One of the best things about fandom is meeting genuinely cool people who you would never have otherwise encountered. The fantastic @distant-rose is one of those people. She's studying law and deserves nice things so I figured, why not give her some lawyer fic recs? It's not like she might be sick of all legal things after a hard day's studying.
I hope you like this my lovely!
Fics where legal matters are integral to the plot:
Guilty, Your Honor & The Laws of Attraction by @shipping-goggles
When The Tide Turns by @trueloveseyeroll
Legal Affairs by @startswithhope
A Family for Christmas by @the-captains-ayebrows
Fics where one of the pair just happens to be a lawyer:
Walking in a Straight Line by @msgenevieve447
With Affection & Give Me Love (Like Her) by @phiralovesloki
Summary: Emma Swan thought her life was complicated before him, but she didn't even know the half of it. Deputy Emma Swan finds her one night stand at the station the next day and doesn't quite know how to handle it. She's given an undercover assignment that doesn't make her life any easier.
AO3
FF
Chapter 14
Previously on It's Complicated...
"Miss Swan, I told you one day that I would need a favor. That day is today. You won't be testifying for the state, in fact I don't want you testifying at all. Now, you and your sheriff are very virtuous, so I suspect you will attempt to testify anyway. If you do I will expose you to the whole town. It's your choice dearie, but we had a deal," Gold says with a menacing stare and walks out of the station. All eyes turn to Emma.
"Emma, what did you do?" David asks, arms crossed.
-KEKE-
The whole room is silent, waiting for her answer. Killian's brow is furrowed, Mary Margaret looks concerned, and David looks upset.
"When I first moved here Ashley was still pregnant and I ran into her at the grocery store. She was holding a onesie in her hand and crying. I asked her what was wrong and she started talking about how she didn't want to give up her baby. So, I gave her a little pep talk and the next day she ran," Emma sighs.
"That day was your first day as deputy," David interjects and Emma nods.
"So Gold came in here saying that she broke their contract and we needed to find her. David sent me after her and when I found her she was in labor and had to go to the hospital. Gold showed up and I had promised Ashley that no one would take her baby away from her. That was the only way I could get her to the hospital. I asked Gold what it would take for Ashley to keep her baby and he said that he only asked for a favor in the future. At the time I had only been in town a week I had no idea what I was getting myself into. I didn't know who he was," she says.
"Swan, you did a good thing. You helped a mother keep her child," Killian says.
"I know that and I don't regret it at all, but now Gold wants his favor," she sighs.
"What are you going to do?" Mary Margaret asks her.
"I have to testify. I don't see another option," Emma says, looking between David and Killian.
"Well what do you think he'll reveal about you in court?" David asks.
"I have a pretty good idea, but I don't know."
"What do you think it is, love?" Killian asks concerned what Gold will do to ruin this case.
"He has to know about Arizona."
"What? That record is sealed, there's no way he can know," Mary Margaret says shocked.
"I wouldn't be so sure about that," David says, "This is Gold we're talking about. He always gets what he wants and I'm sure he had someone unseal the record for him."
"Then you can't testify," Mary Margaret says.
"No, she has to," Killian argues.
"If she does the whole town will know she's been to jail. It will be a scandal," David states. They all look at her.
"It looks like the three of you have decided my fate. I'm not needed here," Emma snaps and storms out of the room, slamming the door shut behind her. Killian runs out of her and finds her storming out of the front doors.
"Emma," he calls out after her and she ignores him, which shouldn't be at all surprising. He finally catches up with her. She's mad as hell and has every right to be. She just glares at him, but doesn't tell him to leave.
"Love, your fate is yours to decide. Your friends are concerned about you and your reputation in this town. They don't care about your past and neither do I. The people in this town, who love you won't care. We don't want you getting hurt," Killian tells her.
"I know, but I don't have a choice. There's no way I can't testify. This whole case is built around the undercover work I did. If I didn't this case would fall apart. I'm not letting Walsh get off that easy. He brought drugs to Storybrooke and did all these things right under my nose. I don't care what happens to me he deserves to go to jail," she states, the frustration evident in her voice.
"Whatever happens I'll be there," he says wrapping an arm around her, "You're freezing, we're going inside." She just follows his lead, glad she has someone in her corner. Once back inside David's office she glares at her two friends.
"Look, it's been a long night and we have a long road ahead of us, but I'm not willing to throw in the towel because of Gold. I'm going to testify whether you like it or not," Emma declares.
"Emma, I'm glad you are, but David beat you there. He just got through explaining why you had to testify, but that was a nice little speech you had there," her friend smiles at her. It's about the most infuriating thing she could do and Mary Margaret knows it.
"Good thing it's settled then." Emma shrugs, acting like it didn't matter. Mary Margaret just laughs at this and David shakes his head at the two of them.
"Everyone ready to call it a night?" Killian asks noticing Emma yawn and the group nods.
The next day Gold and Killian select a jury and give their opening remarks. Nothing remarkable happens and that worries Killian. He was expecting an uphill battle the whole trial and today was easy, too easy. He'll have to be ready for anything Gold throws at him in the upcoming days.
-KEKE-
That night Emma, Mary Margaret, and Ruby have a girls night. Something that was long overdue for the small group of friends.
"I still can't believe a quiet town like Storybrooke is having a trial about a drug ring or the fact that drugs were in Storybrooke," Ruby says shaking her head.
"None of us can," Mary Margaret agrees.
"I thought the biggest thing that would happen here is theft. Not anything like this," Emma adds on and her two friends nod.
"Enough with the doom gloom. Ruby, you said you wanted to tell us something," Mary Margaret prompts her.
"Oh it's nothing really. I'm seeing someone new," she tries to say nonchalantly and fails miserably.
"Who is he?" Emma asks.
"Not a he. I'm seeing a woman," Ruby admits. This information does shock her friends slightly. Ruby's been known to date men and women, but since Emma's known her she hasn't dated a women. Really it's been awhile since she dated anyone now that Emma thinks about it.
"Who is she?" Mary Margaret asks.
"Um Dorothy," Ruby says with a smile and blushing ever so slightly.
"That's amazing! Have you gone on a date yet?" Mary Margaret asks.
"More importantly did you have sex yet?" Emma asks winking.
"Hold in you guys don't seemed surprised it's her," Ruby says avoiding both questions.
"Oh come on," Emma comments.
"Honey, she was obviously into you from the moment that you two met. She didn't work hard to hide it," Mary Margaret observes.
"Yeah well I wish someone had something I had no idea," Ruby says flustered, which is something unseen in Ruby.
"How did you not know? Everyone in town knows she's in love with you," Emma teases her friend.
"You know what you and lover boy made eyes at each other for weeks, so I don't want to hear anything from you," Ruby teases her right back.
"I don't make eyes at anyone," Emma insists while rolling her eyes.
"If you say so," Ruby says and Mary Margaret glances at Emma suspiciously.
"You never said how it went with meeting his brother and sister in law," Mary Margaret comments.
"Oh it was fine. He was nice, it took him a minute to warm up to me, but his wife and I got along," Emma shrugs, trying to act like the fact that she didn't freak out about Killian's family wasn't a big deal or that she loves him. Her loving him is easy; the terrifying part is telling him that.
"There's something else," Ruby comments and when she sees Emma's confused expression continues on, "With family there's always something else. Don't say it's nothing, we know better"
"We were with his family and it felt right I wasn't scared. I didn't want to run. I think," she takes a deep breathe, "I'm in love with him." Her friends don't react for about a minute due to shock.
"You think?" Mary Margaret asks.
"I do love him, but it's never felt like this before. Certainly not with Walsh," she explains.
"Does he know?" Ruby asks and Emma shakes her head.
"When you're ready you'll tell him," Mary Margaret encourages her and the three friends continue eating dinner and sharing the town's latest gossip.
Later that night when Emma crawls into Killian's bed he wraps his arms around her tightly pulling her in close. He's deliciously warm while she's absolutely frozen.
"I didn't know I was dating a popsicle," he murmurs into her hair and she rolls her eyes.
"It's not my fault the heat in my car wasn't working," she states while trying to get warm.
"Swan, that's the second time this week that your death trap has done that," he retorts.
"It's fine; it simply has character," she mutters, while nuzzling her face into his chest.
"Emma, let me take it in. Maine is frigid to say the least this time of year. I worry about you," he states.
"Fine, but you have to stop calling it a death trap," she smiles, finally becoming warm.
"Alright, but you know I'll just come up with something else to call it," he smirks.
"Oh I'm counting on it," she sighs. He smiles and turns off the light, so they can go to bed; although his Swan is already half asleep. Just as he pulls her close once more he hears the faintest I love you leave her lips and his heart stops.
Once he feels her breathing become slow and steady he knows she's truly asleep and presses a kiss into her forehead.
"I love you too, Emma," he says to himself before falling asleep alongside her.
-KEKE-
The next morning Killian wakes before Emma does and hops into the shower. Clearly she doesn't remember saying I love you, she wouldn't have fallen asleep would she? No, it must've slipped out, but she had to have meant it, right? He can't bring it up unless she does. He's going to have to wait for her to come to him.
The bathroom door opens and Emma slips into the shower with him. Her hands wrapping around him from behind.
"Now, I'm definitely missing out on all the fun this morning all because you weren't going to wake me up," she sighs, her hands moving down to stroke his almost erect cock.
"Last time I woke you I remember getting quite the earful about needed more sleep," he groans under her touch.
"Last time was different," she smiles before getting down on her knees and taking his cock back into her mouth in one fluid motion, causing him to cry out.
"Bloody hell, Swan," he calls out leaning his head against the cool tile of the shower wall. Her head bobs up and down his cock and he's going to come if she doesn't stop whatever she's doing with that tongue of hers.
"Stop," he manages to get out. She releases his cock with a most delightful pop and smiles up at him.
"What? I thought you liked that?" she smirks, knowing how close he was to finishing. He pulls her up and without explanation turns her around and presses her against the shower wall. He slides two fingers into her delightfully wet pussy.
"Hmm Swan, you must love sucking my cock you're absolutely dripping wet," he says into her ear before taking his fingers out and tasting her.
"What are you going to do about that?" she challenges him. He growls and spreads her legs apart before slamming into her. She lets out the most satisfying moan, his name spilling from her lips. He thrusts in and out of her savoring every moment with her, making sure she's right on the edge before his hand moves to her clit, rubbing it just the way she likes. She's screaming his name now and it's something he could he hear all day if he had the choice. Her walls clench tight around him before he truly loses himself in her, his movements becoming more sloppy and hurried until he reaches his climax. His movements sops, but he holds her like that for just a moment. The only sound filling the room is their heavy breathing and the running water.
"Good morning," she says between breaths.
"Good morning to you too, love," he smiles before they untangle themselves and get ready for the day.
-KEKE-
After delivering opening statements in the trial today Killian has finally figured out what Gold's tactic for the trial is. He's going to paint Walsh as the victim of a manipulative girlfriend, who abuses her power as Deputy in a the small quiet town. He'll say that Walsh is the failure of a broken justice system. Gold will then destroy Emma's reputation in this town with her testimony, making the story he has created all the more believable. No one who knows Emma will believe it and they have some very damning evidence, nonetheless Killian has a lot of work to do, but he won't let Robert Gold win this case or try to destroy Emma.
I swore to myself that I would post this thing by the end of January and here it is with 6 minutes to go! This is at least partially unbeta-ed so please to forgive. I may go back and fix it later if need be.
