Chapter Text
Killian opened his eyes and stared vacantly in front of him. Emma rolled to her side, and blonde locks of hair draped across her pillow inches from Killian’s fingertips. He couldn’t resist reaching out and stroking the semi-glossy strands. Some mornings he still couldn’t believe that Emma Swan was in his bed, willingly. Then again, she was Emma Jones now. They’d been married for four months. It hadn’t felt like that long, what with having to defeat the Dark Fairy and putting Storybrooke back to normal (as normal as a town with fairy tale inhabitants can be). Life for them had just begun to find a flow. Killian had transferred everything he needed from the Jolly Roger to the house Emma had purchased for them. Even though she had been under the draw of the Dark One dagger, Killian had to admit she had picked out a bloody perfect house for them. She had no idea how comforting it was for him to gaze out of their several windows and see the Jolly Roger docked close by. The cozy kitchen reminded him of his mother cooking breakfast for him and Liam around the holidays (one of his only memories of his mother), and he found out Emma had picked out a house with a large backyard because growing up as an orphan, she had dreamed of living in a house with a yard to run around in. One day their children might use it. Killian smiled at the thought of one day being a father. But that wouldn’t be for a good while yet. They were having too much fun in their honeymoon period. Honeymoon.
Killian rolled on his back at the prospect of having a honeymoon. They had briefly talked about going away for a couple weeks as they prepared for their wedding, but everything had happened so fast that they never discussed where they would go. Being the Savior one last time pushed the idea far from either of their minds. He wondered where Emma would want to go, if she even wanted a honeymoon. She didn’t care much about drawing attention to herself. Killian deep down had quite a romantic side, and being married to Emma had made him feel as honest as the young seaman working for the British Navy, before his Hook persona had tainted him. Emma was saving him from his darkness every day, and he loved presenting her with grand, sweeping gestures of his love, partly to see her squirm and secretly delight in the attention, and partly because it felt bloody good to love someone.
Emma rolled back towards him and rested her head in the crook of his arm. He drew her close and kissed her head, breathing in the coconut-scented shampoo she had used the night before.
“Good morning,” she sighed groggily.
“Morning, Love. Ready to get up yet?”
“No. My one day to sleep in and I’m making the most of it.” She pulled the covers under her chin.
“You take all the time you need.” He loosened the grip on her slightly and gazed down at her half-closed eyes. “If you could travel anywhere in the world, where would you go?”
“I’ve seen so much of people that I’m rather happy right here.”
“There’s no place you’ve always wanted to see, like the Caribbean Islands or the shores of India?”
“Why would I want to travel anywhere when we just got back from surviving the most difficult days of our lives?” She had propped herself up on one elbow and was staring at him with a doubtful look. “Where is this coming from?”
“I, uh,” he realized there was no room for being vague now that her “superpower” had been activated. “I was thinking we never got a chance to have a proper honeymoon. Most couples do travel somewhere for fun after they’re wed.”
“You mean battling the dark fairy magic isn’t your idea of fun?”
“Not when your life was at stake,” he ran his hand down the side of her face.
“I had no idea you wanted that kind of thing.”
“I thought that after all the insanity we’ve been through, I’d like to have as much normalcy as we can. Besides, what’s not to like about having you all to myself, without any sheriffing duties to answer?” He hugged her close and began kissing her lips.
After three, Emma pulled gently back. “You’re serious about this?”
“I am, Swan.”
“That’s not my name anymore.”
“Still as graceful and elusive in my eyes.”
She nudged him in the arm. “If we were to go anywhere, I wouldn’t want to go anywhere too far or exotic. Besides, I think you’d have a heart attack if we flew to India.”
“On a dragon? No, I was thinking we’d use the Jolly Roger.”
“I’m not sailing on your ship for two months! Sorry, I like the sea, but that’s not my idea of a good time.”
“Then what would you suggest?”
Emma sat cross-legged staring into space while Killian leaned over and kissed various parts of her face.
“I got it,” she grasped his knee. “Mt. Desert Island.”
“A deserted island? Perfect!”
“No, Desert Island. It’s off the coast of Maine. Acadia National Park is there, kind of like the Enchanted Forest only without the giants and arrows. I was supposed to take Henry there last year.”
“Do you have a map? Maybe we could sail the Jolly Roger there.”
“That would be acceptable.” She kissed him once more and climbed out of bed. “I’ll go get my laptop to Google- I mean, I’ll get dressed and go to town to find a map.”
After seeing the map and brochures Emma brought home about Mt. Desert, Killian thought it sounded like the ideal honeymoon spot, secluded with plenty of outdoor activities and stores close enough if they needed anything. He was starting to enjoy the modern comforts of this era, even if some days he felt like he was going soft. They took a week to make arrangements and sailed off the following Monday sunrise. Three weeks of sailing, hiking, exploring, and every other wonderful thing one imagined on a honeymoon made their trip a success. Killian ended up sailing them to a couple other outer islands to see what else was nearby. They returned refreshed and satisfied. Much to his pleasure, Emma shared that recreational sailing with him had turned into a new favorite pastime.
Life found a new normal for them. The Jones continued to fix up their house and decorate it to feel more like home. The décor lost its modern feel as Killian brought in more navigating apparatuses and seashells. Maurice landscaped their front yard, and Charming expanded their back patio. Emma and Killian spent lazy weekends watching Netflix and eating popcorn and chili fries while drinking beer. For laughs, Emma played the first Pirates of the Caribbean movie, and Killian nearly flipped over their bowl from the outrage over inaccuracies. The sword fighting had him captivated though, and while he complained throughout the whole film, they binged the five movies in one weekend. When Henry wasn’t staying with them, he and Regina, the Charmings, and occasionally the Golds were often invited over for movie nights and dinners.
