Never Grow Up: Chapter 1

Hope Jones sat in her father's lap, absently playing with the Pirate's luck resting against his chest. Though his pirate days were long behind him, he still wore the emblem as reminder of the past, and for his superstitious heart. An added bonus was that Hope seemed mesmerized by all things pirate and sea-faring. She called herself his lieutenant, begged for sailing lessons on the Jolly and shook him down for pirating stories every night before bed.

She was making the most of his inability to deny the latter request, as she snuggled in close to him in the black leather arm chair that sat in the Jones' family room.

They were the picture of contentment, as he turned the pages of their well-worn storybook. Killian had removed his leather jacket shortly after returning home after picking up Hope from school and wore only one of his dark blue button-down shirts and black jeans. Hope was dressed for bed in footie pajamas, dotted with dolphins and fish. Behind blonde bangs, she watched her father recount the time he and Emma fell in love all over again even though he was just a lowly, fearful deckhand.

They'd reached the part where they defeated the dragon when he closed the book and lifted her onto his hip.

"Time for bed, I'm afraid my darling. We can finish the story tomorrow night."

"But, Daddy—"'

"Ah! No buts," he interrupted. "Straight to bed, so you'll be rested for tomorrow. You'll need loads of energy for you party."

"Daddy?" She inquired, looking up at him with piercing blue eyes to mirror his own. "Tomorrow, at my party, am I going to turn five all over again?"

"No, you're already five, but we're celebrating tomorrow so your mother and I can both be there and not have to work."

"I'll be big?"

"Yes, my big-girl princess," he said, pressing a kiss into her blonde curls. "Make's my old heart sad, but I guess I'll have to allow it."

"Sad?"

"Sad to see my baby girl all grown up," he teased, picking her up and tossing her into the air eliciting a squeal and a giggle. "If Daddy had his way, my Hope would be small and sweet forever and ever."

Hope hugged his neck tightly as he carried her up the stairs to prepare for bed.

"I can stay small for you."

"No, Duckling. That's not how it works. You get bigger, and I get older," he said, thinking wistfully the collection of white hair that began peppering his stubble. His wife was sure to point them out to him lovingly every couple weeks.

"I'll stay small and be your little girl forever," Hope asserted, looking up at him and grinning. "It'll be my birthday wish."

"Best not tell me then," he teased, as he lowered her to the ground outside of the bathroom. "It won't come true."

Hope nodded seriously and zipped her lips before throwing away an imaginary key. Killian mimed catching the key.

"Best unlock that now," he said. "Teeth need to be brushed before night-night kisses and dreams can happen."

She pouted but pretended to take a key from his proffered hand and opened her mouth before padding into the bathroom. He watched his little girl step onto the step-stool they'd placed for her and begin to brush her teeth and wash her face.

After ensuring she didn't need his aid, Killian walked into Hope's room and sat on the edge of her bed.

A year ago, they'd celebrated Hope's birthday by completely redecorating her room. They'd removed the bed that had been converted from her crib and replaced it with a "big-girl" bed. They'd also redid the soft pink walls he'd so carefully painted the day they found out they were expecting a wee lass. Now, the walls were a light sea-green color, and Killian and carefully painted constellations on the ceiling. He and Emma had also carefully stenciled in silhouettes of tall ships along the molding at the base of the wall. A room fit for a pirate-princess; Emma called it.

One thing they'd kept from her old room caught his eye. It was perched on the shelf along with her books and a model of his ship. It was the little pink stopper he'd worn on his hook for the first month of her life. After a while he'd trusted himself not to injure his child, but it was a nice reminder of their first month together, when he would gaze down in awe at the tiny baby he'd made with his true love, and the infant would close her lips around the brightly colored plastic before falling asleep blissfully.

Yes, it would be nice for her to be my baby girl forever.


In the Charmings' house, Mary Margret and David were sharing and cup of tea over their kitchen table after practically bribing Neal and Leo to go bed. It had been a challenge moving the two boys together, but necessary changes had to be made for the impending arrival of the boy's newest sister.

