When Emma walked into the kitchen, she couldn't decide on which picture she liked best - the one from the previous night when her babies were sleeping in Killian's arms or the one right now. Killian was flipping blueberry pancakes with one hand while the other one was holding Haley against his chest. Her head rested on his shoulder with her eyes closed. Emma also couldn't figure who she was more jealous of - Killian or Haley.

"Morning, love. Did you sleep well?"

She finally realized that there were blue eyes looking at her and a smile that made her melt on the spot.

"Are you kidding? I slept like a baby," she replied with a smile as she walked up to them, dropping a kiss to her daughter's forehead.

"Good. I'm glad, love. Although if you ask me, that's not saying much when it comes to this little princess. She woke me up very early this morning and I just now got her to close her pretty little eyes," he said with a light chuckle. "Henry on the other hand is still asleep in his crib."

"Well, thank you for staying, Killian. You really didn't have stay and make breakfast."

"I know, but I wanted to. Unless you prefer me to leave, I wouldn't want to overstep my boundaries."

"No, not at all. You're like family to us. And Haley absolutely adores you if isn't obvious," she laughed.

Killian smirked. "Aye, I have noticed and the feelings are mutual. The same goes for you and Henry as well."

"Hmmm... I don't know, I'm kind of getting the feeling that you like my daughter more than you like me," she teased.

Killian shut off the stove, setting the spatula down and put his other hand securely on Haley's back as he turned towards Emma. "You're not jealous are you, love?"

She crossed her arms with a sheepish expression on her face. "Should I be?"

Killian raised a flirtatious brow as he responded. "Well... Haley does like to cuddle and I am very much the cuddling type of lad," he informed her.

She stepped closer, gazing into his eyes with her incredibly green ones. "Hey, I can cuddle too you know..." she assured him in an defensive tone. "I'm the best cuddler there is."

"Really?" he asked, intrigued. "I think I'd be willing to test that out."

"And I'd be more than willing to show you just how good I can cuddle," she said, playfully.

"I'm holding you to that offer, love."

She flashed him a smile that told him she was more than up to the challenge as she scooped up Haley in her arms, putting her in her crib so Killian could finish cooking. He filled up two plates and brought them over to the table along with silverware and napkins while Emma filled up two mugs of coffee from the pot that he had made and sat at the table across from him.

"So, what did you have in mind for our date?" Emma asked as she took a sip from her coffee mug, the hot liquid slowly bringing her to life from a restful sleep.

Killian scratched behind his ear as though he were considering their options, when truthfully, he had already concocted an idea since the night before.

"How about this... and feel free to say no if you don't like the idea, but I was thinking we could go for a walk in the park today, maybe a picnic? We could pick up lunch at Granny's Diner. And I know for a fact David is free since Mary Margaret is working."

Emma pursed her lips, pondering his offer thoughtfully and took a bite of pancake. She closed her eyes and let out yummy food noises, seeming to enjoy the taste. "Wow... this is really good," she complimented as her eyes fluttered open.

Killian should have been a bit offended giving the fact that she dodged his question but seeing the pleased look on her face was very much worth it. "Well, I'm quite the cook," he boasted. "I'm sure David's told you I make most of the meals."

"Yeah, but that's not really saying much. My brother couldn't cook to save his life. His signature dish is ramen noodles and he can't even get that right," she said in a teasing tone. "I remember when we were kids, I was maybe twelve and he would have been fourteen, he tried to make me some macaroni and cheese out of the box..." Emma snorted, trying to hold back her laugher so she could finish the story. Killian thought the sound was rather adorable. "...Not only did he over-cook the noodles, but he completely burned the cheese and what he did manage to get out of the pan was just this block of noodles that you could probably throw against the wall and it would just bounce off."

Killian chuckled as she continued. "You would think he would have gotten better since then but you would be wrong. I think he actually got worse over the years."

"You're telling me. He can't even cook a pop tart. Even at the correct setting, he's either too impatient to wait for it heat up or he leaves the kitchen to do something else while he waits and ends up burning it."

"Maybe you could teach him a thing or two," Emma suggested.

"Believe me, I've tried, but it's just a lost cause."

"Yeah I think you're right."

"So, what do you say love? I'll go back to my place and ask David to watch the twins."

"I'd say I'm sold," she answered with a smile. "I'll bring them over at noon."

"Sounds like a plan."

After breakfast, Killan went back to the apartment, ready for a much needed shower and a nap. When he came through the door, David was at the kitchen table reading a newspaper and drinking coffee, if that's even what it was. Killian never dared trying David's version of the hot liquid. If the guy can mess up a pop tart, lord knows what his coffee tasted like.

David looked up from the paper with a smirk. "You're home late, or rather you're home early," he teased.

A devilish smirk crossed Killian's lips, trying to decide how he should respond. He could make some off-handed remark about staying with his sister all night, but it was just too early to get punched in the face.

Instead, he took the safer route. "Actually, I was watching the twins so Emma could get some sleep," he replied.