This is the second part of my Gutter Flower Christmas gift to @shady-swan-jones. It does verge into M-ish territory, but Sophie, I must confess that it’s not as M as I told you earlier. I tamed it down a bit... Sorry?
Recap: Emma Swan and Killian Jones have a deal. She helps him find his half-brother, he helps her adopt her son. Her case is going great. His... not so much. Over late nights and Chinese take-out, their partnership has developed into friendship. Or could it be something more?
When we last saw Emma and Killian, Emma had just completed her home-study visit with Sister Blue from Henry’s orphanage, who (shocker) mistook Emma and Killian for a couple. There was hugging. There was almost a kiss? Maybe?
Catch up on AO3 here, or Tumblr here.
Re: Cause No. 2016-362-0815, “In the Interest of Henry Swan”
Dear Mr. Jones,
After review of the adoption request submitted by your client as well as the initial home study report by Sister Blue, it is our great pleasure to inform you that your client, Ms. Emma Swan has been approved…
Killian scanned through the rest of the email quickly, already buzzing with excitement on Emma’s behalf. She could meet Henry that very day. His first instinct was to call her immediately, but this news was far too important to give her over the phone. No, no. He would text her - some flimsy pretext to get her to his office - then he would tell her. Maybe make her squirm a bit first, let her pester him for information as to whether he’d heard back from the Sisters or some such thing. Her face when he finally told her would be well worth it. Yes, that was just what he would do.
-/-
“Okay, I’m here. So what’s with the cryptic text m-”
“You’ve been approved to meet Henry!”
Emma blinked once, twice, as Killian’s outburst began to sink in. Bloody hell, he’d practically shouted it at her. So much for making her squirm. Ah, well. He hadn’t counted on the way she’d look before he told her - the furrow of her brow, the way her body seemed to be tensed like a spring ready to snap.
Still, even that was better than the way she looked at him now. She stood stock still, eyes wide as saucers - clearly in a terrible shock - and Killian’s hand began drifting up to rub at the back of his neck, a stammered explanation on the tip of his tongue.
“I, ah - I mean to say the Sisters-”
“I get to see Henry?” Emma interrupted in a whisper almost as though afraid if she spoke too loudly this small victory would be taken away from her.
Killian couldn’t help the warmth in his gaze, nor the smile that spread across his face and grew broader as Emma’s own lips seemed to finally catch on and mirror his. “Aye, love. You get to see Henry.”
“I get to see Henry!” Suddenly Emma’s entire being changed from that of a stone statue to a confetti-filled balloon bursting in a flurry of joy all over his office.
Never in a thousand years would he ever have believed he’d see the day that Emma Swan bounced - literally bounced - around his office babbling like a brook, and yet here she was. He allowed himself to savor it, awash in amusement and amazement as he observed her, never interrupting except to give quick answers to her when’s, where’s and how’s. Storing the images up to warm himself on some lonely night in the near future when her case was complete and she wouldn’t need him anymore.
Not that he thought he’d never see her again when the case was over. They were friends (as he kept reminding himself over and over each time he felt the phantom of Emma’s embrace from the day before) and would remain such. Yet, he’d grown accustomed to her constant presence in his office and his life and surely that would taper off once she began caring full time for her son. Killian wasn’t jealous of the lad, not at all. It’s just that… well, he would miss her.
And so he watched her celebrate. Just a moment more. Just one last look at the way she glowed as she gestured wildly in her excitement, and then it was time to resume his role as her attorney. He walked around his desk to catch her by the upper arms, chuckling as she quivered in his grasp.
“Swan, there will still be more steps in the process after this. You’ll be limited to supervised visits at the group home before Henry can move in with you, and then there will be a second home visit either by one of the Sisters or a social worker after Henry’s been settled a couple of weeks. You’ll have to submit character references to the court and-”
“I don’t care!” She shook her head, still smiling bright as day. “Killian, I get to meet my son, and it’s all thanks to you and…”
She trailed off and Killian only had a fraction of a second to notice the way her eyes had drifted down to his mouth before she lunged forward and kissed him. It wasn’t a romantic kiss exactly, more like a protracted smack of lips. He didn’t really even have time for his brain to catch up and give him the wherewithal to kiss her back, but it was enough. He felt rather like a cartoon character who’s just been struck with a frying pan, his ears ringing with the sound of that same bell he’d heard the day he met her, but this time the chimes echoed the very thing that he’d tried not to think, tried not to admit to himself, but could no longer deny. He was in love with Emma Swan.
He didn’t have time to dwell on the realization, however. Some part of his mind registered as she pulled back that she looked for a moment nearly as stupefied as he felt, but then she swatted his arm, snapping him back to attention.
“Get your keys!” She shoved him lightly in the chest to encourage him to move.
“What?”
“So you can lock up. This could take - wait. You don’t have anything scheduled for the rest of the day, do you? Nevermind. I don’t care, just reschedule it. We’re going to meet my son!”
“We are?” He’d assumed Emma would want to go alone to meet Henry for the first time - it was such a pivotal and personal moment after all. Surely, she wouldn’t want him tagging along?
She strode past him toward the door, and turned back to stare at him as though he’d grown a second head. “Of course we are. Come on!”
He shook his head minutely, clearing out the last of the daze left behind by her kiss, then retrieved his keys as commanded. “As you wish, Swan. I’ll drive.”
-/-
Emma’s initial exuberance waned the longer they drove, giving way to agitation. She began with worrying her lower lip between her teeth, which admittedly Killian found a bit distracting for reasons completely unrelated to his concerns for her mental state. Next came the fidgeting: crossing and uncrossing her legs, a bouncing knee, a complete inability to keep her fingers off the radio buttons. By the time they reached the orphanage, her white-knuckled grip on the door handle indicated she’d reached a level of outright panic.
“Alright there, Swan?” Killian asked as he shifted the car into park.
She turned to him looking like the proverbial deer caught in headlights. “What if he hates me? I mean…” She inhaled deeply, flopping back against her seat and turning her face skyward. “What am I supposed tell him when he asks me why I gave him up? Why it took me so long to find him?”
Gingerly, giving her time to pull away if she wanted to, Killian reached out and took her hand. He waited until she met his eyes to speak. “Just tell him the truth. He’ll understand - in time if not right away.”
Emma started to turn away again, but Killian tugged gently on their joined hands to bring her attention back to him. “Emma, look at me.” She met his gaze, and he gave her what he hoped was an encouraging nod. “He’s going to love you.”
Emma still looked unconvinced, but she laced their fingers together and squeezed tightly. “Thank you.”
“You ready?”
Emma gave a tight lipped smile and determined nod. “Let’s go.”
-/-
The bloody chair in the bloody waiting room was uncomfortable as all hell, and how bloody long could it possibly take to go and find a ten year-old boy in a building this bloody small, and if Emma didn’t stop picking at her bloody fingernails she’d end up a bloody mess. Literally. Oh god, he was a nervous wreck on her behalf.
To be fair, it had truly only been about fifteen minutes since Sister Nova had greeted them at the door and showed them into this “introduction room” as she’d called it, but every second felt like an eternity. He wanted to hold Emma’s hand again, to offer her some measure of physical comfort, but it didn’t seem appropriate. He’d already given the Sisters the wrong impression once about his relationship with Emma. He blanched a bit, remembering how Sister Blue had looked at the two of them. She must’ve seen it, his feelings for Emma. Must’ve known what he himself hadn’t yet been able to put into words.
He looked over at Emma taking in the furrow of her brow, the way her eyes darted between the clock on the wall and her own twisting fingers in her lap. This was hardly the time for him to be thinking about his own feelings. Today was about her and her boy.
He stood abruptly, seeming to startle her to attention. “Swan, would you like me to-”
“Mom?”
The door swung open to reveal Sister Nova standing behind a young lad with dark brown eyes, a tousled mop of mousy hair and his mother’s chin. He didn’t move from the doorway at first, and Killian could see in his eyes that same wariness that Emma possessed, yet there was shade of difference. Where Emma often refused to believe that anything good could happen to her, as if that belief would make it easier for her happiness to be taken away, this boy wanted to believe. He practically vibrated with hope, and perhaps it was that bright energy radiating from him that finally prompted Emma to move.
She hesitantly rose from her seat, her eyes devouring every detail of the boy in front of her. “Hi,” she breathed out in a watery voice, raising one hand in an awkward attempt at a wave. “I’m - I’m Emma. I’m your-”
“Mom!” In a few surprisingly quick strides, Henry’s little legs carried him across the room, practically tackling Emma into a hug, one side of his face pressed against her stomach. “You found me! I knew you’d find me.”
After the first few seconds of shock, Emma leaned down and slowly wound her arms around the boy’s back. Killian felt the prick of moisture in the corners of his eyes as Emma looked at him over her son’s head, her expression equal parts awe and terror. She swallowed hard, and Killian felt a lump rise in his own throat as she mouthed her thanks to him before closing her eyes and resting her chin atop Henry’s hair.
“Yeah, kid,” she murmured. “I finally did.”
-/-
After the first couple of successful visits at the orphanage, the Sisters had finally permitted Emma to take Henry off campus for dinner. Emma had insisted that Killian come along, and Killian had insisted in return that she permit him to treat her and her son to Granny’s finest. It seemed only fitting that their first meal together should be at Emma’s favorite diner.
“I have to ask, kid - how did you know I would find you eventually?” Emma tried to cover her unease at her own question by taking a large bite of her grilled cheese.
Henry screwed up his face in thought. “It was hard sometimes, especially when other kids got adopted…”
Emma’s face crumpled and it was all Killian could do not to reach for her, but Henry continued, building momentum as he told his tale. “Then my teacher, Ms. Blanchard, she gave me this book. It was all fairytales, but not the usual ones. Anyway, there was this story in it about a princess who gets lost and doesn’t find her family again until she’s a grown-up, but she does find them, and I figured maybe that could happen to me someday. Like maybe it’s never too late to find your family. I just had to hold onto my esperance.”
“Esperance?” Emma asked bemusedly.
Henry ducked his head to the side, seeming to study his french fries intently as his cheeks pinkened. “It means ‘hope’. Ms. Blanchard - she has this Word of the Day calendar…”
Killian smiled, thinking to himself that he’d very much like to shake this Ms. Blanchard’s hand. “Ah! So you fancy elaborate words, do you lad?”
Henry perked up immediately at the acknowledgment, all traces of shyness gone. “Indubitably!” Henry glowed with pride at Emma and Killian’s matching grins. “That was one of my words from last week. I’m gonna be a writer!”
“And a fine one you’ll make I’m sure, if you’re anything as clever as your mum.” Killian spared a glance over at Emma who was making a token attempt at rolling her eyes at him, but her countenance held a softness that belied any real annoyance.
“But,” Killian continued with a solemn tone, “have you considered a career in the law? Noble calling, that. There’s a fair bit of writing involved, but you get to use many other skills as well. Oration, debate, strategy, showmanship…” He waggled his eyebrows dramatically at Emma who was again doing her level best to look unamused.
“Braggadocio.”
Killian’s mouth fell open, even as Emma very nearly choked on her hot chocolate. He turned to find Henry looking up at him with an eerily familiar expression of feigned innocence. The boy shrugged. “That was yesterday’s word. I just remembered it.”
Killian narrowed his eyes, taking the boy’s measure and smiled approvingly. “You’re cheeky as your mum, that’s for sure.”
