This is not even close to what I had planned for this one-shot, but this is what happened. I really love it, and I hope you guys do, too!
Takes place almost a year after the end of "New Beginnings and Happy Endings."
"Liam, wake up!"
Anna Elizabeth sighed as she watched her little brother continue to sleep.
This time, she gently shook him as she repeated, "Come on, Liam, wake up!"
The dark-haired boy finally rolled over onto his back as he asked, "Isn't it Saturday?"
"Yes, it is. But I want to make Mom and Dad breakfast," Anna Elizabeth told him.
"Why?"
"Because it's their anniversary."
"What's that?" Liam asked, now wide awake with a curious look on his face.
"I'll explain in a minute. Come on," Anna Elizabeth told him.
Liam then got out of bed and followed his sister to the kitchen.
When they arrived, she bent down and explained, "Ok, Liam, listen. When people love each other, they celebrate the day that they became a couple. It's called an anniversary. 10 years ago today, Mom and Dad got married."
"Oh, okay," Liam responded.
Anna Elizabeth then asked, "You ready to make some breakfast?"
Liam nodded excitedly.
He then asked, "Do we get to eat the breakfast, too?"
Anna Elizabeth tried not to laugh as she answered, "I'm sure they'll share," as she ruffled his hair.
She then went to the refrigerator and grabbed the eggs before going to the cabinet to grab the ingredients to make pancakes.
As soon as she grabbed a bowl, she told him, "I need you to crack four eggs in a bowl and stir them up really good, okay?"
"Okay, Anna Elizabeth," Liam responded before doing as asked.
The blonde then began mixing the pancake batter. As soon as she began pouring them on the hot griddle, she heard, "Can I make a pancake?"
Anna Elizabeth thought about for a minute before she answered, "Tell you what, why don't you pour the orange juice?"
"But I want to make a pancake," Liam protested.
"How about I let you put them on the plate?" Anna Elizabeth suggested.
Liam thought for a moment before he agreed. Anna Elizabeth then gently reminded him, "The orange juice?"
"Oh," he responded before going over to the refrigerator.
He placed it on the counter before looking up at the cabinet containing the glasses. He then proceeded to go and drag a chair over to the counter while Anna Elizabeth started on the eggs.
When Liam got down, he noticed the golden brown pancakes sitting in the griddle, which had been turned off.
"Now can I help with the pancakes?"
Anna Elizabeth couldn't help but smile as she answered, "I'm almost finished with the eggs. I still need you to pour the juice, Liam."
Liam nodded before he finally poured the juice, somehow managing not to spill it.
When he looked up, he and Anna Elizabeth then began plating the food.
She handed one of the two plates, as well as a glass of orange juice, to Liam before saying, "You ready to surprise Mom and Dad?"
The dark-haired boy nodded excitedly before leading the way to Killian and Emma's room.
As soon as they walked in, Liam exclaimed, "Mommy, Daddy! Me and Anna Elizabeth made you breakfast because you got married today."
Emma and Killian sleepily sat up and yawned before Emma asked, "What, kid?"
"Liam and I made you breakfast because it's you and Dad's 10th anniversary," Anna Elizabeth answered with a bright smile, as she and Liam handed them their plates and glasses.
Both Emma and Killian smiled brightly at their children. They set the plates on their nightstands before pulling Anna Elizabeth and Liam in for a hug.
"This was a lovely idea. Thank you both," Killian said.
"You're welcome," Anna Elizabeth and Liam simultaneously said.
"And the food is great," Emma added after swallowing a mouthful of eggs.
As Killian took a bite of his breakfasts, he agreed with a nod.
He then said, "It is quite good."
"I guess it's a good thing that they didn't inherit your cooking skills. Or more accurately, your lack thereof," Emma joked, making Anna Elizabeth and Liam laugh.
Killian rolled his eyes before they all resumed eating.
When the food was gone, Anna Elizabeth suggested, "We should look at you guys' wedding album. I love looking at it as much as my parents'."
Killian and Emma smiled at her words before Liam curiously questioned, "Wedding album?"
"It's pictures from when me and Daddy got married. You haven't seen them?" Emma responded.
Liam furrowed his eyebrows for a moment before he answered, "No, Mommy."
Emma ruffled his hair before getting up and going over to the closet.
She returned with the white book in hand and settled on the bed, pulling Liam into her lap.
Anna Elizabeth then moved from her place on the foot of the bed to squeeze in between Emma and Killian.
The first pictures were engagement photos.
"Ruby took these, right?" Anna Elizabeth asked.
"Yeah. We were on a tight schedule, so Ruby took the photos as a favor to me and Killian. She has always loved photography, and she's amazing at it. I kept telling her she should have done it professionally, but she loves working at the diner," Emma explained.
Anna Elizabeth nodded while Liam looked up from intently staring at the pictures to ask, "Daddy, why does this picture have words under it?"
"Well, lad, we used it as wedding invitations. We sent them to our friends and family to let them know when the wedding was so they could come," Killian told him.
"Oh," Liam replied in understanding.
Emma smiled as she looked at the invitation. She then added, "That picture was always my favorite."
The photo was taken from the waist up, and Killian and Emma were both standing sideways. He had his arms wrapped around her waist and had his lips pressed against Emma's temple. She was wearing a blinding smile as she faced the camera. Her right hand was placed on Killian's waist while her left hand was resting on his bicep with the sunlight making the engagement ring sparkle.
Killian smiled at the picture as well before he placed a sweet kiss on her cheek before they continued looking through the album.
