#v;parenthood

Candle: Our characters spending time together by candle light.

The atmosphere set by the low flickering flames should have felt romantic though it was really anything but. Well, maybe not Killian wasn’t putting much thought into that at the moment. Not when the power in the entire building was shut down and the chill was setting in. Emma was behind him, snickering a bit as he bundled his daughter up much more than what was probably necessary. The little girl complained a bit but managed to keep the jacket wrapped around her. Okay so he was being a bit neurotic, they wouldn’t be freezing to death any time soon nor was it that cold to allow such thoughts to even enter his mind. But he would rather be safe than sorry, especially when it came to the young one.

“She isn’t going to get that chilled Killian.” He sighed and his head hung a bit before he looked at her over his shoulder.

“I know. Can’t really help it.” The two year old clung to his hand, not all that fond of the dark. It was only when he stood up did she wobble over to Emma and hold her hands out. The sight was comforting in a sense to him. Emma had accepted Halley almost immediately and Halley was more than fond of the woman who had, somewhat literally, stormed into their lives.

He moved over to the two of them as Emma lifted Halley into her arms.

“Well, powers out and we are more or less stuck here for the evening with the weather.” He ran his hand through his hair and a soft smile etched its way onto his lips as he took in the sight of the two. He felt a bit foolish for the next suggestion but it was what he had at the moment. “Halley always enjoys when I read to her. Guess we could do something like that.” He shrugged and tried to not seem as almost embarrassed as he was about the suggestion.

To his surprise, though it shouldn’t have been given what he now knew of Emma, she agreed almost readily with an amused grin on her face. So that settled that discussion. Grabbing a couple of blankets and books, he watched as Emma settled down on couch with Halley beside her. Once he was sure they were comfortable, he slid into his spot along side them. Halley sat comfortably between themand he found himself placing his arm over Emma’s shoulders to try and keep everyone as close as possible.

Halley pointed to the book that she wanted when given the choice and he laid it open on his lap to begin reading. Voice soft, he read to her as he normally would. Emma laughed softly, her reactions proper for what was occurring in the book, making Halley giggle and clap along. They went through several books before Halley fell asleep. When Killian looked over, he saw that Emma had fallen asleep too.

He didn’t have the heart to wake either of them, carefully maneuvering so he could pull Halley from the couch and place her in her bed. Coming back to Emma, he scoped her gently off the couch and began to blow out candles along the way to his room. She was wrapped up in his blankets tightly before he made his way back to the couch to sleep the night.

Killian sighed as he lugged the last box up the stairs. Step by step were taken on autopilot, his mind drifting in and out. A new apartment and hopefully a new start. It was needed and not only for his sake. A quick, sharp shake of his head has those thoughts banished. It would not do to dwell on such unpleasant memories. Besides, he had quickly reached the appropriate floor and needed to unlock the door that had closed with a stark snap behind him on the way downstairs.

Fumbling with the keys and wishing he had placed on the prosthetic, he had to wedge the box between the wall and his body to be able to shove the key into the lock. The opening of the door behind home, the apartment directly across of his own, went unnoticed. Propping the heavy door with his foot, keys were shoved back into a jacket pocket and he reconfigured himself with the box.