Emma was just tucking in Hope to bed. She never ailed to amaze her. At 10 years old she reminded her so much of Henry and Killian. Hope was so adventurous and got into trouble whenever she could but she stood up for what she believed in and wouldn't let anyone tear her down. She also loved books and she had just finished up Peter Pan.
"Why is dad the bad guy in these stories?" Hope asked as her mother finished tucking her in.
Emma shrugged and crinkled her nose, "I don't know. It was kinda just the norm. I remember growing up and watching the Peter Pan movies and they got your dad wrong on sooooo many levels."
Hope turned to the metal hook that her mother framed on her wall, he sighed sadly, "I just... I wish I would've known him. I mean you and mama are great, but I just..."
Emma smiled and laid beside her daughter and cuddled her as tears started to form in her eyes as she too looked at the framed hook. She missed Killian more than she let on. It had been a little over 8 years since she had lost him in the fight against the white witch but she still had a living family she had to think about. She had found new love in the years following his death, a new life, new dreams that she wouldn't change for the world. She smiled at the memory of her life with Killian and at the thought of her life now. She loved them both especially since Hope was apart of both versions. She started to stroke Hopes hair soothingly.
"I know baby, I know. You don't have to try and explain it," she said as she gave her a kiss on the top of her head, "He was a great man, and he'd be so proud of you and who you're going to be."
Hope looked up at her mother sleepily, "Do I look like him? Like papa?"
Emma nodded and smirked to herself, "You have his smile. It's small but beams enough to brighten up everybody's day. And on the literal side of things you've got the teeth within the smile. I mean according to him his teeth have always been so straight, meanwhile I had braces from 6th to 8th grade and they were not the best accessory."
Hope giggled, "Good thing I didn't inherit those then."
It was silent for a bit before someone gave a faux cough at the bedroom door and spoke up, "You've also got his eyes."
Emma and Hope turned to the voice coming from the doorway and smiled.
"Mama! You're back! What took you so long?"
"Well J.R. here was being fussy at the vet, so they couldn't do the scheduled 3pm surgery until 6pm and then I had to wait for him to wake up so they could make sure he was fine. So here I am, at 11pm, walking into a cuddle session I wasn't invited to," she sighed out in response.
Emma rolled her eyes and waved Regina over. The brunette smirked and put the cat down before she went to lay on the other side of Hope and cuddled her girls.
"Always so dramatic," Emma scoffed.
Regina laughed, "I do tend to like a little flare in my life. I mean look at the woman I married, you were literally born to defeat me."
"But you tried to kill her first," Hope pointed out.
Emma laughed at her daughters words and Regina rolled her eyes.
"Ok little lady, I feel like I've told you my side of the story plenty of times for you to know that I was simply trying to put her in an eternal slumber, not kill her. Very different."
The little girl shrugged, "Tomato, tomahtoe. Same thing."
"Oh yeah?" She teased right before she went in to tickle the girl, sending her into a giggle fit.
"Ok, ok. I'm sorry. They're different."
"That's what I thought," Regina said right before she stopped causing the laughter to subside.
It's quiet for a moment before Hope speaks up once again.
"Mama?"
Regina turns her head downward to face her daughter, "Yes sweetheart?"
"Do I really have his eyes?"
She exchanged glances with Emma before she nodded in confirmation and tucked a strand of hair behind Hopes ear, "They were a striking blue, but they look much better on you. Your father had this hideous eyeliner that he used to wear. Ruined the whole thing, I don't know how your mother fell for him."
Emma smirked and rolled her eyes, "You're just mad he was more charming than you and won me over first."
"Puh-lease. I could've had you in the palm of my hand from the moment you walked into town, if I wanted to. In hindsight, that probably would've been the safer option," she scoffed as she waved her hand at the nonsense.
J.R jumped up onto the bed and joined the Swan-Mills-Jones family by laying atop Hope.
The little girl smiled as a yawn rolled across her lips, "Roger! How is my good boy? Mama says you weren't behaving today."
J.R purred and ignored the accusation.
"You're right, can't stay mad at you," she said as she hugged her beloved cat.
Regina watched as J.R meowed once again.
"Sweetheart do you know why we gave J.R his name?" She asked while J.R waved his tail.
Hope nodded, "After papa's ship, so I remember him."
Regina hummed to confirm before she continued, "Your father and I didn't always see eye to eye, but he was a hero where it counted, and although I love your mother very much. I'm glad she met Killian first, because of all the good things he contributed to the world, you are by far the greatest. I love you-" she said using the tip of her finger to tip Hopes face up by her chin so she could kiss her forehead before continuing, "and your mother-"
Regina looked over to Emma and smiled adoringly as she lifted her hand to caress Emma's face, "With all of my heart. And since you know what happened to your dad in the battle verses the white witch, I want you to know that he would love you so so much if he were still here. Because even if you didn't have his eyes and smile, you'd still have his soul. And damn it that pirate would never gave up anything without a fight. You'll do great things, just like him, only you'll have us to help you along the way."
Hope smiled and hugged her mama tight, "Thank you mama. I love you."
Emma watched as Regina hugged their daughter back and placed a kiss atop her head. She smiled earning one from Regina as well. Without breaking the hug she leaned over and placed a kiss on Regina's lips. It wasn't sloppy or hesitant, but purposeful and perfect. Regina made her feel whole again after losing Killian, she completed her family and wouldn't change anything about the moment they shared right there and then.
When she pulled away Regina smirked and Emma rolled her eyes as she mouthed, I love you too and joined in on the hug. The power couple cuddled their daughter while she slowly fell asleep in their arms. As Hope'eyes fluttered closed and her soft snores finally filled the room, and the cat laid at their feet, both Regina and Emma knew that although they had met many different versions of their happy endings in the span of their lifetimes they were content with their little family being THEE happy ending.