Once Upon A Happy Beginning

Chapter Thirteen: The Colour of Blood

Snow

I lean back against Charming's chest as I watch Henry playing with his uncle and the toy wooden swords that Emma bought for Neal's second birthday. Neither of the boys have the skill that David has, or Hook or even Emma; but Henry has improved significantly since I last saw him when he was playing with his father when he came to Storybrooke from New York all those years ago. Neal has never really shown an interest in the sword set and more in the toy bow, earning him a very unhappy Daddy for a few days! David has really been hoping that his children would both be experts at wielding a sword but unfortunately he only has Emma. I'm not too convinced this will last, it's just a Pro-Sword moment after Henry watched Pirates of the Caribbean with us. 

As soon as Henry told us what my daughter told him, we realised that we'd never heard of this "Jack Sparrow" or "Elizabeth Swann". Henry managed to dig out a password to some TV service where his mom had bought the film. Amazon, I think Henry called it even though I could've sworn on my True Love that that was a jungle. 

All the way through the film I could feel Charming tense up, as if he's terrified that his son-in-law is going to skeleton out onto his baby girl, even though Emma isn't much of a baby anymore. "Charming!" I had to elbow him every time, "We have enough curses in our lives to worry about Killian having one that makes him a weird were-skeleton at the full moon!" 

That was horrifying, though that part. We made sure that Neal was preoccupied for over half the movie but as a two year old he was only really interested in the sword fight parts that remind him of his Daddy, but those parts when the Black Pearl's curse settled in and the light of the full moon made it's crew turn to skeletons... I couldn't even watch that myself. 

Neal jabs the handle of his toy into Henry's chest who drops his mini weapon and pretends to double over clutching his stomach. Neal laughs. David gives him a high five. Henry and I smile at each other and at my boys having their little celebration. When David picks up our son and carries him to try and use his potty, Henry comes and sits on the armchair next to the couch and grabs a handful of pistachios from the bowl on the coffee table and I do the same before turning to my grandson: "What are we telling Emma?" 

He takes a deep breath and I feel awful. He's only fifteen and has been through so much, so soon. "I don't know, Grandma. I don't know." 

"I mean would they watch that film?"

"I doubt it. Elizabeth maybe, but Jack Sparrow... Not a chance."

"Emma's not going to leave until she has answers and I know that the two of them are desperate to try and find Robin. And it's only getting harder to keep the truth from Regina."

"Mom's drilling me at home. She knows something's up." 

I shake my head and crack open one of the shells of a nut. "I'm sure." 

"Do you think we should get my Grandpa involved? Gold, I mean."

"Really?" I shudder. "They stole from him... He's not exactly a fan of that." 

"We were giving him a chance weren't we?"

"I suppose so... Let's talk to Grandpa about it when he gets back with Neal." I don't think it's possible. I don't think that he's capable of change, even for Belle, even for Gideon. I don't think he's able to take any more chances. That shocks me more than anything, I've never given up hope on anyone before. Not even on my evil stepmother changing for the better back when I was on the run in the Enchanted Forest. But Rumplestiltskin. He's not worth the hope. 

Emma

Henry hasn't phoned back yet. Killian and I have to check out of our hotel today so I guess we're back to the original plan of camping on the beach and hoping some miracle happens. At least I'll have my magic. Even if Killian will try and shield me from using it if he thinks he'll hurt our baby. My baby. Something I never thought I'd have, thought I'd want, since I lost my son all those years ago. I didn't think I deserved the chance to be a mother again. Not after I gave Henry away. 

My thoughts are interrupted as I feel a familiar pain in my lower abdomen. I don't understand why it's there... It can't be. That's physically impossible! I run into the bathroom and lock the door behind me leaving a very shocked husband to finish the packing. That's not right. No. No. No. No. No. No, no, no, no, no. I hastily unbuckle the belt around my shorts and pull them down, alongside my underwear and I see it. The cotton runs deep in its colour. 

Blood. 

Then I do the only thing that feels natural in that moment, I scream out and I slump to the ground, my back curling away from the wall and over my tucked up knees. Blood. Blood. I got my damn period! Killian is rattling on the doorknob yelling for me to open the door and I try not to listen. I try to ignore the bangs against the wood or the splinters that fly through as the hook works its way through to me. If anything I think about the payment we'll have to pay to fix it. Anything but my husband. Kind, loyal, brave, incredible, sexy Killian. Why didn't I take a test before I told him? Before I let myself feel that strong happiness and joy about it? I don't want to talk to him. I don't want to let him down. This'll be the last straw, he'll leave me. As he should have done before we even started dating. We don't work. I bring too much danger, danger that he's tried to run away from. I can't even give him a child apparently because I have to think I can before that's cruelly taken away from me. Calm down Emma. Calm down. But I can't. I feel a surge of power running through my veins. Magic. As if I needed things to get anymore impossible. That's it. That's it! I can't have magic here, not in the Land WITHOUT Magic. I'll wake up and this will all be a nightmare. I'll actually be pregnant and I'll be wrapped up in Killian's arms and we'll be waiting for my son to call us. 

The lights flare twice as all my emotions heighten. Sadness that I'm not with child. Anger at my period's unwelcome lateness. Love for the man that is still calling out for me and is still bashing through to the ensuite so he can make sure I'm okay. Longing for the morning so that I can wake out of this horror. Then it all goes black. 

I'm sorry that I haven't updated soon for you! And I'm sorry for the cliffhanger. I know I'll have a lot of angry CS shippers now... I guess you'll have to wait for the next update! 

Love y'all, K x