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kmomof4 · 1 year

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Christmas Miracles for Storybrooke Ch. 3 Happy Birthday, Emma

We’re back, y’all! In this chapter we time jump just a bit to Emma’s birthday in late October. Get ready for some seriously sweet, fluffy, and romantic moments in this chapter! Thank you so much for reading and I’d love to know what you think!

All the love and thanks yet again to my crew that helped get this fic out there! @jrob64 for her encouragement and beta services, @snowbellewells for brainstorming this fic with me last summer, @whimsicallyenchantedrose for answering all my Catholicism questions, and last but certainly not least @motherkatereloyshipper. She is responsible for the birthday edit in this chapters artwork as well as the manips of Emma, Killian, Ruby, Will, and Mother Superior I used in the artwork. Please go give her all the love for her fabulous work!! Thank you all so much, ladies!!!

Summary: Dr. Killian Jones has returned home to set up his medical practice where he is warmly greeted by the townsfolk, including a group of nuns who’d cared for him for a time when he was a boy and that he’d helped build a chapel for when he was in high school. When Killian discovers that in the last few years the sisters had taken in several children and teens, he agrees to build them a kindergarten so CPS won’t separate this found family at the end of the year. Will he be able to get it built in time? And what about Emma Swan, the pregnant teen he just hired as a triage nurse? What about these feelings he’s developing for her? Christmas is the season for miracles and Storybrooke may be in for a few of them.

Rating: T for mention of rape

Words: Just over 4k of approx 23,340

Tags: Inspired by Christmas Lilies of the Field, Mentions of Rape

On ao3 From the beginning/ Current chapter

Tagging the usuals. Please let me know if you’d like to be added or removed.

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Under the cut, unless Tumblr ate it.

September and October flew by. Killian’s practice grew exponentially; so much so that he was having to open earlier in the morning and stay open later in the evenings to accommodate those seeking his services, not to mention the occasional visits to Miss Cora. Since the day he was there to take out the splinter, she’d been much more judicious in requesting his services, a fact that brought Killian profound relief. He just didn’t have the time to work at the clinic in town, work on the kindergarten, plus squeeze in a house call or two to the woman every week.

Construction on the kindergarten moved at a steady crawl, but a crawl is all it was. His hours at the office and the hour or two, at most, he was able to work on the kindergarten in the evenings before it became too dark to see were really taking their toll on him, but there was too much at stake for him to cut back. The only day he took off was Sunday because first, as a doctor, he knew he needed the rest. There was no way he was going to be able to maintain that pace without compromising his own health, and second, Mother Superior wouldn’t allow him to work on the kindergarten on the Lord’s Day.

But now October was drawing to a close and Emma’s eighteenth birthday arrived. Killian had been tasked with keeping her away from the mission until after the Thursday evening vespers when the nuns and the other children were ready to throw Emma a surprise party. The early freeze the area had experienced that month meant that all the cold weather illnesses were surging, so the evening of the party, Killian and Emma didn’t leave the office until well after dark.

“If you’ll allow me, Emma, I don’t feel right letting you walk back to the mission alone with as dark as it is…” he trailed away, rubbing behind his ear.

Emma couldn’t help her smile as she watched him. Whenever he got flustered and rubbed behind his ear like that, it released the butterflies that were never far off when she was with him. She’d been successful in hiding her attraction to him the last couple of months, but then when he did that, he was so painfully adorable that Emma had to fight to keep herself from flinging herself into his arms and kissing him madly.

“Would you mind walking me back?” she asked. She could see him blush under the streetlamp outside the office, but then he grinned widely and held his elbow out for her to take.

“I’d be happy to, Emma.” She looped her arm through his and bit her lower lip slightly to keep from smiling too big at his gesture.

“Such a gentleman,” she murmured.

He covered the hand that held on to him with his other hand and smiled genuinely down at her. “I’m always a gentleman, Emma,” he said, but then continued in a conspiratorial whisper, “Mother Superior would skin me alive otherwise.”

Emma could feel her cheeks heat and gave up trying to contain her smile. They walked down the street in companionable silence until Emma decided to speak to him about something she’d been thinking about since she started working for him.

