"Bloody hell Swan, the baby…" Killian cried out, pointing to their youngest daughter who was currently crawling away from the rest of her family. Emma quickly grabbed the fifteen-month old baby girl and scooped her up into her arms. "Can you hold her while I finish Amelia's hair please?" Emma asked, handing over the baby. Killian took the baby and began lifting her up and down making her giggle. He swung her gently, a wide grin forming on the little girl's face. They were currently trying to get a family photo taken, but with three young kids and Henry, it was proving to be more difficult than they'd anticipated. Emma knelt down again and began to braid the four-year-old girl's hair. "Just stay still a little longer baby girl." Emma pleaded, flashing a smile at her six-year-old son who looked bored and impatient. "Not long now lad." Killian promised. Henry stood off to the side, texting his girlfriend no doubt.
"Okay, Amelia is done. Henry, come stand next to me, Liam…stand next to daddy. Here, babe give me Ava. Amelia, stand next to Liam." Emma ordered, standing to her feet. She took the baby from her husband and kissed her chubby cheek. The family turned to the camera, and Killian slipped an arm around his wife's waist. Just as the photo was taken, Ava threw up everywhere, the milky vomit landing on her dad's shirt. The other kids all groaned and moved away in horror. Killian stood in shock, a slight frown on his face. Emma bit her lip and tried to hide a smile, but comforted the crying baby. "You know not to move her around so much after I've just fed her." Emma reasoned. "I have another shirt for you in my bag…." She added, much to Killian's relief.
Half an hour later and they were all ready to retake the photo. Ava was asleep in her mommy's arms, while Amelia and Liam were tired and hungry.
"Let's just get this photo and go…the kids need lunch or we're going to have two meltdowns." Killian told Emma, who nodded in agreement.
"Okay, kids…back in your places please." She asked softly, trying to keep her voice low and calm. The obeyed, but this time Liam put his arm around Amelia and grinned straight at the camera. "That's my boy." Killian said proudly, pulling Emma closer to him for the photo. She held the sleeping baby, her other hand resting on Henry's shoulder.
They were finally done and the kids were all strapped into their car seats, ready for the drive home. Killian had given Amelia and Liam a sneaky piece of candy while their mom wasn't watching, knowing that the slight energy boost would help them get through the afternoon. Henry was saying goodbye to his mom, as he was due to head over to Regina and Robin's house for the rest of the weekend.
When Emma finally settled in the car, she reached over and kissed Killian. She pulled back, her nose scrunched up in slight disgust. "Jeez, you need a shower babe. Ava really got you with the vomit smell." She told him, stroking the stubble on his cheek. Killian pouted and looked over his shoulder at the sleeping baby. "I guess it's my own fault for bouncing her so much….and I appreciate you aiming her at me, love." He teased, gently jabbing at her sides to make her jump.
It was later in the afternoon and Emma was helping Liam and Amelia paint some Christmas cards for their grandparents. She kissed Amelia's forehead and ventured into the lounge to find her husband and youngest daughter, neither of whom she'd heard a peep out of for an hour or so. She found them on the couch, Killian lying on his back with his eyes closed, their little baby on his chest, also asleep. Emma smiled to herself and pulled the blanket down from behind the couch, carefully covering them both. Killian lazily opened his eyes at the movement and Emma kissed his cheek. "Go back to sleep daddy, I'll wake you up for dinner. But this nap means you get to help with one of the night feeds." She told him cheekily, stroking his hair as he reshut his eyes to go back to sleep.
Emma returned to her other children to find that they'd painted each other instead of the paper. "Guys!" She cried out, not at all mad. "The paint was supposed to be for your paint brushes and the paper, not each other!" She laughed, taking the drenched paintbrushes from her children. "Don't even move….don't touch anything. I'll have to shower both of you." She added. She picked Amelia up from under her arms and started walking towards the bathroom. "Follow me Liam, and don't touch anything, okay?" She ordered, leading them to the bathroom.
She moved quickly, running the bath and pulling the kids painted clothes off, then placing them into the warm water. She washed their faces and arms until they were clean of paint, and then helped them out. Wrapping them both up in warm fuzzy towels, she stood up and opened the bathroom door for them. "Okay, go get your pajamas on." She told them, watching them waddle off into their respective bedrooms.
Killian had finally woken up from his nap, as had baby Ava. They were both now playing on the floor, doing a puzzle together while Emma made dinner for the family. The other two kids joined their father, Liam sitting with Ava and helping her, while Amelia sat on her daddy's knee and looped her arms around is neck. "I love you daddy." She told him, kissing his cheek. Killian smiled and kissed her back. "I love you so much." He whispered back.
Emma stood in the door way watching her husband and their three kids, a warm smile on her face. She couldn't believe how lucky she was to have him, to have all of them. Her parents, Henry, Killian, the three little ones. They were everything she never even dreamed she could have.
"Come on kids, time to eat." She said softly, grinning as they all stood up and ran to the kitchen. Even little Ava made her best attempt at wobbling her way though the house towards her dinner plate. Killian was the last to walk past Emma, and she reached out and grabbed his wrist, stopping him as he tried passing her. She pulled him closer and wrapped an arm around his neck, kissing him quickly. "Thank you." She whispered.
"For what, my love?" He asked curiously, going in for another kiss.
"For everything…being a great father, a great husband, a great man." She replied, kissing him for a third time. "I'm lucky to have you, and I don't want you to think that I don't appreciate you."