-/-
All of Killian’s powers of persuasion could not convince Emma to let him pay for dinner, but she did finally relent enough to allow him to split the check with her. Letting the adults take care of such boring financial matters, Henry excused himself to go to the restroom, and Emma and Killian walked over to the front counter to wait for him. As soon as the lad was out of earshot, Emma crossed her arms and turned to Killian with a wry tilt to her lips.
“So what was all that about? Oration, strategy, showmanship-”
“Don't forget debate, love.”
“Oh right. I'm sure you're a master at debating, aren't you?”
Did she just? Killian raised an eyebrow. “It's going to be like that, is it? Very well, then.” He stepped closer to her, crowding her space and reached out to tug on the end of a golden tress. “I’d also like to point out since many legal terms are in either Latin or French, I'm quite cunning at linguistics as well.”
Emma raised an eyebrow of her own in disbelief, but didn’t move away. If anything it felt to Killian as though she swayed closer, and his pulse responded despite his better judgment. What were they playing at? Was she flirting with him? They’d never talked about the kiss. He’d written it off as a one-time thing, a side-effect of her excitement that day, but there was something about the way her lush, pink lips curved into a teasing smirk...
“You speak Latin? Seriously?”
“You’d be surprised what they teach you in law school.”
Emma shook her head, but her smile was warm - a fact of which he was keenly aware as he seemed unable to tear his eyes away from her lips. She uncrossed her arms and rested her hands on her hips, lowering her chin and her voice as she looked up at him through long eyelashes.
“Just who exactly do you think you’re trying to impress, Jones.”
“That all depends,” he replied, his voice a little throaty and rough, and he reached out to tuck a loose curl behind her ear, keen to feel those silken strands again. “On whom is it working?”
Oh god, she was so close now and she was looking up at him like she might - just might - feel as he did. When had the air between them grown so thick? He could could scarcely breathe.
“You guys ready?”
Killian and Emma startled backward away from each other and into awareness of their very public surroundings at the sound of Henry’s chirping voice and clomping steps moving in their direction. Emma recrossed her arms protectively over her chest as Killian reached up to scratch a phantom itch behind his ear, yet Henry prattled on, thoroughly oblivious to Killian’s internal tumult and whatever tension may or may not have existed between the adults.
“Cause I don’t have to be back for a little while longer and there’s this ice cream shop that we passed on the way here-”
“It’s literally freezing outside and you want ice cream?”
Henry fixed Emma with wide, pleading eyes, and Killian knew the lad had won the battle despite Emma’s protestations. “But mom,” he wheedled, “it’s never a bad time for rocky road. It has almonds and almonds have protein and protein is good for a growing kid.”
Henry looked over at Killian with raised eyebrows that asked ‘How’d I do?’ to which Killian responded with a surreptitious thumbs up behind Emma’s back. “He makes a compelling argument, Swan.”
Emma glared at Killian out of the corner of her eye. “Don’t you start.” She leaned down with a resigned sigh and tugged Henry’s woolen hat down over his ears. “Okay, kid. Rocky road it is.” She straightened and began to walk toward the door, bumping Killian’s shoulder with hers as she passed. “You’re buying, Jones.”
-/-
Once Henry was safely back in the care of the Sisters, Emma returned to her lovingly dilapidated yellow Beetle where Killian waited in the passenger seat. Her door closed with a heavy thud, the engine spluttered to life, and soon they were rumbling along the two-lane road through the wooded acreage surrounding the convent and children’s home. Night had fallen hours ago, the only light that which shone from the Beetle’s headlamps and the stars above them, but it was a peaceful darkness, and a companionable silence stretched between the two of them as they drove.
Still, a thought niggled at the back of Killian’s mind, and as they merged onto the brightly lit highway that would take them back to his office, he could hold his question in no longer.
“Swan, please don’t think I’m complaining, quite the opposite in fact, but I must ask - why do you keep including me in all of your meetings with Henry?” In the sharp halogen glare of the street lights, Killian could see the way Emma blanched, her grip tightening on the steering wheel. He knew he was entering dangerous waters, but he pressed on. “Are you afraid to be alone together?”
If Emma had appeared tense before, she now seemed utterly alarmed despite her effort to sound casual. “What? No. Wha - why would you think that?”
Killian placed his hand over hers on the gearshift, caressing the fine bones of her wrist with the pad of his thumb in what he hoped was a soothing gesture. “It would be completely understandable, love. I can only imagine how overwhelming it must be adjusting to new motherhood, and it’s all happening rather quickly. Most women get nine months to come to terms with it, aye? You’ve scarcely had more than two. I’m happy to keep acting as a buffer, but you must see how well Henry’s taken to you. I’m certain the two of you will get on swimmingly on your own.”
“Oh you meant- Oh.” Emma’s shoulders relaxed somewhat, and she quickly cast a glance down to their joined hands as she seemed to process his words. “Yes. Well? I mean sort of, but not-” She huffed out breath. “Lemme start over. Yes, it is overwhelming and scary and really, really wonderful. And yes, at first I seriously needed you there for moral support, but now…” She paused, chewing on her lip as if deciding how much she wanted to say. “Henry - he seems to really like you and it’s just kind of nice, I guess. Having a friend to share this whole life changing experience with.”
Killian let his hand drop back to his side, but managed to maintain his smile even as a single word reverberated deafeningly in the quiet between them. Friend, friend, friend… “In that case, I’m honored.”
“There’s another thing, though. I know I haven’t been around the office much this week, and with Henry moving in this weekend-”
“He’s moving in this weekend? That’s wonderful, Swan. Will you be needing any assistance in retrieving his things?”
“Yeah, the Sisters just told me tonight when I dropped him off. But no, he doesn’t have much stuff. You know how it is…”
Killian heard again the echo of the lost little girl in her voice, and it stirred to wakefulness the lost boy in his heart. Aye, he knew. It was only his distraction at her good news that made him forget for a moment. Of course Henry wouldn’t have much in the way of worldly possessions. The lost tend to travel light.
“But what I was getting at is that I didn’t want you to think that…” Emma cleared her throat. “I, um I - I haven’t forgotten you know. About your brother. I’m still working on your case, it’s just been kind of busy with Henry this past week. I can be at your office first thing tomorrow-”
Killian had known this was coming, had been preparing himself for it, but he hadn’t found the right time to talk to her about it. Since the day they’d found the death certificate for Liam’s mother, he’d decided that they should call off the search for his brother. He didn’t doubt Emma’s tenacity - if anyone could succeed in finding him it was her - but why should she continue at this sisyphean task when she had her child to care for and her own business to run.
He waved her off. “Swan, it’s fine. I know you’ve more important things to attend to right now than running down a dead end street on my behalf.”
“No!” She seemed a bit startled at her own vehemence. “No, this was supposed to be a reciprocal arrangement and-”
“Right. Our business arrangement.” Killian felt as though he’d been doused in ice water, and he couldn’t help it if some of that chill creeped into his tone. “Don’t worry, love. You’ve gone above and beyond the work I asked you to do. We’re square.”
“No, that’s…” She tentatively sought out his hand again and - meeting no resistance from him - laced their fingers together. “Killian, that’s not what I meant. I want to do this for you. You’ve stood by me, you’ve supported me, you’ve given me my family - everything I never thought I could have. And I am going to find your brother because you deserve to have that, too.”
Killian swallowed back the words that were threatening to pour out of him, words he was certain she wouldn’t want to hear. That what he’d done was nothing compared to the light that she, and now Henry as well, had brought back into his life. That it didn’t matter to him anymore whether they found this person with whom he only might have a blood tie, because for the first time since his older brother’s passing, he no longer felt alone in the world. That she was enough and her friendship was more than he deserved. That he loved her.
No. Tonight was not a night for hopeless confessions. Instead, he squeezed her hand and cocked an eyebrow at her. “Swan, I’m a rake and a scoundrel and a bloody divorce lawyer. May the gods help me if I ever get what I deserve.”
Emma snorted a laugh and rolled her eyes, just as he’d hoped she would. “You’re impossible.”
He grinned cheekily at her. “Aye, but I’m devilishly handsome as well, so I expect it balances out.”
-/-
True to her word, Emma resumed her commandeering of Killian’s office, though with less frequency than had been her habit heretofore. When she came by in the evenings, Henry came with her. Soon enough, the lad had claimed his own piece of real estate on Killian’s desk where he could do his homework, and an order of chicken fried rice with an extra egg roll had been added to their “usual” at The Dragon’s Temple. The three of them made an oddly domestic picture despite the professional setting. Perhaps a bit too domestic, in fact, if Tink’s teasing comments about ‘the wife and kid’ were anything to go by.
Emma was determined to give Henry every cheesy holiday cliche for their first Christmas together, and more often than not, Killian got pulled right into the thick of it with them. There was the photo with Santa (“She knows I don’t still believe in Santa Claus, right?” “Best humor your mother, lad.”), shopping for a Christmas tree (“Jones, you know an eight foot tree won’t fit in my apartment and I swear if the two of you don’t stop with the puppy eyes, I’m gonna tie YOU to the top of the car.”), decorating said tree (“See mom? Mr. Jones was right. This was DEFINITELY the perfect tree.” “Yeah, you’re right, kid. But he can be the one to risk his neck putting the star on top.”), and, of course, the sacred ritual of watching sappy Christmas movies (“So you DO have an apartment. Nice couch, Jones.” “Swan, you don’t get to call dibs on the furniture in my home.” “You move your feet, you lose your seat.”).
Though he cherished the time spent with Emma and Henry, it filled Killian with a certain longing. Watching Emma and her son bond together into a little family of two rekindled his desire for a family to call his own. Maybe it was Henry’s eternal ‘esperance’ or Emma’s determination, but for all that he had tried, Killian couldn’t quite snuff the tiny remaining spark of hope that his half-brother would be found. While he was grateful to have the Swans in his life - truly they were a blessing he had never expected - he was an outsider. A friend of the family.
A friend they currently seemed determined to murder.
“No. Absolutely not. Water is meant to be a liquid. To be sailed across in a mighty vessel. It is not for man to unnaturally freeze a bloody pool of it and then strap slivers of metal to his feet to attempt to walk upon the surface. I believe the very man whose birth this season celebrates would resent the presumptuous attempt by mere mortals to imitate-”
“Oh, calm down with the closing arguments, counselor. It’s just ice skating.”
“Come on, Mr. Jones. Please?”
“Henry, I thought we had a gentlemen’s agreement that the puppy eyes were only to be used on your mother.”
Killian regretted the comment immediately because no sooner were the words out of his mouth than he found himself caught by not one but two pairs of plaintive eyes. He felt his resolve crumble to dust right along side his sense of self-preservation.
“Fine, but if I lose a limb…”
Emma smirked in victory. “Then your blood will be on our hands for all eternity. I can live with that. Let’s go!”
-/-
Skating with the Swans proved to be better than Killian expected. They’d been at it for nearly an hour with no death or dismemberment as of yet, though not completely without mishap. It had taken him a bit to get his sea legs, so to speak, and in the interim he’d discovered exactly how unforgiving a landing spot ice could be. It had all been worth the literal pain in his arse and injured dignity to witness Emma and Henry’s laughter and easy smiles, all set to the tune of cheerful holiday music drifting down from the rink’s tinny outdoor speakers.
“Just one more lap. Please?”
“Lad, I don’t think I have it in me. My legs are starting to burn.”
Emma scoffed. “What are you - like, three hundred?”
“And yet I’ve retained my youthful glow. Swan, how are you not exhausted?”
