#but I feel like shouting into the void today while I pout about my sore ankle

[sunfishfusions]

Normalize mobility aids for everyone.

I sprained my ankle so bad this morning that I almost passed out and had to call an ambulance, thinking it was broken. I'm now laid up for a few weeks but you know what's going to make those few weeks a lot easier?

The adjustable cane I was able to find at the drug store down at the corner of my block for $36(CAD). The availability of this cane is a game changer for me; can you imagine if these things were available only for people *diagnosed* with a physical impairment? I'd be unable to do anything for myself.

I'm super grateful to the Pharmacist/proprietor of that store, because you can't find these at every drug store. He made these mobility aids accessible, and this temporarily physically impaired person now doesn't have to try and figure out how to get a cane, or worry about how expensive it might be.

Just sitting on my couch reflecting; maybe incoherent, but very grateful.

[unfolded73]

What Comes Next (7/8)

Summary: They lived happily ever after. And then what happened? (A Post-S6 story.)  Starts about a week after the final battle, and explores the highs and lows of newly married life between Emma and Killian as they deal with work, friends, and family as life in Storybrooke settles down somewhat.

Captain Swan, Explicit overall, ~4250 words this chapter

Thanks to @j-philly-b for the beta.

CHAPTER 1 | CHAPTER 2 | CHAPTER 3 | CHAPTER 4 | CHAPTER 5 | CHAPTER 6

Killian held the small seashell to his lips. “Ariel? Ariel, can you hear me?”

Several seconds of silence passed, and then he could hear her chipper voice, speaking to him across the divide between realms. “Captain? Is everything okay?”

“Everything’s fine, love. I was wondering if I could ask a favor.”

“Sure, anything, but in exchange you have to give me the news from Storybrooke. How is everyone?”

He grimaced, glancing through the glass wall of Emma’s office at the chair in the main part of the sheriff’s station where John Raymond was sitting and fidgeting with his hands. He hadn’t locked the boy in one of the jail cells, but he had formally arrested him. Knowing some police procedures would have to be followed, Killian was preparing to dutifully take down the boy’s confession. He didn’t really have time to gossip with a mermaid.

“Everyone’s safe. Snow and Dave have bought a farm, Emma and I got married—”

Ariel’s resulting squeal made him hold the seashell at arm’s length. She began babbling congratulations and he smiled in spite of himself. It felt good to know that people were happy for him.

“Ariel, love, I appreciate the congratulations, but I’m a bit short on time,” he finally said, interrupting her.

“Oops, sorry! What’s the favor you need?”

~*~

“The Rabbit Hole may be a shithole,” Emma said, “but it’s our shithole, and it’s not a front for any minions of the Black Fairy.”

Regina took a sip of her martini and glanced over her shoulder. “I think I’d allow for a little evil in here if we could get a sexy bartender like the one at Aesop’s Tables.”

“He wasn’t real, Regina, he was just Gideon in disguise!” Emma said. “Although yeah, he was nice to look at.”

“I didn’t even see him,” Zelena pouted. “Are we sure he wasn’t impersonating a real Storybrooke resident?”

“He wasn’t, I checked the town records,” Regina said. “What?” she added off of Emma’s glance. “If I can’t use my mayoral privilege to track down an attractive man, what’s it good for?”

“I keep telling you, this Tinder thing is the way to go,” Zelena said.

Emma almost spit out her bourbon. “Zelena, you’re on Tinder?”

“It’s amazing, Emma, you see someone you like and you just swipe the phone screen. You see someone you don’t like and you swipe the other way! It’s fabulous, you should try it.”

“I’m married,” Emma replied. “You were there.”

“Oh, right.” Zelena shrugged and finished off the wine in her glass. “Whatever. I’ve met a few men, and I don’t mean losers from Storybrooke, I mean outsiders. Fresh blood. I keep trying to get Regina to try it—”

“I’m not getting on that ridiculous app.”

“—because she seriously needs to get some action, if you know what I mean.”

“Yeah, I know what you mean,” Emma said.

“I mean sex,” Zelena added.

“We all know what you mean, Zelena,” Regina muttered.

“Although sometimes men ask for ‘nude pics,’ but I do not oblige them,” Zelena said haughtily. “I don’t even know them! Have you ever sent naughty pictures with your phone, Emma?”

��Nope,” Emma lied, wondering if there was enough alcohol in the world for this conversation.

“Come on, you and that hot pirate of yours never exchanged a risque photo or two on these marvelous devices?” Zelena said, holding up her own phone. Emma was starting to wonder if Zelena was trying to fill the void left by her magic with technology. There had certainly been a lot of adorable pictures of Robyn on Instagram lately.

