Disclaimer: Reluctantly I have to admit that I don't own these characters. They are property of others far luckier than myself.

"I think Sneezy is seeing things," David stated as he and Emma poked around the abandoned farmhouse on Monday morning. There was no sight of anyone having been in or near the house.

"He saw smoke," Emma stated as she bent down pick the lock, so they could force their way into the home, "Sneezy isn't one to make things up."

"No, he's not," David conceded.

The door gave an eerie groan as Emma opened the door. "Yeah, that's not at all creepy."

"Sneezy was right," David noted as he went straight to the fireplace to see the signs of a fresh fire.

"Now we have to figure out who exactly could force their way into a home and not leave a trace," Emma sighed as she pocketed her lock picking tools, "Weren't we complaining about boring a few weeks ago?"

"We should have celebrated," David bobbed his head.

"This has magic written all over it," Emma stated as she surveyed the scene, "Is this someone old making an encore performance or someone new looking to make a name for themselves?"

"Just when we're getting comfortable with all the quietness," David sighed.

"Until we figure all this out, let's keep this quiet. No point in scaring the town unnecessarily."

"Agreed," David's head nodded.

"Guess it's time to pull out Henry's book again," Emma sighed, "I hope I can find it buried underneath all the laundry in his bedroom."

"Typical teenager," David hooted with laughter.

"I swear there's this one pile of clothes that I wash every week, but I never see him wear half of it," Emma shook her head in amusement as they locked up the farm house and returned to the car, "What happened to that little neat freak I first knew?"

"He turned thirteen," David snickered as he revved up the engine and steered the car back to the station, "Be thankful he takes showers on a regular basis."

"Time flies," Emma snickered, "Fallon's already two."

"Going on twenty," the proud grandfather replied, "She's such a little ham."

"Gets that from her papa," Emma smirked, "She is definitely her father's daughter. There aren't many people that she's met that she hasn't been able to charm since she was first born."

"She certainly has everyone in our family wrapped around her fingers," David agreed.

Upon arriving at the station, they appeared to walk in on a bit of flirting between Regina and her main squeeze, Robin. Robin had crossed realms a year or so earlier. It had been an interesting reunion to start as he'd nearly shot Regina through the heart with an arrow, but they were thick as thieves. He and Roland had even moved into her residence a few months earlier.

"Madam Mayor, is there anything I can do for you today?" Emma inquired as she took her seat after trading amused glances with her father. It the smudged lipstick was any indication, they appeared to have walked in on more than simple flirting.

"Deputy Hood said that there was some suspicious activity at that farm place just outside of town. I came for an update," Regina stated as she wiped at her lips to remove the smeared lipstick.

"It will all be in the report I'll have on your desk by the end of the day," Emma assured her.

"Care to give me a preview?" Regina pressed, "If the town is in any danger, it is my job as mayor to protect them."

"Well," Emma sighed, "From the outside there didn't appear to be anything out of place. The house was locked up tight. There were no signs of forced entry. Once we made our way inside, it does appear that someone has been staying there recently. We found a freshly burnt out fire in the fireplace, and other subtle signs that someone is sleeping there. Either we have a skilled burglar on our hands or it's someone magical. Only someone with serious skills could force their way inside without leaving a trace."

"So what's the plan of action?" Regina asked.

"Well, we could always stake out the place to see who is going in or out," David chimed in, "However the farm house is out in the open. There isn't really a place we could set up that would be out of sight."

"So we just sit on our hands and wait?" Regina scoffed.

"We monitor the situation closely," Emma amended, "But there is no reason to put the town on alert until we have more to go on."

"So we do nothing," Regina concluded.

"We don't know that this person is even here. It could have been a drifter passing through town," Emma stated, "Until we have specific knowledge of a threat against the town we wait and observe."

"Sheriff Swan, I'll pull rank if I must," Regina threatened.

"What do you want me to do, Mayor?" Emma challenged her, "Sit in the house with my arms crossed and wait for the mysterious figure to arrive?"

"Madam Mayor," Robin chimed in, "Sheriff Swan is right. Until there is something more conclusive, monitoring the situation is the way to go."

Regina stormed out of the station in a huff.

"You'll pay for that later, Robin," Emma stated, "But thank you for backing me up."

"I'll work my charms," Robin assured her, "I won't be paying for long. She's very amendable to my ways."

"What is with you boys with those accents?" Emma rolled her eyes, "You think you can smooth anything over with those suave words."

"Works on you with a certain sailor, Emma," David chuckled.