Emma placed a hand on one hip, gesturing downward with the other as a smug grin tilted her lips. “Chasing down bad guys keeps the legs in shape.”
Killian cocked his head, admiring the legs in question. “I can hardly argue with that, love.”
She snickered at the attempted charm, but Henry was undeterred.
“Come on, Mr. Jones. We’ll pull you!”
“Excuse me?”
“Here. Like this.” At that, Henry placed his mittened hand in Killian’s. “Mom, you get the other side.”
Emma hesitated for only a moment, a strangely guarded expression on her face. She blinked and it was gone, replaced by a small smile and a nod at Henry as she linked hands with Killian. Though her fingers felt like icicles against his palm, an undeniable warmth spread through him at the contact. He felt a grin turn up the corners of his mouth and readjusted his grip on Emma and Henry, giving each of their hands a squeeze.
Emma looked up at him. “You ready?”
“As I’ll ever be, I’d wager.”
“Try something new, Jones. It’s called trust.” She grinned mischievously at Killian, then leaned around him to get Henry’s attention. “Alright, kid. 1-2-3 go!”
As they pushed off, dragging Killian slightly behind them, Emma turned her head and caught Killian’s eye.
“Hold on tight!”
He found at that moment there was nothing in the world he wanted more.
That is... until a few minutes later when they crashed breathlessly into the guardrail near the gate.
“That was bloody terrifying. The pair of you are menaces and should be arrested for reckless endangerment.”
Emma laughed wholeheartedly, a wonderfully undignified sound accompanied by a scrunched nose and awkward doubling over that Killian thought was perhaps the most beautiful thing he’d ever seen.
“Would a little hot chocolate make it better?” she asked, a teasing lilt to her voice.
Killian scowled but allowed himself to be led in the direction of the snack bar. “I’d prefer a large glass of rum, but I suppose given the present underage company hot chocolate will suffice.”
He paused at the benches and gestured to their skates. “Let’s get these bloody death traps off our feet though first, yeah?”
The three of them sat down and Killian assisted Henry in removing his skates before attending to his own. The lad scampered off presumably to return the skates to the rental counter, so it came as a surprise to hear his voice coming from a different direction.
“Hey guys, over here.” Emma and Killian raised their eyes to find Henry standing next to a weatherbeaten photo booth. “Can we take some pictures, mom?”
Emma agreed, and once their skates had been returned, their original mission for hot chocolate was forgotten in favor of a spirited argument over who could make the silliest face for the camera. Even before the first flash had gone off, they were jostling and prodding each other, all vying for a better spot in front of the lens and trying to make the others laugh. One flash followed by some shuffling around, then another, then another, and by the fourth flash, Emma was sitting on Killian’s lap with his hand gripping her waist. He wasn’t quite sure how they’d gotten that way, but in the seconds before the final flash their eyes met and time seemed to stop.
Their contorted expressions fell away, leaving behind only soft smiles and for the space of a heartbeat, Killian was lost in the deep green of her eyes which seemed to shine with something he was too afraid to hope for. Another blinding flash and whatever he had seen was gone, leaving the two of them to the inelegant process of disentangling themselves after Henry hopped down from his place in front of them.
Henry fidgeted while the printer whirred, and Emma apparently became deeply interested in straightening the hem of her sweater. Just as Killian was about to step outside the cramped booth, the machine spit out their photo strips and Henry snatched them up, handing one each to Emma and Killian, looking between the two adults and then, strangely, above their heads.
“Osculation.” Henry pronounced.
“Beg your pardon, lad?”
“It means kissing,” Henry said as if it should be perfectly obvious. “Are you guys gonna kiss now?”
“Why-” Emma cleared her throat and tucked a strand of hair behind her ear, the stiffness of the motion belying her casual tone. “Why would we do that?”
Henry pointed toward the ceiling of the booth, where yes, in fact, of all bloody things, hung a single sprig of mistletoe. Killian’s mouth went dry and though Emma’s entire face turned red (a fact he’d have to analyze later), she seemed to recover her wits first.
“Looks like you’re the one under the mistletoe, kid,” she replied and leaned over to press a quick kiss to Henry’s forehead, tousling his hair for good measure before quickly squeezing her way out of the booth.
Henry trailed behind her with an indignantly drawn out ‘moooooom’, and Killian finally followed, thankful that neither of the Swans could see his face. More specifically, the way he couldn’t tear his eyes away from that final photo.
Henry appeared in the foreground, a finger hooked in each cheek and his tongue sticking out, but in the background, well… There’s a word for the way Killian was gazing at Emma in that picture and the word was besotted. Funny thing was, the camera had captured Emma looking at Killian exactly the same way.
-/-
“All rise.”
At the sound of the bailiff’s voice, Killian felt a surge of adrenaline flood his system. This was it, the moment they’d been working toward for months. He stood slowly and with as much dignity as he could muster considering he felt as though he was about to burst out of his skin.
“December 23, 2016. The Court will begin its docket.” Judge Merlin straightened the stack of papers in front of him and opened the top case file. “Calling cause number 2016-362-0815, ‘In the Interest of Henry Swan’. Are all parties present and ready to proceed?”
“Petitioner is here and ready, Your Honor.” He allowed himself a moment of pride at the steadiness of his own voice, his years in practice having taught him to project composure no matter the state of nerves.
Another voice sounded from across the aisle. “Sister Blue of the Second Star Children’s Home here and ready, Your Honor.”
“You may be seated.” The judge paused a few seconds until the sounds of shuffling feet and creaking chairs had subsided. “Let the record reflect that I, the presiding Judge of this Court, have read and familiarized myself with the contents of Sister Blue’s reports, both prior to and post-placement, as well as the Petitioner’s affidavit, criminal background results and letters of recommendation. Such documents are hereby admitted as evidence in this cause. Sister Blue, is there any relevant information that you wish to add to your formal report at this time?”
Killian felt Emma tense beside him as the Sister stood to address the judge again.
“No, Your Honor. I stand by my conclusions.”
That was good. Killian had read the reports and they’d all been very much in Emma’s favor. Still, she grasped his wrist underneath the counsel table, a slight tremor in her hand.
“Very well. Mr. Jones, you and your client please approach the bench. Bring Henry up here with you, too.”
Emma’s grip on his wrist tightened to bone-crushing. He turned to her and ducked his head until she met his eyes, giving her his most encouraging smile. After a breath, she finally nodded, released her death-grip on him and stood. Together, Killian, Emma and Henry moved to stand before the judge’s bench.
Judge Merlin closed the file folder and fixed his steady gaze on Emma. “Ms. Swan?”
“Yes, Your Honor?”
“This isn’t like a wedding. There are no official vows or ceremony for an adoption, but since this is probably the happiest kind of case that I ever get to handle in family court, I’m going take a moment to make a little speech. Now I understand that this case is special in that you are not only Henry’s prospective adoptive mother, you are also his biological mother as well. Is that right?”
“Yes, Your Honor.”
“Parenthood is a magical thing, Ms. Swan. It supersedes definitions of blood or law, and in its best form drives you to do whatever it takes to give your child his or her best chance. That is, to act in the child’s best interest. Biology can make you a mother, this gavel here in my hand can make you the legal custodian of a child, but only love can make you a mom. Do you love Henry, Ms. Swan? Do you want to be his mom?”
Emma gave a shaky exhale and swiped discreetly under her eye, then squared her shoulders and answered resolutely. “I do, Your Honor. More than I ever thought possible.”
Judge Merlin smiled and turned his attention to Henry. “How about you, young man. Do you love Ms. Swan? Do you want her to be your mom?”
Henry beamed. “Yes! I mean - yes, Your Honor, sir.”
The judge nodded in approval and focused back on Emma once more. “Then the Court finds that the petition of Emma Swan for the legal adoption of the child Henry Swan is in the best interest of said child, and such petition is hereby granted. Mr. Jones, please take the Court’s file downstairs to the clerk’s office to get your official copies of the Order. You are all dismissed, and if I may, I’d like to wish a very merry Christmas to the Swan family.”
With a wink of the judge’s eye and a rap of his gavel, it was finished. Henry practically lept into Emma’s arms, squeezing tight as she rested her tear-streaked cheek on top of his head. Killian strode across the aisle to shake Sister Blue’s hand in thanks, giving the new little family a moment of relative privacy. Soon, the bailiff was calling the next case and Killian had to usher them out to the hallway with Emma’s arm wrapped across Henry’s shoulders trapping him to her side.
Outside the decorum of the courtroom, there was more hugging, of course. Henry and Emma both hugged Sister Blue as she took her leave. Henry hugged Killian who couldn’t resist hoisting the laughing boy and swinging him around in a circle. As he set the lad’s feet back to earth, a soft voice caught his attention.
“My turn?”
There was a teasing curl to Emma’s lips, but as Killian took her in his arms (because of bloody course it was her turn - it would always be her turn), she seemed to melt into him as though she’d been holding her breath for the last three months and was finally able to let it out, to let go of everything. Her arms fit perfectly around his ribs, her head at the exact right level to tuck beneath his jaw, and he wanted nothing more than to stay there, to close his eyes and breath her in and linger in this moment. Yet, it wasn’t his moment, it was theirs, so he swallowed hard and unwrapped one arm from Emma’s shoulders using it to gesture to Henry.
“Come on, lad. Group hug, aye?”
Somehow, though, as he pulled Henry to his side, the three of them forming a small circle of arms and smiles, the moment managed to congeal into something better. Something complete.
A heartbeat passed, then two, then three before the spell was finally broken by a loud gurgling rumble from Henry’s stomach.
“Whoa!” Emma pulled back and ruffled Henry’s hair. “I guess I better feed this guy. We were both too nervous to eat this morning. Breakfast seems like a good first official act of motherhood, right? Then we need to go pick up some groceries and finishing wrapping presents so we can spend all day tomorrow cooking.”
That got Killian’s attention. “You’re cooking? All day?”
“Don’t act so shocked. Just because I don’t cook doesn’t mean that I can’t.”
Henry tugged on Killian’s coat sleeve. “You’re coming over for Christmas Eve dinner tomorrow, right Mr. Jones?”
“I’m not your mum’s attorney any more, so ‘Killian’ will do. But, as loathe as I am to miss a chance to sample your mother’s culinary prowess, I haven’t actually been invited.”
In a flash, Henry rounded on Emma, lower lip protruding and eyes wide. “Mom, can Killian come over for Christmas Eve dinner?”
Killian chuckled to himself and as subtly as possible extended his fist to bump the boy’s knuckles, muttering ‘well played, lad’ under his breath.
Emma crossed her arms and cocked her head to the side. “Well, I was going to invite him, but now I’m not so sure. I think you two are bad influences on each other.”
As man and boy only grinned unabashedly at her, she looked heavenward and shook her head, a small smile of her own tickling at the corners of her mouth. “My place at 7:00.”
-/-
Turkey and all the trimmings followed by a highly competitive round of Mario Kart (“Bloody hell, Swan, you can’t just throw an elbow like that. Bad form!) combined with the excitement of the past couple of days and promise of Christmas on the morrow, soon had Henry dozing off in Emma’s arm chair, his soft snores barely audible as strains of a musical number from White Christmas played in the background. Emma smiled at her son over the top of her mug of hot chocolate, sighing wistfully as she set the mug down and moved to rouse him.
She managed bring him to just enough of a state of consciousness for her to walk the bleary-eyed boy to his room mumbling something that may have been ‘Merry Christmas.’ A few minutes later Emma reemerged to resume her cocoa and her place on the sofa next to Killian.
