A/N: Writing this today has actually helped with some of my already existing withdrawal from the show. As we complete another week of this ever-long hiatus, I can't believe that this story will be over in the next week or so. This last official chapter could be considered a first epilogue, if I'm honest, but since there will be another time jump in my originally conceived epilogue, I am deeming this a part of the 25 chapter story. It centers on Emma baking Killian's birthday cake with her daughter Hope, son Bennett and baby Charlotte. Expect so much fluff and so many feels wrapped up in the tone and style that makes 'Steady' one of my favorite AUs to write. Hope you all enjoy!

Six Years Later

Emma

"We're going to do the swirls that Daddy likes, right Mom?" Hope's question from across the island cut through the happy gurgles of the baby Emma held in her arms. Little Charlotte was just about two and currently very taken with Emma's hair. Good news for her daughter, she appeared destined to have similar blonde locks of her own someday. Maybe then, her little fists wouldn't always curl themselves around Emma's strands painfully. Emma could only pray that would be the case.

"It's Daddy's day, we're pulling out all the stops." Hope grinned, positively joyous as she stood on her little stool wearing a matching pink apron to the one Emma had on. Staring at all the ingredients before them, Hope knew the rules – baking required precision, and with Emma currently managing three children on her own today, it also took patience. Luckily Hope was a very well behaved oldest child, willing to comply to almost any orders set forth. It was a tendency that earned her status as 'Daddy's Deputy.'

"Vroom vroom baby!" Emma smiled as she watched her four year old son Bennett currently sitting at the kitchen table, playing with his favorite toy cars. The activity itself was understandable enough – kids loved toy modes of transportation after all – but the words were courtesy of Killian and the others on the force. When asked what police officers said in their cars with the sirens on, Robin and Will had both promised Bennett that these were the official words, going so far as to say them over and over in his presence. Now her son was obsessed with the phrase, using it at all times of day, with seemingly no rhyme or reason.

"Do we have a theme?" Hope had learned that from her time with Emma at the bakery. Her daughter was always excited to join Mommy at work, wanting to learn anything at all about how to bake. When she'd wished her daughter would be interested in baking before her birth, she'd never dreamed it would be this soon or so apparent, but Hope was a sponge for information about everything baked goods and it delighted Emma to no end.

"I was thinking Daddy's favorite things." Hope began to sing the song from The Sound of Music, one of their favorite movies, and Bennett joined in, only getting about half the words as he continued to have his cars race around an invisible track.

"So what are his favorite things?" Hope asked, but before Emma could respond, Bennett answered with conviction.

"We are! He loves us the most!" Emma felt her heart clutch in her chest. Her kids never went a moment without knowing they were loved in this family. Both she and Killian had sworn to always be there for them and that her children knew it was the greatest reward. She listened intently as Hope and Bennett decided what particulars they should include. Should they each pick one of their favorite things to do with Daddy? Or, should they try to think of other things he liked? The kids were at a loss until Charlotte made a motion towards the fridge where a doodle Emma had drawn of them all now hung.

As soon as Emma offered to draw them onto the cake, the kids agreed, with Emma instructing Hope in all assisting duties very carefully. Since the kids had more benign pallets than their parents did, birthdays had taken on a new, more traditional taste in Emma and Killian's world. For today, they stuck with a classic vanilla cake and butter cream frosting, but under the watchful eyes of Hope and Bennett, Emma gathered together colors and accents for the round cake to be properly styled.

"We should do blue for the ocean. Daddy loves the ocean." Hope's matter-of-fact tone of voice rang out more musically than the average six-year-olds would have. She wasn't trying to be right for the sake of being in charge or having her way. No, instead Emma could see in her daughter's hazel eyes a deep desire to make her father happy today of all days.

"Or gold like Mommy's hair. Daddy always talks about Mommy's hair." Emma blushed at Bennett's assessment, even if it was true. Her kids were becoming more and more perceptive, and while it made her proud, it also hit home the reality that she and Killian were on display, and should truly be on their best behavior. Any slight embarrassment disappeared as Charlotte tugged on Emma's hair once more and she realized her husband's fixation was a shared trait. To alleviate the pain of said fixation, though, Emma located Charlotte's favorite toy, her little stuffed unicorn, distracting the little girl with it.

"No, I got it! Green. Dad always says his favorite color is the green of Mommy's eyes." Emma nodded, knowing that to be true, as she dropped the sparing amount of food coloring into the already mixed buttercream. Hope swirled her wooden spoon amongst the thick, sweet confection, patiently waiting for the colors to blend until she deemed them just right and a perfect match to Emma's eyes.

