Disclaimer: I do not own Once Upon a Time

L

One Year Later

Killian moved to his left slightly and drew Emma in front of him, wrapping his arms around her waist from behind and resting his head on her shoulder as they watched the scene unfold in front of them. Liam was sleeping soundly, for the moment at least, in a baby carrier on the seat next to them. On their other side, Henry was holding Grace's hand. Emma hummed and leaned back as Ruby repeated the same vows she'd made to Killian almost two years earlier. She grinned at that, in November she will have been married to the man standing behind her for two years. Two imperfectly wonderful years.

Ruby and Victor's wedding was much like her own. It was in a clearing in the woods, they had no bridal party, just a smattering of chairs for the guests to sit in. The weather this September was perfect for an outdoor wedding. There was an elaborate spread of food, and a cake made by Ingrid, waiting at Granny's for them. And there were rumors of an adult after party at The Rabbit Hole while Granny and Ingrid watched the kids. She was hoping she could perhaps convince one of the older women to take both kids for the night. It had been a while since she and Killian had an uninterrupted night to themselves. Since he'd put on the slacks and blue button down that made his eyes look like the ocean in the Caribbean, she'd been just itching to get him naked.

What Emma was having trouble wrapping her head around was that she had lived in the same town, without any actual problems, for two years. Two years of being surrounded by love and warmth and friendship and petty arguments that never amounted to anything. Reaching over Liam's carrier, Emma placed her palm on Regina's growing stomach. The mayor turned her head and twined her fingers with Emma over her belly. The two of them smiled and looked down to where Regina and Robin's baby girl was growing inside of her. About fucking time.

Killian had been right when they were dancing at Regina and Robin's wedding. Everyone had a sordid past, but it didn't matter because they had each other. The last three years in Storybrooke had been a whirlwind of drama and stress. From Walsh and Neal, to Milah and Spencer, things never really completely settled, but it was alright as long as they stuck together. Over the past year, Regina's mother had stumbled into town. Cora was a piece of work. Robin got word that the woman he buried years before was not Marian and that Marian was alive. They were all happy when that was not true. She was fairly certain he would never visit Boston again after they had to deal with that with the Boston PD. Then, months later, Mary Margaret's nanny from when she was a child was murdered. That had been a horrific few months for the entire department. The town was in an upset that an outsider could come in and kill one of Storybrooke's most beloved citizens. Most recently, Ruby's high school flame had stumbled back in town and done everything he could to break up their marriage. Peter had been absolutely awful. And Victor had spent a night in lock up after an altercation with him.

Most notably, though, in the last year Regina found out she had a half-sister. Zelena showed up about a week after Cora fled town. Emma secretly thought their manipulative mother left town because she heard Zelena was coming. At first, Zelena had been nothing but malicious. She tried to seduce Robin (as if she ever had a chance of stealing his attention away from Regina). When that didn't work, she tried to sway the public to oust Regina as mayor (that definitely didn't work, as crazy as Regina was, she was beloved by all). Then, after threats to just kick her out of town already, Zelena seemed to even out.

Emma knew Zelena was just looking for a home, much like she had been. She just wanted a place where she could settle in and put down some roots. She was a little insane (a lot like Regina), but she'd been abandoned by everyone, something Emma could relate to and reminded the group that all of them had been abandoned by someone at some point in time. That was what made them unique as a group of friends and so incredibly close. Once she promised to leave Regina and Robin alone, she was told she could stay in town and settle down. She wound up setting up a craft store, much to everyone's surprise, and that was where she really met Grace. She'd helped Grace make something for Henry's birthday and through that project met Jefferson. Emma glanced over Henry and Grace to find Zelena with her head on Jefferson's shoulder. They were both a little bizarre, so the pairing worked well. At least for the moment. Personally, Emma hoped it stuck. Killian was right, Jefferson needed (and deserved) someone in his life to share the little things with. And to distract him from the budding romance that still seemed to be blooming between Henry and Grace.

"Love?" Killian nudged her, "You okay?"

