"Good morning, Babe."
Killian cracked one eye open to see two sparkling green ones looking back at him. His voice came out gravelly and rough as he answered, "Morning, Love." He wrapped his arm around Emma and tugged her against him.
"Be careful. I'm already leaking and I don't want to get you all wet."
"Don't care. Just wanna hold you."
"I gather you can't talk in complete sentences when you first wake up?" she smirked.
"Mmph."
She giggled and reached up to play with the hair at the nape of his neck. "I have to go pump. Getting a night of uninterrupted sleep was nice, but not feeding Allison for all those hours is making me very uncomfortable."
He sighed and tenderly kissed her lips before releasing her. Then he rolled over and plucked his phone off the nightstand. "There's still fifteen minutes left before my alarm is set to go off," he commented.
"I know. I woke up early," Emma said, shuffling toward the door.
He watched her go, then flung an arm across his eyes.
"Hey, Killian?"
"Hmm?" he asked.
"I love you."
He uncovered his eyes and propped himself up on his elbows to see her peeking her head into the doorway with a dazzling smile on her face.
"I love you, too."
"Good! Since you love me so much and we have extra time, could you make chocolate chip pancakes for breakfast? Please?"
"Bloody minx! You know I won't be able to say no to that!"
She giggled. "That was the plan!"
He threw the covers off and leaped out of bed. When she realized what he was intending to do, she let out a squeal and took off running through the living room. Just as she got to the hallway, he caught up to her and grabbed her around the waist.
He began rubbing his scruffy chin into the crease of her neck, causing her to burst into a fit of giggles.
"K-Killian! S-stop!" she gasped between peals of laughter.
He chuckled and placed a kiss where his beard had left her skin slightly red. "I'll get breakfast ready, Your Highness!" he teased, then lightly slapped her ass.
She yelped and threw a grin over her shoulder at him before continuing on into Alli's bedroom.
Killian shook his head fondly as he called Zeke so he could put him outside, then headed into the kitchen to start the pancake batter.
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"She was as good as gold," Mary Margaret reported, giving Allison a kiss before transferring her into her mother's arms at church later that morning.
"Were you, Alli? Were you as good as gold?" Emma asked, rubbing her nose against her daughter's and earning a toothless grin in return.
"We'll bring the U-Haul by this afternoon to return all her stuff," David joked.
Killian shared a laugh with his friend and they began discussing the soccer game that was going to be on television that afternoon, while Mary Margaret filled Emma in on everything Alli had done during her time with them.
When the pianist started playing the first notes of the prelude, the friends found their usual seats; Mary Margaret and David with her parents, Emma, Killian and Allison with Marco. The elderly man reached out as soon as they were seated and Emma placed Alli in his arms, which had become their routine on Sunday mornings.
Killian interlaced his fingers with Emma's as the band at the front of the church began playing their first song. He recognized it almost immediately and turned to whisper to her, "I think this song was written especially for you, Sweetness." At the questioning look she gave him, he added, "It's called 'Chosen'. Just listen to the lyrics."
Emma listened intently and her eyes began to well up with tears, as she listened to the words that verified how far she had come in her journey of self-worth since she stood on the sidewalk in front of this church nearly eleven months ago.
You sat on the side, and you tried to hide it (in silence, in quiet)
But deep in your heart there's a burning fire
Whoever told you that you're not strong
Today's the day you're gonna prove them wrong
And sing your victory song
After hearing most of the song, Killian began to softly sing the final chorus into her ear:
You're not worthless
You're precious
You're not left out
You're wanted
You're irreplaceable
With your shining soul
Love has spoken
You are chosen
Killian brushed a kiss across her cheek and squeezed her hand. "You are precious and irreplaceable, Love. Don't ever forget that."
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When Emma had applied for her delayed birth certificate months before, October 22nd became her official birthday; so when the beginning of October approached, Killian began subtly trying to find out what she would like for her birthday.
She wasn't really someone who needed a lot of material things. Killian thought that since she grew up with so few possessions of her own, she would want to buy herself clothes, shoes, make-up and other personal belongings, but she was happy with the bare minimum. He knew she would be excited and happy with anything he bought her, but he wanted it to be something special.
One evening, as they sat watching a documentary about whales, Emma sighed. "That looks so beautiful."
"The whales?"
"No...well yeah, but I was talking about the ocean."
"Have you never seen the ocean, Sweetness?"
"All of my foster placements were in the middle of the country. I was actually on my way to the coast when I got...um...sidetracked, so I didn't make it there."
And just like that, he knew what to give Emma for her birthday.
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When they volunteered at the church on the third Saturday in October, Mary Margaret surprised Emma with a birthday cake.
"It looks delicious M's, but you didn't need to go through all of that trouble," Emma protested mildly, but was unable to keep from smiling.
"It was no trouble! You have to have a birthday cake, after all!"
Emma didn't tell her that she could count on one hand how many cakes she'd had for her birthday in her lifetime.
After they finished the inventory of the food pantry and the guys completed some yard work, the four friends met together to share the cake. Allison sat on her mom's lap and pounded her hand on the table as Emma blew out the two candles which were in the shape of a two and a zero, then Mary Margaret cut them all generous slices of the chocolate cake.
"Thank you very much, M's! That's the best cake I've ever eaten!" Emma exclaimed, once they had cleaned every crumb off their plates.
"Time for gifts!" Mary Margaret sing-songed. She handed Emma a wrapped package with a card attached. "Open the present first."
Emma looked between Mary Margaret and David, conveying her appreciation with a smile, then handed Allison to Killian before she began peeling off the paper. "Oh, it's beautiful!" she gushed, when she lifted the lid of the box and saw a coral colored, light-weight sweater with pearl buttons.