“Can I ask you something, Killian?”

“I don’t know, can you?” he asked with a smirk. Emma smirked right back at him and rolled her eyes, immediately understanding the reference. Mother Superior was a stickler for using correct grammar in speech, and she never failed to correct when one of the kids asked if they could do something instead of if they may do something. Can was a question of ability, is one able to do something. May was asking permission.

“Yes, I can,” she said with a huff. “May I ask you something?”

“Of course.”

Emma took a deep breath and gathered her thoughts. She could feel Killian’s eyes on her and she tried to swallow her nervousness. Killian brought them to a stop under another streetlamp and turned to face her.

“You can talk to me about anything, Emma.”

She looked into his bottomless blue eyes and almost forgot what she wanted to ask him.

“You remember that day in your office? The first day you were open and the nuns brought all of us in?”

“Yes.”

“You said I’d make a fine nurse and Sister Astrid agreed and encouraged me to think about it.”

“I remember,” he acknowledged as they continued along the way.

“Well,” she said, still somewhat hesitantly, “I have been thinking about it and I think that might be something I’d like to do.”

“Really?” he asked, surprise evident in his voice. She couldn’t tell if it was from the statement itself or that she was sharing it with him in the first place. “Going to college and getting a degree in nursing? I think that’s a great idea, Emma.”

“Do you really think so?” She hated that she sounded so unsure of herself, but she respected Killian tremendously and wanted his honest opinion.

“No, I don’t think so,” he said, “I know so. You are a very smart and hard working young woman. I have no doubt you would succeed both in nursing school and as a nurse.”

Emma released a breath she didn’t realize she was even holding. Having his support meant the world to her and she wanted him to know it. She threw herself into his arms and hugged him tightly. It obviously surprised him and it took him a moment to reciprocate the hug. Was it too forward of her? Did she make him uncomfortable with her gratitude? But her misgivings melted away as he encircled her in his arms and held her just as tightly as she was holding him.

“Thank you,” she murmured, pulling away from him. “I can’t tell you what that means to me.” Killian stared into her eyes and Emma found herself lost in their cerulean depths once again. “I wouldn’t know where to begin,” she whispered, still entranced.

“You begin by researching nursing schools in the state,” he stated, decisively. “See if there are any online options. I’d hate to lose my nurse because she’s in school, and taking college classes as a new mom is going to be difficult, but you have a lot of people behind you, supporting you, cheering you on, ready to help with anything you need.” He paused for a moment, his gaze reaching into her very soul. “You can do this.”

They continued on their way. As Killian enumerated the obstacles she’d face in seeking a nursing degree, Emma felt the same kind of despair and hopelessness she had when she’d discovered she was pregnant. But then he reminded her of all the people she had around her now - her family. She was no longer alone. She felt her hope for the future soar.

“How would I pay for it?” The question hadn’t even occurred to her and she felt that hope deflate as quickly as it had formed.

“That’ll come later,” he assured her, patting her hand again where it rested on his arm. “There are plenty of options for funding an education. For the time being, you figure out where you want to go.”

She looked up and saw they’d arrived at the mission.

“I’m fine from here,” she said. “You don’t need to see me all the way to the door. You need to get home, too.” She looked into his eyes again and was a bit puzzled at the glee she found there as well as the smile that he was clearly trying to suppress.

“Nonsense, Emma,” he protested. “I’ve brought you this far, I can wait a few more minutes to head home after making sure you get inside safely.”

“Very well.” She took his arm again and they made their way into the compound and up the front steps of the house. Her heart beat faster as she turned to him. His close proximity and the fluttering of the butterflies inside her were wreaking havoc on her equilibrium. She’d gotten used to being this close to him in the office, working alongside him the past couple of months. With patients surrounding them, it was easy to maintain the friendly professionalism she needed every day. But now, the darkness surrounding them, the relative privacy they enjoyed, plus the intimacy of their conversation all served to heighten her awareness of just how attracted she was to the man standing before her. He was so much older than her, was more mature, had seen more of the world than she had, and was settling into a promising career, there was no way on God’s green earth that he’d ever be interested in someone like her. Eighteen years old and about to have a baby. He didn’t need that kind of complication in his life. But the way he treated her- with so much kindness and respect- plus the way she sometimes saw him looking at her, with such tenderness and affection, just made her melt inside and she couldn’t help but wonder…

“Why don’t you come in for some dinner?” she asked, knowing he hadn’t had anything since lunch, and that Mother Superior would have made sure enough food was left over for her to eat when she got home for the evening. At that moment, the front door swung open and the shout from within caused them both to jump.

