Once Upon A Happy Beginning

Chapter Forty-Two: Daddy's Smile

A/N: This one was actually really emotional to write. But it's all worth it for the ending. 

Emma

Elizabeth. My precious Elizabeth. I was under the impression that Henry would be the only child I ever had; I never expected Killian and I to actually have one. After... the Caribbean, I didn't expect to have a child either. I thought it was just some cruel punishment that I cheated the Final Battle with True Love's Kiss  from Henry, and as a result, I wouldn't get the full happy ending I deserved. Then Elizabeth happened. I was pregnant, until I wasn't anymore. And Gold, the devil lurking behind us right now, took my shot at happiness. 

The version of Hook we're watching at the moment holds my baby - his baby - and there's evident disdain on his face. Killian tries to stop me from looking, he's telling me that this version of him is a monster. That this version of him is a villain, a dastardly pirate who doesn't care about anyone but himself. That's not true. You can see it in his eyes, he cares about Baelfire. He always did. Even when Neal tried to take the woman he had developed feelings for, Killian Jones has always cared about Baelfire. Our Hook comes and talks to my husband, saying that maybe we can convince their past self to look after Elizabeth. Maybe he's right, and even Regina admits he could be. If you're loud enough, you can usually talk through a window.

"Killian." I look up at my love's eyes, and see pools of salty tears clouding blue irises. He's smiling at me, but his eyes look hurt. This is the man he once was, looking like he's seconds away from throwing the baby that only Killian really knew, overboard into the Neverland seas. "This is our baby girl. We have to try."

Hook tries to reason with him. He says the two of them are the new Brothers Jones. Killian seems to think about that, and then he nods briefly and takes my lips in his. "Bloody hell Swan, let's try and get through to our Elizabeth. " Killian's voice breaks and I take his hand in mine. I kiss it softly as he's kissed my hands numerous times. "I love you, Swan."

"I love you." I say, moving towards my daughter. Killian trails behind, hand still entwined with mine. His fingers toy with my wedding ring, just as he always does. I let out a sob when I properly see my little girl, at eye level. I see her chubby little hands clutched around a white fluffy thing as she lays in Hook's arms, swaddled in a blanket just like the one I had as a baby. I now feel so much pain seeing Elizabeth like this. I think of the torture that I put Mom and Dad through. I spent so long trying not to be their daughter. Snow White and Prince Charming's daughter. If I knew that this was the pain of seeing your baby but knowing that you'd never be able to truly call her yours, I'd have been much different back when the curse was originally broken. Killian's not the only one of us whose changed a lot. "Killian..."

"Aye, love. She's got her mother's beautiful looks, hasn't she?"

"No, she looks just like her father." I say, wrapping my arms around my husband's waist. I lean my head onto his shoulder and speak softly: "Elizabeth, there's been a lot of people talking to you darling. I hope you can hear. Don't worry about anyone else, just listen to me and Daddy. Just listen to us, honey. We want to keep you safe and happy, Elizabeth, nothing else." 

"We love you, little love. You're my angel, Elizabeth. You're my little girl, and you look just like your Mommy. She's breathtakingly gorgeous, like you are."

"But you have Daddy's eyes, Elizabeth. They twinkle in the light just like Daddy's do when he's happy or mischievous or... nevermind, you don't need to hear that, honey. But you smile like Daddy as well. Can you show Mommy the smile she loves so much, honey? Come on, where's your beautiful smile? I'm going to tell you a secret, Elizabeth. I fell for your Daddy's smile first. The very first day I saw him, I knew I wanted to see him smile again."

Killian tenses in my arms. "Is that so? Little love, if you must know, it was Mommy's stubbornness that made me fall for her. And you're being as stubborn as her right now. Come on, angel. I want to see my Elizabeth's smile. Hey, Elizabeth. Yeah, that's Mommy's personality coming through. You can smile for Mommy and Daddy, little love. We're here, we're getting you back."

"Mom! Dad! Keep going! It's working." My son says from behind me, he's writing now. The pen glowing in his hand as it passes over the paper. "The baby in Captain Hook's arms could hear voices in her ears. It was Captain Hook himself, but hundreds of years in the future, and his wife, the Saviour, talking to their child. The infant Princess Elizabeth knew that her mother and father were there, watching over her. She can hear you! Keep talking to her."

Mom comes closer with a gentle smile on her face. She holds onto my free hand, the one that's not encircling my husband, and she speaks to Elizabeth too. She tells her that she's Grandma, and that she knows she's seen Elizabeth before but that she wants to see her again. That she wants to rock her and hold her and sing to her, just as a Grandma should. All the things that she never had with Henry. Dad joins her, and talks too. About he's proud of me, and that Elizabeth should be proud of her Mommy too. Robin talks about all the times we've helped to save him, and that her Mommy and Daddy are heroes. Regina just smiles and says that she'll be the best little sister for Henry ever. Gold sits back, separate from the whole proceedings. I wonder what he knows, but I'll save it until I know my daughter is safe. 

"I love you, Elizabeth. Yeah, come on you can do that smile for Mommy and Daddy! We're all here, darling. Come on! Mommy wants to see your charming smile, go on! Oh Killian! She's smiling. That's my Elizabeth. You're my beautiful little Elizabeth, aren't you?"

Killian beams. He does that breath-taking smile that really is a mirror image on our daughter. I've loved his smile from the moment I saw him. 

"Killian Jones. Though you might have heard of me by my more colourful moniker, Hook."

"Hook?"

"Check my satchel."

I look at the shiny metal that Mary Margaret pulls out the bag and back at the man tied up against the tree. I think of a red jacket and hat with a lilac plume. I imagine the waxed moustache and the perm. I look at the man in front of me. Mary Margaret at least looks a bit like Snow White. David looks a little bit like a Prince Charming could be. I could imagine Mayor Mills being the Evil Queen. This man looks a thousand times better than: "Captain Hook?"

"Ah. So you have heard of me." And then he smiles. And I fail. I won't let him know that. If he is Captain Hook then I can't let him near my son. But he can't me. Captain Hook couldn't possibly smile like that.

Captain Hook looks at Elizabeth, and her smile. Baelfire looks too and it's clear on both their faces. That's Killian's smile. Those are Killian's eyes. Hook swallows something in his throat. "Do you think... Could she be...?" He shakes his head and looks at the twelve year old in front of him. "Well, what's her name then?" 

"Elizabeth." Baelfire says, pointing at the corner of the blanket. "Her name is Elizabeth."

"That was my mother's name." Hook says, looking gently at my baby in his arms. "Elizabeth." He stops and uses his hand to pull out the fluffy white thing. 

Killian lets out a soft exhale. "I bought that for her, in the market. It's-"

But his past self reveals it for me by naming my child out loud. "Elizabeth Swan."

And then it registers and I fall backwards in faint shock. It's only Killian's quick movements to catch me that stop me hitting the floor. 

My baby's name is Elizabeth Swan. Elizabeth Swann.

So go on... how many people saw that coming?

Don't worry, I have a few more tricks up my sleeve before Emma and Killian see their daughter again (And in typical Once fashion... their grown up daughter!).