Breaking Down Ch. 22
https://archiveofourown.org/works/31477262/chapters/116879242
Killian spun around in his stool, headache pounding.
"Jones!"
Killian's head snapped up, as Ruby stormed through the door, her red scarf billowing around her. She pulled him to his feet and squeezed him so hard that he nearly lost his breath.
"Ruby."
"She had it in her pocket like a stick of gum!" She bellowed, and Killian chuckled.
"Keep your mouth shut, Red."
Ruby hugged him again, tucking her chin against his neck. "Liam would have loved her, like really really loved her." Killian's throat grew thick, and he just patted her on the back and stepped away.
He sat back down, not entirely sure that Ruby was capable of holding on to a secret like this. "You can tell Granny, that's it." Ruby beamed.
"Of course, of course. I won't tell anyone until you guys do, but I can let it slip to the old bird that Jonesy is officially off the market permanently. You know hearts are going to break for at least two counties over!"
Killian scoffed at that, "I never even made it through the next county!"
"You sir, are a liar."
Killian rolled his eyes, "You are far too nosy for your own good."
She shrugged, "I know. And your wife is sitting in a pile of tile in your broken-down house, demanding help with paint. So, why are you here, and not with her?"
He waved his hand around the obviously full shop but smirked at her use of the title for Emma.
"Oh. You're packed. You never have this much business at once."
"Oi! Don't be an ass, Ruby!" She rolled her eyes at him and stole the other stool to sit upon.
"No seriously, what gives?"
"I took out that ad in the local newspaper, and business has been piling in. Might need another person if it keeps up. Everyone and their mothers need just about everything you can think of before Christmas. Not complaining though, tile to buy and all that."
"Jonesy?"
He set the clipboard down and looked over, "Yeah?"
"Liam would be really happy for you, ya know? He probably is wherever he landed."
He nodded, "Thanks, Red. Now get out of my shop."
Killian finished up what he could, and showered quickly before driving to the house.
Pulling up, he saw Emma's explorer sitting in the driveway, the house was dark but as he entered through the back, he heard movement upstairs. He took the steps two at a time and burst into laughter when he opened the bedroom door. Emma sat there, hair askew, as she was trying to lift each leg with both hands, she looked like a castoff doll crumpled on the floor. It was adorable.
Her green eyes lit up as she saw him, "Jones, oh thank god! Help!"
Killian rushed over, and squatted behind her, lifting her to her feet. He kept hold of her waist, and she smiled over her shoulder at him.
"My legs are asleep. I haven't moved in hours."
He nodded and kissed her quickly. "Let's get you some food."
"I ate!"
He raised an eyebrow, and she rolled her eyes. "This morning, I ate."
"And we need more than one meal a day, Swan. Come on, up you go," and lifted her into his arms, carrying her down toward the kitchen. He set her on the counter, standing beside her as he handed her a takeout box.
"What can I help with?" he asked through a mouthful of noodles, and she pointed at the wall of paint chips that had grown by at least 10. He walked over and tore down at least half of them.
"Around the corner," she mumbled. She had wallpaper samples hanging up, and he took the time to glance at them. She had them all separated, bedroom 1, bedroom 2, Half bath, and entryway. He marked the ones he liked before he took a particular sample upstairs with him. He noticed the smallest bedroom door next to theirs was slightly cracked.
Peeking in, he didn't notice it right away, but Emma had hung a few paint chips in there to the side of the door, almost out of sight. He flipped the light on and looked at them. His stomach clenched, and he heard Emma ascending.
She just leaned against the doorframe and gave him a small smile.
"Painting for something specific, love?" he asked, and she shrugged.
"Not yet."
He nodded and picked a pale green chip. "I like this one."
Emma stood beside him and marked an X on it with the pencil she had tucked through her ponytail. She left the room without a word, and he followed her down the steps.
"We can talk about it, Swan."
Emma smiled and shook her head. "Nothing to talk about yet."
"Well, if you did want to, you know that I want that."
She bit her lip and nodded. "I know."
He slipped his arms around her waist and kissed her soft lips. "Alright, whenever you are ready then."
They finished up, and Emma followed him home in her car when Graham called. Killian picked up the call, kicking his boots off.
"Sherriff."