“I only recently upgraded Killian to a smartphone,” Emma said, sidestepping the question of whether she’d sent him any photos that she wouldn’t want her parents to see. “He still just uses it to call people.”

“You’ll be lucky if he doesn’t crack the screen with that hook,” Regina commented, her finger running around the lip of her martini glass.

Zelena snickered at that, already well on her way through a third drink. “Oh, I bet he’s quite adept with his hook, right, Emma?”

Emma kept her face impassive. “Sure. He can hoist sails with it, dig small holes in the garden with it, carry coffee in it, all sorts of things.”

“That’s not what I meant, I meant—”

“She knows what you meant, Zelena,” Regina said. “She’s avoiding answering you.”

Zelena put on a pout. “If we can’t exchange titillating stories with each other, what exactly is the purpose of this outing?”

Emma tossed back her bourbon and held up her hand for their waiter. “To get drunk, mostly.”

“You said on the phone that you had the day off today. Did you do anything good?” Regina asked.

Emma shrugged. “Slept until noon, went to a therapy appointment, and got in an argument with my mother.”

“You’re supposed to go to a spa, get a pedicure, screw your husband, something like that,” Zelena huffed. “That sounds like a waste of a day off.”

“I did screw my husband this morning if that makes you feel better,” Emma said.

“It does, thank you.”

“I’m relieved that Henry seems to be doing better,” Regina said, rather deliberately changing the subject.

“Yeah, things have definitely improved,” Emma replied. “Although I worry that we’re micromanaging him too much. Sure, he does fine while we’re restricting his screen time and keeping an eye on his assignments, but is that really teaching him the skills he’ll need to be a functioning adult?”

Regina sighed. “I don’t disagree. We’ll certainly have to ease up on him next school year, and hopefully with things staying calm in Storybrooke, he’ll do better without our constant monitoring,” Regina said.

“Yeah,” Emma said, and then brought herself up short with a surprised jolt. “Wow.”

“What?” Zelena asked.

“Regina, you said things were gonna stay calm around here, and I just… believed you.”

“I mean, obviously I don’t know for sure, but—”

“I know, but maybe I’m starting to relax into the idea that there isn’t a villain around every corner, waiting to attack the people I love.” She took a sip of her fresh drink. “It’s progress, is what I’m saying.”

“Maybe you’re just drunk,” Zelena said.

“Maybe you’re just drunk,” Emma countered.

“Maybe you’re both drunk,” Regina said with an arch of her eyebrow.

“My sister is a control freak,” Zelena stage-whispered. “That’s why she never lets herself drink to excess.”

Emma eyed Regina. “I think she’s got your number there.”

“Just because I’m not a fan of headaches and vomiting doesn’t make me a control freak,” Regina said evenly, but at the same time, she did tilt the rest of her martini into her mouth and then turned around to look for their waiter.

“My other question is,” Zelena said, and Emma struggled to remember what the first question was: the thing about the dirty pictures, or the thing about whether Killian used his hook for anything sexual? “When are you going to have a baby?” Zelena finished, propping her head on her fist and staring at Emma.

“I’m not.”

“What, never? The pirate doesn’t want children?” Zelena asked.

Emma looked at Regina to see if she had a new subject of conversation ready to pull out and throw on the table, but she was looking at Emma with equal interest.

“We discussed it once, and neither of us is sure if it’s something we want. After Henry, I’ve always been pretty certain I didn’t want to have another baby.” Emma frowned, realizing she was telling Regina and Zelena something that she hadn’t discussed with anyone else other than Killian, not even her mother.

“I can understand why you would have felt that way, given the circumstances of his birth. But things have changed. You’ve changed,” Regina said.

“You have to have a baby with that man, Emma. You’re both very attractive; you’d make a beautiful baby,” Zelena said.

Regina sighed heavily at her sister’s input. “You don’t have to, obviously. Just make sure you’re making the decision based on who you are now, not who you used to be.”

Emma nodded. “That is really good advice, actually.”

“Well don’t sound so surprised,” Regina said. “I can give advice.”

“In any case, I’m not making any decisions about it for a while,” Emma said.

“I don’t know, you’re not getting any younger,” Zelena replied.

“You know, I can arrest you and throw you in jail, Zelena.”

The three of them continued to drink together, trading stories and light-hearted barbs. Zelena let Emma look through her Tinder account, and they giggled together over some of the pictures. Emma had to admit, she was having a really good time.