"Bloody pirate," Emma rolled her eyes when she realized her father was right.

"Big plans for your days off, Sheriff?" Robin decided to change the subject.

"Laundry," Emma laughed, "That husband of mine is incapable of such things. He's picked up on some modern conveniences, but a washing machine is beyond him."

"I must say it baffles me still," Robin replied.

"I've found that it's not just you. It's most men," Emma replied as she glared at her father, "Even modern men have issues."

"Stay with Mama," Fallon surprised her father by grabbing a hold of Emma's leg when Killian tried to take their daughter for a morning aboard the Jolly Roger the next day. Henry was already off to school, and Emma didn't have to go into the station having worked the entire weekend.

"You don't want to navigate with your papa?" Killian knelt before her with his most tempting smile, "Mama is going to be doing laundry all day. That's no fun."

"Stay," Fallon repeated as she hugged her mother's leg tighter.

Emma was grinning from ear to ear having being chosen over her husband for quite possibly the first time since Fallon had learned to make her desires known.

"As you wish, Little Love," Killian bowed his head slightly before kissing her forehead, "Be a good girl for Mama."

Fallon bobbed her head vigorously in agreement.

"Enjoy the princess's rambunctiousness," Killian kissed his wife's lips.

"We'll have all sorts of fun today," Emma was still grinning victoriously as Killian grabbed his leather coat off the hook next to the door. Beside it was the sword he'd worn on his hip for most of his life, but it stayed put. His hand didn't even flinch towards it anymore.

In between loads of laundry, Emma and Fallon had all sorts of fun, building a fort, playing with Fallon's collection of dolls, coloring pictures, making an afternoon snack for Henry, and even folding laundry. Emma realized if she could make it a game, Fallon was all for it. She felt like a regular Mary Poppins.

"I win," Fallon cheered as she tossed a ball of socks into her brother's basket that she'd folded moment before.

"You sure did," Emma laughed even though there had been no mention of any score being kept. She was just so proud that her daughter was helping her. "How about we celebrate with a nap? Mama's tired too."

"Okay," Fallon agreed as she released a deep yawn and went to curl herself up on the couch. She promptly drifted off. Emma covered her with a nearby blanket and went upstairs to grab the next load of clean laundry to fold. Killian had been right. Their little girl was overflowing with energy.

Henry burst through the door just as Emma was coming down the circular staircase. Emma moved quickly to silence Henry so Fallon wouldn't wake.

"She stayed home?" Henry showed a mild bit of surprise as he glanced over the back of the sofa to gaze upon his sleeping sister.

"She wanted to stay with me for a change," Emma set down the one laundry basket and handed Henry another that was full of his clean clothes, "Put these away and then you can have the snack that Fallon and I made for you."

"You cooked?" Henry gulped nervously. Her culinary skills had improved dramatically since she first arrived in Storybrooke, but she was far from the gourmet. She still floundered occasionally.

"Fallon was the taste tester. We both know what a picky eater she is," Emma chuckled, "She ate one without protest, so I think your safe."

"Yes, and she's out cold," Henry continued to eye his mother nervously, "Fallon is just sleeping, isn't she? You didn't add any of my mom's apples to the recipe, did you?"

"Ha, ha," Emma rolled her eyes as she nudged him towards his bedroom, "And those clothes belong in drawers, not in piles around your room. It was hard enough figuring out what was clean and dirty as it was."

"Fine," Henry huffed as he disappeared into the bedroom to do as instructed. When he emerged, Emma was setting out a plate of cookies for him.

"How was school?" Emma asked as she sat down at the table with him.

"Fine," Henry shrugged as he took a bite of the cookie and then provided analysis, "These are good."

"I am improving," Emma reminded him.

"Is there any milk?" Henry asked.

Emma grabbed a glass for him. By the time she'd returned to the table, the four cookies she'd set out for him were gone.

"Good lord," Emma's eyes were wide in amused surprise, "Did you chew or inhale?"

"I was hungry," Henry shrugged.

"You are a growing boy," Emma patted his head as he promptly gulped down the glass of milk she'd retrieved for him.

"Are there anymore?" Henry asked hopefully.

"I think four is plenty," Emma laughed, "Dinner with your grandparents is in a couple of hours. I'd hate to spoil your appetite. Why don't you get started on your homework?"

"Okay," Henry nodded as he grabbed the school bag he'd left by the front door when he got home and took up residence at the kitchen table to do his schoolwork until Killian returned home.

