WHO:Emma & Killian (with Niko and driveby Henry) WHEN: early August WHERE: Casa SwanFire WHAT: Killian visits with food, some news and gets some practise with babies. RATING/WARNINGS: None; all shmoopy shmoop STATUS: Complete
There was some saying like ‘it takes a village to raise a child,’ and while that may be correct there was also an Irish proverb that spoke some true wisdom along the lines of Ample food and sturdy drink - a clean pillow for your head, and may you be forty years in heaven before the devil knows you're dead. Essentially, that was all you needed in life anyway - food and drink, and to enjoy that food in the company of others. Woe to him who ate alone.
Killian thought it might be especially true for new parents, who probably didn’t even get much time to eat. A lack of takeaway meals was healthier, so he and Regina pitched in when they could - she’d made a few things before, and then it was his turn to take over the kitchen and cook up traditional Irish stew. It wasn’t very fancy, there were technically only four ingredients (and a lot of potatoes peeled) but it was filling and hearty and perfect with a bit of bread and butter. On a rainy, damp day it was extra perfect - and he seemed to have good timing, because what felt like the only thunderstorm of the year had made its way down from the mountainous regions, and was now pouring all over urban areas. It was one of those weird storms too, where rain evaporates before it hit the ground but lightning could still strike and potentially start wildfires.
It was just a gloomy day overall. Ideal for hunkering down, but naturally that’s not what Killian was doing. He’d spent the morning peeling vegetables and letting stew simmer, the enticing smell of it permeating the house (he didn’t really have room to cook like this in his houseboat kitchen so he sort of liked having the space now). Then he was on his way to the Swan-Cassidy abode.
Only slightly sopping wet, and carrying a bag with a large Tupperware soup tureen (it was one of Regina’s) nestled inside, along with a wrapped loaf of bread, he went to the door and knocked. Henry answered, making note of the rugged pirate in a leather jacket on the front stoop. Uncle Hook!
“Moooom! It’s for you!” At least he let Killian in, before dashing back to video games. The boy had manners, sometimes.
Slowly but oh so surely, Emma was finding the new routine to settle into while she was on leave and Niko was still exceptionally dependent. The feeds were usually about every three hours, between her and Neal they had the feeding, burping and butt cleaning like a steady belt of production now.
With Neal back at work it was a bit more like juggling but so far so good and all that. Nappies were almost simple now. Almost.
Of course Henry and inside voice hadn’t quite sunk in just yet. Although Niko wasn’t sleeping right this minute, just laying in his basket in the kitchen with Emma while she sorted out the next load of washing -babies mean lots of laundry. “In the kitchen.” If it was just a case of ‘it’s for you’, it was unlikely that it wasn’t a friend who would at least understand being harassed with too many things, and Emma not really wanting to wander off and leave Niko on his own, even if it was just a few seconds, she’d read far too much to do it.
“Unless it’s a salesman, and then I’m not home.”
Henry had already went back to his important duties (he’d clean his room in a minute, really) but Killian came by the kitchen to get a glimpse of the native Swan in her domestic habitat, with a baby basket nearby. “You’re dating yourself, love, salesmen don’t come door to door anymore unless it’s the beginning of a pornographic film,” he teased, setting the goods down on the counter.
Or actually, he made himself useful and got bowls from the cupboard, along with spoons from the drawer. “I brought dinner for your hungry family and to play nanny for an hour or so,” Or until Nikolas peed on him, he’d see how it went, “...I’ll even finish the laundry if you’d prefer to sit.”
Now to go and coo at the baby in a manly sort of pirate way. Standing over the basket, observing the adorably wee fat thing just so happy as could be with his blanket and a fresh nappy, Killian reached down and gave him a finger to grasp at. “Hello there, you adorable little shitter - oh, look, you’ve even got a smile for me. Must be gas.”
“Killian,” there was a touch of relief in her voice just as much as a minor scold, “please limit the cussing around the baby.” They all slipped up, monumentally sometimes, but effort, just a little effort to be pg and not pg-13. With a basket half full of folded baby grows (they went in half, it was folded) and some t-shirts, Emma figured that sitting for five minutes would be fine, the laundry wouldn’t multiply, the dishes wouldn’t suddenly be dirty again, the baby wouldn’t throw up all over the walls, it’d be fine.
Besides, the stew smelled pretty delicious. “The biggest perk of the new baby is people still bringing me food all the time.” Of course she was joking, even as she grinned at Killian poking a little at Niko and the baby’s enthusiastic garbling at the new face and fingers to grasp. “Henry! Come and get some stew and stop playing video games for five minutes.”
She wasn’t sure if he was taking over the world or saving it right now, but he’d been at it for a few hours now. Everyone needed a break or two. “You really didn’t have to, I mean, I’m not complaining, please feel free at all times to drop in with food and attention for him, but you didn’t need to.” Emma was turning no one away.