“Surprise!”

Emma laughed with shocked delight and turned again to Killian, whose smile and dancing blue eyes told her unequivocally that he was an integral part of the surprise. She jumped into his arms again for a tight hug before she turned back to the door and to the people within the house. Dragging Killian along, she entered the house and took in the party balloons holding up a banner proclaiming “Happy Birthday Emma!” Hanging all around the birthday sentiments were several pictures the children had obviously painted, featuring handprints, fantastical realms, as well as a lovely picture of all the residents of the mission.

Tears filled her eyes as she knelt down to accept the hugs from the children who crowded around her shouting surprise and happy birthday at the top of their lungs. Everyone but Alice, of course, who still hadn’t spoken a word to anyone. But the happiness and love Emma saw in her eyes before accepting her hug was more than enough for her. She rose and hugged her friends and then the sisters before noticing the full spread set out for all of them. The sisters had obviously held the vespers a little early tonight instead of having dinner beforehand like they usually did. All of her favorites were there. How was she supposed to choose? Mother Superior’s grilled cheese sandwiches, tomato soup, and onion rings, Sister Grace’s fried catfish, cole slaw, and hushpuppies, Sister Mercy’s spaghetti with meat sauce, garlic bread, and caesar salad, and finally Sister Astrid’s carrot cake with cream cheese icing. Emma’s mouth watered.

“You go first, Emma,” Roland cried, barely able to contain his excitement. “It’s your birthday!” Emma laughed as he jumped up and down like Buddy from the movie Elf. Killian picked the little boy up and sat him on his hip.

“You need to calm down, Roland,” he admonished him lightly. “You’ll knock all the food over. Then where would we be?”

“Hungry,” Grace deadpanned. The adults all laughed and lined up behind Emma and the children. Emma looked at all the delightful offerings and decided on sampling a little bit of everything.

Mother Superior invited Emma to sit at the center table with Killian and the other sisters since she was the guest of honor and was now officially an adult. She could feel her cheeks heat as Killian sat down next to her. He’d done the same thing she’d done by filling his plate with a little of everything. The only thing not on his plate were onion rings.

“No onion rings?!” she exclaimed, completely astonished. “How can you not eat Mother Superior’s onion rings?”

“Just like this,” he said as he took his first bite of food. Emma cut her eyes to Mother Superior whose eyes danced with barely restrained mirth.

Emma shrugged as she dug in as well. “Leaves more for me.” She picked up an onion ring, waved it in front of his face and then popped it in her mouth with a satisfied hum. A smug smile lifted her lips as she saw him watching her eat. She could see a subtle awareness whenever his eyes met hers as they continued their meal. An awareness that made her breath hitch and the butterflies flutter madly. She really, really liked him, but it felt like more than just a school girl crush. In the months they’d worked together, she’d seen him deal with people from all walks of life with integrity, respect, kindness, and a skill and compassion that she very much wanted to emulate. He was a good man, a hero in her eyes, and she knew she could trust him. She also knew she was in imminent danger of falling head over heels for him.

Everyone enjoyed the meal and had second and even third helpings, in some cases. Emma placed her hand on her tummy with a sigh of satisfaction. “I don’t think I could eat another bite.”

“You’d better,” Sister Astrid asserted, “because it’s time for cake!”

Emma’s heart threatened to explode when everyone broke into the familiar birthday song. “Make a wish! Make a wish!” cried Roland and Nicholas when they finished. Emma looked around the room at her friends, her family, the tears in her eyes making it hard to see.

“I couldn’t possibly wish for anything more than what I already have,” she said, her arms open wide to the children who all eagerly reciprocated her embrace. “But I will still blow out my candles.” She grinned and then turned to the cake and blew all the candles out on the first blow.

