Daddy!Killian + fighting the darkness...sort of.

"Alright, lad," Killian coaxed, pausing on his way down the dim staircase. "Come on..."

Liam gave him a look that defined skeptical, his eyebrows raised as he rocked back and forth on his toes. Killian bit his lip gently as he tried to figure out how he'd been led into such a task. Leave it up to his five year old son to put such a lighthearted spin on an all too similar circumstance - one he was truly hoping he wouldn't have to face again.

The fact was that Killian had been in the position of battling the darkness before. He'd crossed realms and chased endless years in pursuit of it. He'd made bad deals and struck selfish chords in order to accommodate it. He had finally defeated it with the assistance of the woman who'd eventually need the same help from him. He wasn't a stranger to the black abyss that pulled one in or the fear that hid in the unknown shadows.

But with fatherhood came new and rather interesting challenges - and the fear his young son clearly had of their new home's dark basement was certainly one he hadn't anticipated.

"Liam," Killian said cautiously, smiling patiently. "You ready?"

"Uh...well, I don't know," Liam stammered, peering around Killian at the darkened stairs. "Maybe you should just go get it?"

The 'it' currently being referred to was an object that Killian didn't really prefer anyway - a plush and rather soft green crocodile that they'd gotten on a summer trip to the zoo. The bloody thing was always a nuisance whether it was digging into his back between the couch cushions or performing some disappearing act right before bedtime. Now here they were - being pulled into the pitch black downstairs in search of that sodding stuffed animal.

He couldn't even begin to figure out how that deviant reptile had ended up in the downstairs storage area of their new house - the place that housed little light and endless trinkets...or 'treasure' as Liam called them. Oh, great - his son was a pillaging, plundering, pack rat of a pirate.

"Hey little man," Killian started again, moving back up the steps to where Liam was anxiously standing. "It's going to be okay. It's just a dark basement and you can walk right next to me. We'll find him, yeah?"

Liam raised himself onto his toes again, peering down the steps again before sighing in concession. He lifted his hand high in the arm in a silent request for his dad to take hold of it. With a gentle laugh, Killian clasped the boy's fingers protectively as they descended the stairs.

"Papa," Liam began in a soft whisper. "Have you ever lost something in the dark before?"

Killian pursed his lips into a thoughtful line, his head tilting sideways as he gazed down at Liam. The dimness of the surrounding area didn't allow him to see much, but he knew his son's face held a familiar curiosity. He wondered if Liam had any idea just how loaded his inquiry was.

"I have actually," Killian told him, his free hand in search of the light switch.

"How did you find it?"

Killian laughed softly, shaking his head just slightly as he tried to find the explanation he needed. Finding the solitary switch near the edge of the wall, he flipped it up - only to find out that the bulb was burned out. He cleared his throat as he tried to find an alternate solution without causing his kid to panic. His foot bumped something on the ground and as it toppled over, he realized it was a flashlight. Perfect, he thought as he reached to pick it up.

"Well it wasn't so much a something as a someone," Killian explained, brightening the space with a single beam of light. "A long time ago, your mother found herself a bit lost in some unexpected darkness."

"Really? How did that happen?"

"Well, your mother has always been willing to do whatever it takes to protect people she cares for," Killian replied, holding Liam's hand firmly while he sought out the box of candles and matches he knew they keep stored in the dark vicinity. "This was one of those times where she had to make a hard choice to do just that and it kind of cast a pall over that bright spirit she's usually got."

"Did you save her?"

Killian's heart fluttered a bit at the question as he knew he actually did play a part in that recovery mission. However, it wasn't his sole effort and giving credit where it was due was something he had no problem doing.

"Not just me," he admitted, locating the collection of wax and striking a match to help illuminate the place. "We all did - David, Mary Margaret, Regina, Robin, Henry...and about half of Storybrooke actually."

"Even Granny?"

Liam's face was intrigued and slightly disbelieving. It was endearing to no end and Killian had to wonder why he hadn't told his son this tale before. No time like the present, he decided as he lined up the candles.

"Yep she was there and so was her lasagna," he grinned, amused at his son's reaction to that particular menu item. "Or grilled cheese - if you prefer."

"Yeah I like those better," Liam smiled, remaining close to his dad's side as the room grew bright with candlelight. "Where was the darkness that mama was lost in?"

"Well," Killian started, scratching behind his ear. "In a place called Camelot."

"Hmmm," the boy pondered, raising an eyebrow in question. "Where's that?"

"Far, far away," Killian answered. "In a land filled with princesses and castles...and even a few knights."

At mention of the last word, he retrieved a wooden sword that had been left on the ground nearby. He recalled it belonging to Henry a few years ago and he held it out to his son. Liam's eyes lit up as he reached for it.

"We even got to attend a ball while we were there, my boy."