"I thought the color would look perfect on you," Mary Margaret said.
"Everything looks perfect on her," Killian said, draping his arm across her shoulders and pressing a kiss to her temple.
A pretty blush crept into Emma's cheeks as she bumped her shoulder into her boyfriend's.
"Now the card," Mary Margaret encouraged, "but before you open it, I want to explain that what's inside is actually more for us than for you." She shared a secretive look with David.
"O-kay," Emma responded uncertainly. She lifted the flap of the envelope and slid the card out. After reading the front, she opened it and a slip of paper fluttered out onto the table. She read the sentiment inside and thanked her friends, then picked up the paper and scanned it.
"Are you serious?" she asked excitedly.
"Absolutely," Mary Margaret assured her. "You've become like a sister to me and there's nobody else I want to have standing beside me on my wedding day - besides David, that is!"
Killian had a pretty good idea of what the paper said, but when Emma dropped it on the table to get up and hug Mary Margaret, he read it for himself.
Will you be my maid of honor?
He grinned at Emma. "I hear the best man is a nice guy. Perhaps you can be his date for the wedding!"
"I don't know. My hot boyfriend might object to that!" she shot back.
The friends shared a laugh, then Killian pulled a gift from under the table and handed it to Emma.
"My birthday isn't even until next Friday," she objected.
"Aye, but you're going to need this before then."
Now very curious, she ripped the brightly colored paper from the box. Inside, she found an emerald green swimsuit with a matching cover-up, along with a beach towel.
She looked at Killian quizzically. "Why do I need a swimsuit?"
"Because we're going to the coast where I've rented a beach condo for your birthday. You're finally going to see the ocean, Love."
Her jaw dropped and it took her half a minute before she managed to say, "Oh, Killian, thank you! But you didn't have to do that! It's too much!"
"Nothing is too much for you, my love. It's only for a few days. We'll drive there on Thursday after I get home from work, and stay until Sunday."
"All weekend? But what if Granny…"
"I already talked to her about requesting the time off for you and she was happy to oblige."
"What about Alli?"
"She's coming with us. I want it to be the first time she sees the ocean, too."
"I'm glad we won't have to be away from her, but she's only three-and-a-half months old. She won't even remember it."
"We'll take lots of pictures to help her remember. The temperatures will probably be in the 70's, so the ocean might be a bit chilly, but there's a heated pool near the condo where we can swim. What do you say, Swan? Three days of relaxation, the view of the ocean, and the sound of the waves?"
"It sounds amazing, Babe. Thank you so much!" She reached over to give him a hug and brushed her lips across his.
"You're going to love it, Emma! The beach is one of my favorite places!" Mary Margaret said.
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Zeke had become very fond of Marco during his many visits to see Allison, so when Killian told their friend about the trip he had planned for Emma, he volunteered to keep the dog at his house while they were gone. It had been years since the dog he and his wife owned died, so he was looking forward to having a canine companion for a few days.
Killian took Zeke over on Wednesday evening and was happy to see how comfortable he appeared to be in Marco's house and the fenced-in backyard.
"Don't worry about him at all. He and I will get along just fine, won't we, Mr. Zeke?" Marco said, petting the dog's head. Zeke leaned against the elderly man's legs and swished his tail.
Killian and Emma loaded their bags and most of Alli's things, including a portable crib and her swing, in the car after he returned from Marco's.
"We won't have to take her sound machine since she'll have the sound of the ocean to lull her to sleep," Killian observed.
By Thursday afternoon, Emma was giddy with excitement. When Killian got home from work, he changed clothes and they ate a quick dinner, before strapping Allison into her car seat and heading out. They arrived too late to see the ocean, so they unloaded the car, and went straight to bed.
Killian knew he would always remember the look of wonder on his girlfriend's face when she got her first glimpse of the ocean as the sun rose over it on the morning of her birthday.
They spent the weekend taking long walks along the beach, dipping Alli's toes into the frothy water, swimming in the heated pool, and making love with the sound of the waves in the background.
Emma was sure her twentieth year of life was going to be the best she ever had.
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On the anniversary of the first day Emma came to the church and met everyone, Eva and Leo babysat Allison while Emma and Killian went on a double date with Mary Margaret and David. Much of their conversation centered on wedding plan updates and the upcoming holidays.
"How long will your brother and his family be here, Killian?" Mary Margaret asked.
"Five days. They're leaving to go back the day after Christmas."
Mary Margaret noticed that Emma was biting her lip and pushing her food around her plate with her fork. "Are you nervous about meeting them?" she asked. "I thought you had everything worked out with Liam."
Emma glanced at Killian, then cleared her throat. "We've been getting along really well during the Facetime calls, but...seeing him in person might be...a different story."
Killian hadn't realized she'd been having those thoughts. He took her hand and gave it a squeeze. "He's going to love you, Sweetness. What's not to love?"
She shrugged. "I don't know. I just hope he doesn't find something."
Killian could tell Emma was anxious as she paced around the airport, waiting for Liam, Rose and Declan to arrive, but he knew telling her not to worry wasn't going to change anything. The only thing that would set her mind at ease was actually meeting his brother in person.
When he received Liam's text letting him know they made it through customs, Killian stood up and shifted a fussy Allison to his shoulder, while wrapping his arm around Emma's waist. "Relax, Love. You're meeting my brother, not an executioner."
She blew out a nervous breath and looked at him out of the corner of her eye. "I hope he doesn't hate me."
"Just be your wonderful, beautiful self and there's no way he will be able to hate you."