Once the cake and ice cream was finished off and everyone, except Emma, had pitched in with the cleanup, Mother Superior announced that it was time for presents. Emma felt her eyes fill with tears again at the pronouncement.

“More?” she cried, gathering Alice in her arms as the little girl brought a small pot of mums to her that she’d been nurturing from seeds the last few months. Tears spilled down Emma’s cheeks at the precious gift that she knew meant so much to the child. She was never without it, even holding onto it when she slept. “Thank you, Alice,” she murmured, still hugging her tightly. “I’ll take very good care of it.”

The other children had made or purchased small, thoughtful gifts for her, including a Big Sister keychain, and a small rectangular box for holding pens, pencils, and other odds and ends that she could take to the office.

The teens had made a digital photo album for her filled with pictures of life on the mission and the small town they all now called home. Emma couldn’t contain her tears once again as she flipped through the pages. There were pictures of all of the sisters, Emma helping with the children, the teens all being silly together, her first day at Killian’s office. Tearing her eyes away from the picture of her and Killian, she looked up at him and found his own eyes filled with tears as he looked at the picture before he caught her looking at him. He scratched behind his ear and cleared his throat before speaking.

“This is beautiful, Emma, y’all,” he said, addressing the other teens. Emma caught the eyes of the others and agreed.

“It is. Thank you so much, y’all.” Emma rose and gave hugs to everyone before turning to each of the sisters and hugging each one of them in turn. “Thank you for all this. It’s the best birthday I’ve ever had.”

“I’m sorry we couldn’t do more, Emma,” Mother Superior said, “but I’m very glad you enjoyed everything. Alright, children. It’s time for baths and bed.” A chorus of groans accompanied her announcement. Emma smiled indulgently at the children as they bid her goodnight. Once they’d been ushered out of the room and the others had all left to their evening routines after more hugs and birthday wishes, Emma saw Killian to the door and led him out onto the front porch.

“I have something for you, too, Emma,” he said, scratching behind his ear again. Emma gasped in surprise.

“You didn’t have to do that!” she exclaimed. It was all she could do to keep from swooning at his feet, but she managed to maintain her composure as he pulled a small box out of his pocket. Emma gasped again as she opened it to find a silver swan necklace with a perfect pearl forming the body of the swan.

“I know I didn’t have to,” he assured her, “I wanted to. I saw this in the window at the jewelers the other day and thought it was perfect for you. I thought it was everything you are- beautiful, graceful, strong.” He looked into her eyes and ran his knuckles down her cheek, “Priceless,” he whispered.

Emma was now in serious danger of her knees buckling at the tender affection and longing she saw reflected in his eyes. Was it possible? His gaze flicked to her mouth and Emma swayed toward him, placing her arms on his shoulders and drawing him close. His hands rested on her hips as, with the lightest of touches, he brushed his lips against hers. She tightened her arms around him and pulled him into a deeper kiss. She was utterly lost to the gentle pressure of his mouth on hers and when his tongue touched her lips, she eagerly opened for him.

It seemed only a moment later that she heard giggles from inside the house. They broke apart and could see Roland and Alice peeking through the curtain in Mother Superior’s bedroom.

“Aren’t you supposed to be getting your baths?” Killian admonished them with mock severity. He hadn’t removed his hands from her sides and she could see the affectionate smile he tried to hide at their interruption.

“Emma and Killian sittin’ in a tree, K-I-S-S-I-N-G! First comes love, then comes marriage, then comes Killian with a baby carriage,” Roland sang before both children dissolved into howls of laughter.

“Go on now, the both of you,” he told them, sending them scurrying away from the window still laughing hysterically.

Emma could see that Killian’s face was as red as she was sure hers was. She could barely stand to look at him, too afraid of what she might find in his gaze. Did he regret their kiss? She certainly didn’t. Was he disgusted at what he perceived were her advances? Had she just torpedoed not only their friendship and working relationship, but also any chance of a future relationship with him?

He caught her eyes then and Emma’s breath hitched. Nothing she had feared colored his gaze, only a stunned amazement and wonder. She couldn’t move, couldn’t do anything but wait for him to speak. Killian looked down and took her hands in his.

