I own nothing except my delusions.
Emma woke with a start, feeling Killian jump awake beside her. Alert, she heard loud, happy laughs emitting close to where her husband was, looking to see Henry grinning widely in amusement.
"He jumped on me," Killian said in disbelief, gingerly rubbing his ribs. "The lad actually climbed onto the bed and jumped on me."
Taking in the situation, Emma fought back a laugh. "You okay?"
He nodded "Aye. Henry just landed on my ribs was all."
Holding her arms out, she hugged Henry to her when he launched himself into her arms. Hugging him tightly, she blew a raspberry on his cheek, making the boy squeal in laughter.
Deciding to join in, Killian tickled Henry's belly, delighting the boy even further as Emma held him.
Henry reached out to his father, prompting Killian to immediately take him from Emma and let Henry wrap his arms in a vice grip around his neck.
"Good morning, Sea Otter," Killian laughed, lightly stroking Henry's head. "Did you sleep good?"
Nodding, Henry began to fidget.
Letting him sit down between his and Emma's legs, Killian gently pulled a lock of Henry's hair before releasing it. "Looks like the lad is gonna need his first trim really soon. It's getting really long."
Emma hummed in agreement before running her fingers through her husband's hair, noticing how it had began to curl at the nape of his neck. "You are, too. I can do it again, if you want. Unless you want to let it grow out again."
He snorted. "No way. It's much easier short. But do you mind?"
She shook her head before reaching for their son. "Of course not. Maybe I can even get this one, too."
She saw Killian give them one last smile before standing to shrug on a shirt. She transferred Henry over to him so she could get up, pulling her robe on over her nightdress and go with them out to the main room.
Pulling one of the curtains open, she saw the outside blanketed in white, the fresh snow glistening in the morning sunlight.
She looked over at Kllian as he moved to stand beside her, Henry still in his arms.
"Think someone would like to be introduced to the snow?" she asked, feeling excited at the idea.
Slowly, he grinned before lightly bouncing Henry. "I think someone would like it very much."
Grinning as she pushed the front door open, Emma watched as Henry stared at the snow with wide eyes, waiting for him to step out. Seeing him hesitate, she scooped him up to step outside herself, making sure his coat was fastened securely around him.
Both she and Killian chuckled as she set Henry down, the boy staring with wide eyes at the white that engulfed his feet. He looked back up at them, seeing how they stepped back slightly and leaving a trail of footprints.
Emma kneeled down before him, taking a small handful of snow and holding it out to him.
"It's snow, Henry," she told him gently. "It's okay, see? It's what happens when it gets really cold outside."
At her encouragement, he tentatively touched it with his mitten covered hand. Deciding her liked the feeling of it, he took it from her, squeezing it in his own hands.
"There you go," she smiled. She gathered some more, patting it into a snowball and holding it out for him to inspect.
More gently than the last time, he took the offered snowball, turning it in his hands to examine it.
"Wanna see something you can do with these?" she asked, grinning widely.
He nodded enthusiastically. "Aye."
Gathering a larger snowball, Emma turned to see Killian with his back toward them, finishing on pouring water from the well for the horse. Her grin growing, she threw the snowball, hitting him square in the back, the white snow spreading as it hit the black leather and making him jump.
Henry laughed loudly, watching his parents.
"Really, Swan?" Killian asked as he stalked toward them, a mischievous glint in his blue eyes. "Teaching the lad snow warfare?"
"It's never too early to," she responded cheekily. "Besides, you can't do anything. I have Henry with me."
"Oh, really?" he smiled. He turned his head slightly to look at the toddler. "Henry, get Mama."
As if suddenly remembering he had a snowball, Henry looked down at it before throwing it the short distance that separated him and his mother, hitting her leather clad leg.
She let out a playful gasp. "Hey, you're supposed to be helping me get your Papa, not throwing snow at me."
He giggled in response, grabbing a small handful of snow and throwing it at her.
"You turned my own son against me," she said, playfully glaring at Killian.
Killian lightly tossed a snowball in the air before catching it, smiling innocently at her. "At least we now know where his loyalties lie."
She was barely able to duck as he launched the snowball at her. Quickly gathering another snowball, she hurled it at him, barely missing as he sidestepped it.