Soon Killian saw his family as they finally made their way toward the waiting area, dragging their luggage behind them. Declan caught sight of his uncle and struggled to escape his father's arms, so Liam set him down with a chuckle and watched him sprint across the floor. Killian transferred Alli to Emma's arms and squatted down to catch his nephew when he launched himself at him.
Rose immediately went to Emma, who passed the baby to the other woman; while Liam and Killian shared a brotherly hug with Declan sandwiched between them.
After several minutes of Rose fawning over Allison and the brothers catching up a bit, Killian moved to hug his sister-in-law, leaving Emma to shift nervously from foot-to-foot.
Liam approached her with a smile. "Hello, Emma. It's a pleasure to meet you face-to-face."
"Hi, Liam. I'm very glad to meet you, too." She tentatively extended her hand, but Liam wrapped her in a warm hug instead.
Emma peeked around his arm and saw a huge smile on Killian's face.
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After Liam picked up their rental car, growling about how the 'bloody thing' had the steering wheel on the wrong side, the group stopped at a restaurant for an early dinner. The conversation flowed freely, and the longer Emma was around Killian's brother, the more comfortable she became.
Liam, Rose and Declan checked into their hotel for the night, needing some sleep after the long flight from Ireland. Before everyone bid each other goodnight, they made plans to go to Killian and Emma's house for breakfast in the morning.
"That went well, don't you think?" Killian asked, reaching to take Emma's hand as he drove through the city streets.
"Yeah, it went much better than I thought it would. Rose is very sweet and Declan is a fireball! I'm really relieved that Liam seems very sincere about accepting me."
"I think it impressed him when you stood up for yourself that day. In case I haven't told you before, I was very proud of you."
"I still can't believe I did that. It just goes to show how much you've changed my life, Babe. A year ago, I never would've been able to do something like that."
"You've changed your life, Love. I've just been blessed enough to be part of it!"
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The two families spent nearly every minute of the next four days together. The day after Liam, Rose and Declan arrived, they all went to a tree farm to select and cut down a Christmas tree, which led to many comical moments when Killian attempted to set it up in their living room, while Liam gave contradictory directions.
"It needs to go to the left a few inches. No, back to the right. Okay, it's leaning toward the wall now. Can you turn it halfway around? There's a bare spot in the front."
"Bloody hell, Liam!" Killian exclaimed, forgetting about having young, impressionable ears in the room. "Why don't YOU try to set it in the tree stand?"
"It's not MY Christmas tree, brother! I wouldn't want to take that pleasure away from you."
"Pleasure my a-..."
"Killian!" Emma warned, nodding her head toward Declan who was raptly watching the exchange between his father and uncle.
Finally, when the tree was set, everyone pitched in to decorate, while listening to Christmas music, munching on gingerbread cookies Rose and Emma had made, and drinking hot chocolate.
On Christmas Eve, they attended the children's service at church. As Emma sat with Allison on her lap, she couldn't help remembering the previous year's service when she had made the decision to keep her baby. She couldn't imagine life without her daughter now, and when she looked to her right and caught her boyfriend's eye, somehow she knew he was thinking the same thing.
She also remembered Killian telling her he realized he was in love with her at the Christmas Eve service the year before. She still had a hard time believing that such an amazing man had fallen in love with her. It didn't matter what gifts she might find beneath their tree in the morning; she already knew the best gifts she would ever receive were the blonde cherub on her lap and the man who had his arm wrapped around her shoulders.
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Christmas morning was a loud and raucous event. Liam and his family arrived before seven o'clock AM, with Declan loudly declaring numerous times "Happy Christmas" at the top of his lungs. They got him settled down enough to eat a breakfast of freshly baked cinnamon rolls and orange juice before he dove into the pile of presents.
Emma could not imagine a better Christmas than the one they had that day. Declan was thrilled with his new toys and books, Zeke got new bones to chew on and all the attention he could stand, and Allison was enthralled with all the activity going on around her.
After all the presents were opened, Rose and Liam announced that by the next Christmas, they would be parents again, and the room exploded with noise. When Killian congratulated his brother with a hug, Liam confided, "I hope if it's a little lass, I'll have as wonderful a relationship with her as you do with your daughter."
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Emma's nervousness about being around Liam had completely disappeared and she had grown to love him, Rose and Declan. Everyone dreaded them leaving, so when they said their goodbyes at the airport, many tears were shed and the hugs lasted for several minutes.
Just before they had to depart, Liam pulled Emma in for a firm hug. "Thank you, lass, for being part of my brother's life. I've never seen him this happy. You and Allison are the best things that have ever happened to him."
"Thank you, Liam - that means a lot to me. I love Killian and would never do anything to hurt him."
Liam finally ended the hug so he could look Emma in the eye. "I know. I've seen more than enough evidence of that while we've been here."
She smiled and he leaned in to kiss her on the cheek.
After some final waves, Killian and Emma watched Liam, Rose and Declan disappear into the terminal. Killian sighed and Emma turned toward him, wiping the tears from her face.
"I miss them already," he said sadly.
"Me, too," she agreed.
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As the weeks of the New Year passed, Allison seemed to grow and change faster every day. She was able to sit up on her own and babbled constantly. Her downy hair was beginning to thicken and it was apparent that it was going to be just as blonde as her mother's. The only thing she seemed to have inherited from her biological father were her chocolate brown eyes, which inspired Killian to dance around the living room with her in his arms, singing "Brown-eyed Girl" while she giggled.
Zeke was the baby's constant companion during the day and throughout the night, when he slept on the floor beside her crib. He patiently endured her grabbing his fur and pulling on his ears, and she emitted full belly laughs when he gave her sloppy kisses across the cheek. On their trips to the dog park, he was very protective of her as she sat in the stroller, making sure other dogs kept their distance from his tiny human.