While the couple had been prepared for fighting between the pair over toys and space, they had not been prepared for the boys to completely enjoy being made roommates on top of their partner in crime status around StoryBrooke. The seven and four year old were thick as thieves during the day and were quickly becoming that way at night as well.

David reached across the table and grabbed his wife's hand before kissing it playfully. "Happy to finally catch your breath?"

"You know it," she agreed, taking a sip of her tea. "David, we're about to be out-numbered in two months' time. Are you sure we're ready for it?"

"Are you kidding me?" he asked with all the bravado of Prince Charming. "We're ready for anything. Whatever happens, this—" He got up from his seat and moved to stand behind his wife, wrapping his arms around her and resting his hands on her belly. "—This is exactly where I want to be—Where I want us to be."

He kissed the side of her face and moved to look her in the eyes. "I'm just enjoying them for right now, while they're small and mischievous, and playful." He chuckled before taking their mugs and depositing them in the kitchen sink. "They won't be that small forever. Soon they'll be grown with babies of their own."

She hummed her agreement and took him by the hands. "Then those babies start getting big too. Hope so grown up now."

"Probably more mature than her father."

"David!"

"Just saying!" He said, holding up his hands. "She is turning into quite the little lady."

Mary Margret hummed in agreement. "She's five, David! Our baby's baby is five."

"Don't remind me," he sighs, pulling his wife closer. "Does it make you feel old?"

"No, the curse helped with that," she said playfully.

He nodded his agreement to his wife before kissing her forehead, and collecting their mugs to prepare for bed.


Just as Killian came down the stairs after tucking in Hope, Emma came through the front door. She was grinning and holding out her arms to him. He entered her embrace and returned it fiercely.

The love Killian had for his wife was unmatched. A part of him rejoiced in every moment they'd spent together knowing they were each other's true love. A bigger part of him stood tall and proud knowing that it was a love that was grown and nourished with time and patience, not predestination or romancing. While his skills to woo women were something he'd prided himself on for many years, what he'd built with Emma had little to do with that, and more to do with empathy, understanding and hard work. As he'd told Prince Charming, "We fought for our love and we won."

Now, six years of marriage and a baby later, he was sure their true love grew stronger every day with sweet moments like these.

"Nice welcome home, Sailor," she teased. "Keep this up, and I might just have to keep you around."

He chuckled before setting her down and pecking her lips sweetly, resting his hand and hook low on her hips.

"How was your day, Love?"

"Long. The dwarfs got a little too rowdy at Granny's again and she pulled out her crossbow," she offered with a groan, resting her head against her husband's shoulder.

"Well, you can't blame her, can you?"

"No, not at all," she agreed. "What about you? What did you do after you picked up Hope from Pre-school?"

"We had dinner on the Jolly Roger, then came home for bath, stories and bed," he replied. "It was blissfully uneventful."

"Good considering tomorrow is going to be crazy."

"Yes, a party with children running about does not top my list of relaxing Saturdays."

"It'll be sweet, though. We'll have to take lots of pictures."

He hummed in a agreement, moving to kiss her neck, but Emma pushed him away ignoring the pained look in his eye.

"Later," she promised. "Hope's probably not really asleep yet."

"Questioning my parenting, Swan?"

"No, I'm questioning my daughter's ability to fall asleep on her birthday the night before her party."

As if on cue, Emma hears the squeaky floorboard in their daughter's room, followed by the patter of small feet above them. She shoots a winning smile at Killian to say I told you so before pressing a hand onto his chest. "I'll settle her down, and once I'm back I've got some news to share, and you might want to break out the rum."


Shortly after her father had tucked her in, Hope crawled out of bed and tip-toed to her window. It was highly likely that her birthday wish was already spoiled by telling her daddy, so she resolved to wish for a pony after blowing out her candles and turned her attention to the night sky.

Above the white caps of the gunmetal grey waves, an expanse of inky blackness rose. Hope scanned the night sky, and soon spotted the first white star of the night. Quickly, she closed her eyes, held her breath and poured all the belief she had into the present moment.

"I wish that I could stay young and small forever just for Daddy," she whispered.

Then, she waited by the window, eyes closed, hands clasped, just hoping.