Feeling a small amount of snow on her head, she looked over to see Henry laughing. Grabbing more, she very loosely packed it before gently tossing it at him, lightly hitting him with it.
Henry's laughs were near hysterical as the snow fell away from him.
Taking advantage of her distraction, Killian hit her in the shoulder with snow before ducking away.
Running as fast as his little legs would carry him, Henry hid behind Killian, intending to use his father as a shield. He grabbed another fistful of snow, throwing it as hard as he could toward Emma.
Seeing Killian look down to smile at Henry, Emma took her opportunity, landing a snowball on his chest. She laughed as he jumped in alarm, some of the snow falling into his shirt where his chest was exposed.
"That's cold, Swan," he told her without any bite.
She smiled innocently back at him. "That's what happens when you don't button your shirt."
He winked at her, giving her a flirty smirk. "We both know you love it."
Knowing he was right, she didn't respond.
They continued on, watching Henry's eagerness to try to keep up with them, his cheeks turning red from the cold and laughter.
Eventually Killian ran towards Emma, taking her snowball and grabbing onto her, throwing her over his shoulder as he laughed. Before she could respond, he tossed her into one of the large snowbanks.
Moving quickly, Emma pulled him down with her by his black scarf, causing him to land on top of her.
"That wasn't fair," she laughed. "You're stronger than me."
He chuckled in response. "That may be, but knowing you my love, you've got something up your sleeve."
She grinned up devilishly, taking a handful of snow. "You're right."
Taking him by surprise, she pushed the snow into his face, the white spreading over his dark hair and scruff. Using his surprise, she rolled them so she was above him, straddling him.
"Bloody minx," he chuckled, grinning up at her.
Smiling, she leaned down to quickly kiss him.
Just as she pulled away, Henry jumped on her back, poking his head over her shoulder to peer down at Killian.
"Are you turning on me, lad?" Killian asked Henry, his brow raised.
"Aye," the boy responded, clutching onto Emma's cloak.
"Do you think we beat him, Henry?" Emma chuckled, peeking at her son.
He nodded, his few teeth showing as he grinned. "Aye!"
Carefully sitting up and grabbing Henry into her arms, Emma rose up to allow Killian to get up.
"Let's go inside, okay?" she said, keeping her grip on Henry as they moved to go back in the cottage.
She set him down once they were inside, removing his coat, mittens, and hat as Killian went to check on the stew that was to be their dinner.
Noticing Henry's eyes beginning to droop, Emma lifted him back up, carrying him to the couch and laying him down.
"You're all worn out, huh?" she asked gently, draping a blanket over him.
He reached out for his lion, moving to get up to grab it before Emma quickly retrieved it. Handing it off to him, he hugged it tightly, sleep instantly taking over him.
Emma kissed his forehead lightly before rising up to go to where Killian was shrugging off his long leather coat. Chuckling, she ruffled his hair, shaking free bits of snow that had been sticking.
Reaching out, he easily undid the clasp of her cloak, pulling it from her to hang it beside his coat. He turned back to her, resting his hand and hook at her waist and drawing her close to softly and lovingly kiss her.
She responded in kind, resting her hands on his shoulders.
"That was fun out there," he hummed as he broke away.
"It was," she agreed. Chuckling, she turned her head to look back at Henry. "Someone's all tired out."
"Well, now we know how to get him tired for his naps or bed," Killian chuckled in return, looking back at the boy's small form.
Resting her forehead on his jaw, Emma released a content sigh.
"How's dinner coming?" she asked, relaxing further into him.
"Good," he responded, running his hand along her spine. "We are starting to run low on venison, though."
She nodded. "I'll go out tomorrow morning. Or I can even try tonight."
Shaking his head, he leaned further into her. "No, just stay home tonight. We'll worry about it tomorrow."
Humming, she peeked up at him, grinning flirtatiously. "What, don't want to let me go tonight?"
He dropped his head so his lips were brushing her ear. "Oh, I have no intentions of letting you go anywhere tonight. In fact, I have a few pleasurable activities in mind for us to do later."
She bit her lip in anticipation, eager for the day to be over so she could spend some time with her husband.
Teaser: "Nothing is gonna happen," she promised him, lovingly stroking the scar on his cheek. "It's just like you said, we're a team. We won't let anything happen to each other."
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