Emma and Killian decided to have Allison dedicated at church to signify their commitment to raising her in the Christian faith. They met with Reverend Hopper one Saturday, after they completed their volunteer work, to discuss when they wanted the short ceremony to take place.
When they finished, Emma asked Killian to wait in the car with Allison, while she stayed to talk to the pastor. He waited almost ten minutes for her to emerge and get into the car.
"What did you want to talk to him about, Sweetness?" he asked curiously.
"Umm...I kinda want it to be a surprise," she answered. "Is that okay?" She didn't want him to think she was keeping secrets from him.
"Of course it is. Will I find out eventually?"
"You'll find out in two weeks when Allison is dedicated," she assured him.
On that Sunday, Killian stood in front of the altar, holding a squirming Allison in his arms, with Emma standing beside them. Reverend Hopper asked if their intention was to dedicate Allison Hope Swan to the church and raise her in the Christian faith, which they affirmed. Then he asked the congregation if they were willing to aid in Allison's Christian upbringing by welcoming her into the church family and helping to guide her in her faith. This question was also met with a resounding yes.
The pastor gave the little family a special blessing and Killian turned to begin heading back to their seat, but Emma gave a slight tug on his shirt sleeve, stopping his progress. He looked at her with a raised brow, wondering why she was still standing beside Reverend Hopper.
The pastor gave her a beaming smile before once again addressing the congregation. "Emma Swan talked to me the other day, expressing her intent to become a follower of Christ, by accepting His gift of salvation. She also asked if I would allow her to address the congregation, which I am very happy to do."
He unclipped the microphone from his lapel and handed it to Emma to use. She looked over at Killian, who was wearing a wide, proud smile. He nodded at her encouragingly and she cleared her throat to begin speaking.
"Um, a year-and-a-half ago, I was told that I could come to this church to find help. I had no family, no friends, and no home. I expected judgment and maybe, if I was lucky, a quick handout of food, before I was sent on my way. What I hadn't expected was for all of you to give me far more. You gave me compassion, shelter, friendship, acceptance and love," she glanced at Killian again, "when I had nothing to offer in return. You've shown me what being a true Christian means and I'm very proud and honored to be a member of your church family, and now, a fellow believer. I wish I could tell you how much each one of you means to me, but all I can say is thank you."
Rising from his seat, Marco stated, "We love you, dear girl!" and started down the aisle toward her. Emma returned the microphone, then descended the steps to meet him halfway and accept his hug. Soon, Mary Margaret, David, Eva, Leo, and many other members of the congregation joined them, each one embracing Emma and telling her how much she meant to them.
After several minutes, everyone began returning to their seats and Killian joined Emma, with tears shining in his eyes. "I'm so proud of you, Love," he whispered in her ear, once they were seated again.
She squeezed his hand affectionately and gave Allison a kiss on the cheek. Then they turned their attention to Reverend Hopper, preparing to listen to his sermon.
The pastor looked out over his parishioners with a smile on his face. "Thank you, Emma. No sermon I can deliver could be more powerful than what we just heard from you. Let's close our service with the final hymn of the day."
"Do you still think you have nothing to offer?" Killian asked her. She just smiled and opened the hymn book.
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Mary Margaret and David's wedding was on the second Saturday in June. Emma felt like she had fallen into a fairy tale, from the flowers and decorations in the church, to the lacy pink dress she wore as the maid of honor, and the white horse-drawn carriage that whisked the couple away to the reception.
She couldn't help ogling the best man, who was more than handsome in his black tuxedo, complete with pink bow tie and pocket square to match her dress. She kept having to remind herself to pay attention as Mary Margaret, in her gorgeous white wedding gown, married the man of her dreams.
Emma had been hesitant to ask Ruby if she and Peter could take care of Allison during the ceremony, but was pleasantly surprised when her friend readily agreed. Over the last several months, Ruby seemed to become more and more comfortable being around Allison and the baby was always entertained by her 'fun' aunt.
Emma and Killian were both afraid their daughter would cry and become a distraction as Mary Margaret and David exchanged vows, but the only noise she made was shouting "Mama" and "Dada" as she spotted her parents at the front of the church, causing many people to chuckle.
The reception was held afterwards at a nearby venue, which was beautifully and elegantly decorated with flower arrangements in different shades of pink, complete with trailing ivy, and candles inside hurricane glasses sitting on ivory colored tablecloths.
After the toast to the couple, speeches by the maid of honor and best man, and a delicious meal, some of the tables were pushed back to create a dance floor. The strings of fairy lights worked their magic of setting the mood when the lights were dimmed, and everyone watched the new bride and groom share their first dance.
The evening was fun for everyone in attendance as the music played and the drinks flowed. Emma and Killian shared many dances, some with Allison and others by themselves. When the baby fell asleep on Granny's shoulder, they knew it was time to call it a night, so they bid the newlyweds goodbye with smiles and hugs and headed home.
Emma sighed happily as she rode in the car. "It was a wonderful wedding, wasn't it, Babe?"
"Aye, and I'm very happy for them."
"Mary Margaret was the most beautiful bride I have ever seen."
Killian nodded, but couldn't help thinking he could imagine one bride that would be even more beautiful than Mary Margaret.
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"What do you think we should do for Alli's birthday, Love?" Killian asked one evening, a week after the wedding.
Emma looked thoughtful as she twirled a strand of hair around her finger. "I don't…" she paused several seconds before continuing, "You're gonna think I'm a terrible mom."
Killian chuckled. "I highly doubt that! What are you thinking?"
"I'd rather not have a huge party with all the balloons and decorations, where people give her a bunch of presents. I don't want her to grow up thinking she's entitled."