Suddenly the door to the bar opened and Grumpy burst in. “Sheriff, I heard you were here!” he shouted, ambling over. How? Emma thought. “I figured you’d would want to know, the Nautilus was sighted surfacing in the harbor about a half hour ago.”

She frowned. “Captain Nemo’s submarine?”

“That's the one. The one that took Hook out of this realm the last time it was here, as I remember it,” he added with a knowing glance.

Emma felt Regina bristle. “That was because of Gideon; it wasn’t Hook’s fault.” When it had come to light that Killian had not left Storybrooke of his own free will, Regina had been uncharacteristically apologetic to Emma for badmouthing him. It was obviously still a bit of a sore subject with her.

Grumpy held his hands up, shrugging. “Hey, I’m just the messenger.”

“Yes, you’re always the messenger,” Zelena snapped, glaring at him.

Emma reached for her purse. “I wanna get down there.”

“Emma, that man would rather cut off his other hand than leave you. There’s no reason to worry,” Regina said.

“I’m not worried about that,” Emma said, and she wasn’t, except deep down in her heart of hearts, the little girl who always believed everyone had abandoned her was worried. “But if Nemo’s opened a portal to cross over to this realm, there’s gotta be a good reason for it, and it’s probably not good.” She felt her shoulders tense as cold dread dripped down her spine. What now?

~*~

Killian clasped Nemo’s hand firmly and smiled. “It’s wonderful to see you again, Nemo. I must admit, when I sent the message through to Ariel, I didn’t expect you to respond so quickly. And certainly didn’t expect to see the Nautilus in Storybrooke’s harbor right away.”

“We’ve had an increase in kraken activity lately. It’s dangerous work to be sure, but it means we’ve got kraken blood enough for several trips between realms, should we need it.” He glanced back at the submarine, where his crew was disembarking. “After so many long hours repairing the Nautilus and then several run-ins with kraken, the mermaid’s message provided the excuse I needed to give my men a couple of days of shore leave. And I must admit, when word traveled around all of the realms that the Final Battle had been fought and won, I wanted to see for myself that you and your family were safe.”

Liam joined them on the docks, and Killian embraced his half-brother. “We are,” Killian said to Nemo. “Why don’t both of you come back to my house, and we can discuss why I called you.”

Killian had released John Raymond back to Blue, with the understanding that she would ensure he didn’t flee, and in exchange Killian would not force him to spend the night in jail.

The men walked companionably down the sidewalk away from the harbor. “And how fares your lady Emma?” Nemo asked.

“She’s my wife now,” Killian said, a swell of pride in his chest at being able to share that news with Nemo and Liam.

Liam grinned at him. “Congratulations, Killian.”

“This is indeed excellent news,” Nemo added, and then chuckled. “Imagine, had I been able to tell the vengeful pirate that you once were that you would someday marry the Princess of Misthaven?”

“I would have laughed in your face, mate.”

Killian led them up his front steps, opening the door with a key and feeling another burst of pride that he could entertain these men he so cared for in this wonderful house that he shared with Emma. He flicked on the lights and gestured toward the living room. “Make yourself at home; I’ll just get us some drinks.”

“The boy Henry lives here with you as well?” Liam asked as Killian joined them with a bottle of his best rum and three heavy crystal glasses.

“Sometimes. We share custody with Regina, the mother who raised him when Emma put him up for adoption. But he’s out on a date with his girlfriend at the moment, and Emma is out with Regina and her sister enjoying a bit of shore leave of her own, so to speak.” He poured the rum and glanced toward the dark fireplace. It was too warm a night for a fire, but he always preferred the firelight to that emitted by the electric lights.

“So tell us about this boy the mermaid said you need help with,” Nemo said, accepting his glass with a nod of thanks.

Killian gave them the barest outline of the situation: that there were several orphan boys in town, and that he’d had to arrest one of them, John Raymond, for several robberies.

“My gut tells me he’s a good lad. He just stole the money because he was desperate to change his situation, and the last thing he needs is to languish away several months of his remaining teenage years in jail. I’d much rather see him situated in a place where he can find purpose and hard work, and what came to mind immediately was a position on your crew. Assuming, once you interview him, that he meets with your approval, of course.” Killian said.

“Of course,” Nemo said. “I’ll speak to the boy in the morning, and if he’s anything like you say, I’m sure he’ll make a fine addition to the crew of the Nautilus. Provided he wants to go. I won’t take anyone on as an indentured servant.”