She swore she could feel some of the magic already working on her. It tingled through her veins like warmth and music, making her belly tighten and her head swim. Somewhere in the depths of her heart a spark glowed as if it had finally come to life, and it begged her to embrace it. Immediately, Hope knew what it was—light magic. The kind of magic that lived inside her mother from Prince Charming and Snow White's true love—and the kind of magic that lived inside of Hope.

She grinned. Every moment of her parents' love was bundled up inside of her, and it had finally awakened itself.

Daddy's going to be so happy

"Hope!" her mother's voice cut through her thoughts.

Caught, Hope hopped down from the window sill and moved over to her mother, and wrapped her arms around the older woman's legs. "Sorry, Mommy. I was wishing on a star."

Emma smiled and shook her head. "There will be plenty of time for wishes tomorrow, Duckling. Now it's time for sleeping."

Taking the little girl by the hand, Emma led her daughter back to her bed and carefully tucked her in. She smoothed the covers over her daughter, and she watched as Hope looked up at her with Killian's bright blue eyes, and she couldn't help but indulge the child for a little longer.

"Want to tell me what you wished for? No ponies, remember."

"No, I can't tell you or it won't come true." The girl put a finger to her lips. "It's for Daddy, and I don't want to spoil it."

"Okay," Emma replied with a small chuckle. "As long as no ponies come knocking on your window, I guess it's okay. I'm sure your dad will love whatever you wished for. Now, get some sleep. You've got a big day ahead of you tomorrow."

"With adventures?"

"Shh," Emma soothed. "No questions until morning."

Hope pouted a little before turning over in her bed closing her eyes.

"Night-night, Mommy."

"Night, Hope" Emma returned, kissing her forehead and pulling the covers a little higher up around her tiny body. "I love you more than there are stars in the sky."

"And, I love you more than Daddy loves the Jolly," Hope whispered, finally closing her eyes and allowing sleep to take her.


After Hope was once again tucked into bed, Emma returned to her husband on the couch and put an arm around his shoulders. He'd retrieved his flask and had it resting on the table in front of them. She picked it up and pressed it into his hands.

"Your daughter was wishing on a star for you," she informed him, giving him and silly grin and a gentle shove. "What'd you put her up to?"

He took the flash, and raised his hand and hook. "Nothing self-serving, I promise. I merely teased her about not being my little starfish much longer, and that I wished she could stay small and my little girl forever."

Emma laughed and shook her head. "Is that all?"

"Aye," he confirmed, raising his flask between them and grinning. "Now, would you like to take a drink before or after you tell me your news?" He proffered the dark glass container in her direction.

"Oh, I'm not drinking tonight," she whispered, moving closer to him and placing her hand on his blunted arm just above his hook. "In fact, for a while you're going to be drinking for two if you know what I mean."

A moment of confusion flashed in his eyes, before his mind gradually caught up. He watched his wife's face break into a grin to match his own.

"Swan, you're not?"

"Yeah," she confirmed while nodding eagerly. "I found out this morning after you went into the station and before I took Hope to school. We're pregnant! Looks like our wedding anniversary was very productive."

He dropped his flask onto the couch and took Emma into his arms, before pressing a kiss into her cheek and burying his face into her neck, leaving more kisses there while she laughed and clung closer to him.

"Solves the whole wanting Hope to be small forever problem, huh?" she teased, running her hands over his shoulders and down his arms, as he made more intense advances towards her. She gasped when he aimed his affections at her collarbone and added, "I take it you're happy."

"More than happy— I'm elated— Excited! Emma, you're amazing!" He whispered urgently between the kisses he was trailing along her neck, allowing his arms to pull her flush against his chest. "More Jones on the way."

"Easy there, Pirate," she said before he got carried away. She raked her hand down the back of his hair and kissed his lips before pulling back. He kept staring at her and grinning, and she couldn't help but laugh at him. "You're forgetting your rum."

"To hell with the rum," he growled, picking her up off the couch and forcing her to muffle a yelp of surprise for their sleeping daughter's sake. "I've got other ideas of how to celebrate."

And he carried her up the stairs, taking the steps two at a time.