Shifting in his seat, Killian turned to face her. "It sounds like there's a story behind that wish, am I right?"
She shrugged and picked at a fingernail. "I just remember girls coming to school talking about all the stuff they got for their birthday and showing off their new clothes and shoes. They had these huge, blow-out birthday parties that they would talk about for days before and afterwards. Of course, I was never invited because I was always the new girl and the outcast. It didn't matter what school I was in, there were always groups of entitled girls. I don't want Alli to be like them."
He pulled her into his arms and pressed a kiss to the top of her head. "I don't think getting a few presents for her first birthday is going to make our daughter entitled, Sweetness."
"I know, but I don't want to set the precedent, you know? Will you be upset if we don't have a big party for her?"
"No, I'm fine with that, but I do have an idea to run past you."
"Alright, let's hear it."
"I was thinking about taking her to the aquarium and inviting some people to come along - Marco, Dave and Mary Margaret, Ruby and Peter, Granny, and Eva and Leo. I'm sure they would all enjoy spending the day with her and seeing her reaction to everything since it would be her first time there."
"Hmm," Emma considered, "that would be fun! We could still have cake and ice cream for her when we get home, if she's not completely exhausted. I'd love to see what she does with a smash cake!"
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The trip to the aquarium was a huge success. Alli delighted everyone with her excitement over all the sea creatures and penguins. Ruby taught her how to make fish lips and she soon caught on that whenever she did it, she made everyone laugh.
Killian steered Alli's stroller clear of the exhibit with the crocodiles. "Bloody things," he complained. "There's no animal worse than the crocodile, in my opinion."
Afterwards, they had cake and ice cream back at Eva and Leo's house, since Killian and Emma's place was too small. They stripped Allison down to her diaper and gave her the smash cake Eva had made for her. After tentatively dipping her fingers in the frosting and licking them off, the little girl plunged her face into it, causing everyone to cheer and laugh, while Emma teasingly groaned, "I'm gonna be washing icing out of her hair for a week!"
Despite Emma and Killian's request, the guests couldn't resist bringing gifts for Alli. She received several new outfits and some educational toys. Mary Margaret presented her with a package of ten classic fairy tales. "A child can never have too many books," she reasoned, and Emma had to agree. Books had always been her constant friends and a way to escape while she was growing up, and she hoped her daughter developed a love for them, too.
Allison fell asleep on the drive home and didn't even stir when Emma changed her diaper and put on her pajamas. "She's completely worn out," she said, picking her up off the changing table and cuddling her close.
"Aye, but she was such a good girl all day. I think everyone had fun." He put his arm around Emma and leaned in to brush numerous kisses into Alli's blonde curls.
"I can't believe she's already a year old."
"Neither can I. A lot has happened in that year."
Emma gently laid the little one in her crib, pressed a kiss to her own fingers and touched them to Allison's chubby cheek. Then she turned to Killian and wrapped her arms around his neck. "A lot of good things?"
"Some of the best ever," he grinned, before hoisting her up into his arms. "How about you, Swan? Are you completely worn out, too?"
"Maybe not completely," she smirked.
"Ah, then we had better finish the job!" he replied, quickly heading toward their bedroom.
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One Saturday afternoon in early August when Emma was finishing up her shift at the end of the lunch rush, Ruby breezed into the kitchen.
"Someone just came in and sat at table three, Em," she informed her friend.
"Wonderful. Of course they did - right at the last minute," Emma complained. "Killian should be here any minute to pick me up. Can you please take this one?"
"Sorry, I've got a dress fitting for Polly's wedding in a half-an-hour." Peter's sister was getting married in October and Ruby was very excited to be a bridesmaid.
"Fine," Emma sighed. "Hopefully they're just here for a cup of coffee."
When she approached the table, the customer had his head turned looking out the window. "What can I get for you?" she asked, looking down to flip her order pad to the next page.
"Well, lookee who we have here!" a familiar voice said.
Emma's heart started pounding as her eyes shot up to take in Neal Cassidy's smirking face. "N-Neal? Wh-what are you...I thought you were…" she stuttered.
"In jail? I was, for over a year-and-a-half, but with good behavior, overcrowding, being a non-violent offender and all that, they released me sooner than expected. I just got out this morning and decided to get something to eat, before I left this shithole of a town. I never expected to see you still hanging around here. I figured you would've moved on after you got me arrested."
Ruby came back out into the dining room to collect her tip off of a table and heard Emma mention Neal's name. She saw how her friend turned pale and was visibly trembling, heard what Neal was saying to her, and rushed back into the kitchen. Breathlessly, she told Granny, "Emma's ex-douchebag is out there! He got out of jail this morning and stopped in here to eat!"
"If he thinks he's eating here, he's got another think comin'! That scum isn't gonna eat any of MY food!" Granny threw down the washcloth she had been using to wipe down the prep counter and bustled out through the door, closely followed by Leroy and Ruby.
Granny could see how ashen-faced Emma was when she stepped up beside her. "Your name Neal Cassidy?" she asked him bluntly.
"Yeah," he huffed, squinting at her. "What of it?"
"I'm the owner of this diner, and as such, I have the right to refuse service to anyone, so I'm refusin' it to you!"
Just then, the front door swung open and Killian walked in, carrying Allison in his arms. He was surprised to see the group of workers all standing around one table, especially Leroy, who rarely left the confines of the kitchen.
With one glance at his girlfriend's face, he knew something was wrong. As he swiftly moved across the room, he heard Granny's raised voice. "I'm telling you to leave! I won't allow someone who treated Emma the way you did to eat in my restaurant!"
