Hey! I'm actually kind of on time with a new chapter! Yay! Anyway, this chapter is based two-ish years after the series finale.

Thank you for all the favorites, follows, and reviews!

Growing

"Swan, are you— Hello, love."

Emma looked up from her place on their bed, her fingers freezing on the stitched flowers of the tiny shirt in her lap. "Hi. How was work?"

"All right. Quiet, as usual. Is Hope asleep?" He shut their bedroom door and tossed his jacket on the chair in the corner.

"Yeah. She went down quickly."

"Now, that's unusual." He smiled and crawled onto the bed next to her. He kissed her temple and rested his head on her shoulder, hand going to the baby shirt Emma held. "How was your day?"

"Fine."

He lifted his head when he heard the slight hitch in her voice. "Did something happen?"

She shook her head. "Nope."

"What's wrong, then?" He pushed himself up and laced their fingers together. "Does it have to do with why you're holding Hope's shirt?"

It shouldn't have surprised her that he figured it out. He knew her too well for her to hide anything. "It doesn't fit her anymore."

"No?" His eyebrows furrowed. "Did I mess up on the laundry? Those bloody machines are still confusing."

"No," she said with a small laugh. "You're great at laundry. She just grew out of it."

Killian's frown deepened as he took the shirt into his hand. "That's not possible. We just bought her this a few months ago. She didn't even fit in it, then. Are you sure I didn't shrink it?"

"Killian, you didn't mess up anything." She took the shirt back into her hands and traced the small flowers on it. "She just grew out of it."

"Is that what has you so upset, love?" he queried softly. "We can go to the shop tomorrow if you'd like."

"She has plenty of other clothes that fit her." Emma let out a sigh. "But yeah. I guess that's why I'm feeling weird. It's just…she just turned two last week. I guess it just hit me that she's growing up."

His heart clenched. He'd be lying if he said it didn't bother him how big their daughter had gotten. "I know. It feels like just yesterday she came into this world."

Emma nodded, leaning against his side. "Doesn't it? When did she get so big?"

"I don't know." He draped his arm around her shoulders and kissed her hair. "I don't know."

They sat in silence for a few minutes, neither knowing or wanting to say anything. They knew being with each other was enough to soothe their worries, something they'd learned early on in their relationship.

"Today, when we were at the park with my dad and Neal, Hope was so happy playing with him and Ashley's kids. When we left, she was so sad. She said she just wanted someone to play with at home. It got me thinking…." She bit her lip, not quite sure how to phrase it.

A smile slowly crossed Killian's face. "Thinking about what?"

"Do you want to have another baby?" she blurted out. As soon as the words were out of her mouth, she felt lighter. She pulled back to look at her husband's face, needing to know his answer. The blinding smile she was met with was all the answer she needed.

"Yes," he breathed, kissing her softly. "Emma, I would love another little one."

"Really?" Her smile matched his. "You want to deal with my crabbiness for another nine months?"

"I deal with your crabbiness all the time, Swan."

She rolled his eyes. "You know what I mean."

He rested his forehead on hers. "Aye, that I do. I will gladly deal with your crabbiness anytime. I love you."

"I love you, too." Quickly, she kissed him again and said, "Do you know what this means? We get to do it all again. Hold our baby for the first time, see their eyes for the first time, see their first smile."

"I cannot wait." He laid back against the headboard pulling Emma with him so she was tucked into his side. "Hope will be the best sister."

"She will." As that thought consumed her mind, another came to the front of her mind. "Henry will be here this time."

He tightened his grip on her. "And he will be every bit as excited as he was when we told him about Hope."

"How do you know? You weren't there," she teased.

He sighed dramatically. "The other me briefly got the best of me. He caught me by surprise, that's all."

"Mmhmm. Maybe you've just lost your touch."

"I assure you, I have not. I have caught every single thief in this town on my shifts since becoming deputy."

She laughed. "That's true. They're almost extinct now."

Before he could respond, a yawn escaped him. After a failed attempt to stifle it, Emma chuckled again. "Time to go to sleep, old man. You had a long day of paperwork."

"It was an exhausting day." He kissed her and stood, smiling at her pout. "I'm going to say goodnight to Hope. I'll be right back."

Her expression softened. "Okay."