"Jones! Are you and Em still going to foster for the holidays?"
He looked at Emma who had just come through the door. "Hang on, let me ask."
He placed the phone against his chest, "Are we going to foster through Christmas?"
Emma grinned, "I think so, does he need an answer now?"
Killian handed Emma the phone and went to place the bag of food still in his hand into the refrigerator. He got dressed for bed, and Emma came in handing his phone back.
"He wants us to come to decide tomorrow so that he can make sure they all have a place to go. Do you have time?"
He thought about it, he really didn't. He had 15 pickups tomorrow alone, but he knew she wanted this. "I can at lunch, but we have to be quick."
"Alright, I can go alone if you want, it isn't a big deal."
He saw right through that response. "No, I have time. I will just meet you there if you are over at the house." She nodded and kissed his cheek before heading toward the shower.
He glanced through his calendar, realizing that the Holiday market opened next week. He had marked Saturday off early so that he could take Emma for her first time and get a tree, Scott and August were arriving Sunday sometime. He almost laughed when he considered that it was less than a year ago that he had met Emma, moved her in, bought a house, and a car, got engaged, gained a very strange set of siblings, and now they were getting a dog that they were never actually returning because it would break her heart.
He turned Ruby's words over in his head, he liked to think that Liam and his mum would have liked Emma, loved her. The thought of another holiday without them sometimes turned his mood sour, it also usually led him to seek out the comforts of strangers and the bottom of a bottle on occasion. As Emma came out of the bathroom in her fluffy robe, he realized he wouldn't be alone this year, or ever again.
Emma crawled into bed with him and snuggled in, her curls nearly long enough to hang off the edge of her pillow. He toyed with the ends of them, running the silky hair through his fingers as he continued to be lost in his thoughts. Her small hand curled in his shirt, ring sparkling on her finger. How the fuck had he gotten so lucky? She was the entire package, and she had said yes, chose him. He smiled as he watched her sleep, totally enamored by the tiny freckles across her nose, and the thick, dark lashes that fanned across her cheeks.
"Jones, stop staring. It's weird," she mumbled and he chuckled and turned off the tv.
She smiled against his chest, it felt nice to be adored. Even if he watched her sleep like a creep.
Emma hurried through the door, and Killian was waiting by the counter for her. She ran up and quickly kissed him, and apologized for being late. They were led into the kennel area, stacked crates held cats and kittens. Emma paused to peer into a few crates but followed Killian as they headed further toward the larger kennel area.
She took one side, while Killian took the other, dogs wagging their tails at them, some barking, and she looked past the ones with the red tags because they were either adopted out or already being sheltered. She gave them each a smile, and if they ventured close enough, a pet through the bars.
"Swan!"
Emma glanced over, and made her way to stand beside him, glancing at the tag by the door. "Murphy," she smiled at the name and peered inside where a yellow lab mix of some kind sat wagging his tail at them, smiling almost. She knelt down and he walked nervously toward the gate.
"Hi, Murphy," she cooed and stuck her hand through the bar to scratch his ears. She heard a whimper, and Murphy turned, quickly making his way back toward the pile of blankets.
"Wait, are there two?" She asked looking up at Killian and Merida who ran the shelter.
Merida sighed, tossing her poufy red curls over her shoulder. She nodded and handed Emma the clipboard. "It's why we have had so much trouble adopting them out or fostering, they cant be split up."
Killian knew at that moment, the one dog that he had resigned himself to, just became two.
Emma looked up at him, and he smiled, yep he was okay with this if it made her smile like that at him.
"Mer, what's their story?"
"Ah. A sad tale, but they were found together off the interstate about six months ago. Spent the last few trying to fatten them up, they were nearly starved. She looks like she had a litter at some point, but there were no pups, just the two of them. Murph is pretty protective over her, we call her Ava."
The little white Maltese Shih Tzu poked her head up, and Murphy looked over at them, tail wagging.
"Can I go in?" She asked, and Merida unhooked the latch. She approached slowly, Killian behind her, and knelt down next to them. Murphy lurched forward rubbing his pink nose on her face, sniffing her hair. Ava sat up at full attention, her little eyes curious, but she didn't make a move forward.
"I think we can take them, right Swan?" he said and she looked up at him and smiled.
