A/N: I've hit a dry spot in the muse for this thing, and that's for several reasons. I'm really trying to ham out more chapters for you all because i do enjoy writing them! I've also just started a SF multi chapter on this account, so if you ship both CS and SF like i do, then take a look at that one :D

"Emma Jones…you're late." Killian whispered as his wife sat down in the seat next to him. She'd snuck in to the school hall for their son's elementary school graduation while the headmaster was delivering his no-doubt boring speech. "Yeah, well they should have a special spot for the Sheriff to park in then. It took me forever to find a space and then i might as well have walked from the station it's so far away." She hushed back, already taking their youngest daughter from his knee and cuddling her close on hers. "Has he come out yet?" She asked, straining her neck to see if Liam was on stage. Killian shook his head at the same time that Emma came to the realisation that he was still backstage. "Good." She mumbled softly. She took hold of her husband's hand and gave it a nervous squeeze. She'd avoided being emotional about this all so far, but now she was in the moment, and her baby boy was about to leave elementary school and she wasn't so sure she could make it without crying. Killian smiled at her and squeezed her hand right back, then leant into her a little. "He'll be fine." He whispered softly, reminding her that their son wasn't leaving home just yet, just elementary school.

Emma was a mess by the time the ceremony came to an end. The tears started when Amelia's class came out onto stage and she sang along with her class mates about saying goodbye to the older students. Amelia had flashed her parents a winning smile, and even waved just before she left stage, even though both Killian and Emma knew she was going to get in trouble for doing so. Then Liam had walked across the stage to collect his certificate. That was the point in which Emma really lost it. She didn't cry loudly, just let silent tears roll down her cheeks as she watched her son grow up before her eyes.

X

Liam ran to his parents as soon as he was released from his teacher's supervision. He wrapped his arms around his mom and smiled up at her. "Don't be sad mom! We've still got the whole summer before i have to go to High School. There's still time for someone to curse me with an age rewind." He joked, grinning at his dad. Killian laughed, only to be hit in the chest by Emma. "Don't even encourage such a though Killian. Otherwise if that actually happens, you'll be the one back on diaper duty." She warned. Her warning immediately brought a serious look to his face and he nodded sombrely. "Yikes." He whispered. "You were pretty frightful in the diaper department, lad." He told Liam, who squirmed in embarrassment.

Amelia joined them soon enough, and was greeted with an eager hug from her little sister, Ava, who had been waiting to see her big sister the whole ceremony. Amelia laughed and hugged Ava back, then hugged her parents. "Did you see me wave at you?" She asked, sounding hopeful. Killian raised an eyebrow at her and nodded. "Aye love, we did. How much trouble did you get in for that one?" He asked suspiciously, watching as his daughter's cheeks flushed red. "Well…not much, but a little bit of yelling."

Emma ran her hand through Amelia's hair and smiled. "You should have just left it little one. We could see you, you didn't have to get yourself into trouble just to wave."

Amelia shrugged and then took her daddy's hand. "So, can we take Henry to Granny's for a Graduation dinner so i can eat food please?"

X

Emma and Killian sat in a booth at Granny's with their three kids, waiting on their food. It was then that Emma's adult son Henry walked in the door. Emma smiled and stood up, making her way over to him and giving him a tight hug. "Hey kid, i was just thinking about you. We're still on for our coffee date tomorrow?" She asked him, following him to the counter. Henry smiled at her and nodded. "Sure am. Granny's at eleven, right?" He asked, even though he already knew he was right. "I'm just picking up coffee for Violet and I but i'll give you a call later on to properly congratulate Liam. And to give him advice on high school girls."

Emma shook her head and nudged Henry. "No way. He's not even looking at a girl until he's graduated high school. It's hard enough with his father intent on giving him dating advice. I need at least one of my kids to stay my baby forever." She argued back lightly. Henry only laughed and gestured back to the table where their family was seated, where Liam was reading a novel, ignoring his two younger sister and their childish game. "I think he's already grown up mom. You might want to make one of the girls your baby forever, you have a better chance with them." Emma laughed a little, agreeing. Her two sons were both growing up so incredibly fast and doing so well with their lives. Henry grabbed his order from Granny and tipped her, then turned to his mom. "Well, i should shoot back to work. Have a good afternoon." He told her, kissing her cheek. Emma smiled and hugged him. "Don't be a stranger. Or i'll make Violet give me a spare key to your apartment and i'll just drop by all the time." She playfully threatened. Henry pretended to roll his eyes and walked away, waving at his younger siblings and step-father.

X

That night, after Emma had managed to pry the phone away from her three youngest who were chatting away to Henry, and she'd finally managed to get them all into bed, Killian gestured for her to join him on the floor. He was resting on the floor in front of their bedroom fireplace, a blanket laid out beneath him. She pulled another blanket from the bed and wrapped it around herself, then sat down between his legs, laying back on him.

The fire was blazing, and Killian's arms around her added to the comforting feeling. He stroked her hair gently and then pressed a kiss to her temple. "So….another one into high school, huh." He commented softly. Emma nodded, but stayed silent. She watched the flames dancing in the fireplace and thought about the family they'd created together.

"It feels like just yesterday that we were bringing him home from the hospital, both of us freaked out and scared out of our minds."

"I just was scared with the hook. In case i hurt the little guy." He defended, even though they both knew how scared they'd both been, and it had nothing to do with his hook. Emma took a hold of the hand that used to be his hook. She kissed his knuckles and brought the fist to rest against her chest. "Sometimes i miss the hook, you know." She admitted. "I know it's easier for you having both hands back, and that you've grown more comfortable with the kids by having two hands, but i liked the days of Captain Hook. When only i held your hook instead of your hand….the cute little smirk you'd get when you accomplished something with one hand that most people struggle with when they have two. I liked the hook." She mused, still cradling his hand.

Killian chuckled and pulled Emma closer to him. "You're getting all sentimental on me Swan." He teased softly, loving the softer side to his wife. "But i know what you mean. I have rather missed the ability to cut open a man's throat for daring to look at my lady's fine behind when she's not noticing."

Emma scoffed and nudged him. "Like you'd even dare to use that hook against anyone, even when you did have it. You were far too busy trying to impress me, rather than threaten any competition." She argued. "And anyway, i only had eyes for you…when i wasn't too busy fighting the none stop villains that loved to plague the town back then."

"You're right love. But i loved having the option. Not that i'd have done it, but the threat was still a wonderful thing."

Emma nodded and made no further comment. "Love, shall we take this to the bed? As nice as the fire is, i'm well over three hundred years and my bloody bones are aching here on the ground. I'd much prefer the luxury of the padded mattress." Emma rolled her eyes and nodded. "You ask me things in strange ways sometimes, but yes….the bed sounds like a great idea." She told him, standing and then holding out a hand to help him to his feet. When he stood, he kissed the top of her nose and headed straight to the bed, already in his pyjamas. Emma quickly joined him, also ready for bed herself. They made their ways to the centre of the bed, where they embraced each other as usual. Emma rested her head against his chest and closed her eyes, feeling extremely content. "You know…we've made a brilliant life for ourselves Killian." She whispered, her eyes staying shut. He closed his own eyes and smiled in agreement. "I know. Thank you for that Swan. I waited a long time for someone like you to give me something like this and i'll always be grateful."