Chapter Text
« Really, kid? Ugh. »
She got out of the car with an exasperated sigh, than paced a few more minutes on the side of the road, her patience decreasing with each step she was taking. She tried her brother’s cell once more. No answer. All right, that was it. She walked up the alley of hydrangeas and knocked twice on the door. Then she turned around, hands on her hips as she was admiring the view. Damn. The people living there sure were lucky.
She heard the door behind her swing open on its hinges, and as she turned to meet the host, a voice she thought she would never hear again spoke: « Hi, sorry, the boys are on their way, you… » The voice trailed off as their eyes met.
Her heart sunk at the bottom of her feet, probably in her heels or something.
He was older now, obviously. And taller, just a little. His hair were cut shorter. Good—she never liked his hair long. Any trace of the remaining childhood that she might remember had been erased: his jawline, covered with a designer stubble, was sharper, and so were his cheekbones (one of them—the right one—still bore the scar, faint as it may be). He wasn’t a boy anymore. Although, his blue eyes had the same subtle light of mischief, and his half-crooked smile, which was quickly fading as he was recognizing her, was the same.
Shock was now painting over his face, as she examined him, and he her. She felt numb herself, as if she had been slapped in the face with a book. Repeatedly.
After what appeared to be an eternity of awkward silence, he mumbled her name, his voice hoarse: « Swan? »
God. She tucked her hair nervously behind her ear, avoiding his gaze. She just wanted to be buried six feet under. « I- I’m here to pick up my brother. Apparently, » she said, mouth dry. She couldn’t help but stare at him under her eyelashes, and his gaze, also fixed on her, made her feel uneasy. She was going to be sick any moment now. She needed to leave this place, now. A frown appeared between his brows. « Can you call him now please, we need to leave. »
« Sure, » he nodded. But he didn’t flinch.
« While we’re both still young…? »
He blinked a few times.
« Killian, can you please get my brother? »
Her patience had all ran out, now. And there was no way she was going to throw up on Killian Jones’s doorstep. No freaking way.
« Sorry... I’ll go fetch the boys now. »
« Thank you. »
« Hum… You…You wanna come in? »
« I’m good here, thanks. »
He nodded, and quickly disappeared behind the door. Emma let out a long breath she didn’t recall even holding. Her thoughts were all over the place, and she was sweating like a sinner in church at this point. What the hell was happening here? How did this happen? How was it that the first teenager her brother befriends as soon as they move back to that cursed town is related to Killian freaking Jones? How was this possible?
Loud footsteps and giggles reached her ear, bringing her back to the present predicament. Her baby brother, backpack hanging on his shoulders, waved. « Hey Em’. »
She tried to smile. « Hey kiddo. »
« So, this is my sister, Emma. Em', this is Vincent. »
Emma looked at the young boy and tried to keep a composed face. But damn, that was hard. He had to be his son. There was no other way. Because of course, thirteen year old Vincent was basically a doppelgänger of Killian around the same age. Same blue eyes (only shielded behind a pair of round glasses), same dimples, same jet black hair (only a curly version of Killian's). She would have seen that kid in the first place, she would have made the damn connection a long time ago. (And she would never have let Henry near him.)
But wait... thirteen years old? She did the maths. This made absolutely no sense.
« And you've met his uncle, Killian. »
« Oh, » was all she managed to say at first. « Yeah...We've...met.»
Uncle? Right. Liam’s son. Ok, that made a lot more sense. This time, she had to blink a few times before coming back to reality. Needing support, she put a protective arm around Henry's shoulders. « Ok, kiddo, let’s go now. » she said. « Say thank you and goodbye. »
« Yeah, thanks. I guess I'll see you tomorrow! »
She froze. « Sorry, hum...What's-what’s tomorrow? » She frowned at Killian, who winced and scratched a spot behind his left ear.
But her brother answered before he got a chance: « Killian has a boat. He’s teaching us how to sail. »
Oh, hell no.
« …if that’s okay with you, that is. Isn't that right, mates? » stupid Killian added.
Ho ho, no freaking way.
« Henry, go wait in the car. » Her brother obeyed and after Vincent was similarly dismissed by his uncle, the boy disappeared inside the house. Emma crossed her arms over her chest. « Ok now, listen closely, mate, » she mocked, a little despite herself. « See that kid back there? Well, I’m in charge of him, and I’m telling you there’s no way he’s going anywhere with you. »
The half-crooked smile was back and she was hating it.
« Is it because you're concerned for his safety? »
Seriously?
« What? Of course I’m concerned for his safety! » she snapped.
« Then you have nothing to fear. »
« Right, » she smiled. « Because he’s not going. Goodbye, Killian. »
She reached for her keys inside the back pocket of her jeans and started making her way back to her yellow Bug, anger rising underneath.
« You're welcome to join us, you know? »
She stopped dead on her tracks. Who was he kidding? She turned to look at him. He was leaning casually against the doorframe, mischief in his eyes. God, what a jerk.
« Sorry, but I don’t sail with pirates. »