Trigger warnings: past parentification, past child abuse, past child neglect, past child abandonment, etc.

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Killian quietly entered his eldest daughter's room and sat at the edge of her bed.

"Harriet" He whispered, gently shaking her awake.

"Daddy?" The little girl yawned in confusion, sitting up slightly "what's wrong? Did you have a nightmare?"

Killian smiled slightly, biting back a laugh at the eight year old's question.

It was a reasonable question from an 8 year old's perspective—she and her siblings always went to him when they had nightmares after all, so why wouldn't he go to them?

"No, no. I'm fine sweetheart."

This led to her giving him a confused look.

"Then why'd you wake me? Did something happen to Harry and Cj?" She looked genuinely worried so he quickly assured her otherwise.

"No, they're fine. Daddy just has to go somewhere and wants you to know that he'll be coming back." It felt weird to refer to himself in the 3rd person but he had started to do it at some point and just went with it most of the time.

Harriet furrowed her brows in confusion and scrunched up her nose "of course you'd be coming back. Why wouldn't you come back?"

Killian winced slightly—his thoughts immediately going to his own father before he could stop them. He quickly faked a smile.

"No reason, sweetie. I just wanted to let you know that so you wouldn't get worried when you woke in the morning to find me gone" he said soothingly, brushing her bangs out of her face.

Harriet seemed satisfied with that answer.

"Oh that makes sense. So who's gonna look after us while you're gone?" The 8 year old asked, laying back down and shifting until she was comfortable again.

"Smee, of course. I wouldn't trust anyone else with your safety but promise me one thing" Killian said seriously—more serious than his daughter had ever seen before.

"What daddy?" The mini-pirate asked, mimicking his serious tone and expression innocently.

"Promise me that you'll look after your brother and sister while I'm gone. You don't have to do everything, just make sure they stay out of trouble and don't drive Ol' Smee completely batty, okay?" Killian asked, fidgeting nervously.

He didn't know whether or not he was putting too much pressure on his little girl.

He hoped he wasn't because that was the absolute last thing he wanted— he didn't want to be like his father.

He didn't want to do what his father did to Liam.

Didn't want her to feel like the weight of the world was on her shoulders—but he had to ask this of her.

He had to know that his children would all be safe and happy and look out for each other while he wasn't there since he couldn't back out on his deal with Cora.

Not after he had come this far.

"Okay. I promise" Harriet said smiling, melting her father's heart.

She was absolutely adorable when she smiled and it always managed to make Killian's day better whenever he saw it.

Killian ruffled her hair, smiling slightly as he wondered how he had gotten so lucky

"Love you 'Ette" he kissed her forehead, tucking her in.

"Love you too, daddy" the girl yawned.

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Killian went to Harry and CJ's room next to say a quiet goodbye to them both.

He bit back a laugh at the sight that greeted him so that he wouldn't wake them. What was so funny, you ask?

The state his sleeping young ones were in.

Cj was sprawled out on the top bunk—one foot pressed against the wall, the other dangling off the bed along with her arm and head. Her other arm was wrapped around Patchy, her teddy, and her fist was in her mouth—covered in drool.

Meanwhile, Harry was sleeping on his stomach on top of his pillow— hugging it with his legs and arm. His teddy laid at his feet, his blankie was trapped under the pillow, and his toy hook was stuck in his hair. He was snoring softly.

It literally took all of Killian's willpower not to laugh as he quietly made his way over to them and sorted them out.

It took 30 minutes to get the hook out of Harry's hair, to remove him from his pillow (and himself), and to get them both settled and tucked in without waking them.

He wiped the drool from their chins and gently placed a kiss on both of their foreheads, quietly whispering "I love you." as he did so.

As he was heading out, he made sure to re-light the oil lamp so it wouldn't go out before Harry woke.

He left quickly, silently praying that he got through this alive and that he wasn't gone for long.

May the odds be in his favor.