Captain Swan: Protection

Chapter 11

Killian's POV

When Natalie's head shot up from the ground and I saw her face for the first time, my heart filled with love for her.  There was no missing the similarities, but even if there weren't any, I'd still love her.  She's my daughter.  She's mine and Emma's daughter.

I hugged her and never wanted to let go.  She hugged me back cried against me, which just reminded me that she grew up without a father, without me.  As I stroked the back of her head and held my daughter, I couldn't help but feel guilty.  I felt some tears in my eyes and worked to stop them.  Emma joined the hug and it was perfect.  This was my family.  My beautiful family.  

When Natalie pulled back I didn't want to let go, but I did.  I put my arm around her shoulders and looked at her.

She smiled. "You know, it's been kinda weird being here.  Seeing Henry as a teenager and Neal as a baby.  He's a year older than me, but here, I'm years older than him."

Emma and I laughed, but then I thought of something else.  "Not just that, but seeing your old man too."  I only half teased with a smile.

She laughed and smiled.  "That's something I don't mind."  She said as she looked at me.

"I'm sorry I wasn't there for you."  I said sadly.

"It wasn't your fault.  I do not blame you.  Don't blame yourself, you had no control over the situation or her. You don't need to apologize to me."

"Well, I still can't help but feel guilty."  Emma put her hand on my shoulder as I said that.  "And I'm here now.  We'll thaw your heart.  Don't worry, love."

Natalie looked a little sad but put a smile on her face.  "It's ok.  When Em-Mom, has me, this me would disappear anyway, but I won't be gone."

"That doesn't mean we're just going to let you die."  Emma said and I agreed.  I took my arm off Natalie's shoulders and grabbed her hand to encouragingly squeeze it.  She smiled.

"You like the water, huh?  You a sailor like your father?"  Emma asked with a smile.

Natalie looked at the water and smiled.  "I always loved the water.  And when you talked about Dad being a pirate and how much he loved the water, I liked coming to the docks more often.  It made me feel closer to him."

"I like the sound of "Dad."  And I'll have to take you out sometime."  The fact that she loves the water is perfect.

"Yeah."  She said.  But then she lost her breath for a moment and fell.

"Natalie!"  Emma and I said at the same time as I caught her.  "She's as cold as ice."  I tried not to panic.  More of her hair turned white, so that now that was predominant color.  Natalie opened her eyes and shivered.

"We're running out of time.  Come on."  Emma said as she stood up.

I picked Natalie up and stood.  "I'm fine Ki-Dad.  You can put me down."

"No you are not fine, but you will be.  And you'll have to deal with me carrying you."  I said with concern as I saw her getting paler.

Emma put her hand on my shoulder and teleported us to the loft.  "Emma!  Killian!"  I heard Snow say and looked up.  "Natalie!"  She said as she, David, Regina, Robin, and Henry came towards us.

"How bad is it?"  Regina asked, dreading the answer.

I didn't answer but took Natalie to the couch and set her down.  Everyone looked at her in shock.

"I'd say it's pretty bad." David said when he saw her.

"She looks just like you two."  Robin said.  Regina changed Natalie's clothes into thick sweats and coats, while Snow made some hot chocolate and David got blankets.

"N-Now you know w-why I used the cloaking spell."  Natalie said as she continued to shiver.

"I for one think you should have told us."  I told her.

"You wouldn't have let me help.  And besides, I wouldn't have put it past Mom to lock me in the jail to keep me safe."  Natalie laughed a little.

"I could see that."  Regina said.

"Alright, back to the more pressing subject.  What do we know about a frozen heart?"  Emma asked.

"It can be thawed with an act of true love."  Snow said.

"Ok, so like what?  True love's kiss?"  Emma asked.

"Maybe, but I don't have a true love.  At least, not that I've met."  Natalie said.  I could tell that she was trying not to let herself shiver.

"Why is your hair turning white?  What does that mean?"  Robin asked.

"That happens when someone has a frozen heart.  It's like a timeline, and when her hair turns completely white, she won't have long.  An hour at most."  Regina said.

"Ok, so we're running out of time.  There has to be something we can do."  Emma said.

"Maybe there's something one of you can do."  Henry said to me and Emma.  "There's different kinds of true love.  There's the love between Grandma and Grandpa, but also the love that Emma had for me when she woke me up from the sleeping curse."

"Parental love."  Robin said.

Me and Emma looked at each other.  I was sitting on one side of Natalie and she was on the other.

"Natalie!"  Regina said as Natalie fell back and her hair turned completely white.  Her eyes closed for a few seconds, and her shivering got worse.

"Natalie!"  She opened her eyes and looked at me.  "Emma."  I said as I looked at her.  One look into her eyes told me she knew exactly what I was thinking.  I looked at Natalie, who was looking between me and her mother with confusion.

I saw Emma leaning towards her and I did the same.  We each kissed one side of Natalie's head I felt a burst of wind.

I looked at Natalie and saw her eyes closed, but her hair started turned black again, and she stopped shivering.  She opened her eyes and looked around.

"I-I don't feel cold anymore.  What happened?"  She asked.

"Your parents love you.  They thawed your heart."  David smiled as Emma and I hugged our daughter.