“This may be a bit forward of me, Emma,” he began, “but would you allow me to take you on a date?”

Emma caught her breath yet again. She couldn’t believe this was happening. “A date? With you?” she said, completely dumbfounded.

“Yes, with me,” he replied, with a boyish smirk.

Joy from the bottom of her heart bubbled up and Emma couldn’t contain her delighted smile. “Yes, Killian. I’d love to go on a date with you.”

“How about Sunday evening?”

“That would be fine.” Killian’s grin split his face and he leaned back in for another tender kiss. This time a strong kick from the baby separated them. Emma chuckled and rubbed her hand along the top of her swollen belly as Killian did the same.

“Alright, little one,” he said, “I’ll go now and let your mother rest.” He looked back up at her and held her gaze. “Goodnight, Emma. I’ll see you in the morning.” With a final kiss on her cheek, Killian turned and walked away.

“Goodnight, Killian.”

~*~*~

Killian scrubbed his hand down his face, wishing he didn’t have to make the call he knew he needed to. Progress was being made on the kindergarten but not enough. It was late October. The foundation had been poured, the exterior frame had been built and erected, and the roof put on. But that was all the progress that’d been made in six weeks of working alone. He needed help. Killian hoped he’d be able to talk to his brother and get enough help to meet the end of the year deadline.

“Liam?”

“Killian! It’s good to hear from you! How are you?” The delight in his brother’s voice made him smile but also had him scratching behind his ear in embarrassment at not being in touch sooner.

“I’m doing well, brother,” he said. “I’m sorry I haven’t called sooner. Getting the clinic up and going…”

“Pfft,” Liam interrupted. “You’ve been a little busy, brother. I understand. But I am glad to hear from you. How’s the practice going?”

“It’s going great,” Killian told him. “I’ve had to extend my hours, especially with cold and flu season cranking up. I’ve hired a receptionist and a nurse. Well, I say nurse…” he trailed away for a moment, feeling his cheeks heat as he thought about Emma. “She’s interested in going to nursing school, but right now, she just does triage and patient charts for me. But listen, I had a reason for calling. You remember the sisters we built the chapel for my senior year?”

“Yes,” he agreed, “Of course I do. Mother Superior never paid us for building it.”

Killian laughed good naturedly. “That was as much on us as her,” he explained. “We both left without any explanation or goodbye. She didn’t know how to find either of us. But listen, over the years, they’ve collected children and teens who have no home, but they have no place for them to stay. CPS has given them to the end of the year to get suitable lodgings built for them or they’ll be taking custody of the children and putting them all in foster care, separating them.”

“And I take it no one wants that.”

“You are correct, brother,” he agreed. “They’ve been sleeping in the barn, but they’re family. You should see them. They love each other so much. There’s five teenagers and five children. One of the teens is my nurse. She turned eighteen yesterday, and graduated high school last spring. Mother Superior asked me to build the kindergarten for them, but I’m not making enough progress on it to get it finished by the end of the year without some help. Is there any way you can help me? I’ve got all the materials we need, I just need some extra manpower. Mother Superior has agreed to pay for both the chapel and the kindergarten.”

“I’ve got a crew that’ll be finished with their project next week,” Liam told him. “Is that soon enough?”

Killian breathed a sigh of relief. “That will be great, brother. I cannot thank you enough.”

“How about hosting me as the project manager?”

Killian’s face broke out in a wide grin. “Really? Are you serious?”

“Of course I am, brother! I haven’t seen you in months and haven’t been back to Storybrooke in years. It’ll be nice to be back and see everyone.”

“That sounds great, Liam. I’d love to have you,” he assured him.

“That’s settled then,” Liam said. “I’ll head over next weekend, see how far you’ve gotten and get things ready for the crew to come on the first.”

“Perfect, Liam,” he said, unable to keep the relief out of his voice. “Thank you. I’ll see you next Saturday.”

“See you then.”

~*~*~

Thank you so much for reading and sharing! Next week, The Date!!!

#christmas miracles for storybrooke #krystal writes #art by krystal #manips by kit #inspired by christmas lilies of the field

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