Killian woke up slowly, his arm instinctively searching for Emma next to him. He sighed when he felt that her side of the bed was cold noticing how early it was. He pulled a shirt over his head and grabbed his glasses before going to look for her.
When he found his wife, she was sitting on their porch swing, their eighteen month old son curled up sound asleep against her chest and their fifteen year old against her side. He assumed Alice was still asleep in her room as he came to settle on Emma's open side.
She immediately leaned against him. "Hey.."
Killian kissed her hair. "Good morning, Love.. Good morning, Addie.." He smiled at their daughter. "Everything okay?"
"Yeah, Addie couldn't sleep so we came out here, and when I was checking on Luke and Alice this little man was awake so I brought him with us." Emma shrugged.
Emma and Killian had officially adopted Addie only recently, and she was still getting used to being an official part of their family. She often felt like they had their own kids and didn't need her making their lives more difficult.
"How about I take Luke back to his bed, and then I make my girls some hot chocolate? And I'll check on Alice again as well." Killian asked, wanting to give her and Emma some time alone to talk.
Addie nodded. "I'd.. I'd like that." She snuggled into Emma's hug after Killian took Luke. She closed her eyes when she felt Killian kiss the top of her head. She was still getting used to having a father figure who was gentle with her.
After putting Luke back in his room, Killian checked in on Alice. The five year old was still sleeping, holding her stuffed duck tightly to her chest. Killian knew that Addie had an easier time trusting Emma than she did him, and he could tell that there was something on her mind, keeping her awake.
After a few minutes they came back into the house, Emma glancing at the clock as she wrapped her arms around his waist. It wasn't even five a.m. and she was exhausted, but she was glad Addie had trusted her enough to talk.
"Alright, Lass, here you are.. Whipped cream and cinnamon like Emma?"
Addie nodded. "Um, yes please.. Thank you, Killian." She said sheepishly, taking the cup when he offered it.
"It's my pleasure, Love.. Now, would you like to watch a movie or should we just sit here in silence drinking our drinks?"
"Can we.. Can we watch a movie? Maybe Peter Pan?" Addie bit her lip, she knew of Killian's disdain for the film and was nervous he'd get upset.
Killian smiled a little. "That sounds perfect, Love. I'd be honored to watch Peter Pan with you." He knew Peter Pan was Addie's favorite movie, and no matter how he feels he'd do anything so that she knows he cares for her.
Addie grinned and headed to get the movie set up. Emma pressed a kiss to Killian's chest.
"She's still having trouble adjusting.. You know she's still unsure of you with her history of foster dads, but she's trying. Be patient for me?" Emma asked softly.
He nodded. "Aye, Love. I understand, and I promise I'm not going to give up on her.. I want her to see me as her dad, but if I'm always just 'Killian'.. That's okay too."
"I love you.." She whispered, startling a little when he leaned down to kiss her. She pulled back with a smile. "I like when you wear these glasses, even if you only have them because you're old.." She teased.
He laughed softly. "Aye, I know.. I'm glad you still find me devilishly handsome, Love.."
Killian settled between Emma and Addie on the couch, Emma immediately curling against him. During the movie, Addie ended up with her head on his lap, falling asleep about halfway through. Killian ran his stump over her arm gently.
Alice came out of her room, rubbing her eyes tiredly and Emma got up and brought Luke back to them when she heard him on the monitor. Killian switched the tv to something that would keep him occupied, while Alice had taken Emma's spot on Killian's available side, cuddled against him.
Watching Killian with two of their three kids, Emma couldn't believe she was standing there. After her miscarriage Emma never thought she'd be remarried to Killian, with three kids and blissfully happy together.
They both still struggled with being parents and doing the best they could for themselves, each other and their kids, but they were together, their kids were happy and never wanted for anything.
Emma had always wanted to adopt, and after meeting Addie, she and Killian knew that Addie was supposed to be their daughter. She was fourteen, and broken, but she had an immediate connection with Emma. At first Addie had been unsure of Killian, never having a male figure who treated her well, but Killian was gentle and patient with her, proving to be different from what the young girl had known.
Addie was a natural big sister, and Alice adored her. Emma and Killian made sure Addie knew they didn't just expect her to help with the kids, but that when she was comfortable they wanted her to have a relationship with Alice and Luke.
Addie woke up a little disoriented, Killian's stump still running absently up and down her back. She jumped a little, pulling away from Killian suddenly. She curled up into the corner of the couch.
"I didn't mean to startle you, Lass." Killian apologized. "I was just glad to see you sleeping.."
She bit her lip, glancing to Emma who gave her an encouraging smile. "It's.. It's okay.. Sorry I jumped. Can I.. Can I?" She scooted closer to him again.
"Aye, of course." He held his arm out to her and she cuddled back with him.
Emma gave him a smile. She knew this was a big moment for Killian, could see the happy tears in his eyes. He leaned down and pressed a kiss to Addie's hair.