Suddenly, it dawned on Killian who the scruffy-looking guy sitting in the booth had to be. His jaw ticked in anger as he approached the table.
Neal had just opened his mouth to fire back at Granny, when Allison cried out, "Mama!" and held her chubby arms out to Emma.
Neal's eyes swung to the little girl and he pushed himself to his feet to stare at the blonde-haired, brown-eyed baby. Emma held her breath as he perused her, hoping he wouldn't notice any similarities to himself, or be able to figure out how old Alli was and realize she was his biological daughter.
After several tense moments, he turned back toward Emma. "You have a kid?"
Numbly, Emma nodded.
He narrowed his eyes at her. "How old is she?"
"Almost a year," Emma managed to say, thinking quickly to give him a cryptic answer.
His eyes darted over to Killian. "S'pose you're the father, then?" he asked rudely.
"That's right. And I'm assuming you're Cassidy? Aren't you supposed to be locked up?"
"I've done my time," Neal growled angrily. "Thanks to this bitch!"
Killian turned toward Ruby, who immediately rushed to take Allison out of his arms. Then he aggressively stepped forward until he was in Neal's space and stared at him menacingly. "You will NOT talk about Emma like that!" he forced out through gritted teeth.
Despite the fact he was surrounded by people who clearly cared for Emma, Neal didn't back down. Instead, he poked Killian in the chest with his index finger as he snarled, "I can talk about her however I want! It's her fault I ended up in jail! She was stupid enough to…"
He didn't get to finish his sentence. Killian's fist came out of nowhere to land squarely on Neal's left jaw, sending him stumbling backwards several steps before he hit the floor. He sat there dazed and rubbing his jaw for several seconds before he glared up at Killian.
"You're gonna regret that! I'll have you arrested for assault!"
"Oh, no you won't!" Granny exploded. "It happened on my property. Besides, there aren't any witnesses to back up your story!"
"No witnesses?" Neal spluttered, as he struggled to his feet. "There's a whole room full of witnesses!"
"I didn't see anything," Leroy growled. "Did anybody else?"
Ruby and Granny shook their heads firmly, while staring daggers at Neal.
Killian once again stepped close to him with his fists still clenched. "GET OUT!" he commanded.
Neal swallowed hard before throwing up his hands and saying, "Fine! I wouldn't want to eat anything in this dump anyway, especially not with who's serving the slop!"
He sidestepped around Killian, who turned to put himself between Emma and Cassidy, but Neal didn't look back as he slunk out the door.
Killian followed him for a few steps to make sure he left, then turned back to Emma. Her wobbly legs had given out and she was slumped in a booth with her head in her hands. He rushed over to kneel in front of her, gripping her upper arms and peering into her face.
"Are you alright, Love?" he asked, with concern evident in his voice.
"Yeah, I just...I wasn't prepared to see him," she answered shakily.
"Mama!" Alli crowed, stretching her arms out toward Emma once again.
"Come here, Baby," her mother said, and Ruby set her on the floor. Killian scooted off to the side of the booth as the little girl toddled over to them, and as soon as she got near enough, Emma picked her up and cuddled her close.
Seeing that Killian was there to take care of her, Ruby, Granny and Leroy returned to the kitchen.
Emma soaked up Allison's sweet hug as Killian rubbed his hand soothingly up and down his girlfriend's back. "That was fast thinking, telling him Alli is almost a year old."
"I'm glad he doesn't know much about babies and isn't good at math. I just didn't want him to figure out…"
"Don't say it, Love," he protested, "Allison is OUR daughter!"
"I know," she reassured him.
As if to reiterate the point, Alli turned and patted her little hand against his cheek. "Muh dada!"
"That's right, mo stoirin, and don't let anyone tell you differently."
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Later that night, Killian lay looking up at the ceiling long after he should have been sleeping. Beside him, Emma tossed and turned, not having much luck falling asleep, either. Finally, she flopped onto her side to face him and huffed, "Are you awake, Babe?"
"Aye."
"What's wrong?"
"Just...thinking."
"About...Neal?" she asked hesitantly, not really wanting to say the name.
"In a way, I guess."
"Am I going to have to drag it out of you a few words at a time?"
He blew out a heavy sigh and turned his head to look at her. "I want Allison to be my daughter."
"She is your daughter in every way that counts, Killian. She always has been and always will be."
He reached up to brush his fingers through her hair. "But I don't ever want anyone to question that she's mine, Emma. I...I want to adopt her."
She pushed herself onto her elbow with a hint of a smile beginning to form. "What do we have to do for you to adopt her?"
"I'm not sure, but I'm going to look into it, if it's okay with you."
She leaned down to fuse her lips to his. "I can't imagine anything being more okay than that."
He grinned and pulled her back for another kiss. "How do you think it sounds - Allison Hope Swan Jones?"
"That's a big name for a little girl, don't you think? Maybe we should drop 'Swan'."
"She'll grow into it. I've heard of people having more than one middle name and I think she should keep it, since it has special significance."
Emma tilted her head and gave him a soft smile. "I'm fine with that if it's what you want."
"It is, and do you know what else I want right now?" he asked, nuzzling into the crook of her neck.
"What?" she giggled, dragging her nails down his back in a way she knew drove him crazy.
He pretended to yawn dramatically. "Sleep. I definitely want sleep," he teased.
She pounced on him, causing him to bark out a laugh. "Just for that, buster, I might not let you get any sleep at all tonight!"
He ran his hands up inside her shirt to squeeze and caress her breasts, pleased he no longer had to be cautious since she'd stopped breastfeeding Alli a couple of months ago. "I think I can live without sleep, my love."