"We can?" she was nearly about to cry with excitement, and he nodded. He knew they couldn't be split up, he understood.
Killian followed Merida out and quietly said, "Draw up the paperwork, we will adopt them both most likely."
Merida grinned and slapped him on the shoulder excitedly, rushing off to get it started.
Killian leaned against the frame of the kennel and watched as the small dog crawled into Emma's lap, and Emma was holding tears back, her nose pink as she sniffled. He came and sat beside her, back against the wall and Murphy nudged against his hand, and he scratched him behind his ears.
"What do you think? You guys want to come home with us?" He directed at Murphy whose tail whipped wildly and licked his hand. Ava looked perfectly content in Emma's lap, her hand stroking her short white fur.
Emma looked over at him, and the grin on her face was absurd. "You're sure?"
He glanced at Murphy who seemed younger, a ball of happy energy, and then at Ava who seemed skittish, an observer.
He petted Ava's head softly and nodded. "They need a home, we have room, and soon we will have even more. Murph will be a good running partner for you once we get some weight on him."
Emma's head landed on his shoulder, and he kissed her curls. "Come on, let's head out, sign the papers."
Emma gently set the dog down in her blankets, Murphy trying to follow her out. "I'll be back, don't worry. I promise, she whispered as she scratched his ears, and latched the gate behind her.
Merida set both forms down, and they signed, Killian kissing her cheek as he headed back to work, leaving Emma there with their two dogs. Merida walked her through the forms and some of their medical histories that they had deduced, and let Emma know that they would be ready for pick up the following day after a bath. Graham smiled knowingly at her and waved her off before she headed toward the pet store to grab everything that they would need, including an extra large crate for them both, since they didn't like to sleep apart.
She rushed home, and Killian helped her carry it all up to the loft, before leaving her to it, grinning as he headed down the steps.
Emma set everything up, and labeled their food containers, tucking them away in a cupboard since Murphy apparently got into anything left out on the counters. Thankfully she was assured that they were not chewers, but she grabbed them the treats anyways. She set a smaller pillow up near her chair by the window so that Ava could lay in the sun, and threw Murphy's large pillow down facing the door. She was told that he preferred to sleep facing doors, and would drag his bed if he didn't like where it was.
It would be a tight fit, but she was grateful all the same that Killian seemed to be on board.
August tapped his pen mindlessly as he hunted down every single photo he could find of the Kennedy-Bessette wedding.
Dress, check. Gloves, he had someone on the hunt for those in New York. Shoes, check.
Scott leaned over his shoulder looking at the small church on the screen. "Auggie..."
"What! She needs a church, I found one!" He was glancing at the small church on the screen.
"It's their wedding, babe."
He crossed his arms and huffed. "She won't even discuss it with me!"
"Because they are in the middle of gutting a house! Why don't you finish packing the records up? Keep yourself occupied, the movers will be here in two days."
August glanced up at Scott and nodded before following him out. "What about flowers? Or cake? I could call Ingrid, and start-" Scott placed a large palm over his mouth silencing him.
"I will tell Emma to have one of those make your own dessert tables that you hate if you don't stop." August gaped at him.
"You wouldn't dare! She isn't a child! Regardless of how she lives sometimes, who has a sundae bar at a wedding? Knowing her, Emma would just to spite me! Completely tacky." He shook his head mumbling something too low for Scott to hear.
"It is not our wedding. You need to back off and make sure our life here makes it there, so focus!"
"Fine. But only because I am choosing to, not because you told me to."
Scott grinned, "You are an absolute pain in the ass, no wonder Killian is not giving us housekeys."
"I can pick locks," August sniffed.
"And Killian is best friends with the sheriff who will put you in a holding cell."
He barked out a laugh, "Graham? He would probably give me a donut and a coffee and make me do all his backlogged paperwork before he stuck me in a cell for a B&E."
Scott stared at him, "You know that you have a problem, right?"
August avoided eye contact, "I know."
"If we get approved for adoption, don't be the helicopter dad, or our kids won't have friends."
"I won't!"
Scott smirked at him. "I see it now, you taking over as head of the PTA, and bake sales, all while running background checks on little Timmy's parents to find out if they ever got a speeding ticket, and clipping the brake wires on a mom's car who forgot to attend the back to school night meeting." He wrapped his arms around Auggie's waist and kissed him. "I can't wait."