As Killian kissed his daughter's head that night, he couldn't help but imagine her holding a younger sibling, another child Emma and him had created after everything they'd been through. It was enough to keep him smiling the rest of the night, even as he slept.

Emma's leg bounced nervously, her palms running over her jeans over and over again.

"It's okay, love." Killian gently placed his hand on her knee, halting her movements. "She's going to be beyond excited."

"What if she's not?" Her eyes met Killian's, searching them intently. "What if she meant she just wanted a friend, not another sibling?"

"Remember when we found out we were pregnant with Hope?" He didn't continue until she nodded. "Do you remember how nervous you were to tell Henry? How you thought he might be angry, bitter?"

"Yeah."

"And do you remember that he wasn't either of those things?" He moved his hand from Emma's knee to her hand. "Hope is like her elder brother in many ways. I am certain she will be ecstatic about this."

"She doesn't even know what ecstatic means." But her worries were disappearing now. Even after all these years, it amazed her how Killian could make her feel better with a few sentences. "You're right. What time is it?"

He glanced at the watch David and Snow had gifted him the first Christmas they'd all celebrated together after the Final Battle. They'd said something about how it would help him be even more punctual than he already was. "2:27. Your father will be here any moment with Hope. Then, we can tell her the good news and hope she doesn't tell anyone else before we can."

A breathy laugh escaped her. It was cut short by the sound of the doorbell. Her eyes went wide.

"Hey, it's going to be okay." He swiped her cheek with his thumb, soothing her. "Don't worry."

She bobbed her head. "Yeah…yeah, you're right." She stood. "You're right." She continued to mutter the two words as they walked to the door, only ceasing when David's and Hope's faces were visible.

"Mama!" Hope launched herself forward, wrapping her arms around Emma's legs.

"Hey, baby." Emma ruffled Hope's hair and smiled at her father. "Thanks for taking her today, Dad."

"Of course. Anytime." He glanced at Killian and then back at Emma. "Everything okay? What did Whale say?"

"Small stomach bug," Killian said.

"Yep." Emma's heart swelled as Hope ran to hug Killian's legs. "I feel fine now."

"Good." His smile was soft. "I gotta head home. Neal has been driving us crazy today."

"Bye, Gapa!" Hope waved from where she sat in Killian's arms. "'Ove you!"

"Love you, too, Hope. See you guys."

When Emma shut the door, a sigh of relief left her. She felt bad for lying to her dad, but she and Killian wanted Hope to be the first to know. Even if she wouldn't fully understand it. They'd tell everyone else tomorrow, at her mother's weekly dinner.

Killian lifted his daughter into his arms. "Did you have fun today?" He rubbed circles on Hope's back as she leaned on his shoulder.

"Yeah. Me an' Neal play with Wilby and ride horses."

"I hope Grandma and Grandpa helped you," Emma said, kissing Hope's head.

She nodded. "Did." Her mouth opened with a yawn, her eyes scrunching. "Tired."

"I bet. You played a lot." Emma took her from Killian and held her against her chest. "But before you go to sleep, Daddy and I have a surprise for you."

All Hope's exhaustion was forgotten as she perked up. "'Prise?"

Emma nodded and began to walk to the living room. "A big surprise."

Hope clapped her hands. "'Prise!"

"Aye, sweetling." Killian sat next to Emma on the couch, placing his hand on Hope's back. He gave Emma a reassuring smile and nod. She stared at him for a moment before nodding and looking at her daughter.

"Hope, you know how Neal's my brother?"

"Yeah!"

"And how Henry's your brother?" Her nerves were replaced with excitement. Killian was right. Hope would be beyond happy.

"Aye!"

Emma and Killian laughed softly.

"Well, Hope," Emma continued, "how would you like to be a big sister like me?"

"'Ig sister?" Confusion took the place of her smile. "How? Henny 'ig 'other."

"Mommy's going to have another baby," Emma supplied, her words a whisper. "You're going to be a big sister."

For a moment, Hope stared blankly at her. Then, her eyes moved to Killian, who nodded encouragingly. Finally, her eyes lit up and her smile was back. "'Aby!" She stood from her place on Emma's lap and threw her arms around her mother's neck. "'Aby!"

"Yeah," Emma laughed. "Baby." Over Hope's head, Killian caught her eyes and winked, mouthing, I told you so. She rolled her eyes and grabbed his hand, yanking him into the hug.

I hope you enjoyed that chapter!