Second Chances Ch. 3
Summary: Emma Swan left her family four years ago, but one request from her parents has brought her back to Storybrooke, and to Killian. She has to face her fears, and the one person she has missed more than her true love. She has to own up to her mistakes and hope that they will forgive her.
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@onceuponaswans
Ch. 3/23
Chapter 3
"No, Emma… It couldn't have been him. I… How did he find me? I can't… We could've fought him! I could've talked to him. You didn't have to leave me." He said softly. "Leave our baby girl…" Killian was so broken; he could not believe what she just told him.
"Killian. I couldn't risk it. I knew you'd take care of our baby. I knew you'd give her the life she deserved." He watched her eyes tear up. "I'm so sorry. I just… I had to go, Killian. It was easier for me knowing that my daughter and… You, my true love, my husband… were alive, and together. Than risk watching you die on me again." She said softly.
"You said he wanted to take my happy ending, but… Why not just kill you when he came to see you? Why make a deal? It would've been easier to make me upset if you were gone." He said softly. Killian was trying to wrap his mind around the fact that his brother, one he did not even really know, tried to get revenge on him.
"I don't know, Killian. Maybe he has a good heart, like you do. Maybe he wanted a way to hurt you, without having to kill someone." She sighed, she did not have the answers to his questions, even though she wished she did.
She wanted to take away his pain, all of it, and she hoped that one day he would forgive her enough to let her try and mend his heart. Killian rubbed his hand over his face.
"Emma… But we could've fought him together. Our daughter could've had her mother! I could've talked to my little brother. Maybe convince him that I want to get to know him, and… Fix my mistakes. I regret what I did to my dad. I can't take it back. But I could've talked to him. I'm not that guy anymore. You changed me Emma." He was so mad at Emma for using that as a reason to leave.
"I couldn't risk it, Killian! You're the most important thing in my life. I had to protect you and our daughter. She had her best chance with you, I couldn't be the parent she needed if something happened to you!" She wiped at her cheeks. She knew he was just upset, it was a lot to take in. "Killian… I'm so so sorry." She reached for his hand, his hook, anything. She needed to touch him.
"Swan… Emma… I don't know what you want me to say to this. Thank you for being honest with me though." He knew she was telling him the truth, she had always been an open book to him.
"You just have to know... I can't let you see Lilly. I don't want to get her hopes up. Not yet. I need you to prove to me, that you're worthy of being in our daughter's life. I need to be certain that you aren't going to leave her. I hope you can understand that…?" He said softly. Killian had to put his baby girl first. She was the most important thing in his life.
"I get it… And thank you for listening. I should've told you four years ago." She said softly. "I'm really sorry, and I'm not going anywhere, Killian. I want to be here for you, and our daughter. My mom and dad sent me a few pictures of her every once in a while. Thank you for including my family in her life. Even if I wasn't there, it means a lot that you let them be there."
"And Henry… Do you see Henry often?" She asked softly.
Killian nodded. "They're her family too. And Henry, of course I see him. He became my son too, remember?" He looked over at her. "And he's an amazing brother. He takes such good care of Lilly." He smiled a little, thinking about his two kids.
"Speaking of which, maybe you should go… She's meeting me here for dinner soon, and I… She can't see you." He said softly, as the bells over the front door to the diner jingled, meaning that someone just walked in.
"Papa, Papa!" A little girl said, giggling. The little girl with little blond curls leaped into Killian's lap and hugged him tight. "I missed you." She hugged his neck tightly.
Killian looked over Lilly's shoulder at Emma, silently asking her to go. "Hello there, Lilly Love." He kissed her cheek. "Did you have fun with Henry today?" He rubbed her back.
Emma had her mouth covered, tears in her eyes as she watched father and daughter interact. She nodded at Killian and stood up to go, but before she could leave Henry stopped her by the door.
"Hey, Mom..." He said, a sad smile on his face. "I've really missed you." He hugged her tightly. "It's good to have you back home."
Henry was the only person who had not judged her completely for leaving. She was his mom, and he always believed in her.
"Henry... It's so good to see you, Kid." She smiled sadly, hugging her son tightly. "I'm sorry we haven't talked in a while."
She had kept in touch through a few emails with him for the first couple of years, she made sure not to give any hints of where she was, but she needed to know that her son would be okay. Even if he did have two parents back in Storybrooke, Hook and Regina.
"Do I ever get to know what made you leave? Does Dad?" He asked her softly. "You don't have to tell me today, but I want to know. I deserve to know. I'm nineteen now, Mom. I'm not a kid anymore." He was understandably upset. "But I still love you, and you should go. I can tell that Killian doesn't want Lilly to see you."
Emma nodded. "I'll tell you, Henry... Or maybe Killian should. But you're right. You deserve to know. Maybe we could have lunch soon? Just us?" She asked.
He nodded. "Of course, see you-" He was cut off by a little body crashing into his legs. "Henwy, Daddy said you should come eat dinner with us!" She grinned looking up at her big brother. "Pwease stay? Or is Auntie Gina gonna be mad?" Henry lifted her into his arms. "Of course I'll stay, Little Bit." He tickled her side trying to distract her from seeing Emma standing there.
His attempts were fruitless since Lilly turned to look at the woman standing with her brother. "Momma?" Lilly said softly, her bright blue eyes wide.