"I'm going to make breakfast, would you like to help me, Al?" Emma asked Alice.
The little girl grinned. "Yeah, can we make waffles?"
Emma let Killian tell Luke good morning before she took him and Alice to make breakfast for them all. Addie stayed with her head on Killian's shoulder, she nervously messed with the hem of her shirt.
"Um, Killian?" She asked softly.
"Aye, Lass?" He asked softly, looking down at her.
Addie bit her lip nervously. "I um.. I just wanted to.. Thank you.." She said softly.
Killian shifted so he could meet her eyes properly. "What are you thanking me for, Addie?"
She shrugged. "Just, being here, I guess? I've never had a good dad, and I'm sorry I got scared earlier.. I thought you'd be mad that I fell asleep on you.."
He slowly brushed some hair behind her ear. "Well, you're welcome and I'm not going anywhere, Lass. Emma and I know that this is still new, and while I'd love for you to consider me your father, I understand that this isn't easy. And if you're only comfortable with Emma, I'm not going to be upset, but you're as much my daughter now as Alice is, aye?"
Addie nodded a little. "Okay.. When I was talking to Emma this morning, she said that maybe we could paint my room?"
"Aye, Lass, of course." Killian and Emma had decorated the room when they decided to adopt Addie, with the hope that one day when she felt settled enough she'd want to change it so she felt comfortable.
"It's fine if I can't, I just.. It doesn't feel right, and Emma thought it might be good for me?"
"It's a brilliant idea, Addie. It's your room, and we want it to feel comfortable and like it's your space. We didn't do too much in there before you moved in with us because we wanted you to be able to change it when you felt comfortable enough here."
She grinned and wrapped her arms around his neck, hugging him tightly. "Thank you." She whispered.
Emma let Killian and Addie use the time repainting and redecorating her room as bonding time over the next few weeks. She knew how much Killian loved Addie, and wanted them to have the chance to strengthen their relationship on their own.
Each day they spent working, Addie became more comfortable in the house and with Killian. He spent time telling her stories of his childhood with Liam and their mother, and listening to her talk about her interests.
Emma watched from the porch as Killian kicked a ball around the yard with all three of their kids. Addie was helping Luke since he was so little.
"Pass us the ball, Dad!" Addie called, holding onto Luke's hands to keep him steady as they played in the yard.
Killian froze briefly when he heard her call him dad. He tried not to let Addie see how it affected him, and gave her and Luke a big smile.
"Aye, Love." He gently kicked the ball towards them, soft enough so Luke wouldn't get hurt.
Addie helped a giggling Luke kick the ball towards Alice, lifting him easily into her arms. Alice stopped the ball and sighed.
"Daddy, I'm thirsty." She looked at him. "Can we get a snack?"
"Aye, Little Love. We can go get a snack." He smiled, heading to Addie to take Luke if she wanted.
Alice ran towards Emma, as Addie shrugged. "I don't mind holding him, Dad.."
He nodded, kissing her forehead. "Alright, Love. I um.. I'll take him if you get tired."
Addie gave him a small smile, she knew that this was the first time she'd called him dad. "Can I ask you something though?"
"Aye, Love, anything."
"It's okay that I called you Dad right?" She bit her lip, one of her nervous habits.
Killian stopped and looked at his daughter, brushing some hair behind her ear. "It's perfect, Darling. I've known that you care about me, and that you're happy here.. But I didn't expect you to want to call me Dad, I know it's difficult."
She shook her head, letting Emma take Luke from her so she could hug Killian. "I mean, Emma's my mom.. And you're my dad.." She shrugged.
Killian held her close for a few minutes. "This makes me so happy, Addie. I've always seen you as one of my girls, and I'm honored for you to think of me as your father. Thank you."
He had tears in his eyes when she looked up at him again. She couldn't help but smile as she let Killian hug her tightly.
"Can you let go now, Dad? I want to get a drink too." Addie asked, giving him a smile.
Killian let her go and he followed her into the house. Emma stopped him by the back door, squeezing his hand with a smile.
"She asked me earlier if it was okay she called you dad.. She started calling me mom, but she was nervous you wouldn't want her to call you that." Emma said softly.
"Well, I'm honored she thinks of me that way." He said softly, wrapping his arms around his wife as they watched Addie get drinks for Alice and Luke. Emma laid her head on his chest contently.
"Did you ever think we'd be here, Killian?" She asked softly.
He ran his hand over her side gently. "Honestly, Swan, I thought I'd ruined every chance I had with you, or to have a family.. But I'm a lucky lad that you gave me a second chance." He nudged her to turn in his arms so he could kiss her.
Emma cupped his cheek. "I love you, Killian.. I don't always know what I'm doing, but I know that with you everything will be okay.."
"I love you too, Emma Swan-Jones. We'll get through anything that comes at us together. As a family.."