Having woken from her nap a bit later, Fallon slipped off the sofa to surprise her brother. Emma spotted her slinking towards Henry just before the little girl pounced on her brother.

"Ack!" Henry exclaimed as Fallon leapt into his lap, "Fallon!"

She pulled back, gave him a sweet smile and added an innocent, "Hi."

Henry tried to summon a bit of anger, but he couldn't manage it. His sister was too darn cute for her own good.

"Did you help Mama with the cookies?" Henry picked her up and placed her in his lap. When Fallon bobbed her head, he added, "They were yummy."

"Cookie, Mama?" Fallon held out her hand expectantly.

"Maybe after dinner, Sweetheart," Emma tapped her nose.

Fallon's bottom lip protruded in response.

"When is dinner?" Henry asked. Even though he'd just consumed four rather large cookies barely an hour earlier, he was still hungry.

"When Killian gets home, we can head over to Grandma and Grandpa's," Emma replied.

Fallon's mood did a quick one-eighty as she cheered in excitement. Her cheers grew louder as Killian came through the front door. "Papa!" Fallon exclaimed as she ran to hug him around his legs.

"How's my Little Love?" Killian asked as he shed his jacket and then picked her up.

"Hungry," Fallon patted at her belly, "See dolphins?"

"I did," he confirmed, "I bet they missed seeing you. I know I missed having my favorite little navigator on board."

Emma snickered as she stepped in to greet her husband with a kiss as Fallon wiggled out of his arms.

"Did our princess behave, Love?" Killian kept Emma close with an arm around her neck.

"She's a bundle of energy," Emma smiled as her arms wrapped around his waist, her eyes sparkling with adoration for the man before her. Even though they'd been married for nearly three years, she still got the butterflies when she was near him. "We had fun. Didn't we, Princess?"

"Yep," Fallon's head bobbed.

"Get the picture you colored for Papa," Emma suggested.

Fallon ran to the refrigerator and pulled the picture off that Emma had left within her reach for the very specific purpose of being able to give it to Killian when he got home.

"Is that the Jolly Roger?" Killian asked as he tried to discern what she'd drawn for him, as they weren't much more than chicken scratches.

"Yep," Fallon beamed with pride as she pointed to the stick figures aboard the drawing, "This is Mama and Henry and Papa and me."

"How come you're taller than the rest of us?" Killian snickered.

"I don't know?" she shrugged.

"It's very pretty, Princess," Killian bent down to kiss the top of her head, "Will you put it back on the ice box?"

"Fridge," Emma corrected him as Fallon snatched the drawing from his hand and returned it to the place of honor.

"Hello, Lad," Killian ruffled his stepson's head as Henry sat at the table doing his school work, "How was school?"

"Fine," Henry shrugged as he kept working.

"Go shower and get changed," Emma nudged Killian with her hip, "We're having dinner with my parents, and Henry's hungry."

"Henry is always hungry," Killian chuckled.

"Fallon's hungry too," Emma nudged him a second time, "Now go, and take that basket of clean laundry with you."

"I suppose I have to put this away to stay in your good graces," he picked up the basket at the bottom of the circular staircase.

"Test that theory to find out, Pirate," Emma gave him a flirtatious smile.

Killian chuckled as he ascended the staircase. He'd been married long enough to know that it was in his best interest to put away the laundry.

When Killian made his way back down the stairs, his hair was wet from the quick rinse, and he was still buttoning his flannel shirt.

"Hurry, Papa," Fallon ran to him, grabbing his hand, "Henry hungry."

"Henry's always hungry," Killian laughed a second time as he freed his hand so he could finish buttoning his shirt.

"Let's go, Papa," Fallon tried a new tactic as she darted behind him, pushing at his legs.

"I think the princess is hungry too," Emma laughed at her daughter's eagerness, as Fallon grunted with effort.

Killian spun suddenly, scooped Fallon up and swung her upside down and then tossed her over his shoulder as the tot giggled away.

Henry was waiting impatiently at the door for everyone to follow him out.

On the short walk to David and Mary Margaret's cottage, Killian and Henry engaged in a discussion about Killian's day at sea, using nautical terms that had long ago gone over Emma's head. She was overjoyed that her son enjoyed spending time with his stepfather. Henry could have stuck to his original assessment that Killian was interfering with his parents reuniting, but he'd given Killian a chance. As a result, he was closer to Killian than his own father, but that had more to do with Neal's sour attitude.

"Poppy," Fallon exclaimed as she ran to her grandfather as she burst into her grandparents' home without any advanced notice.