"You did?!"

"Aye," Killian chuckled, admiring the way his son immediately set about practicing good form with the makeshift weapon. "Dancing and royalty and everything."

"Papa, you can't dance!"

"I have to beg to differ on that."

The interrupting voice belonged to the woman who could surely attest to his waltzing ability. Liam perked up and carefully moved across the dim room to where his mother was standing. Killian's lip curved up into a grateful yet sheepish smile at her appearance. He had to wonder how much she'd heard.

"Your father is actual quite adept at dancing," she assured Liam, her eyes flickering toward Killian as she continued her explanation. "You might even say he knows what he's doing."

"Oh, you 'might' say so, huh," Killian taunted, moving toward them. "Perhaps you just need a reminder, love."

"Later," she teased, glaring at him playfully. "So what are you guys up to down here?"

"Fighting the darkness, mama," Liam said matter-of-factly, holding up the little sword. "Oh and we found this!"

"Oh, this used to be Henry's - it's Excalibur," she smirked, holding up the end to examine it. "We stashed it down here when it broke - see?"

She showed Liam the slightly splintered end, pointing out where part of it had broken off for some reason. Killian watched their little boy frown, his eyebrows furrowing. It was adorable the way she mirrored his disappointed expression before glancing up at her husband with a wink.

"Can we fix it, mama?"

"Well, we'd have to find the missing piece," she explained, glancing around. "Have you seen it down here?"

"No," Liam said after a moment. "Papa?"

Liam turned to look at Killian as a shrug fell on his shoulders. Emma rolled her eyes affectionately, almost as if to say come-on-papa-help-the-poor-kid-out. Killian's vision moved fast, darting around the dark floor until he spotted it. He moved quickly, snatching it up and revealing the missing sliver to his son.

"You found it! Now can we fix it, mama?"

"We can sure try," she smirked, watching Liam's smile light up. "So what were you two really up to down here?"

"Well, we can't find Tick-Tock," the little boy admitted, sighing helplessly. "Papa is helping me find him - just like he helped find you, mama."

"Ah - I see," Emma mused, love filling her eyes. "Well you picked the right person for your search party, buddy. Your father is pretty persistent."

"Does he always find you when you're lost, mama?"

"Aye, my boy," Killian cut in, ruffling Liam's wavy hair before gazing back at his wife. "There's not a realm or enough darkness in this world to keep me from your mother - though it would be nice if we didn't have to test that theory again."

"Hmmm - true," Emma laughed, her eyes centering back on their son. "You are pretty lucky to have such a resourceful dad, Liam...but he's not observant enough to know that Tick-Tock the Croc is sitting on top of the fish tank upstairs."

"He is?!"

Emma nodded, chuckling and crossing her arms as she watched Liam dart up the stairs with the broken sword in pursuit of his plush companion. Killian couldn't resist the opportunity to invade her space a bit.

"You know, if you hadn't told him," he said softly, anchoring his arms around her waist as she leaned back against his chest. "We would have just ridded ourselves of that beast once and for all."

"I think if our son's biggest problem is a stuffed reptile, then we're doing okay as parents," Emma grinned, nuzzling his shirt. "I am trying to figure out why you opted to light a wealth of candles instead of just changing the light bulb down here though."

She reached to the top of a nearby shelf, feeling around for a new bulb. Pulling one down, Emma quickly changed them out. Seeing her smile in the now very bright light was something that made his heart race - it probably always would.

"Just trying to allow the boy to get the full effect," Killian teased, an excuse evident in his tone as he blew out the flames. "Camelot and all that, you know?"

"Hmmm, sure about that?"

"Perhaps not," he sighed, kissing her hair softly. "But I suppose I was trying to make do with what I had. I guess I've learned to not take any form of light for granted."

She smiled softly at that, turning to brush his hair out of his eyes before pressing her lips against his. It was a honest kiss, one they'd shared many times since Emma's return from the darkness. There was a purity to it that Killian loved - something that promised him forever. He'd never grow tired of that.

"Well I'm grateful you're still willing to battle the darkness for the ones you love," she said against his lips, punctuating her statement with a final soft kiss. "Even if you don't approve of the purpose."

"I think we both know there's not much I wouldn't battle for you or Liam, love."

"Even...an innocent animal souvenir from the zoo?"

"Don't-" he groaned, kissing her forehead. "-push your luck, Swan."

"No, I think I will," she laughed, lacing her fingers through his. "I rather like my odds when you're involved."

Killian smirked at her, stumbling over his feet as she led him back to staircase and the light that trickled down from the top of the stairs. She paused for a moment, her hair falling down her shoulder as she stared back at him.

"Let's stick to the light for a while though, okay?"

"Gladly, love," he smirked, squeezing her hand. "Gladly."