“He basically face-planted onto the bed. I did manage to wrestle his shoes off and throw a blanket over him at least. I’ll get better at this mom stuff eventually.” She huffed a self-deprecating laugh.
Killian tried to reassure her that she was doing a fine job, but Emma only hummed in response, her pensive expression half-hidden by her mug as she took a long sip.
They settled into silence and watched the movie for a bit, though Killian found himself distracted by the way Emma seemed to be incrementally scooting closer to him. By the time the couple on-screen had been maneuvered by their friends into a late night tete-a-tete, Emma’s thigh was pressed flush against his, her shoulder leaning into his arm. One old-fashioned fake yawn from him and they’d be properly snuggling. As much as he wanted to make the move, he sensed an uneasiness about Emma that made him worry.
“Everything alright, Swan?”
“It’s…” she sighed, setting her mug on the coffee table. “It’s been a day. This has all been such an emotional ride and now that it’s over, I’m kind of having a hard time winding down from it. It's like I've been dreaming about this future and it's finally here and it's real and it's starting right now. It's a lot to process. Does that make sense?”
Killian turned fully toward her, his expression soft. “Well, I suppose you could do as the song Mr. Crosby just sang suggests and count your blessings to help you sleep.”
Emma laughed lightly. “Well, I’ve got one big 10 year-old ball of blessing passed out down the hall.”
Killian smiled in return. “Aye, he’s a remarkable lad. What was it he said at Granny’s that first trip?
“That it’s never the wrong time for rocky road?”
“That it’s never too late to find your family. I count it as a blessing that I was able to have a small part in helping the two of you find each other.”
“It's not too late for you either, you know. We’ll put our two ‘bloody brilliant’ minds together and come up with something.”
She chucked him on the shoulder good-naturedly and while her failed imitation of his accent was amusing, Killian wasn’t quite ready to lighten the mood. He’d held his tongue, kept his feelings to himself for as long as he could, but tonight… Now that her case was over and Emma was about to embark on her happily ever after with her son, it somehow felt like his last chance.
“Emma, I…”
“What? I thought we agreed there was no giving up?” She shifted away from him and her back went stiff - sure signs she was readying herself to raise her guard again, and he cursed himself for putting that edge of worry in her eyes.
“It isn't that. It's…” He took a deep breath and steeled himself to lay his heart at her feet, not knowing whether his confession would make things worse or infinitely better. “I lost my mother when I was too young to remember much, and then my father was barely around and finally he left as well. But it was alright because I had Liam - my Liam - and he was everything to me. Brother, Father, bossy mother hen.” Killian smiled sadly at the memory.
“When he passed, I resigned myself to the idea that I would always be alone. That’s how I was meant to be, and that was alright, too. Look out for yourself and you never get hurt, aye? And for a long time it worked quite well for me. Until one day it didn't.”
Emma had gone completely still, her gaze focused downward at her hands in her lap, but she wasn’t running away. Not yet, at least. He took both her hands in his, gently caressing her palms with his thumbs, and she finally looked up at him. Her eyes were wide and almost disbelieving, but they held the tiniest hint of a spark and it was enough to give him the courage to continue.
“One day this blond tornado blew into my office and turned my world upside down. And then I got to know her and her lovely son, and suddenly I… I don't feel alone anymore. I suppose what I'm trying to say is that while it would still mean the world to me to find my half-brother, I no longer feel the same sense of urgency about it. You and Henry have given me the chance to be a part of something good, and I didn't think I'd ever be capable of that again. That is, until I met you.”
Never taking his eyes off hers, Killian lifted Emma’s hand and brushed a chaste kiss to the inside of her wrist. She blinked rapidly, the delicate lines of her throat shifting as she swallowed and he feared he’d gone too far. He hadn’t meant to push her, only to thank her. He released her hands, letting them settle back into her lap.
“Emma, I want you to know that I’m not saying any of this because I expect something from you. Your friendship is priceless to me and I would be honored to continue as your friend, just as it has been an honor to have you as my client-”
“I'm not your client anymore.” The words tumbled from Emma’s lips as though she didn’t quite realize she’d said them, and she immediately clapped a hand to her mouth.
Killian felt as though his heart were being crushed by an invisible hand. He let his head drop forward, scratching roughly at the back of his neck, and moved to stand, but the sudden grasp of Emma’s hand on his arm stilled him.
“Wait! Sorry that was the wrong place to start.” She let go of his arm to scrub her hand down her face. “I really suck at this.”
“Emma, it's alright. You don't have to-”
“I meant to say that…” She exhaled heavily and Killian forced himself to meet her eyes. “I'm not your client anymore, so it'd be okay if we were maybe more than that. If you want to.” Her smile was nervous but hopeful, a tenuous little thing that blossomed into its full beauty as Killian felt his own features mirror hers. “Because if I'm really counting my blessings here, I'd definitely count you.”
“And I, you.”
Killian sighed happily, finally wrapping his arm around her shoulders and pulling her into his side as he’d wanted to do - had that only been minutes ago?
Emma chuckled as she nestled her head against his chest. “Took you long enough. I’ve been hinting since we started the movie.” Killian could feel the smile in her voice when she spoke next. “So this is okay?” She walked her fingers across his stomach to wrap her arm around his waist.
“Aye, but be gentle with me, Swan. I must admit I’m a bit ticklish.”
“You realize I’m gonna hold that against you later.”
“Darling, you can hold anything you want against me right now.”
He felt her shift against him and she raised her chin to look at him, a wicked gleam in her eyes that had his blood pounding in his ears. “Oh yeah?”
“Mm-hmm.” Well that was articulate, but at least he managed what he hoped was a seductive smirk.
She twisted her body toward him, draping a leg over his knee and slowly glided her hands up his chest to toy with the collar of his shirt. “How about this, then?”
The warmth of her breath tickled his lips, as Killian’s own became shallow and quick, and the only coherent thought his addled brain would form was that she was clearly trying to kill him and he couldn’t think of a better way to go. All he could see was the soft curve of her lips, the way her tongue darted out to trace the lower one. Only aware of the flickering heat that radiated from each point of contact between their bodies. His blood had all fled southward, robbing him of his usually quite proficient powers of speech. He must have made some sort of grunting noise of approval because Emma tugged on his collar pulling him ever closer until the tip of her nose traced along the edge of his.
“And this?” Her words were nothing more than a flutter of butterfly wings against his lips, before she threaded her fingers into his hair and kissed him.
Heaven. He’d never considered himself a religious person before, but surely this must be what heaven felt like. Gentle and warm, light-headed and nearly giddy with happiness. Like he was a new man, and yet more himself than he’d ever been. Even his own arms felt stronger, more sure with Emma wrapped inside them. For several heartbeats he remained still, content with the simple pleasure of their lips finally meeting. Sweet, far sweeter than even his imaginings, and when he did move his lips against hers, it was careful, reverent almost.
Ah, but his Swan was as much a siren as an angel. He broke the kiss, opening his eyes and pulling back only enough to see her face to make sure she felt as he did. It only took a second for him to note her lust darkened eyes and the way her teeth sank into her lip before he pounced.
God he loved her. He loved the warm press of her body as he scooped her up and settled her in his lap. The way they fit together perfectly. He loved the way she smiled against his lips before hungrily devouring him, her tongue seeking his then coyly slipping away to make him chase her. But chase her he would, the bloody minx, because he couldn’t get enough.
She leaned back, pulling him down on top of her, but with the way they’d been sitting the angle was all wrong. He landed with his face between her breasts, not that he minded in the slightest, but he wasn’t quite done plundering her mouth yet, and so he stood to get into a better position as Emma scooted backward to rest her head on a throw pillow against the arm of the couch. She dropped one foot to the floor, hitching her other knee up, and he found himself completely arrested by the sight spread before him. She was an absolute vision, her tangled blonde hair spilling over the arm of the couch, eyes sparkling and crinkling at the corners as she smiled at him with kiss-reddened lips. Those three important words that he hadn’t yet said to her tingled at the tip of his tongue, but he still didn’t know if she was ready to hear them. He already couldn’t believe the way the fates or the heavens had smiled on him this evening and he didn’t want to strain his luck.
He must’ve paused for too long because her smile faded slightly and she looked up at him with a question in her eyes. “Killian?”
“You are simply too tempting for your own good, love. I was taking a moment to count my blessings I suppose.
“Well are you done yet? Because I’d really like you to be kissing me right now.”
And kiss her he did. He lay down atop her, his hips in the cradle of her thighs, and kissed her for all he was worth. No, scratch that. For all she was worth. For nothing in all his worthless existence could possibly compare to her. To the softness of her lips, the taste of her skin as he traced her collarbone with his tongue, the scratch of her nails against his scalp, the welcoming heat of her body that he could feel even through her clothes and his as they rocked together. Reveling in each other. Whispering nonsense into each other’s skin.
“We should-” She hummed in pleasure as he nipped at the pulse of her neck. “Mmmm...probably stop. Oh. Before we can’t.”
“Aye, love.” She rolled her hips against him and he groaned low in the back of his throat. “Though you’re making it quite difficult.”
She chuckled underneath him, the movement pressing her breasts tantalizingly against his chest. She surprised him reaching down to grab his arse and pull his hips down tightly into hers, grinding him against her.
“Don’t you mean, I’m making it hard?”
“That was a terrible pun, Swan. Do it again.” He inclined his head to nuzzle beneath her jaw, dusting a light kiss here and there.
“You mean make a bad joke? Or this.” She swirled her hips in a dirty grind, groping his arse with both hands this time.
Bloody buggering hell. “You are a wicked, wicked woman.” Killian kissed her, long and deep, then pulled away with a frustrated groan. “But we really do need to stop.”
He sighed and raised himself up off of her, giving her space enough to shift her legs so that when he sat back down she could drape them across his lap. He offered her a hand and she took it, pulling herself up to sitting. She grabbed a cushion to wedge behind her back, while Killian stroked his hand up and down her thigh, unable to stop touching her completely.
Emma leaned up and he pressed an innocent (by comparison at least) kiss to his mouth.
“It’s for the best. I wouldn’t want our first time together to be some frantic, whispered tryst on the couch.”
Emma laughed and raised an eyebrow. “First time?”
Killian offered her a devilish grin, and raised a brow of his own. Perhaps he couldn’t indulge the baser urges of his body tonight, but that didn’t mean he couldn’t have a little bit of fun. Try to rile her up just a bit more. He glanced down the hall in the direction of Henry’s room, listening for any sign that the lad might be awake before responding, but all was silent.
“Yes, first time. I’m in this for the long haul, love. Don’t think for a moment I’ll ever tire of you. But the first time I make love to you, Swan, I want to savor it. I want to worship every inch of you with my hands and tongue, draw every possible sound of pleasure from that gorgeous mouth of yours until you cry my name as you come apart with me buried deep inside you.”
He concluded with his most lecherous smirk taking moment to enjoy the darkening of her eyes, the quickening of her breath.
“You make a solid case there, counselor. But may I submit a counter-offer?”
Decidedly intrigued, he raised an eyebrow. “Do go on.”
She grabbed his hand where it caressed her thigh and moved it higher, closer to where he so desperately wanted to touch her.
She scrunched her nose fetchingly and shrugged. “How about just a little bit of super-quiet hand stuff now-” She traced a hand down his chest and palmed him over his jeans. “-and we save the ‘savoring’ for later?”
