Mismatch Lovers

Chapter 35

* Emma's POV *

"Here, let me help," my mother's voice came from the kitchen doorway as I was doing the dinner dishes and she came to stand next to me. The entire evening had been rather awkward and uncomfortable for me so Killian had let me come in here, knowing I needed the time to myself, but apparently that wasn't happening.

"Oh, uhm, thanks," I mumbled, handing her another plate to dry before putting in the open cupboard in front of her. "You don't have to do that, I can do it myself."

"I know you can," she gave me a small knowing smile, making me want to shrink further behind my walls. We worked quietly for a few moments, and I'd almost settled my anxiety when she spoke again. "I'm glad you found him. It's rare to actually find your soul mate these days."

"Excuse me?" I asked, stopping my work to look at her. "What are you talking about?"

"You and Killian," she answered simply. "You're made for each other. Thats what soul mates are."

"How would you know?" I asked, partly offended that she thought she knew anything about me. "You've only spent a few hours with us."

"Because you don't look at each other with butterflies and happiness," she started, stopping me from letting out my protests. "You look at each other with reality, but at the same time, like there's a fairytale waiting for you."

"Well, that's-"

"That's horribly rare in this world," she interrupted me. "You're both stronger than most people can imagine. You've been broken and wounded... but you still look at each other like they hung the sun, stars, and moon just for you."

"But-"

"The way he looks at you is all any mother wants for her daughter," she continued. "I know you're strong all on your own, that you're so much your own person it probably drives you both crazy... but you let him take care of you. I hate that I never got to do that, but I'm glad someone does."

"Hey," Killian's voice came from behind her and we both looked over at him. I saw concern all over his face, making me realize I was crying. I'd cried more in the last few months than in the rest of my life and it was getting ridiculous. "Everything alright in here?"

"I'm just going to use the restroom," she excused herself quietly, scooting past him.

"Swan?" He got my attention again as he came closer to me, cupping my cheek lightly. "What's wrong?"

"Nothing," I sniffled, going up on my toes to hug him tightly around his neck. He instantly brought me closer, holding me the way he always did as I clutched onto him for dear life. "I just love you. I love you so so much."

"I love you, too," he said with a kiss to my temple, sounding slightly confused. "But why would that make you cry? What did your mother say?"

"She just," I sighed as I pulled away enough to rest my forehead on his, needing desperately to see exactly what she'd been talking about in his eyes. "Reminded me how lucky I am to be here with you. I will never understand what made you choose me."

"Because," he said as his lips turned up into a smile. "Without you, I live every day in black and white. It's still a perfectly fine life, but not overly appealing. Oh, but with you... you bring so much color into my life it can be blinding. The moment I saw you, it was like my heart came to life. I remember being that teenage dirtbag trying to stay away from the new girl in town, but just couldn't seem to get her out of his head."

"We do tend to just gravitate towards each other, don't we?" I giggled a bit, feeling him relax at the sound. I half smiled and hugged him again, closing my eyes and just letting myself enjoy being in his arms.

"Sorry to interrupt," David's voice made me jump and we both looked over. "Sorry. It's just getting pretty late, so we were going to head out. Maybe we can meet for lunch tomorrow?"

"Sure," Killian agreed for me, squeezing my hip gently before letting me go. "I'll just walk you out."

* Killian's POV*

"Thank you," Mary Margaret said for the thousandth time that day as we stood on the front porch. "I know she never would have agreed to this if it wasn't for you."

"What did you say to her?" I asked, glancing in the window where Emma was cleaning up the living room. I could tell she was flustered by the way she tugged at her hair when she pushed it away from her face, so I wanted to get back to her as soon as I could. "In the kitchen, what set her off like that?"

"I never meant to make her cry," she answered guiltily, confusion all over her husband's face. "I was just... telling her how glad I was that she found someone to take care of her."

"You can't just... say things like that to her," I sighed, trying not to get frustrated with them like I tended to. "I've told you more than once that she doesn't react like most people do."

"You talk to her like that all the time," she argued, not seeing my point at all. "I heard you even today talking to her just now. Why am I different?"

"Because she knows me," I snapped a bit, taking a breath before continuing. "She met me when she was seventeen, I made her feel safe when she hadn't ever had that. I screwed up both our lives when I let her go, but I'm trying desperately to make sure she knows how much I regret that and how much I love her. She accepts it because as much as she hates it, she wants... needs to hear it sometimes, and she's not ready for that from you yet."

With that I went inside, unable to deal with them anymore. I just needed to get back to her. I closed the door quietly behind me, leaning back on it to watch her. She hadn't even heard me come in, sitting in the recliner with her baby blanket in one hand and the other on her stomach.

"Scoot over," I said as I walked over to her, sitting in the space she made and settling her in my lap with a sigh. "How's my girl doing?"

"Better now that it's just you and me," she admitted, sliding her arms around me and laying her head on my chest. I squeezed her closer and she cuddled into me even more, letting out a content sigh. "I don't really want to talk about it, I just... need a little while."

"I know," I said simply, kissing her forehead lightly and just holding her. I knew this was all she needed, all she could handle right now, and I was more than happy to be whatever she needed.

Alright, loves, I have tomorrow off so I'm hoping to get something updated. Not sure if it'll be this or something else, let me know what you'd prefer.

Also, I posted a new story. It's not fanfiction, just a novel I'm starting, but I'd really love your thoughts on it. Thanks, see you soon, loves!