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Killian had been mulling over two important decisions for several weeks. The first was his intention to adopt Allison; and now that he had discussed that idea with Emma, his mind turned to the second, trying to formulate how he was going to approach it.
It was the middle of September by the time everything was in place for his plan. After dinner one evening, he suggested that they go to the dog park since the weather was pleasant and both Allison and Zeke were full of energy.
Before they left, he snuck into their bedroom to grab something from the back corner of his closet shelf. After stuffing it down into the front pocket of his jeans, he took several deep breaths to try to calm his nerves and went to join his family.
They went to their favorite corner of the park, where Emma and Killian sat down on a bench, each taking turns throwing a ball for Zeke to fetch. When he brought it back, he would drop it on the ground for Alli to pick up and return to her mom or dad.
Killian waited until Emma was distracted by putting a sweater on Allison to pull the box out of his pocket. The next time the little girl toddled over with the ball and handed it to Killian, he gave her the box and quietly instructed, "Give this to Mama."
Alli did as she was told, impatiently tapping the box on Emma's knee while she was busy petting Zeke. When she looked over to take the ball, her eyes grew wide as she took in the small, dark blue velvet box. With a trembling hand, she took it from Alli.
Emma glanced over at Killian, who was watching her intently. Then she directed her attention back to the box and slowly opened it, revealing the Princess-cut diamond solitaire ring with a white gold band.
Tears were already sliding down her cheeks by the time she felt his fingers under her chin, encouraging her to look at him. He was down on one knee in front of her with a slightly nervous smile on his face. "Emma Swan, when we first met, you were lost and looking for a home, but I had no idea your heart was destined to become my home. You've changed my life in every way possible, and I always want you to be at the center of it. I love you, Sweetness. Will you marry me?" he asked.
Nodding emphatically, she threw her arms around his neck, managing to speak past the lump in her throat, "Yes, Killian! Yes, I will marry you!"
They held each other tightly for several long moments, until Allison began patting Emma's teary cheek with a look of concern, repeatedly saying, "Mama! Mama!"
Killian chuckled and reached down to pick her up and set her on his knee with one arm, while keeping the other wrapped around his fiancée.
Zeke shoved his nose between Killian and Emma, demanding attention for himself. Killian laughed and leaned his forehead against Emma's. "Are you absolutely sure you want to commit yourself to this craziness for the rest of your life?"
"Without a single doubt in my mind!" she answered immediately. "I love you, Killian Jones!"
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After a couple of rounds of celebrating that night, they lay tangled together, each lost in their own thoughts.
"Do you have any idea what kind of wedding you want to have, Love?"
"Not really."
"Would you like for it to be something like M's and David's?"
"Mmm...I don't think so. I mean, their wedding was perfect for them, but…" her voice trailed off.
"I thought all little girls dreamed about their wedding day."
"Not me. I just dreamed about having a family."
The hand Killian had been stroking up and down her back stilled. It was moments like this which reminded him that, even though the life they had together was extremely happy, her life prior to meeting him was filled with uncertainty and sadness. He pulled her against him more tightly and rained kisses down upon her head.
"And now you have one, and you always will, my love."
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In the end, they decided to have a simple ceremony immediately following the church service on the Sunday before Thanksgiving, so that all the members of the small congregation could be included. The ceremony would be followed by a reception in the community room afterwards, similar to their monthly social hour carry-in, but with wedding cake, music and dancing added.
Emma told Killian she would wear one of the dresses she already had and didn't need to buy a wedding dress, but he recognized the look of longing in her eyes as she said it and insisted that she go shopping with Mary Margaret to find one. When she continued to balk, he enlisted Mary Margaret's help to talk her into it.
Three weeks before the wedding, Killian had a 'Daddy and Me' day with Allison at the local YMCA, while Mary Margaret took Emma to several dress shops. By the time they entered the fourth one, Emma was beginning to get discouraged. All of the dresses she had looked at so far were either too elaborate, too expensive, or both.
"You'll know it when you see it," Mary Margaret encouraged her. "Remember how it was for me when I was looking for my wedding gown? I must have tried on two dozen dresses before I found the perfect one."
"But that was so much fun!" Emma exclaimed. "And we all knew it was meant for you as soon as you came out with it on."
Mary Margaret giggled happily at the memory as she sorted through a rack of dresses. "Exactly! Oh, Emma! Look at this one!" She pulled out an ivory sleeveless dress with a sweetheart neckline. It featured a pale peach sash around the waist, and had a flared, tea-length skirt. "Isn't it pretty?"
Emma looked at it approvingly, then bit her lip as she reached for the price tag. "It's within my budget, too!" she proclaimed happily.
"Try it on!" Mary Margaret encouraged, thrusting the hanger into her friend's hand.
As soon as Emma put it on and looked in the mirror, she knew it was the one, and when she stepped out of the dressing room, Mary Margaret agreed wholeheartedly.
Emma went home with the dress in a garment bag, a beaming smile on her face, and a heart full of excitement for the big day.
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Mary Margaret was thrilled when Emma asked her to be her matron of honor. Emma and Killian bought a frilly dress for Alli and had a little bouquet of flowers made for her to carry that matched Emma's, so she could be their flower girl.
Killian wanted Liam to be his best man, but knew it might not be possible. However, Liam, Rose, Declan and baby Sinead were able to fly in two days before the wedding, and planned to stay long enough to celebrate Thanksgiving, too. Since it was an American holiday, Liam and Rose had never observed it before and were eager to share two very special days with Killian, Emma and Allison during their visit.
Emma and Killian decided not to go away on a honeymoon, because they were saving money to visit Liam and his family the following Spring.
On the day of the ceremony, Emma and Killian both expected to be nervous, but as they sat with their hands intertwined and sharing smiles with each other during the church service, all they felt was happiness and anticipation.