Emma looked up at him and realized everyone was clapping as Ruby all but mauled Victor. Shaking her head, she murmured, "Of course," and joined in on the applause.

"What were you thinking about?" He asked, his lips skimming over her earlobe.

She arched her back slightly at the contact, a content moan softly tearing its way from her throat, "The last two years. How everything has changed. Everything Regina and Robin went through and how it's all sorted itself out." She nudged her elbow into his ribs when he gently bit down on her neck, "Killian," she warned, "we're in public."

"Never stopped us before." He leered, reminding her of how he took her on the bow of the Jolly while it was docked just a few weeks earlier.

She flushed and shook her head, "You know what, now I won't stroke your ego."

He arched a brow at her, "Oh, and how would you do that?"

"By telling you that you were right, but now I think I won't." She grinned and picked up Liam's carrier, "Okay you two lovebirds," Emma nudged Henry, "let's go. I'm starving."

"You're always starving." Henry murmured.

"Don't mock your mother." She instructed teasingly. "Come on you two, let's head to the diner before Liam wakes up. I really don't want to spend a car ride with him crying."

Henry's eyes widened, "Race you." He nudged Grace before he took off. Grace let out a protest before she giggled and followed him.

"So this has been going on for a while?" Zelena asked, tugging Jefferson back to fall into step with Emma and Killian.

"Since the moment they met." Emma shook her head, "I thought girls still had cooties, but when I asked Henry he replied that Alexandra was weird and probably does and so do other girls. Then he said, Grace may have them, but he'd be okay getting them if they came from her."

Jefferson and Killian both groaned at the words and Zelena asked, "You don't think, I mean they're only eight and nine so"

"I don't think we have to worry about that yet." Emma assured her, "I mean, he still pulls her pigtails and she still sticks her tongue out at him. I think they're really just best friends right now. And they emulate us." She motioned between herself and Killian.

"That does not make me feel better." Jefferson warned her, "You two are very," he paused, "demonstrative, even in public."

Killian chuckled as he adjusted his grip on the carrier, tossing his arm over Emma's shoulder, "He doesn't emulate that, mate. He thinks we're gross and only old people do that stuff."

"As long as he holds onto that for another twenty years I'll be okay." Jefferson mumbled.

"I hate to break it to you, Jeff," Killian grinned down at Emma, "I think you've got maybe five years if you're lucky."

"No, stop it, that's my baby girl." Jefferson protested.

"I agree with Jefferson, that's our baby, Killian, do not say things like that." Emma nudged him hard.

"I'm just saying that the lad is going to get curious about the pretty lass as he gets older and starts to notice that she's more than just fun to play with. He's going to start to notice things like her eyes and her smile and her legs, among other things." Killian continued.

"Can I push him off a cliff?" Zelena asked, "They're not even my children, I realize that, but"

"But you don't want to be a grandmother yet and it's weird to think about that stuff?" Emma nodded, "We all get it, Lena, it sucks."

"It totally sucks." Jefferson agreed as they reached the cars. He sighed when they were by his car, "I'll take them to the diner." He offered.

"Great, we'll see you there." She let Killian tug her towards their car and waited as he strapped Liam in.

Opening her door, he helped her up, "You know it's all going to be okay, right?"

Emma smiled and leaned down, brushing her lips over his, "I know, he's just my baby. I'm so thankful he's happy and he's got these friends and you and the rest of our family, but he's my baby and I don't want him growing up."

"Aye, love, but he will. Think of it this way, at least we get to be here to watch it happen."

His eyes twinkled up at her and her face broke out into an even wider grin, "Until we're old and gray and he's trying to shove us in a home."

"Even longer than then." Killian murmured.

"I rather like the sound of forever." Emma agreed.

OUAT

XOXO

MAS

AN: So I know I said only 50 chapters, but I have a surprise for everyone. . . THERE IS ONE MORE CHAPTER AFTER THIS! I couldn't resist. So, this is not the very end yet. The very end is coming shortly. Enjoy! ~ XOXO MAS