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He had a daughter. Killian couldn’t believe it- wouldn’t believe it. He didn’t know how to.
What did I do to deserve something this wonderful?
The day had been hectic. Killian had been at the sheriff’s office filling out paperwork and screening calls that mostly came from Grumpy about his various concerns around town. It had been a dreadfully boring day of patrolling Main street and finding nothing noteworthy. He had been on his way to Granny’s to grab a grilled cheese- a surprise for Emma, who had been craving one all day but didn’t want to ask for one- when his phone rang.
“What is it this time, Leroy?”
“Killian. You need to meet us at the hospital.” It was Henry. He had been staying at home with Emma, who was in the tail end of her pregnancy, for the last week or so while Killian went to work. That way, Emma had company (and someone to be around if she suddenly needed a ride to the hospital).
Now, hearing Henry say the word hospital, Killian was stunned. Hospital meant one thing. “Wait- what? Hospital? Is it the baby already?”
Henry sighed, though there was a smile behind it. “Yes. Hospital. Soon, preferably. I’m loading the car up right now.”
“But she’s not due for another week…” Killian’s head was spinning. He thought he was going to have more time before he got this call. What if I’m not ready to be a father? He worried.
“Hm, you’re right,” Henry said, interrupting his thoughts. “Let me just go tell the baby that it’s gotta wait another week.”
Killian shook his head, snapping out of it. “Aye. You’re right. I’m just a little…”
Henry waited for a moment to see if his step-father would finish his sentence before he spoke again. “I know. It’s a lot. I’m kind of reeling too. But it’s happening, and it’s happening now.” He paused, helping Emma into the car. “I have to drive now, so I’m hanging up. We’ll meet you there?”
“Yes. Of course,” Killian hung up the phone and got in his car- the grilled cheese forgotten on the counter- and sped the whole way to the hospital. He spent the drive panicking about being a father- something he wasn’t sure he would ever be ready for. He’d been around children plenty with Baelfire when he was younger, and then again with Henry- but they were both older children when he met them. What was he supposed to do with a baby?
When he finally arrived at the hospital, Emma was already in a delivery room with Henry and her parents. He’d picked up ice chips at the hospital counter on his way in- a poor substitute for the sandwich he meant to bring her, though he realized now she probably would be in too much pain to eat it anyway.
She’d smiled the second she saw her husband rush into the room, throwing open the door and rushing in as if he were afraid he already missed it (in truth, he wasn’t sure if he was afraid to miss it, or afraid for it to happen in the first place). He’d gone to her side and held her hand, kissing her cheeks and apologizing for taking so long to get to her.
Before anyone was prepared for it, the doctor was back to deliver the baby.
Killian stood by Emma the whole time, wincing and smiling and tearing up as his baby- his daughter, the doctor announced- was born.
She took his breath away.
Hours later, after Snow and David had gone home to Neal, and Emma had fallen asleep, he was alone with his baby girl.
Now, he stood by the window, holding her gently in his arms. He wasn’t quite sure he was cradling her correctly. The doctor said something about supporting her neck and head, while also cupping her bottom so her back wasn’t strained- but he hadn’t quite perfected his arm placement to account for the missing hand.
“I hope that’s comfortable enough for you, my little love,” he told her. She blinked up at him in response. He took that as a good sign.
He was starstruck- so incredibly taken with her he could hardly believe it. She had been born with a full head of hair (blonde, just like her mother- something he was very pleased about) and bright blue eyes that stared up at him, a reflection of his own. He could feel every beat of his heart in his chest as he slowly sat down, rocking the baby back and forth as he did so.
He would do anything for her- of that he was already certain.
“You have my whole heart. The whole thing.” He cooed to her, whispering his love to her tiny ears- afraid that any louder of a tone would startle her. She seemed so fragile.
He sat with her for what seemed like hours, watching her drift off in his arms with the smallest yawn he had ever seen. Not once did he stop telling her how much he loved her- to him, it didn’t matter how many times he said it. He was sure it would never be enough. This was a type of love he had never felt before. He found it stunning in its intensity.
At one point, when Killian’s arms were getting stiff from holding her in the same pose for so long, Henry opened the door. He had opted not to go home with Snow and David earlier, choosing instead to stay and make himself useful at the hospital. Killian and Emma both assured him it would be quite alright if he needed to get some sleep, but Henry had waved them off.
“Ah, Henry,” Killian whispered, surprised and relieved to see him in the doorway. “Come on in.”
Henry crossed the room slowly so as not to wake Emma, taking a seat next to Killian on the hospital bench. They both looked lovingly at the baby, commenting about how small and adorable she was, before Killian asked if Henry would take her. “My arms are getting tired,” he sighed regretfully. If it were possible, he thought he might never let his daughter leave his arms.
Henry reached out for her without hesitation, a smile on his face as the baby sighed and adjusted to being in someone else’s arms. He reached up to her hand, stroking her palm until her fingers closed around his thumb. Killian watched, enamored at the sight of his children- his daughter so small in Henry’s arms. After a while, Henry spoke again.
“So, do I get to know my little sister’s name yet?” Henry asked.
Killian rolled his eyes, though there was a smile on his face. “Not yet, lad. You know how your grandparents are with names- they want us to wait until we’re all at home. Make it a part of the welcome home from the hospital.”
“I know, I know,” Henry said, sighing. He bounced his little sister in his arms, somehow holding her with only one arm while he held her hand with the other. Killian watched, fascinated with his step son’s ability to hold the child so effortlessly. He would have to have Henry teach him how sometime. “But y’know,” Henry continued, “the tradition is really just a Grandpa and Grandma thing…”
Killian hesitated, glancing at his wife. “Regardless, I think your mother would have my head if I spoiled it.” They had spent the last several weeks agreeing on a name for the child- and while he was sure Emma didn’t mind as much about the naming ceremony Snow and David had suggested, he wasn’t sure how she would feel about him announcing the name early, and without her.
“Maybe,” Henry agreed, shrugging his shoulders. “But I won’t tell. It could just be our little secret. Like when I was younger and you taught me how to sword fight. Mom never could figure out why I had gotten so good so quickly.”
The two sat in silence for a moment, fondly remembering all the days they had spent on the Jolly Roger when Henry was just a boy. Killian taught him to fight as a way to distract him from everything- at the time, Emma thought they were just going for a sail, or out to lunch. It wasn’t until Henry was much older that they started more formal lessons- those were the ones that Emma was aware of.
“Alright,” Killian said after a while. He sighed, won over by the happy memories he shared with Henry. He could explain to Emma in the morning if she asked about it.
“‘Alright’… you’ll tell me her name, ‘alright’? Or something else?” Henry asked, hope in his voice.
Hook shook his head. “I’ll tell you.” Killian glanced at Emma, making sure she was still sleeping soundly. Henry smiled wide, turning in his seat so he was facing Killian. “But you have to swear you’ll never let it out. And you’ll have to act surprised when we announce it at home.”
“Of course,” Henry said, anticipation making him impatient, talking faster and widening his eyes along with his smile.
“We’ve named her Claire. Claire Hope Jones.”
Henry repeated the name, pronouncing each syllable with reverence, seeing how it felt on his tongue. “It’s a beautiful name,” he said eventually. Neither man was able to take their eyes off of Claire as Henry gently bounced her, cooing Hi, Claire, at her as he did. “It suits her well.”
Killian smiled. “Aye. It does.”