Under Lock and Key #Wattys2016

Chapter 21

Trigger warnings are the same as always. Abuse and violence.

Emma slowly woke up by the sounds of rain hitting the windows. She covered herself up with the blankets, and noticed that Killian was burying himself into her back. She turned over and moved the blankets over his shoulders. Even though they both were wearing sweatpants and t-shirts, it was chilly in the room from the air conditioning. He sighed in his sleep and moved Emma closer to him. She played with the hair in front of his face and watched as it would bounce back into place. She ran her fingertips over his chest, down to his arms, and back up again, leaving goosebumps in its wake.

"I love you." She whispered only loud enough so she could hear. "You've given me something that I've never had. You've given me a home. Please don't go away. Don't take that away from me." Tears were pooling in her eyes. She cuddled into his side and drifted back to sleep.

"You're what?" Walsh screamed in anger.

Emma swallowed her fear. "I'm p-pregnant."

"We can't have a baby!"

"Why not? Is that the worst thing in the world?"

"Yes it is. I don't need a child running around this apartment. Kids are sticky and messy and need full time work."

"I'm here anyway! I can take care of it."

"And let it add onto the chores you already have? I don't think so!"

"So, what? You want to kill our baby? Because that isn't going to work with me. The one time that I give you permission for us to have sex, and you get me pregnant. This is your fault!"

Steam seemed to have come out of Walsh's ears. He grabbed Emma's arm and threw her. She hit her back on the couch and a sickening cracking sound was heard, along with her scream of pain. She knew her ribs were broken.

"You don't talk to me like that! Don't you ever learn? I'll take care of this baby problem when I get back." He said as he grabbed his keys and jacket.

Emma held onto her side as tears rolled down her face. She was afraid to ask where he was going to go, so she didn't. When the door slammed shut, she burst into tears. Sobs racked her body and made her ribs hurt worse.

Emma sat straight up. She screamed out. The dream was so vivid. So realistic. She swore she could feel the pain in her ribs. Killian came running into the room and sat down in front of her. He placed his hands on her cheeks and looked into her eyes.

"Emma, what is it? Another memory?" He asked.

She nodded. "I was pregnant. When I told Walsh, he yelled at me and threw me across the room."

Killian tilted his head at her. "You don't have to worry. He's not here anymore."

"I know that but it felt so real. It was like I was reliving it all over again."

"I wish I could take your pain away."

"I know, but it all happened when it did. You had no idea."

"For those two months I did. I knew." He backed away from her and crossed his legs when he sat down on the bed. His head was down in shame. "For those two months that I watched you. I watched as he'd yell and raise his voice at you. I watched him hit you, but I didn't do anything. It pissed me off, but I wasn't ready to take you yet. I was a coward. I should have called the police and they could have helped you. They didn't suspect me as a murderer and I wouldn't have had to worry. But I didn't do anything."

Emma was stunned. She didn't know what to say. "But that's what brought me to you. Well, you to me." He looked up at her and she saw the tears in his eyes. A look of regret. "I'm not mad at you."

"But you should be."

"You're right. I should be, but I'm not, and you are just going to have to accept that."

"I love you."

She wrapped her arms around him. "I love you too." She wiped his tears away and gave him a reassuring smile.

He helped her off the bed and carried her into the living room. He sat down next to her and looked at her with a nervous face.

"I wanted to give you something." He said. He went into the kitchen and returned with a box. It was wrapped with white and black paper.

"What is it?"

"Customarily, surprise is part of the fun of gift giving. Open it."

Emma gave him one last glance before ripping open the paper. As the box came into view, she smiled brightly. She opened it, and a brand new phone was sitting there. She looked up at Killian and he had a dorky smile on his face.

"That gift is well overdue because obviously, I trust you. Truth be told, I bought it awhile ago. I just forgot to give it to you."

She carefully placed it on the coffee table and then tackled him with hugs and kisses. He returned the favor and pulled back.

"Thank you."

He smirked. "Wait until Christmas. And your birthday. I already have everything planned out."

She hugged him again. In one month it was going to be her birthday, and Killian already knew how they were going to celebrate.

He grabbed his laptop and they activated her new phone. Killian already put in his phone number. That was all she really needed until it was safe enough to settle down and make friends.

After they ate dinner, Emma and Killian were watching movies together on the couch. His arms were wrapped around her and she was on his chest. He kept sneaking glances over at her to see her reaction on the movie. He was happy that she was happy. Emma turned to him and smiled at him. She laid a kiss on his cheek and laid back down.

The Hotel won the poll with 16 votes! I'll publish that book as soon as I'm done with one of the ones I'm working on.