“Sounds reasonable to me,” he growled, and with a lightning fast move that left her giggling against his mouth, he was pressing her into the couch again.
-/-
Killian awoke Christmas morning with a crick in his neck and a smile on his face. He pulled the blanket up over his head to block out the light coming from the kitchen. He’d been having the most beautiful dream, specifically the exquisite contortion of Emma’s features last night as he’d worked her higher and higher, the way her lips parted in a silent cry as she fell to pieces under his touch. So distracted was he reliving the previous night’s amorous activities, that it didn’t at first occur to him that something was wrong.
Emma was not with him, but that made sense. They’d agreed she should sleep in her own bed last night, lest Henry awake early and find them together. But the light was on in the kitchen, which meant someone was awake. If someone was awake, then why couldn’t he hear anyone? If it were Emma, she’d be rattling around making coffee. Were it Henry, there would surely be a flurry of activity and the tearing open of wrapping paper.
He strained his ears and finally made out the sound of whispering coming from down the hall. A minute more and Emma and Henry appeared, fully dressed and with strangely serious expressions on their faces. Killian sat up and Emma smiled at him awkwardly.
“Hey, um, we were just about to wake you up.”
Killian yawned, scratching lazily at his chest. “What’s going on, Swan?” His sleep muddled brain couldn’t make sense of any of it, but a sensation of dread was slowly creeping up his spine.
“Nothing, nothing. We just-” she glanced at Henry before turning back to Killian. “We’re just going out for a little mother-son bonding. You can crash here for a while longer if you want to. I’ll leave you the spare key. Or if you want to go home and shower or something…”
She seemed to be floundering and Henry was looking anywhere but at him. Killian’s blood ran cold as the pieces finally began to click into place. Swan may have been interested in something more with him, but he was still an outsider. An interloper on their first Christmas as a family, and they wanted him to leave.
“Right,” he answered finally, barely recognizing his own voice. “Right, yeah, I’ll just be off then.”
He stood and neatly folded the throw blanket he’d slept under. Grabbing his car keys from the end table, he moved to walk past Emma to the front door, but she stepped in front of him.
“Will you-”
Killian tried to step around her, anxious to get away from the apartment and the crushing disappointment he felt, but Emma grabbed his hand and spun him around to face her. The way she was looking at him was so foreign - neither happy nor sad nor angry, but intense - and it gave him pause.
“Would you please meet us for brunch at Granny’s in a few hours?” Her eyes still held the same intensity, but her voice held that note of hopeful vulnerability that he was powerless against.
He furrowed his brow in confusion, but quickly shook it off and nodded.
“Very well, Swan. I’ll be there.”
-/-
He almost backed out three times. As he took his shower in his own apartment, he convinced himself they had only invited him out of pity and he wouldn’t burden them with his presence. As he dressed himself, styling his hair into the calculated mess that Emma seemed to fancy, he told himself he was angry. If Emma had wanted to spend Christmas alone with Henry, she could’ve bloody well told him the night before, rather than engaging in their secretive skulking that morning. It was the guilty behavior that hurt him, not her desire to spend time with her son. Finally, as he drove to the diner, he called himself an idiot, a bloody fool for ever thinking that he and Emma and Henry could possibly ever be a… no, he wouldn’t even let himself think the word.
As he walked through the doors of the diner, however and saw their glowing faces he knew for a fact he’d been a fool. For not trusting her, for letting his old insecurities get the better of him. There on the table sat a small package no bigger than a deck of cards and wrapped in shiny green paper, tied with a golden bow. Green and gold, just like Emma. The woman in question was beaming at him, lighting up the room as if she were the sunrise itself, and Henry beside her practically bouncing in his seat.
“Merry Christmas!” they chimed in unison as he sat down across from them.
“What’s this?” Killian asked, fully aware of the awe in his voice and not caring in the slightest.
“Open it!” Henry urged, nudging the box to Killian’s side of the table.
Killian picked it up gingerly, looking to Emma for confirmation and she nodded vigorously, her smile turning slightly nervous.
Killian slid the bow off the end and tore into the paper, not having the faintest clue what to expect, but his heart raced in anticipation nonetheless. But as he opened the lid, his face fell, a divot forming between his brows as his face twisted in confusion. In the bottom of the box lay a small piece of paper where in Emma’s erratic scrawl was written an address, a phone number and the name “L. P. Dakkar”.
“I don’t understand…” He raised his eyes to meet Emma’s again and she reached a hand across the table to take his.
“It’s him. It’s Liam. Killian, I found him.”
Killian’s eyes widened, his expression changing from confusion to utter disbelief. “This is him? This-” he glanced down at the paper again, seeing it with new eyes. “This is my brother?”
She nodded vigorously, giving his hand a squeeze. “Uh-huh.”
He didn’t respond for a moment unable to do anything but stare between her and Henry in amazement, a grin splitting his face. “Emma, you’re a bloody miracle worker. When did - How?”
“It was Henry,” she answered, smiling down at the boy. “Well, it was you when you reminded me last night of what Henry said. About it never being too late. I got to thinking. We never did check the adoption records for Liam, because I knew from experience how rare it is for a teenager to get adopted. It was a long shot, but like Henry said, it’s never too late, right?”
She shrugged as if she hadn’t just done the impossible and continued her tale. “So, I did a court records search on my laptop last night after you fell asleep, and I found him. Liam Patrick Jones was adopted at the age of 17 by a man named Nemo Dakkar. There was a name change filed with the adoption. That’s why we couldn’t find him, Killian. We were looking for Liam Patrick Jones when the person we needed to find was Liam Patrick Dakkar.”
“So then this morning when you and Henry snuck off?”
“Operation Finding Nemo!” Henry piped up. “You know, because of his adopted dad’s name?”
“What Henry means is we went to my office so I could do a little bit of legally questionable research that you really shouldn’t ask too many questions about. I got an address and Henry wrapped the box. Merry Christmas?”
Unable to contain himself any longer, Killian slid out of the booth and moved to Emma’s side, taking her hand and pulling her up into a fierce embrace.
“Swan, I can’t begin to thank you for this.” Her hair muffled his voice as he held her to him. “Just knowing that he’s out there and that he has a home. That he wasn’t left alone in the world…” Killian’s voice cracked as hot tears pricked the corners of his eyes, and Emma pulled back still clutching at his forearms as she studied his face.
“You have to promise to tell me how it goes. Promise you’ll call later?”
He shook his head bemusedly. “Whatever do you mean, love?”
“Aren’t you about to go plug that address into your GPS and find your family?”
As he tucked a lock of hair behind her ear, his fingers lingering on the curve of her jaw, it occurred to him that she had no idea. After everything, she still had no idea. Very well, he’d simply have to spell it out for her. “Emma, this is an amazing gift you’ve given me, and I absolutely intend to use it, but I expect my half-brother would rather spend his Christmas with his family, now that I know he has one. And for the record, I’d prefer to spend my Christmas with mine.”
She tilted her head, her features forming an adorable scowl. “But you just said -”
“Don’t you know, Emma? It’s you. You and Henry are all the family I need.”
She didn’t answer. Only leaned toward him, her eyes falling to his lips as he threaded his fingers through her hair.
“Are you guys gonna kiss for real this time?”
Killian froze, his eyes closing as he laughed under his breath. “Yes, Henry. I’m about to kiss your mum. If she’ll have me?”
He looked up at her and her all-too-familiar eye roll and soft smile were all the confirmation he needed.
“Good,” Henry affirmed. “Can I go play Ms. Pacman? I don’t really want to watch this.”
Emma laughed and looked over at her boy. “There’s a few quarters in my purse, kid. Knock yourself out.”
After a quick bit of rummaging in Emma’s handbag, the lad scampered off, the sound of the adults’ laughter fading in his wake.
“Now where were we, Swan?” Killian asked with a leer, already leaning in to claim her lips, but Emma squeezed her eyes closed as if in pain and stopped him with a finger to his mouth.
She cautiously opened one eye, then the other. “There’s, um, there’s one more thing.”
“And what’s that, love?” Killian’s placed his hands at her waist and pulled her into him, sure that nothing she could say would dampen his mood.
“I, um -” she licked her lips nervously and took a deep breath. “I may possibly, maybe befeelinglikeI’minlovewithyou,” she muttered, the words spilling out in a jumble.
“What?” Killian’s heart stopped, god only knows what his face was doing, but he was afraid to move, afraid to breathe.
Emma reached up and cupped his chin. “I love you.”
In an instant his lips met hers, sweetly, passionately drinking her in as her hand drifted up his jaw to tangle in the hair at the nape of his neck. She rose up on her tiptoes as she pressed closer to him and he lifted her off her feet, nearly crushing her in his embrace as their lips moved in perfect counterpoint.
Slowly he brought her back to earth, but even before their kiss fully broke, he whispered the words against her mouth. “I love you, too.”
Then she giggled. Emma bloody Swan giggled and smiled up at him. “Yeah?”
“Yeah.”
They separated (at least as much as they could make themselves), paying some heed to the idea of propriety as they were very much still in public. Killian’s arm still draped around Emma’s waist and her head rested on his shoulder as they turned together to watch Henry, blissfully unaware and shouting enthusiastically at the colorful 8-bit ghosts that chased his character around the gaming screen.
“Looks like we all got a family for Christmas after all, doesn’t it, Swan?”
Emma
sighed contentedly. “Yeah, Jones. I guess we did.”
A/N: **The last name ‘Dakkar’ is from the Jules Verne books. At some point Captain Nemo introduces himself as ‘Prince Dakkar’.
Thank you to @captainswannl29 for reading through parts of this and helping me fix it.
Bonus thanks to @tnlph and @ilovemesomekillianjones for strongly encouraging me to finish this. I need a good ass kicking every now and then, lol!
Summary: Emma Swan thought her life was complicated before him, but she didn't even know the half of it. Deputy Emma Swan finds her one night stand at the station the next day and doesn't quite know how to handle it. She's given an undercover assignment that doesn't make her life any easier.
FF AO3
Hi! So my inspiration for this story has finally returned. This story is near and dear to my heart so thank all of you for sticking with it. There are many exciting things to come. I hope you love them all as much as I do. Enjoy the chapter!
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The shrill ringing of Emma's phone wakes her in the middle of the night. Still half asleep she grabs it off the night stand.
"This better be good it's the middle of the night," she says with her eyes closed.
"Em, it's David. I hate to do this, but the ankle monitor company called and Walsh left his apartment. We have to go out to his place and see what happened," he explains. This catches her attention and she opens her eyes.
"Shit," she says as she sits up in bed.
"I know I can be at your place in ten," he states.
"I'm at Killian's actually," Emma says rubbing her eyes trying to wake up.
"Again? Isn't that the fifth night this week you've stayed there?" David asks with the tone of an older brother.
"David," Emma says in warning.
"Sorry, what's his address?" David asks. Emma reads it out to him and then hangs up. She leans over to Killian and shakes his shoulder. He simply stirs in his sleep.
"Killian," she says as she continually shakes his shoulder.
"Did the alarm go off," he mumbles and then finally opens his eyes, "What time is it?"
"It's almost 3:30," she sighs as she begins to get ready.
"And where are you going at this time of night? I see no reason for you to leave my bed," he says with a smirk. He wraps an arm around her waist and pulls her close. She wishes she could stay here in bed with him, but she can't.
"Walsh left his apartment. David is coming by and we are going to his apartment to see what the fuck happened," Emma says while slipping out of his arms. She begins to pull on yesterday's clothes.