Once the service was over, Mary Margaret helped Emma change into her dress in the church office, then met Marco, who was entertaining Allison at the back of the sanctuary. Mary Margaret nodded to the pianist, who began playing the processional.
After giving Emma a quick hug, Mary Margaret started down the aisle. When she was halfway to the front, Emma encouraged Allison to follow her, but the little girl wouldn't move until she saw Killian squatting down at the end with his arms open wide. She took off running as fast as her chubby legs could carry her, shouting, "Papa! Papa!", much to the delight of the whole congregation. Killian swung her up into his arms and hugged her tightly before handing her off to Liam, then turned back to look up the aisle.
"Are you ready, dear girl?" asked Marco, whom Emma had asked to perform the role of the father of the bride.
"Very ready," she answered. She wrapped her arms around him for a warm hug, before stepping back to take his offered arm.
Killian found it difficult to breathe as he watched Emma proceeding down the aisle. He took in the beautiful dress she had insisted on hiding from him until their wedding day, and the bouquet of peach and white flowers she carried, which were artfully arranged in the shape of a heart, accented with blue ribbons. Her hair was pulled back into a French braid, which she knew he loved, and the dazzling smile she wore never wavered as she confidently made her way toward him.
Despite the fact they had been living in the same house for nearly two years and had been sharing a bedroom for several months, he knew the next ten minutes would change his life forever. He had heard of people having second thoughts in the last moments before saying their vows, but he could hardly wait for the gorgeous woman approaching him to become his wife.
Emma kept her eyes on her handsome groom the entire way down the aisle. He was smartly dressed in a dark gray suit, crisp white shirt and blue and gray tie with a subtle paisley design. His scruff was neatly trimmed and his brilliant blue eyes twinkled as his smile lit up his face.
When they reached the front, Marco shook hands with Killian, then took Emma's hand and joined it with her groom's. "Be good to each other," he told them with a warm smile, gave Emma a kiss on the cheek, and took a seat.
The couple turned to face Reverend Hopper, who smiled broadly at both of them before beginning the ceremony. The guests looked on in hushed reverence as the couple they had watched fall in love pledged their trust, fidelity and love to one another for all eternity.
Once their traditional vows were exchanged, the pastor pronounced them husband and wife and they shared their first kiss, as their family and friends rose to their feet to applaud. After reluctantly ending the kiss, Killian lifted his bride and spun her around out of sheer joy, while she giggled and clung to him.
The recessional music began and the newly married couple led the way to the community room. Mary Margaret and Liam each spoke a few words honoring the bride and groom, Reverend Hopper gave the blessing, and everyone enjoyed the meal provided by Granny, who catered it as her wedding gift to the couple.
After taking time to mingle and accept congratulations while the remaining food was cleared away and the tables cleaned, Emma and Killian moved to the center of the room to share their first dance to the song "When God Made You".
Emma always loved to listen to Killian when he sang, but this time, she was the one singing the meaningful lyrics in his ear as they held each other close:
I wonder what God was thinking
When He created you
I wonder if He knew everything I would need
Because He made all my dreams come true
When God made you
He must have been thinking about me
"Thank you for making my dreams come true, Killian," she whispered as the song came to an end.
"You are my dream, Sweetness. I'll love you forever."
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Seven-and-a-half months later
Emma stood in the doorway of Allison's bedroom, listening to Killian read their daughter one of the new books she received that afternoon for her second birthday, while Zeke laid at his feet. Her heart was nearly bursting with all the love she felt in that moment.
The months since their wedding had been filled with adventures and quiet moments, happiness and challenges.
They celebrated their third Christmas together, Killian's twenty-sixth birthday in January, and the week after Valentine's Day, they managed to enjoy a weekend getaway, while Mary Margaret and David kept Allison.
They also celebrated the engagements of Ruby and Peter, as well as Belle and Will. Emma was very happy when Ashley, Thomas, Alexandra and little Tommy began attending Killian and Emma's church, giving her the opportunity to see her friends more often.
Liam, Rose, Declan and Sinead hosted Emma, Killian and Allison for a week in April when they traveled to Ireland, leaving Zeke with Marco, who thoroughly enjoyed having his company.
In May, Granny made Emma assistant manager of the restaurant. Because of the added responsibilities, she no longer waitressed, but she had to work more hours each week. She and Killian were happy for the added income since they decided to start saving for a downpayment on a larger house in the suburbs, where it would be safer and quieter.
At the end of May, Mary Margaret and David announced that they were expecting a baby, due on Christmas Day. Two months after the announcement, they hosted a party at their new house to reveal the gender by releasing blue balloons into the air.
Killian's adoption of Allison was finalized in early June, which they celebrated by going to the zoo. Allison Hope Swan Jones was a precocious, strong-willed, sweet, sassy and caring little girl who was loved by everyone who knew her. She seemed to grow bigger, smarter and more creative with every passing day, and kept her parents on their toes as they tried to stay two steps ahead of her.
Emma still struggled with self-worth at times, but hearing Allison's giggles as she rode on the back of her daddy while he pretended to be a horse, with Zeke barking happily beside them, gave her all the confirmation she needed that she had a place where she belonged. The seeds of trust her friends had sown flourished, and Emma no longer wondered if she mattered.
Seeing that Allison had fallen asleep during her bedtime story, Emma crossed the room to stand beside her husband, running her fingers through his hair as he continued to rock their daughter.
"And they lived happily ever after," he finished, before closing the book and turning to press his lips to his wife's slightly swollen belly, which held their son.
She bent to kiss Allison's blonde curls and Killian's lips, then whispered, "Yes, they did."
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