As David's expression was replaced with a sincere, apologetic look, Killian knew he made the right choice because it was far more enjoyable making David feel bad.

"That was nice of you. You're sure fond of them aren't you?"

Killian nodded.

Then David looked back at his newspaper with a chuckle.

Killian arched a brow in confusion. "What's so funny?"

"Nothing... it's just that Henry and Haley are so lucky to have a manny like you."

Killian let out a breathy sigh. "How many times have I told you not to call me that?"

"Come on, lighten up. It's funny, a grown man getting paid to babysit for a dollar an hour."

"That's not true. Actually it's two dollars an hour now," Killian corrected.

"Oh, sorry, my bad," David laughed.

"You're just jealous the twins like me better than you," Killian shot back.

"They do not," David argued. "You just get to spend more time with them."

Killian scratched behind his ear, nervously. This was the perfect oppurtunity to ask him to watch the twins, the only problem was how he was going to tell David that he was going on a date with his sister.

"You're absolutely right, Dave. In fact, how would you like to take them for the day?"

David looked at him curiously. "I thought Emma was going to be with them today?"

"Well... she was but..."

David's heavy gaze made him stumble for words. He was inclined to just make up an excuse, but he knew David would either see right through him or he would just find out from Emma and Killian just preferred to tell David himself rather than come home one day to find his stuff outside and the locks changed. Maybe Killian was just paranoid but David was always over-protective of Emma since he's the one who raised her after they lost their parents. Needless to say, other than the fact that he couldn't cook to save his life, he was more like Emma's father than her brother.

He finally sucked in a deep breath before he spoke.

"Emma and I are going on a date."

A frown quickly took over David's features, his blue eyes hard. "You what?"

Killian gave him a weak smile. "I take it the idea doesn't sit well with you?" He quipped.

David was silent for a torturous moment before he let out a sigh and stood from his chair, his gaze finally softening a bit. "Not really, but you're my best friend so if I were to choose a guy for Emma, I couldn't think of one better than you."

Killian let out a sigh of relief. "Thanks, mate. That means a lot."

"Sure thing," David said with a smile as he gave him a friendly pat on the shoulder. Then he leaned in, speaking in Killian's ear with a threatening tone. "But don't think that I won't kill you if you hurt her," he said with a smile before he walked away.

Killian wasn't the least bit thrown off because he knew that the last thing thing he would do was hurt her.

/-/

Emma came by at noon to drop off the twins in their strollers. Gathering a picnic basket and a blanket, Killian escorted her to his car and drove to the Granny's Diner. He ordered fish and chips while she ordered a grilled cheese sandwich and onion rings along with chocolate pie for desert. They also stopped at a nearby market to get a bottle of wine before they arrived at the park. His stomach was in knots the whole time. Even though they had known each other for a couple of months, he was still a nervous wreck.

Killian went around to open the car door for Emma and they walked through the park, their arms linked together as they found a deserted spot under a shady tree. They sat in a comfortable position pressed into the other's side as they ate their food and drank wine, engaging in conversation about their childhoods and their jobs and their favorite books and tv shows.

And for the first time in a while, Killian felt things he couldn't explain. After Milah had broke his heart, he thought the world had ended, but for him it really only just begun. He didn't really know what the future held for him and Emma or how their newfound romance would effect their situation but he would take whatever he could get.

By the time they packed everything up, it was later than they had planned. They ended the date with a kiss before he drove them back... at least, that's where Killian thought it would end. After a few amorous glances, he ended up taking a detour to Emma's apartment and they came through the door, their lips latched onto one another. The kiss grew heavy and passionate and tender as he walked her backward toward the couch, both of them falling into it. They moaned as their hands explored, tongues tasted, getting caught up in the heat.

They both got lost in the moment, forgetting everything around them, they didn't even hear the door open, but they did however hear a very obvious clearing of a throat, causing movements of panic between them. Their lips pulled away frantically, hands were quickly removed, clothing pressed into place as Killian practically flew off of Emma.

When they turned to look who had interrupted them, David was standing at the door with his arms crossed and a glare that gave Killian goosebumps. A look of shame and guilt fell upon their faces like it was her father who had walked in on them.

Emma wiped her mouth as she whispered in Killian's ear, giving him a pat on the shoulder as she stood up. "Good luck, mate." She smirked as she went over to take the double stroller from David and brought Haley and Henry to their nursery.

After their second date, Emma proved to Killian that she was indeed bloody brilliant at cuddling (among other things in the bedroom).

/-/

Killian and Emma continued dating as he continued to babysit the twins. She decided to go back to school and started training at the police academy to be a cop while she worked and he was practically at her place all of the time when he wasn't working a part-time job.

Two months later, David got engaged to Mary Margaret and the two of them wanted to move in together. At that point, the solution was easy. Emma asked Killian to move in with her, which seemed to be perfect since he was already there most of the time anyway. (That's when David started changing Killian's nick-name to 'Live-in Manny')

The only problem was, Emma started missing out on being there for special moments with Haley and Henry. For example, one afternoon when Killian was watching the twins, he was putting them each in their cribs for a much needed nap. However, Hailey was holding on to the railing, bouncing up and down.

