A/N: Emma and Killian take their kids to the park and have an adorably fluffy and cute moment together, musing about their lives and how even now, all this time later, they can still find the moments. Inspired by 'We've Got Love' by Babyface.
Seasons didn't come and go the same way in Storybrooke that they did in the world outside. Sure, winter turned to spring, spring to summer, and summer to fall, just to start all over again but in their lives it wasn't the blooming flowers, or change in the leaves that marked their time, it was what type of evil they'd had to face. At least, that was how it had been for a long time. Luckily, though, trouble had started to fade, conflicts were fewer and farther between, and the small happy moments had blossomed into longer times of peace and quiet.
"Mommy, again!" Okay, not exactly quiet, but definitely happy.
"Liam, honey, how many times can you go down one slide?" Her three year old looked up at her like Emma had two heads and gave a little pout. He looked just like his father, and by proxy, like his Uncle whose name he bore. From Emma herself though, he had bright green eyes that hid nothing about how he felt or what he thought.
"All the times, Mommy." She smiled at her son's answer and nodded sending him off sprinting towards the slide once more. Taking the kids to the park was something she and Killian did often, and for months now Liam had been taken with the slide. Rain or shine, that boy wanted to go fast and this was the only way a three year old could really do so.
"Mom, look how high I can go now!" Her daughter Hope called from he swing set, Emma felt her heart slam at the sight of her daughter so high and about to jump, but before she could respond, Hope leaped from the swing, using her magic to land safely. six years old, and Hope was still hell on wheels. What had started as the terrible twos had only stayed the same, and though Hope was all right, she may soon be the death of her mother. Emma placed a hand to her chest, feeling the erratic beating of her heart as worry coursed through her.
"Hope, what have I said about going that high?" Hope sighed.
"That it's 'unnecessarily dangerous,' but it's also fun Mom. Don't you ever like to have fun?"
"Your mother practically invented fun, love." Killian's voice from behind her had Emma turning with an instant smile. In his arms he held their youngest, Leia, who was all of a year. Killian had taken to parenting about as well as Emma had expected, which was to say that he was a fantastic father who made everything seem easy.
"No way. Name one thing Mom ever did that was fun." It would probably be lame to tell her daughter that she thought their movie nights and fort parties and magic lessons were fun right?
"She slayed a dragon." Hope's eyes grew two times their size and she gaped.
"No she didn't you're just saying that. Mom?" Emma shrugged.
"I'm not sure I'd call that particularly fun, but I did." Hope nodded, still in awe of the deed, but agreeing it wasn't exactly what came to mind when one contemplated a carefree, good time.
"Mommy plays tricks!" Liam added happily after another ride down the slide. Killian quirked a brow up at that.
"Does she now?" Liam took one look at his father and nodded happily. Emma meanwhile bit back a groan, knowing exactly what her son was going to say.
"Mommy and Henry put the pictures of the lady man all over the streets." That characterization actually had Emma barking out a bit of laughter before she was able to cover her mouth and muffle it. What Liam meant was that she and Henry had put up the pictures of Killian's Disney counterpart all around town. When Killian realized what Liam meant he turned to Emma, indignant.
"Swan, you didn't! And you let me blame Dave for it all." Emma grinned, shrugging. It had been Henry's idea, but she'd had to partake. His reaction had been classic, and in the end she'd gotten to convince him that the real Captain Hook was still as dashing and roguish as ever he was. They'd both been very satisfied by that reminder.
"And Mommy and Grandma took me to bring all the bunnies to Leroy's house. He got really mad but Mommy poofed us away before he could see us." Oh right, they had done that. But it wasn't that bad. Leroy had just been huffing and puffing for months about how they weren't doing enough to protect the town. He was paranoid that something was coming, and even though Emma's gut said nothing was right now, he wouldn't accept it. At one point he'd gone so far as to say that they'd probably find out the Easter Bunny had a long lost evil twin who could curse them, and it had sparked an idea.
"That was you, love?" Leia reached for Emma and Emma took her from Killian just as Hope started jumping up and down excitedly.
"That's awesome! Can I prank with you too, Mom? I have some really good ideas. Like we could use magic to make Tiny's hair pink, or slowly take all the forks from Granny's and hide them so everyone has to eat with spoons or maybe…" Hope went on with plan after plan and Killian whispered low so only Emma could hear.
"Should we be worried about how attuned she is to mischief?" Emma shook her head.
"No, with us as parents it was bound to happen. Plus, under all that adolescent bravado is a heart of gold." Killian smiled.
"Are you guys even listening anymore? I have some really good ideas here!" With her hands on her hips, blonde hair blowing in the wind, and blue eyes narrowed on the two of them, it was hard not to see herself in her daughter. Sure, she was far more well adjusted, aware that she was loved and cared for, but she was also stubborn and determined to be heard.
"Aye you do, love, and I dare say they deserve the proper venue. What say you to getting some ice cream, and you can regale us with all your plans over rocky road?" Hope considered as if there was any chance she would deny an ice cream trip and then nodded.
"That would be acceptable." Then she turned to Liam and took his hand walking in front of Emma and Killian.
"She learned that move from your mother. A regal tone and head held high. We really have gotten ourselves into trouble." Emma pulled him in, kissing him lightly.
"Yeah, but we've got love too, so it'll all work out."
"I think you're right, love. We've had enough pain and sorrow to last this lifetime."
"Try ten lifetimes. But it was all worth it, for days like today and my moments with you." He smiled, taking her hand in his as they walked on to enjoy the rest of a wonderfully normal afternoon.
….
We done pain and sorrow
We done been through change
We done had way better days, yes sir
But I seen tomorrow
I ain't see no rain
'Cause our sun's gonna shine again, yes it is
I been thinking 'bout it
Ain't no doubt about it
We got something that the world
Just can't explain
It was the one thing
That makes it always work out
It's 'cause we got love, love, love, love, love
If we got nothin' else
We got love
It's 'cause we got love, love, love, love, love
At least that's something, yes
We got love
And the world goes round and round, round and round
And the world goes round and round, round and round
And the world goes round and round, round and round
Around in circles
We didn't have no money
Our bills ain't been paid
Coulda lost 'bout everything
But we climbed that mountain
And we found a way
And we back on top again
I keep thinking 'bout it
Ain't no way around it
Girl, we got something that the world
Just can't explain
It was the one thing
That makes it always work out
It's 'cause we got love, love, love, love, love
If we got nothin' else
We got love
It's 'cause we got love, love, love, love, love
At least that's something, yes
We got love
And the world goes round and round, round and round
And the world goes round and round, round and round
And the world goes round and round, round and round
Around in circles
And the world goes round and round, round and round
And the world goes round and round, round and round
And the world goes round and round, round and round
Around in circles
I keep thinking 'bout it
Ain't no way around it
Girl, we got something that the world
Just can't explain
Oh babe, it was the one thing
That makes it always work out
It's 'cause we got love, love, love, love, love
If we got nothin' else
We got love
It's 'cause we got love, love, love, love, love
At least that's something, yes
We got love
It's 'cause we got love, love, love, love, love
If we got nothin' else
We got love
It's 'cause we got love, love, love, love, love
At least that's something, yes
We got love
Come on say love
Post-Note: So here is today's fluff installment. Just a short little piece for me to throw all sorts of future CS babies feels into. Hope you guys enjoyed and thanks for reading!