"Brakes are a little far, maybe I would just put something in her tea at the next meeting, give her a mild case of IBS."
Scott rolled his eyes and chuckled. "As I said, you are a lunatic. Now pack," he said dropping his arms and began taping his own boxes up.
August smiled, a wedding, being close to Emma, and possibly kids? He hit the jackpot, plus his husband was hot. He and Emma did alright for two street rats.
Killian held Emma's hand as they walked into the shelter, leashes in each hand. Merida greeted them, and led them into the kennels, Emma smiled noticing that almost all of the tags were red now, that they would have a home for the holidays.
Merida unlatched the gate, and Murphy ran toward Killian rubbing against his legs, as Killian scratched his ears, earning himself a headbutt.
Emma walked over to Ava, who was sitting up, her little white tail wagging, and her heart melted. "Hi there, ready to go home?" She asked and hooked her new leash onto her collar.
Killian had Murphy at hand, and led him toward the front, Ava running closely on her short legs to keep up with him, tugging Emma along. They led the dogs out, Killian lifting Murphy into the trunk of the Explorer, while Ava stayed near Emma, choosing to sit on her lap for the short drive.
Killian made sure that the drills weren't running when they brought them inside, not wanting to scare them, and Murphy rushed up the steps, while Emma carried Ava behind him. Killian headed up and made sure that they had everything that they needed, choosing to sit on the floor while they wandered the loft checking everything out. Emma sat beside him, a massive grin on her face, and pulled his lips to hers.
"Happy?" He asked.
"Exceptionally."
"When do they get here? Sunday?"
Emma nodded. "He is going to ambush me about the wedding."
Killian sighed and tugged her against him. "We decide, love. Not August, not Ruby." She nodded, but he could tell she was a little anxious about it, her new tick was twirling her ring around on her finger.
"Pick a movie, and I'll call in a pizza."
Murphy bounded back into the room and promptly dragged his bed toward the door, and plopped down, while Ava came trotting out quietly behind him. She curled into Murphy's belly, snuggling in. Emma grinned, they were happy, and they felt safe. She could relate to that feeling.
"They don't have to go back, Swan," Killian said from the kitchen, smiling softly at her.
Emma looked up at him and nodded. "I don't want to get my hopes up."
He nodded and dialed as he walked down toward their room. Emma queued up the movie, and grabbed a bag of candy before laying on the couch, waiting for him to come back. He placed her feet in his lap, dragging a blanket over them.
After pizza, they took the dogs out on a quick walk, and he got them settled while Emma got ready for bed.
He walked in as she removed her earrings, and combed out her long curls. He sat on the edge of the bed just watching her, and she smiled at him in the mirror, knowingly. She set her comb down and stood between his legs, brushing his hair away from his forehead, before leaning in to kiss him. Killian's arms banded around her waist, and he fell backward taking her with him.
She placed kisses along his lips, and cheeks, his hands wandering up and down her back tugging her in tighter. She tucked her hands into his hair, kissing him deeply, taking advantage of his parted lips.
Killian's hand slid down her back to cup her cheek, dragging her against him, squeezing out every bit of space between them. His hand wandered beneath her tee shirt, tugging it upward, and nearly had it over her head before he felt something against his leg.
He looked toward the end of the bed and Ava was up on her hind legs watching, and Murphy's tongue lolled out of his mouth, tail whipping back and forth. Emma giggled and slid off of him, much to his dismay.
"Cockblocked by my dogs. Excellent," he groaned, hands dropping to the bed.
"Aw, it's their first night in a new place. Are you scared?" She petted them and slid to the floor. Ava crawled into her lap, and Emma was about to ask when he laid down a hard rule.
"Not on the bed."
Emma pouted but nodded.
She stood carrying Ava, Murphy trailing behind her as she headed toward their crate. She tucked them inside, making sure their blankets were okay, and shut the latch.
"Goodnight, see you in the morning."
Killian was still laying where she had left him, she lay beside him, his blue eyes seeking out hers, and he tugged her back atop him.
"Now, where was I?" he murmured, before trailing kisses down her neck and rolling her to her back, picking right up where he had left off.
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