A/N: for some reason in the previous chapter, i kept writing james instead of david... so regina & killian are neighbors with ruth and her son DAVID. my bad! i'm incredibly sorry for the really long wait! i'm leaving for vacation next week, so i'm trying to update all my stories this week. but reviews will make me update again before i leave... :)

Davy and Anne ran ahead of their parents and Snow. The palace guard moved to stop them, but left them alone as Snow shook her head. Her arm was wrapped in Regina's as she led them through the courtyard to the palace. Killian trailed slightly behind them as he looked up at the towers. Snow was explaining how things had changed since Regina had left and the kids were excitedly exploring the courtyard. As they walked through the doors, Killian called for Davy and Anne to join them.

Snow let go of Regina to turn and dramatically open her arms. "Welcome home. At least for now."

Regina wrapped her arms around her husband and grinned at Snow's excitement. Anne pulled on her mother's clothes so she reached down to pick her up. Davy looked around the room in awe.

"I've set up bedchambers for you. Follow me and I'll show you them." Snow said as she led them down the halls. Her guards watched quietly as they passed. When they finally stopped, Regina recognized the rooms Leopold had kept for guests. Snow pointed out the room she and Killian would be in and the two rooms for each of the kids across the hall.

Davy pulled open the doors to his room and gasped in surprise. "Da! Look at my room!"

Killian and Regina poked their head in. She turned to Snow. "You didn't need to do that, Snow."

"Of course I had to. It's my way of thanking them for giving up their home and sailing trips. Besides, it was so fun to decorate them." Snow said with a grin.

Killian studied the walls decorated in pirate-related things. The whole room was pirate themed. Davy happily pulled himself onto the bed. He started to jump, but Killian shook his head. "David, get down. We talked about using your manners, did we not?"

The boy obeyed his father, but not without pouting. "I can be a pirate just like you, Da!" He ran into Killian's arms.

He grinned. "Yes, you can. David Jones, Captain of the Jolly Roger. Ruler of all of the seafarers."

"Davy." He corrected. "And I'm going to be captain of my own ship."

Killian and Regina laughed. "Anne, do you want to check out your own room?"

Her dark curls shook as she nodded her head. Regina put her down and she wandered over to the next room. Snow helped her open the door and she too gasped in surprise.

She hurried into the room and picked up a small tiara, which she placed on her head. "I'm a princess! My room is so pretty!"

Anne's room was covered in pink and looked quite similar to Snow's as a child. Regina smiled as Davy made a face. "What do you guys say to Queen Snow?"

"Thank you, Queen Snow." They said in unison.

She smiled. "Of course. You two can call me Snow."

"Why don't we go wash up for dinner?" Killian suggested. Snow pointed out the bathroom and he led them to it.

Regina walked alongside Snow down the hallway. "How was your voyage?"

"It was good. I miss being on the seas and so does Killian. But it's very difficult to raise children on a ship, so we settled down in a nice town. Every once in awhile, we make sure to bring the kids on a journey. They absolutely love it. Especially David."

Snow smiled. "Just like his father."

"Mhmm. He's cunning and strong willed like his father as well." Regina said with a smile.

"And Anne? What's she like? She seems to be a bit more quiet."

"Yes, she's a bit shy. She is a good girl, although she does whatever her brother does. She looks up to him."

"That's adorable. I'm happy you got the family you always wanted, Regina." Snow smiled.

Regina stopped walking and turned to face Snow. "Despite you telling my mother about Daniel, I still loved you, Snow. It killed me to leave you, but I figured you would move on. You have always been a part of my family."

"Thank you, Regina." Snow said shyly. "We can go to the dining room now. Dinner should be ready soon. I'll have one of the guards bring Captain Jones and the kids down when they are ready."

She smiled as Snow brought her to the dining room. "He won't mind if you call him Killian."

"But Captain is his official title, is it not?"

"Of course. But you don't have to be official with him. I'm sure he will drop your title and call you Snow soon."

"I don't mind that." Snow said.

"I know. So you can call him Killian."

"Alright, fine. He seems a bit quiet though. He has a reputation of being a charismatic pirate. Is everything alright?"

Regina grinned. She knew of the reputation he once had. "He's just a bit out of his element. And I think he is nervous that I'm going to have some kind of breakdown from just being here. But he will be fine once he relaxes."

"And the kids? They are okay being here?"

"Absolutely. David is a bit of a restless soul, but he couldn't deny being excited about staying in a castle. And Anne was absolutely delighted to play princess here."

"Wonderful. Perhaps they could come to the royal ball. It's supposed to celebrate me taking over the throne."

Regina hesitated. "Perhaps. They are still a bit young."

Snow nodded. "Of course. But I would certainly like for you and Killian to come."

"I'm not so sure that would be a good idea." Regina said as one of the servants pulled a seat out for her.

"Why not?" Snow asked.