"Sorry, little love, it's time to get your beauty sleep," he said with a wink. Usually that worked for her and she would settle down and go to sleep but she was being particularly restless that day and instead she giggled. "Uh-uh princess, I'm afraid that won't get you out of a nap today," he said in a gentle voice.

She refused, shaking her head.

"Not even for Killian, your favorite lad?" he pleaded and stuck out his bottom lip in a pout. She giggled again and clapped her small hands together.

"Kiwy!"

He immediately lifted a brow in both pride and surprise. Before that point, baby gibberish was her fluent language.

"What did you just say?" he asked, but knew exactly what she said.

"Kiwy, Kiwy, Kiwy!"

A wide, goofy grin crossed his face as he picked her up in his arms. "That's a good little lass."

As much as he was honored that his name was her first word, he also felt guilty that not only did Emma miss out on it, but also the fact that 'mama' was not.

"Why don't we keep this between the two of us, okay little love?"

He dropped a kiss to her forehead and cradled her in his arms until she fell asleep. He was grateful that the next word she spoke was 'mama' and it was in front of Emma.

During the holidays, Killian was all too enthusiastic when he brought Emma and the twins with him to visit Liam and his family. Elsa and Emma quickly became good friends and Ian got along famously with the twins. The four of them hated to leave when it was time.

/-/

Every so often, David and Margaret gave them a break and watched the twins. On one particular night, Killian had planned a candle-lit dinner for two in their apartment when she came home from work. It turned out that they had several things to celebrate. Not only was it their one-year anniversary, but they both had recently obtained new jobs. Emma was now a police officer with steady hours and much better pay while Killian got a job as a Sous Chef. He had wanted to get in the culinary field for a while since he loved cooking and was very good at it.

After that, Emma got to spend more time with the twins and Killian while she slowly paid off her debts. And eventually Killian was the one proposing. She came home from work on her birthday and, okay he admitted it was cheesy, but he had put the ring in the cake he made for her. There was no hesitation when Emma said yes and they got married a year later.

Eventually, Killian adopted the twins as his own and they bought a house with a white, picket fence and became this happy little family that Killian never in a million years thought was possible. He also, never in a million years thought that Haley and Henry would be calling him Daddy instead of Kiwy.

Before he knew it, the twins were four years old and he was chasing the once sweet, adorable babies around the house, trying to get them dressed for school.

"You can't catch me!" Haley and Henry laughed as they ran into the kitchen where Emma was cooking breakfast. Haley was still in her pajamas and Henry only in his underwear.

"No running in the kitchen," Emma told them and they quickly snuck past Killian laughing. Killian gave his wife a quick kiss on the cheek before he continued chasing them. When he reached the living room, he tripped over one of their toys and went straight to the floor, spurring on more laughter from the twins. As Killian tried to get up, they both jumped on his back. He retaliated by initiating a tickle fit that brought both of them rolling on the floor until Killian wore himself out. As soon as he stopped, Henry and Haley both jumped on his back again sending him to the floor. He sighed in surrender.

"Not so angelic now are they?" Emma teased with a smirk as she stood over him.

Killian groaned as the twins ran off to their bedroom.

When he and Emma finally got them settled down and tucked into bed later that night, they shut the door, walking down the hall to their own bedroom. Killian grabbed her hand, pulling Emma to him and wrapped his arms around her. He looked at her in thoughtful adoration before he asked her a question that took her off guard.

"What do you say we make our own little one?"

After the initial shock, she recovered quickly and arched a brow, very much intrigued by the idea as she curled her hands around the back of his neck. "Really? Are you sure you can handle another one running around here?"

"Aye. Perhaps you're the one who couldn't handle it, love," he challenged with a smirk.

She gazed back at him, chewing on the inside of her cheek. She grabbed the collar of his shirt as her eyes fell to his lips. "You're on, buddy."

She captured his lips and Killian parted his mouth for her, finding her tongue as he lifted her up. Emma's legs instinctively curled around his hips as he broke the kiss, leaving them panting. "Well then we'd better get started," he said with a sultry lift of his brow as he walked them into the bedroom and kicked the door shut behind them.

"You don't waste any time, do you?" she laughed.

"Well, love, it may take one or two tries to get you pregnant."

She looked at him with mischief in her eyes. "Just one or two?"

A big, toothy grin fell upon his lips as he gently laid her in the bed, joining her. "Indeed you're right. We should put David on Manny duty for a few months," he suggested playfully as he settled on top of her.

"I think I'm okay with that," she smiled, staring into his eyes. She latched her arms around him and he kissed her breathlessly with all of the love he had for her.

That was the night that Elly Nolan-Jones was conceived and nine months later was born seven pounds, five ounces.

When Killian first held his baby daughter in his arms, her big blue eyes looking up at him, he knew right then that that he definitely owed David more than laundry and dishes for offering him one night of babysitting that changed his life forever. Then again, maybe giving him another niece was enough.