"He did what? That's a violation of his bail," he pauses for a moment, "There's nothing I can do at this time of night, but I'll be at the station early," he sighs. Fully dressed Emma walks over to him.
"I know that. I just wanted you to know what happened and that I didn't leave in the middle of the night. I'll see you later," she smiles. He pulls her in for a passionate kiss. It takes everything she has to pull away.
"Be careful, Swan." His tone one of concern.
"Always am, Jones," she kisses his cheek and heads out the door. His front door shuts behind her and David is waiting for her in a police cruiser. She opens the door and slides into the seat. Without a word David hands her a thermos of coffee. She sips the coffee in an attempt to wake herself up.
"So, things with Killian are serious, huh?" David asks breaking the silence.
"What makes you say that?" Emma grumbles.
"You're staying over at his place a lot. He comes by the station for lunch with you. It's just an observation," David says with a shrug.
"It's not that serious," she opposes his statement, uncomfortable at the thought that what he is implying is true.
"Alright, whatever you say," his tone implying that he doesn't believe her.
"Do we know anything about what happened with Walsh?" Emma asks, changing the subject.
"Just that he isn't in his apartment. That's all they told me," David discloses. The rest of the short ride is in silence. They pull up to Walsh's apartment building a few minutes later. When they exit the elevator onto his floor they both pull out their guns. They approach his door and see Walsh sitting on the floor in front of his front door. They keep their guns trained on his, unable to see if he has a weapon. His hands go up in defense.
"It took you guys thirty minutes to respond. What if I had actually tried to make a run for it? I'd be long gone by now," he says. The Sheriff and Deputy lower their weapons.
"Then why didn't you?" Emma asks.
"I knew everyone in the state would be looking for me. House arrest is a cruel joke. Gives you a taste of freedom, but you're being forced to stay in your home. I had to stretch my legs. I am better now, but I am sure you have to take me in now," he says matter of factly.
"That's correct. Please stand," David says not at all amused. Walsh stands and closes the door to his apartment. David places the cuffs on him stating he has violated his house arrest and has the right to call his lawyer. They take him to the station where he does in fact call Robert Gold. Emma and David head into his office to lend them some privacy.
"Something is not right about this at all. Why would he risk his limited freedom? To stretch his legs? I'm not buying that for one second. Regina is going to send him to jail for the duration of the trial for this. You know it, I know it, and Gold knows it. This isn't adding up," Emma says quickly, but in a hushed tone.
"I know this hasn't felt right from the beginning. I'll call the ankle monitor company and see if we can see if he actually left his building," David says.
"Hopefully that will lead us somewhere," she says. Emma still has this feeling that this will bite them in the ass later. She doesn't know how or why though. For now she'll just have to make sure they look at every angle of this.
Around six Killian comes in ready to work. In David's office they tell him that suspect that something else is going on and they are looking into it.
"Let me know about any developments. I called Regina his hearing is set for eleven today. I have paperwork to sort out call me with any updates on him," Killian says before leaving the office.
David and Emma spend about three hours on hold with ankle monitor company and they both want to tear their hair out. David has had to stop Emma twice from cussing out the person on the other end of the phone. They get transferred about twenty times, but finally a perfectly nice woman tells them the coordinates of where Walsh went. They finally go get off the phone and Emma plugs the coordinates into the computer.
"Well where did he go?" David asks while looking over her shoulder.
"The warehouse," Emma says turning and looking at David, who immediately starts making another call.
"Who are you calling?" Emma asks, still not sure why Walsh would go there.
"Killian. Emma, all his drugs came into that warehouse. Whatever the reason he went there it wasn't anything good," David says. When Killian picks up David tells him what they know and suspect.
"Bloody hell, do you think he was meeting Zelena there?" Killian asks.
"He could've been. Who the hell knows what he was doing there?" David says.
"I don't know, but I intend to find out. Thanks, mate. I've got to go. I'll see you lot later," he sighs. This just added a new twist to the case. Killian finished up his paperwork and figures out what to say to Regina. She has a good head on her shoulders and Walsh will definitely be sent to jail for the duration of the trial. On top of all of this, his brother and sister in law will be in town tomorrow night.
They hold the hearing in the Mayor's office promptly at eleven, David and Emma escort Walsh in with Robert Gold trailing behind him. Regina wastes no time.
"Let's begin. The evidence has been presented to me and I've had time to review it. Mr. Green, I must say this doesn't look good for you. I agreed to give you house arrest to give you benefit of the doubt. It seems as though you didn't treat this as a gift. Where did you go last night?" Regina asks sternly, she had the nickname evil queen for a reason.
"I simply needed to stretch my legs, Madam Mayor. I now see it was a mistake," Walsh says trying to sound sincere. Emma sees through the facade and she's pretty sure Madam Mayor does as well.
"Madam Mayor, we have GPS proof of where he went last night," Killian says taking a file from David's outreached hand, "He visited his warehouse, which is an active crime scene. Deputy Humbert is there now investigating if any evidence was tampered with. I believe this demonstrates that he can no longer be trusted to stay on house arrest." Killian hands over the file to Regina.
"My office didn't receive this new evidence. I haven't had time to review it, therefore it wouldn't be fair to base your ruling off this, Madam Mayor," Gold argues through gritted teeth. Regina looks up from the file with an uninterested stare.
"Then you'll be pleased to know I made up my mind without the file, but I'm sure Mr. Jones will send you a copy. Mr. Green, I hope you like Tri-County prison because that's where you'll be staying for the duration of the trial," Regina commands. Walsh doesn't look too fazed, he must have been suspecting this.
"That will be all. Sheriff the necessary paperwork will be sent through today and the prison will be expecting you and Mr. Green tomorrow morning. I assume he can stay the night in the holding cell," Regina says with an eyebrow raised.
"Yes, Madam Mayor." David nods. The hearing ending and the group disperses. Gold leaves in a hurry. Killian soon after, making his way to his office on the floor below them. David and Emma escort Walsh back to the station. Emma can't lie she's ecstatic about Walsh being sent to prison for the rest of the trial.
-KEKE-
Later that week Killian grows more nervous with the upcoming prospect of his brother and sister-in-law visiting. Emma doesn't let on she's nervous, but she is. Liam and Elsa are huge part of Killian's life and it's impossible to not be a little concerned about meeting his family.
Friday night rolls around and Killian comes to the station to pick up Emma. With another busy day at the station Emma didn't have time to change into anything else. Killian comes into the bullpen with a nervous smile on his face.
"Do I look okay? Is this nice enough to meet your brother and his wife?" Emma asks, worry creeping in through her voice. Emma is wearing black skinny jeans, a cream sweater, and her red leather jacket.
"Love, you look fantastic as always," he smiles, realizing she's just as nervous as he is. Nervous is good, it means she cares.
"Alright, we should go then," she smiles and they walk out hand in hand. The couple return to Killian's loft waiting for Liam and Elsa to arrive. Emma's nerves grow with each minute. She's never met anyone's family before. Neal didn't have one and well Walsh claimed he didn't speak to his, but who knows if that was the truth.
"Emma, it's going to be fine. They'll love you," he kisses her cheek. She takes a deep breathe and his phone rings. The caller ID flashes Liam. Killian picks it up.
"There's one main road in town don't tell me you got lost," Killian teases his older brother.
"No, we didn't get lost. I believe I'm in front of your place, but I'm fairly sure you pranked me," Liam says unsure.
"Why would you say that?"
"Because we're parked in front of a warehouse," Liam says. Killian just laughs as he goes down the stairs to his front door.
"Looks can be deceiving," Killian says before hanging up. A few seconds later he open the door and sees Liam and Elsa in the front seats of his brothers car. Once they see him they get out. The brothers reunite and Killian hugs Elsa. That's when Emma sticks her head out from around the door. Liam spots her first and greets her as she approaches the group.
"You must be the lovely, Emma I've heard so much about," Liam sticks his hand out. She shakes it with a slight smile.
"I am. You must be Liam," Emma turns her gaze to the blonde woman standing next to Liam, "And Elsa." The woman shakes Emma's hand with a small smile. Elsa is tall with her blonde hair in a braid and she is just barely showing. Emma probably wouldn't be able to tell if she hadn't known already. Liam stands next to Killian is only a couple inches taller than his younger brother. They're eyes are similar, but Liam's hair is curly where Killian's isn't.
"Yes, it's so nice to meet the woman who has Killian completely smitten," she smirks and Killian blushes.
"Smitten, huh? Did he tell you that?" she asks, curious to what exactly Killian has told Liam and Elsa about her and he scratches his ear nervously.
"Oh no, but he doesn't have to. It's the way he talks about you," she comments. Emma smiles at him.
"Good to know."
"Little brother, show me your place. I'm still not convinced that this building is habitable," Liam says with a sceptical glance back to the converted warehouse.
"Younger brother, Liam, but of course follow me," Killian says as he leads them up the flight of stairs, Emma trailing at the back of the group. Liam and Elsa's shocked faces mirrors Emma's reaction when she saw the place for the first time.
"Looks can be deceiving," Elsa comments, "This place is beautiful and has an amazing view."
"Aye, that it does," Killian grins as Emma joins him at his side, his arm wrapping around her shoulders.
"I was wrong you can live here. I was certain you were pranking us. What is the plan for dinner?" Liam asks.
"Granny's, it is one of the best places in town," Killian beams.
"And one of the only places," Emma jokes as the group heads out the door.
-KEKE-
Dinner couldn't have gone better. Emma can sense that Liam isn't certain about her, but has been nothing but nice to her. Although she isn't worried because her and Elsa have hit it off. Emma suspects Liam will follow his wife's lead eventually.
As they are finishing up some delicious pie none other than Robert Gold walks in. Killian automatically tenses up besides Emma and she places a hand on his knee.
"Brother, what's wrong?" Liam asks noticing the shift between the couple.
"The man who just walked in defense lawyer here in town and let's just say we don't get along," Killian says stiffly.
"Isn't that expected?" Elsa asks.
"No, he can't remain professional. There is a difference," he says.
"Gold has made the case we're on personal and the trial starts next week. I think all of Storybrooke may try and attend just to see these two have it out," Emma comments.
"It's that big of a deal here?" Liam asks.
"It's a small town there isn't much else to do and this is the most dangerous case we've ever had here," Emma comments.
"Are you from here?" Elsa asks.
"No just lived here for a while. I'm from Boston," she says.
"Despite the drama, I'm sure you'll get the guilty verdict," Liam encourages the two. They smile and nod because this case is far from over.
The group heads back to Killian's place for a nightcap. Liam manages to get Emma alone for the first time all night.
"I've been meaning to talk with you," Liam says sternly. She braces herself for this conversation. She knew it was coming.
"Ah is this the big brother overprotective chat?" she asks.
"Yes it is. You knew this was coming?" he asks curious.
"Of course, you're his brother. You're the only family he has. The way Killian talks about you shows you two have each other's back. That you would do anything for one another," she explains.
"I do. He's my brother. All I'll say is he's known a lot of pain in his life, so please don't add to it," he warns her.
"I don't intend to," she says just as serious as he is. What she said seems to please him, and a grin crosses his face.
"Good to hear, welcome to the family." He hold out his glass and she taps her glass against his. A grin spreads across her face when she catches Killian looking at them. He has a concerned look on his face, but she just smiles and shakes her head. He nods and returns to his conversation with Elsa.
