Captain Swan One-Shots

Second Chance, Part 15b

Her expression turned somber as she let out a sigh. She stared down into her cup and bemused, "Things were easier when I was only a smitten teenager – or a little girl listening to her mother read."

"Or a lad sailing with his brother in his boat. Seeing the ocean stretch out before you."

Killian then ran his hand over his face and through his hair. "I'm still not sure there's an easy solution here, love."

"No – but maybe there's one we haven't really thought all the way through."

He cocked an eyebrow, a puzzled expression filling his blue eyes.

"I must confess I'm rather lost. What haven't we considered?"

Belle took a deep breath as she carefully considered her words.

"Maybe instead of trying to allow our father back in our lives, we let a friend in our lives."

Her brother only stared at her, a mix of emotions whirring on his face. He then took a breath and exhaled deeply.

"I'll admit I didn't quite expect you to say that – I'm not quite sure it's a choice I'd consider."

Belle's expression faltered and her shoulders slumped. She perked up when her brother continued, "But that doesn't mean it won't work. Or that it can't work."

He took another deep breath before he offered, "Emma's been saying the same thing this whole time. We don't owe him anything, and it's up to us as to how much we want him in our lives."

With a nod, she supplied, "And we don't have to necessarily see him as our father."

Killian hummed – his hand wandered to scratch behind his ear. He then sighed and told her, "But it still begs the question of how to even get to that place."

Belle nodded once again. A solemn expression then overtook her features.

"Especially for you."

He opened his mouth in question when she apologized, "I should have realized this would be equally as difficult for you. You remember being abandoned and all the pain it left you. It's why you've lashed out, and why we fought at the hospital."

"That isn't an excuse for yelling at you and making you feel the way I did."

With a sigh, she resigned, "I know, I know." She took a breath before she offered, "But I do understand why this is so hard – and why moving forward on any level is just too much."

He let out a sigh of his own, raking his fingers through his dark hair.

"But it hasn't all been a bloody nightmare. I quite enjoyed having someone else to talk with about baseball – all those stats and our favorite players."

"And seeing if we agree on World Series contenders," Belle supplied as a small smile made its way across her features.

With a deep breath, she then offered, "Maybe that could be a starting point? If that's what you want."

Killian dropped his head and pinched the bridge of his nose. He then brought his eyes back up to his sister's.

"What do you want, love?"

Belle tilted her head and furrowed her eyebrows. A million different thoughts and scenarios flowed in her mind.

She then took a long and slow deep breath.

"I've always thought we should at least hear him out – to see if he really had changed. And now that I've gotten to know him a little..."