Cloudless Skies

Chapter 18

Remember that this story takes place in the 1920's.

Six Months Later...

It had been six months since Emma found out she was pregnant. Six months since Killian had proposed. Six months since they had found his real family. They were as happy as ever. Emma was gaining more weight as the baby grew and she was going through hormonal changes as well. She often felt like she got on Killian's nerves, but he was a good sport about it. He gave Emma whatever she wanted and she appreciated it, but tried to stay out of the way. Killian sold his false father's mansion, getting a large amount of money for it. He wanted Emma to live on a farm like she had in her childhood. She was grateful, and he was happy that he was able to bring a smile to her face.

"Swan! Where are you, love?" Killian shouted as he walked into the house.

"Baby's room!" She hollered back. He hurried up the stairs and greeted her with a kiss. "Where have you been all day?"

"I was out. Shopping."

"Killian, I told you no more. You already got me a beautiful home, got me pregnant, and we are planning to have a wedding in a few weeks. What else could you possibly give me?"

"Close your eyes." She sighed but did as he said. "Hold your hand out." She felt something being placed in her hands, but didn't know what it was. "Now, open."

She looked down and saw a pendant in her hands. "Wow, Killian! It's beautiful!" She looked up with confusion on her face. "What is it?"

"This, my love, is a necklace that will tell you what our baby is going to be. If it swings north to south, it's a boy. If it swings east to west, it's a girl. Shall we try it?"

"Sure." Killian smiled and held the pendant over her hand. As it swung over her hand, a wide smile appeared on her face. "It's a boy!" The pendant that swung up and down, suddenly started to swing side to side. "What does that mean?"

Killian grabbed it and pulled it away. "What if we're having twins? A boy and a girl?"

"Two babies?" Emma held her hand to her chest, and he quickly grabbed her arm and helped her sit down in the rocking chair in the corner. "I'll be outnumbered! I can't do it on my own."

"Emma, breathe," Killian told her. He leaned down in front of her and grabbed her hands. "I'll be here."

She worked on trying to breathe. "You mean you're going to help me?"

"Of course. Why would you think I wouldn't?"

"It's just that men don't... Usually want to spend time with their children. They think it's a woman's job. It's not the first time I've seen it happen."

"When are you going to get it through your pretty head that I am not like normal people?"

"I don't know," she laughed.

Killian leaned down to kiss her. "I'll get dinner started." Emma watched as he went downstairs and she rocked in the chair.

The thought of two babies was a lot to take in. They had to get more clothes, another crib, there just wasn't enough space! As she felt herself become more stressed, Emma took deep breaths in order to calm herself. She knew that stress wasn't a good thing to have when a woman was pregnant. She got up from her chair and went downstairs to the kitchen where Killian stood over the stove, stirring whatever was in the pot in front of him. She sat at the table in the kitchen and looked down at her fingernails with a sigh.

"What's wrong, love?" Killian asked from his spot at the stove.

"I hate being pregnant," she mumbled. "Then there will be two babies. We won't ever sleep!"

He chuckled, "oh, Emma, everything will be fine."

"Things used to be so easy. I would clean rooms and serve snobby rich people on a stupid boat all day. But then I met you, and we ended up running away together to find your real family and to create one of our own. I just can't believe we did it."

"Do you regret meeting me?" He suddenly asked.

Emma turned around to look at him. "Of course not! Why would you think that?"

He shrugged. "The way you just said all of that. That things used to be easier. Maybe you still would have had your easy life if I decided to run away from Cole before the cruise! Then, you wouldn't have had to be bothered by me!"

"I never said that!"

"You sure as hell implied it! Was I just your escape plan? Did you think that you could seduce a rich man's son and then have a life with him?"

"Killian, I didn't plan that. But I believe you were the one who seduced me," she said, hoping to add some humor to the air. But a smile didn't even form on Killian's face. "Maybe you are the one that is burdened by me. I've been trying so hard to be a good person! I've tried to stay out of your way, because I didn't want to fight! I didn't want you to yell at me! It was an accident that I got pregnant, wasn't it? You only wanted me for a little bit of fun, is that right?" Emma could feel tears start to prick her eyes, but she refused to let them fall. To show him that she was vulnerable.

"No, I didn't. Yes, you getting pregnant wasn't planned, but it's not a bad thing! I love you so much, but you just irritate the hell out of me sometimes, Swan," he slammed his fists down on the counter, causing her to jump. "You are so bloody confusing!"

"I'm a woman! It's not easy to live with one!"

"And that's an excuse?"

"Do you want to leave me? Go ahead. Everyone's always left. I should have known better than to believe that you would actually want to stay with me."

"Emma, I don't want that," he said calmly. "I'd die if I lost you."

"You are so confusing! You can't do this to a pregnant woman!" She cried. Killian quickly ran to her and wrapped her in his arms to let her cry in his chest.

"I'm sorry. I didn't mean to yell. I guess I'm just afraid of people lying to me, and because of that, I let my insecurities out on you. I don't want to fight, Emma."

"It's okay," she sniffed. "Let's just finish dinner, okay?" He nodded. Still sensing that he wasn't convinced, she leaned up on her toes and kissed him passionately before heading to the stove.