"There's my princess," David scooped her up in a gigantic hug, "How are you today?"

"I missed you," Fallon hugged her grandfather's neck tight.

"I missed you too," David rained kissed along her cheeks, though it had only been a few days since they'd last spent time together.

Like her father and brother, she had her grandfather wrapped around her tiny fingers.

"Where's Leo?" Emma inquired as her eyes scanned the room for her brother as Mary Margaret was at the stove making dinner.

"Down for his afternoon nap," Mary Margaret glared at her husband, "Someone didn't put him down when he got home from the station this afternoon."

"Killian does that too," Emma traded a disapproving glance with her husband.

"I'm not the bad guy this round, Love," Killian gave her a flirtatious wink, "You were in charge of nap time this afternoon."

"And she got her nap in because of it," Emma stated as Fallon wiggled out of her grandfather's grasp only to dart over to her father, raising her arms to be picked up.

"Didn't you go sailing with Papa?" Mary Margaret came over to kiss her granddaughter's cheek.

"Stay with Mama," Fallon replied.

"And she wore me out," Emma stated as she tickled her daughter's stomach to draw out a laugh, "Only Papa seems to have the energy to keep up with her all day without needing a nap."

"Henry, will you set the table?" Mary Margaret asked her grandson as she kissed his cheek, "Dinner is almost ready."

"Okay, Grandma," Henry nodded as he went to the cabinets to pull out plates.

"I'll wake, Leo," Mary Margaret stated.

"Yes, that will make him cheerful," Emma groaned. Her brother's personality was similar to her own in that he was always a gloomy, grumpy Gus. The only person that could cheer Leo up was Fallon, but even her charms had limits. Just waking up from a nap was one of those limits. The little girl knew enough to stay away until Leo woke fully.

"Hey, Little Brother," Emma kissed Leo's cheek as Mary Margaret emerged from his room with the little blonde boy with his father's eyes looked to her with his patented pouty face. Leo promptly pushed her away. "You do realize who our parents are, right?" Emma laughed at the pout on his face.

"For children of two perpetually happy people, you two are surprisingly glum," Killian chuckled.

"I beg to differ," Emma poked her husband in the ribs, "I smile all the time."

"Not when we first met," Killian replied.

"When we first met, I'd just involuntarily left my son, crossed realms, was forced to align myself with a pirate all in an attempt to get home," she glared at him, "What exactly was I supposed to be smiling about?"

"My sparkling personality."

"Bloody pirate," Emma muttered, to which Fallon found hysterical and attempted to mimic.

"Let's eat," Mary Margaret suggested as she set Leo in his chair.

Everyone filed around the table and dug in, trading the usual family banter as they ate.

After dinner, Fallon and Leo played in the playroom until they wore themselves out.

"How are things at the station?" Mary Margaret asked as the adults sat in the living room as Henry finished up his homework at the dining room table.

"Slow," David and Emma responded together.

"Someone needs to tell Madam Mayor that there isn't any need for three lawmen in our sleepy little town," Emma added. "The money would be better spent on that police cruiser I keep asking for, but I'm not going to win that debate."

"How is Robin fitting in?" Mary Margaret inquired.

"Surprisingly well," Emma stated, "He's good at running interference with our esteemed mayor."

"Probably all that pillow talk," Mary Margaret snickered.

"Ew," Emma cringed, "Can we please not talk about that?"

"Jealous, Love," Killian nipped at her neck as his arm came around her shoulders.

"Certainly not," Emma scoffed, "I have nothing to be jealous of. I would just rather not think about Regina in that way, or Robin for that matter. I have to have a working relationship with both of them."

All of a sudden a screech came from Leo's playroom courtesy of Fallon.

"What is going on?" Emma darted into the room to see Fallon in tears.

"Leo bite me," Fallon held out her arm to show the teeth marks.

"Leo!" Mary Margaret gasped, "We don't bite people. You tell Fallon you're sorry."

"No," Leo challenged his mother to which his mother gasped in surprise.

"On that note," Emma lifted her daughter into her arms, "Let's go get some ice for that boo-boo, Princess. We'll talk soon, Mom."

"Yes, we will," Mary Margaret agreed as she marched her son into the corner for a time out.

Fallon rubbed her cheeks on Emma's shirt to dry the tears, but she was still sniffling as the family returned to their own cottage.

With a frozen boo-boo bear on her wound, Fallon's mood improved, but she milked the injury to get an extra story read to her at bedtime.

TBC…