“And I would never suggest such a thing,” Killian said. “Indentured servitude is little better than slavery.” He darted a glance at Liam. He was still unaware of what their father had done to Killian and the elder Liam when they were boys. Killian had decided not to tell him, that his reasons for telling him would only be self-serving, an excuse for the murder that he later committed. If Liam had fond memories of their father, who was he to tarnish those in his own self-interest?

The door swung open and Emma half-stumbled through, Zelena and Regina close on her heels.

“Oh, you’re here,” she said, stopping short and letting Zelena collide with her back. She looked from Killian to Nemo to Liam as the three men stood up. “I called you and you didn’t answer.”

Killian pulled out his phone and grimaced. “I had the sound off and I didn’t notice you called. I’m sorry, love. Liam, Nemo, you remember Emma, my wife.” He glanced at the two women who seemed to have followed Emma home for reasons he didn’t entirely understand. “And this is Regina and Zelena.”

“A pleasure,” Zelena simpered, offering her hand to first his brother and then to Captain Nemo. “If I’d known you were so handsome, Captain, I’d have made a point of meeting you earlier.”

Regina laughed and pulled her sister back as she seemed to be preparing to put herself even further into Captain Nemo’s personal space. “Okay, Sis. Now that we see Emma’s husband is all safe and sound, we can probably leave them be.”

Killian narrowed his eyes at the three of them. He was fairly certain even Regina was drunk, and that was a sight that he couldn’t recall ever seeing before. Emma flopped down on the sofa and kicked her shoes off. “Are you gonna be okay getting her home?” she asked Regina. Zelena had started to list to one side like a ship that had taken cannonfire.

Regina wrinkled her nose. “I think I can poof us to Zelena’s house so that we can send Robyn’s sitter home. I might just stay there tonight.”

“Are you sober enough to do magic? I’d probably teleport myself inside a tree by accident,” Emma said.

Regina rolled her eyes. “I’m fine. Call me later if you need to.” She flicked her wrist and she and Zelena disappeared in a puff of purple smoke.

Emma put her feet up on the coffee table. “So, what brings the Nautilus back to Storybrooke?” she asked.

“Killian summoned us here—” Liam started to say.

“I haven’t had a chance to fill Emma in on everything that’s transpired today,” Killian interrupted quickly.

“Oh?” She looked at him with suspicion. “Do tell.”

“We’d best be getting back to the ship for the night,” Nemo said smoothly. “Emma, it was lovely to see you again, and congratulations on your nuptials. Killian, I’ll see you in the morning for the interview?”

“Aye.” He escorted them to the door, waving goodbye as they turned and went down the front steps and off into the night. He quietly closed the door behind them.

“What the hell is he talking about, interview? Are you applying for a new job?” Emma asked. Her cheeks were flushed, and he couldn’t tell if she was joking or not.

“Of course not, darling,” he replied, going over to the kitchen to get her a glass of water. “It’s an interview for someone else.”

“Why did you summon Nemo?”

He handed her the water and then sat down next to her on the sofa. “Let me back up a bit. First of all, I caught our thief.”

Emma sat forward suddenly, water sloshing out of her glass and onto her jeans. “Who? How? When?”

Killian smiled. “Which of those would you like me to answer first? This afternoon, and I had a hunch, so I paid a visit to the Blue Fairy.”

It was clear that Emma’s alcohol-fueled brain was moving slower than usual. “I don’t think Blue robbed a bunch of stores.”

“Not Blue, but one of the orphans she oversees. One of the Lost Boys — a lad by the name of John Raymond.” He winced. The fate of those boys still wasn’t sitting easily with him.

“Why didn’t you call me?” Emma asked.

“Because you needed your rest, and I was determined not to disturb you, my love.”

She continued to scowl. “So you arrested him?”

“Aye, and I filled out a report just as you showed me,” he said. “But I have released him back into Blue’s care for the moment.”

“Why? Technically he can’t be released until there’s a hearing and someone posts bail for him.” she said.

“I know, but I thought we might make an exception in this case.” He stood up, needing to pace around their living room as he explained. “I’ve spoken to the boy, and I think becoming a part of Nemo’s crew would be a fine thing for him. You should have seen the way his eyes lit up as soon as I suggested it.”

Emma set her water glass down with a thunk, and Killian felt his hand twitch as he fought the instinct to put a coaster under it. “Killian, you can’t just decide to send a criminal off on a submarine because it feels like the right thing to do.”

“Love, it’s not as if Storybrooke is exactly a model of proper police procedure. If it were, most of us would be incarcerated. Myself and your two drinking buddies included. And your mother.”

Emma brow wrinkled. “Okay, fine, but you need to at least consult me first.”

