Her Lost Father

Chapter 10: Hold Me Tight

The second the kids left, Emma let sobs wrack her body as she collapsed into his embrace. "Killian," Emma cried into his neck as she frantically gasped for breath between whimpers. He couldn't speak, but chose to just hold the woman he loved as she continued her fit of hysterics.

There was a part of him that was mad at her. He thought he would have to wait years for her to die and join him here. He didn't, by any means, want her down here where she could get hurt. But on the other hand, he felt his warm tears leave stains on his own cheeks when he realized that he could barely go a week without her, much less years and years.

"Oh, Killian..." She murmured as she pulled away from him and looked at his disfigured and bloody face. He looked away, he couldn't bear her seeing him like this.

"Not as devilishly handsome as normal, eh love?" He asked quietly.

Tears still steaming, she laughed "Sit down," she gestured to the couch. "Let me look at you."

"Sure you want to? Hades sort of..." He paused, stumbling over to the couch, "knocked the handsome out of me."

Emma took the seat beside him. "No one's that powerful." She said, slowly waving her hand over his face, fingers alight with magic. Killian's blood and bruises shimmered away, replaced by his short stubble, gorgeous eyes, and strong body.

Emma started to move towards him, but hesitated. This was the first time since before the darkness that both of them were, even remotely... Normal. Could they ever fix what had been broken between them? Their relationship had countless healing scars, open wounds left unattended, and conversations like daggers that had been left unsaid.

She knew that they couldn't fix what had happened, but she still feared that he saw her as a monster. Saw her as the woman who wouldn't let him die a hero. The woman who tossed him right back into the darkness after centuries of battling. The woman who destroyed everyone she loved. The woman who would always be an orphan. He had said some terrible things when the darkness had consumed him. They were always in the back of her mind, and she couldn't help but wonder if he meant them.

He noticed her hesitation, and with one smooth motion, he pulled her onto his lap. He felt her stiffen. While she completely loved and trusted him, this was a little foreign. With his hand, leaving his hook still wrapped around her waist, he tipped her chin towards him as he smiled warmly. "Thank you love." Emma's tense body relaxed as she moved her hands up to cup his face as she gave him a tender kiss.

Her gentle lips, salty from tears, was like ice water on a hot day.

Suddenly, the door burst open. Henry, Riley, Maya, Lucas, Farkle, Zay, Regina, Robin, and the Charming's spilled into the slightly cramped room. The couple sprang apart as Emma literally fell off his lap. It took all her muscular strength to not make it look awkward as she sank into the seat next to him. Thank god she hadn't skipped leg day.

"Oh Killian!" Mary Margret exclaimed as she and David rushed over to him. "Are you okay?"

"Well I've seen brighter days, but I'm well. At least as well as one can be after being tortured by Hades." He said, his clever and snarky wit returning instantly.

Emma was still in a little shock at the thought of potentially getting caught making out with her dead boyfriend by a bunch of kids, her parents, Regina, and Robin. But she smiled, she had missed him so much. This is what family feels like, she thought, and the comforting notion wrapped itself around her like a warm blanket.