Summary: Emma catches a moment between Killian and their daughter.

Emma bustled about in the kitchen, sliding portions of her just made scrambled eggs onto the three plates set at the table.

Two large portions, one small one.

Behind her, the toaster popped. She turned and quickly set down the pan in the sink to be cleaned before grabbing the toast, piling the slices on a separate plate to be placed in center of the table.

Emma Swan was not a morning person. Her theory that you were either one or the other still remained, but as she rushed around–now reaching for her still-full mug of coffee, she found she was the most content she had ever been at six in the morning.

She was exhausted, but happy.

She glanced at the clock and when it turned to 6:10 she took a moment to realize the other members of her family had yet to appear downstairs.

"Killian?" she called out to no answer.

Coffee in hand, she made her way upstairs. Bypassing the master, thinking there was no way Killian had fallen back asleep–his many years at sea still ingrained in his biological clock–she continued onto the room at the end of the hall. She pushed the door open and found it to be empty, though it didn't stop her from taking a moment to smile at the crib against the wall across from her. A crib they soon would have to replace, their little one growing so fast they almost couldn't keep up.

"Killian?" she called out again, hoping their daughter was with her pirate.

She often couldn't help the moments of panic that hit her, whether they were normal mother fears or ones she felt she would always have due to the world they lived in. It was a twist in her gut unlike any other.

"In here, love!" she heard him call from their bedroom, followed by a high-pitched giggle that had become her favorite sound in the world.

Sighing in relief, she walked past the bed in the center of the room, its rustled sheets having no intention to be made, and walked toward the sounds coming from their bathroom.

Emma walked quietly toward the door that was half ajar. Killian's back was to her, as the voices inside had lowered. Through the mirror she could see three-year-old Leia standing on the counter, her back against her father's chest as he held her steady. Pausing, she leaned her ear toward the quiet conversation.

"Repeat after me, darling," she heard him say, followed by a giggle from Leia as he tickled her stomach.

"Papa!"

"Shhh," he smiled. "Do you remember what I told you yesterday?" he asked her.

"Nope!" she exclaimed proudly.

Killian chuckled and looked at Leia through the mirror, his eyes full of love and a visible will to protect the precious treasure in his arms. "Say 'I am strong'," he instructed.

"I stwrong," repeated Leia.

"Very good. Now, 'I'm smart.'"

"Smart!"

Emma nearly cursed herself as she felt a tear slide down her cheek. Ever since she had Leia she cried at everything and watching Killian being the doting, caring father she knew he would be was no exception.

Between the two of them, their daughter would never feel alone or unloved, and that gave Emma more hope than anything else ever had.

Killian squeezed her tiny body gently in a hug, letting loose another giggle. "And finally, say 'I am beautiful'," he said softly, pressing a loud kiss to his daughter's cheek.

"I beautful," said Leia.

"Very good, my cygnet. You shall repeat this every morning with papa, so you grow into the most wonderful, strong woman I know you'll be. Just like–"

"Mama!" yelled Leia. Her little feet were stomping the counter in excitement and Killian quickly grabbed her and set her on the floor. She wasted no time in running toward Emma, who had pushed the door open enough for Leia to see her and crouched down, her arms open to catch her small form.

"So this is where you've been hiding," Emma teased, laughing at Leia's enthusiastic nod. She picked her up, sliding her to rest on her hip as Killian walked over to them. "You guys are missing breakfast, you know," she said, playfully bringing Leia's palm to her lips and giving it a kiss. She turned toward Killian, now beside her, and wrapped her free arm around him, pressing herself close to his chest..

She glanced up at him, her eyes expressing what she couldn't find words for; her pride in him for the father he was becoming and the moment he just shared with Leia. His eyes immediately softened, a bashful smiling crossing his lips, telling Emma that he understood exactly what she was trying to say.

He hugged her to his side, kissing her temple as he smiled at Leia. Bending forward, he placed a soft kiss on her forehead. "And yes, darling, just like your mother."