Operation: Parent Trap - A Captain Swan Story

Part 6/7

The next morning, Killian stood at the stove, cooking chocolate chip pancakes. Emma finished making the coffee and turned to look at her husband, a smile on her lips.

She came up behind him, wrapping her arms around his waist and resting her head against his back. "I'm so glad you're home."

He smiled. "So am I, love."

"I missed you so much, Killian," she said, as he turned to face her. "I missed this. Just normal, quiet moments together."

"As did I," he said, pressing a kiss to her lips.

They heard the children bounding down the stairs.

Emma smiled. "I think quiet is about to be over."

"Music to my ears," he said. "The quiet at my apartment was deafening."

He turned his attention back to the pancakes, as the twins finally reached the bottom of the stairs. Their mouths hung open when they spotted their father.

"Dad!" they both screamed, as they ran toward him.

Emma and Killian smiled, as they snaked their arms around his waist. He dropped a kiss onto each of their heads.

They pulled back and looked at him cautiously.

"Are you really home?" Liam asked.

"For good?" Ella said.

Killian looked at Emma and then they both nodded. "Aye, I'm really home," he said.

"For good," Emma added, rubbing her husband's back.

"Yes!" they screamed. "We did it!"

Killian and Emma laughed.

Emma nodded. "Actually, we have to thank you. We may not have agreed with your methods, but you two did force us to face our problems head on."

"Aye. We may never have gotten here without your help," Killian said.

Liam arched his eyebrow like his father. "Does that mean we're not grounded anymore?"

Killian and Emma looked at each other and then responded in unison. "Don't push it."

...

One week later, Killian sat in the shipyard facing the water. He had come here often during the last six months. The water calmed him and gave him hope that one day things would be okay. And now things were more than okay. Now that he had his family back, they were wonderful.

He heard her approaching and a smile appeared on his lips when he saw her. She sat down beside him, as he lifted his gaze to her.

"Hello, love," he said.

"Hi," Emma said, leaning toward him to press a kiss to his lips. "Been here long?"

"Not long. Just been thinking."

She scanned his face. "About what?"

He met her eyes. "The first time I brought you here."

Emma smiled. "You were trying to calm me and convince me to forgive my parents."

He nodded. "Aye. I said it was my job to protect your heart. I still believe that, Emma."

Emma took his hand in hers. "I know."

"I know we've hurt each other and we've hurt our children in the process, but we have a second chance now and I refuse to waste it."

Emma bobbed her head. "We're going to do better this time, Killian. We were always able to talk to each other and be honest. You straightened me out when I needed it and I put you in your place when necessary. But somewhere along the way we became scared to share our true feelings and that's what caused us to grow apart. We can't do that this time. We need to tell each other how we feel, no matter how hard it may be."