"Did Ruby take these pictures, too?" Liam asked.
"We were actually able to find a photographer," Emma replied.
He nodded in response before he told her, "You were pretty, Mommy."
Emma smiled at him as she told him, "Thanks, kid."
Liam returned her smile before he turned his attention back to the book, scrunching his face up in disgust at a picture of his parents kissing, making them and his sister giggle.
When they turned the page, there were pictures of Killian and Emma with Anna Elizabeth, as well as bridesmaid and groomsmen photos.
"You were little, Anna Elizabeth," Liam pointed out.
"Liam, you've seen pictures of me when I was a little kid," Anna Elizabeth told him.
The dark-haired boy simply shrugged in response.
"Yeah, and in all of them, your parents or us had to do a great deal of convincing to let us hold you," Killian reminded her.
Anna Elizabeth rolled her eyes before she said, "Dad, I wasn't a baby - I didn't want to be held."
"Oh, believe me, love, you never failed to remind us," Killian told her with a grin before he ran her fingers through her curls.
Liam then asked him, "Daddy, where is Uncle August?"
"Well, lad, he and Aunt Belle didn't know each other then," Killian explained.
"Why not?"
"You see, kid, New York is a very big place, and it took a while for Aunt Belle to meet Uncle August. Then, they fell in love," Emma answered.
Liam furrowed his brows in thought before he said, "Okay."
He then turned his attention back to the book as Emma continued to flip through it. He then observed, "That's a lot of pictures."
"Well, it was a very special day for your Mommy and I, and we wanted to have as many pictures as we could to remember it," Killian told him.
Liam nodded before turning to his sister and asking, "Was it fun, Anna Elizabeth?"
"It really was. I was so excited that I would be related to Mom," she answered with a smile.
"I know. I remember your squeals when Emma and I told you we were getting married," Killian added.
Anna Elizabeth simply smiled in response.
"Yeah, kid, I think you were as excited as I was," Emma told her.
Liam then asked, "Anna Elizabeth, will you come play outside with me?"
"Sure, Liam. But let's wash the dishes first," Anna Elizabeth replied.
"Nonsense – you two woke up early to make breakfast. Your mother and I will take care of the plates," Killian told them.
Liam's only response was climbing out of Emma's lap and off the bed.
Anna Elizabeth moved to follow him but not before she hugged both Emma and Killian and saying, "Happy Anniversary, Mom and Dad."
She then crawled out of the bed and left the room.
Emma then said, "We have amazing kids," with a bright smile.
"They take after their mother," Killian replied, as he took her hand in his own and kissed her knuckles.
She then turned to face him and told him, "Not entirely," with a bright smile, which Killian returned.
She then suggested, "Let's go wash these dishes."
Killian nodded, and they both got out of bed and made their way into the kitchen.
When the dishes were done (and the kitchen was clean), Killian noticed Emma's smile and observed, "Thinking about our wedding, love?"
"Actually, your proposal. I'm still amazed that you came up with most of that in the moment," Emma told him.
"Really, love? You still doubt me after all this time?" Killian questioned with a grin. He then continued, "I was simply speaking from the heart as a man who wanted to spend the rest of his life with the woman he loved."
Emma's smile grew as she told him, "I wrote it down, you know. And I have it memorized."
"Really, Swan?"
Emma nodded before she began, "Emma Swan, you are the last person I ever expected to fall in love with. But, somehow, my kind-hearted, funny, brilliant, and beautiful best friend has captured my heart. The truth is that you captured it a long time ago, and it will always belong to you.
I know what life looks like without you in it, and it is a miserable existence. I want us to spend the rest of our lives beside each other, facing whatever life brings together.
So, Emma, my love, will you do me the honor of marrying me?"
As she finished, Killian smiled at her and wiped the tears that had begun to well up in her green eyes.
He then told her, "I knew you would say yes, but hearing you say the words made that moment one of the happiest of my life.
A year ago, you told me that I have always been part of your happiness, and love, it is the same for me. Waking up next to you every day for the last ten years has never failed to put a smile on my face. I'm so glad that my heart had overridden my head, and that I admitted I was in love with you, Emma. Because it led to this amazing life that we have together – a life I get to have with my best friend. And I wouldn't have it any other way."
Emma smiled at him as she moved her hand to caress his cheek and told him, "I love you so much, Killian. Happy Anniversary."
"Happy Anniversary, Emma. And I love you, darling," Killian told her.
Emma then closed the distance between them for a sweet and tender kiss. The kiss quickly turned passionate as Killian moved his hands to wrap around her waist, and he tilted his head to deepen the kiss. Though Emma moved her arms to wrap around his neck, she soon pulled away.
"Easy there, tiger. Our kids could bust through the door at any minute," she told him with a giggle.
Killian planted a quick kiss on her forehead and simply responded with a knowing smile. He then retreated to their bedroom to get dressed.
Emma grinned as she shook her head. She then moved to the screen door to watch Anna Elizabeth and Liam. They were currently playing fetch with Penny.
She started thinking about how close she had come to never accepting her feelings for Killian. How she had run away to Boston with the intent of never looking back. She was so glad that she decided to listen to her heart and come home to the people she loved.
She and Killian had faced quite a lot in the last ten years, and all of it wasn't pleasant. However, there isn't anyone else she would have wanted to face it with. As she felt his strong arms wrap around her from behind, she couldn't help but smile. She knew that their journey was only just beginning. It was all part of a love story between two people who never planned on falling in love, but who couldn't imagine their lives without each other.