“Your mum doesn’t like dirty words, does she? Even though I’ll bet she used a few when she and your Papa made you. No, because then what if your first word’s a dirty one, what then?” Killian asked the pooper, who couldn’t answer, but the tone of voice the adult was using was rapidly slipping into accented baby talk. How the bloody hell did that even happen - tiny humans were so sneaky, weren’t they. “But it’s alright, we all know your first word’s going to be ‘rum,’ like any pirate’s would be,” he added, letting Nikolas coo and grasp his index finger, the other fingers curling around to stroke his tiny fist.
Henry came clomping down the stairs then, protesting, “I was cleaning my room!” which...yeah, right. It was a good try though. Even if he was totally playing video games. But there was the promise of food, for a hungry teenager, so he’d eat. That wasn’t a problem.
Abandoning the task of entertaining Nikolas for two seconds (but he’d get back to that, trust him), Killian dished out the delectable-smelling offerings. “I wanted to see him and besides, there’s something else I should mention to you anyway,” he informed Emma.
There was definitely the chance that Niko’s first word would not be entirely appropriate, but the joy of that was months and months and months away if the the parenting books were to be believed, and right now they were sort of supporting that method of judging things.
Food offerings given, older child fed, Emma was officially done with mom-duties and could stuff her own face with Killian’s stew while making sure that the older child ate. “Rum wouldn’t be the worst thing he chose to say,” considering the shit that went on around here, Emma would expect nothing less than something out of the ordinary from the usual ‘mama’ or ‘papa’.
“Mention?” She really hoped this was not more dream bullshit, because if it was, Emma quit life. She was barely getting enough sleep to properly dream right now anyway, but the Underworld was taxing enough without discovering that she was possibly getting hit with another curse or something. “Oh God, what now?”
Christ on a cracker, she was paranoid, wasn’t she? It made Killian laugh. May as well finish with the laundry, while Swan stuffed her face. He could handle folding and sorting, since half of it was done already anyway and in the right places to be brought upstairs. Which the teenager could arse himself to do, in a moment - right now, Henry had grabbed his bowl and a hunk of bread, disappearing back into the world of videogames in his cave.
“Nothing awful,” Killian promised, and oh fuck him, the tiny baby socks were just too adorable. He began rolling those up, and also folding onesies or whatever the hell they were called in the States - he’d be learning all the lingo sooner or later. “But, well. Regina wanted me to check on Zelena here - “
And wasn’t it ridiculous how their names rhymed? Regina and Zelena? The Mills sisters, a soap operatic tale. Excuse him while he retched.
“So of course I did. I went to Kentucky, discovered she’s very pregnant and debating whether or not to put the baby up for adoption. Similar to our mad dreamworld, but there she ended up keeping the wee lass. Here, I don’t know, Regina’s hoping she’ll give the baby up. If she does...we thought that we’d adopt her.” Don’t choke upon hearing the news, Emma.
Zelena was possibly one of the sorest subjects for Emma on the whole, not least because of the foiled Dark Swan plan, but largely because of the summoning back Rumple plan that she enacted which resulted, of course, in Neal’s death. It may have been something that was moved past or glossed through in Storybrooke, but Emma was still iffy on bringing her up, even if she wanted to be supportive of whatever Regina wanted to do regarding her darling sister.
It did mean at the smallest mention, Emma was fairly tense and that was the sound of her teeth grinding a little, yes.
“She’s…. Okay, that… I guess that makes sense.” The pregnancy thing, it was possible that things happened in this world similar enough in the dreams to cause people to get to where they were -Emma’s adoption and eventual orphan status for example. But she was a little stuck on the adoption thing.
Less because it was strange, Regina had keen maternal instincts, and Emma could see her with a baby, yes, it was likely the same instinct that drove her to adopt Henry in the first place. But honestly, she hadn’t been entirely aware that Killian and Regina were that serious.
Made sense though, when she thought about it. “That’s… something. That’s a big something. But definitely not awful, it’s … well, if it happens, it’s great, of course.” Emma was not overcompensating from the surprise. She wasn’t.
He understood the adverse reaction to Zelena, really, Killian did. Just because the psychotic redhead had done somewhat of a 180 and joined the ranks of ‘heroes,’ in good old dreamland, didn’t mean that everything was going to be perfect everywhere. Of course Emma was still bitter about Neal’s death - because she was with him here, they’d actually gotten to be together.
Instead of Killian moving in like a snake, and Emma jumping into his waiting arms. That was odd to watch, even for him.
“It’s a big something, aye,” he agreed, rolling the last pair of socks - these were grownup socks, not as cute as the ones meant for tiny feet. But since he had two hands free now (such as it was - the prosthetic could grip and hold just about anything, myoelectric wonder it was) he reached into the basket and carefully scooped up the baby, using the artificial limb to cradle Nikolas against his shoulder, patting the blubber butt’s back with his good hand. The prosthetic was also covered with a glove he wore sometimes, a thin material, just because it could get chilly when the warmth of skin came into contact with metal.
Niko seemed happy though, immediately going all drowsy-eyed when he was nestled in his godfather’s arms (it was probably the soothing scent of leather and the salt of the sea that made infants tired) with Killian rocking him a bit to get him extra cosy. “And it’s happened very quickly but it’s what she wants - she wants what’s best for the little girl, rather. Even if we don’t adopt her, she’ll want to keep tabs on her as she grows. I wouldn’t be terrible at it, would I?” he chuckled. “Being someone’s father, that is. She seems to think I could do it.”