He lowered his head. “Aye. Things happened faster than I anticipated, and I apologize for not keeping you appraised of the situation.” He sighed. “I just wanted you to be able to relax for once.”

“Well… I mean, thanks for that.” She picked up her water again and drank from it.

He eyed her, trying decide if she was still angry with him. “Shall we turn in?”

“Okay.”

Killian watched Emma as he locked up the downstairs and turned off the lights, noticing her fumbling with a bottle of headache pills in the kitchen and swallowing them with the rest of her water. He followed her upstairs, changing slowly into his pajamas to the sound of her washing her face and brushing her teeth in the bathroom. He set his brace down in its accustomed place on his clothes dresser, rubbing his hand over the stump at the end of his left wrist, feeling the familiar ache and tingle of damaged nerves under the scar tissue.

Killian heard the front door downstairs open, and the unmistakable sound of Henry loping up the stairs. Opening the bedroom door, he watched as Henry rounded the corner to his room down the hall.

“How was your date?” Killian called out.

“Fine.” Henry said, not breaking his stride.

“Did you lock the front door?”

“Yeah,” Henry said, already closing his own door. The lad had his own inner life, his own relationships, and he and Emma were privy to less and less of it.

When they settled into bed and turned off the lights, Killian held himself separate, wondering what Emma was thinking and a little afraid to ask. He remembered David telling him once, not long after he and Emma had moved in together, ‘Never go to bed angry.’

“Are you angry with me?” he asked into the quiet bedroom.

“Not really,” she said. After a long pause, she added. “You should probably be angry with me.”

“What on earth for?”

He listened to her blow out a long breath. “When I heard the Nautilus was here, there was this little voice inside telling me that you were leaving.”

Killian turned on his side, horrified. “Emma, I would never—”

“I know, I know, I didn’t say it was a logical thought or anything, it just came from that… that place inside where I’m always terrified people are gonna abandon me. I know it’s stupid.” He felt her hand reach out against his arm in the dark, and he took it in his. “I’m sorry.”

“You don’t need to apologize for that, darling.” He pulled her hand up to his lips and kissed the back of it. “I’ll just continually remind you of how completely and hopelessly in love with you I am until that little voice stops pestering you.”

“Okay,” she said softly. He kissed her hand again, turning it over and pressing his lips to her palm, and then her wrist. “What made you want to help that kid?” Emma asked.

“He reminded me of myself, I think. When Liam died, I took to piracy because I wanted revenge on the corrupt king who caused his death, but it was more than that. When the people in charge of a society have betrayed you, then it feels like there’s no reason to adhere to the rules of that society.”

“And Storybrooke has failed him?”

“It’s not that I think the fairies haven’t taken good care of those boys: housed them, fed them, tended to their illnesses. But I think they need something more.” He swallowed. “I’d like to do something more for them, I think.”

Emma brought her hand up and patted his cheek. “You’re such a good guy.”

“Shh, don’t tell anyone. I have a reputation as a rapscallion to protect.”

Chuckling, Emma burrowed into his chest, her fingers brushing through his chest hair. Killian wrapped his arm around her, holding her close.

“I’m gonna be seeing Archie every week for a while,” she said after a long silence, during which he had started to drift off to sleep.

“Oh? That’s good.”

“And maybe also taking medication,” she said, and he felt her tense up. “To help with how I’ve been feeling.”

“This realm is a marvel. There’s a pill for everything.” He stroked her hair, pressing his lips against the top of her head. “Did you expect me to disapprove?”

“Says the guy who won’t take aspirin for a headache.”

“I’m just not in the habit of it, that’s all. I had nothing but rum to dull the pain of losing my hand, but that doesn’t mean I think you should suffer unnecessarily. If there are medicines that help with the things going on in your head, far be it from me to suggest that you shouldn’t avail yourself of them,” he said.

Emma closed her hand over his scarred wrist, and he could feel a shiver run through her. “I can’t imagine the pain you must’ve gone through.” He felt her fingers press into his skin, as if she could reach back through time with her magic and spare him that agony.

“I hardly remember it now, darling; don’t fret.”

“You’re lying,” she whispered, kissing the end of his wrist.

Killian sighed. “I rarely think of it anymore, then. Not when I have so much happiness in my life.”

“Okay.” She snuggled in close to him again.

“Am I telling the truth?”

“Yes.” She wiggled a bit, freeing one of her arms to wrap around him. “You know, this depression thing, it’s not because you don’t make me happy. You do.”

“I know, my love.” His lips brushed the top of her head again, and he closed his eyes. “I know.”

CHAPTER 8