Killian had come to an understanding with Rumplestiltskin. As much as he hated to admit it, they were family. The more frequently Rumple came over to visit Henry, drop off some trinket for Emma he found in his shop, or (his least favorite) come over with Belle and Gideon for dinner, Killian could see that Rumple had changed and was happy with his new family. They had all suffered more than their fair share. Killian wasn’t about to have a pint at the Round Table Tavern with him, but they could carry on conversations and even grin once in a while. Killian couldn’t resist the urge to give Gold a crocodile-themed gift whenever he had the chance. That first Christmas, he bought Rumple a light green Gund crocodile. For his birthday, Rumple received a “Keep smiling” crocodile mug and cocoa set. Killian bought him a Father’s Day keychain that read “Father to a Croc,” and for no special occasion, Killian delivered a pair of lime green Croc shoes to the house (“for gardening” Killian had insisted). When Rumple did eventually move away with Belle and Gideon to a huge mansion, Killian gave him a sentimental parting gift, a gold gilded mantlepiece clock with crocodile claw feet, “to remember each memory as time passes.”
Snow White cut a piece of tape and secured it over a box seam. With a marker, she wrote, “Christmas #5” on the side and sat down in a nearby chair. “That’s the last one! I hope I didn’t miss any ornaments again.” She rubbed her belly tenderly. “Next Christmas, we will be celebrating it with you.”
Snow reflected on that first blissful Christmas with no curses, no battles, no Dark Magic threats. She had been determined to make that coming Christmas the best one they had ever had. Her family was all accounted for, out of danger, and never happier. Her dream come true, and she wanted to make the most of it! She wanted to host a Christmas Eve party, and after much begging and pleading, Regina begrudgingly volunteered to host Christmas Day dinner. Not that it was much volunteering; Emma had outright refused to host anything, at least for the first year. Snow thought it would be fun to invite some friends from the Enchanted Forest for their first year. After sending out the invitations and regretting she didn’t invite more, Aurora and her family, Merida, and Ariel and Eric wrote back that they would be happy to come. Snow put Charming to work to decorate their house and outdoor buildings, the first time anyone in Storybrooke had done such a thing for Christmas. The holiday cheer was infectious, and soon a decoration war arose among Charming, Mr. Gold, the dwarves, and Killian. Even though he thought the idea sounded ludicrous at first, Killian could not resist the competition and found himself putting up Christmas lights on his house, the sheriff’s office, and even his ship. She thought it was sweet justice that the mechanic Michael Tillman ended up winning because his children Nicholas and Ava (or Hansel and Gretel as they sometimes asked to be called) recreated their house to look like an oversized gingerbread house out of the Candy Land game. Christmas wasn’t supposed to be a competition but a day for celebrating love, family, and hope. That first Christmas had been a glorious success, and from then on, the Charmings, Joneses, Mills, and Golds would take turns hosting holiday parties.
Snow stood up and walked to the kitchen sink. The swelling in her feet had gone down and she had dishes to do. As she washed, she stared out the window. Neal was playing with the dog, and Charming had pulled out one of the horses so he could keep an eye on Neal while he brushed them. Charming ran his stables and farm full time and only worked with Emma on hard cases and or if she needed to take time off. His life seemed fulfilled living the simple life he once enjoyed so long ago. Neal loved living on a farm just as much as his father did. One of the first things he begged to have was a pet pig, so Charming bought him a black and white spotted sow Neal named Dottie. A year later, Neal insisted that he needed a boy pig so they could have their happily ever after. Charming stopped the mania after Dottie had piglets, and they sold all but one. Dottie, Wilbur, and their piglet Babe were Neal’s first responsibility of many on the farm.
Snow was so glad she gave up teaching. Yes, she missed it some days, and maybe she’d go back to it again. Right now, Neal and Charming needed her more. She wasn’t about to miss another child grow up. She wasn’t a complete homebody. She wouldn’t be able to take that. In her spare time, she worked with Regina on community projects for the town and started a mothers’ support group where she met up with other mothers in town for kids play dates, tea and coffee outings, and shopping trips. With another baby on the way, Snow knew she wasn’t going back to work anytime soon. She and Charming had cried in their room when she shared the news with him, and again when they found out they were having a girl. She would be able to—
“Mommy!” Neal came in with tears streaming down his face, his hands carrying something.
Snow quickly wiped her hands off and moved towards him. “What is it, sweetheart?” She knelt down to his eye level.
“Figaro was chasing a bird and was holding it down under his claws,” he explained between sobs. “I chased him away, but the bird wouldn’t move. Is it dead?”
Neal unfurled his hands to reveal a quivering young robin with downy feathers visible in patches.
Snow held open the front screen door. “Let’s take it outside.”
Once they reached the tree near where Neal was playing, Snow looked in the branches and saw a nest with two heads peeking out. “Neal, put the bird down in the grass for a minute.”
He knelt down and nestled the bird into the grass. It quivered and twitched its wings but stayed where it was.
“Do you see that nest up there?” she pointed. “I hear chirping. I think the bird’s brother and sister are looking for him. I think you need to show the bird that it’s safe. Hope is waiting just out of reach. All he needs to do is fly up and reach it.”
Neal crouched closely in front of the bird and stroked its head with two fingers. “It’s okay, little bird,” he whispered. “Figaro is gone. You can fly home now.”
After what seemed like an eternity to Snow, the bird opened its wings, chirped, and flew back into the nest. Neal jumped with a cheer.
“He’s okay! Thank you, Mommy!”
Snow squeezed him tightly. “This time you helped him, Neal.”