It was mostly just a mild shock to the system really, for Emma. But then Zelena tended to throw Emma off balance and all. “I think quick is just how things happen around here.” Of course not when you wanted things to happen quickly, then they dragged out for nine months.
Worth it, really, but still. Especially seeing Niko cuddle into Killian’s chest and get a little droopy after the fact; it probably was a comfort thing, or just the heat of another body, the familiarity of it. But it was all enough for Emma to smile around a piece of bread, watching the scene unfold there with the pair.
“I think you’ll do very well.” For all that Killian doubted his own capabilities, either as a ‘hero’ or just as a good person, Emma couldn’t help but shake her head at him at times. “You’ve already been an amazing big brother, Kenzi’s great. I think you and Regina would make excellent parents.” No one would starve in their house, that was for sure.
“Why’d you think we picked you both as Godparents? It wasn’t for your stunning good looks and stellar vocabulary.” Although someone would need to teach Niko and Henry to be proper pirates eventually.
He honestly had no clue why Emma had wanted him to be Nikolas’ godfather - Killian just wished he could be a fly on the wall to see Neal’s reaction when she asked. It was probably hysterical. Still, they’d come a long way since the days of...when Killian selfishly lured Baelfire’s equally selfish mother away from her family, with promises of adventures at sea.
“Stunning good looks, I presumed that was one of the main factors,” he winked, still swaying gently with the little farter. “Regina’s already told Neal though, I think, but we weren’t going to tell anyone else about the potential of adopting the little girl. Just in case it doesn’t work out.”
And speaking of the farter in his arms, that’s when Niko gave him a present. It came out the other end, rather, in the form of gurgling and spitting up on Killian’s shoulder. How lovely. Nothing quite beat the stench of sour milk on clothing.
“Oh, Christ, I should have put a rag there. Serves me right, hm? Teaching me a lesson, are you?” he asked the baby, who simply blew bubbles in response.
There was so much bleed over in the dreams that it constantly felt like two lives, but Emma was certain that certain traits were just exactly the same. Like the loyalty and determination and love that just seemed to grow with their family there. Regina was, for all intents and purposes, part of that family; a second mother to Henry, and so important for where they were right now that it only felt right that she have a similar importance with Niko. And Emma had seen qualities in Killian that she still doubted he believed about himself, regardless of how the dreams unfolded from there onwards, Emma wouldn’t be swayed from believing him a good man with a great heart.
“Well, I’ll keep my fingers crossed for you both, I think any little girl would be lucky to have you both as parents.” Which she meant, not just that Regina and Killian would be preferable to Zelena, the woman’s moods far too fickle for Emma to fully trust them at all, her actions previously still leaving deep issues. “But I’ll keep shtump about it for now.” It was sort of understandable, just in case, keeping it quiet until they knew for sure and all that.
Naturally, Niko had perfect timing too. “Welcome to the world on infants, where you will change at least three times a day.” Because yes, rags were needed constantly. And there was a basket full of them. Emma got up to wander over to, grabbing a mostly clean one to wipe off Killian’s shoulder and Niko’s chin and face. “Should’ve mentioned he was fed a little before you came over. But hey, best getting used to this now, right?”
“I suppose I could use as much practise as possible,” Killian agreed, hand cradling the back of the fuzzy, peach-like head while Emma wiped Niko’s face. “Good thing I’ve got this little one here to drop a few turds off just for me.” How sweet of him - something to laugh about later, but gods, he didn’t even want to think of baby Nikolas growing up and walking and talking, all of that. He was rather cute the way he was.
Alright, spitting up probably meant something was on the horizon - so Killian would change himself a nappy in a moment, in order to really enjoy the experience. “You’re really loving it then, Swan? Being a mum like this?”
Niko’s chubby little cheeks got a small smoosh from mom before she discarded the rag away, leaving a mostly happy little tyke still resting away on a solid shoulder, “I barely sleep, my breasts are constantly sore, Neal and I trade off on parenting duties and have fleeting moments together, my life is quick foods and mismatching socks, and honestly I wouldn’t change a thing.”
God but she was sappy as hell. Her hormones were finally starting to level out, something she was meant to keep an eye on for any potential post-partum, but so far, she was just exhausted all the time, while awed and amazed that she’d made that and constantly checking he was there. “Poopy diapers and everything.” It was true though, it was pretty much everything she’d wanted for the longest time.
Home and family and something that was just all hers.
All of that sounded par the course for Killian, or he’d assume, even if the bit about sore tits made his brows poke upward - well, that was intriguing information. Thanks for that, Swan. He didn’t plan to touch them (or look at them - not really, besides noticing that they were bigger? That was allowed, wasn’t it?) but it was still good to know.
“I’ll probably be echoing your sentiments at some point,” he grinned slightly. “Let’s just say that things do work out - it’s nice to know ahead of time that we’ll have people to be there for it all.”
And alright. That was his one schmoopy comment of the day. Now to change the nappy for this adorable blob of fat with eyes, because like he said before - practise made perfect, and he needed the practise.