When the cake was frosted (and nearly half of the frosting was smeared on the counter or eaten by Bennett who was as prone to thieving for sweets as his father was), Emma placed Charlotte in her playpen to proceed onto the final step. Having abandoned his station at the kitchen table to join Emma and Hope for the frosting segment of today's baking activities, Bennett tugged on Emma's sleeve to gain her attention.

"Can I have my car in the picture?"

"Of course you can, honey." Emma sketched out what that would look like in the scheme of her design.

"And can I wear my apron?" Hope asked excitedly. Again Emma agreed, happy to make her children so excited through the magic of a doodle. Emma even included Charlotte's toy and Kala into the picture before pulling out the necessary tools to make a fondant base and an edible depiction of this new drawing. When she'd finally finished, her children remained in the same spot, watching her with awe and admiration. Emma couldn't help but feel how lucky at how wonderful her kids were. They were all smart, but with good temperaments and a genuine curiosity in the world around them.

"Now what?" Bennett asked excited and Emma considered for a moment.

"Now we put it in the fridge to have for dessert." Bennett scrunched up his face at the mention of waiting, while Hope gave a sad little sigh. "Or did you two have a different idea in mind?" Hope lit up with an idea.

"We could bring the cake to the station!" Bennett clapped his hands excitedly at that.

"Vroom vroom baby!" Charlotte meanwhile tried to copy the sound, emulating the 'vroom' pretty well and then squeaking at the end. Emma laughed heartily at the whole scene before her but agreed, on one condition.

"Promise me this time no hiding." Her children swore they'd do no such thing, and though Emma still had a lingering sense of PTSD from their last trip (where Hope and Bennett had played hide and seek and ended up locked in the station basement for ten minutes), she decided it was time to brave the Storybrooke Police Department once more. With that they were off, walking the easy distance from the house to the station together.

"Well if it isn't the biggest bad guys in town!" Will's hyperbolic flare had only increased since everyone had started having kids. He realized that drama tended to resonate well with them, and Emma appreciated how good he was with her three and how much they liked their 'Uncle Will and Aunt Belle' for it.

"Uncle Will, we're the heroes!" Bennett sounded almost exasperated at Will's claims. As if it were the most blatantly obvious thing in the world that the Jones family was good and always falling on the right side of the law.

"Indeed we are, lad." Killian's voice from just beside them sent the kids all into a frenzy, rushing him to give him all sorts of love on his birthday.

"Daddy!" Killian's smile at the sight of his kids and the way he picked both Hope and Bennett up at the same time sent a happy hum coursing through Emma as she herself grabbed Charlotte from the stroller.

Killian was the perfect father, just as he was the perfect guy for her. Where he'd always been kind and caring, he was even more so with their children, never making them feel as if they couldn't achieve each and every dream they had (while of course reining them in when those dreams got a little too crazy). When he looked at Emma, smiling and thoroughly happy, she couldn't help but step towards him and press a kiss to his lips that Hope and Bennett both regarded as 'yucky.' Moving through the station to Killian's office, the kids looked to Emma who finally gave them the box to gently present to their father.

"Happy birthday, Daddy!" Bennett and Hope chorused together.

"Happee happee!" Charlotte murmured in agreement as Killian bent to kiss their youngest girl's forehead. When he returned his gaze to the box and saw the cake looking back at him he grinned.

"You did all this for me, loves?" The kids nodded.

"Tell him the theme, Hope." Bennett said as he took his sister's hand in his, as he usually did when excited. Emma felt a little choked up at how much they loved each other.

"It's your favorite things!" Emma watched the wave of understanding wash over Killian, and saw the bit of mistiness that settled in those expressive cerulean eyes of his. It made her own struggle against the onslaught of happy tears harder, but somehow they both managed, with Killian taking her hand in his and squeezing tight.

"It's perfect. I love it." With that, Bennett stuck a finger out at the cake and raised his eyebrow just as his father always did in a silent waiting. The action prompted Hope to do the same and Emma and Killian to follow suit. As soon as Killian moved forward to gather some frosting with his pointer finger from the side of the cake, the others were allowed to do the same and everyone was in agreement that it was great. Not that the kids hadn't known that before, but this was a special Jones family tradition, and Emma wouldn't change having such special rituals for anything.

"So, Will has informed me that he and Belle are still all set to take the kids tonight." Emma shivered at the heat and desire that resonated through her at Killian's hushed whisper in her ear after they'd given the kids their slices and ones to bring to the other on duty officers. Killian and Emma had planned this for a while now, a night away from the kids to have just the two of them on a much needed date. Though they wouldn't stay away overnight, Emma was still kind of glad at the reprieve. Sure, they'd gotten lucky with their kids, but that didn't mean they weren't constantly on the move and on the go. A night of relaxation, spent in the company of her handsome husband sounded truly wonderful and Emma sighed as Killian took a look around and saw the kids were occupied a ways away with David and Robin.