"The entire kingdom thinks that I was kidnapped. My husband is a wanted man. Going to a ball where many of your subjects will see us could be dangerous."

"Right." Snow nodded. "But I shall tell everyone that I have found you and that you are safe. I already had my father's... my men take down all of the wanted posters for Captain Jones."

"And if people still recognise him?"

"They won't." Snow reassured her. "I was young, my description of him was not very good."

Regina grinned. "I will talk to him about it."

"Good." Snow said happily as the guards led Killian and the kids into the room.

They joined them at the table and Killian leaned over to kiss his wife's cheek. Snow spent the dinner trying to get to know the kids and Killian better. She was impressed at their manners, though she shouldn't have been surprised. Even when she met Regina, the older teenager was very mannerly. Of course she would make sure her own kids were well behaved. She decided she liked Killian, although it was clear that he still felt uncomfortable being in the palace.

After dinner, Snow excused herself. She promised to get Regina up-to-date in the morning before wishing them all a good night.

"Mommy, can you show us around the castle?" Anne asked.

"Of course, sweetie."

"Let's start outside!" Davy yelled.

Killian chuckled and they got up and impatiently waited for their parents by the door. Regina picked Anne up as Killian wrapped his arm around his wife's waist. They headed outside, while David ran ahead of them.

Regina pointed everything out as they walked around the palace grounds. She put Anne down so she could play with her brother. They ran around the large field, happily chasing each other.

"I think they forgot about the tour, my love." Killian said as he reached for her hand. He intertwined their fingers as they walked around.

She laughed. "I think they did. We will have plenty of time to show them later. How are you feeling about this?"

He shrugged. "It's a bit different. But nothing I can't handle."

She rolled her eyes at his over confident smile. "Of course not."

They walked a bit further before Regina turned to him. "Snow wants us to go to the ball celebrating her becoming Queen."

He blinked at her outburst. "A ball?"

She nodded, trying to study his face.

"I'm a pirate, love. I don't do royal dances."

She laughed before biting her lip. "I know that, dear. But Snow wants us there. She promised that people will not recognize you from the wanted posters and she will explain that I am not missing anymore."

He groaned. "Fine, but I'm not dancing. My reputation cannot handle it."

"Thank you!" She said happily as she threw her arms around his neck and kissed him. "But I think you will dance."

"I'm going to a royal ball for you. Is that not good enough?" He asked jokingly as he pulled her closer.

Regina studied him. "You don't know how to dance, do you?"

"Of course I do!" He denied quickly.

"No, you don't! Killian! Oh this is so wonderful because I can teach you! My mother had me in dancing lessons for years!"

He shook his head. "That is not necessary because I can dance."

She took a step back and crossed her arms in front of her chest. "Alright, then prove it."

Killian gave her a look. "Absolutely not."

"Because you can't." She said triumphantly.

"Because I don't like to." He responded.

Regina gave him a look before sighing. "Fine, then."

They allowed the kids to play for almost an hour as they wandered the yard nearby before Regina called for them. "Anne, Davy, come back here!"

The kids slowly joined their parents. Anne held her hands up for her father to pick her up. As soon as he did, she rested her head on his chest. Regina smiled as Davy leaned into her. "Are you guys tired?"

David shook his head stubbornly as his sister nodded honestly. Killian laughed. "Alright. It's time for bed for you two. You've had an exciting day."

"I don't wanna go to bed yet. I'm not tired." Davy said as he stood taller.

Regina and Killian shared a smile over his head. Regina leaned down to be at his eye level. "Okay, sweetheart. Why don't we go play in your room?"

The boy nodded. "Okay."

Anne fell asleep a minute later so Killian had to carefully place her in the large bed in her room. He tucked her in and kissed her forehead goodnight as Regina was convincing David to change into his bedclothes in the next room. Killian joined them in the pirate-themed room as David finished dressing. He was barely able to keep his eyes open, so it didn't take much for them to convince him to go to sleep. They closed the door behind them quietly, before heading into their own room.

They changed before climbing into the large bed. Killian wrapped his arm around his wife as she rested her head on his chest. "It's going to be interesting now, isn't it?"

"Are you saying our life wasn't interesting before? I kidnapped you from under the King's nose and we left the kingdom to get married. Then we spent a few years sailing the seas before settling down to have a family. If it wasn't for Snow, I would be dead, you would be Queen again, and there would be no Anne. I'd say our life is pretty interesting, despite the lack of rum and piracy that I was accustomed to before I met you."

Regina laughed. "I suppose you are right. I mean that things are going to change once again."

"Are you nervous about Snow announcing that you are back?"

She shifted in his arms to look up at him. "I don't know. Most of Leopold's advisors as well as the rulers of other kingdoms are going to want to know what happened."

"We don't have to explain anything, my love." He said softly.

"I know." She sighed. "We can worry about that later."

"Alright, love. Goodnight." Killian said as he pressed a kiss to her temple.

"Goodnight, dear."

thank you so much for the reviews! :)