"Now listen here Killian, if you ever do that again, if you ever leave like that again and not tell us where you're going I'll make your life a living hell. Is that understood?" Elsa says staring him down.
"Yes, it is. I was an idiot and a fool. I promise it will never happen again," He states his guilt weighing heavy in his gut.
"Good, now don't mess things up with this one she's good for you," Elsa smiles.
"I'm trying my hardest not to," he sighs.
"Do you love her?" He knows the answer to that immediately. He's loved her for a while now, but he can't risk saying it and having her leave him. He doesn't think his heart could take it.
"Aye, I do."
"Then that's all that matters," she smiles. He nods and looks over at Emma, who is now laughing with Liam. Their conversation earlier looked serious, but it seems to be alright now.
The rest of the weekend goes by without a hitch. Elsa and Emma are thick as thieves. The Jones brothers are better than ever. Sunday night they have one last dinner at Granny's.
"Are you two ready to head home?" Killian asks. Liam and Elsa exchange a look.
"Actually we've been thinking that we really don't want to leave," Liam says.
"What do you mean?" Killian asks, unsure of where this is heading.
"We're not quite sure how you found this town, but we love it. My job isn't making me happy anymore and I'm going to be a mother soon. I'd rather focus on that than a job that makes me unhappy," Elsa explains.
"I can work any wear. Honestly I'd rather be here, where you are brother. This looks like a nice place to raise a family," Liam comments.
"Storybrooke would be honored to have you two as its newest citizens," Killian smiles.
"I think it's wonderful that you guys are moving here. Speaking of work our other deputy just quit. There's a spot for you. David and I could use the help," Emma explains.
"I'll have to keep that in mind. Thank you, Emma. Of course, we have to settle things back in New York. We hope to be here within the next month or two," Liam says. Emma and the brothers toast the happy occasion while Elsa drinks water.
The happy couple leave after dinner with promises to call and be back soon to look at houses in the area. Killian and Emma watch them drive away. Emma suddenly realizes that this is what a family is. It felt so natural and easy, like she fell into place. She felt the same way when David and Mary Margaret pulled her into their lives. This feeling scares her, but she doesn't want to run. That's when it hits her with full force, she loves Killian.
-KEKE-
Emma, Killian, and David are confirming a few details the night before the trial and Killian is practicing his opening remarks. Mary Margaret brought dinner for them and is interjecting with her opinions. Suddenly there is a knock at the office door. The whole room goes quiet. Mary Margaret opens it and there stands Robert Gold. He walks in and only has eyes for Emma. This causes Killian to tense up; he does not like the way Gold is looking at Emma. She doesn't like it either, but she never backs down from a fight. She almost seems to be taller, ready for the fight.
"Miss Swan, I told you one day that I would need a favor. That day is today. You won't be testifying for the state, in fact I don't want you testifying at all. Now, you and your sherriff are very virtuous, so I suspect you will attempt to testify anyway. If you do I will expose you to the whole town. It's your choice dearie, but we had a deal," Gold says with a menacing stare and walks out of the station. All eyes turn to Emma.
"Emma, what did you do?" David asks, arms crossed.
Summary: Emma Swan thought her life was complicated before him, but she didn't even know the half of it. Deputy Emma Swan finds her one night stand at the station the next day and doesn't quite know how to handle it. She's given an undercover assignment that doesn't make her life any easier.
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AO3
FF
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Emma was not the tearful goodbye kind of person, and Walsh was not the exception to this rule. Walsh never made things easy to say the least. He got too serious too quickly and she wasn't ready for that, so Emma did what she does best and ran. Naturally they fought and a few unforgettable words were exchanged, so she walked out his front door, not looking back.
That's why Mary Margaret is on her way with wine and ice cream. Emma doesn't really want the ice cream, but she suspected it was more to make Mary Margaret feel like a good friend. Emma will never turn down a glass of wine and she figures maybe the company will do some good. Mary Margaret was the one person in her life who always seemed to be there for her. Well, her and David, they were a package deal and had become her family (for lack of a better word) since she moved to Storybrooke.
Before them she there hadn’t been anyone in her life. As a kid she bumped from one foster home to the next. She learned how to fend for herself and was convinced she didn’t need anyone. However, Emma Swan needed someone, no matter how much she wasn't willing to admit that.
Three sharp knocks at the door snap Emma out of her reverie. She opens the door and sure enough there stands Mary Margaret with ice cream in one hand, and a bottle of wine in the other. Emma gives her a weak smile and let's her in.
“How are you doing? Horrible I’m sure, that was a silly question. What do you want first, the wine or the ice cream?” The elementary school teacher asks with a caring and sympathetic smile. Emma locks the door and they head into the kitchen.
“Definitely the wine,” Emma chuckles, “I'll hold off on the ice cream for now.”
“More for me then,” Mary Margaret jokes. She opens the carton of ice cream and scoops some out for herself. Emma opens the bottle of wine.
“You didn't say much over the phone. How did it happen?” Mary Margaret asks cautiously. Emma sighs as she pours the wine into two glasses, making sure to put a little more in her own glass. She knew the question was coming, but that didn’t she wanted to answer it.
“He proposed,” Emma said slowly, “and I wasn't ready for that. I freaked out, tried to run, and we fought. He said- we said- some nasty things and I left,” Emma says and then takes a sip of wine. Mary Margaret sets down the bowl of ice cream and takes Emma's hand in hers.
“Oh Emma, I’m so sorry.”
“Thanks, Mary Margaret,” Emma says. No more was said on the topic, and they spent the rest of the night drinking, eating ice cream, and not talking about Walsh.
-KE-
The next week proves to be a difficult one and not because of Walsh, but because of the fact that her job as Deputy is owning her ass. One call after another rolls through the station, driving her to the ground. After one particularly long shift, Emma made her way over to The Beanstalk, the local bar in Storybrooke. Emma thinks the name is ridiculous, but it's the only place in Storybrooke to get a drink after Granny's closes.
Emma manages to slip into the last stool at the bar. August, her friend and bartender, catches her eye, smiles, and pours her a glass of whiskey. He passes it to her and she gladly accepts it.
“Long day, Emma?” he questions as she downs about half of her drink.
“Like you wouldn't believe,” she sighs and August gets called down to the end of the bar.
“Hold on, I want to hear all about it,” he says as he walks away.
“I'd know that look anywhere. Is work that bad, love?” The man in the stool next to her says. Is that a Irish accent? Emma wonders. She gives him her full attention. A good looking man with dark brown hair and stubble, smartly dressed in a navy suit with a red tie. What seems to stick out the most to Emma was his eyes. They were a sharp blue, unlike any blue she'd ever seen. She shakes her head and takes a drink from her glass.
“You're not from around here are you?” She says coolly, more of a statement rather than a question.
“Aye, that would be correct. Is that a problem?” He asks, taking a drink from his own glass.
“No, not at all just an observation,” she comments.
“Hmm quite perceptive, aren't you? How about I buy you a drink?” he asks straightforwardly in a low, husky tone. Oh that's the game he wants to play.
“I'm not a woman you need to seduce or get drunk… Want to get out of here?” She asks (almost demands), placing her hand on his upper thigh. He smirks and leans in closer to her.
“Lead the way, love,” he whispers into her ear and his words send a curious shiver down her spine.
-KE-
As soon as the door to his apartment closes, her lips are on his, the whiskey she drank mixing with the rum he consumed almost intoxicating. He backs up and presses her against the door, taking off his jacket in the process. There almost seems to be a spark running between them. Her fingers run up to his hair and the gentle tug she gives elicits an excited moan from him. He pulls away from her, their heavy breathing filling the room.
“Love, I don’t even know your name,” he breathes out, still trying to catch his breath.
“Is that important right now?” she asks in a low, sultry voice. She has other things on her mind right now. He pulls away as she tries to kiss him again.
“Aye, my actions might say otherwise, but I am a gentleman. I like to know a woman’s name before I take her to bed,” he says, his eyes never looking away from hers.
“Emma, and yours?” Her first name is all he’s ever going to get. Walsh just proved she cannot do relationships.
“Killian,” With that she grabs the lapels of his suit and pulls him towards her. Their lips clash against each other. Hands search each others bodies greedily. They move away from the door and she jumps onto him, legs encircling his waist. Killian carries her to her bedroom and sets her down on the bed. She sits on the edge of the bed and while looking in his piercing blue eyes, she unbuckles his belt oh so slowly. She’s teasing him with her hands so close, but not actually touching him. With the belt done, she unbuttons and unzips his pants. As they fall to the floor she bites her lip.
“Emma, you’re wearing too many clothes,” he says. She stands right in front of him, slips her shirt off, and tosses it to the floor. Without breaking eye contact she unzips her pants and lets them fall to the floor.
“I believe it’s your move,” she whispers. He unbuttons his shirt and shrugs out of it. He moves closer to her until the back of her calves hit the bed. She falls back on the bed and he smirks. Killian kneels down in front of her. He kisses his way up her thigh. He glides her underwear down and off her legs. He resumes his kisses. Killian slowly licks her clit while he plunging a finger inside of her. She moans at this unannounced entrance.
“You’re so wet for me, love,” he growls, as he resumes the work with his tongue and fingers. Her fingers tangle through his hair and she holds him closer to her. He adds another finger and begins to move them and his tongue faster. She throws her head back and shuts her eyes. No man has ever done this before-well no that’s not true. No man has ever done it like this before. Her walls flutter around his fingers and she lets out a sigh. Her chest is rising and falling rapidly. Killian trails kisses up her stomach and around her breast. Finally up her neck.
“Oh my god… that was-” Emma manages to get out.
“Just the beginning, love.” He smirks.
“Good. I am nowhere near done with you,” she smirks. Her hand grasps his cock and slowly begins to pump up and down.
“Stop,” he says through his teeth, “I need to be inside you.” She releases him and spreads her legs.
“What are you waiting for?” she says. With that he slams into her and she moans. He takes a moment and allows her to adjust to him. Then he begins to move. He taunts her at first by rocking slowly, a little payback for earlier. She wraps her legs around him.
“Faster,” she pleads. He grins and picks up the pace.
“Fuck, you’re tight,” he says. The unrelenting pace is bringing her close to the edge.
“Don’t stop,” she moans. He rolls his thumb over her clit with that it pushes her over the edge. She screams his name while her walls clench around him. A few sloppy thrusts later, he follows and flops down on top of her.
Wordlessly, he pulls her into his arms and falls asleep not long after. Emma is not the sleepover kind of woman. Killian seems like a nice man, but it can never be more than this. She didn’t intend on him falling asleep with his arms around her. She waits until she is sure he is completely asleep before slipping out of his arms. Emma moves around the room quietly putting her clothes on. She finds her shoes last and slips out the front door. Killian is better off without her in his life.
Her neighbor irritated her like no other did. He was a flirt, a ladies man, a high powered lawyer, and how dare he also have an accent. After another irritating encounter with the man, she was in need of relieving a little bit of tension. While doing so, she encounters something she can’t quite believe.
"It was a one-time thing," is definitely one of the last things you want to say to your new boss on your first day at work. For lawyer Emma Swan, this case is open-and-shut. The verdict? Completely hopeless.
so like, i know we broke up and stuff but funny story, i haven't told my family yet and they just assumed you'd be coming with me for [insert family celebration] and i really don't know how to tell them and i know this is really selfish but i can't break my great grandma's heart like that, she'll probably have a heart attack and– wait what? you'd do that for me? holy shit, ily