His hands came to rest on Emma's hips as he pushed her back slightly until her legs hit the front of the desk. Now she understood his intention, which was to remind her of the memories they had of a more intimate nature in this room. Not that Emma could ever forget. Hell, as soon as she'd walked in here, she'd thought about their tendency to risk exposure for a good old-fashioned desk fuck. So, despite the arousal that flooded her system Emma smiled. Killian's hand came to caress her cheek, as he searched her eyes for something.

"What was that look for, love?" Emma smiled, kissing him lightly on the lips once more.

"Just thinking how lucky I am to still have the hots for my Captain." His eyes heated at that as he murmured 'damn right you do.' Still, before any more could happen, the kids were back, telling them some sort of story about the triplets that they'd learned from David. While they did, Killian and Emma continued to hold each other's hands as Emma leaned her head against his shoulder. She had to admit that the happily ever after she'd been looking for all this time was more than she could have ever dreamed of.

…

Killian

"I've been thinking about getting you out of this dress since you put it on, love. Time to show you just how imaginative I can be." He felt his wife shiver against him, her desire ever apparent. His mouth came down against hers again as he pressed her against the car door where he'd practically jumped on her just moments ago and he felt her give over to it, rejoicing in the feelings just as much as he did. Where he was quickly losing control after hours in her presence, though, Emma held back, retaining some decency and the sense to have them stop.

"Killian, we're nearly there but if you wake up the kids we'll have to wait. You don't want that do you?" Killian quietly groaned, stopping the teasing he was inflicting with his hands as he and Emma made their way up the front steps together after seeing Will and Belle off and thanking them for babysitting. It was hardly Killian's fault that he was hopelessly in love and lust with his wife, was it?

It mattered not that they'd had years together, Killian still felt like it was that first day all that time ago when he'd first seen her. She stole his breath away with ever look, and every laugh, and every word. There was no understanding the pull between them other than to say that they were made for each other and that she made his life infinitely better. Stepping into the home they'd built together, knowing that here his family was safe and happy, a family that Emma had given him, he'd never known such contentment.

They made their way up the stairs, hand in hand as they so often were, and checked in on all the kids, finding them sound asleep and peacefully dreaming. Despite the fact that they were all sleeping, Emma and Killian completed the same ritual for each child, just as much for themselves as for the kids. With Hope, they had to take off half of the hoard of stuffed animals all along her bed, before kissing her on the forehead. Bennett meanwhile had fallen asleep with four picture books and three toy cars under his sheets, so Killian removed them before giving him his kiss as well. And finally Charlotte, who was still in her crib at this point, got a kiss from Mom and Dad on each of her little hands.

As they went through these routines, Killian silently acknowledged that each of their children was an incomparable gift, and watching them grow each and every day was one of the purest pleasures of Killian's life. To do that with Emma made that honor more significant and enjoyable. Watching her give each child their kiss goodnight, Killian couldn't deny that she was impossibly good, a wonderful mother, and the greatest person he had ever known.

"You have that look again." Emma said as she pulled him into their room finally, tugging at the lapel of his jacket with a bit more force than he'd expected. Feeling her touch as she pushed the offending garment off of him, Killian grinned, pleased beyond words at his wife's demanding nature.

"And what look is that, Swan?" She raised a brow as she unbuttoned his shirt with deft fingers.

"The one that says you love me to the ends of time and space and that because of that, I can expect some incredibly hot sex tonight." He growled, pulling her flush against his now exposed skin. She tried to remove his shirt in full, but she'd played with fire, and now he needed a taste of stripping away her layers. Turning her around in his hold, he located the zipper on the back of the sleek green dress she'd worn and watched as more and more of her creamy skin came into view. When he'd released enough that the dress dropped to the floor he swore out loud.

"Fuck, Swan. What are you trying to do, kill me?!" Emma shook her head knowing full well the figure she cut in the white lace strapless bra and matching thong, but she smiled before sucking on his bottom lip and then kissing him, he let himself succumb to her intoxicating taste but too soon she pulled back again.

"I want you around a long, long time Mr. Jones. We're growing old together." Pushing off the sleeves of his shirt and unbuttoning his pants, she was determined to get them past the banter and to the sweet sensations of their love making, but Killian lingered in the verbal foreplay, loving the way she always matched him beat for beat.

"You fancy me then?" Her eye roll sealed the deal for him. Only a woman he loved this dearly could look so sexy when feigning annoyance.

