive men.
"Please tell me no one is cursed…" Henry asked as he took the second cup from her hand.
"No, no, no one is cursed!" Emma quickly rushed to reassure him as she wrapped both her hands around the warm mug, for something to do with the nervous energy.
"You guys have been anxious all weekend and Killian has been doing the eyebrow thing so much, I think he might just pull a muscle."
Emma snorted in surprise even as she thought Henry might be right. Another reason for this conversation to happen now.
"Everything's alright, kid, great even." She took a steadying breath. "I just wanted to talk to you about something."
"Okay…" Henry dragged out the syllables as he put his book aside and turned fully to her.
"Well, Killian and I…Henry, you know I love you, right?" Henry nodded as his amused smile went unnoticed by his fumbling mother.
Perhaps she should have let Killian talk to Henry instead. She wasn't good at this.
"I love you and I always will, of course, and Killian and I… we, uh-"
"You want to have a baby."
For a second, Emma thought she had actually managed to say it until she realised she actually hadn't been making much sense. Henry had finished her thought. Her perceptive man.
Emma looked at Henry with wide eyes and mouth parted only to find him smiling knowingly at her.
"How-?"
"I'm 17, mom, I know what is supposed to happen." Henry rushed even as both mother and son felt their cheeks heating up. "I mean, you guys are married and you'll want to start a family together."
Emma put aside her still full mug to hold on to Henry's hand in a flash.
"Henry, you are my family, and Killian thinks the same." Her tone was strong, no margin for doubt, and Henry was filled with a wave of love so strong it feels like magic.
"I know, Mom." He squeezed her hand back.
"I'm not replacing you, you could never be replaced, I love you so much, I-"
Henry's other hand came up to hold Emma's hand as well and in the tiniest corner of her mind, she hoped he managed not to break the mug.
"I know, Mom," he repeated and when their eyes met, she saw his love clear as day. "You fought a dragon for me, you dragged our whole family to Neverland to find me." Emma smiled shyly as he related her heroic deeds with the wonder and awe in his voice that could only be rivalled by a certain anxious pirate. "I think your love for me is very clear."
Emma's vision was blurry and she realised she might be crying but she didn't care as she released his hands to cup his cheeks.
"I love you so much, Henry."
"I love you too, Mom."
Emma laughed shakily as she laid a reverent kiss on his forehead. Henry's hands held on to her wrists and she knew soon this easy affection would be less habitual but she'd hold on to it for as long as she could.
She'd hold on to the magic of this love for the rest of her life. Emma caressed his cheek as she looked at the boy that was no longer a boy, but still the boy who brought her to her family, to her own happy ending. To her happy beginning.
"But, hmm, are you pregnant now?" Henry asked after Emma finally let go of his face and they held hands for another silent second.
"No, no, not yet." Emma let out a chuckling breath as she brought her palm to her cheek to finally wipe the tear that had fallen. "Killian and I talked about this a couple of days ago but we wanted to talk to you first. Good form and all."
They both shared a quiet laugh at Emma's poor imitation of Killian's accent and she felt the air lighten around them.
"You didn't need to have worried so much, any kid will be welcome to join this crazy family of ours."
Emma's smile was watery again - she wondered if she'd cry this much when she was actually pregnant. "Come here, kid." She didn't wait before she pulled Henry to her arms for a tight hug.
She could hear Henry's chuckle against her neck even as he tightened the hug. "You guys are going to be great parents, you already are."
When they finally parted, Emma couldn't help herself from caressing his cheek once more. "Thank you, Henry."
And it felt like so much more than just simple gratitude, it felt like everything. Henry must have felt it too because his eyes sparkled in his next blink and his smile was beaming.
"I think we should go inside before Killian manages to actually burn a hole through the wall." Henry laughed before they picked up their, thankfully intact, mugs from the floor.
Emma's arm was around Henry's waist - his shoulder was already too high for her to reach - as they entered the kitchen. Killian, previously sitting at the table with the air of someone waiting on a sentence hearing, jumped out of the chair when the door opened.
"Lad." Emma noticed the strain in his voice and recognised that while she had been talking to her son, Killian had probably gone through a million scenarios in his head.
Before she could open her mouth to give him the good news, however, she heard Henry's even tone, his expression giving up nothing.
"Mom and I talked." Emma was sure Henry could also hear Killian's heart beating faster in his chest, could see the distressed look in his eyes. And Emma was also sure that was what made Henry give up his act so quickly. She saw his smile from her place on his side and she was sure she felt Killian's relieved breath through her body. "I think it's my duty to prevent Storybrooke's first baby-stealing pirate."
Killian joined their laughter with an embarrassed chuckle of his own. "I've been a lot of things but never a baby thief," He pointed out with a finger pointed at Henry. She's sure he meant for it to look threatening but his good spirits took any bite out of it.
"With the way you've been looking at all the Storybrooke babies, I have my doubts," Emma teased as she walked past Henry to hold on to Killian's hand.
"I've just been eager to start a family, that's all," Killian defended even as his eyes shone with love and the prospect of actually starting said family. "I mean, adding to this family," he quickly added, turning to Henry who simply smiled at the scene before him.
"I know," Henry reassured him as he approached them to give a playful slap on Killian's shoulder before resting his hand there. "At ease, Captain." Killian laughed with them. Henry's expression softened to something more solemn.
"You'll be a great father."