Shared Pain

Chapter 3

"Hi, sweetie." Killian closed the bedroom door softly as Emma shut her book and looked through her glasses at her husband.

Emma watched as Killian undressed. "That woman we met earlier today, Regina Mills, was it? She applied for the job," Killian told and Emma sighed softly.

How did that woman manage to interfere in her and her husband's life in every possible way?

"She's got quite a history regarding fashion, even worked at Ralph Lauren for a couple of years and now she wants to work for my shop!" He said ecstatically.

Killian owned a clothing store in Storybrooke. It wasn't that big, but it was one of the two in town. He actually designed clothes himself and was proud of his small shop.

"You thinking about hiring her?" Emma inquired softly. If Regina was good for the business, there was no way she could convince Killian to not hire her, just because Emma couldn't stand her.

Killian shrugged. "Well, the job interviews are tomorrow and I'll see if I think she's fitting for the company. If she's as good as it says on paper, I think I'll most certainly hire her. Isn't it funny that you already know her from the gym?"

"Given the amount of people in this town, no," Emma replied and sighed softly as Killian yawned and joined her in bed. "Killian, I want to talk to you about something," she confessed softly and Killian closed his eyes as he rested his head on his pillow.

"Okay," he muttered softly and he already was half asleep.

"Killian, it's quite important," Emma said and lay her book on her nightstand.

Killian opened one eye and grabbed his wife's hand. "Can it wait until tomorrow?" He asked softly. "It was a busy day and as long as I'm without employees, I have to handle everything alone." He closed his eyes again.

Emma clenched her teeth but nodded. "Yeah, sure," she muttered and took off her glasses before she put off the light.

~~~~

"No, you're going to wear this," Emma said sternly as she dressed her youngest daughter in a blue shirt with a pink butterfly.

Lola pouted and groaned in frustration. Emma didn't care and finished dressing Lola. The girl was stubborn and once she had her mind on something, it was hard to change her decision, but there was no way Emma would let Lola go to school in her bikini.

"Mom? Where is my shoe!"

Emma walked downstairs with Lola holding her hand tightly. "By the couch. Why don't you just take off both your shoes at the same time?" She questioned rhetorically and glanced at her husband sipping his coffee calmly in the kitchen.

"Mom, I haven't finished my project for today, yet!" Eva whined hysterically. "I haven't had enough time to prepare what I'm going to say for each sort of rock! Where's my encyclopedia?" She asked and ran to the living room.

Emma sighed and tilted Lola on a chair. "Killian, some help please?" Emma asked her husband, but he just vaguely glanced at Emma, before he continued reading the newspaper. He hummed something, but didn't move furthermore.

"Alright. Henry, could you make sure Lola eats something, I gotta help Eva with her encyclopedia as I know it's on the top.." she got interrupted by a loud thumb coming from the living room.

"Oh, crap," she muttered before she hurried to the living room, where she found Eva crying. The girl was covered in books and she was lucky the shelf hadn't fallen on top of her.