"I've grown rather fond of you, yes. Tends to happen with one's true love and baby daddy." Killian chuckled, but the laughter he saw at Emma's lips devolved into a moan as his fingers traced the most sensitive spots on her hip, up to just under her breast. His mouth came crashing down on hers to cover the sounds before the kids woke up and shattered the moment, reveling in the feeling of her neediness. He sought only her pleasure, knowing his would follow in kind and soon enough he had her panting and begging for more.

"At dinner you made some promises, Swan. Do you remember?" Her eyes flashed with heat and Killian knew if he reached between her legs he'd find her wet and nearly ready for him. Gods he loved this woman.

"Yes." Killian grinned reaching in the bedside table for those trusty handcuffs that she'd gotten him on their wedding night. The excitement that crossed her face when he snapped them into place above her head on the headboard had him growing harder when it shouldn't have been possible. She was a vision, captivating and raw and real in this moment. She was the truth and the light, and tonight he was going to drown in it, just as he did every night beside her.

"Do you intend to keep it?" Emma nodded, closing her eyes as his hands and mouth trailed over her body. When his fingers unclasped her bra and his mouth set on one of her nipples, she practically purred, only spurring Killian on more. When she was writhing beneath him, under careful licks and sucks and nips, he heeded her breathy call for more. His hand came to spread her legs wide, exposing her to him and then sinking into her waiting heat and swirling his thumb against her clit. He paid special care to driving her crazy, taking advantage of all the spots he'd come to know drove her wild until she was climaxing beneath him, over and over again.

With his hands, his tongue, his cock, he drove her to the brink and demanded her release all night long, joining her when the pull of their lovemaking became too strong, but he didn't let up. Her responsiveness only fueled his own desire, filling him with a sense of power and adrenaline that couldn't be compared to anything else in the world. They'd both be exhausted tomorrow, but he didn't care, only thinking of how good this felt and how right they were together. Hours later, spent and satisfied, they lay together trying to catch their breath again.

"I think you might be the only guy on earth who makes his wife promise to come so many times for his birthday." Killian chuckled, pulling her against him once they'd finally resigned themselves to a much needed sleep.

"I am also the only man with you for a wife. Trust me, watching you fall apart like that is one of the best gifts you could give me." Emma hummed happily at that, and as he closed his eyes, Killian knew that this was what people meant when they talked about absolute peace of mind.

"Have you enjoyed your birthday?" Killian nodded, tightening his hold around her and placing a kiss to her shoulder with love.

"Aye, love, It means another year I've been with you." Emma sighed into his embrace until he felt her tense up. "Emma?" He opened his eyes as she left his arms just for a moment, reaching into the bedside table where he'd put the handcuffs back earlier and pulling out a white envelope. He'd noticed it before, but hadn't thought much of it until she handed it to him.

"I forgot the last part of your gift." Instinctively he knew what this was, even before he tore through the seal, but there was the confirmation staring back at him, a sonogram similar to the one she'd given him on their wedding night and two times since.

"You're pregnant?" Emma nodded and laughed when he started kissing her all over, showering her with affection.

"Kind of hard not to be when my husband is all over me all the time." Killian growled at that. Of course he was all over her, she was his and he needed to keep her satisfied. That was his calling in life it seemed. That and making and caring for children with her.

"Emma, love, why are there two circles on the… twins?!" Emma smiled.

"Yeah. I think five is a good number, don't you?" He kissed her tenderly and pulled back, leaning his forehead against hers.

"Perfect love."

Just a matter of months later, those two little bundles of joy joined the fray of the Jones Family. Liam and Leia were both healthy and happy babies, thank goodness, but with their arrival, life in the Jones household bordered on insanity. So many people meant the house was never quiet, and the promise Killian had made to Emma years ago was upheld. She was never alone again, and neither were their children, for wherever they went and whatever they faced, they were a family, loyal, loving, and bound by belief that they belonged and that they mattered. In the end, Killian could not have been prouder of the legacy he and Emma had created, and it had all been possible through their life-changing, world-altering love.

Post-Note: There is no denying that I got a little teary when writing this. It's truly sinking in that the story is coming to a close and you all know it's been one of my absolute favorites since picking it up at the beginning of this year. This has been one of my greatest outlets for fluff, smut, and food cravings, and I will be sad to see it go. But I also love the fluffy way I'm trying to wrap this up and I hope you guys do too. Also, the idea of Emma and Killian having five kids in six years actually blows my mind so I had to write it. Handling that day in and day out truly would be a heroic feat after all. Hope that you guys enjoyed, and thanks again for reading!